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6. The Destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:15-22)
MATTHEW 24:15-22
15 When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house. 18 Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days! 20 Pray that your flight will not be in the winter, nor on a Sabbath, 21 for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. 22 Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened. (Daniel 12:1, Mark 13:14-23, Luke 21:20-24, 23:29)
Here Christ summarized the final judgment that will fall on the world in the last days before His coming. He explained to his disciples God's punishments to come, especially upon Jerusalem, because the Jewish nation had rejected and crucified the Son of God. Jesus Christ sought forgiveness for them and His Father accepted His prayer.
The Jews then were divided into two parties. The Zealots used violence against the priests inside the temple, raining stones and fire on them. The blood of the dead priests flowed near the holy altar, covering the floor of the temple. In late 70 AD, while the Romans were coming to besiege Jerusalem, the Christians of Jewish origin concluded that this murder of the temple priests was the predicted abomination of desolation in the midst of the temple. As a result, in accordance with the guidance of Christ's clear prophecy, they departed to the city of Pella, located on the other side of the Jordan River among the ten independent towns. They fled before the siege of Jerusalem began, and saved themselves from the great tribulation that fell on the population of their holy city.
When Titus, the Roman commander, arrived with a powerful army, he began his siege of Jerusalem on the days of Passover, while the city was overflowing with pilgrims. The siege lasted for five months, causing starvation in the city. Many of the people left the city and surrendered to the Romans, who then crucified them without pity. Thousands of them hung on crosses raised around the walls of Jerusalem.
After capturing the city, burning the temple, and destroying the magnificent buildings, the Romans enslaved the Jews. Thus began for them a terrible period of hardship and oppression in accordance with their cry to Pilate at Jesus' trial, "His blood be on us and on our children."
The abomination of desolation can be seen today when there is unnecessary division among believers, causing bitterness and vengeance among them in a church. This may occur in spite of persecution from those outside the body of believers. Christianity divided against itself contradicts its original essence of love and forgiveness. In addition, our own Savior told us that a house divided against itself cannot stand. If we see or partake in this kind of division, we must repent and ask forgiveness. We must submit to one another, and seek a humble attitude. If we have disputes (other than one side's denial of essential Christian doctrine), we must strive to make peace lest we invite rebuke from our Master. Anyone who deliberately causes dissension will be responsible for the consequences.
In times of imminent peril and danger, it is not only lawful, but our duty, to seek our own preservation by good and honest means. If God opens a door of escape, we ought to depart quickly; otherwise, we do not trust God, but tempt Him. When death is at the door, delays are dangerous. Lot was told, "Do not look behind you" (Genesis 19:17). The same principle applies to those clinging to a state of sin. When they see their future of certain ruin, and consequently, the necessity of fleeing to Christ, they must take heed. If not, they will perish from eternal delays.
When fleeing, the wise man avoids carrying too many possessions with him, because they are a burden, and impede his flight. When the Syrian army was panicked by God into flight, they left behind their garments and vessels (2 Kings 7:15). Those who carried off the least were safest in their flight. At such a time of danger, we must be thankful for our lives, though we lose our possessions, for "isn't life more than food" (Matthew 6:25)? A Greek proverb says, "The penniless traveler can lose nothing by robbers" and a fleeing, empty-handed philosopher once said, "I have all my property with me." So will he that has Christ in his heart carry Him everywhere, even if stripped of all.
PRAYER: Father, we deserve your wrath and destruction like the others, for we are haughty, proud, divided into groups and parties, and hateful with each other. Forgive us our illusion that we are better than others, and unify us in the humbleness of love based on your powerful Gospel.
QUESTION:
- What does abomination of desolation mean?