THE ABOMINATION THAT CAUSES DESOLATION!
Bible Reading: Matthew 24:15-22
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
THE ABOMINATION THAT CAUSES DESOLATION!
Signs of the end time given by Jesus in this and other passages of the Bible are still happening around us today. Today’s passage focuses on ‘the abomination that causes desolation and offers several warnings and advice around it. Let us examine this closely. 1. The reader is called to or expected to understand (v.15): The word ‘abomination’ carries the meaning of something that defiles a person, a place or an object, a great sin worthy of death (Lev. 18:22-30) or associated with pagan idols (Deut. 7:25; 13:6- 16). The word ‘desolate’ is associated with a condition that is uninhabitable and devastated. 2. It was spoken of through the Prophet Daniel (Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11): Daniel 9:26&27 refers to a prince who will destroy the city (Jerusalem) along with its Temple and sacrifices. Dan. 11:31 refers to an ‘abomination’ again connected to the Temple. Whereas some Bible Scholars suggest that the near fulfilment of Daniel’s prophecy could refer to the reign of Antiochus IV, Jesus clearly relates this event to the future date (cf., 2 Thess. 2:1-9; b Rev. 13:11-16). Do not allow yourself to be deceived. Be guided by these clear signs of His second coming. What do you think is the significance of the three warnings given in the passage (vs.16-18)? Notice that the reader is invited to pray. Prayer enables the believer to gain clarity of God’s plans, promises and presence, thus enabling him to withstand situations of great distress.
Missions: TURKEY-For over 1,000 years the region was a bastion of Christendom, but it later became a strong propagator of Islam. The Christian population has declined from 22% to 0.21%. Only 0.008% of people in Turkey are evangelical; many are ethnic Turks and Kurds, but others are expatriates or from historically Christian minorities. Few of the 84 million Muslims have ever truly heard the gospel.
Prayer: Lord, please grant me the courage to stand firm in times of trial.
Bible In One Year: Ezekiel 37-39
Bible Verse for Today: Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. (Matt. 24:17,18) Bible Study: BLESSINGS FOR THE GODLY Psalm 1:1-6
