Have you ever seen the Rocky Mountains from a distance while traveling out west? If you have, you know that they look just like one big mountain from a distance but the closer you get you begin to see multiple peaks and valleys. They are still one group of mountains and yet at the same time they have different peaks and valleys. It is the same way with our passage of Scripture today. Please read Mark 13:14-24, as we continue to listen to Jesus’ answer to the disciples question. Let’s remember that this passage of Scripture has multiple fulfillments as it falls into the category of prophecy. Jesus begins by giving his disciples then and now something that we need to watch for: the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel in his book. The word abomination has the definition of offending God, while desolation has the definition of leaving a place deserted. In this passage someone is going to do something that is offensive to the LORD God and his temple is going to be left deserted. This prophecy in Daniel 9:37 was seen to be fulfilled when the Syrian ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes sacrificed a pig on the temple altar, pouring its blood all over it. This happened during 167 B.C. and the Jewish people left it empty until it was cleaned. Now as Jesus makes reference to this passage of Scripture he has something closer and further out in mind. Luke writes, “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.” (Luke 21:20) This would happen in 70 A.D. when Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed by Rome during the Jewish revolt. Jesus’ warning to the people to flee and don’t go back applied to his followers then as he encouraged them to pray that this doesn’t happen during the winter. We need to remember that the Lord Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth and that the weather is under his control. When these people prayed God heard their prayers and had mercy on them even in the midst of judgment. For those who were leaving Jerusalem the words of Jesus would be confirmed that what Jesus had told them would happen, happened. Jesus goes from looking at the near future to looking at the distant future in verse 19-23 leading up to his return in verse 24-25. We also must remember that the Lord is in control. The Lord shortened the days of tribulation for the sake of the elect. The elect are those that God the Father gave to Jesus Christ from before the foundations of the world. (John 6:37) And all that comes to Jesus, he will not cast out. It is by the grace of God that any of us are saved-whether we are Jew or Gentile. Jesus loves his elect enough to give us a warning reminding us to not be deceived by false prophets. By the way once there is a proper understanding of election and whosoever will, the believer is free to share the gospel knowing that it is God who saves not you. Our mission as followers of Jesus Christ is to seek first his kingdom and righteousness and apply to our lives so that we are being changed, transformed on a heart level that is truly committed to his mission. When the fullness of the Gentiles comes in then all Israel will be saved. If you are born again in Christ Jesus let me plead with you to not only follow him but share his good news to all of those around you today.
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