Matthew 24:15-25

Matthew 24:15-25 NIV

“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 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. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Let the reader understand", says Matthew. As Jesus continues to respond to His disciples request for secret knowledge about the end of this age and the full arrival of the kingdom of heaven, He refers to a desolation of the temple as another sign pointing to the end. What is this desolation that causes abomination standing in the holy place?

The prophet Daniel wrote during a time of Greek oppression. Antiochus IV was a brutal Greek king who ruled over the Jews from 175 - 164 BC. After the Jews rebelled against the Greeks, he attacked Jerusalem, outlawed Jewish religious rites and tried to force the Jews to worship Zeus. He set up an idol to Zeus in the temple, along with other deities of the Greek pantheon. The desolation that causes abomination was the Greek idols placed in the temple by Antiochus IV.

Matthew's Jesus refers to the event in Daniel to point to a new idolatrous act by the Romans, that is to place a bust of Caesar in the temple and the seal of Rome over the temple courts entryway. This eventually happened as part of the journey toward the Jewish revolt against Rome. In 71 AD the Romans sacked Jerusalem and tore the temple down.

The sign of the emperor's likeness as an object of worship is a sign to get the heck out of Dodge, so to speak. Jesus told the disciples to flee Jerusalem and go hide in the mountains. They shouldn't dally about, but hastily make their exit because what's coming to Jerusalem will be the worst yet.

I've always appreciated the notion that those days of tribulation will be cut short for the sake of God's chosen, the saints of the church. It reveals God's compassion. Even still the church needs to watch out for false teachers and prophets during this time of tribulation. Some will perform convincing signs and wonders that will make them appear to be from God, but they will not be from God. They will have their own agenda. (I can't help but think of televangelists)

The tendency to read this passage as a prediction of the end of the world and life as we know it may be appropriate, but remember that Matthew was comforting a community that was soon to face the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. Some scholars date Matthew after the fall of Jerusalem in 71 AD, thereby making Jesus' prophecy less prediction and more direction and consolation. If, however, Jesus did historically teach these things, then the church had a 35-40 year insight into the future.

As far as I'm concerned I'm not reading this passage as our future, but rather a first century teaching that spoke to their time. Are there principles that speak to our time?

Flee from idolatry. Some have said that the election of Donald Trump is a sign of the end. Others felt the same way about President Obama. But Americans are less likely to idolize politicians and more likely to set themselves up as their own god.

To each his own.
Whatever makes you happy. Be the master of your own existence.

These are common proverbs of our culture. The world doesn't recommend humility before the creator. Our society is increasingly secular and non-religious. Even the pseudo-religious are keen to say, "I don't need church. I can worship in my own way." The rugged individualism of America, and the values that support it, overshadow the values of the kingdom of God.

Some have said they will leave the country if Trump is elected. If we begin to see wholesale idolatry in our culture and in our congregations, then perhaps we should make a hasty exit, but only if the Lord leads you to do so. Be alert and pay attention to the signs. And remember all these are leading to an end and a beginning. The end of this current corrupt and broken world will give way to the new creation where there will be no corruption, only wholeness and holiness. Keep in the Word, for only then will you have the knowledge to suss out false teachers. And always pray.

We've been told ahead of time. History repeats itself, so don't be surprised if abominations point the way to an end to the great American experiment. I pray our country would repent and turn back to God, but I'm not holding my breath. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.