Know What’s Coming


Question 1:

When have you been glad to discover you were not alone?

THE POINT

Even in the darkest times, God has not abandoned His people.

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

For any child, it’s a horrible feeling when he turns around and can’t find his parent. I was shopping with my energetic son when he decided to do some exploring on his own. When he looked around, he couldn’t find me and he was scared. A store employee comforted him and asked what my name was. Suddenly, I heard my name come across the store intercom, telling me to retrieve my son.

My son was relieved when I came up to the counter. I was troubled to think he might have believed I had left him. You may have had a similar experience—as a child or as a parent! Many parents have briefly lost a child in public. Maybe you have a memory from your childhood when you lost sight of your parent or another adult and you felt lost and alone.

Unfortunately, many of us have also gone through painful moments when we felt abandoned by God. As we continue our study on what Jesus said about His return, we will see that God will never forsake us as the end draws near.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Matthew 24:15-16

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand), 16 “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.”

The word rendered abomination appears over 120 times in the Bible; in every case, the word refers to something detestable. The Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) used the same Greek word to refer to things such as unclean animals (Lev. 11:10-13), magic and divination, (Deut. 18:12), idols (Jer. 4:1), and all things abhorrent to God (Rev. 17:4-5; 21:27). The ultimate abomination, though, is “the abomination of desolation,” a horrible and devastating activity that is idolatrous at its core and an affront to the holiness of God.

The phrase “abomination of desolation” was first used in the Book of Daniel. No Old Testament book has more end times teaching than the Book of Daniel. Daniel’s use of the word abomination referred to the desecration of the temple of Jerusalem (Dan. 9:27). Many scholars have noted that at least a partial fulfillment of this prophecy occurred in 176 BC. A Greek ruler named Antiochus IV Epiphanes set up an altar to Zeus above the altar of burnt offerings in the Jerusalem temple. Antiochus IV also did something especially egregious to Hebrews by sacrificing an unclean animal—a pig—on the temple altar.

Since Jesus was speaking almost two hundred years after those events, He was pointing to another future event. Many Bible scholars believe Jesus was referring to the destruction of the temple in AD 70. It is said that when the Romans destroyed the Jewish temple, they raised their pagan flag above the rubble.1 Jesus’ words, “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains” also lends support to this view since Jews fled at the time of the Roman invasion in AD 70.

Question 2:

What are the benefits of knowing the signs of the end times?


Many scholars also see Jesus’ words as a reference to a future event involving the antichrist. The ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy will occur when the antichrist does something very similar to what Antiochus Epiphanes did. Revelation 13:14 foretells the antichrist making an image that people are forced to worship. For one to turn the temple of God into a place of false worship is truly an “abomination.” Second Thessalonians 2:4 lends support to this view: “He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God.”

One thing is clear: Jesus wanted His disciples—and us!—to know what is coming. And when God’s temple is desecrated, we can know the end is coming.

Matthew 24:17-20

17 “A man on the housetop must not come down to get things out of his house, 18 and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat. 19 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! 20 Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.”

Jesus pointed out in this section that the end times will bring destruction so quickly that believers must waste no time in taking cover. A friend of mine told me the story of his house being destroyed by a tornado several years earlier. Warning of the coming storm came so quickly that he didn’t have sufficient time to gather belongings from his home. That kind of scenario is the essence of what Christ was saying about the need to flee when the abomination of desolation occurs.

“A man on the housetop must not come down to get things out of his house.” Apparently, some people built their houses next to the walls of the city. When they saw an opposing army, immediate flight was vital.

Jesus stressed the difficulty and need for immediate flight with two other examples. The person working in the field did not need to delay, even to get his coat. This coat was likely the outer cloak, which was essentially used as sleeping gear. Christ’s point was that times will become so difficult that people will not be able to go back even for what was perceived as the necessities of life.

Question 3:

How can we be prepared for times of trouble?


Engage

TILL THE END

When are you more likely to recognize God’s presence in your life? Place an X on the scale below. Then answer the questions and write a prayer.

Times of DifficultyTimes of StabilityTimes of Joy
God will never forsake you and Jesus will never lose you. Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of God’s presence in the good times, the bad, and throughout your daily routines.

My Prayer:

“Peace comes not from the absence of trouble,but from the presence of God.”

ALEXANDER MACLAREN

Jesus’ second example was “pregnant women and nursing mothers.” This doesn’t imply a “curse” on women who are with child; it simply describes the added difficulty of traveling while pregnant. Jesus mentioned another scenario that could prove challenging at the end: the weather. “Pray that your escape may not be in winter.” He knew that cold and harsh climates would undoubtedly make travel harder in any scenario, so he encouraged prayer. The pending unmitigated terror awaiting believers calls for a single-minded commitment to fleeing.

To His Jewish disciples, Jesus also called them to pray that their escape would not be “on a Sabbath.” Faithful Jews did not travel more than half a mile on Sabbath days. That would also add the complication of having the city gates closed, all the stores shut down, and access to any transportation unavailable. When it becomes apparent that the end times have arrived, the distress that accompanies those days will come suddenly. Jesus’ words encourage us to be prepared.

Matthew 24:21-22

21 “For at that time there will be great distress, the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again. 22 Unless those days were cut short, no one would be saved. But those days will be cut short because of the elect.”

Question 4:

What do you find distressing about this passage?


While many scholars see the verses preceding this as a reference to the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70, verse 21 points to events beyond that. Surely the “great distress” in verse 21 cannot be applied only to the destruction of Jerusalem. We know from history that we have undergone more horrific events since then.

No period in history fits the description of the events that will occur during this time. While some view Jesus’ words as an Old Testament Hebrew idiomatic phrase that refers to something that is extremely unusual, others see references to this cataclysmic tribulation period throughout the Book of Revelation.

Christ was describing a time when evil will reign with a great maliciousness. As the return of Christ draws nearer, all bonds of evil will be broken, restraints will be put aside, and lawlessness will flood the earth. God will move in judgment while terrible catastrophes will sweep the earth. Things will be so dark that the people will seek deliverance through death (Rev. 9:6). Hardships often lead people to look to God for help, but that will not be the case during this time of great tribulation.

As difficult as these portions of Scripture are to read, we must be deeply grateful for the mercy of God. Christ seemed to mean that, in His mercy, He will not allow the tribulation to continue forever. God has predetermined that those days will fall short of full destruction. The suffering will be so great that if the Lord let the suffering continue, no one would survive. Otherwise, “no one would be saved.” God’s kindness is great, and He will interrupt the tribulation with His return (Matt. 24:29-31).

The specific reason for God’s mercy is “because of the elect.” This is the first time the word “elect” appears in the New Testament. The elect are those who have placed their faith in Christ. This word emphasizes God’s initiative in saving us. We may face hard times, troubles, and tribulation, but we do not face them alone. He is with us to strengthen us, encourage us, help us endure, and ultimately deliver us.

Question 5:

How has God’s mercy in the past helped you trust Him for the future?


LIVE IT OUT

Even in the darkest times, God has not abandoned His people. Choose one of the following applications:


List. Write down a few specific times that God was there for you in difficulty. It’s too easy to forget all the times when God came through for us. Putting a few of them down in writing will help you remember them.


Memorize. Memorize a verse about God’s faithfulness. This is one of the best ways to keep in the forefront of your mind that God will never abandon you. A few suggested verses are Lamentations 3:22-23; Hebrews 10:23; or 2 Timothy 2:13.


Minister. Ask the Lord for a chance to reach out to someone who feels abandoned. Second Corinthians 1:3 encourages us to comfort others with the comfort we have received from God. Whether it’s a needy child, a neighbor in need, or an elderly person from your church, trust God to supply you with multiple opportunities to remind people that God will never leave them.

Most of us have been on one side of physical lostness or the other. It can be frightening for sure. But it’s good to know that those who know Christ will never have to experience that trauma. He is with us and He will be with us to the end.

1 Sproul, R. C., Matthew (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2013), 694. [LifeWay Adults (2020). (p. 89). Bible Studies for Life: Adult Personal Study Guide - CSB - Spring 2022. LifeWay Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]