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Advent Productions

Benjamin Ng

The Abomination and Desolation

Father in heaven, thank you so much for this time.

Thank you, Lord, again, that we have the opportunity to study together.

And I just want to pray that you please be with all of us, that you'd guide us, that you'd lead us, And that more than anything else, that you would speak to us.

That we would hear the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking clearly through and above the noise and din of this earth.

That Lord, we might be able to discern your voice and your leading today.

Please guide us now, O Lord, for we pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Let's turn the Bibles to Matthew chapter 24.

Matthew 24, Jesus is going through last day events.

He's giving us a picture of what would happen.

There'll be famines and pestilences and earthquakes.

Even our day today is a picture, a microscope, a microcosm of what's going to take place at the end of time, but to a greater degree, this only is the beginning of sorrows, friends.

People call me pessimistic and so I am, but friends, the Bible paints a very clear picture about what is to come at the end of times.

Let's turn our Bibles to Matthew 24 and verse 15.

Jesus says, 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.

It is here that Jesus introduces this topic of the abomination of desolation.

Yet many confused, are confused today about this very topic.

That's where we're going to be going in a minute, in a little while.

But before we go there, we need to understand why it is so important for us to understand today.

Let's continue reading in Matthew 24, line upon line, remember.

When you see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place, then in verse 16 it says, Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains, let him which is on the house top not come down to take anything out of his house.

Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes, and woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days.

But pray ye that your flights be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day." Friends, when we study Matthew 24, what we are seeing is dual application.

You got to remember this, dual application, because when you go to the beginning of Matthew 24, the disciples come to Jesus and they were showing him the magnificence of the temple that was rebuilt.

It wasn't as great as Solomon's temple, but it was still a beauty to behold.

And yet Jesus shocked the disciples by saying what?

Not even 1 stone would be left on top of another.

He was so shocked, the disciples come to him and asks him, when will these things be, the destruction of this temple and of the end of the world?

So what Jesus did in only his wisdom that he could do was as he spoke, he mingled these 2 events together.

And we are going to see its primary application and then its end-time application to us today.

When you would see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place, you better get down from the roof.

If you're in the field, don't even go back to get your clothes.

The command was urgent, but it was dependent upon us understanding what the abomination of desolation would be.

Yes, we're going to go to Daniel eventually.

This is where we find the parallel verses to this.

Luke 21, we also find it in Mark, but Luke 21 we want to especially look into.

Here is those similar verses starting in verse 20.

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the Desolation is nigh.

Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let them which are in the midst of it depart out of it, and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people." Friends, this is exactly the same description that is given in Matthew 24, 15 and onwards, here in Luke 21.

We found it back there in verse 20, when you shall see Jerusalem compassed about with armies.

This was the desolating power that would come and surround Jerusalem and eventually destroy it in around AD 70.

This was the Roman armies that would come and surround Jerusalem and destroy them.

Look, I wanna read to you from the pen of inspiration found here in Great Controversy, page 25, paragraph 4.

Jesus declared to the listening disciples the judgments that were to fall upon apostate Israel, and especially the retributive vengeance that would come upon them for their rejection and crucifixion of the Messiah.

Unmistakable signs would precede the awful climax.

The dreaded hour would come suddenly and swiftly.

And the Savior warned his followers, when you shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, whoso readeth, let him understand, then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains.

When the idolatrous standards of the Romans, " this is the Roman armies, should be set up in the holy ground, which extended some furlongs outside the city walls, then the followers of Christ were to find safety in flight.

When the warning sign should be seen, those who would escape must make no delay.

Throughout the land of Judea, as well as in Jerusalem itself, the signal for flight must be immediately obeyed.

He who chants to be upon the housetop must not go down into his house, even to save his most valued treasures.

Those who are working in the vineyards of fields or vineyards must not take time to return for the outer garment laid aside while they should be toiling in the heat of the day.

They must not hesitate a moment lest they be involved in the general destruction." Friends, we see very clearly who it was and we know from history and we see it even in the Bible in Luke.

It was the Roman armies that came and they surrounded Jerusalem and they were standing upon what the Jews considered holy ground.

It extended some distance beyond the walls of Jerusalem.

And so when they saw the army standing there with their idolatrous standards, You know, they would hold flags and those banners that would represent their gods.

They were coming in their pagan gods and they would be standing on the holy ground.

Wait a minute, if they were surrounded, how were they able to flee?

Let's continue reading Great Controversy.

Not 1 Christian perished in the destruction of Jerusalem.

Christ had given his disciples warning, and all who believed his words watched for the promised sign.

When ye shall see Jerusalem come past with armies, said Jesus, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let them which are in the midst of it depart out.

Cestius, had surrounded the city, they unexpectedly abandoned the siege when everything seemed favorable for an immediate attack.

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The Abomination and Desolation

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