Return Of Jesus: The Quick And The Dead

Fulfilled And Yet To Be Fulfilled

Remember Last Week: at the beginning of Chapter 13 the disciples express how magnificent the Temple is in Jerusalem to which Jesus replies that the temple will be knocked down –

We saw that Jesus is not impressed with what we are impressed with. We can be impressed with religious things, yet ultimately this is not what it is all about. So the disciples want to know when is this going to happen? and what will be the signs it is about to happen. Jesus’ reply is known as the little apocalypse because of its brief description of the end times. Today we continue looking at that reply in the second part of chapter 13. Jesus is giving us a little insight into the end of time - Into the great tribulation.

We saw last week – as we will see this week - We are not to be end times maniacs - People who are overly concerned with the end times.

We also saw that bad things can happen to us, because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ – family may disown you, you may be arrested and beaten and betrayed - All because you have given you life over to Jesus.

As we continue to look at his reply to his disciples questions, when are these things going to happen and what will be the signs we need to understand: Jesus is answering their question, Jesus is answering beyond their question and into the future, perhaps our future.

First we start with Jesus saying – ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong. This is directly derived from Daniel 12:11 and Daniel 11:31.

Daniel 12:11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

Daniel 11:31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.

Now it is true that the Romans were in the Temple just before its destruction. The Hebrew that underlies the Greek in this sentence, for abomination that causes desolation. Siqqus somen - Always refers to pagan worship in the form of idolatry. In this context here it means an unspeakable affront to the sanctity of God. Jesus proclaims a future abomination in the house of God. He is alluding to the cessation of sacrifice, not the destruction of the temple, this prophecy has not been fulfilled. The grammar states that it is a person of male gender who will stand in the Temple. It is true that Caligula attempted to set up a statue of himself in the temple, that Titus walked through the temple

and other like instances happened. But Jesus is not speaking of simply a desecration. He is speaking of THE desecration

Jesus is referring to the Antichrist. That is the person who fraudulently assumes the place of the true Christ and opposes the work of God the Father. A person, who will come to pass. None of the desecrations of the Temple have fit this description.

People are always predicting the Antichrist. Every major political or religious figure has been pegged: Nixion, Clinton, every Pope, Henry Kissenger - My favorite is Gerald Ford. What a joke, the anti Christ is a klutz.

Notice Jesus doesn’t say try to figure out who this is. That is not our concern. We should not be end times maniacs.

It will be quite obvious who it is. He appears to assume Christians will figure it out and I can assure you it is not Gerald Ford. So….Jesus tells us when the Antichrist stands in the Temple, which must be rebuilt.

The following applies: so what he says next applies to this particular time.

The next section 15-17.

Jesus speaks of getting away when you see these signs. We could look at this and say, "Obviously this is about the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 ad" Nope. The Roman army was slow in approach. This event is described as an emergency.

Verse 19

Jesus is describing an event so great. There is nothing to compare it to – even in biblical proportions.

Pray it will not happen in winter. 70 ad Jerusalem was captured in the Summer. Jesus is simply telling us how bad it will be.

Let us stop here a moment and take a look at who Jesus is.

Jesus is full of love, grace and mercy.

Jesus has come here to save us.

Jesus is in full control.

What can we see that is practical for our lives in these verses? He is more than telling us what will happen. Be assured – We all will have pain and troubles in our lives. Jesus will not make our lives pain free and trouble free.