Is prophecy practical? Prophecy is a tantalizing genre, made up of hints with few specifics. One can almost taste the future, but never get much of a meal. Whiffs, not bites, is all that is available. In some manner it is like standing in the parking lot of a restaurant marveling at the smell of cooking steaks. The mind says, “I want to eat what smells like that.” Trying to find food that tastes like the smell a grill makes is tough. What is seen in this part of Mark 13 is just like that. We can use fulfilled prophecies as a help to faith. We can learn from Jesus’ manner in delivering prophecy as a help to our lives.
Mark 13:14-21
14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand. 24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. (Mark 13:14-21–ESV)
Abomination of “desolations”
This is a crucial topic in this section, and much has been written down through the centuries on its meaning. In reading the various authors that have made statements some things can be distilled which seem reasonable. It should be understood that the phrase abomination of desolation1 originated with the writings of Daniel. As we shall see there are multiple times in which this type of event can be said to have happened.
Antiochus IV, self-titled Epiphanes
First we need to introduce the character of Antiochus IV. The Greek empire established by Alexander the Great in the 300s B.C. had dwindled into a number of smaller empires. The Seleucid empire was one of these and Antiochus IV ruled it from 175 B.C. to his death in 164 B.C.
With that as background Antiochus IV, did many things which set him at odds with the Jewish people. The New World Encyclopedia records the following:
- Viewed himself as a manifestation of Zeus (Epiphanes means “god manifest”)
- Tried to redirect the Jewish traditions away from Moses and into a more Greek fashion.
- Forbade circumcision
- Punished the study and reading of Torah
- Set up gymnasiums where priests did not study the Torah, but engaged in wrestling matches
- The Jewish priesthood was reshaped and did fall from the respect of many Jewish people
A set of things culminated around 168 B.C. that were abominations in the site of the Jewish nation. A man named Jason took up a position with the Jews who were against these changes. Many allied with him and they expelled Antiochus’ troops from Jerusalem. Antiochus had been out of Israel fighting his own wars, but this act brought him back. He then retook Jerusalem and killed Jason. A Hellenistic priest was reinstalled, the temple was robbed and an image of Antiochus as Zeus was erected on the second temple altar. Pigs were supposedly sacrificed to him in that temple.
So, the sentiments of Israel toward Antiochus had slowly fomented eventually culminating in this act of utter insult to the Jews. It was purposefully done by this Seleucid king to demonstrate his dominance over the people and over their God.
Titus destroys Jerusalem
In about A.D. 64 a man named Gessius Florus became the Procurator of Judea and he treated the Jewish population with great disdain. His disrespect and tyranny were so significant that the Jews mounted a revolt ultimately requiring an order from Nero himself ordering to put it down. The regional governor failed in his efforts and so Nero ordered Vespasian to take up the task which he did until Nero died. Vespasian then left Jerusalem with his armies securing himself as successor to Nero and founder of what would become the Flavian dynasty.
The Jews having had their respite from Roman strife were not forgotten in Rome. Vespasian’s first act as emperor was to send his son Titus to Jerusalem to finish the job Vespasian had started. Titus utterly destroyed it.
The details are most revealed in the works of Josephus, but it was a bloody, murderous event culminating in the destruction of the second Temple. Titus it is thought wanted to save the Temple as a war trophy, but that did not happen as the passion of his soldiers was so heated that Titus was unable to control his troops.
Israel at this point ceased to be an individual state.
Back to the abomination of “desolations”
When Jesus sat with Peter, James, John and Andrew he used the term abomination of desolation. That was a term that meant a lot to these four disciples. When these men thought of this they considered them in terms of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Jesus was speaking of the future at that point. The event that was in the future for those 4 disciples was Titus’ destruction of the Second Temple and essential the nation of Israel.
Look back at this passage in Mark 13 around verse 19 and following. In these verses Jesus begins to use language which suggests the end of the world, not just Israel.
- Troubles of the highest magnitude the world would ever see.
- God would cut short the distress or no one would survive (doesn’t seem to just be Jewish)
- In verses 24 and 25 he speaks of the sun darkening and the moon being blocked, the stars falling and shaken planets
- Verse 26 reports the return of Jesus himself
These tie back into the prophecies of Daniel and those recorded in Revelation. So, it would seem that a final abomination of desolation is yet to come. When Jesus met with these four disciples one had come and two remained. In our time two have come and one remains.
God prepares his followers2
Jesus knew that Titus would destroy Jerusalem. It was a terrible event; a bloody, death ridden Jewish catastrophe. Jesus prepared his earliest and most crucial followers to be on the lookout for this. When they saw these events developing they were to immediately leave. They were not to attempt to ride out the storm as some might try to ride out a hurricane.
It seems that a group of Christians heeded this warning Jesus gave. Eusebius of Caesarea wrote a history of the Christian Church. He mentioned3 that a number of Christians left Jerusalem for Pella when these events in Jerusalem developed. Jesus prepared his followers.
Recall the other preparations of Jesus’ conversation.
- Be warned (verses 5-6)
- Be encouraged (verses 7-8)
- Be prepared mentally (verses 9-11)
- Endure to the end (verses 12-13)
- And in these verses: Be ready to leave
Learn from God 4
The things in this passage are by no means the whole package of things God offers to us. There are advantages and lessons that one passage in the Bible offers to us. I have been actively engaged in studying the scripture for 25 to 30 years and the lessons here are new. As such I did not really want to study this passage presuming it was just mysterious end times type things. That is there, but so much more is there. By studying this passage and preparing for the Sunday school lesson I have learned from God. One who wishes to be effective and productive in spiritual things must study and learn. Remember that the Holy Spirit teaches while studying. He sure has taught me in the preparation.
Don’t just look at the scriptures, act on them
James says that the man who looks at God’s word, but does not act on them is deceived. The one who looks into the law of God, learns what he can and acts on it will be blessed. So it is one thing to read that Jesus says, be warned, be encouraged, be prepared mentally, and endure. It is much more important that we act this way. We must not just pet the concepts of Christ like they were our puppies. We need to harness ourselves to them as if they are horses. Then we must let them pull the cart of our lives where God directs those horses to go.
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