Matthew 24:15-22 (Jesus speaking:)
“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 roof of the house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his 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….”
Daniel 9:27
Daniel 11:31
Daniel 12:11
I have mentioned Bible Gateway before – but I will mention it again. It makes searching for verses so much easier…. If you haven’t checked it out I encourage you to do that – just type in Bible Gateway in your search on the internet.
I have a slight dilemma. I’m not ready to dive into Daniel yet – but I do want to get through all of Matthew 24 (in chewable doses).
My NIV Study Bible notes provide the following insight: In 168 B C Antiochus Epiphanes erected a pagan altar to Zeus on the sacred altar in the temple of Jerusalem. That was a layer that had already occurred, but which is linked to the future.
The warning about a great distress unequaled from the beginning of the world until now – alerts us to the reality that this prophecy is layered.
The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A D. The persecution that occurred at that time was horrible…but it did not fulfill all of Daniel’s prophecies – and it didn’t fulfill the final layer of Jesus’ prophecies about the end of time. Jesus was answering both the question of what would occur when the temple would be torn down – and a far more distant question of what the signs would be alerting his followers to the ‘end of the age.’
To keep that in perspective, we must remind ourselves that we view time differently than God does. Jesus’ coming was the beginning of the end of the age…. It ushered in a new era – one in which men have the chance once again to accept or reject the One True God – just as Adam and Eve did….
In the days of the Diaspora when Christians were so severely persecuted, the persecution forced them to flee – and in fleeing they shared the gospel everywhere they went. The witness to the Truth arose out of conflict and persecution. It occurs to me as I write this morning that ‘Jesus as Christ’ being preached to all nations, as we considered in the last segment of Matthew, may be accomplished the same way.
Man has a longing for peace – but true peace is peace with God. In our journey as faithful followers, to represent God’s love accurately, we have to speak Truth – speak it in love – be prepared to give an answer – walk holding tight to His hand, for we cannot do it in our own strength.
…choose….this day whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15). It is a reminder that is going to follow us throughout the coming days….
We’ll get back to this text when we look at Daniel…. Until then, I’m going to leave it as a carrot….
I am in the early stages of reading an excellent book. It is filling in lots of blanks for me – and at this point for where I am in the book, is particularly informative about the United States’ role, influence and failed responsibility with regard to the Jews – and what we could have done to prevent the holocaust. It is information I have never been exposed to before. It is compelling. I will refer to it later, but for now it is definitely an eye-opener….
And, I’m following through on my quest to learn more about Muslim beliefs. I’ll share a tidbit of that with you today. There is an Eschatology Comparison on Contender Ministries that is titled, ‘Muslim, Jewish and Christian End-Times Prophecy Comparison’.
It begins with similarities. The first similarity topic is: The Purpose of Christ’s Coming. [Please note:I find the first ‘similarity’ terribly dissimilar!] It says that Islam teaches that Isa (Jesus) didn’t die, but has been in a state of suspended animation since 33 A D – that he will return to battle and overthrow ‘all pigs’ and confirm Islam as the only true religion. After 40 years, he will then die and be buried next to Muhammed in Medina. (Not!) O K – I’m just supposed to be ‘reporting’ for this bit – not editorializing. I can’t help it!
In this segment it states that Judaism teaches that Messiah will defeat the gentile nations and restore the kingdom of Israel. The Jews in exile will return and rule in an age of spiritual harmony. God will be recognized as the universal King.
Note: they do not acknowledge that Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah. They have always been looking for the Messiah to come as a vanquishing warrior – so they missed him the first visit. Could that account at least in part for why so many were deceived initially by Mohammed. He came as that warrior.
Anyway – Biblical Christians don’t disagree with the reality of all God has planned for His chosen people, Israel – but we do know that will be Jesus’ Second Coming when all of that occurs – not his first.
Christianity confirms that Jesus will come again, that he will rescue Israel miraculously, and that he will rule for one thousand years from His throne in Jerusalem.
But first – there is some prophecy yet to be fulfilled….
When I told you sometime back about Jesus appearing in a dream to an Algerian Muslim, I explained that Jesus identified himself as Isa al Masih. That translates: Jesus the Messiah. It is important to note the distinction. Islam refers to Jesus as Isa. He is in their writings – but only as a prophet, not as the One he proclaimed Himself to be. He is Isa al Masih – Jesus the Christ. He identifies himself in every language in the mother tongue of the people he is proclaimed to. Isa is Jesus – but the Isa they tell about it not represented by God’s definition. That is important to note….
Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Yeshua – Isa – Ioseos - Yesu – Jesu – Jesus is the Meshiach, Masih, Messiah, the Christ, Cristo, Cristos….
And it may be soon!
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