The Abomination of Desolation

David Poland

Matthew: Kingdom Authority • Sermon • Submitted 10 months ago • Presented 10 months ago

Matthew 24:15–28

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Sermon 76 in a series through the Gospel of Matthew

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Psalm of the Day: Psalm 18:16-30

Psalm 18:16–30 ESV

He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me. The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his rules were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me. I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt. So the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Scripture Reading: Daniel 7:13-14

Daniel 7:13–14 ESV

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Sermon

Good Morning Church!

I was glad when they said to me let us go and worship in the house of the Lord!

If I were to peel back the curtains of my marriage and let you into the biggest fights that Desiree and I have they can mostly be traced to what my wife perceives as a lack of me listening. by and large these conversations go like this:

Desiree says something. I do not respond. She says: you were not listening. I say back: I was listening and proceed to repeat back to her what she just said. her response: OK, but you did not respond, you were not engaged in the conversation, you were not ACTUALLY listening.

And If I am being honest, she is usually right. It is not enough to just hear the actual words that someone is saying, but their heart, the things that they are implying, the things that they really mean, and the natural response of the one who should be listening are all a part of ACTUAL listening. So first I guess you could pray for me and my sanctification there, i am trying to be better in that, and surely God is using that in my wife's life for her sanctification as her patience grows having to live with me. But I bring this up because as I approach the olivet discourse i fear that many times many people come to these words, they hear what jesus is saying, they can echo back what is said, but they are not actually listening to jesus. The danger here is that we get caught up in crazy words and phrases like “abomination of desolation” and “great tribulation” and “wherever the corpse is, there the vultures gather” and we miss the heart and the actual force of what Jesus is saying. So the hope is that we would actually listen to the words of our savior here, that we would allow them to penetrate to our hearts, shape us mold us and make us new.

Our passage for today, part two of the olivet discourse, Matthew 24:15-28 Lets read God’s words this morning:

Matthew 24:15–28 ESV

“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

These are the words of the Lord for us this morning, lets open with a word of prayer:

Our Father in Heaven. holy, Righteous, perfect is your name. The One who knows the end from the beginning, the Sovereign Lord of Heaven and earth we praise you today. Thank you that we stand secure knowing that you are the one who knows and ordains all things. Meet with us here this morning we pray. open our ears to hear what you have said. help us to rightly understand your word. We thank you for your Son, Our Lord and savior and the one who spoke such incredible truths to us. We thank you for the Spirit, the comforter and our teacher. May our hearts be found as good soil where your word can be planted and flourish within us. In Jesus name we pray. AMEN

So there you heard it. and Immediately our heads start to race. Matthew 24:15 ““So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),” OK. Is the abomination an event, is it when Antiochus IV Epiphanes offered a sacrifice on the altar to false Gods in the second century BC? Is it a different event. or maybe the abomination of desolation is a person, maybe it is Antiochus Epiphanies, Some roman emperor or the great fear of all Christians after reading the “left behind” series - “the Anti Christ”. Matthew inserts the thought: “let the reader understand” is the the reader of Matthew? the reader of Daniel? How do I understand? and that is JUST THE FIRST VERSE HERE.

So the question is how can we hear what Jesus is saying here without needing a PHD in Last times theories? Well, lest start with a first thought which goes back to Last Weeks Sermon. The first thought we should have here is to ask: WHICH QUESTION?

First Thought: WHICH QUESTION?

Just a reminder for those who were here and to help those who were not, Last week we talked about how Jesus was using the olivet Discourse that we are in to answer two specific questions. Matthew 24:3 “As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?””

So to ask which question is my way of saying: Is Jesus talking about when “these things” which is the destruction of The temple”” or is Jesus talking about “the sign of his coming and the end of the age”. The difficulty is that for the disciples as they heard this both of those things would be in the future. But for us as we read them one of these things happened long ago, and the other we are still waiting for. So FOR US, do we see this as prophecy already fulfilled or do we see this as prophecy that has yet to be seen.

Here i have an opinion, and I will share it, but I would like to preface with this: you are free to disagree with me on this one. The group of people that disagree with David on this one is one that has great company in it, people smarter, wiser and much more sanctified than myself. However, I did not just come up with my ideas myself, there are many who believe as I do, so i am confident is saying this is the most right way to understand what Jesus is saying here. moreover, what I hope that you see today is that by reading and understanding this passage in this way you have a better grasp on what Jesus was saying and we are able to grow in our sanctification and holiness.

Excluding a few verses and thoughts that we will talk about later in the sermon, this is a text that is about “These things” or the destruction of the temple. I believe that we see in this passage not predictions for OUR future, but predictions for the rapidly approaching destruction of the temple. FIRST why I think that, then we can get to the positive applications.

I have a few thoughts here. The first is grammatical, but I do not think that it is so tough that we cannot get it. Note who Jesus referrers all of these predictions to. it is “YOU”. verse 15: when “YOU” see the abomination of desolation. Verse 20: “Pray that YOUR flight may not be in the winter” Verse 23: “If anyone says to YOU” verse 25: “See I told YOU beforehand” verse 26: “If they say to YOU”. In other words, these words are, first and foremost to the ones that are hearing these words in person. There is much for us to learn, and these words still have value to us, but we can see fulfillment of the prophecy in the lives of the disciples, who would have been alive in these times.

Then note, Jesus is speaking to a specific local. Verse 16: Let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. This is not apocalyptic end of the world things, rather an event that has a specific local, therefore the destruction of the temple fits much better than the ushering in of the new heavens and new earth. It is possible, and we often do, take some prophecies and sort of telescope out, from the particular to the global, but I don’t think that this thought works here. For a few reasons. One is we would have to start to spiritualize EVERYTHING not just certain parts, and I don’t think that that works across the board.

Furthermore, if we are talking about the end of all time, the complete changing of the world, the signs of the end of all time, how are we to understand verse 20. Matthew 24:20 “Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.” this seems like a specific time, and a specific place, not an epoch changing world altering thought.

Then we could make arguments based on the text itself. The abomination of Desolation spoken of By Daniel, weather you think of it as an event or a person is the desecration of the TEMPLE. that is what the reader should understand. So the one that Daniel was speaking about was fulfilled in, as i mentioned earlier, 167 BC when Antiochus Epiphanies started offering pagan sacrifices to Zeus on the Altar in the Holy of Holies. This is both an abomination, for it is a reprehensible pollution of what should be an altar set apart for the God of the universe and it is a desolation, for now it is corrupted. So that was regarding temple worship, and so this prophecy, tied explicitly to Daniel, and therefore tied explicitly to the temple, should see its fulfillment in the temple that Jesus was just talking about.

Then the other portions of this prophecy make more sense, and instead of needing to warp them and bend them to fit some futurist reading we can see them clearly in the events leading up to the destruction of the temple. The temple was destroyed because the Jewish revolt was ongoing and many arose and claimed to be the Messiah, the delivered that would lead them out of Roman oppression, the day were cut short, the roman occupation and oppression is not continuing to this day. Reading this as speaking in particular of the destruction of the temple means that there is a flow and an understanding to this passage that is difficult to find if we take this out and...

FINALLY. if this is NOT about the destruction of the temple, which part of this passage is? The disciples asked and Jesus answered, but if this is not about the temple I would challenge you to be able to find ANY part of it that is. The disciples asked: Jesus tell us when will these things happen? Jesus answered. But if this isn't about the temple, I think we're hard pressed to find any part of the all of it discourse that we could say is. If this portion, which i believe is very clear in discussing events that have already happened from our point of view, If we can't read this, then we can't find that anywhere in here.

The push back that you receive from this view is: Well then what's the point? What value then do we get? Sure. The disciples… I’ll grant, this is about the temple's destruction. What does that mean for us? The disciples needed to hear these messages. They need to hear these warnings. Those who were verse 16 in judea sure, they needed to flee, but what does this do For me? A lot. The first thing we can note is what this teaches us about our savior about jesus.

What this teaches us about JESUS

Jesus was a prophet. Not just A prophet. He was the prophet. The greatest prophet. When we speak of jesus, we speak of him sometimes fulfilling what we call the three-fold office. He's profit priest and king. And we often focus a lot on his priestly role, as hebrews talks about. He, offering sacrifice once for all time. Now in the holy of holies offers intercession for us forever.

He is the king of kings and lord of lords, the one who will come in rule. we think often of his priestly and his kingly role, but he was also our great prophet. He truly spoke the words of god. Powerfully. Forcefully. One of the greatest tests in the old testament of a prophet is: did what they say come true? And if a prophet makes a prophecy, that does not come true, you kill them. Because they're a false prophet. So, what does this Teach us about Jesus? he's a prophet and ALL of his statements come true perfectly.

We see this and the fulfillment of the temple being destroyed in, AD 70. And because we see all of his words coming true then now as we look forward to other words that he has said, we have assurance and we have great strengthened faith knowing that what jesus has said will come true.

What this teaches us about Jesus cuts to the very nature of who he is. So, it's important. He's our prophet. Who spoke god's words truly. Who predicted accurately and beautifully events that had not yet occurred because god gave him these words. Because he was god.

He's able to speak with clarity and assurance about things that will happen. We can trust him. What does this teach us about jesus? That he knew things that only jesus could know. He said things only the messiah could say. That he did things only the messiah could do. He's our lord and our savior. And if all we had was that, we have great value here.

But we can also spend some time asking, well, what does this passage teach us about us?

What this teaches us about US

The original, the instant, immediate application of this was to first century believers. Pay attention. When you see these things happen, It's going to get dangerous. Flee. If you're in Judea and it's getting time for the destruction of the temple, you don't want to be there, flee to the mountains. Go away, fast. Pray that it's not in the winter or on a sabbath, because you got to go. There's going to be trials and tribulations. Painful trials and tribulations. Don't worry. It will be for but a short time. Don't be led astray. Stand firm. If anyone says “i'm back”, i'm not coming back yet. It's just the destruction of the temple. It's just these things that you're asking about.

That may be the original audience. But here these words are recorded for us. Giving us all that we need for life and godliness. what lessons can we learn here?

Obey.

OBEY

The exhortations. A lot of people read, and this is a good way to read scripture, often. You look for Commands. You look for What action is supposed to take place here. Well. Matthew tells us to understand, that's part of it. But i when i say obey, this is more what i mean: Matthew 24:17 “Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house,”

Here's the picture: you're doing work on your rooftop, laying out something for drying, thatching your roof, whatever it is that you are doing. And you begin to see this army coming, you begin to see what Jesus is talking about begin to take place. Your thought should not be: “Well, what valuable things do I have in my house that i need to take?” What things do I need to not live without what? What pictures and What things do I need to open up my safe to take? Just leave!

The one who's in this field, don't turn back and take your cloak. If you see this happening, just leave— run now, There will be great tribulation. There will be persecution. There will be false prophets. There will be false christs. There will be those who will lead astray. Matthew 24:26 “So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.” The exhortation to them was obey for your life is at stake. The exhortation to us as we must also obey the words of our savior.

He is our prophet, our priest, and our king. All of his commands we must obey. Immediately, and without delay. When we see things that Jesus has told us to do, don't go back and pick up your cloak. Go do what he's called you to do. When things start coming our way. Don't go into your house and figure out what valuables you have to take. Go follow the lord now. Don't be let astray obey him. The heart of this exhortation is still the same for us. We must obey our savior.

There's more we can do in this passage, i think. You must also pray.

PRAY

Verse 20 is a very interesting verse. Jesus is saying the abomination of desolation is coming. God in his perfect, sovereign wisdom. The one who has ordained all things, who's in control of all of the affairs of all of the earth has ordained exactly when, where and how all things are going to happen. So he can say, when you see the abomination of desolation coming, this is what's going to happen. this and this and this. And yet, Jesus tells the people: Pray that your flight might not be in the winter. Or on a sabbath. God has ordained The moment. he knows when it's going to happen. It may be on a sabbath, We don't know. No one knows the day or the hour when anything that god has ordained is going to happen except for god himself. But we can still pray.

Matthew Henry writes this: “Though we must take what god sends yet. We may pray against suffering.”

There's a sort of fatalistic thought that we often have, when we we bring prayer requests. Sometimes we let our theology get in the way of our practice. and this is what i mean by that. Good theology is good and important, we should have it. We get into this sort of fatalistic. Well, whatever's going to happen happens. So i'm sick. I shouldn't pray to feel better. God sent this sickness, if it kills me. It kills me. If it doesn't, it doesn’t. If this happens because god says it happens, that's fine. If it doesn't, it won't. There's no use in praying, there's no use in doing these things because god will do what god will do. In some sense, theologically speaking. That's correct. God will do exactly what god will do. But We must pray.

We pray over small things. We pray over Big things. We pray. WE Take our requests, our concerns Before the lord. In writing on this passage. One of the commentaries i read said this, i think is very insightful into what this prayer does for our hearts. Because In praying We are changing ourselves Just as much as we are petitioning god for anything. And so this prayer allows his disciples to gather wisdom.

Turner writes that: it allows his disciples to begin to ponder divine providence. Providence that that allows the elect to suffer but providence that Limits their sufferings so that they are not spiritually Ruined.

Those days, we read will be cut short For the sake of the elect — verse 22. Though there will be false prophets verse 24, that come to lead some astray. The elect will be held, it's not possible to lead them astray. So, we pray.

And finally, We look.

LOOK

This passage is by and large about the destruction of the temple in ad 70 BUT They're still an eye looking forward. First, we can say that what these Disciples will face in ad 70. They are the pattern for what, all Christians in all time will face. Persecution, trial, suffering, tribulation. These things have beset god's people since the beginning of god's people being god's people. So, even though we can say there is application and immediate fulfillment of this in AD 70, there's a heart where we look and see these things part in going on, but even we should Read these passages and begin to look forward. Because the world is heading in but one direction: and that is the return of Jesus, ALL things pave the way for that to take place, From the destruction of the temple 2000 years ago to whatever is happening today, it is all God working his perfect plan and preparing for the return of jesus. and so that is what we look forward too!

The last two verses are very different in this passage. Verse 27: For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west. So will be the coming of the son of man. There's a little transition here.

If the two questions are when will these things happen? That was everything up to now. But the second is, what will be the sign of your coming? So here, he's beginning to say: do you want to know what to look like when i'm coming? Well, As the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west. So will be the coming of the son of man. What does this mean? The lightnings light up the sky and all people can see it.

From the east, to the west, the lightning flashes, across the sky it illuminates Everything. THAT will be like the son of man coming. You won't miss it. You won't.

So, when I was in high school… I was probably in my senior year after i spent my junior year and a lot of rebellion doing some very Self-destructive and sinful things. I got Turned around, got back into church. Right around this time is when the “left behind” series was was getting big. And i remember one day, Being in the house. I heard some sound. I couldn't tell you what it was, I just remember hearing some sound. I remember being very bothered by it. I was the only one at home. There was no one else there. This is before the days of cell phones, where you just Call someone immediately. I ran out and Look up and down the street, there's no one there and immediately my mind begins to race. I missed it. I missed the rapture, i missed… all of these things. i missed the coming of the son of man. Simply put what Jesus is saying here is that there is no missing it. Verse 27 as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west. So will be the coming of the son of man.

Charles Spurgeon: when he comes, we shall know who he is and why he has come, there will be no longer any mystery or secret about the coming of the son of man. There will be no need to ask any questions. No one will make a mistake about his appearing when it actually Takes place.

So look for it. Keep your eyes focused on christ. Understand how to read and know What is going on in the world, have your heart and mind in scripture so that you can see your savior.

Matthew 24:28 “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

There are two ways We can read this both getting us to the same point.

One: Vultures from all around, they seem drawn to and they can just instinctively see Dead things for them to eat from miles and miles away. If there's a dead carcass, the vultures know exactly where it is. There is where they're going. So too, we should be like these vultures as we see christ coming, we should just know. We can see him and he is our savior.

Two: The other way to read this as you look and see vulture circling in the sky, you know Exactly when you see the vultures that there is something dead underneath. So therefore When you start to see the signs, Know that christ is coming back. Look For your savior, let's pray.