Bible Questions and Answers

Jesus' prophecy really has two fulfilments.

Matthew 24:15 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:)

Mark 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

The abomination is mentioned twice in Daniel

Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Daniel 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

In the parallel account in Luke we read:

Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

From this we understand that Jesus is speaking of AD 70 when the Roman army laid siege to Jerusalem. When they saw this this happen the believers were to get out of Jerusalem and run for their lives.

Jesus continues:

Luke 21:21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 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. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

The Romans destroyed the Temple bringing to an end the daily sacrifice. The Jews were subsequently removed from the land and the ‘treading down’ began.

Now, according to Ezekiel 38 and 39 and Zechariah 12 to 14, Joel 3, and Revelation 16, Jerusalem is to be compassed with armies again in the last days. There will be another time of trouble for the Jews which will culminate in the return of Jesus Christ.

If we understand that the abomination that makes desolate is in fact armies gathered against Jerusalem, we know what we are looking for.

I hope you find this helpful.

God bless,
Glenn