Culver Community Church

Pastor Chris Sweeney

Sermon Notes

February 17, 2019

Matthew 24:15-22 – The Middle of the End

Jesus has been giving us the signs of His coming and The End.  We’ve reached a very important turning point, the midway point of what we call the Tribulation and that brings us to today’s text beginning at verse 15.  It is this one act that delineates the beginning of birth pains from real true labor or in Biblical terms the Tribulation from the Great Tribulation!  As if things haven’t gotten bad enough, God warns that The End is not yet here and it will get worse (oh, so much worse!)  Jesus qualifies exactly how bad – “unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again.”  Not even in the time of Noah, when God said “every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” (Genesis 6:5) did it get this bad!  That rampant evil brought on the destruction of the flood, but this evil will bring God’s wrath, Jesus’ return as Conqueror and yes, The End (The end of the age of man and the ushering in of Christ’s Millennial Reign and eternity!)  Not only is the evil destroying the Earth but the wrath of God is poured out on the Earth because of that evil.  And as we will see, the Devil will also vent his fury against any who hold to what is right or to God – be it Christian or Jewish believer!

The first thing to understand is that the Holy Place refers to the temple, (most often specifically the inner court) where God dwells among His people and the priests serve Him (as opposed to the Most Holy Place where only the High Priest went once a year).  In all of scripture, the term Holy Place only applies to three things: 1) the temple, 2) Heaven, where God resides and 3) The LORD Himself (one time).  So when Jesus uses it here, in this context, it can only refer to a temple at Jerusalem.  Many through history have been confused because the temple was destroyed (completely) and today rebuilding seems impossible (nothing is impossible with God) because of the Dome of the Rock and the fighting over Jerusalem.  However, by this and other O.T. prophesies we must understand that there will be a new temple built (which we are still waiting for).  Some believe construction will begin before the Tribulation, while others attribute this to the Antichrist’s peace treaty at the beginning of the Tribulation.  Either way, the Jews in their homeland will have a temple and they will begin to offer sacrifices or oblations (something offered to God/gods) as the King James puts it, as they did in the days of old (the Old Testament)!

Next, we need to see just what it is that will be standing (that will be set up) in the Holy Place, or temple.  Jesus gives us the clue we need – the thing Daniel, the prophet spoke of!  It turns out that Daniel uses that language “abomination that causes desolation” three times in his writings (Daniel 9:27; 11:31 and 12:11) – each referring to the same future (end time event).  However, commentators believe that chapter eleven’s reference has both a near and far fulfillment (as so many prophesies do!)  God often does this so we can see Him fulfill the near and be confident that the far will also be true!  They shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation (Daniel 11:31).  This describes a desecration of the temple, it was prefigured by Antiochus Epiphanies in the time between the Old Testament and the New Testament.  When the Jews would not worship Antiochus (who called himself Epiphanies, meaning ‘great one’) he raided the temple, stealing its treasures, sacrificed a pig on the altar (forcing the priests to eat its flesh) and set up an altar to Zeus!  This horrid defilement caused the Jews to stop coming to the temple (stopping the daily sacrifices) until after the temple was retaken and cleansed during the Maccabean revolt!  This serves as a type of the ultimate abomination that causes desolation caused by the Antichrist at the midpoint of the Tribulation. 

In Daniel chapter 9 (the prophesy of Israel’s 70 weeks), God precisely describes the rebuilding of the first temple, the presentation of Messiah the Prince (Triumphal Entry), Christ’s death (being cut off) and the destruction of the temple.  However, there is one missing week still unfulfilled (one set of seven years) – the tribulation!  “He [Antichrist] will confirm a covenant with many [the people, Israel] for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." (Daniel 9:27 NIV)  Like Antiochus, Antichrist will stop the sacrifice and offerings and put an idol in the temple!  This sacrilege will stay standing (for 3 ½ years, the second half of the tribulation) until his final doom (at Christ’s return).  Paul speaks of this “He [Antichrist] will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:4 NIV)  The idol is the Antichrist and an image of the beast (of the Antichrist) which is given breath (caused to come to life or to seem lifelike).  This is the fulfillment of Satan’s aspirations!  He wants to replace God, really to be God, he wants to be worshipped – so the satanically empowered Antichrist, false prophet and their image will be set up to replace all world religions - - - including worship at the temple in Jerusalem.

This is the trigger that moves us into the Great Tribulation and Jesus gives the prophetic ‘you’ (those reading these words) two commands.  First, “Let the reader understand” – again, this is not for the Apostles, the early church – but for a future generation who will be reading this message.  Again, Jesus is speaking to a Jewish audience confirmed by “those who are in Judea” – those who are in the Time of Jacob’s Trouble and have come to believe in Jesus, the Messiah.  Second, He commands them to – FLEE!  This is a matter of urgency, of concern (love) and of warning!  Knowing what comes next, Jesus tells all who will listen (read) to Him, to literally run for the hills!  To emphasize and show just how urgent, Jesus gives several more statements: 

· Don’t go down through the house!  In Israel, the roofs are commonly used as a sort of yard or porch – if you are up there, don’t delay.  Going through the house, you might be tempted to sit down or to try and pack supplies etc.  Go straight down the outside stairs!

· Don’t go back for your cloak! This was their main outer garment.  Picture this, a man goes out to work in the field, he lays down his good shirt or maybe puts on some old dirty coveralls – Jesus says don’t go back to the road to get dressed – hurry and just go as you are!

These two statements express how every second counts! Don’t dawdle!  Jesus then goes on . . .

· {19} How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! – Pity those in this normally blessed condition - these women will not be able to keep up!  Flee!

· {20} Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. - Pray for God’s mercy in the timing – May your flight not take place during the hardships of cold, rain or snow (remember to the mountains!)  Also, not on the Sabbath - in the Promised Land, for observant Jews transportation is much harder on the Sabbath (no running trains, buses, taxis, etc. – even the some of the elevators are programed to continually go from floor to floor, just so no buttons/switches need be operated!)  Obviously this would not be an issue for the church (who is already gone), or for believers in other parts of the world - - - only for believing Jews in Judea!

They are to ‘get out of Dodge’ as fast as they can because the second-half of the tribulation will be a time of persecution for the Jewish remnant (Jacob’s trouble).  This one event marks the last possible chance to escape before being caught up in the great tribulation!  Once we reach this midpoint, all hell will break lose (literally, excuse the language)!  “there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again”!  Not even the Holocaust will come close (2 out of 3 will fall)!  Revelation 12 uses imagery to describe Israel’s role in history and this time in particular as a woman being hunted by the dragon (Satan) – Revelation 12:5-9, 13-14 NIV.

Even here, God is protecting His remnant!  Believers who fall are also cared for – they are seen under the altar in Heaven waiting the full number of martyrs, so they can be avenged!  This message helps us to understand what is to come.  We know that God is in control, that He has planned out the entire course of history and that He loves us (and this Jewish ‘you’) enough to warn us about what is to come!  Flee!  Here we see the ultimate statement – “if they had not been cut short, no one would survive” (more than anyone could bear!)  God has limited the time (numbering the exact days) of the Great Tribulation for the sake of the elect (those saved in the tribulation time).  We serve a God of love!  Even in His wrath (well-deserved wrath), God is merciful to those who will believe!