Devotion in Motion–
Midweek Meditation
Mark 13:14-20
“So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter. For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.”
Daniel 9 predicts that the last seven years of Tribulation will be marked at its midpoint by a decisive event called “the abomination of desolation.” There were Jews living in Jesus’ day who assumed this event had already taken place. Verse 14 begins the second section of Mark 13. Jesus had spoken of the nations in verses 1–13. In verses 14–34, He will speak of the Jews. Speaking to the Jews, Jesus says very pointedly, “When you see the event spoken of by the prophet Daniel, called the abomination of desolation, run to the wilderness as fast as you can. Get out! Things are coming down!” What is the abomination of desolation? There are two parts to this cataclysmic event—one historic, one prophetic.
Daniel 11:31 speaks of the historic aspect of the abomination of desolation in reference to a tragic event in Jewish history. Following the reign of Alexander the Great, a king named Antiochus Epiphanes ruled Syria. He was an egomaniacal madman who believed he was the embodiment of the Greek god Zeus. When Antiochus realized that the Jews in Israel were not acknowledging him as God, he became enraged and ordered the destruction of Jerusalem. Thus, on a single day in 170 B.C., one hundred thousand Jewish males were slaughtered, the women raped, the city looted. Then Antiochus himself entered the temple, butchered a pig on the altar, and forced the priests to drink its blood and eat the raw pork. Finally, he smeared the remainder of the blood on the temple walls. It was the abomination of desolation for it was abominable and it left the people desolate.
The second aspect, an event yet to happen, is prophesied in Daniel 9:27. In the last days, a man will come on the scene who will make a seven-year peace treaty with Israel. Appearing to be her friend and protector, this leader will seem to defuse all of the problems in the Middle East. He will be charismatic and persuasive, an impressive intellectual, and a skilled orator. Called Antichrist in Scripture, he will capture the attention of the entire world. Although he will initially come across as a man of peace, in the middle of his seven-year peace treaty, 2 Thessalonians 2 tells us he will set up his image in the temple and demand to be worshipped as God. This second abomination will result in desolation across this planet. Jesus said, “When you see this happen—Run!” Where? ” “Let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains”
Zechariah declares that following the abomination of desolation, the Jews will indeed flee. But only one-third of them will make it to safety (Zechariah 13:8, 9). Tragically, two-thirds of the Jewish nation will be caught in the flood of persecution that will follow Antichrist’s declaration of war against them. The violence and bloodshed will be staggering—beyond anything this world has ever seen. Most Bible teachers believe that according to Isaiah 16:1– the remainder of the Jews will run to the ancient city of Petra. Located in present-day Jordan, Petra is a mysterious, miraculous city indeed.…
Approximately 2000 B.C., Esau settled in a volcanic crater that was approximately a mile in length. It was an incredibly secure place, for to get into the crater, one had to go through a narrow canyon only twelve feet wide in many places with a rock face between two hundred feet and one thousand feet high on either side. The entire city could be easily guarded by only fifteen soldiers marching along the ridges above its narrow entrance. So, the descendants of Esau, called the Edomites, dwelt in this city of Petra for centuries, believing they were invincible. Over the years, they built an architectural phenomenon. Carved right into the rock are amphitheaters, banks, temples, and an aqueduct system that baffles scientists to this day. With a population of one million, no one can figure out how they got enough water into the city to sustain the inhabitants. The Edomites were a proud people who trusted in their fortress, rested in their cliff city, and had no need of Jehovah. So Obadiah came on the scene in the name of the Lord and said they would fall. And guess what. They did. The city began to weaken when it was struck with a plague. Eventually, the Edomites were wiped out entirely.
For many years, people heard stories about the rock city of Petra. Bible teachers would talk about it, but in most people’s minds, it had been relegated to the same status as the lost city of Atlantis—a mythological place that never really existed.
In 1812, however, a Bible teacher/explorer/adventurer named Johann Burckhardt was determined to find Petra. And when he finally did, he couldn’t believe what he saw, for although it had been abandoned for centuries and remains desolate to this day, he was amazed by its grandeur and splendor. Perhaps most catching, however, were the two huge eagles’ wings carved into the rock at the very entrance of the city, for the Book of Revelation declares that the remnant of Israel will be saved by the wings of an eagle (Revelation 12:14). A number of years ago, W. E. Blackstone, another Bible teacher, was so convinced that Petra will be the place in which the Jews are kept safe, he purchased thousands of Hebrew New Testaments, underlined passages like Matthew 24 and Revelation 12, and left them in earthen jars throughout Petra. When the Jews get there, the Bibles will be waiting for them. I love it!
Jesus says “get out of Dodge when you see the abomination of Desolation, Don’t stop for anything.
In the Middle East people lounge on the rooftops. A rooftop patio is more like a den. The breeze makes it cooler. “And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.” “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!” All this is in reference to the exodus the Antichrist will cause. “And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.” In Israel, everything shuts down on Saturday. Transportation and travel become difficult because 99% of the operators are at home observing the Sabbath. On the Sabbath – city life comes to a halt. Vs 19 For in those days, there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be The “abomination of desolation” marks the middle of the Great Tribulation. Revelation 12 tells us at this point Satan gets booted out of heaven and he’s so furious at God, he turns the full focus of his anger on His kids, Israel.
These last 3½ years are indeed a time of Great Tribulation… such as the world has never seen. Satan’s wrath will make the Holocaust look like a picnic. But remember who Jesus is speaking to here… residents of Judea – people who observe the Sabbath – Jews. He’s not speaking to the Church, but Israel. “Pray your flight may not be on the Sabbath” would mean nothing to the Church. At this point, the Church will have been raptured. We’ll be partying with Jesus. Vs 20 “And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.”
Remember the Church is not the only group in the Bible referred to as “the elect.” In Isaiah 24:4, Isaiah 65:9, and in Romans 11:28, the Jews are also referred to by this term – the elect. Also, don’t forget the two purposes for this Great Tribulation… God uses its judgments to punish the wicked and to purify the Jews. This time of punishment would have no bounds if it were not for its goal of purification. The cataclysmic, global judgments spoken of in Revelation will be shortened – or tempered – not for the sake of the wicked, but in order to spare the Jews. How does this affect me personally? Well, the antiChrist will come on the scene wanting to be worshipped and he will do that because he knows that man was made to worship God in Rev 5 And he will come and place an image in the Most Holy of holies that will take the place of Christ in your life.
The question for us is what have you and I set up in our holy of holies (our heart) You see we will all worship something whether we worship at some sort of sporting event, we won’t go to church, or read the bible but on Sunday we are all there lifting our hands and screaming for our favorite team or some movie or activity, our career, our education? We will all worship something. What do we set up in our Holy of Holies other than Jesus Christ. ? If it’s anything other than Jesus Christ what do we do? Jesus said to run to the mountains.
Runaway from anything that can take the place of the Lord in your life and
Go higher in your relationship with Jesus by reading and obeying his word, by fellowshipping with his people and go to a bible believing church, Know the truth and live the truth and share the truth, That’s how you run to the mountains.
But 1st you have to choose to do it. Amen
“When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice”
William James.
Victor Tafoya
devosinmotion@gmail.com
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