Wednesday Bible Study Fellowship, October 8, 2008
The Great Tribulation
Matthew 24:15-28
Introduction: John Phillips in his commentary on Matthew brings us up to speed on the events that will occur after the Christians have been raptured. Phillips states, “Shortly after the rapture of the church, a dynamic leader will arise in Europe. He will unite ten key European nations under ten “kings” and revive the Roman empire. As part of his overall strategy for world domination, he will sign a seven-year treaty with the nation of Israel. Under cover of this treaty the religious Jews will rebuild their temple in Jerusalem; their enemies will be held back by the overwhelming military might of this ruler (called the beast in the Apocalypse and the antichrist elsewhere). The Islamic nations will appeal to Russia. Seeing its global position being eroded by the dynamism and determination of the revitalized West (led by the beast), Russia will make the fatal decision to invade Israel. A military disaster of unprecedented magnitude will overtake the combined anti-Semitic forces (Ezekiel 38-39). This will create an enormous geo-political vacuum, which will make it possible for the beast to assume global rule.
The beast will now have no more use for Israel. He will seize the rebuilt temple, put an image of himself in the inner sanctuary, and command that universal worship be given to him and his image. Then he will launch an all-out pogrom against the Jews; he will set out to exterminate them along with all those who refuse to receive his mark and worship his image. It is this image that is referred to by both Daniel and Jesus as the abomination of desolation. (Philips, pg.451)
I. The Abomination of Desolation (15)
A. Daniel spoke of it: 9:27, 11:31, 12:11
B. Antiochus IV, the Syrian king, committed the abomination of desolation. The idea is that the abomination makes “desolate” or “lays waste”.
1. He ruled Palestine 175-165 B.C.
2. He called himself Theos Epiphanes, meaning “God manifest”.
3. His enemies called him “Epimanes” meaning “madman”.
C. “He desecrated the temple by sacrificing a pig, the most ceremonially unclean of all animals, on the altar and forcing the priests to eat its flesh. He then set up in the temple and idol of Zeus” (MacArthur, pg.34).
D. The abomination of desolation will occur when the antichrist defiles the temple (II Thess.2:3-4, 9-10)
E. The abomination of desolation marks the midpoint of the tribulation. The last 3 ½ years of the tribulation are known as the Great Tribulation. It will last for 1,260 days or 3 ½ years.
II. Flee to the mountains (16)
A. If a person is alive when this happens they are told to flee!
B. Flee is the Greek phuego, from which we get “fugitive”.
C. Not every Jew will successfully flee. Zechariah 13:8, 9 tells us tat 2/3 of the Jews will die.
D. When the abomination of desolation occurs those in Judea should:
1. flee quickly (17, 18)
2. pity the pregnant (19)
3. pray (20). Winter would be hard. If you followed the tradition for a Sabbath Journey, then you could only travel about 2,000 cubits or about 1,050 yards.
E. “Many think the ultimate place of hiding and security for these refugees will be the ancient rock city of Petra” (Philips, pg.451) [Jer.49:16]
III. Great Distress (21)
A. From the beginning of time there has never been a time of greater distress!
B. No modern atrocity (Holocaust, genocide) can compare.
IV. Cut short (22)
A. God has a determined time for the Great Tribulation.
B. For the elects’ sake, first use of the word in the NT, God cuts short the Great Tribulation. “This is another of those statements in scripture that show how much the careless and unbelieving world owes to the presence of God’s people in its midst” (Philips, pg.452).
C. Some believe that since Jesus speaks of “those days” instead of “that day” Jesus is referring to literal 24 hour days. “In that case, God will supernaturally shorten the daylight hours in order to give His fleeing people the added protection of more darkness” (MacArthur, pg.45).
D. “elects’ sake” (22) translates the Greek word eklektos. Its root word is eklego. ek = from, out. It is a preposition denoting origin. lego = to ask, call
1. This doesn’t refer to the church since it was raptured at least 3 ½ years earlier. It must refer to those Gentiles and Jews who have become believers.
2. What we do know is this: no believer would be saved except for God’s supernatural intervention.
V. Jesus’ return will be unmistakable (23-27)
A. Obviously people will be seeking relief.
B. Opportunities will arise for deceitful individuals to take advantage of the situation.
C. Opportunities will arise for Satan’s workers to deceive, even those who believe! (24) (John 10:27-28)
1. The false prophet will perform signs and wonders (Rev.13)
2. The false prophet will not be the only deceiver “For false Christs and false prophets will appear…” (24). (II Thess.2:9)
3. “The Lord warned His people not to be deceived, not to be lured out of hiding, for His return would be very evident” (Philips, pg.452).
D. Jesus’ return will be as visible as lightning! (27)
1. He left in the clouds (Acts 1:11)
2. He will return in the clouds (Rev.1:7)
3. What a day that will be! (Rev.6:15-16)
4. “Until the Lord appears in that predicted and unquestionable way, those who are hiding should remain where they are.” (MacArthur, pg.48)
VI. Devastation and death will be everywhere (28)
A. The armies of the world have gathered at Megiddo. The carcasses of dead bodies will be in the millions.
B. The result will be the vultures coming to feast on the flesh of those who rebelled against the Son of God.
1. God asked Job a question (Job 39:27-30)
2. Now the birds are drawn to Megiddo