Dan. 12:4-13, Olivet Discourse Timing Keys (2)

What was Jesus referring to by “the abomination of desolation?”  He said it was mentioned by Daniel.  Daniel’s prophecy reveals several possible references.

*Dan. 8:13-14: In the prophecy of the male goat (Greece) with the large horn (Alexander the Great) which was broken and replaced with four smaller horns (the four generals who ruled various parts of the Greek empire after Alexander), one of the smaller horns rules the area of Israel.  Under his rule he opposes or stops the daily sacrifices at the temple in what is called “the transgression of desolation.”  This period lasts for 2300 days, just under seven years.

*Dan. 11:31: In this prophecy of the time between Malachi and Matthew, there is a person who “take(s) away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.”  This lasts for many days.  It seems quite likely this is the same event as in Dan. 8.  It is during the intertestamental time when Israel was ruled by the Greeks shortly before the Roman’s took control.

*Dan. 9:24-27: This is prophecy of Daniel’s Seventy Weeks, 490 years established by the LORD to complete His purposes for Israel, including their salvation.  In v27 Daniel is told of the final seven years (final week), and that in the middle of that time “he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.  And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate.”  “He” refers to the Roman prince (“prince who is to come,” v26), who destroys Jerusalem and the temple. 

*Dan. 12:4-13: This is the same prophecy as Dan. 11, except that the time has not moved from the intertestamental to the time of the end, when God’s purposed for Daniel’s people are accomplished.  Daniel is not permitted to give us the details.  But he does record that in the end time the daily sacrifice will be taken away and the abomination of desolation set up in its place.  This is not the same event as in Dan. 8 and 11; it can only be connected to the one in Dan. 9 when it occurs in the closing years that God established to complete His work with Daniel’s people, Israel.

Thus, what is Jesus talking about?  Together all four describe a time when the worship of the temple is halted and prohibited, and in its place is an abominable form of worship.  Apparently, in the earlier event, Antiochus Epiphanes replaced temple worship with the sacrifice of pigs, just to desecrate the religion of Israel.  We don’t know the exact nature of the future abomination but it will be equally shameful. 

Why do we know Jesus was talking about the later event?  Because, in c. 33AD, on the Mount of Olives, the one event had already taken place and the other was still future.  And He was talking about a future event.  Further, the later event occurs in the middle of the 70^th week, leaving 3½ years.  The next question is, could this event have been what happened in 70AD?  Or does it fit better with a still-future even related to Jesus return?

Mark 13:3-27, Olivet Discourse Timing Keys (1)

Proper interpretation of the Olivet Discourse is important.  “Supercessionism,” sometimes referred to as “replacement theology” (because they hold that the Church is now the recipient and/or fulfillment of all that God promised to Israel in the OT) believes that the entirety of Jesus’ words were fulfilled in 70AD.  The “premillennial” or “futurist” view says that the Discourse is fulfilled in the future, or as I believe, some was fulfilled in 70AD and the rest is ongoing and future.  These views are not only different; there are major ramifications to each.  So, interpretation is critical.

This difference of understanding also applies to Revelation 4-19.  Supercessionists hold to a “pretorist” or “modified pretorist” view, that Revelation is a warning concerning the coming destruction on Jerusalem in 70AD.   Premillennialists accept the testimony of the Early Church that Revelation was written by John after 70AD, and that Ch. 4-19 describe the events of a seven year “tribulation period.”  This was spoken of by Daniel (Dan. 9:24-27), Jeremiah (time of Jacob’s trouble, Jer. 30:7), and several other prophets.  And they believe Jesus speaks of it in the Olivet Discourse when He spoke of a time of tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be (Mk. 13:19). 

Thus, the difference is one of “timing.”  Is Jesus speaking of things that are all in the past?  Of are His prophecies still waiting a future fulfillment?  For that reason it is important not to miss His references to “time.”  Let me show you what I mean from Mark 13.  Jesus began by warning them of deception, and then telling them they would hear of “wars and rumors of wars.”  The then He said,

·       v7: the end is not yet.  He then speaks of coming “troubles,” but says …

·       v8: these are the beginning of sorrows.  He warns of persecution, but also promises that …

·       v10: the gospel must first be preached to all nations.  He continues speaking of coming persecution and hatred, and how it should be handled.  Then He says …

·       v14: when you see the abomination of desolation.  Jesus was specific about this event, linking it to Daniel’s writings (we will review this in the next post).  This event is the time for people to flee.  After that event Jesus then said …

·       v15-19: in those days there will be great tribulation.  Then …

·       v24: after that tribulation they will see My coming.

Briefly, there are troublesome times, and then there is an event that introduces times that are even more difficult, after which He will come.  Let’s stop here, and pick it up in the next post, reminding ourselves that these “signs” and “prophecies” are tied to the LORD God of Israel, the Sovereign LORD!  He rules in all of this.  Our task is to trust Him and live according to His word.

Mark 12:1-4, The Subject of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse

The subject of Jesus’ talk with the Twelve, and we could also call it the “driving theme” of the conversation, has to do with questions asked by “the disciples.”  That is in quotes because that is what Matthew and Luke say, while Mark says it was Peter, James, John and Andres who asked Him privately. 

So, first, as they went out to the Mount of Olives the disciples were amazed at the buildings on the Temple Mount.  Jesus said, Do you see these great buildings?  Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.  Then four of His disciples asked Him about this.  Let us first list the questions recorded by each of the Evangelists.

·       Luke 21:7:

o   When will these things be?

o   What sign will there be when these things are about to take place?

·       Matt. 24:3:

o   When will these things be?

o   What will be the sign of Your coming?

o   What will be the sign of the end of the age?

·       Mark 13:4:

o   When will these things be?

o   What will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?

The first thing we see is that each records the first question: When will these things be?  You might think you already know the answer to that.  It happened in 70AD when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple.  We will talk about that, but I think you are right.  In the above picture, taken of the Western Wall, is a pile of stones believed to be proof of the fulfillment of Jesus’ words.

But then you should have noticed there were other questions and they were not all the same.  Perhaps Luke records a repeat of the first question since he refers to “these things.”  “When will it happen, and how can we know when it is about to happen?”

Matthew asks about signs of Jesus’ coming and the end of the age, and neither of these things happened in 70AD.  Jesus will also answer those questions.  And then Mark records what I think is the most instructive question of all: what sign will there be when all these things will be fulfilled?  That is a powerful term.  The Greek is “sun-telos,” the prefix “with” and the word “end.”  The idea is: when all these things come together.  It’s when several things all come to a head at once.  The disciples have come to realize that the kingdom they thought Jesus would bring in is not going to be established as soon as they thought.  The plan, in their minds, is delayed, but they want to know when all the aspects of Messiah’s reign will come.  This is the subject of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse.  It includes 70AD and it includes His return.

Mark 12:38-44, The Setting for the Olivet Discourse

From the outlines in the previous post, we saw that Matthew records Jesus lamenting over Jerusalem (24:37-39), something Luke records earlier in Jesus’ ministry (Lk. 13:34-35).  The subject of the Olivet Discourse is the desolation of Israel, over which Jesus lamented.  It is part of the setting.

Mark and Luke tell the story of the poor widow giving all she has because the religious experts have told her she needs to do this.  She is in poverty while they serve among the magnificence of the temple mount which Jesus predicts will fall.  Again, this is part of the setting.

All three writers set the Discourse in what is found in Mark 13:1-2.  They were in the temple area, and the Twelve were moved by the amazing buildings.  This was the “Second Temple,” but not in the form that had been built in the days of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah and Zerubbabel the governor and Jeshua the High Priest.  King Herod had remodeled that building, and some would say did a full reconstruction.  He had made something that had grandeur from the Roman point of view, and in doing so he had made the Jews proud of “their temple.”  We are aware, the Jews were not happy with the fortress at the NW corner of the temple mount.  Nevertheless, they made great use of the temple and it’s surroundings.

 Model of 2nd Temple in Jesus' Time

Massive stone of Western Wall

This is what impressed the Twelve.  See what manner of stone and what buildings are here.  If you take the Western Wall Tunnel tour in Jerusalem they describe the amazing stones that were part of the sustaining wall, some weighing hundreds of tons.  But what the Twelve were seeing as they went out towards Olivet was the temple that Herod had beautified.  Whether or not you liked Herod, and basically no one did, the temple, walls and colonnades were impressive. 

Jesus’ response to the amazement of the Twelve gave rise to the Olivet Discourse: not one stone will be left upon another.  In the questions recorded in the Gospels, each of the three records this question: When will these things be?  (Lk. 21:7; Mt. 24:3; Mk. 13:4).  They also ask other questions, but this one question they all record.