Every eye is on the middle East right now. Many believe this is the beginning of the end. Others prefer to look at it as the end of the beginning. I have studied what Jesus said about the Abomination of delolation and decided that I need to study some more. Truly there are still many unanswered questions. However, I have the feeling they will soon be answered. Please read this and I am insterested in what you think.

What is it that we don’t understand about the Prophecies of Jesus?

                In Mathew and Mark come basically the same prophecy quoted from Jesus.  Read this:

Take heed lest any man deceive you:

6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers’ places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.

13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

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 Judea flee to the mountains:

15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:[1]

I had always been a little confused about just what this meant and I had read from the Bible what Daniel said but never could quite figure what this “abomination of desolation” was:  In the book of Daniel beginning in Chapter 9 this is written:

Book of Daniel Chapter 9

1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;

2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:[2]

21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.

23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

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 I t desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.[3]

Even as I read these prophecies now, there is a certain feeling of uncertainty which I cannot deny.  I can only suppose we will know it when we see it.  Many of my Christian Brothers and Sisters believe this is the end of time.  That the war which goes on in the middle east right now is a sign of Jesus’ soon coming.

Jesus speaks of wars and rumors of wars and they have been going on for centuries.  He speaks of persecution of his followers; however this has been going on since the days of Peter and Paul.  They still go on today.  This does not give me reason to believe the sky will open right now, today.  However, I must admit, I would not be surprised if our Lord did come within minutes, hours or days.

The war which goes on now between Israel and the Lebanese certainly gives us something to watch with great interest.  Is this the beginning of a time which will lead to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem or the city, itself?  We cannot be sure of any of this but we watch and we pray.  I am not predicting the Lord is coming tonight or tomorrow or anytime.  Jesus once said only the Father knows that so I will not allow myself get caught up in a so-called prophecy.  Daniel is still kind of vague as to what he called the abomination of desolation. 

However, I will say this.  I will keep my light trimmed.  Jesus will come like a thief in the night.  Are you ready?