Warning signs are all around us. “Road Construction Ahead.” “Slippery When Wet.” “Falling Rocks.” Skies darken, and an echo of thunder is heard in the distance, warning of an incoming storm. A doctor warns that your blood pressure is too high. In our next passage from Mark’s Gospel, Jesus gives us some warning signs of a great upheaval.
“When you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be” (let the reader understand), “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. A man on the housetop must not come down or go in to get anything out of his house, and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat. Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days!” (Mark 13:14–17, CSB)
“Then if anyone tells you, ‘See, here is the Messiah! See, there!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect. And you must watch! I have told you everything in advance.” (Mark 13:21–23, CSB)
While not reprinted here, the verses in between tell us to pray because there has never been a tribulation this bad since creation. And, it also speaks of God’s grace in cutting those days short for the sake of the elect.
The first warning sign is connected with the prophecies in Daniel 9:27 and following. “He will make a firm covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering. And the abomination of desolation will be on a wing of the temple until the decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator.” (Daniel 9:27, CSB) The abomination of desolation standing where it should not be. This opens the doors to all kinds of last-day speculation. Let’s stick with the basics. This abomination will suddenly break a covenant and obliterate the sacrifice and offering (acts of service and worship).
There are foreshadowings of this abomination in the world today as believers and churches put other things ahead of worship and God’s word. As Paul warned, “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.” (Romans 1:25, CSB) Time does not allow for specifics, so “Let the reader understand.”
The second warning sign is the presence of false messiahs and false prophets. To be sure, there have always been some of those around from the beginning. As the end approaches, though, they will do signs and wonders to lead many astray. How do we tell the difference? How do we protect ourselves from that which seems so true? By knowing the original and knowing His Word.
Jesus’ warning to us is that we must be on watch. Heads up and aware. These things will happen. If not in its fullness, then in the foreshadowing. We must trust God, worship Him above all else, know His Word, rest in His love and peace, and listen to the discernment of the Holy Spirit inside of us.
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