Evidence for God from Science

I am a bit confused by this here, from Matthew 24:

15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’[a] spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.


- First of all, why does it say "let the reader understand"?

- Second of all, what is this "abomination that causes desolation", and where is it spoken of by Daniel?

- Third of all, why will the people of Judea need to flee to the mountains so quickly, leaving all of their belongings behind? What could cause such a great need?

- Fourth of all, what is this great distress, and how can it be so great that it can never be equaled, even in the face of World Wars and nuclear warfare and the like?


Thanks!

It's always important to take the WHOLE of a chapter when possible.
Chapter 24

1 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down.”

3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Take heed that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: 8 all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs.

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because wickedness is multiplied, most men’s love will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come.

15 “So when you see the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; 17 let him who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house; 18 and let him who is in the field not turn back to take his mantle. 19 And alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 Then if any one says to you, ‘Lo, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 Lo, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Lo, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; if they say, ‘Lo, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of man. 28 Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; 30 then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; 31 and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with the drunken, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, 51 and will punish him, and put him with the hypocrites; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.

Hi Kmr.

kmr wrote:First of all, why does it say "let the reader understand"?

This may also be read, let the 'hearer' understand. This may have been added by Matthew to emphasize the importance of the subject which is being spoken by Christ, considering verses 4 & 5 speak about deception. It seems that Matthew did not want the reader or listener to be deceived in regards to the second question the disciples ask the Lord in verse 3, "what will be the sign of your coming?", that is, what will it be like right before Christ returns.

kmr wrote: Second of all, what is this "abomination that causes desolation", and where is it spoken of by Daniel?

The abomination of desolation is mentioned in the first book of Maccabees. Though not considered scripture, this book is included in the Catholic Bible and is also found in the 1611 KJV to be used for historical reference.

The abomination is mentioned twice:

1Maccabees 1:54 Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities of Juda on every side;

1Maccabees 6:7 Also that they had pulled down the abomination, which he had set up upon the altar in Jerusalem, and that they had compassed about the sanctuary with high walls, as before, and his city Bethsura.

This would have happened during the inter-testament period. Yet Christ seems to be speaking about the future in regards to this desolation. I do not believe that this happened in 70 AD when the Romans sacked Jerusalem and placed a statue of Jupiter on the temple mount. The word desolation as used here is a condition and in the Moffat Bible, he translates it as the abomination from the desolator, designating it not as a condition but an entity. I believe the abomination is the world educational, economic, political, religious socio system, with Satan himself as the CEO, with headquarters in Jerusalem.

Jesus is quoting from Daniel 9:27 (NIV)

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 it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

kmr wrote: why will the people of Judea need to flee to the mountains so quickly, leaving all of their belongings behind? What could cause such a great need?

Well this is a warning. I believe Jesus is trying to say that when the antichrist (Satan the desolator) is in Jerusalem claiming to be God, then leave. Because when Christ shows up, after Satan takes his seat in the holy place, Christ is going to destroy that place, including all those who are worshipping the antichrist. In other words, Christ is saying don't be in Jerusalem worshipping the antichrist when I return. Don't be deceived.

kmr wrote:what is this great distress, and how can it be so great that it can never be equaled, even in the face of World Wars and nuclear warfare and the like?

The great distress is all the people who have been worshipping antichrist, thinking that the antichrist is God. "Anti" signifying instead of. When the real Christ returns, they will realize that they've been had, that's why they pray for the mountains to fall on them because of their shame and that is why all the tribes of the earth mourn because they didn't know that the false Christ returns before the real one. They are the ones that are taken (stolen) and the others (those who weren't deceived) are left. Christ is returning to the earth to wed a virgin bride, that is to be united together with those who love and believe Him. Imagine what's going to happen when He returns and finds all those who claim they worshipped Him, worshipping the antichrist in His holy place!

That's why Jesus says in the same chapter: So, if they say to you, ‘Lo, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; if they say, ‘Lo, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.

Zeph 3:8 (KJV) Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

I'm not asking you to believe what I say. I have studied Matt 24 and Mark 13 for years to make my own decisions about its prophetic utterance. Study it for yourself to see what makes sense to you. Hope that helps.

Wow, very insightful. Thanks for the responses! It is strange because it seems so obvious now, but I was so confused not so long ago....

The abomination of desolation referred to in Maccabees ties to Antiochus Epiphanes who undertook to eliminate Jewish religion. In addition to the setting up of idols and other gods throughout the land, he had pagan sacrifices made within the temple including the sacrifice of a pig.