Abomination of desolation… vs. 14-18

• The 2,500 year old Prophecy – spoken of by daniel the Prophet… vs. 14
  • Daniel 9:24-27 – the 70 weeks of Daniel – the key to unlock End Time Prophecy…
    • Israel is God’s prophetic watch/ timer – it is how God “tells time” prophetically…
    • God tells Daniel there are 70×7 (years) left for Israel until…
    • There will be no more sin – bring in everlasting righteousness…
    • Till the end of the age of men – God establishing His Kingdom
  • The starting date of the 490 years – the command to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem
    • Turns out that happened on March 14^th, 445B.C. – Nehemiah 2:1-8
    • Counting 483 (69×7) years – or 173,880 days – brings you to…
    • April 6^th, 32A.D – Palm Sunday – the day Jesus proclaimed Himself the Messiah!
    • Jesus expected Israel to know this prophecy of Daniel…
    • But the Jews did not know their Bible – so they missed Jesus 1^st coming
    • Luke 19:41-42 – “Now as [Jesus] drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If you had known, even you, especially in this your day…’”
    • Do we know our Bible – do we know what the Bible says about Jesus coming
    • We see the signs (5 signs of the times) Jesus is coming soon to rapture the church 
    • Are we looking for Him – or will we be like the Jews – miss Jesus
  • At the end of 483 years – the Messiah will be killed
    • Daniel predicted the death of Jesus Christ – he even foretold when!
    • At which point God’s clock stopped – and waited… it has been stopped for 2000 years!
    • This time is called the ‘church age’ – it began with Jesus Crucifixion…
    • It will continue until… the last “gentile” to be saved, gets saved – Romans 11:25
    • Then Jesus will come to Rapture His church!
  • The prince who is to come…
    • The clock will start up again when the Anti-Christ makes peace with Israel
    • The thought is in the aftermath of the rapture (1 billion people disappear)
    • And after the Magog invasion (God destroys armies of Russia and the Arabs)
    • The world will be in chaos – one man will step up offering peace& safety…
    • It is thought he will make peace by offering to rebuild the 3^rd Temple for Israel
    • The Jews have everything ready to rebuild the temple – waiting for their messiah
    • The Anti-Christ will be received as the Jewish Messiah – rebuilding the Temple…
    • Thus starting the last 7 years on God’s watch – the 7 years of Tribulation
  • The Abomination…
    • 3 ½ years into the Tribulation the Anti-Christ will perform the Abomination!
    • The Anti-Christ will enter the rebuilt 3^rd temple – into the Holiest of All
    • The footstool of God – where the Ark of the Covenant once stood (1^st Temple only)
    • There he will demand he is god – and should be worshiped by the world…
      
• When you see that – Run! vs. 15-18
  • Get out fast – Jesus uses 4 examples to illustrate…
    • On a housetop (common hangout in Israel) don’t go back in to get anything…
    • If you are in a field (at work) – don’t go home for more clothes…
    • Pray you are not pregnant or nursing babies…
    • Pray that your flight is not in the winter (cold & rainy)…
  • Why – because of what is coming – terror like has never or will ever again be seen!

The Great Tribulation… vs. 19-23

• Such as has never been seen – or will ever be again… vs. 19-20
  • In the Book of Revelation – God pours out 21 judgments in the 7-years of tribulation
  • They are broken up into 3 sets of 7 judgments – Seal / Trumpet / and bowl judgments
    • 7 Seal Judgments – Revelation 6…
      • 1^st -4^th seals – 4 riders – White (Anti-christ), Red (war), black (famine), pale (death)
        • ¼ of all the earth dies with the opening of the first 4 seals…
      • 5^th seal – Many are killed for their faith in Jesus Christ (tribulation saints)
      • 6^th seal – Terrible worldwide earthquake – moving mountains and islands
      • 7^th seal – Silence in heaven for ½ hour… then comes the 7 trumpets…
    • 7 Trumpet Judgments – Revelation 8…
      • 1^st trumpet – 1/3 of the earth (grass & trees) burned up by fire
      • 2^nd trumpet – 1/3 of the ocean turns to blood – killing 1/3 of all fish
      • 3^rd trumpet – All the rivers and springs become poisoned
      • 4^th trumpet – 1/3 of the sun and moon become dark – 1/3 of day darkened
      • 5^th trumpet – Swarm of scorpion-locust (demonic) unleashed on the earth
        • Given the power to torment men – want to die – but cannot
      • 6^th trumpet – Army of 200 million unleashed to kill 1/3 of all mankind
        • By this point 60% of the world’s population has died!
  • All this takes place before the Abomination of Desolation!  Then comes the bowls…
    • 7 Bowl Judgments – Revelation 16
      • 1^st bowl  – Unbearable boils all those who reject Jesus Christ
      • 2^nd bowl – Death of every living thing that lives in the sea
      • 3^rd bowl – All inland waters (lakes-rivers) turn to blood
      • 4^th bowl – Causes the sun to scorch men
      • 5^th bowl – Darkness falls over the kingdom of the Anti-Christ – anguish
      • 6^th bowl – Dries up the river Euphrates – preparing for Armageddon
      • 7^th bowl – The most devastating earthquake ever – “It is done”!
  • Unless those days were shortened…
    • The terror of the tribulation will be so great
    • Unless God shortened the days – limiting it to just the 7 years…
    • No one would survive – but for the sake of those who accept Jesus – shortened
  • The point Jesus is making – you don’t want to be there…
    • It’s a scary list of judgments on a God forsaking world…
    • The bad news – anyone who does not believe in Jesus has this to look forward to
    • The good news – if you believe in Jesus – you will be safely in heaven
    • If we believe in Jesus we will not go through the Tribulation
    • We will be taken to heaven by Jesus before hand in the rapture of the church
    • Really good motivation to believe in Jesus today!
    • II Corinthians 6:2 –“Today is the day of salvation.”
    • People can be saved during the Tribulation – but you will have to go through it…
    • And the end result will be you will have to die – beheaded – for your faith in Jesus…

• Revelation 20:4 – “Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast…”
• For those who do believe during the tribulation – Jesus warns them to beware…
  
• The false christ… vs. 21-23
  • In those days if someone tells you the Christ is here or there – don’t believe it…
    • The Anti-Christ will proclaim to the world – he is THE Christ
      • He will rule the worlds political system – he will be the government
      • He will rule the worlds financial system – 666 – take the mark or don’t eat
      • He will be the world’s religion – worship him as the god of this world!
      • He will try and prove he is god – by deceiving the world with signs and wonders…
    • Revelation 13:11-15 – the false prophet…
      • This false Christ will have a false prophet – causing the world to worship him
      • The false prophet can cause fire to come down from heaven
      • He can make statues of the Anti-Christ speak – put ‘unbelievers’ to death
      • Signs that would even deceive those who believe in Jesus – if it were possible
      • There is a danger to following signs and wonders…
      • Satan can – and will – imitate God – so he looks like the real thing…
      • The only way to know the truth is by being men and women of the Word
      • John 17:17 – “[Jesus said to the Father] Your word is truth.”
      • Jesus Word is the only Truth – it is how we know a lie from the Truth!
      • II Timothy 2:15 – “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”
  • Considerer yourself warned – we know and therefore should not be deceived!
    • So if someone claims to be the Christ – don’t believe it!
    • Instead recognize it as a sign the 2^nd coming of Jesus is close…
    • Like when the lightning comes the east – but also flashes in the west
    • Like when the birds gather – indicating there is a dead animal near
    • Like when firecracker stores pop up in the market – telling you New Years is near
    • So when you see the Anti-Christ – know Jesus is not far away!

2^nd coming of Jesus… vs. 24-27

• King of Kings & Lord of Lords… 
  • Immediately after the Tribulation…
    • The Great and Terrible day of the Lord – Joel 2:10-13…
    • The sun & moon will go dark – stars will fall from heaven – Revelation 12:4
    • The powers of the heavens will be shaken – (perhaps referring to demonic powers)
    • It is the Great and Terrible day of the Lord – the day the sins of men are judged!
    • For any and all who have chosen to reject Jesus Christ – its reckoning time!
    • Philippians 2: 9-10 – “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth…”
    • It is not a question of if you will bow to Jesus Christ – just when
    • You can choose not to believe in Jesus – go through the Tribulation
    • Then – if you manage to survive – face the Great and Terrible day – Judgment day…
  • The sign of the Son of man…
    • Jesus coming through the clouds – riding out of heaven…
    • Revelation 19:11 – “I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.”
    • He comes with the sound of a trumpet – with all the elect…
    • Revelation 19:14 – “And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.”
    • Or you can believe in Jesus today – spend the Tribulation in Heaven
    • And return with him in triumph and the Great Day of the Lord!