The Great Tribulation: Daily Thoughts from Mark (Mark 13:14-23)

Jesus is in Jerusalem to be killed in our place, but before his arrest he has been teaching his disciples and has predicted a time of unprecedented persecution of believers and indicated that this is the sign of the end of the age.  But he gives an even more specific inaugural event as a sign for the kickoff of this time of tribulation leading up to the end.

“But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that it may not happen in winter. For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand. (Mark 13:14-23)

The sign that is unmistakable and starts the time of great tribulation ticking is the “abomination of desolation.”  This is a reference to Daniel 9:27, a part of Daniel’s prophecy of the end of times.  Daniel talks of a ruler who will come and make a covenant with Israel for 7 years, bringing peace.  During that time the temple in Jerusalem will be standing and three and a half years into the covenant agreement the ruler will enter the temple and desecrate it by setting something unclean up in it (an abomination that desolates the temple).

Israel had experienced this before during the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, a Greek ruler before Rome conquered Israel.  He tried to move the Jews toward Greek worship by setting up a statue of Zeus in the temple.  He also slew a pig on the altar.  But he was defeated by the Maccabees, a Jewish family that led a revolt.

Daniel’s prophecy however has not been fulfilled yet and so this one awaits the end of time.  Jesus says tribulation like never before will befall the earth.  This is depicted in Revelation 6-19.  It is persecution of Christians but also God’s outpouring of judgment on unbelievers.  Many will die but God will shorten this time (three and a half years) for the sake of believers.  But he warns his followers that many will use this time of despair to claim that the Messiah has come, and some will even be able to do miraculous things, but they should not be led astray.

Right now there is no temple in Israel so the prophecy cannot be fulfilled. If someone were able to broker a peace between Israel and her Muslim neighbors that allowed them to rebuild the temple it would likely be the beginning of the fulfillment of this prophecy.  Whoever that peace broker would be would indicate he is the Antichrist, Satan’s pawn seeking world domination (Revelation 13, 17 and 18).  Believers who see this sign fulfilled should immediately flee Judea, the epicenter of the persecution.