All Eyes On Jerusalem: Matthew 24:15
““Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),” Matthew 24:15
Many look at the abomination of desolation as the fulfillment of Daniel 9:26-27. (Please read). This referrers to the Messiah being cut off, Jerusalem destroyed and the temple system cut off. As a result, abominations will happen on the temple grounds.
Scholars are divided on the meaning of these verses. Some look back and say this was fulfilled when the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem and utterly demolished the temple as Jesus inferred in Matthew 24:2.
Others include that take over of the temple ground by Islam and the building of the dome of the rock on the temple grounds. Many wars and much tension has occupied this site.
Still others look at current times and Israel becoming a nation. They then see the antichrist going into a newly rebuilt temple and offering abominable sacrifices. Hence, this view says Jesus cannot come back until a temple is rebuilt and the sacrificial system restored on the temple sight.
My concern is that this view interrupts the doctrine of the eminent return of Christ by focusing on the temple. They looks at the significance of Israel becoming a nation in 1948, but are fixated on the need for the temple to be rebuilt.
Still others see this as the last week of the seventy weeks of Daniel 9:24 and conclude that verse 27 is referring to seven years of tribulation and the reign of antichrist. They believe a temple will be built and defiled during the tribulation. They see the tribulation of Matthew 26:21 being very significant.
My view is simply that the Middle East and Jerusalem very specifically are the focal point of end times prophecy. I believe that Israel becoming a nation in 1948 was very significant and the current state of no sacrificial system is profound with Islam holding much of the temple grounds. The tension between Israel and the displaced Palestinians plays heavily into the formula. I fully expect the Gentile nations to step in by force and try to impose a peaceful treaty or solution.
From my perspective, the prophecy of Daniel is being fulfilled right before our eyes and Jesus could return at any time. World attention is defiantly on Israel and the Middle East conflict unlike any time in history.
So much so, that consulting notable scholars of the past who lived prior to 1948 is of very little help. Prior to Israel becoming a nation, they spiritualized this whole subject and reduced end time prophecy to allegories. But suddenly “in our generation” the words of Jesus and the book of Revelation can be viewed literally. All of the birth pangs Jesus talked about in Matthew 24:4-15 are converging at the present time. All eyes are on Jerusalem.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
