“But when ye shall see…” Mark 13:14-20
The disciples’ original question was “when will these things happen” and “how will we know when”. Now Jesus gives them the answer: when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not. This is not new information. They know their prophecy. That is why they were alert when Jesus appeared on the scene. He reminds them that this is the same thing the prophet Daniel has warned them about.
What is the abomination of desolation? Is it a person? A spirit? The antichrist? Not sure I can answer that satisfactorily here. It is described in the strongest of terms. An abomination is something detestable, filthy, disgusting. In biblical thought it often refers to idolatry. To desolate is to stun, stupefy, appall, devastate, to lay waste. Not the sort of thing any person would look forward to, even if it is a sign of the Lord’s coming.
Take inventory: how many things are going on in the world today that were not spoken of even a few years ago? I’m not suggesting a “frog in the pot” approach where we slowly become accustomed to strange new ideas. These things seem to happen after a few hints then are suddenly upon us in full force. Anyone standing in the way is destroyed. All you need do to realize this is to watch the news. But something worse is coming. Worse than anything anyone has experienced before.
Jesus provides a very practical response. In fact, it is not spiritual at all. He just says, Run. Did you get that? RUN! Don’t stop to take anything with you. Pray for help and protection, but go! Things will get so bad, that God will have to intervene to prevent the total annihilation of all flesh.
We aren’t given times and dates and checklists to figure this out. For Christians indwelt by the Holy Spirit, it will be a gut-level response. It will be overwhelming revulsion; a sickening sense of helplessness and hopelessness on the deepest spiritual level. Everything of God that is good and true will be rejected horribly. But do not despair. Just get away. Jesus is coming and coming quickly.
Copyright 2022 David J. Cooley