(1) Big idea
13:19 For in those days there will be suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, or ever will happen.
Jesus is referring to the great end-time judgment on Jerusalem in the great tribulation.
(2) When will this period start?
(2) When will this period start?
“But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains.
(BKC) The word “abomination” denoted pagan idolatry and its detestable practices (Deut. 29:16–18; 2 Kings 16:3–4; 23:12–14; Ezek. 8:9–18). The phrase “the abomination of desolation” referred to the presence of an idolatrous person or object so detestable that it caused the temple to be abandoned and left desolate.
(3) (Optional reading about this person)
(BKC) This person is the end-time Antichrist (Dan. 7:23–26; 9:25–27; 2 Thes. 2:3–4, 8–9; Rev. 13:1–10, 14–15). He will make a covenant with the Jewish people at the beginning of the seven-year period preceding Christ’s second coming (Dan. 9:27). The temple will be rebuilt and worship reestablished (Rev. 11:1). In the middle of this period (after 3½ years) the Antichrist will break his covenant, stop temple sacrifices, desecrate the temple (cf. Dan. 9:27), and proclaim himself to be God (Matt. 24:15; 2 Thes. 2:3–4; Rev. 11:2). This launches the terrible end-time events of the Great Tribulation (Rev. 6; 8–9; 16). Those who refuse to be identified with the Antichrist will suffer severe persecution and be forced to flee for refuge (Rev. 12:6, 13–17). Many—both Jews and Gentiles—will be saved during this period (Rev. 7) but many will also be martyred (Rev. 6:9–11).
(4) Repeated word:
a. Flee, do not come down...must not turn back...woe to those...
The suffering will come quickly and seriously
b. Pray that... v.18, because of the elect...he has cut them short v.20...false messiahs...to deceive, if possible, the elect v.22, Be careful! I have told you everything ahead of time v.23.
On one hand, the believers during that time need to run as quickly as possible. On the other hand, the sufferings will be under God's control and therefore Jesus urges them to pray to God. God will cut the days shorter. The false messiahs will try to deceive them but they can not. However, Jesus still warns the believers to watch out.
c. elect
13:20 And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved. But because of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut them short.
13:22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect.
(BKC) If the Lord, had not already decided in His sovereign plan to cut short (terminate, not reduce the number of) those days, no one would survive, that is, be delivered from physical death; this is in contrast with 13:13. But God set limits on the duration of the end-time Tribulation, because of the elect, those redeemed during “those days,” whom He has chosen for Himself... God’s direct intervention in judgment, an unmistakable characteristic of the end-time Tribulation.
(5) Reflection
Yes, God has elected us and other believers. He is in control of the sufferings and sets limits to our sufferings. However, He still wants us to watch out! He still tells us to run. We are living under these 2 tensions: yes, we know we dont need to worry about hell, but we still do not want to let go and not behaving.
Audrey
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