Day 51: Jesus warns about the end of the world
The dad in our family (Bryan) loves climbing. He has a dream of going to Mount Everest—not to climb it, just to look at it. The problem is, you can’t see the summit of Mount Everest from base camp because other massive mountains block your view. Sometimes, people compare prophecies in the Bible to looking at a mountain range. Often, there would be a short-term fulfillment of the prophecy people could see from where they were, but also a long-term fulfillment that might be hundreds or thousands of years away. In today’s passage, Jesus talks about some events that would happen soon. Some we are still waiting for almost two thousand years later.
When does Jesus say that people in Judea should flee to the mountains (v. 14)?
The “abomination that causes desolation” was first mentioned in the book of Daniel. Daniel was living in exile in Babylon after the first temple was destroyed. An angel told him that one day the temple would be rebuilt and the Anointed One would come. But afterward, the Anointed One would be put to death and Jerusalem and the sanctuary would be destroyed by an enemy ruler, who would set up “an abomination that causes desolation” at the temple (Daniel 9:25–27). When Jesus spoke these words, the first part of this prophecy had already happened: the temple had been rebuilt and the Anointed One (Jesus) had come. But He had not yet been put to death, and the temple had not been destroyed again. Experts disagree about what exactly Jesus meant by the “abomination that causes desolation.”
What does Jesus tell people not to do when that time comes (vv. 15–16)?
Who does Jesus say it will be extra hard for when that time comes (v. 17)?
How bad does Jesus say things will be when that time comes (v. 19)?
Why does Jesus say the Lord has cut that time short (v. 20)?
How does Jesus say His disciples should respond to people who say they’ve found the Messiah in the future (vv. 21–23)?
Experts disagree about whether Jesus is describing what will happen to Jerusalem in AD 70 throughout this speech or whether He is talking at least some of the time about the last day when He will come back again to rule. The Roman attack on Jerusalem in AD 70 was really, really terrible. But some of what Jesus says in verses 24–27 seems to fit better with what will happen when He comes back again.
What does Jesus say will happen to the sun, moon, and stars (vv. 24–25)?
Who does Jesus say will come in clouds with power and glory (v. 26)?
What will Jesus send His angels to do at that time (v. 27)?
“From the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens” means all over the world. Today, Jesus’ followers live all across the world, just like He said they would!
What does Jesus say will not pass away until all these things have happened (v. 30)?
What does Jesus say will pass away in the end, and what won’t (v. 31)?
Some people think the generation Jesus is talking about is the literal lifespan of His hearers, many of whom will live to see the temple in Jerusalem destroyed. Others think “this generation” means this age, between when Jesus first came and when He will come again as Lord of all.
Praise Jesus that He is the rightful King of all the universe and that one day we will see Him coming on the clouds with great power and glory. Pray that more and more people would put their trust in Jesus now.