Dani'el 12:11 "From the time the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that causes desolation is set up there will be 1290 days."
"So when you see the abomination that causes desolation spoken about through the prophet Dani'el standing in the Holy Place" (let the reader understand the allusion) "that will be the time for those in Y'hudah to escape to the hills. If someone is on the roof, he must not go down to gather his belongings from his house; if someone is in the field, he must not turn back to get his coat. What a terrible time it will be for pregnant women and nursing mothers! pray that you will not have to escape in winter or Shabbat. For there will be trouble then worse than there has ever been from the beginning of the world until now, and there will be nothing like it again! Indeed, if the length of this time had not been limited, no one would survive; but for the sake of those who have been chosen, its length will be limited.
At that time, if someone says to you, 'Look here is the Messiah!' or 'There he is!' don't believe him. For there will appear false Messiahs and false prophets perfomring great miracles -amazing things!- so as to fool even the chosen, if possible. there! I have told you in advance! So if people say to you, 'Listen! He's out in the desert,' don't go; or 'Look! He's hidden away in a secret room!' don't believe it. For then the Son of Man does come, it will be like lightning that flashes out of the east and fills the sky to the western horizon. Wherever there's a dead body, thats where you'll find vultures.
As Yeshua continues the Olive Discourse here, there is an interesting theme that develops, which we will see both now and in parts to come. That theme is pretty simple, but pretty profound if you think about it. The theme and message is this; Yeshua is coming back. Simple for many of us who have been in the church for a long time, but how much does it really affect our lives.
Indeed this is, in essence, what the believer lives for, this moment when our Savior returns. Yet so many believers are not prepared and are wrapped up in this world. They have become lazy and set in this world. This world is not our home. We live for a kingdom not yet come, and so we must live. Not merely being good cause Yeshua might come and judge what we are doing at that moment, but being watchful and expectant that he is coming soon!
This is, in fact, what Yeshua is warning about in this passage. He warns that whatever situation people are in, that they should immediately flee from the coming disaster. Don't be so caught up in the things that tie you to this world that you have to run and get them when the trouble begins.
As to what Yeshua actually says and quotes, the message is somewhat clear. The passages in Dan'el refer to an invading power turning the temple into an abomination. This has happened many time throughout history since Yeshua said this. The only proof that this brings out is that there is no human way of knowing when this will happen beforehand.
Because of the warning Yeshua gives, though, those who are watchful should be able to see it and be ready for it. There will be a sense of urgency. This urgency will primarily be for Israel and Yerushalayim, but we are still to be mindful of it. It will also be dangerous, and perilous. Yeshua says to pray that this will not fall on times where working and running would be difficult, and has pity on the women in labor at the time. There will be suffering, but G-d will protect His people.
A big sign of prparedness will be how easily led astray the chosen are. Yeshua warns of many false Messiahs and many signs. believers must not be led astray. Don't be naive and follow others who say they have him. Wait for it, because Yeshua said he will return noticeably, and until then, we are to be mindful only for his return.
The most important part, the theme as I mentioned before, is to be prepared. Many of us know we are not ready for Yeshua to return. Whether that is un-repentance, or simply clinging onto this life, we know that if he were to return, we would not be able to run to him. Maybe we would be caught offguard by the false messiahs.
The gospel is G-d providing a way for us to come to Him, and to not be ready when he comes for us is more than shameful, it is an abomination.
If Yeshua returned today, would you be ready?
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