The Warning Signs of the End Times
In our ongoing daily meditations at groupbiblestudy.com on the End Times and the Great Tribulation, Jesus warned of a time of extraordinary tribulation and persecution following the Abomination of Desolation spoken of in Matthew 24. We observed that this event signifies the start of the Great Tribulation in the King James Version, or the time of Great Distress in the NIV Bible. Many, including myself, believe it indicates a global persecution of believers in Christ. When asked about the signs before His Second Coming, Christ mentioned persecution.
9“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:9-13, emphasis added).
Jesus then gave a warning sign that signals the start of tribulation and persecution. It begins with the word "so," which links the event to the upcoming persecution we will face. Now, let's talk about the event. Here again is the text:
Defining the Abomination of Desolation in Matthew 24
15“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be (Matthew 24:15-21. ESV; emphasis added).
The Role of the Antichrist and the Temple
The abomination of desolation refers to the desecration of the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem by the Antichrist. We discussed this in our daily meditations a few days ago as one of the three signs mentioned by the Apostle Paul. Here again is the text written by Paul:
3Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; emphasis added).
The Book of Revelation also describes an event where an image is set up for people to worship. This writer believes this also refers to what Jesus and Daniel the prophet called the Abomination of Desolation. Here is the text in Revelation 13:
...it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed (Revelation 13:14-15).
Spiritual Resilience: Standing Firm During the Great Tribulation
When this event occurs, Jesus warns that there will be a great tribulation on earth. I believe that God will use this testing time to spark a mighty revival, deepen believers’ faith, and bring maturity and a heavenly perspective to this world. The persecution driven by Satan targets those who hold to the God of the Bible, including both Jews and Christians. There will be a falling away, rebellion, or apostasy (depending on your translation, 2 Thessalonians 2:3) among those who attend church but have never established a relationship with Christ. This falling away may occur when many are required to take the Mark of the Beast to buy or sell (Revelation 13:17). Accepting this mark, I believe, will involve the acknowledgment of the Antichrist as God. Many will compromise their faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when pressured to receive the Mark of the Beast.
Our Eternal Hope: The Return of Christ
When the time comes, the Lord calls His people to be faithful and to endure even unto death if necessary. Death is never a believer's ending — it is a gateway to eternal life. These words of Jesus should motivate us if we are alive during this time of persecution or tribulation. When we see these events happen on Earth, we know that the end is near. If this occurs in our lifetime, we will soon see Christ returning in great power and glory to take us to Himself (Matthew 24:30-31). Keith Thomas
How Should We Live Today?
1. Prioritize Your Relationship Over Religion: As the text mentions a "falling away" of those who attend church but don't know Christ, the application is to move beyond "Sunday-only" faith. Spend time in daily prayer and personal study to ensure your roots are deep enough to survive a storm.
2. Develop a "Heavenly Perspective": We often fear the loss of physical things (money, comfort, safety). Practice shifting your focus to eternal things. Ask yourself: "If I lost my ability to buy or sell tomorrow, is my identity still secure in Christ?"
3. Study to Avoid Deception: Jesus specifically said, "Let the reader understand." Applying this means being a student of the Word so that you aren't easily swayed by "false prophets" or cultural pressure.
Continue Your Journey…
To keep up with our daily meditations on the Second Coming of Christ, consider bookmarking the link below for all our free 3-minute Bible meditations in English:
The full study on this topic, titled “The Great Tribulation or Persecution,” is found in the End Times series. The YouTube video of this talk is at the following link: https://youtu.be/uE9LJDKUQ2E