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“But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that it may not happen in winter. For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand."
Mark 13:14-23.
I will be the first to admit that I find end times prophesies baffling. They have always left me with more questions than answers. The "abomination of desolation" is often taught as a specific manifestation of the antichrist. It refers to a time when the daily sacrifice in the temple would be replaced with pagan sacrifices. Modern preachers say that there will be a restoration of the temple in Jerusalem, including the old testament sacrifices, and that THOSE would be replaced with pagan sacrifices. My question is, "Didn't Jesus replace those sacrifices Himself when became the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world? Wouldn't the ANTICHRIST be someone who was trying to replace HIM?"
If you read the entire Bible, you will see patterns. Apostasy and judgment are recurring themes. God's people are always replacing the legitimate sacrifices with some new shiny object, an idol. Twice they made a golden calf to replace their God. They demanded a king to replace their God, so they could be like all the other nations. I could go on.
After Jesus came and fulfilled all the sacrifices, which were just a preview of what He would do once and for all, human nature adapted by replacing Christ's gift with complex legalistic requirements and a whole ministry class of bureaucrats who administered sacraments. Jesus, our high priest, was replaced with earthly priests.
I believe we need to see what this looks like today. How are the false prophets of our age trying to replace our savior? We have replaced the story of creation with evolution. We have replaced the end times cataclysm with climate change. We have replaced the origional sin in the garden with the origional sin of slavery. We have replaced the good news that our sins are no longer held against us with the reparations for past generations through social justice. I see patterns.
Mark 13:14-23.
I will be the first to admit that I find end times prophesies baffling. They have always left me with more questions than answers. The "abomination of desolation" is often taught as a specific manifestation of the antichrist. It refers to a time when the daily sacrifice in the temple would be replaced with pagan sacrifices. Modern preachers say that there will be a restoration of the temple in Jerusalem, including the old testament sacrifices, and that THOSE would be replaced with pagan sacrifices. My question is, "Didn't Jesus replace those sacrifices Himself when became the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world? Wouldn't the ANTICHRIST be someone who was trying to replace HIM?"
If you read the entire Bible, you will see patterns. Apostasy and judgment are recurring themes. God's people are always replacing the legitimate sacrifices with some new shiny object, an idol. Twice they made a golden calf to replace their God. They demanded a king to replace their God, so they could be like all the other nations. I could go on.
After Jesus came and fulfilled all the sacrifices, which were just a preview of what He would do once and for all, human nature adapted by replacing Christ's gift with complex legalistic requirements and a whole ministry class of bureaucrats who administered sacraments. Jesus, our high priest, was replaced with earthly priests.
I believe we need to see what this looks like today. How are the false prophets of our age trying to replace our savior? We have replaced the story of creation with evolution. We have replaced the end times cataclysm with climate change. We have replaced the origional sin in the garden with the origional sin of slavery. We have replaced the good news that our sins are no longer held against us with the reparations for past generations through social justice. I see patterns.
