Matthew 24:11-15

Mat 24:11 (KJB)
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Since Christianity was in its infancy, it would not have been hard for false prophets to arise and deceive many. This happened to the Galatian church when the false teachers turned their eyes from pure grace to grace plus works. (2 Cor 11:13 KJV) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. The church at Corinth had faced such false teachers. The writing of 2 Corinthians was about 55-56 A.D. Basically, Jesus was warning the disciples about the situation here in Jerusalem. When the Jewish revolt started in 66 A.D., there were probably many who thought they were prophets and this way they were able to deceive many of the men into joining the revolt.

Mat 24:12 (KJB)
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

As a result of the impending destruction of Jerusalem, love will be something long forgotten. Between the persecution coming from outside the city and the false prophets inside the city, will make people hard and that will cause their love to become cold. This will also result in many who will abandon the faith.

Mat 24:13 (KJB)
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

This is a tremendous verse concerning the destruction of Jerusalem. The verse at this point is stating that those who endure the persecutions and the false prophets will be saved. It is a very interesting point that in verse 16, Jesus tells the Christians to flee unto the mountains. The unbelieving Jews did not believe the Lord’s words and thousands were killed in the siege but because the Christians had waited until the army of Rome was approaching and then they fled to the mountains. Eusebius records that the Christians had gone to a village called Pella beyond the Jordan and as a result of their obedience to the Lord, not one Christian was killed in the siege of Jerusalem. They were saved physically from the slaughter and because they were Christians they were saved eternally. (Luke 21:18 KJV) But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

Mat 24:14 (KJB)
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

This verse carries with it two prophecies. The first prophecy is that the Gospel is to be preached in all the world, that is, the known world at that time. (Rom 1:8 KJV) First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. Whenever there is a persecution and people are scattered, it makes new areas where the Gospel is to be preached. (Acts 8:1 KJV) And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. In Acts 8:1, a persecution happened against the church and they left Jerusalem and went to all the different areas around preaching the Gospel. The second prophecy of this verse is the fact that the gospel must be preached to all nations of the entire world because God will have His Elect in every single country in the world and it is through the hearing of the Gospel that people are saved.

Mat 24:15 (KJB)
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Jesus now specifically tells the disciples that when you “see” the abomination of desolation. This is speaking of physical sight and not spiritual sight for the usage of the word “eidon” at this point. The abomination of Desolation will be the armies of Rome because they will be seen in the holy place. The term “holy place” is normally used in connection with the temple and tabernacle. However, the term “holy place” is also used as a description of the city of Jerusalem. (Psa 46:4 KJV) There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. Before Jesus went to the cross, the term holy place or holy city was a name for Jerusalem. So now Jesus is telling the disciples that when they physically see. What will they physically see? Luke 21:20 answers that question. (Luke 21:20 KJV) And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Remember Jesus said that their place is left unto them desolate and when the army of Rome marches into Jerusalem and razes it, the temple will be destroyed. (Dan 11:31 KJV) And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. Along with the temple being destroyed, the Mosaic law will also be discontinued or taken away because it is no longer needed because it was only a shadow of Christ and since He came and went back to Heaven, it is now pure grace for salvation.

Since the time Israel was formed through the 12 patriarchs, they have been a rebellious, recalcitrant nation even to the point of crucifying their own Messiah. What is happening here is God is now taking vengeance on Israel for their rebellion. (Luke 21:22 KJV) For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. The principle is given to us in Romans 12:19. (Rom 12:19 KJV) Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. So it is God Himself who brought the vengeance upon rebellious Israel and since He is now dealing with all nations of the world, the Gospel could not be sequestered in a temple in one small place but must go out to the whole world. The holy place in this verse has absolutely nothing to do with a local church because Jesus is describing the end of the Mosaic system and the end of a rebellious nation. The “local church” has not even been born yet and will come into existence under the Apostle Paul.

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