By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan
Focal Passage: Matthew 24:15-22
Nobody likes to be deceived — that moment when you realize you have been lied to and taken advantage of. It’s embarrassing. Therefore, we shouldn’t be surprised to discover in these last days Satan is truly deceiving the nations of the world. What will all of this lead to?
Days of deception. Matthew 24:15 speaks about the abomination of desecration as mentioned in Daniel 9:27. The Roman General Tiochus Epiphanes, around 160 B.C., marched into the temple, erected a statue of Zeus and sacrificed a pig on the altar. Talk about blasphemy and abomination!
Many see this as a future reference to the final days before Jesus returns. Paul writes about this in II Thessalonians 2:1-12. He is referred to as the “man of lawlessness.”
Chuck Williams
Up until now this has been a “mystery,” but is this mystery unfolding before our very eyes? Will we see the “man of lawlessness” in our lifetime? Jesus said be alert because the enemy’s desire will be to deceive the nations and desecrate anything or anyone holy.
Days of fear. This deception will give way to fear. There are times to resist and times to run. Matthew 24:16 says it’s a time to run. If this happens in our lifetime we must remember to use the wisdom of God. Some of God’s greatest heroes had times when they fled for safety.
Verse 17 speaks of fleeing so quickly like someone awakened and fleeing from a house on fire, when there is no time to grab any valuables. The most valuable thing we possess is our redeemed soul. It cannot be taken from us or lost by us.
Days of distress. History has given us times of terrible conflict and wars, but none will be like the final one. Previous wars have been localized to specific countries, but this will be on a worldwide level. When and how it will happen, no one knows. But we do know it will be catastrophic.
It is described as days of ‘tribulation,’ which is the Greek word “thlipsis.” This word expresses ‘great pressure;’ as when a grape is squeezed in a wine press, or a form of judicial execution. Spiro Zodhiates, in his commentary on Matthew, writes, “The contrast that follows is between this and every other tribulation. This will be the severest.”
Final days. These days will be a strange mixture of good and evil. Satan’s imposter “the Anti-Christ” will appear as a minister of light, peace and healing. Yet, he is doing this before the demons from the pit are unleashed. In his abominable way he will direct his friends to destroy Israel. At some point the wrath of God will be poured out to bring down this sinister minister.
Better days. This time of tribulation will mercifully be cut short. Until then, now is not the time for idle, soft or lukewarm Christianity. What should we be doing now? Paul said in Philippians 4:1 that we are to “stand firm.” This military term tells us to be alert and constantly on guard.
We are to stand firm in Christ, (Galatians 2:20), in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6) and in the Word of God (Psalm 119:110-112). Remember John’s words: “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” B&R
