Jesus is Essential
Matthew 24:14–15: And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand).
The midpoint of the Tribulation period is most important, for at that time an event will take place that was prophesied by Daniel (Dan. 9:24–27). The logical place for this seven-year period is after the Rapture of the church. “The time of Jacob’s trouble,” the Tribulation period, will be seven years long. Second Thessalonians 2:1–12 indicates that the Antichrist cannot be revealed until the restrainer is taken out of the midst. That restrainer is the Holy Spirit in the church.
Once the church is out of the world, then Satan can produce his masterpiece, the Antichrist. He will make the agreement for seven years, but after three-and-one-half years he will break that agreement. He will then move into the Jewish temple himself and proclaim that he is God (Rev. 13). The Antichrist will cause a living statue of himself to be put into the temple, and his associate (the false prophet, Rev. 20:10) will cause the whole earth to worship it. Satan has always wanted the world’s worship, and in the middle of the Tribulation he will begin to receive it. Jesus called this statue “the abomination of desolation.” 1
Walking with Jesus
People are willing to live and die for a lie. So, are you willing to live for the truth? The world stage seems very prepared to receive the wrong “one-world” leader? How surrendered are you? Do you believe and obey all that Jesus has asked of you? Does He reign and rule over all that you do? Is He truly your Lord?
And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:3
Does knowing the Great Tribulation is coming purify your heart for Him?
Praying
Lord, teach me how to pray for my friends, so they will not be deceived by this world.
1. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
