I have a question to be tested:
Could these verses be saying the Jews use the tabernacle out in battle while the temple is being built in Jerusalem?
Matthew 24
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?se ... ersion=49;
Mark 13
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?se ... ersion=49;
The above two passages are nearly identical and quite long to be so much alike. I find that significant. Relative to the verses tendency to be misunderstood, God records it in His word twice. These two passages flow in a logical pattern:
1.) Jesus leaves the temple with the disciples.
2.) Jesus declares the temple will be destroyed.
3.) Jesus sits on Mount of Olives opposite the temple with the leaders of the disciples.
4.) Leaders of the disciples ask when the temple will be destroyed/what signs to look for the end of the age.
The temple is obviously the focus and the thread of the conversation, yet Jesus does not even mention the temple! Instead, Jesus starts out by warning them to get this right!
Mark 13:5 And Jesus began to say to them, "See to it that no one misleads you…
9 "But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.
--Why no mention of being taken to the temple as commanded in the law? Could this be saying there will be no temple until…when?
14"But when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.
--Notice the special *hint* that this is a puzzle that takes some solving to understand! And the context of the discussion is about the destroyed temple, then these things happen.
Matthew 24:15 Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)
--Matthew also makes note of the *hint* and also neglects to speak of the temple.
Daniel 11:31 Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation.
--This is written in the plural “they ”and seems to describe a battle zone. .Could it be an ark of the covenant (or The Ark of the Covenant) is taken into battle as was foolishly done in the old testament in order to *assure* victory? Would the tabernacle be nearby in the “camp” of Israel?
38 "But instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold, silver, costly stones and treasures.
39 "He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign god; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and will cause them to rule over the many, and will parcel out land for a price.
--We have already seen this century how Israel’s leaders traded land for covenants, and then rich natural resources were discovered in those lands. We also see leaders being assigned position in the EU, United Nations, OPEC, etc.. Could that apply here? At any rate, there is no mention of the temple.
41 "He will also enter the Beautiful Land,
--“they” set up the abomination in v. 31, now “he” will also enter Jerusalem? Does this mean the abomination was not set up in Jerusalem before now?
44 But rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him, and he will go forth with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many.
45 He will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.
--Satan imitates and forges. If he has tents, could it be because he imitates Israel’s camp and tabernacle? Is the image set up in his tent as he goes out to conquer?
Perhaps Israel would be building the temple, and using the tabernacle. Once the temple is ready, then Satan could sit in the temple? The next verse starts another chapter but continues “at that time”:
Daniel 12:1 Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.
--Is Satan sitting in the temple and Jesus is leading the Jews to hide them in the mountains while the bowl judgments are poured out “at this time”?
2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.
--Sounds like the rapture to me! And not any too soon! Thy kingdom come!