Daniel Unlocked #1. Before we begin.
It was Tuesday night of Jesus’ last week before His crucifixion. According to Matthew, He had spent that day in the temple. This week is recorded by Matthew from Chapter 21. One third of the record in the gospels comes from this week, which indicates how much emphasis we should put on the closing scenes of Jesus’ life. If you read chapters 21 – 26 of Matthew’s gospel you will notice that He repeatedly came and went from the Temple. You would also notice that the theme of His messages and parables had turned to the theme of Judgment. Parables include: The Unfruitful Fig Tree, The Two Sons, The Tenants of the Vineyard, The Wedding Banquet Investigation, The Seven Woes, The Ten Young Girls, The Talents and, The Sheep and Goats.
On that Tuesday evening, when Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives explaining to His disciples what He had said in the temple about the destruction of the temple, He gave 14 signs that would indicate the nearness of His second coming and “the end of the age.” In the disciples thinking, if Jesus was talking about the destruction of the temple (which was less than 40 years away,) He must have been talking about the end of the world and His second coming. Jesus addressed both questions. To us, who now sit before the final curtain call of this world’s history, we understand that both events were similar and parallel, with one being a microcosm of the larger worldwide event. Jesus’ instruction in Matthew 24 clearly outlines last-day events in the context of Jerusalem’s fall.
Earlier in his ministry, Jesus delivered the renowned “Sermon on the Mount” from the same mountain, a spiritual interpretation of the Ten Commandments in Matthew 5-7. Now, three years later, the “Olivet Sermon on the End” (Matthew 24 and 25) looked forward, becoming a crucial perspective on the culmination of history. Concluding with three judgment parables, the last one portrayed the bridegroom arriving at the darkest hour (metaphorically midnight), and the final judgment separating humanity into two groups with divergent destinies.
In the middle of His sermon on the end of the world, Jesus three times references the book of Daniel.
Firstly, we are admonished to understand the book in Matthew 24:15, and especially the concept of ‘the abomination of desolation.’ (In simple terms this is an idol worshipping and persecuting power.) Secondly, Jesus quotes Daniel 12:1 in Matt.24:21, when He says there will be a time of trouble in the end such as this world has never seen. This statement in Daniel followed the final conflict between the King of the north and the king of the south in chapter 11:40-45. The third reference is in Matthew 24:30, where Jesus takes the title from Daniel 7:13 and 14 of “The coming Son of Man.” This title occurs 82 times in the gospels and by so doing Jesus has rested his sacred hand on Daniel’s book.
Of all the four gospel records, only John omits Jesus’ Second Coming Sermon. This is because God knew he would be given the vision on the Island of Patmos that would become the book of Revelation. Matthew 24 is like a table of contents to the book of Revelation. Importantly, in His sermon on the end of the world and the second coming Jesus gave us clear instructions to understand the fourfold vision, and six stories of Daniel’s ancient manuscript. The two documents work together like a hand and a glove. Revelation constantly alludes to Daniel’s visions and stories.
May God bless you bountifully as we study together this important ancient manuscript. In the light of current events in the Middle East Daniel 11 has amazing significance.
Thanks Ross for the continued blessing of your extensive biblical knowledge.
Thank you Ross, love your clarity and conciseness. It’s a powerful point that Jesus referenced Daniel 3 times in this sermon.
Thanks Ross, keep up the good work.
I am glad you are being blessed by them
I am glad you are being blessed
What’s the 4 fold vision Ross?
I was refering to the 4 cycles of visions throughoutthe book
Thank you so much Pr Ross.
Hi Ross.
(Baileys mum for reference)
Do you believe the Jews will get their temple in the last moments of history? Reason I’m asking is you indicate the abomination of desolation as being an oppressive world power (I can’t recall the exact words while I’m in the email but it’s above in the body of the text)
I believe that the antichrist will allow the Jews to complete their third temple and since the Jews believe he is their messiah, at the mid point he does something that makes them realise that no indeed he is not the messiah… such as sacrifice a pig in the holy of Holies… I believe it will be a literal event which sees them head for the hills (or maybe Petra…? A place avid had prepared for them.)
Longbwuestion i know and delayed. I’ve been busy at work.
Thanks for the study. I’m just beginning it now
Hi Emma, sorry about the delay – I just noticed your question. I will actually deal with this in detail when we do Daniel 9.
Hi Ross – Leon M put me onto your studies. Please add my EM to your database. I’m sorry that I have missed back studies.
Blessings – Garth