Then we come to:

Matthew 24:15 KJV 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:)

This is a reference to these passages:

Daniel 9:27 KJV And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Daniel 12:11 KJV And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

The exact same concept of fleeing Judaea for the hills is found in Mark and Luke:

Mark 13:14-15 KJV But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: (15) And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:

Luke 21:20-22 KJV And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. (21) Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. (22) For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

I claim proper hermeneutics involves what is called the rule of "Occam's Razor". The simplest explanation for some phenomenon is more likely to be accurate than more complicated explanations. If you have two equally likely solutions to a problem, choose the simplest. The explanation requiring the fewest assumptions is most likely to be correct.

With that in mind, consider how some futurists have discussed this issue and claim that Luke spoke of an entirely different conversation than that which Matthew 24 spoke about in mentioning the "abomination of desolation". Luke said the signal to flee Judaea was Jerusalem being surrounded with armies, and they agree this referred to AD70. But since Matthew spoke of the signal as being the abomination of desolation, which they insist did not occur in AD70, they claim this is evidence there were two different conversations recorded by Luke and Matthew.

They went into an elaborate and drawn out explanation of how Jesus started to say the same thing recorded in Matthew and Luke, but Luke continued with words that occurred next in the actual sequence of words, whereas Matthew did not include that part of the conversation at all.

Futurists told me that Luke continued writing about a conversation that occurred below the Mount of Olives by the temple, since Luke does not mention "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, (Matt 24:3a)." Matthew wrote of a conversation on top of the mount of Olives.

Now, we can stop right here and say something sounds fishy. Just because Luke did not mention the detail about being atop the mountain does not mean they were not atop the mountain speaking the words he wrote. Let's use reasoning and logic in our hermeneutic. I see no other reason for futurists making this silly claim than simply wanting to believe it to keep their doctrine afloat.

But let's continue with their claim.

Futurists told me they believe Luke 21:6-24 was a conversation entirely omitted by Matthew spoken at the temple or at least below the mount of Olives. But Luke catches up with Matthew's conversation on top of the mount of Olives in verse 25 where they both mention signs in the sun and moon, etc.

Now, let us consider the ramifications of such a claim.

The ridiculous conclusion this leaves one with is that Luke chopped out the first part of the Mountaintop conversation that Matthew wrote in Matthew 24:3-27. When Luke caught up with Matthew on the top of the mount of Olives, he only wrote of the latter half of the mountaintop chat. Meanwhile, Matthew chopped out the entire discussion below the mountain.

And when we compare Matthew 24's words they claim were from a different conversation than Luke's record that occurred below the mountain, every single element in both accounts are in a perfect pattern. I will note that pattern next.

In the quotations below, the words found in Matthew are proposed by some futurists to not have been the same conversation Luke wrote about whatsoever. In other words, according to some futurists, these verses below in Matthew are words that Luke did not write about. And the words I quote below from Luke are words Matthew wrote nothing about. Yet, see how similar these entire portions of scripture really are, and realize they are indeed the same conversation simply repeated using different terms:

Luke 21:6-24 KJV As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (7) And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? (8) And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. (9) But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. (10) Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: (11) And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. (12) But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. (13) And it shall turn to you for a testimony. (14) Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: (15) For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. (16) And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. (17) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. (18) But there shall not an hair of your head perish. (19) In your patience possess ye your souls. (20) And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. (21) Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. (22) For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. (23) But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. (24) And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.


Matthew 24:3-28 KJV And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (4) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. (5) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (6) And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (7) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. (8) All these are the beginning of sorrows. (9) Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. (10) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. (11) And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (12) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (13) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (14) 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. (15) 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: ) (16) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: (17) Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: (18) Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. (19) And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! (20) But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: (21) For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (22) And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (23) Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. (24) For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. (25) Behold, I have told you before. (26) Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. (27) For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (28) For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

If you read carefully, everything is in an identical pattern in both accounts, with only minor variations of terms used.

I must say that to propose the above two accounts are not speaking of one and the same conversation has absolutely been the most ridiculous example of eisegesis I was ever presented with.

But, alas, we're not done with Matthew 24 yet.

Let's move on.

Matthew 24:29-31 KJV Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: (30) And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (31) And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

The tribulation of "those days" is speaking about the tribulation noted in verse 21.

Matthew 24:21 KJV For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

In speaking of this tribulation, we must back up a bit and catch something I missed so far. Verse 21 gives the reason of the tribulation for the words noted before verse 21. Those verses are as follows:

Matthew 24:16-20 KJV Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: (17) Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: (18) Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. (19) And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! (20) But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

People must flee. But flee what area? Is this a note to all the world? We find that people are to flee Judaea alone when they see the abomination. And verse 21 gives the reason as being a great tribulation such as never was nor shall be. This explicitly does not refer to a tribulation across the globe, or else every believer in every nation would be told to flee. But it only says those who are in Judaea must flee.



Continued... (click here).