It seems that each time Jesus was asked about the end times, He usually responded with what we should be doing “while we wait” for them:  watch, wait, work, walk, worship, pray and share the gospel.  We should focus on growing closer to the Savior moment by moment.  It was never His plan for us to spend time trying to figure out something that only The Heavenly Father knows. 

In fact, we should live our lives convinced and content that if something is not specifically declared in Scripture, God has done that for a particular purpose.  If He had wanted us to know the exact date for the rapture of the church, He would have told us.  If He had wanted us to know the exact date of the final, victorious return of Jesus, He would have told us. 

We should focus on what Jesus told His disciples to do “in the meantime” and follow their example.  We should be assured that there will be an end.  We do not know when.  So, until then, we live out the gift of each day trusting and following the instructions left to us. 

For example, what if Jesus HAD told the disciples the exact dates and times about which they inquired?  They would have been counting down the days and focusing on THAT instead of spending each day making and growing mature disciples.  The Great Commission mandate is to share as we go on about our daily lives following in the footsteps of The Master.

Jesus speaks of the “abomination of desolation” gathered from the prophetic book of Daniel.  In the last few chapters of Daniel, he describes this abomination and connects it with the temple.  Daniel wrote his Old Testament book from exile in Babylon approximately 586 BC.  Jesus is trying to prepare His disciples for the coming destruction of the temple and the holy city of Jerusalem.  He quotes Daniel in His explanation.  The destruction is unthinkable and abhorrent in the minds of these twelve men. 

Desolation of the holy city in itself would be an abomination to those listening to Jesus speak on the Mount of Olives.  Such news was very difficult to hear and absorb into the heart.  The year of the crucifixion was approximately 30-33 AD.  The Roman invasion of Jerusalem would occur in 70AD, about forty years after the resurrection.  Jesus knew that within a very few more days, one of these disciples would betray Him.  One would deny Him.  The rest would forsake Him and flee as He was captured and crucified.  Jesus also knew that all of them except Judas and John would die a martyr’s death.  He was preparing them for when His own days on Earth were done. 

Jesus warned the men that precarious days were ahead.  There would be no time to gather clothing for the journey out of the city.  The ones at work in the fields would not be able to return to their homes to prepare their own defense,  Pregnant women during those days would be fleeing at the peril of their own lives and the life of the child within their womb. 

Some Bible scholars feel as though Jesus was speaking of the seven years of Great Tribulation which occur just after the rapture of the church rather than the Roman invasion of Jerusalem in 70AD.  There is ample evidence for both scenarios.  It seems that what these men needed most was the “current and coming events” report rather than the “end of the world as we know it” report.  They were about to witness sorrow of His death on the cross followed by the great joy of His resurrection from the tomb.  Jesus was feeding the future to them one bite at the time.  The older I get, the more grateful I am for this “one day at the time” perspective Jesus left for us to follow. 

Rather than instructing us to become a “doomsday prepper,” Jesus designed us to be a “this day stepper!” His plans for us are promises of His presence with us as the Holy Spirit fills us. Yes and Amen!