Matthew 24:15-28 Great Tribulation

"“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), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. “Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. “Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! “But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. “Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. “Behold, I have told you in advance. “So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather." [Matthew 24:15-28 NASB]

Jesus is talking about the time that we call the Great Tribulation.

He refers to the prophecy of Daniel, "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." [Daniel 11:31 NASB] Daniel had prophesied about seventy weeks of years to fulfill all things. He prophesied 69 weeks of years from the issuing of a decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the coming of Messiah. That is 483 years from the time Artaxerxes issued the decree for Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem to the time of Jesus.

At the end of the 69th week, Messiah would be killed for others, and not for Himself, and Israel would be destroyed. This was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified (thank God He rose again from the dead!) and Rome destroyed Israel and burned the temple.

We can see Daniel's prophecies fulfilled through historical events. We therefore know that there is a pause between the 69th and 70th week of years (because the 70th week hasn't yet been fulfilled.) Daniel describes the 70th week, "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." [Daniel 9:27 NASB]

So, in the middle of this seven year period (generally referred to as "the day of the Lord") the abomination of desolation will stand in the holy place. After this will come a time tribulation for Israel and the church such as has never been seen. False prophets and false messiahs will be able to show great signs and miracles. Jesus has said, "At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another." [Matthew 24:10 NASB]

Why is this important to us? Because Jesus is addressing His disciples (us) to be prepared for that time. Paul said, 

"Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God." [2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 NASB]

In other words the rapture will not happen until after these events take place. Those believers who are alive at the coming of the Lord will be witness to the abomination of desolation, and will see the identity of the Antichrist revealed.

The teaching that the rapture will take place before all of this happens makes for warm and happy feelings. But Jesus never promised that we would avoid tribulation (just the opposite). It is no wonder that "many will fall away". If they believe they will be raptured before the tribulation, then find themselves in the midst of it, their faith will be shaken.

I don't know if the Lord will return in your lifetime or not, but either way, be prepared.