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Following Jesus |
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Finding Actuality
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An Unrecognized Prophecy of the Olivet Discourse
Written December 2013, Published March 2014
On the Tuesday afternoon of Jesus’ final week before His crucifixion, He talked to His disciples about the future of the temple (prophesying its destruction) and the end of the age before His return. Since they were on the Mount of Olives after leaving the Temple Mount, this discourse is called the Olivet Discourse.
As I first read the New Testament as an adult, when I came to the Olivet Discourse in Matthew chapter 24 and read verse 19 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!” the Holy Spirit immediately made something clear to me. It became clear to me that what was called “the abomination of desolation” in the prior verse 15 and which necessitates an evacuation of Jerusalem and Judea will be, in fact, a nuclear radiation producing explosion. This same admonition to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies appears in Mark 13:17 and Luke 21:23 of the other versions of the Olivet Discourse. It is one of the few statements common to all three versions. This admonition re pregnant or nursing women was emphasized, I believe, in order to provide people of our time (who understand nuclear radiation and its effects) with a prophecy that would serve as a wake-up call when it comes to pass. My understanding of such a prophecy in the Olivet Discourse is, I realize, contrary to the common interpretation. There is, so far as I have found, only one other person who has publicly suggested this interpretation (see the reference at the end of the article). However, I will explain why the understanding that I received does not contradict correctly translated scripture and is, in fact, in conformance with it.
Now as to the correct translation of the “abomination* of** desolation***” in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14, consider the following translational material taken from biblehub.com (see End Note 1):
As I first read the New Testament as an adult, when I came to the Olivet Discourse in Matthew chapter 24 and read verse 19 "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!” the Holy Spirit immediately made something clear to me. It became clear to me that what was called “the abomination of desolation” in the prior verse 15 and which necessitates an evacuation of Jerusalem and Judea will be, in fact, a nuclear radiation producing explosion. This same admonition to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies appears in Mark 13:17 and Luke 21:23 of the other versions of the Olivet Discourse. It is one of the few statements common to all three versions. This admonition re pregnant or nursing women was emphasized, I believe, in order to provide people of our time (who understand nuclear radiation and its effects) with a prophecy that would serve as a wake-up call when it comes to pass. My understanding of such a prophecy in the Olivet Discourse is, I realize, contrary to the common interpretation. There is, so far as I have found, only one other person who has publicly suggested this interpretation (see the reference at the end of the article). However, I will explain why the understanding that I received does not contradict correctly translated scripture and is, in fact, in conformance with it.
Now as to the correct translation of the “abomination* of** desolation***” in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14, consider the following translational material taken from biblehub.com (see End Note 1):
|
English
*abomination |
Greek
βδέλυγμα |
946 bdélygma (from 948 /bdelýssō, derived from bdēō, "to reek with stench") – properly, what emits a foul odor and hence is disgustingly abhorrent (abominable, detestable)
|
English
**of the |
Greek
τῆς |
The Greeks employ the [genitive] article, where we abstain from its use, before nouns denoting things that pertain to . . . the subject of discourse.
|
English
***desolation |
Greek
ἐρημώσεως |
2050 erḗmōsis (from 2049/erēmóō, "lay waste, make destitute, barren") – desolation(desecration) that results from being cut off (isolated). ἐρήμωσις, ἐρημεως, ἡ (ἐρημόω), a making desolate, desolation.
Note that erēmōseōs (ἐρημώσεως) is a genitive noun, designated “N-G . . .”. A genitive noun is a noun form that can show possession (such as “man’s” in “the man’s weight”) or it can show the classification or kind of another noun (such as “man’s” in “a man’s weight”). (See End Note 2.) Also note that tēs (τῆς) is a definite article (as “the” in English) even though it is a genitive definite article (which indicates possession as “of the”) which does not exist in English. Thus, the desolation possesses the characteristic of abomination. The best translation of these three Greek words would be “abomination of the desolation”, or, more typical of English usage, “the desolation’s abomination”.
Mark 13:14-19 (NASB)
"But when you see the abomination* of** desolation*** [abomination of the desolation] standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.”
"The one who is on the housetop must not go down, or go in to get anything out of his house; and the one who is in the field must not turn back to get his coat.”
"But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!”
"But pray that it may not happen in the winter. For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will.”
"But when you see the abomination* of** desolation*** [abomination of the desolation] standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.”
"The one who is on the housetop must not go down, or go in to get anything out of his house; and the one who is in the field must not turn back to get his coat.”
"But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!”
"But pray that it may not happen in the winter. For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will.”
Now in Matthew 24:15 we have the additional issue of the “abomination of [of the] desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet” often assumed to be pointing to that which is probably an idol in Daniel 9:27 and 12:11. This assumption requires that “which” refers to “abomination” instead of “desolation” even though “desolation” immediately precedes the word “which” and possesses the “abomination”. In these verses of the book of Daniel the noun “abomination” is a thing that does the action of the verb “makes desolate” and, thus, the abomination performs the act of making the desolation. The following translational material from biblehub.com makes this semantic relationship for Daniel 12:11 and Daniel 9:27 clear. (See End Notes 3 & 4.)
For Daniel 12:11:
For Daniel 12:11:
|
English
the abomination that makes desolate |
Hebrew
שִׁקּ֣וּץ שֹׁמֵ֑ם |
For Daniel 9:27:
|
English
of abominations [it] he shall make desolate |
Hebrew
שִׁקּוּצִים֙ מְשֹׁמֵ֔ם |
These are semantics of a completely different meaning from the “abomination of the desolation” or “desolation’s abomination” in the Olivet Discourse. However, the verse prior to Daniel 9:27, Daniel 9:26, describes how “desolations have been decreed”(NIV, ESV, and ISV) referring to events in Jerusalem. This latter prophecy of Daniel would support my understanding.
I suspect that translators of the Bible have translated the definite article τῆς into the preposition “of” rather than the correct “of the” so as to support their assumption that the “abomination of the desolation” refers to Daniel 9:27 (and 12:11) rather than Daniel 9:26.
Matthew 24:15-21 (NASB)
"Therefore when you see the abomination of [of the] desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let them which be in Judaea flee into 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.”
In Luke 21:20-23, the corresponding part of the third version of the Olivet Discourse, there is no mention at all of any “abomination”. But there is the description of “Jerusalem surrounded by armies” which suggests the desolation occurs as a part of military activities.
Luke 21:20-23 (NASB)
"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near.”
"Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled.”
"Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath
to this people;”
The only explanation that I have found as to why pregnant and nursing women would be singled out for warnings in this evacuation, other than the nuclear radiation issue, is their lack of mobility. However, mobility is more of a problem for the lame and elderly who were not mentioned. Consider that there have been a number of pregnant women who have competed in the Olympic Games including Kerri Walsh Jennings, Gold medalist 2012 beach volleyball and Magda Julin, Gold medalist 1920 figure skating. Also, a nursing woman with a 10 pound infant is less of a mobility problem than a non-nursing woman with a 30 pound toddler.
For information about why pregnant and nursing women would be singled out for warnings about a nuclear radiation emergency use the following link to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website:
https://emergency.cdc.gov/radiation/prenatal.asp
Why is this prophecy in the Olivet Discourse? As I stated in the second paragraph, this prophecy will serve as a wake-up call when it happens. The explosion occurring as prophesied by Jesus will reduce anti-Christian scoffing and reinforce Christian confidence if the prophecy is known by the general public and the Christian community before it takes place.
One final note, the explosion occurring as prophesied will almost certainly eliminate the Dome of the Rock. This building stands in the way of Israel building its third temple which must happen before the prophecies of Daniel 9:27 and 12:11 can take place.
The other person who has publicly suggested the nuclear explosion interpretation is Ezra Taft Benson who was, at the time, one of the Mormon Church Council of the Twelve “Apostles”, had been President Eisenhower’s Secretary of Agriculture, and would later be President of the Mormon Church.
”The great destructive force which was to be turned loose on the earth and which the prophets for centuries have been calling the ‘abomination of desolation’ (Matt. 24:15) is vividly described by those who saw it in vision. Ours is the first generation to realize how literally these prophecies can be fulfilled now that God, through science, has unlocked the secret to thermonuclear reaction.” Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, October 1961, pp. 69-75. (See End Note 5.)
I suspect that translators of the Bible have translated the definite article τῆς into the preposition “of” rather than the correct “of the” so as to support their assumption that the “abomination of the desolation” refers to Daniel 9:27 (and 12:11) rather than Daniel 9:26.
Matthew 24:15-21 (NASB)
"Therefore when you see the abomination of [of the] desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let them which be in Judaea flee into 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.”
In Luke 21:20-23, the corresponding part of the third version of the Olivet Discourse, there is no mention at all of any “abomination”. But there is the description of “Jerusalem surrounded by armies” which suggests the desolation occurs as a part of military activities.
Luke 21:20-23 (NASB)
"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near.”
"Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not enter the city; because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled.”
"Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath
to this people;”
The only explanation that I have found as to why pregnant and nursing women would be singled out for warnings in this evacuation, other than the nuclear radiation issue, is their lack of mobility. However, mobility is more of a problem for the lame and elderly who were not mentioned. Consider that there have been a number of pregnant women who have competed in the Olympic Games including Kerri Walsh Jennings, Gold medalist 2012 beach volleyball and Magda Julin, Gold medalist 1920 figure skating. Also, a nursing woman with a 10 pound infant is less of a mobility problem than a non-nursing woman with a 30 pound toddler.
For information about why pregnant and nursing women would be singled out for warnings about a nuclear radiation emergency use the following link to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website:
https://emergency.cdc.gov/radiation/prenatal.asp
Why is this prophecy in the Olivet Discourse? As I stated in the second paragraph, this prophecy will serve as a wake-up call when it happens. The explosion occurring as prophesied by Jesus will reduce anti-Christian scoffing and reinforce Christian confidence if the prophecy is known by the general public and the Christian community before it takes place.
One final note, the explosion occurring as prophesied will almost certainly eliminate the Dome of the Rock. This building stands in the way of Israel building its third temple which must happen before the prophecies of Daniel 9:27 and 12:11 can take place.
The other person who has publicly suggested the nuclear explosion interpretation is Ezra Taft Benson who was, at the time, one of the Mormon Church Council of the Twelve “Apostles”, had been President Eisenhower’s Secretary of Agriculture, and would later be President of the Mormon Church.
”The great destructive force which was to be turned loose on the earth and which the prophets for centuries have been calling the ‘abomination of desolation’ (Matt. 24:15) is vividly described by those who saw it in vision. Ours is the first generation to realize how literally these prophecies can be fulfilled now that God, through science, has unlocked the secret to thermonuclear reaction.” Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, October 1961, pp. 69-75. (See End Note 5.)
End Notes
1. “Mark 13:14 Greek Text Analysis.” Mark 13:14 Greek Text Analysis. N.p., n.d.
<http://biblehub.com/text/mark/13-13.htm> (November 2013)
2. “Greek Nouns (Shorter Definitions).” Greek Nouns (Shorter Definitions). N.p., n.d.
<http://www.ntgreek.org/learn nt greek/nouns1.htm> (November 2013)
3. “Daniel 12:11 Hebrew Text Analysis.” Daniel 12:11 Hebrew Text Analysis. N.p., n.d.
<http://biblehub.com/text/daniel/12-11.htm> (November 2013)
4. “Daniel 9:27 Hebrew Text Analysis.” Daniel 9:27 Hebrew Text Analysis. N.p., n.d.
<http://biblehub.com/text/daniel/9-27.htm> (November 2013)
5. Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, October 1961, pp. 69-75
<http:// scriptures.byu.edu/gettalk.php?ID=1165> (November 2013)