The Jewish Remnant - Part 1

Therefore when you see the 'ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened (Matthew 24:15-22).

In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus spoke to Jewish men about Israel and those things that will affect them in the future. He spoke of two distinct times - the tribulation at the end of the Jewish age with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the end of the future Tribulation with the mass extermination of Jews.

As stated, the ‘Abomination of Desolation’ was foretold by Daniel (9:26-27; 11:31; 12:11) and fulfilled by King Antiochus IV Epiphanes of Greece, in 168 B.C. Jesus spoke of the ‘Abomination of Desolation that would occur at the end of the Jewish age (Matthew 24:4-22), and was fulfilled by General Titus of Rome in 70 A.D. However, in the Olivet Discourse Jesus also alluded to yet another time when the Abomination of Desolation would occur - during the Great Tribulation yet to come.

All of these things have to do with the Jews and the nation of Israel. They did, and will affect more than the Jews and Israel, but the focus of Daniel and Jesus is on the Jews, the chosen people of God. In each instance when Israel was conquered, God promised a remnant would survive, and they did. There will also be a surviving remnant of Jews in the coming Tribulation. This is because of God’s unconditional covenant with the Jews through Abraham (Genesis 17). The covenant is God’s promise that He would give Abraham and his descendants a homeland and would protect them both from extinction. He then gave them the rite of circumcision as a symbol of that covenant. Romans 9 & 11 testifies to the fact that Israel will survive as the remnant of God’s chosen people in Abraham and will be saved in the end by accepting Jesus Christ as the Messiah of God.

“Father in heaven, I praise You that You are holy and righteous and that in You there is no lie or deceit. I praise You that You keep Your covenant promises and that even though we may be unfaithful in the covenant, You remain faithful for You cannot deny Yourself. I praise You that Israel will one day come to faith in Jesus, and You will preserve them alive until that day comes. This is a continual testimony to us of Your faithfulness in keeping Your promises. Amen.”

Pastor