Let the Reader Understand
What did Jesus mean when He said, let the reader understand? Lets read what He said.
So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand-- then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened (Matthew 24:15-21).
Jesus was on the Mount of Olives addressing His disciples about His return. At this point Jesus referred to a prophecy of Daniel. The disciples would have been familiar with Daniel's prophecies. Therefore, when Jesus said, let the reader understand, He meant the reader [of Daniel] must understand. This would have made perfect sense to His listeners. The message is the same today. Christs disciples are being told to understand this warning.
We should note in this discourse that Jesus was specifically referring His disciples to the abomination that causes desolation. Daniel referred to the abomination that causes desolation three times in his prophecies. Lets read what he said.
He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him" (Daniel 9:27).
His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation (Daniel 11:31).
From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days (Daniel 12:11).
What does Jesus mean when He says, So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel let the reader understand--?
Jesus means we are to understand about the abomination that causes desolation,' and realize that it will cause the Great Tribulation. Jesus warned us ahead of time, what to watch for.
Richard H Perry
