Understanding the Book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation has been a mystery to many people for many years.

One of the basic roadblocks to understanding the Book of Revelation has been the fact that there is no Temple in Jerusalem. The Temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed in AD 70 just as Jesus had prophesied thirty-seven years earlier as recorded in Matthew 24:1–2.

When the armies of the Roman Empire under the leadership of Titus destroyed the Temple in AD 70, it was set on fire and the soldiers tore it apart stone by stone to get to the melted gold. Both the Temple and Jerusalem were destroyed and not one stone was left upon another as Jesus had prophesied.

For the next nineteen hundred–plus years, and for almost two thousand years since the Book of Revelation was written, there has been no Temple in Jerusalem! Nevertheless, when John, the author of Revelation, was shown these coming end-time events, he was instructed to measure the Temple and those who worship there as recorded in Revelation 11:1–8.

Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the Temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the Temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months [three and a half years]. And I will give power to my two witnesses [Two Prophets], and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days [the same three and a half years], clothed in sackcloth.”

These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.

And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. These [Two Prophets] have the power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth will all plagues, as often as they desire.

The Temple was also mentioned in the prophecies of Jesus as He spoke with His disciples concerning these end-time events as recorded in Matthew 24:15–22.

Therefore when you see the “Abomination of Desolation,” [this event occurs inside the Temple] spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place [the Holy of Holies in the Temple]—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 [An event will occur at the end of the Tribulation which will “shorten the days” of the Tribulation for the sake of the elect].

This is an amazing scripture because the disciple Matthew (who wrote the Gospel of Matthew) interrupted a prophetic message by Jesus and inserted—in parentheses—the phrase “Whoever reads, let him understand” and then completed the prophecy. It is as if Matthew is waving his arms to get our attention and saying, “This is important! You need to get this!”

Mark did the same thing in Mark 13:14–20.

So when you see the “Abomination of Desolation”, [this event occurs inside the Temple] spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not—let the reader understand—, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter 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.

For in those days there will be Tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days [The Lord will cause an event to occur at the end of the Tribulation which will “shorten the days” of the Tribulation for the sake of the elect whom the Lord chose].

So Matthew, an original disciple of Jesus, and Mark both understood what Jesus was teaching in regard to these end-time events. And when Jesus mentioned the “Abomination of Desolation” [which occurs inside the Temple], both of them inserted—in parentheses—the phrase “Whoever reads, let him understand” or the phrase “Let the reader understand”. It is as if both of them are waving their arms to get our attention and saying, “This is important! You need to get this!”

Of course, it could be that Matthew and Mark were recording what Jesus actually said. If Jesus actually said—“Whoever reads, let him understand” or “Let the reader understand”, then it becomes an even more significant statement! If that were the case, then it would be Jesus Himself telling us, “This is important! You need to get this!”

In either case, it is very important for us to understand the Biblical definition of the “Abomination of Desolation” [which occurs inside the Temple].