Know the Desolation is Near

Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.21Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains;

When looking at the parallels between Mathew, Mark and Luke it is easy to see many identical phrases thorough out the Gospels. It is commonly believed that Mark was written first and used as a basis for the other accounts. This would explain the many identical phrases and the very close order as well. With this thought in mind let's compare Luke 21:20 Mathew 24:15 And Mark 13:14. In each account we read of events that lead to a warning to flee Judea. The likenesses between the passages are interesting as well as the differences. Luke says "when ye there for shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies know that its desolation is near". Mathew and Mark say "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place". It is my understanding that all three account are pointing to the desolation of Jerusalem. This comes as a result of the abomination set up in the temple. If nothing more we can safely say Luke 21:20 is the answer to one of the questions Peter, James and John asked Jesus after leaving the temple. When shall these things be? When shall there not be one stone of the temple left upon another that is not thrown down? This will be when you see Jerusalem compassed with armies. At that time leave quickly or risk getting caught in its destruction. The Mathew and Mark accounts add the abomination in the temple as an additional sign.
There are many scriptures that are associated with these events and can help fill in the account. This is the time John the Baptist spoke of in Math 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. This passage describes the harvest of the Jewish age. Two groups like grain in a field would grow together until the abomination stands in the temple. Daniel 11:30 - 35 speaks of this time. "For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed".
In the above passage we read of what seems to be a political power that by force stops the daily sacrifice in the temple and places an Idol. These verses touch on the separation spoken of by John the Baptist. Those who maintain there faith in this time of persecution and those who forsake the holy covenant. Paul in Thessalonians 2 called this the great falling way, when one sets himself up in the temple as if a God and many are deceived. Mathew calls this one a false prophet who shows signs and wonders to, if possible, deceive the elect. Revelation 13 describes similar events. Early in Revelation 13 the beast that is described is very much like the beast of Dan 7, who persecutes the church for a period of 3 ½ years. Next a Two horned beast arises who is called the false prophet. He like the false prophet that Jesus warned of in Mathew 24 shows signs and wonders and sets up an idol and causes every one on the earth to worship it. This would correspond to the abomination that maketh desolate in Mathew 24.
In Revelation 19 we see Jesus and the armies in heaven going forth to do battle with the beast, the kings of the earth, the false prophet and the dragon. One notable party is missing. At this point in Revelation, Babylon has already been dealt with by the Lord. The beast and the 10 kings are used to destroy the great city Babylon. Why is Babylon dealt with separately? Babylon is spoken of as a city it is in this city that many of the Lords people reside, they are the ones that are being tested when the false prophet sets up the image of the beast. Just as Jesus warned those in Judea to flee when seeing the signs of Jerusalem's approaching destruction, Revelation warns God's people to leave the city (Babylon) to avoid being caught in her destruction. The parallel between Babylon and Jerusalem is very close. Babylon is like the field spoken of by John the Baptist in Mathew 3. Jesus warned of a coming abomination to be set up in the temple in the end of the Jewish age. In like manner another idol would be set up in the close of this gospel age. Revelation 13 warns us of a 3 ½ year pried of persecution just as the church endured at the end of the Jewish age. There would also be a gathering into his granary as John the Baptist spoke of, but this age concluding with the marriage of the Lamb. As the city (Babylon) falls, the Lords city (New Jerusalem) is raised. The very deception that brings the destruction of one city brings the deliverance of the other.
There are other parallels between Babylon and Jerusalem one more example is in Mathew 23 it says of Jerusalem "That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth". A similar statement is made of Babylon Rev 18:24 "And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth."
With these thoughts I hope to encourage others to consider the events that lead up to the fall of Jerusalem, this may help understand how the destruction of Babylon will unfold.
There is much work to be done in our studies of the Bible. We live in a time when the Bible is being put aside. Many Christians lay aside personal Bible study thinking it has brought forth all its gems, others believe it for a select few. The contrary is true. There are gems old and new awaiting each who study in faith. As soon as we think one person or group is the exclusive channel we learn the Lord finds diligent student ready to learn, in places the nature mind would not expect. Over and over we learn the Lord is not confined but always revealing himself in lowly places confounding the wisdom of men.