Here’s something that I noticed in Scripture. The Bible seems to abound in multiple scenarios. My first example highlights the two distinct ways that the abomination of desolation might have been fulfilled. Please note how incredibly parallel yet distinct the following two scenarios are:
"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is at hand. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the midst of the city depart, and let not those who are in the country enter the city; because these are days of vengeance, in order that all things which are written may be fulfilled. Woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babes in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land, and wrath to this people, and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled" (Luke 21:20-24).
"Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (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 to get the things that are in his house; and let him who is in the field not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those who are with babes in those days! But pray that your flight may 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 shall. And unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short." (Mt 24:15-22).
These distinct scenarios obviously originate from the book of Daniel. The abomination of desolation in Daniel 8 & 9 depicts the destruction of the temple and the city Jerusalem. Daniel 11 appears to be an alternative scenario where the temple is only profaned and not destroyed.
My second example is from the Constitution of Israel:
Deuteronomy 28:15
However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you:
What follows is an incredibly long list of disasters, which were obviously not all fulfilled when Israel would disobey their God. I interpret this passage as the prototype of all subsequent prophecies. When God presents multiple scenarios, it doesn’t mean that it all has to be fulfilled. It just means that God is emphasizing all His possible options.
"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is at hand. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the midst of the city depart, and let not those who are in the country enter the city; because these are days of vengeance, in order that all things which are written may be fulfilled. Woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babes in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land, and wrath to this people, and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled" (Luke 21:20-24).
"Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (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 to get the things that are in his house; and let him who is in the field not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those who are with babes in those days! But pray that your flight may 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 shall. And unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short." (Mt 24:15-22).
These distinct scenarios obviously originate from the book of Daniel. The abomination of desolation in Daniel 8 & 9 depicts the destruction of the temple and the city Jerusalem. Daniel 11 appears to be an alternative scenario where the temple is only profaned and not destroyed.
My second example is from the Constitution of Israel:
Deuteronomy 28:15
However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you:
What follows is an incredibly long list of disasters, which were obviously not all fulfilled when Israel would disobey their God. I interpret this passage as the prototype of all subsequent prophecies. When God presents multiple scenarios, it doesn’t mean that it all has to be fulfilled. It just means that God is emphasizing all His possible options.
