(Matthew 24:15-16 NKJ) “Therefore when you see the `abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place ” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

In the entire chapter of Matthew 24, Jesus speaks of the end times. The ‘abomination of desolation’ refers to the works & philosophies of the beast. These philosophies seek to conquer even the minds of believers. When we see these things taking place, Jesus says that we are to flee to the mountains.

Jesus is speaking of spiritual mountains, where we can receive help from the Lord who is in heaven (Ps 121:1-2).

(1) Genesis 8:4 – mountains of Ararat where Noah’s ark rested
The first peak that appeared after the flood waters receded. This was the point of a new beginning and a place of hope after the judgment of the flood.

(2) Genesis 22:14 – Jehovah Jireh; mount Moriah where Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac as an offering to God.
Here, God tested Abraham, and he received God’s approval. It represented the peak and zenith of Abraham’s faith, and the mount became the foundation upon where the temple of Solomon was to later stand. Abraham named the mountain “Jehovah Jireh”, meaning: The Lord provides. This place also foreshadows the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

(3) Exodus 3:1-2 – Mount Horeb; another name for Mount Sinai
God’s work of redemption to save His people from Egypt began upon this mountain. On that mountain, from slaves in Egypt, they became God’s possession סְגֻלָּה (segullah); the people of God receiving His Word and the law. (Exodus 18:5, 10-11; 19:18, and chapter 24)

(4) 1 King 18:20-24 – Mount Carmel
Mount Carmel was where prophet Elijah battled against 850 false prophets of Baal & Asherah and gained victory. It is a very important point in Elijah’s walk & journey towards transfiguration.

(5) 1 King 19:8-10 (and the following) – Mount Horeb
Mount Horeb is where Elijah hears God’s still small voice, and receives instructions for that final journey to transfiguration.

There are many more redemptive events that took place on mountains, especially during the time of Jesus. Jesus spoke and taught on mountains (sermon on the mount). He went up mountains to pray. The ascension of Jesus took place on the Mount of Olives. Therefore, mountains have great spiritual significance. Psalm 133 – Mount Hermon’s spiritual significance.

(1) Mountains are described as God’s dwelling place among His people
Mountain has peaks reaching upwards, signifies a spiritual place still on earth where people can meet with God, a place where heaven and earth crosses & overlaps.

(Isaiah 24:23 NKJ) Then the moon will be disgraced And the sun ashamed; For the LORD of hosts will reign On Mount Zion and in Jerusalem And before His elders, gloriously.

The peak is considered the centre of the mountain and connotes the spiritual climbing and ascension we need to do, to go up to where God dwells, where we can see God, speak to Him and worship Him.

The people of God who trust in the Lord are also referred to as Mount Zion (Ps 74:2, 125:1-2). It is also a place where people can dwell with God (Isa 8:18), like in the Garden of Eden.

Fleeing to the mountains is fleeing to the presence of the Lord, to where God dwells, rules & reigns.
Is God sitting upon the highest place on the throne ruling and reigning over our home, our family and our church?

(2) It is a place of revelation (of God, His Word & His will)
It is where we come to understand God’s will and plan and what we need to do. Just as God revealed to Abraham His plan for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, God will surely reveal Himself upon the mountain. Salvation of Israel will come out of Zion (Ps 14:7).

(Isaiah 40:9 NKJ) O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

Truly may Zion Church lift our voice to bear the good news mightily.

(3) It is a place of faith and repentance
On the mount of the Lord in Moriah, God tested Abraham specifically about his faith in eternal life so that he may become the living. And this mountain became the foundation of the temple. This same mount was also the threshing floor of Ornan or Araunah where king David repented. It is therefore a place of faith and repentance, upon which Jesus the true Temple, the Redeemer can come. It is a place where sins are forgiven.

(2 Chronicles 3:1 NKJ) Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

(Isaiah 59:20 NKJ) “The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” Says the LORD.

Jesus is telling us to flee to the place where He will be, and where He will come back to. The place of faith and repentance is the place we need to flee to.

(4) It is a heavenly realm on this earth where the new heavenly temple will be established
In the Old Testament, Ezekiel’s Temple is the image of the heavenly temple. In the New Testament, new Jerusalem is the heavenly temple. Both are on that high mountain called Zion (Ps 2:6, Mic 4:1).

It is the place where God will establish His kingdom on this earth, when new Jerusalem comes down, and be established and lifted up as the chief of the mountains. This mountain is where we will live forever, where the temple and the city of God, the new Jerusalem will be established.

(Ezekiel 20:40 NKJ) “For on My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “there all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, shall serve Me; there I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the firstfruits of your sacrifices, together with all your holy things.

(Ezekiel 40:2 NKJ) In the visions of God He took me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain; on it toward the south was something like the structure of a city.

(Revelation 21:10 NKJ) And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

(5) This is where the Word will go forth in the end times and Jesus will come back to
All nations will gather on that mountain, and the law (Word of God) will go forth from Mount Zion (Isa 2:2-3). In the end when there will be a famine of the Word, those who come to this mountain will be fed and will live (Amos 8:11).

Do you see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place today? Let us start looking for the mountain where the Lord is. The Word will lead us there.
(Isaiah 59:20 NKJ) “The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” Says the LORD.

(6) It is where the remnants will gather at the end
(2 Kings 19:31 NKJ) For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, And those who escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.’

God will gather His remnants, lead, keep and protect them upon this mountain. Those who have the name of the son Christ Jesus and the Father on our forehead, those who follow Jesus all the way to the end will be standing on that mountain (2 Kgs 19:31, Isa 43:3-6, Rev 14:1).

(7) It is a place of final victory and celebration
(Isaiah 25:6-8 NKJ) And in this mountain The LORD of hosts will make for all people A feast of choice pieces, A feast of wines on the lees, Of fat things full of marrow, Of well-refined wines on the lees. 7 And He will destroy on this mountain The surface of the covering cast over all people, And the veil that is spread over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.

Jesus is waiting for us upon that mountain. It is a place there will be no more tears, sadness and pain. Instead, it is a place where we will celebrate and rejoice together for eternity (Rev 21:3-4).

In the Old Testament, it is the physical Mount Sinai that can be touched (Heb 12:18-21). In the New Testament, it is the spiritual Mount Zion where Jesus will stand with His people in the end times (Heb 12:22-24). Mount Sinai is the old testament covenant of the law, while Mount Zion represents Jesus Himself, and the church of the firstborn. It is the final covenant of both the earthly and heavenly.

(1) We must not reject His Word or the one who is speaking, who is the source of this Word.
The whole mountain shook at the presence of the Lord & His Word (Exod 19:18). His voice will make the heaven & earth shake (Heb 12:26). When we receive the Word there will be a shaking in our life. The shaking needs to happen to shake off all sins. The shaking will take place when we have holy fear of the Lord.

(Hebrews 12:25-27 NKJ) See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.”

The expression “yet once more” denotes the physical earthly things that can be shaken must be removed so that those things that cannot be shaken will remain (Heb 12:27-28). Suffering is part of that shaking. Just like being on a boat in a storm which is about to sink, we need to throw all unnecessary things, even treasure such as money and gold because they are weighty, so that our lives may be saved. Our faith cannot & must not be shaken. It must hold up & remain.

(2) Live a life of uprightness and righteousness, holding on to the truth, not speaking falsehood
Who is able to go up to dwell on that holy mountain? It is ‘He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart’ (Ps 15:1-5). He who does these things will never be shaken and will be able to come up the mountain. Truth is the Word of God. So it refers to the one who holds onto the Word of God.

Those who hold onto the truth, will be able to understand and believe the one speaking the truth instead of refusing him. Even if it may cause me more struggle and trouble, let us live dedicate our lives to uphold the truth, that is the life of righteousness and uprightness.

These are the ones who will stand up on that mountain with the Lamb Jesus Christ. They will hear His voice and will be able to proclaim the Word of God in the end times. We must find the mountains first and go up them. AMEN.

(Psalm 24:3-6 NKJ) Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah

(Revelation 14:4 NKJ) These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones ho follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.