Abomination That Causeth Desolation

Abomination That Causeth Desolation - Pastor Mike Taylor - http://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2017/03/abomination-that-causeth-desolation.html

 

"27And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall makeit desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." (Daniel 9:27)

 

''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.'' (Daniel 11:31)

 

There are those who say that prophecy has been fulfilled in the year 70AD and that we are doing nothing but waiting for the return of Jesus Christ. These folks are what are called Preterist and discount prophecy as not for our time, or that we are living in the ends of days.

 

But let us look at what even Jesus spoke of in the Gospels, 600 years after the Prophet Daniel spoke of the Abomination that causes desolation, as Jesus also made reference to both the Abomination and the Prophet who wrote about it.

 

"15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. (Daniel 24:15-18)

 

Since Daniel's prophecy is so astonishingly accurate in foretelling the rise and fall of Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Alexander the Great's Greek Empire, the book of Daniel is scoffed at being a forgery that was written many years into the future and long after the prophet's death.

 

Opines the Encyclopedia Brittanica:

 

"Because its religious ideas do not belong to the 6th century BC, numerous scholars date Daniel in the first half of the 2nd century BC and relate the visions to the persecution of the Jews under Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164/163 BC). . . The unknown author may have drawn inspiration from Ugaritic and Phoenician sources that speak of a legendary figure notable for his righteousness and wisdom."

 

But that leads these "so-called scholars" into a problem with this argument, since the Gospel specifically identify Daniel as a prophet. If Daniel was not a prophet and did not write the book bearing his name, then it follows that Jesus Christ quoted Daniel in error, and could not be the Son of God.

 

JESUS IS GOD OR HE IS NOT...

 

Logically speaking, it is impossible for Jesus to be Whom He said He was and not know whether Daniel was a Divinely inspired prophet, or whether Daniel was just some sort of ascribed work of later forgery.

 

But if Jesus IS the Son of God, (WHICH HE IS) then is also the One Who makes an appearance in Daniel's narrative. We know the story if King Nebuchadnezzar making a golden idol that he demanded all to worship when musical instruments started to play. In other words, the King demanded that he be worshipped as a god, and the idol was his symbol.

 

Three Hebrew captives (and companions to Daniel), Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused. And after being given another chance and rebuffed by these three men, the King has them all bound and thrown into a flaming, fiery furnace stoked 7 times hotter than usual, that killed even the soldiers who threw them in. Later, as the King of Babylon looked into the mouth of the furnace, he was confused and asked his counsellors this question.

 

"24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste,and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

25He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." (Daniel 3:24-25)

 

King Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed that the fourth figure was in the image of the Son of God, so he identified this mystery fourth figure, when only three had been cast alive into the flames...What did the King see? And why was he sure that the figure was like the Son of God? I can only imagine.

 

Jesus identified Daniel as a prophet and quoted from the Book of Daniel in His sermon.  If Daniel is a forgery, then Jesus could not be anything more than a fraud.

 

If Jesus is a fraud and Daniel is a forgery, then the Bible isn't worth studying.  If it isn't worth studying, then what does that make these 'scholars'? I believe Psalms identifies who these scholars are and their unbelief.

 

1"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

2God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

3Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy;there is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Psalm 53:1-3

 

But Jesus trusted Daniel enough to quote him in a sermon. I trust my Lord Jesus for my eternal salvation, so logically, I also trust the book of Daniel as a Divinely inspired work of God.

 

THE ABOMINATION THAT CAUSETH DESOLATION

 

Now that we got that out of the way, what is this "abomination of desolation" to which Jesus refers? There are two possible answers. One from a historical account, and one coming from prophecy. So who was the first one. As we have discussed in the past, a king arose out of Syria after the fall of and split of Alexander the Greats Empire that was split between his four generals....the Selucid portion of the Empire was created by one of the generals, Seleucus, and in the progression of kings, the eighth king was Antiochus, called Epiphanes. This Syrian King had two passions. One was his hatred of the Jews and his fancying himself a conqueror in the mold of his father, Antiochus III Magnus ("the Great").

 

History tells us that the man entered the Jewish Temple in Jerusalam in 167 BC, and desecrated the Holy of Holies by sacrificing a pig on the altar of God. Of a most important point for prophecy students is that Antiochus did not destroy any part of the temple.

 

The crazy Syrian king did build extra structures, including pagan enhancements to the altar of sacrifice. How ever, none of this can be considered "Throwing down" the foundation of the sanctuary.

 

Jesus referred to a coming event that would mirror what Antiochus did, and it would be a sign of His imminent return to rule the earth of 1000 years.

 

Jesus was not referring to an historical event as the fulfillment of His prophecy, but was providing from history an examples of what such an event would mean. .

 

It has never happened since Antiochus Epiphanes did his abomination that causeth desolation, which by the way led to the Maccabean Wars and the expelling of invaders of the nation of Israel. But Jesus was talking of a future event that has not happened YET! It will involve the desecration of the Holy of Holies of the newly rebuilt Temple during the coming Tribulation.

 

Jesus was describing events that would happen during the coming Tribulation period and he was just as clearly addressing Jews in the last day, and not the Church. He speaks directly to the those Jews living on the West Bank during that time

 

"15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." Matthew 24:15-21)

 

Some argue that Jesus is addressing the signs of His return in the last days to the Church, in an effort to support their argument that the Church will be present during the tribulation.

 

A Jew is not permitted to undertake a journey exceeding 1000 steps on the Sabbath.  The Church isn't bound by Sabbath day restrictions.

 

So why would Jesus warn the Church to 'pray' that the time for flight does not occur on the Sabbath?  Applying Jesus' warning to the Church doesn't make sense.

 

But to a religious Jew, it makes perfect sense.

 

JESUS TALKS OF THE COMING TRIBULATION

 

Jesus divides the Tribulation into two parts, splitting it at the point in which the antichrist replicates the abomination committed by Antiochus Epiphanes.

 

The Apostle Paul reveals that the antichrist will, in the last days,

 

3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:" (2nd Thessalonians 2:3-7)

 

Many critics of the Pre-Tribulation removal of the church call the Third Temple built by the Jews, as the "Anti-Christ temple", but Paul describes the Temple in the last days, as the "Temple of God".

 

The Tribulation is the 70th Week of Daniel.  Jeremiah refers to it as the Time of Jacob's Trouble. 

 

5For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.

6Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?

7Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it." (Jeremiah 30:5-7)

 

Jesus warns of persecution that will come on Sabbath-keeping Jews.

 

Where is the Church?  What is the role of the Church during the Tribulation?

 

To answer that question, we need look at the role of the Church in the Church Age.

 

18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:18-20)

 

But notice the great Commission given to the Church has been given to others, not the church....it is given to 144, 000 Jewish Evangelist, the Two Witnesses that prophecy at the Temple of 3.5 years and finally by an angel who is appointed to the task by God...It was was our commission, but since the Church is not here, God uses others, even an angel to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

6"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

7Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (Revelation 14:6-7)

 

If the indwelt Church is present during the Tribulation, why did the Great Commission get passed from the Church to Jewish evangelist, the two witnesses, and finally to an angel?  Again, what is the Church's role during the Tribulation?

 

Those who argue against a pre-Trib Rapture claim the role of the Church in the last days is to be massacred.  To what purpose?  To bring the Church to Christ?  Clearly not, since by definition, the Church is already Christ's. The theory smacks of Catholci purgatory, which defines that Jesus sacrifice on the cross was just not good enough. We must be refined right along with Israel who has been in unbelief for the last 2000 years.

 

33"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

 

The Lord emphasizes that fact in the Apostle John when he wrote:

 

3 "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." (1st John 4:3-6)

Also Jesus tells Peter that He will build His church on a Rock, which is Himself

18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)

 

That leads some to confusion, when there show be NO confusion, because we read in Revelation chapter 13, a different outcome of a people who are following God, when we read:

 

5"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty andtwo months.

6And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9If any man have an ear, let him hear." (Revelation 13:5-9)

 

WE SHALL OVERCOME!!

 

Which is it?  Do we prevail, or does the antichrist?  Apart from Dispensationalism, the two statements contradict.

 

But if the Church Age is over and the Tribulation period is the time of 'Jacob's Trouble' and judgment against 'them that dwell upon the earth' rather than for the Church, then Scriptural harmony is restored.

 

There is only one explanation, that the Pre-Tribulation removal of God's Church precedes the Tribulation by a number of years...Bill Salus had an interesting observation, when he proposed that there is a "gap" between the beginning of Chapter 4 of Revelation and the beginning of Chapter 6 of the same book of Revelation when the Church is found in heaven before the Throne of God and the unsealing of the scroll, by Jesus that unleashes the plagues and the wrath of God. How many years? It would be conjecture on anybody's part...could be days, could be years...but there "may" be this Gap period that Bill Salus speaks of in His new book, "Apocalypse Road". One must conclude upon examination of God's Word, that the Pre-Tribulation removal of God's Church, some call the "rapture" is the most harmonious with the flow of God's Word, particularly when the added dimensions of actually watching the preparations unfold right before our eyes that began with the restoration of Israel as a nation again, after 2700 years of conquest by other nations and then finally their dispersion into the annals of time, only to be a nation again in May, 1948.

 

But our faith in not WHEN Christ comes, but in the fact that He is coming soon. And the debate over that fact is one more piece of evidence of that fact.

 

Notice that the debate is not over whether the Lord will come in this generation. For most that is not even an issue. But we look fervently for His appearing and the sound of a trumpet, knowing that when Israel was again a nation, that countdown clock of His return began again.

 

32" Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

33So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

34Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24:32-35)

 

A century ago, they were debating if the Lord was even coming at all. Today we're debating over His coming within a seven-year time frame.

 

Regardless of what you believe of the soon coming of our Lord Jesus or not, the point is proved by that fact that such a debate exist at all. And not what you believe on it's timing and no matter what turns out to be right in the end, the important point to remember is WHAT we are debating.

 

The evidence and logic tells us that we are living in the last days of the rule of mankind on this earth...you feel it, I feel it, and the whole world feels it, but they don't understand what they sense, or their inability to define it.

 

It is important to know, that those who are reading these words right now, are who will never, ever die in the traditional sense, but will be caught up alive to meet the Lord in the air.

 

16 "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

 

If that event is to take place at some point after all the Christians are massacred by the antichrist, then Paul's next words of that same passage, make very little sense:

 

"Wherefore, comfort one another with these words." (1st Thessalonians 4:16-18)

 

In any case, are you ready...is your treasure laid up in heaven and not on this earth that is passing away? I implore you to make your "calling and election sure"...because our Lord Jesus is on the cusp of the greatest event, second only to His crucifixion and resurrection....the Coming of our Lord Jesus in the clouds to bring His true church to be with him forever.

 

15 "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1st Thessalonians 4:15-17)

 

I implore you, don't be left to face the Tribulation when the free gift of salvation is a prayer away.

 

8 "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:8-10)

 

16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 God sent not His Son to condemn the world, but that the world through Him, might be saved." (John 3:16-17)