A) WHAT THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION IS.

B) OTHER EXPLANATIONS.

C) WHAT THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION DOES.

D) WHAT THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION IS IN THE FUTURE.

E) THE EVENT THAT NEEDS TO BE FULFILLED BEFORE CHRIST CAN COME.

 

 

A) WHAT THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION IS

 

 

To be perfectly clear, which the Bible is on this point, the “Abomination of desolation,” Matthew 24:15 = Luke 21:20= Jerusalem compassed with armies.  See also:  Daniel 8:11 & 13; 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Mark 13:14; Revelation 13:14.

 

To better understand what the “Abomination of Desolation” is, let’s break it down.  “Abomination” is clearly set out Biblically as the eating of unclean things (Lev. Ch. 11), or “idolatry,” or an idolatrous practice (Deu. 7:25-26; 22:5; 23:18; 24:4; 27:15; 1Ki. 11:5 & 7; etc.).  While “Desolation” is clearly spelled out by our Lord when He stated:  “[37] how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! [38] Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.”  Matthew 23:37-38 (Luke 13:34-35).  Thus, “Desolation,” along with its clear understanding of destroying something such that it leaves it empty, but rather, when Christ leaves the premises, there is nothing worth staying for in that place.

 

Put together then, we must determine what is the final act of idolatry that forces Christ to leave the people He has created to their idolatrous acts.  The reason the Jerusalem was even allowed by God to be compassed about with foreign armies is because of Israels idolatry and rejection of their Messiah.

 

Josephus says that after the burning of the Temple at Jerusalem, the Romans brought their ensigns and set them over against the eastern gate, and there they offered sacrifices to them and declared Titus, with acclamations, to be emperor.  See his work, “Jewish Wars,” b. 6 chapter 6, section 1.

 

Here is GC88:26; GC:25-26; 4SP:26-27:  “Jesus declared to the listening disciples the judgments that were to fall upon apostate Israel, and especially the retributive vengeance that would come upon them for their rejection and crucifixion of the Messiah.  Unmistakable signs would precede the awful climax.  The dreaded hour would come suddenly and swiftly.  And the Saviour warned His followers:  [Mat. 24:15 and Luke 21:20 quoted].  When the idolatrous standards of the Romans should be set up in the holy ground, which extended some furlongs outside the city walls, then the followers of Christ were to find safety in flight.  When the warning sign should be seen, those who would escape must make no delay.  Throughout the land of Judea, as well as in Jerusalem itself, the signal for flight must be immediately obeyed.”

 

In regards to our Lord’s Words to flee (at that time), the city of Jerusalem, Ellen White states:  “Forty years afterward, at the siege of Jerusalem, the Christians obeyed this warning; and not a Christian perished in the destruction of the city.”  RH, December 20, 1898; ST, February 20, 1901.

 

 

B) OTHER EXPLANATIONS

 

 

According to the Roman Catholic church, Antiochus Epiphanies (see my Bible Study upon him), erected an altar to Zeus on the altar of Jehovah according to 1 Maccabees,” 1:54 & 59; 6:7; “2 Maccabees,” 6:1-5.  This has caused many in Christendom to believe that this was the “Abomination of desolation” spoken of by Matthew, and that the spiritual fulfilment in the future will be when the Temple in Jerusalem is rebuilt and someone, i.e., the Anti-Christ desecrates it.

 

Did you notice that it is the Roman Catholic church who are the ones who promote the doctrine that Antiochus Epiphanies is the one who fulfils the prophecy in Daniel 8:8-9, as opposed to Biblical teaching that it is Rome itself?  Now why would the Roman Catholic church want to divert attention away from themselves?  The better question might be, “Why has basic Christendom accepted this false concept (doctrine) which continues to keep them in the dark as to real end-time events?”

 

From 5T:451 we learn:  “By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the Law of God, our nation {the U.S.A.} will disconnect herself fully from righteousness.  When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country {the U.S.A.} shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near.  As the approach of the Roman armies was a sign to the disciples of the impending destruction of Jerusalem, so may this apostasy be a sign to us that the limit of God’s forbearance is reached, that the measure of our nation’s iniquity is full, and that the angel of mercy is about to take her flight, never to return.  The people of God will then be plunged into those scenes of affliction and distress which prophets have described as the time of Jacob’s trouble.”

 

 

C) WHAT THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION DOES

 

 

Where is and what does the “Abomination of Desolation” do?  It “stand[s] in the Holy Place,” Matthew 24:15, that was vacated by Christ and taken over by Satan.  Thus, according to the statement below, we will see that the dual prophecy concerning the “Abomination of Desolation” has to do with Heavenly occurrences for the future application of this prophecy, as well as events in our world.

 

Broadside 1, April 6, 1846; ExV:44:  “And I saw a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire, and angels were all around it as it came where Jesus was {in the Holy Place}.  He {Christ} stepped into the chariot and was borne to the Holiest {Most Holy Place} where the Father sat.  There I beheld Jesus, standing before the Father, a great High Priest.  On the hem of His garment was a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate.  And I saw those who rose up with Jesus send up their faith to Him in the Holiest {Most Holy Place}, and pray -- my Father give us Thy Spirit.  Then Jesus would breathe upon them the Holy Ghost.  In the breath was light, power, and much love, joy and peace.

 

“Then I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne {in the Holy Place}; they did not know that Jesus had left it {the Holy Place} -- Satan appeared to be by the throne {in the Holy Place}, trying to carry on the work of God; I saw them look up to the throne {in the Holy Place} and pray, my Father give us Thy Spirit; then Satan would breathe upon them an unholy influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy and peace.  Satan’s object was to keep them deceived, and to draw back and deceive God’s children {Who are the ones being deceived and still in the Holy Place instead of the Most Holy Place?  Check out this next sentence}.  I saw one after another leave the company who were praying to Jesus in the Holiest {Most Holy Place}, and go and join those before the throne {in the Holy Place}, and they at once received the unholy influence of Satan.”  

 

 

D) WHAT THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION IS IN THE FUTURE

 

 

Getting back to Luke’s statement of the armies of Rome encompassing Jerusalem, and Matthew’s statement of these armies then taking over Jerusalem and desolating the Temple, according to Revelation 17:5, we have as “BABYLON” being “THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS.”  Quickly, according to my explanation of who Babylon is, i.e., Papal Rome, and the “harlots” being those who follow her laws, when the Roman Catholic church forces her laws upon the world, then the “Abomination of Desolation” will be enacted.

 

So just what law is it that the Roman Catholic church holds different from the Law of God that would cause our Lord to leave (desolate) that institution and cause Him to declare it to be an “Abomination?”  There are two laws that the Roman Catholic changed from the Decalogy.  The first being the Second Commandment of not worshipping idols.  The second being that of the change of the Biblical Sabbath to the false Sabbath of worshipping God on Sunday.

 

To worship “Mother Mary” or any pontiff, dead or alive, is to most Christians repugnant.  And most Christians have no problem with worshipping God on any day.  But to force (future) legislation that promotes the worship of God specifically on any other day than the Biblical Sabbath day will be the issue of the future.  Laws are already in place to do just that, known in the U.S.A. as “Blue Laws.”

 

Thus, when nations are passing laws against Christian principles, and these laws are enacted, according to our Lord, it will be time to flee from this persecuting power.

 

Applying the statement of our Lord to flee to our day:  “The time is not far distant, when, like the early disciples, we shall be forced to seek a refuge in desolate and solitary places.  As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the signal for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation [any nation] in passing laws against Christian principles [and then enforcing them, i.e., too late, waited too long], this will be a warning to us.  It will then be time to leave the large cities preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains.”  LDE:121; 5T:464.

 

So what is the “Abomination of Desolation” in our day, i.e., future (or is it happening slowly now)?  Answer:  When the nations are “passing laws against Christian principles.”

 

 

E) THE EVENT THAT NEEDS TO BE FULFILLED BEFORE CHRIST CAN COME

 

 

“The time is not far distant, when, like the early disciples, we shall be forced to seek a refuge in desolate and solitary places.  As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the signal for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation {the U.S.A.} in the decree enforcing the papal sabbath {Sunday Law} will be a warning to us.  It will then be time to leave the large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains.”  Mar:180.

 

According to this last statement, there would only be one sign left to be fulfilled:  Sunday Law.  This makes Sunday Law the future “Abomination of Desolation.”

 

The last call to the Christian Church is to come out of Babylon (Rev. 18:1-4), which would be any institution that goes against the Principles of God’s Law.

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