An challenging look at understanding Prophecy
INTRODUCTION
Abomination of Desolation
The highly debated topic has inspired much study. Mentioned throughout Daniel , the gospels and Revelation, there are allot of clues provided in narrowing down several questions.
Background
• The abomination that leads to desolation has a fascinating background in the old testament foreshadowing the future. The word abomination was used to represent forms of pagan worship, primarily Idol worship.
Eze 20
7. Then I said to them, 'Each of you, throw away the abominations which are before his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.'
• When Israel had committed abominations, and worshipped graven images, God had to withdraw his protection from them. Notice the things that would immediately occur.
Eze 6
11. 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Pound your fists and stamp your feet, and say, 'Alas, for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! For they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.
-the very same things that will happen to the world on large scale in then end times.
• Abomination of desolation is grammatically mistranslated. The verse below will illustrate that the accurate translations: Abomination that leads to Desolation.
Eze 33
9. Then they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed." '
• Just as we read in Revelation that the lost will receive the mark of the beast for worshipping the image of the beast, there was a very similar story in ancient Israel.
Eze 9
4. and the LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it."
5. To the others He said in my hearing, "Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity.
6. Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were before the temple.
WHAT and WHEN
• Both of these highly debated questions are very easy to answer by looking at revelation.
ABOMINATION
Rev 17
4. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.
5. And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
DESOLATION
Rev 17
16. And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
Rev 18
19. "They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.'
• as you can see, Revelation calls the harlot the abomination, who becomes desolate. This is very helpful as we now know that some form of the harlot, quite possibly her image that comes to life in rev 13, and her city is the Abomination spoken of by Daniel. Now if this connection is accurate, "when" becomes quite obvious. The prophecy of the harlot will be fulfilled right before the end of time.
Eze 20
30. Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Are you defiling yourselves in the manner of your fathers, and committing harlotry according to their abominations?
KING of the NORTH
Daniel 11
30. For ships from Cyprus shall come against him;
therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against
the Holy covenant, and do damage. So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the
holy covenant.
31. And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take
away the Daily, and place there the abomination of desolation.
32. Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall
corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their
God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
33. And those of the people who understand shall instruct
many; yet for many days they shall fall by the sword
and flame, by captivity and plundering.
34. Now when they fall they shall
be aided with a little help; but many shall join with
them by intrigue.
35. And some of those of understanding shall fall, to
refine them, purge them, and make them white, until the
time of the end, because it is still for the appointed
time.
36. Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god,
shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and
shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for
what has been determined shall be done.
Dan 12
1 "At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.
Jer 32
34. But they set their abominations in the house which is called by My name, to defile it.
• Here are more clues. In Daniel 11 The King of the North commits the abomination.. We also have more information about the actual event. Defiling the sanctuary fortress, taking away the daily and placing there the abomination of desolation. Well, those words could mean anything, and indeed if you read what the scholars have to say, you'll see just how many meanings have been conjured up. So rather than arguing over the meaning, lets narrow down what we can.
• You will notice a pattern throughout these verses that the abomination appears to be followed by the great time of trouble. Now since the event occurs right before Jesus returns, we can safely assume the the abomination that leads to desolation occurs near the very end of time.
THE MOUTH and 2nd BEAST
• So then if an individual puts in place the abomination that leads to desolation, and the abomination is the harlot, lets see what light Rev 13 sheds on it.
Rev 13:
5. And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
6. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
7. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.
8. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
• Now com pair the actions of the mouth with the actions of the king of the north, who also kills saints and sets up the abomination that leads to desolation.
Daniel 11:36 he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods,
• Now look as Revelation describes the 2nd beast giving breath to the abomination. *for more about these verses, go to the 2nd Beast page.
15. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
16. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
WHERE does it OCCUR
Mark 13:14. "But when you see the 'abomination
of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand),
"then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
15. "And let him who is on the housetop not go
down into the house, not enter to take anything out
of his house.
16. "And let him who is in the field not go back
to get his garment.
17. "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those
with nursing babies in those days!
18. "And pray that you flight may not be in winter.
19. "For in those days there will be tribulation,
such as has not been from the beginning of creation
which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.
20. "And unless the Lord had shortened those days,
no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, whom
he chose, He shortened the days.
Luke 21:20. "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.
• com pair these verses with Daniel's sanctuary fortress, and Revelation describing the mouth blaspheming his temple, the 2 witnesses being killed in the same city where Jesus was crucified. Now we can put to end allot of confusion. It stands to reason that the only place the holy temple will be rebuilt is the temple mount of Jerusalem, which will not be possible without massive world war, which is extensively described throughout prophecy. So now rather than being confused by the gospels mention of Jerusalem, we can allow that it is referring to Jerusalem again, but on a major scale.
(Under Construction)
Dan 9
27. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate."
• This
Eze 18:24 "But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.
Revelation Main Page
The 7 Trumpets herald the beginning of the last days. Some claim they are symbolic while some argue a literal interpretation.
The 7 Seals of Revelation parallel the gospel prophecies of Matthew Mark and Luke.
The 7 head 10 horned beast rises to power and rules the whole world militarily and spiritually, and makes war with the saints.
The 2nd beast of Revelation exists at the same time as the 1st. some believe its the antichrist, other say its America.
The 144,000 described in Revelation have a very inspiring message for those who live through the time of the end.
Jerusalem, the highly debated city. Some say it will be the center of end time events, while others claim its merely symbolic.
The Abomination of Desolation is mentioned as happening in the early days of the new testament. Some verses point to end times.
The 2 Witnesses of Revelation. Not everything about them is revealed, but many clues are evident.
The Close of Judgment which precedes the 7 last plagues is clearly described in 2 different chapters of revelation.
Special Resurrection. Jesus returns to resurrect the saved and some of the lost.
The spirit of prophesy.