The Abomination of Desolation – The Sign of His Coming
The bible speaks of many abominations. However, there is one particular abomination that is rightly called “the abomination of desolation”. Jesus told us “when ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)” (Matt 24:15)
Is this important to understand? It is vital; in fact the warning is to get out of the cities at this time. (Luke 22:22, Matt 24:16) We will examine this more as we continue. We were told that this “shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matt 24:3) Imagine coming to a busy intersection, and you didn’t see the stop “sign”? This could cause a very serious accident and you could be severely injured, or even killed.
The bible tells us that “we have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place,” (2 Pet 1:19) What is prophecy for? Prophecy is given so that we can “take heed”. When danger is ahead, God gives us signs and light so that we can avoid the dangers ahead. And that is what this “sign” is to show us.
The book of Daniel mentions abominations that make desolate several times. (Dan 12:11, 8:12-13, 9:26-27, 11:31, 11:45) If we read Daniel carefully, we will see that some of these happen at different times. For instance, in Matthew 23:38 only a few verses before Jesus tells those at the end of the world to watch for an abomination of desolation, he tells the Pharisees that “your house is left unto you desolate.” (Matt 23:38).
Jesus pronouncement was a fulfillment of Daniel 9:26, 27 and happened in the midst of the 70 week prophecy of Daniel 9, however, there were further events to transpire at least one more “abomination of desolation” to come at the end of the world. And he likened the events of the destruction of Jerusalem to what would transpire at the “end of the world”. (Matt 24:3)
In the book of Revelation chapter 17 we read of a woman:
Revelation 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
A woman in prophecy symbolizes a church. (Jer 6:2, Heb 12:22-24) This woman is guilty of “Abominations” and it is written right in her “forehead”. Revelation 17 has the key to understanding the “abomination of desolation” at the “end of the world”. So before we go to far, let us examine this chapter and get the principles before we move to the book of Daniel in order to understand it from that context.
We are told in Revelation 17:16 that “the ten horns…are ten kings”. This is important to note, as this woman has been guilty of doing something with these “ten kings”. In verse 2 we are told by an angel that he will “shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunkwith the wine of her fornication.” (Rev 17:1, 2)
There are several points of interest to note here:
1. The Ten horns are ten kings
2. The kings of the earth are fornicating with her
3. The cup is filled with wine from her fornication with the kings of the earth.
What is that wine in the cup consist of?
Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
Did you catch that? The “wine of her fornication” is actually the blood of the martyrs. What are we seeing here? Well, this woman is using the kings of the earth to kill the martyrs and saints. It is a Church and State union. When Satan offered the kingdoms of the world to Jesus, Jesus refused. (Matt 4:8-10) When Satan offered the kingdoms of the world to the Pope during the dark ages, persecution ensued, and blood was spilt. What else are we told of this “wine of her fornication” that is in the cup?
Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
Interestingly, this cup in her hand is not just full of the blood of saints, but it full of abominations, and filthiness of her fornication. In other words, her fornication with the kings of the earth is an abomination. And not just that, but since “the ten horns…are ten kings” (Rev 17:12) And “the ten horns…shall make her desolate” (Rev 17:16) then we can rightfully conclude that this church and state union is the “abomination that maketh desolate” (Matt 24:15).
The Judgment of Babylon
Now in this chapter we are seeing “the judgment of the great whore” of Babylon. (Rev 17:1) In Daniel chapter 5 we read that “Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.” (Dan 5:2)
They were worshipping the gods of Babylon, of gold, silver, wood, stone, etc. while drinking out of holy cups. And because of the over spreading of abominations and this state religion, judgment came. We are told that the conclusion of the story was that the writing was on the wall and “this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” (Dan 5:25-28)
In other words “Babylon is Fallen” (Rev 18:2), and this event happened in 538BC when Belshazzar, the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar was reigning as king. This was the ancient judgment of Babylon. And this same pronouncement “thou art weighed in the balances and found wanting” is to be the “judgment” pronounced on the “great whore”. (Dan 5:27, Rev 17:1)
It is the kings of the earth and their fornication with her that leaves her “desolate” (Rev 17:2, 4, 6, 12, 16). This was fulfilled during the dark ages when the Papacy had over 50 million martyrs killed. It would be one thing if it was a few thousand, but this is what some might term a “blood bath”, and it is worse than anything this world has ever seen. This woman or church was truly “drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus:” (Revelation 17:6)
Daniel and the Abomination of Desolation
Jesus told us to “understand” when we see “the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet.” (Matt 24:15) So therefore it is important to understand from the book of Daniel as well. But in order to understand, we need to understand the prophecies in Daniel. In Daniel 8 we are told of of a vision of two beasts.
Daniel 8:3-5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
Beasts in prophecy generally represent kingdoms. (Dan 7:23) So these two kingdoms represent the kingdoms of Medo-Persia and Greece.
Daniel 8:20-21 The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
This prophecy therefore began in the time of the Medo-Persian kingdom. After the fall of Medo-Persia, then Alexander the Great conquered the world in only a few short years. Right after he conquered the world, Alexander died from drunkenness. We see in the vision that Greece is shown to be divided into four, and finally a little horn comes up out of one of those four horns which is to become “exceeding great”.
Daniel 8:8-9 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven. And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
The Little horn, Rome conquered Macedonia, one of the four divisions of the Greek Empire in 168BC. The little horn waxed great toward the south by conquering Egypt in 30BC. In 63BC the little horn waxed great toward the east when it conquered Syria, and it also waxed great toward the pleasant land when they made Judea a province in 65BC and eventually destroyed the entire city in 70AD.
Dan 8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
The term “host” can mean “army”. In this verse we are told that the Papacy stamped upon “the army of heaven” or God’s people. We see this fulfilled in several verses. For instance the interpretation of this verse is seen here in verse 24:
Daniel 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
Further fulfillment of this “stamping” on the host of heaven is also seen in Daniel 11.
Daniel 11:32-33 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
This is another reference to the Papacy during the dark ages of Papal Rome which we will look at as we continue. In Daniel chapter 7 we are told of the fourth beast, which is also Rome stamping upon the remnant. The word for “residue” in both of the following verses means “remnant”.
Dan 7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
Dan 7:19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
The fourth beast here again is Rome, and they were the ones who cast God’s children to the ground and“stamped upon them”. (Dan 8:10) This was definitely fulfilled after 538AD when the Papacy came on the scene. The Papacy is also seen in Daniel 7 as “the little horn”.
Daniel 7:24-25 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another(little horn) shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
The bible tells us that “the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise:” (Dan 7:24) This Kingdom was divided. And out of that divided kingdom “another” diverse horn would arise. This little horn symbolizing the Papacy arising out of the divided Roman Empire. And this little horn “subdued three kings”. (V24) Three Arian tribes did not support the trinity and the Papacy wanted these tribes subdued. These tribes that were exterminated were the Vandals, Visigoths, and Ostrogoths.
The Ostrogoths were the final tribe that was eliminated, and they were uprooted out of the land by the emperor Justinian in 538AD. In 538AD the Justinian code was also fully enforced. The law of the church was now the law of the state and anyone differing with them regarding the trinity were to be uprooted out of the land with “relentless violence”, just as those Arian tribes.
A couple things need to be clarified here. A time is a year, times is two years, and the dividing of time is a half-year. The Amplified Bible translates Daniel 7:25 as “Three and one-half years.” Which is also 42 months.
This same time period is mentioned seven times (Daniel 7:25 12:7 Revelation 11:2, 3 12:6, 14 13:5) in the books of Daniel and Revelation: three times as a time, times, and half a time twice as 42 months and twice as 1,260 days. Based on the 30-day calendar used by the Jews, these time periods are all the same amount of time:
3 1/2 years = 42 months = 1,260 days.
As for prophetic time we are told that one prophetic day equals one literal year (Ezekiel 4:6 Numbers 14:34).
Thus, the little horn (Antichrist) was to have power over the saints for 1,260 prophetic days or 1,260 literal years.
The rule of the papacy began in A.D. 538, when the last of the three opposing Arian kingdoms was uprooted. Its rule continued until 1798 when Napoleon’s general, Berthier, took the pope captive with hopes of destroying both Pope Pius VI and the political, secular power of the papacy. This period of time is an exact fulfillment of the 1,260-year prophecy.
To be Arian was to not be TrinitArian. The Justinian code, the law of the land from 538-1798 started with the words:
“THE CODE OF OUR LORD…THE MOST SACRED EMPEROR JUSTINIAN… CONCERNING THE MOST EXALTED TRINITY AND THE CATHOLIC FAITH AND PROVIDING THAT NO ONE SHALL DARE TO PUBLICLY OPPOSE THEM.”
It further stated:
“We desire that all peoples subject to Our benign Empire shall live under the same religion… should believe that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit constitute a single Deity, endowed with equal majesty, and united in the Holy Trinity.” (Justinian Code)
In other words, this was a State religion. The woman was at this point riding the beast. The Justinian code also stated the following:
“We order all those who follow this law to assume the name of Catholic Christians, and considering others as demented and insane, We order that they shall bear the infamy of heresy;… Let no place be afforded to heretics for the conduct of their ceremonies, and let no occasion be offered for them to display the insanity of their obstinate minds… Let the name of the only and the greatest God be celebrated everywhere, and let the observance of the Nicene Creed, recently transmitted to Our ancestors, and firmly established by the testimony and practice of Divine Religion, always remain secure.”(Justinian Code)
The Justinian Code had to do with exalting the Trinity and also using force against those who did not believe in it. Finally the spirit that destroyed these tribes
“Let those who do not accept those doctrines cease to apply the name of true religion to their fraudulent belief; and let them be branded with their open crimes…We forbid all heretics to hold unlawful assemblies within cities. If, however, any seditious outbreak should be attempted, We order them to be driven outside the the walls of the City, with relentless violence.” (Justinian Code)
So in continuing we see that those who do not accept the Trinity were to be destroyed with “relentless violence”. And we also see that this god was exalted by the Roman Catholic church during the dark ages. And a law was made enforcing exaltation of it. Thus fulfilling the words of Daniel:
Daniel 11:38-39 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
The Pope acknowledged and increased the Trinity with glory at this time, fulfilling the prophecy of Daniel. This was certainly an unknown god to the fathers, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. A god that was never mentioned by the lips of the fathers.
But before exalting this God something took place. In verse 31 of Daniel 11 we read that “arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the dailysacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.” (Dan 11:31)
The Papacy needed an army, and that army would “pollute the sanctuary”. What does it mean to “pollute” something? It means to make it dirty, or “unclean”. The sanctuary was polluted by the Papacy, and after this we read that “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” (Dan 8:14)
What was it about the abomination that made the church desolate? “The ten horns…shall make her desolate” (Rev 17:16) In 508AD. One of those horns was France, and the army or “arms that shall stand” on the Papacy’s part, the “host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression.” And this happened in 508AD when the Visigoths were uprooted byt the army of France. King Clovis of France was recently baptized. And the Francs being one of the horns was to make the church “desolate”, and the “abomination of desolation” was set up.
This was fulfilled in 508AD. And from that date until 1798 when the Pope was captured was 1290 years, or 1290 days prophetically.
Dan 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
This was fulfilled and the cup of the Papacy continued to fill up with the “abominations and filthiness of her fornication” by “the blood of the saints, and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus” (Rev 17:2, 4-6). This abomination with the ten horns had left her desolate. (Rev 17:16)
However the chronology of Daniel 11 does not stop with the abomination of desolation in verse 31. There is another abomination afterward just before the “time of trouble” mentioned in Daniel 12:1 which is mentioned in the last verse of the chapter.
Dan 11:45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
Let us examine Daniel 11 carefully before we come to these last events.
Dan 11:31 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.
In 508 AD the French king Clovis, the arms that stood on the part of the Papacy, had captured almost the entire kingdom of the Visigoths. The ten horns made the church desolate, and her cup became filled with the abominations of her fornication, the blood of saints and martyrs of those Arian tribes who would not accept the doctrines of the Papacy.
The word “sacrifice” is an added word in this text. The word “daily” can also be translated “continual”. Christ “abideth a priest continually.” (Heb 7:3) and this priesthood of Melchisidec, which the Papacy was “against” is also known as the “better testament” or “better covenant”. (See Heb 7:21, 22)
Dan 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
Just as he was given “an host…against the daily” or the “continual” priesthood of Christ, so “arms shall stand on his part…against the covenant” (Dan 11:31, 32) and the priestly mediator of the covenant. In place of our mediator, the state had put the Pope as a mediator, and priest between men and God.
Dan 11:33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
Dan 11:34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
Dan 11:35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
During the time from 508-1798 the Papacy destroyed many, and in this her cup became filled with the blood of martyrs, and this abomination of fornication with the kings of the earth had left her desolate. (Rev 17:2, 4, 6, 16)
Dan 11:36-37 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
Similarly we read of this “man of sin…revealed…who 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” (2 Thess 2:3, 4) In Daniel 7:25 we are told the same that he would “he shall speak great words against the most High”.
During the dark ages the Justinian decree was in force. And this decree “concerning the most exalted trinity” exalted this god who is not the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Dan 11:38-39 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
This strange god, the trinity was “increased with glory” by the Papacy during the dark ages. Further, at the time of the end, another push would be made.
Dan 11:44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. (Glad tidings = Good News = Gospel)
Dan 11:45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Abomination of Desolation Mount Zion – Church – Controls State Laws)
Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. (Time of Trouble – Jesus Coming)
Here we have the same events in the same order as Matthew 24.
In verse 14 Jesus says the following:
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Following this Jesus said:
Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Now here we see right after the gospel is given, “the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel”. We are to “Understand” this from the book of Daniel. But what does Jesus say follows right after “the abomination of desolation”.
Matthew 24:21-22 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
A time of trouble such as never was. So the order of events is easy to understand.
1. Gospel (Matt 24:14, Dan 11:44)
2. Abomination of Desolation (Matt 24:15, Dan 11:45) Loud Cry Given
3. Time of Trouble (Matt 24:21, 22, Dan 12:1)
4. Jesus coming from the east (Matt 24:27, Dan 11:44, 12:1, 2)
We are to “understand” that this is “the sign” of his coming, and of the end of the world. To miss this “sign” could be vital.
On September 24th, 2015, for the first time ever, the Papacy, on the very day of atonement, judgment day, will address the United States congress for the first time in history. On the 25th of September in New York city on the official page of the United Nations we are told that “The United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda will be held from 25 to 27 September 2015, in New York and convened as a high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly.”
Agenda 21 is an agenda to help sustain and develop the environment. In order to do this, they have a map which entails relocation of millions of people from the rural areas of the country into the cities. There is much more information on this, but this is the plan. The Pope has recently released a climate encyclical. Encyclicals are to be considered official doctrine. And this encyclical is something that the Pope would like enforced by the State. Agenda 21, also known as the Sustainable Development Agenda fits the bill.
The Pope is expected to release another encyclical on September 25th, and if everything is fulfilling as expected, than we are seeing “the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters” (Rev 17:1) And this all on judgment day 2015.
For more information, please go to http://lightenedbyhisglory.com/the-abomination-of-desolation-2015/
Feel free to contact me for more information.