Thursday, July 28, 2016

The Abomination of Desolation

                In all of my writings whether in periodic blogs or my three published books my purpose and desire is to project the truths of the Scriptures and relate these truths to the lives of people in a manner that brings understanding.  So as with this topic I recently heard a well-known and very good Christian pastor speak about this subject projecting a very inaccurate interpretation of its meaning so I have thought there is a need to clarify and explain.  I have previously done so in two of my three books, but many will never access that source so I have been constrained to summarize those accounts here.
            Jesus introduces us to the truth and timing of the abomination of desolation at Matthew 24:15 when he says,  ‘’When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place, whoso reaadeth let him understand.” Jesus is speaking as a prophet concerning an event or occurrence which is yet future. As he has referred to Daniel as a prophet we then need to return to Daniel’s revealed writings to gather more information. Daniel instructs us concerning the matter in two places. At Daniel 12:11 we read asfollows: “And from the time the daily sacrifice shall be taken away and the abomination that maketh desolate shall be set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.” When placed in context with the timing and duration of the tribulation period covered in more detail in the earlier part of chapter twelve this tells us the precise occurrence of the abomination of desolation placing it exactly thirty days before the beginning of the three and one-half year tribulation period. We state unequivocally that the tribulation is to last three and one-half years and not seven as proclaimed by those who embrace dispensational theology as is testified by Daniel at verse seven where the Scripture says: “….it shall be for a time, times and a half (3 ½ years) and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.”  Having established the timing we must seek further in the Scriptures to bring clarity to the details of its manning.
            To do so we must go to Daniel chapter 11  beginning with verse 30 where we read: “For the ships of Chittim shall come against him therefore he shall be grieved (speaking of the Antichrist, the son of perdition) and return and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with those that forsake the covenant, And arms (force or power) 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. 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. (verses 30-32). Understanding that this is a difficult passage we will provide an interpretation and then finish this treatment by moving to the New Testament and examining the second chapter of II Thessalonians but before we do so is necessary to demonstrate the utterly false interpretation held by those of dispensational persuasion.
            Although there is not one single verse of Scripture to verify any portion of their teaching they would provide a completely contrived interpretation as will follow. This passage, by the way receives extensive coverage in the Scofield Reference Bible notes  (pages 916 & 917 - 1967 revision) and is the source of this longstanding corruption of this portion of Scripture which  must be understood in light of the many heresies projected not only in the Scofield Reference Bible but the fruit of those teachings inherent in dispensational theology.
            Their interpretation and evaluation of Daniel 11:31 and following verses would identify the subject person acting as Antiochus Epiphines the alleged king of the North drawn from previous verses in the chapter which do not specifically identify either the “king of the north or the king of the south” as to a specific person. Supposedly by the added Scofield notes they have arrived at the conclusion that he sacrificed a sow on the altar of the temple in Jerusalem and they surmise this constitutes the abomination that makes desolate. Further they would assert that Antiochus Epiphines is the architype of the coming Antichrist. This is all conjecture without one verse of Scripture to verify any portion of it. Jesus clearly asserts that the occurrence of the abomination of desolation is yet future at the time of his prophecy. This interpretation then can only be labeled as a “Jewish fable” which is spoken of by the apostle Paul in his epistle to Titus.
            In truth the passage beginning with Daniel 11:30 and running to the end of the chapter
is recounting the activities of and responses to the actual Antichrist during the period of the tribulation. This is progressive and moving forward to the end of the age. Additional information as well as the length the tribulation is provided by Daniel in chapter twelve.
            Now we must move to II Thessalonians 2:1-11. We will place emphasis on portions of this passage to bring further understanding to the words of Jesus and the prophesies of Daniel. (1) First we would see that the return of the Lord is after the manifestation of the evil one spoken of in the passage (vss.1-3).  (2) That which restrains his (Antichrist) being revealed (verse 7). (3) The revelation of the wicked one occurs as the outworking of ‘the mystery of iniquity’ at the end of a falling away and the working of Satan and a great apostasy (verses 7-9). (4) It will be manifest by ‘lying wonders’ and the ‘deceivableness of all unrighteousness’ (verses 9-10). (5)He will oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so he as God sittith in the temple of God showing himself that he is God (verse 4). This is the abomination of desolation. (6) This spiritual activity empowered by Satan is allowed by God who ‘for this cause shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned who believe not the truth….’ (verses 11-12).If you really desire to have an understanding you will need to get your Bible out and work your way slowly through the entire passage.
            So in conclusion and by examining all the passages related to the abomination of desolation it will be seen that the wicked one -the son of perdition takes up residence in the temple of God. Under the tenets of the new covenant in Christ we see that that temple is the spirits of men for God intended to live and rein in the hearts (spirits) of men. This is his temple.(See I Cor. 6:19) ‘What know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you which ye have of God…’ The word in the Greek is Naos meaning ‘a shrine or sanctuary’ (Vines Expository of New Testament Words). The word at I Cor. 6:19 and II Thes.2:4 are this word. Jesus uses the same word at John 2:19-21 in reference to his own body.
            In conclusion it must be stated that this writer does not believe the temple mentioned at II Thes. 2:4 is a rebuilt Jewish edifice or building where they may carry on worship. (See Acts 7:48-49).  This does not mean that it won’t happen but this is not the meaning of the abomination of desolation.  It cannot be for God has already judged and caused to be destroyed that outward expression of the old covenant and his dealings with ethnic or national Jewry is finished. (See my blog Seventy Weeks Are Determined). Thus it can only mean that the abomination of desolation is a time when the enemies of God—Satan and his demonic army headed up by the Antichrist take captive and thus take up residence and possession of men’s souls and spirits through a miraculous act of deception. (Compare Dan 11:32&cont. and II Timothy 2:26).  The enemy is capable of taking captive our inner man when we give consent. This spiritual reality will have extreme consequences when the manifestation of the abomination of desolation spoken of in II Thes. 2 occurs.
            These truths will be strongly rejected by all who have been deeply nurtured in Scofieldism and dispensational theology. 

David Lance Dean                                        visit my website: authordavidlancedean.com
                                                                       with a link all of my posted blogs

            

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