Signs Pt. 6

Continuing from yesterday I found something written by Elder William Grotheer that I thought very pertinent in explaining more of this verse-

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:)

Remember this was one of the SIGNS, we ignore the signs at our own peril.

Please, take the time to read ALL of the following, praying to our Lord for enlightenment.

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'THE JEWISH EQUATION

It would be well in reading this first article to have your Bible at hand and check carefully each reference as given. (Editor) Prior to Jesus' final departure from the temple, He declared in the hearing of the Jewish hierarchy, concerning their temple - it "is left unto you desolate.

(Matt. 23:38)

For how long?

Then Jesus uttered those words, which only the unrolling of the prophetic scroll will reveal their true meaning: - "Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." (v. 39)

The temple was left desolate at that moment.

The sign of its desolation was not given till  three days later. (Matt. 27:51)

(((Mat 27:51  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent))))

However, with-in hours, Jesus would tell his disciples about the sign which would warn them of the impending desolation of the city of Jerusalem. As Jesus departed the once sacred precincts, the amazed disciples called His attention to the structures of the temple. Jesus responded

by declaring that not one stone would be left upon another that would not be thrown down:

(Matt. 24:1-2)

(((Mat 24:1  And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

Mat 24:2  And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.))))

Significantly, Jesus did not end the history nor the prophetic importance of the city of Jerusalem at that point, only the temple. That night on the Mount of Olives, Jesus outlined the future for His disciples reaching to the end of the world. He defined three major signs, two of which would involve Jerusalem. Listed briefly, they are:

1) "The abomination of desolation" standing in "the holy place" which would signal the impending destruction of Jerusalem. (Matt.24:15 & Luke 21:20)

(((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:)

Luk 21:20  And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.))))

2) Signs in the sun, moon and stars. (Matt. 24:29; Mark 13:24-25; Luke 21:25a)

(((Mat 24:29  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken

Mar 13:24  But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

Mar 13:25  And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.

Luk 21:25  And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars…))))

3) Jerusalem no longer trodden down - the times of the Gentiles fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)

(((Luk 21:24  And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.))))

Connected with His prophetic discourse, Jesus called attention to the book of Daniel (Matt.

24:15)

(((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:) ))))

There for the careful student is a third revelation involving Jerusalem. (See Dan. 11:45)

(((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. ))))

In connection with this third revelation, is it possible that in a correct understanding of it, we can perceive the significance of Jesus' final utterance as  He left the temple? (Matt. 23:39)

(((Mat 23:39  For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. ))))

 All of these events which have taken place, and are to take place in the history of Jerusalem coupled with the symbolism of the book of Revelation, constitute the Jewish "equation." In seeking to solve this "equation," it must be first noted with emphasis, that Jerusalem after 34 A.D. was no longer "the holy city of God," nor were the Jewish people per se, God's "chosen people."

 It is true that Matthew, in noting the sign for the Christians to flee the city, described its presence as "in the holy place." (24:15)

(((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:)))))

Mark says "standing where it ought not." (13:14)

(((Mar 13:14  But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains))))

Luke literalizes it completely - "When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies." (21:20)

Another factor in solving the Jewish "equation" is the question - How shall these references be interpreted?

Do we spiritualize these references, saying they have a double meaning, or a double application? Or do we take them literally in their given context clearly noting their fulfillment in history, or in a yet-to-be fulfilled event? In the development of the prophetic teachings of the Advent Movement, these very same questions confronted our spiritual forefathers.

One principle which they emphasized was  - "The Bible must be interpreted according to the plain, obvious, and literal import unless a figure is employed." ("Biblical Interpretation in the Advent Movement" in A Symposium on Biblical Hermeneutics, p. 119.)

The reason for this emphasis was that they were facing those who were seeking to counteract the message of Revelation 14 with the speculative philosophy of the second century church fathers. These father's concept of Scripture, Mosheim describes as follows:

They all believed the language of Scripture to contain two meanings; the one obvious and corresponding with the direct import of the words; the other recondite and concealed under the words, like the kernel by the shell: the former they neglected as of little value, and bestowed their chief attention on the latter; that is they were more intent on throwing obscurity over the sacred

writings by the fictions of their own imaginations, than of searching out their true meaning. (Ecclesiastical History, Cent. II, Chapt. III, par. 5)

There is little difference between the application of these 2nd Century philosophers, and their emphasis, and those today who use what is termed "double application" of Bible prophecy. For example, the words of Jesus in Matt. 24:15 are clearly recognized as having direct reference to the sign which marked the forthcoming destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, and served to alert the

Jewish Christians to flee the city. But it is thought there is another meaning to Jesus's words. The "Abomination of Desolation" is to stand in the Church as a "new" holy place. This fictitious concept is given the key emphasis in interpreting Matt. 24:15. A simple solution to the Jewish "equation"

would put all events in their proper place and give to the student light as to the last end of "the indignation."

A brief Overlook at Daniel In the dream given to Nebuchadnezzar, the fourth kingdom of iron is recognized as Rome. But the iron does not stop at the ankles, but extends down to the very tips of the toes.

In the first dream given to Daniel, the "little horn" ever remains a part of the fourth beast, although the interpretation given describes its activities separately.

Daniel's next vision (Chapter 8) reveals an "horn" coming out of one of the four winds (West), distinct and separate from the other symbols whose historic fulfillment centered in the Middle East. This "horn" was to be "broken without hand." (8:25)

(((Dan 8:25  And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. ))))

The final prophecy given to Daniel represents this same power which "shall come to his end, and none shall help him." (11:45)

In all these dreams and visions, Rome is pictured as one with two phases - pagan and papal.

In the book of Daniel, this two phased power is declared to be "the abomination of desolation." (8:13; 11:31; 12:11).

(((Dan 8:13  Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

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.

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. ))))

It comes in contact with Jerusalem in its pagan form at the time it destroys the city and the temple. (9:26-27)

(((Dan 9:26  And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Dan 9:27  And 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 make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. ))))

This is the phase to which Jesus referred in His Olivet discourse (Matt. 24:15).

(((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:)))))

However, the book of Daniel tells of the time when the papal phase will like-wise come in contact with Jerusalem.

Under the symbolism of "the king" which shall magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods" (Dan. 11:36; compare with 7:25 & II Thess. 2:4),

(((Dan 11:36  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.

Dan 7:25  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.

2Th 2:4  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. ))))

...the papal phase "shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain." (Dan. 11:45)

(((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. ))))

And Daniel understood the "holy mountain" to be Jerusalem. (9:16)

(((Dan 9:16  O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. ))))

******* (Please note the above was originally printed in the Watchmen What of the Night newsletter in five parts, the article is NOT included here in its entirety. If you would like the entire article please go to the following web address- http://www.adventistalert.com/aawwn/eight/sev-aj.htm  and follow the subsequent links to each newsletter.  Also, please note, ALL Bible verses between (((  and )))) have been added by me and are not in the original newsletter articles.)*******

MY THOUGHTS-

The abomination of desolation.

Clearly this is something we need to pay attention to.  Our Savior draws our attention to it and through extensive Bible study it is clear that the abomination of desolation IS Pagan and Papal ROME.

We can only comprehend this through a study of Daniel- and our SAVIOR points us to DANIEL. Jesus did NOT say … 'When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation…..stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)'

He 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:) '

SPOKEN of by Daniel the prophet.

We know by studying Daniel that the book was closed up until the time of the end, and we know through a study of Revelation that the book that was shut up, we opened.  Understanding was to be given to those who would be living in the last days, in the grand scheme of things, in the thousands of years the earth existed they would be living in the tail end of those years. 

We have understanding. In the mid 1800's men all over the world without any contact with each other were suddenly beginning to understand these books of prophecy. Our Savior wanted us to understand the book of Daniel and He said as much to us. 

So understanding that we are to look for this prophecy in Daniel 11:45 to be fulfilled it is so incredibly important for us to watch the signs.

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.

The 'he' is the abomination of desolation in it's papal form.

The papacy.

Is the papacy STILL in existence?

It sure is.

When the papacy plants the tabernacles of its palace in Jerusalem-  it will then come to its end - a process and ending that no one will be able to keep from happening. It doesn't say it'll be instantaneous, only that the papacy WILL come to its end.

Just a few months ago Jerusalem and the Papacy were in the news-  they are coming to agreements about territory in Jerusalem- something that will be finalized in June, according to the news. 

Is this what we are supposed to be noting? 

What does it have to do with us who are watching?

We are being told that it is coming.  We are being warned. We are watching for the thief in the night and we see that thief coming and because we see we have the advantage over the thief we will not be taken advantage of. Our eyes are OPENED, we see!  And in seeing we can be prepared. We must have the extra oil for our lamps all ready, and not be like the foolish virgins awaiting for the bridegroom without extra oil for their lamps.  We are being told to WAKE UP! Pray, watch, be ready!

There are many signs that have occurred already and signs that will go right up until the very end.

The verse after Daniel 11:45 tells us just how important it is for us to watch and understand what is happening.

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.

We will be entering a time of trouble that will include the seven last plagues, because after that time of trouble we will be DELIVERED! Our Savior returns!

By the GRACE and MERCY of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, may we be among those delivered! May we be prepared by wholly relying up on HIM and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS all through HIS LOVE!