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.
*******
'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!
