Study Lesson 8
End Time Abomination Of Desolation
Scripture To Consider:
“Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.” Matthew 24.15-18
A Few Words Of Warning:
What Is The End Time Abomination Of Desolation
Jesus now focuses His end time teaching on one particular future event that will greatly affect the end time occupants in and around Jerusalem. We know this to be true from what is spoken of by Jesus as He mentions Judea and those relaxing on housetops, which is a common practice in that land and culture. And in connection with this future event known as the abomination of desolation, Jesus admonishes the end time occupier of the land of Israel to flee to the mountains. He warns those working in the fields to not go to their homes to get their clothes.
There are many different interpretations of just what is exactly the abomination of desolation and the timing of this event. Some teach that this event took place in the past history of Israel in regards to Jesus’ teaching. They state that in 168 B.C. Antiochus Epiphanes entered the then Jewish temple and sacrificed a pig to the pagan god Zeus, and stained the altar of God with its blood. But Jesus was not warning of a past event. Why would Jesus or anyone warn others of something that already happened in the past? Jesus is by no means speaking of past events, but rather a future yet to take place end time event.
Others teach of this happening in 70 A.D. approximately forty years after Jesus spoke it. For in 70 A.D. when Rome could no longer turn a deaf ear to the many Jewish rebellions, Titus, a Roman general took possession of Jerusalem and its surrounding area, as described in lesson one of this in-depth study. Roman soldiers marched into the Jewish temple carrying Roman standards or flags which bore images or carvings upon their flags, and thereby this is by some considered to be the abomination of desolation. Jesus will nullify this concept as we will point out later in verse 21 of our Scripture to consider.
There is one thing we should point out before further investigating this end time abomination of desolation. That is, Jesus has not yet mentioned the rapture, or more biblically correct, the gathering of the saints or His second coming. This is important in our discussion of the abomination of desolation and our enduring to the end!
Something To Consider:
The Abomination Of Desolation According To Scripture
According to Daniel’s prophecy, chapter 9, this event, the abomination of desolation, will take place in the middle of an end time future seven-year peace treaty or covenant. This peace treaty will be made between the end time revised Jewish nation of Israel and the surrounding Muslim nations. Even in recent years many U.S. presidents and U.S. state departments have attempted to negotiate peace in the Middle East including past President Obama and past Secretary of State John Forbes Kerry. Their efforts to establish a Middle East peace agreement have appeared to be unsuccessful. Several tentative deadlines for official talks on many occasions came and went without peace.
Again, in Daniel chapter 11, verses 20-21, Daniel spoke of a vile person who shall arise, but he comes peaceably and seizes power and kingdoms by intrigue. In verses 31-35 of Daniel chapter 11, Daniel precisely places this event as part of the end of time and names it the abomination of desolation. Jesus and Daniel are indeed speaking of the same end time event, of this the Scripture makes very clear. Therefore, Jesus in Matthew 24.15 declared, “…whoever reads, let him understand.”
Continuing in Daniel’s final chapter 12, let us read and understand Daniel’s summary to his book of end time prophecy, beginning in verses 1-3. “At that time Michael [an archangel] 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, everyone who is found written in the book [Book of Life].”
And Daniel further declared, “And many of those who sleep [have died] in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.”
Does Daniel’s message sound familiar? Both Jesus and Paul covered much of what Daniel has declared, some nearly word for word. But in Daniel 12.11-12, we are given ample insight into the divine biblical breakdown of the last seven years of man’s rule on earth and the timing of the abomination of desolation. “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away [from the yet future to be built Jewish temple], and the abomination of desolation is set up [in the temple], there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety [1,290] days. Blessed is he [or she] who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five [1,335] days.”
Something Else To Consider:
How Important Is Searching The Scriptures For Truth
Daniel and those of his days were working from a 360 day per year calendar. One thousand two hundred and ninety [1,290] days is exactly thirty [30] days more than half of a seven-year timeframe based upon 360 days per year. The abomination of desolation must take place in the middle of the last seven years, give or take thirty days. But what exactly did Daniel mean when he wrote, “Blessed is he [or she] who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five [1,335] days?” Why would Daniel declare that those who waited an additional forty-five days after the abomination of desolation would be blessed?
These Scriptures certainly give us much to contemplate, especially as our minds race to other informative Scripture such as Titus 2.12-14. For it is there to which Paul, speaking of the grace of God teaching men, that he declared; “…teaching us [true believers] that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”
Notice that Paul described the blessed hope and the appearing of Jesus as a simultaneous end time event. He also described an event in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, which sheds some biblical light on the subject mentioned by Jesus as the abomination of desolation in our Scripture to consider. In 2 Thessalonians 2.4, Paul wrote of a man of sin [vile person], and labeled him as the son of perdition. Paul writing of this evil individual stated, “Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he [end time vile son of perdition] sits as God in the temple of God [yet to be built], showing himself that he is God.”
Paul, Jesus, and Daniel are describing the same future end time event. Many more recent so-called bible teachers believe and teach that all Christians will be raptured or will take part in the blessed hope, prior to this future end time event known as the abomination of desolation. But let no man, woman, or young person be deceived merely because many with higher educational degrees say it is so.
Again, what does Scripture proclaim as truth. If in searching the Scripture, there are discrepancies between the word of man and the Word of God, by all means we must believe the Word of God, and discard the false and deceiving words of man.
Therefore, let us be diligent in searching the Scriptures for God’s truth and God’s take on any and all subjects including end time events. Let us believe what God’s Word declares concerning such subjects as the abomination of desolation, the biblical timing of the appearing of Jesus Christ, the blessed hope or the gathering of the saints, and the return to earth of Jesus Christ. Let us not allow ourselves to be any further deceived and religiously programmed into believing that which in essence is in opposition to and contradicts Scripture.
Something More To Consider:
Are We Being Deceived – According To Jesus
We have looked at 2 Thessalonians 2.4. Now let us take a closer investigative look at what precedes verse 4. Beginning in verse 1 of 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, Paul admonished, “Now, brethren [fellow believers], concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit, or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the Day of Christ had come.”
One of the most important things to consider for us as true believers waiting for the coming of the Lord and the gathering together of His saints; is that Scripture reveals these yet future events as happening at the same time. And another most important thing for us to consider is the timing of these two end time events, which according to Scripture take place simultaneously. This biblical truth must be fully understood for us to not be deceived by the many false messages being delivered by the many end time false prophets and false teachers.
Paul continued his end time treatise in verse 3, by warning; “Let no one deceive [mislead] you by any means; for that Day [coming of our Lord and the gathering together of the saints] will not come [will not take place], unless the falling away [massive departing from the faith] comes first, and the man of sin [evil, vile, Anti-Christ] is revealed, the son of perdition…”
Notice the precise timing that Paul clearly proclaims as it pertains to the abomination of desolation and the Antichrist being revealed as he stands in the holy place spoken of by Jesus and Daniel.
A Few Final Words:
Great Tribulation As Never Before
Let us also notice what will not take place until at least half way through the final seven years of man’s existence on planet earth or the end of this present age. Paul is explicit when he declares that the coming of Jesus Christ in glory and in power, and the end time gathering of God’s true saints who have endured, who have overcome all odds, and have patiently waited, cannot or will not take place before what Jesus, Daniel, and Paul describe as the abomination of desolation.
And with that in mind we are not told how long after the abomination of desolation the gathering of His saints will be, other than immediately after the tribulation of those days, according to Jesus in Matthew 24.29-31.
Therefore, the warnings of Jesus for those in Judea to flee to the mountains, those working in the fields, or those relaxing on their roof tops enjoying the false peace pact that is still futuristic, should heed Christ’s warnings. Jesus is to be our final authority on our understanding prophetic Scripture, and especially end time events. When we see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel, let us be warned, the worse is yet to come! For according to Jesus, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, help us to biblically understand end time events exposed by Jesus. Help us to rightly interpret the warnings of Jesus, including the warning of the abomination of desolation. May we as the end time elect, heed Christ’s many in advance end time warnings. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 