The Abomination
of Desolation
by Garner Ted Armstrong
C
hrist’s strange warning about an "abomination of desolation" means, literally, "the abomination of the desolater," which all authorities generally agree meant an idol, or idolatrous apparatus, to be set up in the holy place by the individual who would destroy Jerusalem, or cause it to become "desolate." Christ said the tribulation would be a time
unparalleled in all history. Notice what Daniel wrote: "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..." (Daniel 12:1).
There cannot be two such times, for each is the superlative the worst
time of "trouble," meaning droughts, famines, disease epidemics, the unleashing
of horrifying, death-dealing weapons of destruction in war that has ever taken place since
civilization began!
But wait. Daniel said, "And at that time..." (Daniel 12:1).
At what time? The chapter break interrupts a flow of thought from Daniel 11:40. Read all
five verses carefully, from Daniel 11:40 to 45.
The "king of the south" was, anciently, one of the Ptolemys
of Egypt, a lesser dynasty of pharaohs who waged war with Syria. Syria and Egypt were but
two of the four smaller kingdoms left after Alexander’s death (Daniel 11:4). The
"king of the north" was, eventually, the same Antiochus Epiphanes who set up a
typical abomination of desolation.
But the prophecy is specifically stated to be for a definite time in
history "the TIME OF THE END" (Daniel 11:40).
Therefore, Ptolemy Soter and Antiochus Epiphanes are but types,
historical representatives, of the two human leaders who will be used to fulfill this
end-time prophecy.
Probably, the man who will fulfill the role of "king of the
south" will be an Arab leader. He will "push at" the "king of the
north," who is the same personage as the beast of Bible prophecy, as we shall see.
The expression "push at," seems to fall short of armed aggression. Is it some
political affront? Could it be an oil embargo, or threatened disruption of energy to
Europe and the world? Because of Saddam Hussein’s occupation of Kuwait, and the
resultant concentration of military forces and supplies from about thirty nations in the
Persian Gulf region, many are tempted to assign Saddam the role of one of the two, either
the "king of the north," or the "king of the south."
Certainly, Saddam Hussein is "pushing at" others. But is he
"pushing at" someone called "the king of the north," or any modern day
political/military leader who is filling such a role?
No, Hussein is "pushing at" the United States, Britain,
France, Germany, the Soviet Union, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia indeed, the whole world!
The response to Saddam Hussein is not a sudden occupation of Israel, Egypt, and other
nearby countries by some northern power, but the deployment of hundreds of thousands of
troops into Saudi Arabia.
Notice that the reaction of the "king of the north" is not
protracted economic embargo, or warfare in the Persian Gulf, but a lightning-like attack
into Israel, and "many countries" in the region, including Egypt! (Daniel
11:40-42).
It is not Europe, or the United States threatening to invade Israel in
this current crisis but Saddam Hussein of Iraq. Study Daniel 11:40-45 carefully, and do
not be misled by those who would leap to impossible conclusions, or become hysterical
about the nearness of "Armageddon."
Israel and Egypt are both occupied by this "king of the
north" at the end time. Daniel 11:40-45 absolutely precludes the possibility that the
"king of the north" could be an Islamic leader, for Egypt is an Islamic nation,
the largest in population of all Islam. Egypt is Arabic, and, though currently observing
the Camp David accords, is nevertheless staunchly united religiously and emotionally with
all other Arab nations in calling for the withdrawal of Israel from the "occupied
territories." No other Arab state would occupy Egypt. This is the final head of the
"Holy Roman Empire" which was always a Germanic power! The king of the north is
the final beast of prophecy.
Now, when does this northern military power come storming into Israel?
"At the time of the end," says Daniel. And then, reading on to Chapter 12, verse
1, we see Daniel’s prophecy that At that time" Michael stands up, and a time of
trouble such as never was since there was a nation begins! In other words, the great
tribulation. So the tribulation commences at the same time this king of the north invades
Palestine.
Christ’s warning about the abomination of desolation included this
invasion of Palestine by armies. Those forces are identified in Daniel 11:40-45 as being
the forces of the king of the north. Christ said, "And when ye shall see Jerusalem
compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh" (Luke 21:20).
Christ warned, "Then [when the abomination of
desolation is set up] let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains..." He
continues to say the flight is so urgent; so sudden, that one should not return to
retrieve clothing, or household items even food! He warned, "Let him which is on the
housetop not come down to take anything out of his house:
"Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his
clothes" (Matthew 24:16-18).
Those to whom this warning applies will not read of some impending
attack in their weekly news magazines, or see it on nightly television for months at a
time it will occur SUDDENLY, with shocking swiftness. The scene set by Christ is of a
normal working day where a man might be in the fields, his wife on top of the roof,
hanging up washing.
Yet, suddenly, when people least expect it, attacking military forces
are seen around Jerusalem.
In the Jerusalem of Christ’s day, houses were set adjoining each
other. Roofs were flat, with parapets, and were used for sitting and talking, hanging up
washing, play areas for children, even sleeping at night in hot weather. Commonly,
families would erect temporary shelters of fronds and branches, and move into these little
booths during the Feast of Tabernacles.
The rabbis wrote of the "road of the roofs," wherein one
might walk across several adjoining rooftops, then descend to the street without having to
go back inside one’s own house. Christ referred to this practice in His warning.
Daniel’s prophecy says the tribulation is the time when Michael
stands up. Michael is identified as "Michael your prince" (Daniel 10:20-21) an
archangel who is the prince of Israel. The 12th chapter says Michael is to stand "for
the children of Israel," the children of the people of Daniel, who was a noble of
Israel.
Christ’s prophecy specifically pointed out events to take place in
Jerusalem; the Middle East, and Palestine! But the Great Tribulation will be global in its
effects, for Christ said, as did Daniel, that it will be a "time of trouble such as
there has not been from the time there was a nation"! He also said that if God did
not cut short this terrible time of global trouble, not a man, woman, or child would be
left alive (Matthew 24:2l-22). Therefore, while events in Jerusalem provide a positive
sign that the tribulation is beginning, the tribulation is not confined to Palestine, and
the city of Jerusalem.
Yet, from Christ’s warnings, we see it is obvious the great
tribulation begins in Jerusalem; in Palestine, by the setting up of an
"abomination," which causes desolation, or destruction. Specifically, the
abomination is to be set up in the temple, but no temple exists as yet. The terrible loss
of life depicted by Christ is to begin in Jerusalem and neighboring areas the modern
nation called "Israel." Christ’s stern warning, together with Daniel’s
prophecies, show Jerusalem occupied by a northern military power.
But the Jews in "Israel" are but one tribe, with perhaps
increments of two others Judah, together with some of Levi and Simeon. There were thirteen
tribes in all, counting the two half-tribes of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh.
The northern ten tribes, with a separate dynasty of kings commencing
from the time of Jereboam, and a separate national capitol, were carried away captive by
Assyrian kings long prior to the captivity of Judah. The ten tribes disappeared into the
bleak steppes between the Black and Caspean seas during the years 721 to 718 BC! It was
not until 540 BC, about 178 years later, that Judah was taken captive into Babylon.
The bulk of those deported Israelites never returned to Palestine. They
migrated along the river valleys into Europe, and into the British Isles!
Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, was renamed "Israel" after
his tenacious encounter with God, which is detailed in the book mentioned above.
Jacob had twelve sons, each of whom became the eponymous ancestor of a
large tribe of people. Jacob was called "Israel" from the time of his renaming.
Judah, one of his sons, together with major portions of Simeon and Levi, came to be known
as the "House of Judah," while Manasseh, Ephraim, Gad, Asher, Dan, Naphtali,
Benjamin, Reuben, Issachar and Zebulun became known as the "House of Israel."
The two are never synonymous in the Bible. There are four books of the Bible detailing the
separate national histories of these two distinctly different nations; different dynasties
of kings, different territories, different national capitols different languages,
cultures, and religions!
The very first time the "nickname" for Judah,
"Jew," is ever used in the Bible, the Jews are at war against Israel!
Now, notice that the Great Tribulation comes not
only upon the Jews in the modern nation called Israel, but upon the "House of
Jacob," or "The House of Israel," as well!
"Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it [an
unparalleled time exactly as described in Matthew 24:15 and Daniel 12:1 the same time of
the Great Tribulation]: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved
out of it" (Jeremiah 30:7).
What is the Great Tribulation? It is a time of horrible suffering;
disease, famine, starvation, and the grisly death of millions as a result of terrible
warfare featuring the ghastly weapons of modern technology which is to come on the United
States, Britain, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and several of the democracies of
northwestern Europe. It will especially impact the modern nation called
"Israel," the Jews in Palestine!
Read Christ’s somber Olivet Prophecy again. He
said, referring to the temple and its great buildings and walls, "...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" (Matthew 24:2). Later, He said, "And this gospel
of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness [a witness AGAINST them]
unto all nations and THEN shall the end come" (Matthew 24:14).
The Gospel was not preached to but a few prior to Christ’s death.
He spoke in puzzling parables to the masses (Matthew 13:10-17), explaining to His
disciples that it was not yet given to them to understand.
It was not until after His resurrection, and His appearance to His
disciples (Acts. 1:7-8) that He told them to spread out from Palestine, to the
"uttermost parts of the earth," preaching the Gospel.
By 70 AD, only a comparative few had heard the Gospel of the Kingdom of
God. It had by no means been preached as a witness to the world. Yet, Christ gave this as
a major prerequisite to the setting up of the abomination of desolation. God will not
leave this world without a witness.
God will not allow anyone to plaintively cry, "But you never told
me!" Just as He sent several of His prophets to loudly proclaim the impending
national punishments coming upon the ten-tribed House of Israel long before their
destruction detailing their horrible sins; their stiff-necked, God-defying rebellion;
their Sabbath-breaking and consequent idolatry; just as He sent several of His prophets to
warn Judah of its impending destruction by the Babylonian armies; just as Christ warned
His generation (Matthew 24) of the impending destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, SO GOD IS
SENDING HIS WARNING AND WITNESS TO THIS WORLD, TODAY!
Most so-called evangelists respond to the cry from people, "preach
smooth things; speak deceits!" (Isaiah 30:10). Where, on weekly television, in the
thousands of pulpits across our lands, or in religious literature, do you find those who
are solemnly telling their audiences that our nations are going to be brutally CONQUERED
IN GLOBAL WARFARE unless we repent of our personal and collective sins?
Christ warned, "...except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish" (Luke 13:3,5).
When the armies of Titus destroyed the city of Jerusalem, tens of
thousands of Jews were slaughtered.
Yet, countless ones among them had heard Christ’s warning, and the
warnings of His faithful apostles and ministers in the years that followed! Instead of
repenting, they rejected Christ, and soon began killing and throwing into jail His
apostles!
Except for a few Jews who fled to Pella after the high priest allegedly
heard an audible voice in the temple, telling him to flee (according to Josephus), the
bulk of the population experienced a holocaust! Christ’s stern warning had come true!
The soldiers prized loose even the stones atop the walls of the temple.
The temple was eventually destroyed. But Christ specifically stated that, immediately
following the Great Tribulation, there would come spectacular heavenly signs.
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be
darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars [meteorites] shall fall
from heaven, and the powers of the heaven shall be shaken:
"And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and
then shall the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the
clouds of heaven with power and great glory" (Matthew 24:27-30).
Therefore, the prophecy in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 is dual; it
has a typical, early fulfillment, and a literal, final end-time fulfillment! Jerusalem is
destined to be destroyed again unless its inhabitants repent.
There were no heavenly signs at the destruction of Jerusalem by the
armies of Titus; Christ did not come in the power of the Almighty God, shaking the
heavens, causing the sun to become black as sackcloth of ashes!
Therefore, there is coming, yet, another destruction of Jerusalem! It
will be signaled by the emplacement of the abomination that makes desolate.
Now, who is to set up this abomination?
The four great, successive world-dominating empires
of Babylon, Persia, Graeco/Macedonia and Rome are depicted in both Daniel 2 and Daniel 7.
At the conclusion of the description of the final one of these kingdoms, ROME, Daniel
says, "But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the
kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever" (Daniel 7:18).
Daniel then said, "Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast
[Rome], 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;
"And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other [a
separate, different "horn," or government; a ruler] which came up, and before
whom three fell" (Daniel 7:19-20).
This prophecy shows the ten "horns," or governments, were
successive, and not contemporaneous. That this "little horn" is not one of the
successive ten is equally obvious, for it is "another" horn which was seen to
arise.
Notice its description, "I considered the horns [ten of them],
and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of
the first horns [these probably were the Vandals, Ostragoths, and the Heruli] plucked up
by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth
speaking great things.
"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days
did sit, whose garment was white as snow...a fiery stream issued and came forth from
before Him: thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand
stood before Him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened" (Daniel 7:8-10).
This is obvious reference to the Second Coming of Christ, the beginning
of His millennial reign, and the final judgment day! Yet, the prophecy commences with the
emergence of the "little horn;" separate from the other ten; distinctly
different, who succeeds in overthrowing, or uprooting, the first three "horns"
or governments, of the fourth beast of Daniel 7.
Faussett says, "Antichrist rises after their rise, at first
‘little,’ (v. 8) but after destroying three of the ten he becomes greater than
them all (vv. 20, 21). The three being gone, he is the eighth (cf. Rev. xvii. 11); a
distinct head, and yet ‘of the seven’ (Critical and Experimental Commentary,
Vol. IV. p. 422, emphasis mine).
Now, what of the "mouth speaking great things"?
Daniel says, "And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of
the other which came up [the "little horn"], and before whom three [the first
three, in succession] fell; even that horn that had eyes [of a man], and a mouth that
spake great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
"I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and
prevailed against them!" (Daniel 7:20-21). So much for the idea of
"raptured" saints who are not on earth at the time of the tribulation, or
special "saints" who are hiding out in caves. Notice that this applies literally
to the final two witnesses, who are killed by the Antichrist power (Revelation 11:7), and
also applies to the church (Revelation 13:7).
This "little horn" represents some kind of government which
persecutes God’s true church!
Four separate times in Daniel’s seventh chapter, the prophecy
commences with visions of the fourth beast (Rome), being controlled by a "little
horn" which overthrows the first three successive governments of Rome, but which is
still extant at the time of the end, persecuting the true church, to be finally destroyed
by Christ Himself, at His Second Coming.
In other words, the Bible "dates" the time of the
"little horn," identifying it as a power, or government, which will be actively
persecuting God’s people at the time of Christ’s return!
Now, who does this persecuting what power, or government, is
responsible for the martyrdom of God’s true servants?
"And he [this same "little horn"] 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 [the saints] shall be given into his hand until a time
[one year] and times [two more years] and the dividing of time [six months, or one half
year; three and one half years in all].
"But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his
dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end" (Daniel 7:25-26). This shows a
period of terrible persecutions and martyrdom of three and one-half years! And it is at
the time of the end, from the beginning of the tribulation until the Second Coming of
Christ!
This "little horn" symbolizes a human leader who sits in a
position powerful enough to assay to change times and laws.
Daniel heard one angel ask another, "How long
shall the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation [the
abomination of desolation], to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under
foot?
"And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days;
then shall the sanctuary be cleansed" (Daniel 8:13-14).
So the abomination of desolation will be set in place, defiling the
sanctuary, for three and one-half years!
John wrote, "And they worshipped the dragon [Satan] which gave
power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast [extreme nationalism state worship!],
saying, ‘Who is able to make war with him?’
"And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and
blasphemies [the same mouth as that of the "little horn," meaning Antichrist;
the great false prophet!]; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two
months" (Revelation 13:4-5).
When the Antichrist establishes himself, setting up the abomination, he
will continue for three and one-half years.
Notice further: "And there was given me a reed like unto a rod:
and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them
that worship therein.
"But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure
it not, for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot
forty and two months" Revelation 11:1-2).
During this three-and-one-half year period, all organized preaching of
the Gospel is impossible. God’s church is scattered, persecuted. (Amos 8:11). Some
are to be martyred many are to be miraculously protected from the Antichrist.
God says, "And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the
earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child [the church],
"And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle [symbolic
of God’s miraculous protection. cf. Exodus 19:4], that she might fly into the
wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time
[three and one-half years!] from the face of the serpent.
"And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the
woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
"And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth,
and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war
with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony
of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 12:13-17).
Some have seen the "flood" in historical terms; the entire
period of the dominance of the "little horn" over the heads of the Holy Roman
Empire, and the "flood" of lying doctrines, false charges, and propaganda spewed
out of the mouth of the woman who rides the beast.
Some have thought it to be literal; a miracle brought about by Satan,
from which God’s people are delivered, like a type of the Red Sea. Whatever its
meaning, Satan fails in his attempt to destroy God’s church.
Nevertheless, God’s Word says the great false church, led by its
"man of sin" who is Antichrist, will horribly persecute God’s saints. The
Great Tribulation includes the martyrdom of many of God’s servants (Matthew 24:9;
Revelation 13:7).
Not all of God’s people will be protected. For example, the two
witnesses, two human beings who will be specially anointed to be God’s last two
prophets warning the beast and false prophet, are to be killed by the Antichrist and the
beast.
The work of the two witnesses takes place at the exact same period
during which the abomination of desolation sits; the time of the "treading down of
the sanctuary."
"And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall
prophesy a thousand, two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth...these have
power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over
waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they
will.
"And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that
ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them,
and kill them" (Revelation 11:3-7).
Some have assumed the whole church will be "taken to a place of
safety" for the three and one-half years. Obviously not. Are not these two witnesses
members of God’s true church? Are they not converted, with God’s Holy Spirit,
and therefore members of the spiritual "body of Christ," which is the church?
Yet, God allows their martyrdom.
Even as God sent the plagues on Egypt while Israel was yet in the land
of Goshen, making a "difference" between the Israelites and Egyptians; even as
the death angel "passed over" the Israelitish houses and killed the firstborn of
Egypt; so God promises, "A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy
right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee (Psalm 91:1-9).
God’s captive people Israel are pictured as crying out to Him in
the time of their horrible tribulation: "Come, and let us return unto the Eternal:
for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up.
"After two days [two years? cf. Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6] will
He revive us: in the third day [during the third year?] He will raise us up, and we shall
live in His sight" (Hosea 6:1-2).
This prophecy is set in the midst of God’s stern warnings to
ten-tribed Israel, especially the nation of Ephraim, identified by many indications as
Britain.
God said, "Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke
[tribulation]: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be...I
will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in
their affliction they will seek me early" (Hosea 5:9-15).
The Tribulation, Heavenly Signs (Revelation 6-7), and Day of the Lord
all fall within the same three-and-one-half year period! Notice that the abomination of
desolation is set up, and continues "until the consummation," or three and
one-half years! The two witnesses prophecy for three and one-half years, and are killed
only days prior to Christ’s return! The sanctuary is "trodden down" for
three and one-half years, and then "cleansed" by Christ’s return!
Now you can see how important it is to watch for the time when the
abomination of desolation is set up; why Christ warned those in Judaea to flee when they
see it coming! Who is this Antichrist? Who is this final "little horn" with the
mouth of a man, speaking blasphemies?
He is the "false prophet" of prophecy the leader of a church!
Now, notice John’s prophecy: "So he
carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet
colored beast, full of names of blasphemy..." (Revelation 17:3).
A woman is used as a symbol of a church. In this case, an apostate
church; a church which is under the sway of Satan; a church depicted as wearing the colors
of harlotry, full of names which are insults, blasphemous, to God! "...having seven
heads and ten horns. 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..." (Revelation 17:3-4).
This great false church, ruled by Satan, has concourse with the kings,
presidents, premiers, prime ministers of the nations of this world; a political church,
which seeks to impose its policies on many nations; many cultures. God calls such politics
harlotry!
Continuing, "...And upon her forehead was a name written,
‘MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE
EARTH’" (Revelation 17:5).
This is a great mother church, who has daughters which came out of her
in protest! She wears the colors of whoredom, uses names and titles which are blasphemous,
and teaches doctrines cloaked in mystery.
She holds the same old "mystery religion" that dates to
ancient Babylon; to the time of Semiramis and Nimrod, the founders of the Babylonish
mystery religion, and of organized cities and governments of man.
Her main trappings are the sun; bowing toward the rising sun in the
east on the ancient day dedicated to "Ishtar" (Semiramis), pronounced
"Easter," today; worship on Sunday instead of God’s Holy Sabbath;
sanctioning the use of purely pagan symbols of sexual reproduction and fecundity like orbs
and bulbs, the "Ishtar" lily, phallic symbols, flies, eggs a seemingly endless
array of the accouterments of ancient heathenism.
She has always fought God’s truth, and persecuted God’s
converted servants. Countless thousands have been put to death for daring to cling to the
Sabbath; to God’s sacred Passover, which was always held on the evening of the 14th
of Nisan by Christ and His disciples. Notice more of this woman’s description:
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
[astonishment, not approbation]" (Revelation 17:5-6).
Read the entire chapter, and you will see this great false church rides
upon the beast, controlling it, influencing it. She will be instrumental in binding
together the final ten nations comprising the beast. It is her influence and doctrine
which provides the "clay" for the ten toes of Daniel’s second chapter; a
weak bonding agent which is not mixed with the "iron" of the militarily powerful
nation which will dominate the ten.
Now, notice how this great false church is the same entity as the
second beast of Revelation 13!
"And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had
two horns like a lamb [it appears Christ-like], and he spake as a dragon [as Satan: cf.
Revelation 12:9].
"And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him,
[the first beast of Revelation 13 is the same beast as the fourth beast of Daniel 7;
representing Imperial Rome from the time of the earliest Roman emperors, and Romulus who
gave Rome its name, to the latter-day rulers of the "Holy Roman Empire"] and
causeth the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly
wound was healed" (Revelation 13:11-12).
This deadly wound was the fall of Imperial Rome in 476. Its healing was
in 554, when Belesarius, victorious in northern Africa, was instrumental in restoring the
power of Rome. Notice that this false religious leader, the "little horn" who
thought to change times and laws, who was full of names of blasphemy, and who martyred
God’s saints is empowered by Satan to perform miracles.
"And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from
heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the
means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them
that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image of the beast, that the image of
the beast should both speak [he has a "mouth speaking great things"] and cause
that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed"
(Revelation 13:11-15).
Where do you find a great, global church whose leader claims
infallibility; the authority to change "times and laws," to establish dogma?
Where is the great, multi-lingual, multi-national, universal church which conducts its
religious ceremonies in mysteries, in mysterious symbolism, in elaborate rituals with
various hidden meanings? Where is there a great church which is a powerful political
organization, having vast influence over geopolitics; over political decisions like choice
of government for masses of peoples in many different nations?
Where is the great church whose leaders dress in red and scarlet, the
colors of harlotry? Where is the great church which boasts it is "eternal"?
Which city is the "eternal" city, according to lore; the city
of "seven hills"? John’s vision continued, "The seven heads are seven
mountains on which the woman sitteth" (Revelation 17:9). He went on to say, "And
the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the
earth" (Revelation 17:18).
Which city can claim to have ruled over "the kings of the
earth" down through history? Certainly not Washington, D.C., or London, or Berlin, or
Tokyo, or Moscow. Which, then? Where is a church whose leader is courted by the most
powerful political leaders in the world a church leader who has the power to incite
massive demonstrations, strikes, rebellions which can unseat political systems and bring
about revolutions in government?
This same great false church is mentioned by Isaiah.
Notice, "And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou
didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.
"Therefore hear now this, thou that are given to pleasures, that
dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, ‘I am [blasphemy! A name and title
of God!], and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the
loss of children:’" (Isaiah 47:7-8).
Which great church is called "mother" by all others? Which
church has protesting daughters which came out of her, and which she confidently boasts
she will bring back to the fold? (But her daughters will share her fate: Isaiah 47:9).
John’s prophecy shows how this great church uses the power of the
state to carry out her wishes: "And he had power to give life unto the image of the
beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as would not
worship the image of the beast should be killed.
"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and
bond, to receive a mark in their right hand [symbolizing cooperation, agreement,
willingness, commitment to work], or in their foreheads [symbolizing like-mindedness,
cooperation, acceptance, agreement]: and that no man might buy or sell, save he had the
mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
"Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number
of the beast: for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred threescore and
six" (Revelation 13:15-18).
The beast is Rome, from the time of Imperial Rome to the present to the
end-time resurrection of the same old system in the heartland of Europe, dominated by one
great religion, which will hold sway over all ten nations.
The "image" is the church which was designed and constructed
along the same lines as Imperial Rome, with the diocese, the great diocese, a
"collegia," or "college of cardinals," and an absolute ruler, claiming
the "primacy of Peter" whose word is unquestioned!
The "image" of the beast is its length and shadow, its
replica, its copy. Yet, it is a religious organization, having the appearance of a lamb,
but speaking like a dragon, like Satan!
To obey it is to receive its identifying signs and symbols, or its
mark.
The image of the beast is, therefore, a great false church
organization, patterned after the political structure of ancient, Imperial Rome, with a
human leader so revered that many attribute to him virtual divinity (Roman emperors
claimed to be god; to be divine, in some instances); a church organization which cloaks
many of its rituals and beliefs in mysteries, and a church organization having political
influence concourse with governments of the world a church which is at once a state,
having full political sovereignty like that of any other nation.
Now you can understand the vision of the ten-horned beast (the final
resurrection of the same old system called the "Holy Roman Empire") being ridden
by the great fallen woman.
From the very beginning of the New Testament church
which Christ founded (Matthew 16:18), elements from both within and without (Acts
20:28-31) sought to rid God’s true church of everything remotely "Jewish."
This came about as a result of massive numbers of Gentiles joyously
embracing Christianity many of them wanting to cling to ancient, pagan traditions.
The New Testament, particularly Paul’s writings and the
"letters to the churches" in Revelation 2 and 3, is a story of the erosion of
the original faith; of attacks from Judaizers, who could not seem to shake the concept of
circumcision, and who wished to impose the principles of Judaism, not Christianity, on new
converts (I Corinthians 7:18-19).
Continually, the fledgling New Testament church is seen struggling
against persecutions from government; from the leaders of the Jewish religious sects; from
apostasies within and from attacks without.
Paul’s letter to the Galatians marvels at how soon they had
listened to "another Gospel," and heard about "another Jesus"
(Galatians 1:6-8). He rebukes the Corinthians, who, reverting to their pagan customs, had
turned the Passover into a Bacchian night of revelry; who tolerated incest within their
ranks. He continually defends himself against "false apostles" who parade their
"Jewishness" to the people (II Corinthians 11-12).
Jude, the next to the last book of the New Testament, appeals to true
Christians to get back to the "faith once delivered," showing how far the
apostasy had progressed. Jude is a clear warning against false teachers who reverted to
the pagan mysteries; used gluttony, revelry, sexual promiscuity in their religious
services, exactly as heathen priestesses functioned as "temple prostitutes,"
claiming that such activities were symbolic of concourse with the deity.
By the time John wrote the book of Revelation, probably about 91 or 92
AD, the apostasy was nearly complete.
In the second and third chapters, in the letters to the churches, you
will see the churches plagued with false doctrines, false religious leaders, false
practices a church shot through with paganism!
Acts 8 and other scriptures identify a man who may have risen to become
the first major leader of this apostasy; a man who may well have masqueraded as the
"Peter" of Rome, Simon the Magus, or Simon the Magician. His story would require
book-length investigation. However, he passed into history, and is not relevant today,
except as a forerunner of the final false prophet.
Paul wrote of the budding apostasy, and made it clear that a false
prophet will rise in the last days just prior to the Second Coming of Christ!
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come
[the Second Coming of Christ], except there come a falling away [apostasy!] first, and
that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
"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 [a temple which is
yet to be constructed in Jerusalem!], shewing himself [claiming] that he is God.
"...And now ye know what witholdeth [withstands; resists. Paul is
speaking of himself, as one who was "holding back" this growing apostasy] that
he might be revealed in his time.
"For the mystery of iniquity [it was a "mystery"
religion; one which condoned sin, or "iniquity"] doth already work; only he who
now letteth [restrains] will let [continue to restrain], until he be taken out of the
way" (II Thessalonians 2:1-7).
Here we see a human religious leader who will ensconce himself inside
the temple in Jerusalem and actually claim to be divine! claim to be God!
The expression, "be taken out of the way" is the subject of
some contention. The Greek verb is ginomai, which carries the connotation "become to
be." The preferred reading may well be, "until he ‘become to
be,’" or "become evident for who he is," rather than a reference to
Paul, as one who would be removed by death, or "taken out of the way." Either
way, the meaning is clear that Paul was one of the last restraining influences against
virtual total apostasy in the early church; that following his death there would be no one
left in the eastern world who withstood it.
Yet, Paul’s writing was also prophetic, for he referred to the end
time, and not just the few years following his death.
Gradually, the visible church of the first and second centuries
dramatically changed. Little by little purely pagan customs were adopted. Pagans coming
into the church carried with them their superstitions, their various holidays and
observances.
Liberal clergymen, ever desirous of more money and power, of larger
followings, permitted these pagan customs, dressing them up in "Christian"
trappings. Some of these power-hungry leaders gained control of the physical properties of
the church through exercising autocratic authority over the people. John wrote of one
"Diotrephes," who coveted power, and who "put out" from that local
congregation the true believers, retaining only those who had prostituted themselves,
spiritually, to corrupt human power (III John).
Easter finally replaced the Passover. Sunday replaced the Sabbath.
Christmas obscured the time of Christ’s conception. By the time of the Council of
Nicaea in 325 AD, true Christians were solemnly warned against "Judaizing" by
continuing to obey God in observing His Sabbaths, or following Christ’s example of
observing the Passover on the 14th of Nisan; instead, they were commanded to observe the
purely pagan "Ishtar" festival, in honor of the pagan goddess of fecundity and
sex; a springtime celebration featuring rapidly-reproducing rabbits, the symbols of eggs,
and other "mystical" paraphernalia.
From that time to this, the professing "Christian" world has
followed the great apostate church. Millions observe "Ishtar" (pronounced
"Easter," today) with bunnies and eggs; facing the rising sun in the east, and
eating "hot cross buns" (from bous, or boun, meaning the symbol of Taurus, the
bull Tammuz, or Nimrod), and reveling in a pagan celebration which has been dressed up in
"Christian" clothing.
Eventually, the millions of adherents to this pagan "mystery"
religion, now masquerading as "Christian," would bring about the requirement for
kings and emperors to acknowledge the power of the church, or suffer the consequences the
sure loss of rulership, and perhaps the loss of their lives!
God solemnly warned His people never to be part of
this Babylonish mystery religion; not to partake of its intrigues, its political goals,
its wars, or its political systems.
"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, ‘COME OUT OF
HER, MY PEOPLE, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her
plagues,’ For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her
iniquities" (Revelation 18:4-5).
The 18th chapter of Revelation details how the ten-nation beast power
shall finally "hate the whore," and utterly destroy this false church, putting
to death countless thousands of its officials and its peoples. God will finally reward
this hideous, waddling old madam of religion, this persecutor and torturer of God’s
people, with the bitterest dregs of the cup of wrath! That is why God warns His people to
forsake this mystery religion that they "receive not of her plagues.
Christ had instructed His disciples, "If the world hate you, ye
know that it hated me before it hated you.
"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but
because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the
world hateth you" (John 15:18-19).
He continued, in His prayer to the Father just before His death and
resurrection, "I have given them thy word and the world hath hated them, because they
are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
"I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but
that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
"They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world"
(John 17:14-18). But the false church is very much of this world. It is a political
system, sending ambassadors to all nations, functioning as a government. Its leader has
always courted favor with kings, premiers, presidents, emperors; has sought to be accepted
and liked by them, and has sought to influence them.
But Jesus said, "My Kingdom is not of this world: if my Kingdom
were of this world then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the
Jews: but now is my Kingdom not from hence" (John 18:36).
John wrote, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in
the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust
of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof..." (I John
2:15-17).
The word "world" is cosmos, which means the civilization; the
communal groupings; cities, governments of the world the society with all its customs,
religious and philosophical concepts.
God’s servants are "citizens" of Christ’s
soon-coming Heavenly Kingdom, the Government of God! They are like "sojourners"
in this world (I Peter 2:9-12), like "strangers and pilgrims," as if travelers
in a foreign country, having no indigenous citizenship.
Would an American, traveling in Iraq, fight in Iraq’s wars against
Iran, or America? Would a Briton, traveling in Africa, vote in African elections, join
African military organizations, or observe tribal witchcraft or voodoo?
So, God commands His true church to "submit yourselves to every
ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king as supreme;
"Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the
punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well" (I Peter 2:13-14).
So God’s servants are to be models in obedience to law, respect
for authority; in thankfulness for the freedoms and blessings of the governments under
which they live. They are to obey those governments in every case except where such civil
government comes into conflict with the higher court of heaven!
In such a case, God’s servants must obey God first, and then
humbly accept whatever punishment the civil government imposes.
Peter and the apostles said to the authorities during their day,
"We ought to obey God rather than men!" (Acts 5:29).
Christ’s true church was never to become a great political system.
It was never to fall under the absolute, dictatorial rule of one man, claiming to be the
"direct representative" of Christ; claiming to have no peers on earth, but to be
the sole human leader under Christ!
This is one of the many blasphemies of which the great false church is
guilty. Any human being arrogating to himself such lofty powers is a stench in the
nostrils of God, and will surely answer for the enormity of his folly!
Faucett says, "As Antiochus Epiphanes, the Antichrist of the third
kingdom [Daniel 8], was the personal enemy of God; so the final Antichrist of the fourth
kingdom [the final "beast" power], his antitype, shall be. The church has
endured a pagan and a papal persecution; there remains for her an infidel persecution...He
will not merely, as Popery, substitute himself for Christ in Christ’s name, but
‘Deny the Father and the Son,’ {I John ii.22}. The persecution is to continue up
to Christ’s second coming" (Critical and Experimental Commentary, Vol. IV, p.
422).
This false prophet claims absolute authority over his followers! They
can have no direct access to Christ, and through Christ to the Father, according to his
false doctrine! Only when his people stay in his good graces, remain subservient,
unquestioning, blind followers of him can they be considered "in the body," and
considered as having a spiritual relationship with God.
Therefore, this false human leader thinks to usurp the very Priesthood
of Christ Himself. He teaches that no man or woman can approach God directly through
Christ! They must always be channeled through this one human leader! Finally, this
blasphemous and pompous ego will swell to the point that this great false prophet will
make the blasphemous claim that he "is God"!
Now, let’s notice how this great false church, the
"image" of the beast, will be complicit in bringing about the Great Tribulation
upon God’s elect.
Isaiah’s prophecy identifies the great false
church as a major perpetrator of the tribulation; the captivity of ten-tribed Israel:
"I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into
thine hand..." (Isaiah 47:6).
This is the fallen woman; the false church, who boasts that she is
"lady of the kingdoms," and will "not suffer the loss of children" who
came out of her, in protest.
No "rapture" pictured here. Instead, just as Christ
predicted; as all the prophecies clearly state, the tribulation is accompanied by a vast
martyrdom of saints (Revelation 13:7; Matthew 24:9).
To continue, "...thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient
hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke" (Isaiah 47:6).
Remember, the beast and the false prophet are complicit in the
martyrdom of God’s people, and in the captivity of ten-tribed Israel and Judah!
Notice it is not only the great false church who lays her yoke on
God’s people! "O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian:
he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner
of Egypt...and it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from
off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because
of the anointing" (Isaiah 10:24-27).
Isaiah says, "And it shall come to pass in that
day [the time of the end; the time of Christ’s coming] that the Lord shall set His
hand the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from
Assyria...and there shall be an highway for the remnant of His people, which shall be
left, from Assyria: LIKE AS IT WAS TO ISRAEL IN THE DAY HE CAME UP OUT OF THE LAND OF
EGYPT" (Isaiah 11:11-16).
But when ten-tribed Israel was taken captive by Assyria in 721-718 BC,
your Bible says none returned. There was never a miraculous EXODUS from ancient Assyria.
Instead, when Babylon subjugated Assyria, the captive Israelites wandered with their
former captors into Europe, and toward Scandinavia and the British Isles.
They disappeared, largely, from history. A few clues remain, and their
identity can be discovered, but no such event as that described in Isaiah 11 has yet taken
place. Clearly, this prophecy is set at the time of Christ’s return.
Where is modern Israel the House of Israel, not only the Jews? In
captivity, under the yoke of both a modern nation who represents the ancient Assyrians,
and the false church! In other words, Israel is under captivity to the beast power and the
false prophet!
This false prophet is the "little horn" of Daniel the
government which finally held sway over the final seven heads of the Roman Empire.
This "little horn" of Daniel’s prophecy is the papacy,
which overthrew three kingdoms which had taken over Rome, generally believed to have been
the Vandals (429-533 AD), the Heruli under Odoacer, from the fall of Rome in 476 to about
493, and the eastern Goths from 493 to 554 AD, when General Belesarius retook Carthage.
The influence of the papacy was instrumental in overthrowing these
kingdoms, and establishing the "Imperial Restoration" of Rome in about 554.
Now, the "little horn," speaking great things, thinking to
"change times and laws" (establish the Sunday calendar, and issue dogmas),
dominates the remaining seven heads of the "beast." These were the successive
heads of the so-called "Holy Roman Empire," culminating in the weak revival of
the same system under Hitler and Mussolini during World War II.
Mussolini called his government the reestablishment of the "Holy
Roman Empire"! Faucett admits, "The Roman empire did not represent itself as a
continuation of Alexander’s; but the Germanic Empire calls itself ‘the holy
Roman empire’" (Critical and Experimental Commentary, Vol. IV, p. 419, emphasis
mine). The "Holy Roman Empire" was Germanic, not Italian.
Even the first three kings, overthrown by the "little horn,"
were "Teutonic" people.
John was told, "The beast that thou sawest was, and is not, and
shall ascend out of the bottomless pit [a symbolic "abyss," signifying satanic
origin], and go into perdition [so it is the final beast which is ultimately destroyed by
Christ’s return]" (Revelation 17:8).
The leader of this great false church is the FALSE PROPHET of Bible
prophecy, the ANTICHRIST!
He is the "little horn" of Daniel. He is the "man of
sin" of II Thessalonians 2. He is the "abomination of desolation"
PERSONIFIED, for he is the one who actually will sit in the temple of God, making the
blasphemous claim that he is God!
Remember how God says the image of the beast, the false church, will
have satanic power to perform miracles to delude and deceive millions?
Notice! "And then shall that Wicked ["Wicked One,"
margin] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall
destroy with the brightness of His coming:
"Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all
power and signs and lying wonders,
"And will all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that
perish [are perishing]; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might
be saved.
"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they
should believe a lie..." (II Thessalonians 2:8-11).
The false prophet will be seated in a temple. He will claim to be
"divine." He will perform such lying wonders, miracles, and mysterious
"signs" that millions will be convinced. They will WORSHIP this man, revere him
as if he is VERY GOD!
One of the first things Christ will accomplish immediately following
His return to this earth is to destroy this great, lying, pompous, blasphemous false
prophet. "And the beast was taken [arrested caught], and with him the false prophet
that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark
of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake
of fire burning with brimstone" (Revelation 19:19-21).
In summary, then, Christ specifically said this
great "Abomination to God that will cause terrible destruction and desolation,"
will stand in the holy place, where it ought not!
The temple still stood when Christ uttered those words. His listeners
knew exactly to which part of the temple He referred: the innermost part of the temple,
called the "holy place," which was the place of the priests’ daily
offerings, and the "holy of holies," behind the vail, into which the high priest
entered only once each year, on the Day of Atonement.
Paul clearly said the "man of sin" would sit "in the
temple of God."
But today, there is no temple in Jerusalem.
Yet, major international tensions occur when enthusiastic Zionist Jews
march to the temple walls, attempting to lay a symbolic corner stone for the building of
another TEMPLE!
The virulent hatred of the Arabs toward the Jews is partly rooted in
the intention of many right-wing Jewish sects to destroy the Dome of the Rock and the Al
Aksa Mosque, to make way for the building of another Jewish temple.
When such a temple is built, you should be aware that the final events
depicted in this article are VERY NEAR!
Consider: Such an event would probably unite the Arab nations as no
other single event. A great war could break out in the Mideast a war in which chemical,
and even nuclear weapons might be used, for the Arabs might have witnessed the destruction
of two of their most revered mosques, holy places to all Islam.
They might unite, as never before, and their leader would probably be
the "king of the south" of Daniel 11:40-45.
To "push at" the "king of the north," who we
believe to be the "beast" power, or a United Europe, this Arab leader might cut
off all energy to Europe! This would bring an immediate military response as Daniel’s
11th chapter shows.
If you see a ten-nation combine in Europe, probably called "The
United States of Europe," shockingly, suddenly intervene in the Mideast; if you see
the head of the great universal church declare that he is going to MOVE THE VATICAN TO
JERUSALEM that the "one true church" is going to go back to its BIRTHPLACE; if
you see him declaring that Jerusalem should become a corpus separatum, or open,
internationalized city, exempt from military action, and then GO THERE HIMSELF TO INSURE
IT; if you see miracles performed; major churches, including some state churches returning
to the fold of their mother; if you see this man making great and pompous statements,
accepting the acclamation of MILLIONS as the man WHO SAVED THE WORLD FROM NUCLEAR
DESTRUCTION; if you see him revered almost like Christ, acclaimed as if he were
"God," then BE WARNED!
For, when you see such things happening you should know that the Great
Tribulation IS BEGINNING!
Should a famous statue that millions have kissed a blackened bronze
statue of a figure with a strangely Byzantine or Grecian cast, one who is supposedly the
"Peter" of Rome be moved inside the temple; should this man himself ensconce
himself inside the temple, then you will have seen the ABOMINATION SET IN PLACE; and
horrifying, unimaginable DESTRUCTION will immediately follow!
The consequences of all this to Americans, Britons, Australians,
Canadians, South Africans, the democracies of Northwestern Europe, are unimaginable!
May God help those whose minds are opened to understand, as Christ
said. May God help you to call upon Him for the changes you KNOW you need to make in your
life, to repent of sins, to call upon Christ as Savior, and to become a part of His own
body, the spiritual organism that is His true church!
Christ said "many are called, but few are chosen." Has God
called you? Is it an accident you have read these words of witness and warning? Or is God
Himself working in your life for a purpose? Think about it. Then, pray about it, while
there is still time.
-End-
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This publication is intended to be used as a personal study tool. Please know it is not wise to take any man's word for anything, including ours, so prove all things for yourself from the pages of your own Bible. Because your salvation is between you and God, it is through such personal verification that you will gain confidence and come to know for yourself what is truth.
For additional related knowledge and understanding,
may we suggest the following titles:
Europe and America in Prophecy
Where is Your "Place of Safety"?
The Mark of the Beast What is it?
The Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association
P.O. Box 747
Flint, TX 75762
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