THE ABOMINATION OF
DESOLATION REVEALED
By
Dan Luehrs
"Therefore when you see the
abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet,
standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)” (Matthew 24:15).
Much has
been said and written about the abomination of desolation, even to the point of
saying that it was a pig set up in the Holy of Holies! We must understand that
Jesus was being asked by His disciples about the sign of His coming in Matthew
23:3. He told them about many signs that were to take place. He made one thing
very clear that was going to happen, “WHEN
YOU SEE the abomination that makes desolate (Daniel 11:31 KJV), STANDING IN
THE HOLY PLACE before I come again, take notice My coming is near. All
blood-washed Christians are that HOLY PLACE of His presence. He dwells in us! He says we must
understand this! If we believe that we are living in the end of this age and
Jesus is coming soon, then we must give our utmost attention to this verse. We
are now seeing many of the signs that Jesus said in Matthew 24 would come to
pass before He returns.
The
word, “THEREFORE” in verse 15, links the verses before it together. Listen to
one of the main things He said would happen just before His coming, “Because of
the increase of wickedness, the love
of most will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12 NIV). What is the root of all wickedness?
The love of money!
“But
those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish
and harmful desires which plunge men
into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil,
and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced
themselves with many a pang” (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
Today,
many people in the Church are seeking after the things of this world, rather
than seeking the treasures of God. They are wasting their lives on something
they cannot keep in the end. The words "abomination of desolation"
means, “THE FILTHINESS OF SIN THAT BRINGS DEATH AND LOSS.” This is to live with
the truth of God’s word, while still choosing to live in sin. This is why many
of God’s people have been given over to ruin and destruction of their faith.
Because they are seeking things of the world, rather than the kingdom of God.
“For
this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, (greedy
for gain) who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ
and God. Let no one deceive you with
empty words, for because of these
things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not
be partakers with them (Ephesians 5:5-7).
We become idolaters when we seek to gain
money, material things or anything that causes us to worship self rather than
seeking to know God more. In fact, God considers us prideful when we don’t seek
Him. “Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who have carried out His
ordinances; seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden in
the day of the LORD'S anger” (Zephaniah 2:3).
Friends, I beg you by the mercies of God, to flee from the wrath of God
to come, by searching for Him with all your heart while He may be found.
“Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to Thee in a time when Thou
mayest be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they shall not reach him”
(Psalms 32:6).
DO YOU OFFER UP A DAILY
SACRIFICE?
"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”
(Daniel 11:31
KJV).
Jesus tells us that we must seek to understand
what Daniel wrote about the abomination that makes desolate. I know that many
people have interpreted these verses to be about the Antichrist and the nation
of Israel. But, if we have proven that Jesus was speaking about our day of
lukewarm Christianity, then we had better take heed of His warning.
We are living in such a time when the
daily sacrifices of Christians are no longer being offered up to God. Many say
they are just to busy too spend time with God. Our bodies are now the sanctuary
of God, and He is expecting spiritual sacrifices to be offered up to Him daily.
Paul said in Romans 12:1, “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual service of worship.” We are no longer to offer up
natural sacrifices of bulls and lambs to God. They are no longer acceptable. He
now demands living sacrifices to be
offered up daily. Many Christians will not take time alone in fellowship with
God, nor will many preachers. Their spirit man is dying. As we must daily feed
our physical body, so must we feed our spirit man on the inside of us. If not,
we won't have the strength to face the spiritual battles of that day. The
priests of the Old Testament offered up daily sacrifices to God and then they
were able to feed on the sacrifices themselves and receive strength. Now, we
are priests unto God, and we are to offer up daily a sacrifice to God and feed
on Him. Aren’t you glad we don’t have to kill a lamb twice a day? I have
interpreted Daniel 11:31 this way:
“And FORCES shall stand on his part (THE
DEVIL'S), and they shall (TRY TO) DESTROY (MY) sanctuary of strength, and (IF
THEY SUCCEED), they will take away the daily sacrifice (TIME WITH GOD), and
they shall place the abomination (FILTH OF SIN) that makes (DEATH AND LOSS FOR
ME).”
If we are going to have the
strength to get through these stressful days ahead, we must discipline
ourselves for prayer and fellowship with God. This is the only way we will get
through these trying times. Jesus said in Luke 21:36, "But keep on the
alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all
these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of
Man." Prayer is not something we do just to get our needs meet, it’s our
relationship with Jesus, our lifeline! If we are going to get addicted to
something, it might as well be God!
THE FALLING AWAY
"Let no one in any way deceive you,
for it will not come (the coming of the
Lord) unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is
revealed, the son of destruction" (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
According to this verse, the apostasy or
the falling away must take place first, before Jesus comes again. This means, there
must be a defection from the truth in the Church, as the Apostle Paul said so
well in 2 Timothy 3:1-7:
"But realize this, that in the last
days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of
money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful,
unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control,
brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God; holding to a form of godliness, although they have
denied its power; and avoid such men as these. For among them are those who
enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on
by various impulses, always learning and
never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
The revealed man of sin, 666, exalts
himself above everything, including God, Himself! Isn't that what is happening
with people today? They’re trying to build their bodies and trying to look
twenty years younger, like they will never die. They strive to have large bank
accounts, so they can live in luxury all their lives. "Six" is the
number of man, and "three" is the number of completion. What we are
going to see is the fullness of Satan lived through man. But Jesus is also
going to display His fullness of power through His people.
Right now, the Holy Spirit is what
restrains this fullness of sin from coming forth on the earth. But very soon He
is going to lift His restraining power and the fullness of sin shall come
forth. Woe unto those who are living in
sin! “And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he may be
revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now
restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way” (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7).
Recently, one of the greatest
earthquakes hit in Turkey that killed tens of thousands of people. It was said
that, the houses that fell were built on a foundation of sand, their houses
crumbling like a house of cards. But those built on rock withstood the shaking.
As we obey the word of God in us, we too, shall stand when everything around us
shaken.
"Therefore everyone who hears these
words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his
house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds
blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been
founded upon the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not
act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand.
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst
against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall" (Matthew
7:24-27).
Those who are not sincere in their
Christian walk will not make it through these days of testing. Their foundation
of life is sinking sand and not built on the Solid Rock, "JESUS".
Satan will use smooth sounding words to lead God’s people astray. This will
come through the Internet, TV, movies, the media, and especially, the Church!
The greatest deception will come through false teachers that don’t even know
they are teaching false doctrine. "And many false prophets will arise, and
will mislead many” (Matthew 24:11).
“With flattery he will corrupt those who
have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly
resist him. Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will
fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. When they fall, they
will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them”
(Daniel 11:32-34 NIV).
JUDGEMENT BEGINS WITH THE
HOUSE OF GOD
“For the time is come that judgment must
begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be
of them that obey not the gospel of God” (1 Peter 4:17)?
Very soon we are going to know which
churches and ministries the Lord has built and which man has built. "Every
plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be rooted up” (Matthew
15:13). The floods that are coming are going to come against the Church first,
before God judges the world. He must do this because of His justice. He is a
God of justice and His justice demands that those who know the truth and do not
obey it be judged first. Romans 1:18 says, “For the wrath of God is revealed
from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress
the truth in unrighteousness.” We are living in a very fearful time for the
disobedient. Many in the Church want to believe that we will somehow get
raptured out of here before any great trials or distress come our way. This is a lie from Satan to deceive many
from preparing for the great hardships and glory that lays ahead for us.
WHEN WILL THIS COME TO PASS?
"Now
at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your
people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred
since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people,
everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued” (Daniel 12:1).
The angel said at that time there will be
great distress such as never occurred on the earth. Jesus verified this in
Matthew 24:21. What timetable is the angel talking about though? I believe it’s
the time of the abomination of desolation being set up, because he again says
it in Daniel 12:11, "And from the time that the regular sacrifice is
abolished, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290
days.”
According to these verses, there is great
wrath stored up against all who hold the truth in unrighteous. You might be
thinking that this is talking about the nation of Israel. But clearly it says
that those who are written in the Book will be rescued. This would be the
"Book of Life," and only those who have received Jesus as Lord and
Savoir will be saved. These that are saved are the real Jews anyway, which
would include us! Paul said in Romans 2:28-29, “For he is not a Jew who is one
outwardly; neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he
is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart,
by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from
God.” Also Romans 9:6-8 says, “But it is not as though the word of God has
failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; neither are
they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "through
Isaac your descendants will be named." That is, it is not the children of
the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded
as descendants.”
I tell
you with great warning, the first three and one half years of the tribulation
period will be against the backsliden church to judge her for living like the
world, and not Israel. The backsliden church brings on the abomination, which
brings the desolation to her. Those who hold the truth in unrighteousness and
choose to serve the world system rather than Jesus Christ will be destroyed.
How do I know that this judgment is coming against the Church for three and one
half years? Because Daniel asks the angel "How long will it be before
these astonishing things are fulfilled” (Daniel 12:6b NIV)? “… that it would be
for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the
power of the holy people, all these events will be completed” (Daniel 12:7).
Very clearly the angel says the shattering or the treading down of the power or
the works of the hands of the HOLY PEOPLE will be three and one half years.
Jesus said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be
rooted up” (Matthew 15:13). Again, in Daniel 7:25, the Angel tells Daniel the
timetable of three and one half years for this event of the trampling down of
the saints.
“And he
will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest
One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will
be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.”
HOW WILL WE KNOW WHEN THE
CHURCH IS BEING JUDGED?
"But
when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation
is at hand” (Luke 21:20).
When we see the people of the world
coming against the Church, know that her destruction is at hand. This is
already happening to some extent; people are burning churches and are shooting
its people already!
I know you are probably saying that this
city is the city of Jerusalem in the land of Israel. But this is the Church
that is from the heavenly Jerusalem! Read these verses in Luke 21 as written to
the Church of the end time and not the Jewish nation that does not read the New
Testament. “But
the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother” (Galatians 4:26).
“But you have come to Mount Zion and to
the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels”
(Hebrews 12:22).
“And they (THE FALSE CHURCH) will fall by
the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and
Jerusalem will
be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles
be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24).
"You are the salt of the earth; but
if the salt (the CHURCH) has become tasteless (FOOLISH, lit. Greek), how will
it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and
trampled under foot by men (Matthew 5:13).
ISAIAH 63
I was
given these verses from Isaiah 63, and many other passages in the prophets of
the Old Testament to prove that this is really going to happen. Many people
just read through the prophets and say, “Well, that’s the Old Testament and
they’re talking about Israel anyway, and it has nothing to do with us.” That’s
a lie straight out of the pit of hell! First, comes the natural, then, the
spiritual. The Old Testament is the natural and the New Testament is the spiritual.
Jesus and the apostles all quoted out of the Old Testament for us to receive
New Testament revelation. Passover is just one Old Testament type that we use
in the New Testament. “… For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed”(1
Corinthians 5:7).
We must understand that much of our end
time doctrines come out of the fundamentalist movement. I thank God for this
movement because they have kept the Feast of Passover alive and people are
getting saved. But anything beyond this teaching they can’t receive, such as
the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.
If they cannot see this truth in the Scriptures, how will they understand end
time truths? The Holy Spirit is our Teacher and He must teach us these truths, not some people who think that
tongues are of the devil! Study this teaching for yourself and ask the Holy
Spirit to teach you without relying on your past religious teaching.
These
prophets spoke of our day. They said
that we would understand them in the end times, because they are sealed up for
us. We must seek God for their interpretation and application to our day, if we
are going to make it through these times.
In
Isaiah 63:1, Isaiah asks a question, “Who is this who comes from Edom, With garments
of glowing colors from Bozrah?” This is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ,
clothed with His majestic apparel. He comes from judging Edom with stained
garments. Edom is a type of backsliden
Church. His father was Esau that sold his birthright to Jacob. Great
judgment is coming to the sons of Esau that have sold themselves to satisfy
their flesh, rather than live for God with all their hearts in this present
world. The whole book of Obadiah is about the judgment of Esau’s family. The
writer of Hebrews warns us not to be like him, “That there be no immoral or
godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For
you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was
rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with
tears” (Hebrews 12:16-17).
Bozrah
means, “to be enclosed as a sheep fold.” Is this not the Church? Jesus calls
the Church a sheepfold in John 10:1.
Yes, this is judgement day for all of the Esau's in God’s sheepfold that have
not repented of their sin and do not serve Him whole-heartily. In these end
times there shall be a separation of the good and the bad. Jesus said at the
time of harvest there would be a separation, "The Son of Man will send
forth His angels, and they will gather out
of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness
(Matthew 13:41). Notice that He says, "OUT OF HIS KINGDOM" He will
separate the righteous from the unrighteous! Not the worldly kingdom, but His.
Again, He emphases this in verse 49: "So it will be at the end of the age;
the angels shall come forth, and take
out the wicked from among the righteous." We must have the fear of God
in us to turn away from all evil. Otherwise, we will be cast into a wilderness
of burning fire. "And will cast them into the furnace of fire; in that
place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 13:42).
The next question Isaiah asks in verse
two is, “Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like the one who treads in
the wine press?” Listen to His answer: “I have trodden the wine trough alone!” The
people of this world could not judge the Church on their own, but God has
allowed them to do this for His judgment. He allowed Babylon to judge His
people Israel and now it is the Church's turn. Have you ever wondered why
Jesus’ garments are covered with blood in Revelation 19:13? “And He is clothed
with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God.” This
verse comes right before His coming on a white horse, with His people, to judge
the nations. His garment is covered with blood because He has first judged His
people, and now, He can judge the world with His people.
“And about these also Enoch, in the
seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with
many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to
convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an
ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken
against Him" (Jude 14-15).
Yes, the coming of the Lord is much more
fearful then we have been made to believe. "But who can endure the day of
His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire
and like fullers' soap” (Malachi 3:2). “I also trod them in My anger, And
trampled them in My wrath; And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, And
I stained all My raiment. For the day of vengeance was in My heart, And My year
of redemption has come” (Isaiah 63:2b-4).
Remember, Jesus
said, “because these are days of vengeance, in order that all
things which are written may be fulfilled” (Luke
21:22).
Why would God do such a thing to His
people? The answer is found in Isaiah 63:10, “But they rebelled and grieved His
Holy Spirit; Therefore, He turned Himself to become their enemy, He fought
against them.”
HOW BLESSED ARE THE FAITHFUL
"How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days!
(Daniel 12:12).
Why is the person who waits for 1,335
days more blessed than those who do not wait? "By your endurance you will
gain your lives” (Luke 21:19). The days we are coming into are going to be the
worse days the world has ever seen. Everything until now has only been a dress
rehearsal, a Sunday school picnic. Our world wars have only been small birth
pains for what is coming. It will take
great faith and endurance to keep our eyes focused on Jesus. Jesus gave us
a promise in Matthew 24:22, "And unless those days had been cut short, no
life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short.”
For the unprepared, these days will be
heart crushing days. But for the prepared, those that attain to the 45th
day after the three and one half years of tribulations, the days will be
glorious! “If indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified
with Him” (Romans 8:17).
"For behold, the day is coming,
burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff;
and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the LORD of hosts,
"so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.” "But for you who fear
My name the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you
will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall” (Malachi
4:1-2).
WHAT MUST I DO TO PREPARE?
If we are going to be prepared for these
days ahead, we must repent of any known sin and go higher into the things of
God. This is our only protection. Jesus warned in Luke 21:21, "Then let
those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the
midst of the city depart, and let not those who are in the country enter the
city” We are the people of Judea. Notice He does not say, "You people of
Israel or you in Galilee flee." No, only those who are in Judea. The word
"Judea" comes from the word Judah, which means people of praise and
worship. So He says to the worshippers, go higher into me; climb the mountain
of God and be safe in Me. If you would like to know more about climbing higher,
I would encourage you to read Rick Joyner's book called The Final Quest.
The most exciting days of the world are
now upon us. Sides are being drawn. Whose
side will you fight on?
“Jesus
therefore said to them, "For a little while longer the light is among you.
Walk while you have the light, that darkness may not overtake you; he who walks
in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe
(OBEY) in the light, in order that you may become sons of light" (John
12:35-36).
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