The Abomination of Desolation - World's Last Chance


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The Abomination of Desolation

A few days before Yahushua’s death, some of the disciples asked Him to tell them about the end of the world. This conversation, as recorded in Matthew 24 and Mark 13, contains a clear warning. This curiously worded admonition is recorded virtually word for word in both Matthew and Mark. It has puzzled many people throughout time for its reference to something called “the Abomination of Desolation.” When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judæa flee into the mountains: 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. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! (Matthew 24:15-19, KJV) The urgency in this warning is extreme. When Yahuwah’s people see whatever it is happen, they are to flee immediately. There is to be no delay. If you are on the roof of your house, do not go back inside to gather anything up. Go! If you are plowing in the midst of a field, do not turn back to grab your jacket. Run! The extreme difficulty of life at that time is well-summed up by the dire prediction: Woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! . . . And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:19, 22, KJV) Whatever the “Abomination of Desolation” is, it presents grave danger to Yahuwah’s people. The Saviour wanted all to be on guard against this menace and flee at once when it was seen. To understand what this Abomination is, it is necessary to go to Daniel. Both Matthew and Mark refer to Daniel’s prophecies as the key to understanding Yahushua’s warning. Mark wrote:

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But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judæa flee . . . . (Mark 13:14, KJV) To give further emphasis to the instruction to find the meaning of the phrase in Daniel, both Mark and Matthew state he that reads, let him understand. The specific phrase “abomination that maketh desolate” is used twice in Daniel: He shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. 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 11:30, 31, KJV) And from the time that the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. (Daniel 12:11, KJV) The translators of the King James Version added the word “sacrifice” after the word “daily” but it is not there in the original Hebrew. The word “daily” means “continuous without interruption.” The English word “abomination” comes from the Hebrew Shiqqûts. It means: Disgusting, i.e. filthy; especially idolatrous or concerning an idol: - abominable filth, detestable thin. (See The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, #8251.) “Desolation” in ancient Hebrew was Shâmêm. It means: To stun or grow numb, i.e. devastate or stupefy: make amazed, be astonied, be destitute, destroy, make or lay waste. (See The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, #8074.) It is significant that the word “abomination” refers to idolatry. Thus, the “abomination of desolation” deals with the issue of worship, specifically, false worship of a counterfeit god. A predominant principle of Satan’s kingdom is force. Those whom Satan cannot deceive he attempts to coerce. In the final confrontation between the Kingdom of Heaven and the forces of darkness, a compelling power will be brought to bear upon all who would stand loyal to Heaven. Such a confrontation is given in the Book of Revelation, an “open” book which expounds upon the long “sealed” prophecies of Daniel. He had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that 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, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:15-17, KJV) To “speak” is to pass legislation. To “cause” is to have the power to enforce that legislation. This legislation will demand conformity to Satan’s kingdom. All who refuse to worship will be deemed worthy of death. The abomination of desolation is a legislative act which compels the conscience, on pain of death, to submit, acknowledge or otherwise show allegiance to any false system of worship thus allowing Satan dominion in the

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soul. The danger to Yahuwah’s people is further underscored by the Saviour’s admonition directly following His reference to the abomination of desolation: But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day: for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:20, 21, KJV) With the restoration of knowledge of the true seventh-day Sabbath, calculated by the original luni-solar calendar of Creation, Heaven has shown that worship on the modern Gregorian calendar is rebellion and treason against Yahuwah. Whether this abomination will be some future calendar reform which literally “takes away” the continuous weekly cycle of the present calendar or merely an enforcement of the current papal calendar is immaterial. The point is that whoever obeys Satan, in defiance of Heaven’s time-keeping, will have his or her soul “devastated.”

Many Christians today assume that, by virtue of being a “Christian,” they do not worship idols. However, not all idols are made of wood, stone or precious metals. There are many kinds of idols. The dictionary defines “idol” as: Any thing on which we set our affections; that to which we indulge an excessive and sinful attachment. (Noah Webster, American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828.)

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“An idol is any thing which usurps the place of God in the hearts of his rational creatures.” (S. Miller) For some, their idol of preference is recognition in their chosen field of labor. For others, it is the prestige of worldly possessions. For multitudes more, their idol of choice is ESCAPE, in all its many and varied forms, whether that be alcohol, drugs, sex, movies, novels, exercise, sports or any of a thousand ways Satan seeks to attract the mind and affections of the heart. Even things which, in and of themselves are not wrong, can become idols if they take the place of Yahuwah in the affections of the heart. A job, a friendship, a family relationship are all good things. However, if retaining them becomes more important than obeying the will of Yahuwah, they have become an idol in the soul that will eventually desolate it. There are a variety of obvious ways Satan devastates the souls of people. Those who worship demons become soul-enslaved to the arch-rebel. One New Age concept of increasing popularity is called “Walk-in”. It is believed that in a “walk-in” a person’s soul is replaced by another, either temporarily or permanently. This is nothing more than demon possession and truly desolates, destroys and lays waste the human soul. However, it is important to understand that there are many other ways to have one’s soul desolated by the warned of abomination. A person who clearly understands the divine Law but refuses to render obedience is just as guilty as the most flagrant sinner. All who, for temporal security or even to save their lives, conform to Satan’s dictates in worship will find their souls destroyed, devastated and laid waste. Yahushua knew that just such a confrontation awaited His people in earth’s last days. He admonished His followers: Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28, NKJV) In other words, the Saviour was saying, Do not fear to lose your life for Me. As the Life-Giver, I will be the Life-Restorer. The life sacrificed for truth will gain an abundant entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven while those who forsake truth to save their lives will lose their souls. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. (Luke 17:33, NKJV) While Matthew refers to the abomination of desolation as being in the “holy place,” Mark says that it will stand where it ought not. In Scripture, “feet” are symbols of possession. An abomination, an idol, standing where it

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ought not is nothing less than Satan taking control of a mind whose devotion is to anything other than its Creator. A person who loves Yahuwah but also loves the world does not really love Yahuwah. Satan, through the guise of the pleasures of life, rules in the heart thus divided. No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve [Yahuwah] and mammon. (Matthew 6:24, NKJV) There are many reasons given for refusing to worship on the true Sabbath: • • • • • •

It is inconvenient. No one else I know does it. I will lose my job. My spouse does not agree. My pastor says it is wrong. It is too hard to understand.

These reasons have been around for as long as error has warred with truth. They are merely excuses given to justify a person continuing in error. The person who chooses to do what he or she knows to be wrong, makes an idol, an abomination, of that thing, that person, that job. This opens the door for Satan to come into the mind, take control, and devastate the soul. All who continue in rebellion against the kingdom of Heaven, refusing to return worship to the Creator on His holy Sabbath, calculated by His calendar of Creation, will have their souls devastated when Satan comes in to take possession of the mind. They will be one with Satan. The entire plan of salvation was devised to bring the human mind into oneness with the divine mind. All who are saved will be ONE with Yahuwah, just as Yahushua is ONE with Him. It is this oneness which, in the closing days of this earth’s history, Satan is seeking to disrupt by usurping Yahuwah’s rightful position in the human soul. The decision is simple. The results, far-reaching. Will you worship according to Heaven’s calendar and let Yahuwah rule in your heart and mind? Or will you, for the sake of convenience, conform to Satan’s will and rule? Invite Yahuwah into your heart today. Forsake anything, anyone that comes between you and your Creator. Let the Saviour’s prayer for you be answered:

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