AUTHOR’S NOTE: We are living in a wondrous day when the Lord is beginning to move in a marked way among individuals of many denominations (both Protestant and Catholic). What is written herein, therefore, is in no way a “judgment” upon individual Christians, nor upon many sincere ministers of Christ who maybe doing the best they can. Only God can judge an individual’s heart, and therefore we are forbidden to do so (Mt. 7:1). Jesus did command us, however, to judge what is RIGHT (Lk. 12:57, see also Lk. 7:43). And when we assess the present world situation in light of God’s prophetic Word, it is very evident the hand of God’s judgment is fast descending upon Christendom and the organized church systems instituted by man. Jesus said He would “thoroughly purge his threshing floor gathering the ripened grain into His garner, but burning the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Mt. 3:12). The “fiery crucible” is rapidly coming, and is the inevitable result of modern Christendom’s building too much with the “wood, hay & stubble” of man’s ways, rather than with the “gold, silver & precious stones” of God’s ways. Paul says that the work will be made manifest, for the day (of judgment) will declare it, because it will be “revealed by fire” (I Cor. 3:12-13).
What God has used for a time in His overruling providence simply cannot stand in the “fire” of tribulation and judgment that is coming. Therefore KNOW, and “judge not according to appearance, but JUDGE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT” (John 7:24).
EDITOR’S NOTE
The light shone by this booklet is a great step toward a clear understanding of geopolitical events in the year 2003 of the Christian Era. Surprisingly, this booklet was written in about 1970. Yet, while the truths of this book apply even more clearly now, in 2003 than they did in 1970, yet there is perhaps one bit of terminology used by the author which may seem “out of date” and that is the word “communism”. The word “communism” has been used largely, in the last hundred years as a figure of speech for the socialist form of government which is man-centered (opposed to the God who spoke by Moses, the Prophets, and His Son Jesus), and pretends to be opposed to private property. Although the so-called communist system centered in Moscow “died” or, more accurately, went to sleep, in the early 1990’s, yet the communist leaders, for the most part remained in power.
We are beginning to witness, in this year of 2003, that the Russian head is rising back from sleep and still retains the same nature that it did in the twentieth century. This is in harmony with the spirit of the prophecy in Rev. 13:3, “I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed….”. Why do I keep the author’s name anonymous? The internet, while producing much freedom of expression, also has the potential for easy censorship and facilitates the potential of the shutting-down of internet ministries which offend the currently reigning world system. Allow me to keep secrets because I am trying to protect others who are in the ministry including relatives of the original author. Anyone who is not aware that we need to begin being wise as serpents to protect each other from the killing of our ministries is, in this hour, is a danger to the ministries. God bless you in Jesus, sincerely – the editor.
INTRODUCTION
“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins” (Isa. 58:1). This is God’s commission to the prophet, whether of Isaiah’s day or the day in which we live. The sins of Christendom, like those of ancient Israel, have become a “stench ” in the nostrils of the Almighty, and His fury is arising (Isa. 65:5, 30:27-28). God spoke to the prophet Joel saying: “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand (Joel 2:1).” Going back to Numbers chapter 10, we see where the Lord commanded Moses to make two trumpets of silver to be blown by the priests in order to signal the people for various purposes. One such purpose was to “sound the alarm” for war (Numb. 10:9). Thus the “trumpet” is a symbol of the prophet’s VOICE, as he “sounds the alarm” of judgment coming through WAR. And thus did Joel warn: “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong” (Joel 3:9-10). We can clearly see this scripture being fulfilled among the nations today. Even the previously small and weak nations, such as those in the middle east, are feverishly arming themselves.
Nobody wants war, but the fact remains that mankind as a whole is yet too carnal to live without it. It is the inevitable result of the greed, selfishness and covetousness of unregenerate human hearts (see James 4:1-3). “There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked” (Isa. 48:22). Peace is the fruit of righteousness (see Isa, 32:17). God has decreed that those who make themselves “crooked paths” contrary to His will, shall not know peace (Isa. 59:6-8). If the nations were seeking peace for righteousness sake, then would their efforts be crowned with success. But no, humans want peace so that they may live for their own selfish pleasures in forgetfulness of God. The increasingly rapid moral degeneracy of our so-called “Christian” society is striking evidence of this. Therefore the Lord has decreed that the “sword” shall come the third time (World War III– see Ezek. 21:14), to the end that men shall, in their extremity, reach out for God, and be severed from their carnal ways. (Read Deut. 8:11-14, 17-20, where God warns the Israelites of the danger of forgetting Him, and of the inevitable consequences which would follow. See also Judges 3:7-8, I Samuel 12:9, Jeremiah 2:32, 3:21).
The words of Jesus as recorded in Matt. 10:34 and Luke 12:51 throw much light on God’s purpose for this age: “Think not that I am come to send peace on the earth; I came not to send peace but a sword. Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division.” The symbolic significance of a “sword” is that of division or severance, even as we read in Heb. 4:12: “For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul (the carnal self-life) and spirit (the God-oriented life), and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” God’s declared purpose is that man be pierced with the sword of truth and severed from his carnality. He must learn to divide and distinguish between truth and falsehood, righteousness and evil, light and darkness, that which is of God and that which is not; and until he learns to submit to the “sword” of division in this higher sense of moral and spiritual discernment and discrimination, he must inevitably experience the “sword” of division in its lower phase of conflict, strife, suffering and sorrow, until he “comes to himself” (Luke 15:17) and turns to God for help and deliverance. Thus we can see why the “sword” of conflict and WAR is the inevitable consequence of man’s slowness and his carnal stubbornness (self-will) in failing to learn; and God uses the resultant suffering incidental to conflict to “goad” him into thinking, seeing his need, repenting and turning to the ONLY source of true peace (God Himself). It would be well for you to read the foregoing several times until you begin to grasp the “why’s” of God’s allowing that which, from man’s carnal and limited perspective, seems so cruel and unjust. God is not the slightest bit interested in man’s stupid thinking (I Cor. 1:19-20). His ways are not our ways (Isa. 55:8-9). He sees all things from the perspective of the ultimate good, and in His love He has purposed that the SWORD do its work; and as long-as man remains in his present state of carnality there will be no prospects for peace.
Even now the ideological conflicts, animosities, and division among and within nations grow deeper with each passing year. And before the final showdown, the nations will be increasingly divided into two separate blocks (although ostensibly they may appear to be trying to work together in a “One World Government”). This is shown in Mt. 25:32-33 where the nations are pictured as being gathered before the Lord and He separates them to the right and to the left. Remember that most scriptures have more than one application or fulfillment, and we cannot limit this passage to the time when the individuals of the nations will be gathered before the Lord at a specific location and time. The word “before” can indicate that which is previous in time also. Thus previous to the Lord’s return we shall see this increased separating. The Greek word translated “gathered”, in Matt. 25:32, means “to lead together”. It is the same word that is used in Rev. 16:14 where the nations of the world are pictured as being “led together” to the “battle of that great day of God Almighty”. In verse 13, the men who are instrumental in leading the nations together into “power blocks ” are represented by the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. In the initial end-time manifestation, it was the “croakings” of Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, and Adolph Hitler which began gathering the nations into separate blocks, but the same “unclean spirits” are working through other leaders and the coalitions have altered and taken a little different form.
We can see now how the “gathering” is crystallizing into the Communist block verses the non-communist nations, fulfilling Jesus’ words in Matt 25:33 that the nations would be separated with the “sheep” nations (Christendom) on the right, and the “goat” nations (Communism) on the left. Even in this day we find it common to use the terms “right” and “left” to designate these nations. But within the nations of Christendom we find many who are strongly pro-left, for pro-Communist elements have infiltrated every segment of our so-called “Christian” societies. This is to the end that our desolation will be more complete, for we have sinned abominably in the sight of God. This brings us to the theme for this booklet: “The Abomination that maketh Desolate”. In Rev. 6:4, we see where the “red” desolator is given a great SWORD, and the power to take peace from the earth. Babylonish Christendom has been weighed in the balances and found wanting (Dan. 5:27). Therefore the “sword” cometh.
The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel, saying, “Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations.” (Ezek. 16:2). It also becomes the divine duty of the prophets of this day to make Christendom to know her abominations, and the desolation that is coming because of them, for ancient Jerusalem is a type of modern Christendom, However, because we recognize and emphasize the symbolic application of O.T. scriptures to “spiritual Israel” or Christendom, we do not mean to imply that they do not also have an application to natural Israel. In this end-time, God is also going to “call them to account” for their abominations, and for this reason He is causing a representative number of the Jews to return to Palestine and re-occupy the city of Jerusalem. In their ancient land they shall also experience the wrath of God through the desolating power.
The Lord told Ezekiel to speak these words unto the people: “When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man, and set him for their watchman: if when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning, if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. . . but he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. So thou, O sons of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hears the word at my mouth, and warns them from me (Ezek. 33:2-7). Therefore this trumpet warning must go forth! It must be loud and clear, “for if the trumpets give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” (I Cor. 14:8).
Isa. 26:23-29 illustrates God’s dealing with man by the various means a farmer uses to thresh different grains. Even so, in the final “harvest” and “threshing” of the nations, not all nations will be dealt with in the same manner, nor with the same degree of severity. However, since all the nations of Christendom have “sown to the wind”, they will all reap “the whirlwind” in varying degrees (see Hos. 8:7). A “whirlwind” symbolizes revolution and/or civil war within. “Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground” ( see also Jer. 30:23-24, Ezek. 38:21).
Those who put their trust in the Lord have nothing to fear, but we do need to let the Lord prepare us, for the vast majority of Christians will have to go through these tribulation conditions on the earth. We are warned about being prepared in the words of Jesus in Lk. 12:47, lest we find ourselves suffering the “stripes” (buffeting conditions) of the tribulation without the completeness of the Lord’s protection and guidance.
THE ABOMINATION THAT MAKES DESOLATE
There is no doubt in my mind but that the “desolator” which is to come against the nations of Christendom, and also the new nation of Israel in Palestine, is Russian-led COMMUNISM. Communism is that “abomination” which in one form or another is to be “set up” in the midst of the “temple” nations of Christendom and the Jews. This could take place in several possible ways as we shall see.
Notice the heading of this article. Communism is n itself an abomination in the sight of God, but it is only the INSTRUMENT that “makes desolate “and NOT the CAUSE. Thus when Daniel speaks of the “abomination that maketh desolate” (Dan. 11:31, 12:11), the phrase can refer to both the “abomination” which the desolating instrument (or power) “sets up”, and to the abominableTRANSGRESSIONS of God’s people which are the CAUSE making it possible (and necessary as a part of God’s judgment) for desecration and desolation to come. In Dan. 8:13, the prophet speaks of the “transgression of (or, that makes) desolation”. Also Dan. 9:27 shows that it is for (or because of) “the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate “.
Before we examine the passages in the book of Daniel, let us take a look at the prophetic significance of a statement by Jesus in Matt. 5:13: “Ye are the salt of the earth, but if the salt have lost his savior, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be TRODDEN under foot of men.” Is there prophecy here? And how! Remember that “the testimony of Jesus IS the spirit of prophecy.” (Rev. 19:10). Look what has happened to both natural Israel and spiritual Israel (Christian nations).
Certainly God intended even natural Israel to be a “salting” influence in the world through the righteous law which He gave to them. But when God was forgotten through the turning to idolatry, and the law was disregarded and transgressed repeatedly, resulting in that which was “abominable” in the sight of God (read all of Ezekiel chapters 8 & 9), then certain judgment came and the “treading down” of the “holy” people by pagan nations was the inevitable result, fulfilling the truth that when the salt has lost its savor (righteous influence), it is GOOD FOR NOTHING, but to be CAST OUT and TRODDEN under foot of men (the “uncircumcised”). The Holy City of Jerusalem and the Sacred Temple were time and again polluted by the “abominations” of the heathen (resulting in desolation by the heathen) until finally Jesus pronounced the age long judgment: “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be TRODDEN DOWN of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24). Some have pointed out the fact that for the first time in almost 2,000 years, the city of Jerusalem is now completely under Jewish control. This is no doubt a harbinger of the NEAR end of the time of the Gentiles, yet the city of Jerusalem is yet to come under the siege of Gentile powers and no doubt part of it occupied again, even though for a brief time (Zech. 12:2); and also the final “abomination that maketh desolate” will yet make its appearance in the city.
Now take a look at Christendom. WHERE is the “salt” or “savor” — the seasoning, penetrating, preserving, zest-imparting POWER unto RIGHTEOUSNESS that is supposed to characterize true Christianity?? It seems to be quite negligible in the organized churches which are turning more and more to the social gospel, political activism and the new morality. “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (II Tim. 3:5), they continue to turn to various forms of compromise with the world in order to “shore up” their “crumbling walls” of influence; also advocating more and more “fellowship” and compromise with the scum of the pit who rule the Communist nations as a solution to the tensions and problems in the world. It is not for me to say to what extent specific branches of the organized church have “lost their savor”, for God Himself will show this by the inexorable march of events in this end time.
Already one major branch of the organized church has been largely cast out and TRODDEN under foot of Communist men. Tell me, WHERE did the Marxist menace first raise its ugly head? Where was the “abomination of desolation” FIRST “set up” in its incipient end time fulfillment? In a heathen country? NO, but rather in a nation of Christian culture and tradition (Russia); but where the church had “lost its savor”, becoming woefully strangled through priestcraft, compromise, and power politics (committing fornication with the kings of the earth — Rev. 17:2), resulting in “Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and ABOMINATIONS of the earth” (Rev. 17:5). When we look at the nations where the Eastern Orthodox Church was the dominating force, what do we see? Nations where Communism has taken over, and where the church has been “cast out” and “trodden down “with millions of Christians being persecuted and many thousands put to death; nations such as Russia, Rumania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia. What is left of the church in these nations is strictly controlled by the state, and often a “tool” of Communist policy and propaganda. The one remaining stronghold of the Eastern Orthodox church is Greece, which will no doubt yet suffer the fate of a Communist takeover.
The Eastern Church suffered its first shattering blow during the 7th century through the invasion of the Muslim Arabs. The apostasy to Islam was on a large scale, and in time the very existence of the orthodox patriarchates of Alexandria in Egypt, Antioch in Syria, and Jerusalem in Palestine was threatened. The Orthodox Church in these areas of Africa, the middle and near east, has never recovered, with the Moslem religion in firm control of the masses of the people, and the famous Mosque of Omar erected on the very site of the destroyed temple of the God of Israel in Jerusalem. The erection of this mosque on the very temple site was no doubt a partial fulfillment of the “abomination of desolation “standing in the holy place (Matt. 24:15). In the 11th and 12th centuries, Asia Minor (today called Turkey) was overrun by Turkish tribes which had been converted to the Muslim faith, advancing the frontiers of Islam. In time the Turkish-Muslim character of Asia Minor, the very area where the apostle Paul had carried out such extensive missionary travels, was firmly established. This was a further blow to the Eastern Orthodox Church, for the patriarch of Constantinople, in the previous years, had become the undisputed leader of orthodox Christianity in the east. Even though the patriarchate of Constantinople (today called Istanbul) remains to this day, the Eastern Orthodox branch of the church in that area has been virtually “cast out”, for today Turkey is 99% Muslim.
The growing influence of Communist Russia in the Muslim nations of the middle and near east, and north Africa, is very apparent today. These areas, where the Orthodox Church was once dominant, will gradually be drawn into the Communist orbit, thus completing the “desolating cycle” begun through Mohammed, the “false prophet” of Islam. Nations such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Turkey will become a part of the “sea-beast ” of Communism as HORNS (see Rev. 13:1). The other horns and HEADS will be made up of former Christian nations (Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic) which have (or will yet) apostatize from Christ to Communism, taking upon their heads “the name of blasphemy” (Rev. 13:1).
By God’s own judgment through the march of events, we can see the fulfillment of Matt. 5:13. But let’s take a look at western Christendom. The Roman Catholic church is the “twin sister” to the Eastern Orthodox, having come from the same origin. They are symbolized by the two “lewd women “of Ezek. 23:44 (read the whole chapter). The Roman church has perpetuated the same abominations as the Orthodox church (Rev. 17:1-5), and will suffer the same fate (Rev. 17:16). Already such Catholic nations as Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia have been taken over to become a part of the 7 headed, 10 horned Beast of Communism, and the church has been greatly “trodden down” through severe persecutions and restrictions. A foreboding sign of what is coming is seen in the fact that the largest Communist party outside the Communist conclave of nations is in Italy, the very seat of the Vatican. This again evidencing the fact that apostate Christianity has created the conditions which foster Communism. In time, Italy will be taken over by the Communists, the Vatican will be destroyed, and the Pope will flee for his life. Italy, as well as Austria, will likely become “horns” as a part of the Beast conglomerate. Catholic nations such as France, Spain and Portugal will, no doubt, be eventually swept into the “maw” of the Beast, but to be used as helpless “pawns” rather than as an integral part of the Beast system itself.
Nations where the Protestant churches are dominant, will also suffer the wrath of the Beast, but not likely the extreme fate of the nations dominated by the “harlot mother” (Rev. 17:5). Yet, the organized Protestant daughters are sufficiently apostate that we cannot expect them to escape. Some no doubt have “lost their savor” more than others and will be greatly trodden down, especially in Europe. Geographically speaking, the North and South American continents constitute the end-time “land of Goshen” which has been separated from the “old world”. But remember, even those in Goshen suffered from some of the plagues. The first plague (water turning to blood) symbolizes revolution, and most if not all nations in the western hemisphere will experience severe revolution with many Catholic and Protestant churches being burned to the ground.
Jesus prophesied that increasingly apostate Christendom, would not be able to stand in the coming “storm”, for churches are building too much upon the sand (see Jesus’ parable in Mt. 7:24-27). This is portrayed by the fact that in Rev. 13:1, the apostle John is standing upon the “sand of the sea ” as he views the sea-beast of Communism arising out of the waters (peoples and nations — Rev. 17:15). Why was not John standing upon a rock? To symbolize that end-time Christendom has given birth to a Beast because of the failure to build upon the bedrock truth of Jesus Christ and the whole counsel of God (Matt. 16:18, I Cor. 3:11, Acts 20:27). What is sand anyway? Sand is simply solid rock that has been broken up and fragmented over a period of time by the abrasive work of water. Water is a type of the soul with its desires and emotions. Thus over the years the bedrock of divine truth has been gradually eroded and broken up because people’s ego-inflated desires cause them to believe what they want to, especially that which caters to their carnal nature. Even as Paul warned in II Timothy 4:3: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and shall be turned unto fables. Like Aaron (Ex. 32:21-25) there are too many priests and ministers who have their “ear to the ground” in order to cater to and please the people rather than seeking to please Almighty God (see Gal. 1:10, I Thess. 2:4). Ministers are also caught in the “trap ” of thinking they have to appear successful, popular, etc. according to standards which are too much according to the thinking of the world. Add to this the tragedy of our sectarian denominational systems, which so often cause a minister, for expedient’s sake (and “job” security) to have divided loyalties, compromised beliefs, promotional ambitions, an “axe to grind”, etc., and the net result is Christendom of today building on the “sand” of fragmented truth, particle truths, distorted truths, and outright falsehoods. And “great shall be the fall thereof” even as Christ prophesied (Matt. 7:27). In the book of Revelation, John speaks in a similar vein when he sees “Mystery Babylon The Great” falling and being made desolate (see Rev. 17:5, 16, 18:2, 10, 19).
Similar thoughts were spoken by Jesus when words of judgment were directed to the religious leaders of His day: “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. “(Matt. 23:38). Later He warned: “When ye therefore shall see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, spoken by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, (who so readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains. . . For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matt. 24: 15-16,21-22). We can see from these words that there certainly was a first and preliminary application to the Jews of that day. But that there is an application yet to be fulfilled at the end of this age is evident by verses 21-22, which were not fulfilled in a complete sense at the time Jerusalem was destroyed. Before we take a look at the fulfillment of the “abomination of desolation” upon the Jews of the first century, and also upon Christendom and the Jews of our day, let us go back and take a look at the passages in Daniel where this prophetic declaration is given.
The word “abomination” in connection with the word “desolate” is mentioned 3 times in the book of Daniel. The first is in Dan. 9:27. We read in chapter 9 how Daniel set his face to seek the Lord by prayer and fasting because of the desolations that had come upon Judah and Jerusalem, causing the people to be carried away as captives to Babylon. Daniel had come to understand through the writings of Jeremiah that the promised land was to remain desolate and the people in captivity for 70 years (9:2-3). He prayed that God would once again cause His face to shine upon the sanctuary which was desolate and to behold the desolations of the city of Jerusalem (9:17-18), that the Lord might forgive and restore. As a result of his prayer, the angel Gabriel was sent to give him understanding concerning the future of his people and the city of Jerusalem (9:21-23). The remarkable words of the angel are found in verses 24-27 of chapter 9.
Daniel was given to understand that the city of Jerusalem would be rebuilt (9:25), and this meant that the Lord would forgive His people and allow them to return to the promised land to prepare for the promised Messiah (9:26). A time factor was given by the angel in these words: “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city” (9:24). Seventy times seven would be 490 days; and translated into “prophetic time” (Ezek. 4:6), it would indicate that the Lord was giving the people 490 years to prove themselves. Now take a look at Jesus’ words in Matt 8:21-22. When asked by Peter how many times he should forgive his brother, suggesting seven times as sufficient, Jesus responded that it should rather be seventy times seven. Certainly the Lord would not require man to do what He would not be willing to do Himself. Thus we can see that the “Seventy weeks” mentioned by the angel Gabriel was a declaration of God’s forgiveness to the Jews in captivity and His purpose to allow them to return to the land of promise from which they had been cast out because of their sins. But since the angel said, “Seventy weeks are determined” (set, or settled) it would indicate that this would be the limit on their renewed tenure of the promised land before the Lord would again pronounce judgment, if indeed they failed Him again.
The entire passage containing the words of the angel have to do with the promised Messiah and His ministry. In 9:25, the angel declares that “from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks” (or 69 weeks). Dates of ancient history are a little hard to determine and there is some difference among scholars. It seems possible that the commandment to allow Jerusalem to be rebuilt was given by King Artaxerxes of Persia in 454 B.C. Remember that the Medes and Persians had conquered Babylon while the Jews were still in captivity, and it was under the Persians that the “remnant” of the Jews was given permission to return to Palestine and rebuild the city of Jerusalem. However, regardless of whether we can pinpoint an exact date, it is clear from verse 25 that the 69 weeks (of years) was to reach unto the Messiah. The word “Messiah” means Anointed (the same as “Christ” in the Greek). Jesus became “Anointed” of God at His baptism in the river Jordan when the Holy Spirit came upon Him (Matt. 3:16). Since the 69 weeks were to reach unto the Messiah, that would place the beginning of His ministry following His baptism, at the beginning of the 70th week. In verse 26 we read that it was to be AFTER the 69 weeks that Messiah was to be “cut off” (in death). This would place the crucifixion sometime during the 70th week, making it impossible for the 70th week to be separated from the 69 weeks and placed at the end of this age as most fundamentalist Bible teachers do. However, though the 70th week has already been fulfilled in its initial and primary application, this does not preclude some kind of additional fulfillment at the close of this age.
Let’s take a look now at that 70th week, In verse 27 we read that “he (the Messiah of verse 26) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week. In Malachi 3:1 we note that the Lord is called “the messenger of the covenant” who was to “suddenly come to his temple”. He did come in the person of Jesus Christ, and according to the prophetic words recorded in Luke 1:72-72, He came “to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant; the oath which he swore to our father Abraham.” Paul says further in Rom. 15:8, that “Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision (the Jews) for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. There are numerous scriptures to show that the new covenant which Christ introduced (in contrast to the “old” one at Sinai) was actually a “confirming” or “making sure” of the covenant and promises originally made to Abraham (see Gal. 3:6-9, 14-18, 29). Now, the Messiah was to “confirm” this covenant with many (of the Jews) for one week (the 70th). This He did first by His own ministry of power for three and one-half years, and then through the ministry of the apostles for the remaining three and one-half years (Heb. 2:3-4, Mark 16:20), for the gospel was to be to the Jew first (Rom. 1:16).
Now we are ready for the rest of verse 27 of Dan. chapter 9, which gives a bold declaration of the vicarious atonement which would be accomplished by the promised Messiah; for the angel states that “in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation (of the Mosaic ordinance to cease.” There was no further need for the animal sacrifices of the Law to continue after Jesus had “appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” and was “once offeredto bear the sins of many” (Heb. 9:26, 28). Dan, 9:26 states that the Messiah would “be cut off, but not for himself” (His atonement for others), and verse 27 gives the time as “in the midst (the middle) of the (final or 70th) week”. Since 70 full weeks were determined upon the people (9:24), this meant that following the crucifixion of Christ, the Jews had only three and one half years in which to repent and accept their Messiah or once again be subject to the judgment of God and eventually suffer the fate of again being cast out of the promised land. It seems clear from Acts 3:12-26 that through the preaching of the Apostles, the Jews were given an opportunity for national repentance, even though they had crucified their Messiah. Such repentance and turning to the Lord would have brought “refreshing” from the presence of the Lord, and “restitution” to the nation (Acts 3:19-21). The subsequent chapters in Acts, however, show the complete rejection of the testimony of the Apostles by the Jewish rulers and elders. Just before his martyrdom, Stephen the evangelist declared to the Jewish council: “Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do ye” (Acts 7:41).
The rejection of the Messiah by the Jews and their continuance of the animal sacrifices was an abomination in the sight of God, for which desolation was determined upon their land. This was prophetically declared in the last part of Dan, 9:27: “and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it (the city and the sanctuary — see 9:26) desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate (land). ” It is also prophetically shown in Isa. 66:3-4: “He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations… they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.” It became impossible for God to “delight” in the continuance of the animal sacrifices once they had been terminated by Christ’s perfect sacrifice of Himself. Therefore when the Jews continued them in rejection of Christ’s sacrifice, it became an abomination in the sight of God; and thus the declaration through the prophet that God would account such sacrifices as if they “slew a man, offered swine’s blood, etc.”
Let’s look further at Dan. 9:24, that we might see additional evidence that the 70 weeks (of years) allotted to the Jews was to run consecutively, without the 70th week being separated from the 69 and relegated exclusively to a future time. The angel declared to Daniel that the “70 weeks determined” would see the fulfillment of certain things through the ministry of the promised Messiah, and as we have already seen, that ministry took place during the 70th week. The following are the six things declared by the angel to take place, and their scriptural fulfillment. (1) To finish (fill up) the transgression. This the Jews fulfilled by crucifying Jesus, and also killing those sent by Him: “fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify. . that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zecharias son of Barachias . . . Verily I say unto you, all these things shall come upon this generation.” (2) To make an end of sins. In dying on the cross, Jesus made an end of sins. “But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. ” (Heb. 9:26). (3) To make reconciliation for iniquity. This was fulfilled in Jesus as we read in II Cor. 5:19: “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (4) To bring in everlasting righteousness… Jesus’ death and resurrection brought in everlasting righteousness. “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe” (Rom. 3:21-22). See also II Cor. 5:21. (5) To seal up the vision and prophecy. To “seal up” here means to finish or fulfill, as we read in Acts 3:18: “But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer he hath so fulfilled.” “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.” (Luke 16:16). (6) To anoint the most Holy. At His baptism in the Jordan river, the Most Holy (Jesus) was anointed. “And John bear record saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven, and remaining on him” (John 1:32). See also Mt. 3:16 and Lk. 3:22. Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel, etc.”. (Lk. 4:18-22).
Thus we can see that the “Seventy weeks” (490 years) of God’s extended grace to the Jews found its consummation in the ministry of the promised Messiah and those whom He commissioned and sent out (John 20:21). Jesus was anointed for His ministry of 3 and a half years at the beginning of the 70th and final week of 7 years. The middle of the week saw the rejection by the Jews of His personal ministry; and the end of the week concluded with the Jews rejecting the witness of the Holy Spirit’s testimony. Although the destruction (and desolation)of the nation did not come until a number of years later, the end of their probation period of 490 years had come and age-long judgment was certain. In 70 A.D. the “the people of the prince” (Roman armies) came and destroyed the city and the sanctuary (temple). See Dan. 9:26 (marginal reading) where the end was to come by being “cut off by desolations”. Jesus had warned: “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains. . . For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.” (Luke 21:20-21). Thus the “abomination of desolation” standing in the holy place (Palestine) was the presence of the Roman armies in their siege against Jerusalem (Matt. 24:15).
Although I have shown the continuity of fulfillment of the entire 70 weeks of Daniel in a way that the fundamentalists do not see, it seems evident to me that the 70th week of Daniel also has an additional application and fulfillment during the final 7 years of the present dispensation, but in quite a different way than the fundamentalists see it. Let me elaborate. As we have seen in the first fulfillment of Dan. 9:27, it was an act of God that caused the “sacrifice and oblation to cease”, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, and this was in the midst of the final week of 7 years. Now, if we see an application of the 70th week of Dan. to the final 7 years of this present dispensation, then in fulfillment of the pattern, There would be an act of God in the midst of that final week which would then signal the end or completion of a spiritual “sacrifice and oblation” and the elevating of those involved in that sacrifice, even as Jesus was elevated (glorified) following the completion of His sacrifice.
Let us look at Psalm 50:5 where we find these words: “Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” A “firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb” (Rev. 14:4) is NOW laying their all on the altar as a “living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1), “following the Lamb withersoever he goeth” (Rev. 14:4). When the time comes for their “calling up higher” through translation and glorification just before the final 3 and a half years of tribulation, then it can be truly said that their spiritual “sacrifice and oblation” unto God will have ceased, and they will begin their service unto the Lord on the higher plane of glorified life. When Jesus completed His earthly sacrifice and came forth from the grave to glorified life in the midst of Daniel’s 70th week in its initial application, He was the “firstfruits of them that slept” (I Cor. 15:20). And when the 144,000 are translated and glorified while living, in the midst of Daniel’s 70th week in its end-time and final application, they will be the firstfruits of them that are alive. Thus there is no conflict when we can see that many prophetic scriptures have more than one application and fulfillment.
There is another sense in which the “sacrifice and oblation” will cease after the firstfruits are translated. We read in Acts 17:30 that God overlooks times of ignorance. Peter, speaking to the Jews in the temple (Acts 3:17), acknowledges that it was through ignorance that they crucified their Messiah. But after His resurrection, and there was incontrovertible evidence that He was alive and had triumphed over the grave, there was no further excuse and they were commanded to repent (Acts 3:19). Likewise shall it be in the day when the firstfruits are translated. The world will have been given concrete evidence of the truth of the Bible and of a LIVING CHRIST. Ignorance because of the apostasy of the church systems, will no longer be excusable. And as to the church systems, the firstfruits translation will be God’s signal to them that their dead denominational and sectarian ways, as well as their man-made doctrines and traditions, are to Him as the “overspreading of abominations” for which judgment must come (Dan. 9:27), and that which they thought was acceptable as a “sacrifice and oblation” in their ignorance and blindness, must CEASE; for with the manifestation of the glorified sons of God and the mighty outpouring of His Spirit which will shortly follow, the NEW will begin. Spiritual refreshing and restitution will come to all who will repent and humble themselves before the Lord (Acts 3:19-21), refusing to perpetuate the old church ways. As the Jews had just 3 and a half years left following the death and resurrection of Jesus to accept Him as their promised Messiah and KING, so will the world have just 3 and a half years following the translation of the firstfruits to turn to the Lord Jesus as savior and to get READY for the RETURNING KING. Thank God we are beginning to get our eyes opened NOW, and we are already beginning to enter into the NEW. As in the case of Lazarus, the Lord is taking away the “napkin of blindness” which was around our eyes; and we are being LOOSED from the “grave clothes” of our old ways and traditions (John 11:44).
The next place in Daniel where the word “abomination” in connection with the word “desolate” is used is found in chap. 11, verse 31. Since it is not our purpose to go into a detailed study of the book of Daniel, we can only give a few historical highlights as a background to help us understand the fulfillment for our day. Chapter 11 is a continuation of the message given to Daniel by an angel from the Lord (see 10:5-6), revealing additional details to prophetic visions Daniel had previously received. The Babylonian empire which had taken Daniel and his companions captive many years previous, had fallen to the Medes and Persians. Daniel, who was then living under the Medo-Persian empire (11:1-2) was given to know that after the reign of 3 more Persian kings, there would come a confrontation with the realm of Grecia, A mighty king of Grecia (Alexander the Great) would stand up and overcome Persia and extend his dominion greatly (11:3). After Alexander’s demise, his realm would be broken up and divided into four sections (11:4), ruled over by men who were not of his posterity. This had been shown to Daniel in two previous visions: by the 4 heads on the beast like a leopard (symbolic of the empire of Greece) in Dan. 7:6, and by the 4 horns which come up on the he-goat (also a symbol of Greece), after the “great horn” (Alexander the Great) was broken, in Dan. 8:8 (see also 8:21-22).
History tells us that Alexander the Great died suddenly, and his empire was divided into four parts, east, west, north and south, ruled over by his four generals. Palestine became integrated with the southern section, ruled over by Ptolemy of Egypt. A long struggle ensued with Seleucus of Syria over the northern section. These two (and the dynasties which they established) are called the “king of the south” and the “king of the north” in Daniel chap. 11. Antiochus IV, the 8th ruler of the Seleucid dynasty of Syria, came to the throne in 175 B.C. He invaded Palestine and subjugated it to his realm, ruling the Holy Land from 175-164 B.C. He arrogated to himself the surname “Epiphanes, ” proclaiming himself thereby to be “god manifest”; his enemies nicknamed him Epimanes, or “mad man.” He undertook to unify the different cultures and peoples in his realm by imposing Greek culture on them he demanded that they serve him faithfully as a god. In seeking to force Grecian paganism on the Jews, he robbed the Temple, set up a statue of Zeus in the Holiest, ordered swine for sacrificing on the altar, forbade circumcision, destroyed the sacred Writings, and when the Jews of the resistance movement would not go out to fight on the Sabbath, Antiochus slaughtered them. These outrages no doubt fulfilled Dan. 11:31 in its initial application: “Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the continual burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. ” (Revised Standard Version).
Scholars generally agree, however, that Antiochus Epiphanes foreshadows the end time anti-Christ who is to arise. As the “king of the north” for that day, he typifies the end time “king of the north” who shall be at the helm of the Kremlin in Russia. As did Antiochus, the anti-Christ of the Kremlin will seek to subvert and dominate the Jews in Palestine, and also force anti-God communism on them in one form or another. The “abomination” which desecrated (and desolated) the land of Palestine in Antiochus’ day was Grecian paganism, symbolized by the statue of the pagan god Zeus being set up in the Temple. In one form or another it will be pagan communism which will desecrate and then desolate the land of Palestine in our day, and also the lands of Christendom.
Just how this will take place it is impossible to say at the present time. It could be through a combination of factors, which I will now seek to show. It must be kept in mind that the attempted subversion of the Jews and the land of Palestine (as well as all the lands of Christendom) by Satanic inspired communism, will be through both the anti-Christ beast and the false prophet (the 2 beasts of Rev. 13). Although they will constitute separate “power blocks”, in essence and purpose they will be one, differing only in tactics and strategy in approach to the nations and peoples of the world. (For an understanding of the relation between them, see “Words of Life” No. 1, on “Christ Revealed versus the Man of Sin”). It seems possible that the “false prophet” who heads Beast No.2 (an attempted United Nations World Government) will be the “false Messiah” which the Jewish nation will accept. That they will accept such a one is indicated by Jesus’ words in John 5:43: “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. This was no doubt fulfilled in a minorsense when the Jewish leaders accepted the word of the betrayer, Judas Iscariot. But it will have a major fulfillment in this end time when they accept and place testimony of their nation in the hands of a strong leader who will seem to hold promise of bringing them to the fore in the world community of nations to fulfill a sort of “messianic” purpose as a KEY to world peace and stability. But of course without Jesus, the true Messiah, such a prospect will be completely carnal, materialistic, and destined to failure.
At the present time (Nov., 1970), there is a cease-fire agreement between the Jews and the Arab neighbors. This could be extended into a “peace pact” leading to the fulfillment of Jer. 6:14 & 8:11, when they shall start saying “Peace, peace; when there is no (true and lasting) peace.” When this takes place we will know that the time is short: “For when they say peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them.” (I Thess. 5:3). However, the intervening time could provide the opportunity for the making of Jerusalem the headquarters for a United Nations World Government, or some phase thereof such as a World Court. This would certainly be an “abomination” being “set up” in the holy place (Jerusalem), for the false prophet will be little more than a “front” for the beast of communism, and the language of Rev. 13:11-18 indicates that through the instrumentality of his World Government Organization, he will seek to implement the ideological IMAGE (likeness) of communism in every land. We see a “forerunner” of this already in that the present United Nations Organization is increasingly becoming a propaganda instrument and subversive tool for communist and communist leaning nations.
The “false prophet” (or Messiah) which the Jews will accept is described in Zech. 11:15-17: “And the Lord said unto me, Take the equipment of a foolish shepherd, for I am raising up a shepherd in the land who will not visit the perishing, or seek the scattered, or heal the wounded; even the healthy he will not sustain; but the flesh of the fat ones he will eat – even their hoofs he will tear off.” (Berkeley Version). The language here indicates the real effect and results of his position of power, not the way he will APPEAR, for Rev. 13:14 indicates that his ways will be very deceptive. The words of Zechariah indicate he will not be interested in people as individuals, nor their needs and rights, but in a SYSTEM (Communism); which he will seek to impose. “The flesh of the fat ones he will eat” indicates he will take from the rich and defraud them of their rights. Thus it will be through Israel’s accepting the “false prophet”, that a communist government will take over in the land of Palestine, increasing the presence of this “abomination” where it ought not to be (Mark 13:14), and also adding “fuel” to the impending desolation, for it will certainly DIVIDE the nation. Zech. 14:14 tells us that Judah shall fight against Jerusalem. This does not necessarily mean all of Judah, or Israel; though it does indicate an internal conflict between those who want to maintain the integrity and victory of Jerusalem and its peoples and those who want to throw in with the communists in order to be on the winning side when the Russian hordes muster against the nation.
It will amount to essentially the same kind of expediency as that exercised by Jacob when he returned to the land of promise after his long “exile” in the land of Padan -Aram. He was forced to face his brother Esau, who had vowed to kill him 20 years previous (Gen. 27:21). So he sought to appease his brother with gifts, and also divided his family and servants into two groups, so that if Esau came upon one group and destroyed it, the other would have a chance to escape (see Gen. 32:1-8). We read in Gen. 25:30 that Esau was called Edom, which means RED. As Jacob of old faced the “red” menace of Esau in his journey bock to the promised land, so do we see this type being fulfilled today as the returning Jews face the “red” menace of communism. And as Jacob sought to appease Esau and became divided in his strategy to try to outwit him, so shall the end time sons of Jacob in the land of Palestine become divided as a nation into the “appeasers” and the “hard-liners”, or as we say, the “hawks” and the “doves” as they try to work out a strategy to deal with the enemy. Then Jacob wrestled through the night (Gen. 32:24). Even so shall we see Jews “wrestling” in their “night” of unbelief with the seemingly insurmountable problems that face them. Jesus spoke of this very time when He said: “If a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him” (John 11:10). So shall the Jews stumble to their own hurt. Especially when a compromising “clique” takes over and “sets up” the abomination that makes desolate (a communist government in the land), in the hopes of placating the enemy.
We will see, however, that such a strategy will not work. When the smoldering bitterness between the Jews and her Arab neighbors again erupts in full fury, the Russians will move in to protect their interests in the middle east, and also to “take a spoil, and to take a prey” (Ezek. 38:12) in the promised land. Then shall the false and “foolish shepherd” which the Jews had accepted FLEE for his life (Zech. 11:15,17), and prove that he has been nothing but a hireling (in the service or pay of another). Jesus said the “hireling” is a thief (robbing the people) and also leaves the sheep when he sees the wolf coming (John 10:10-13). When the Russian “wolf” moves against the Jews, in power, then shall “Armageddon” move into “high gear” as the nations of western Christendom (those who have escaped the “maw” of the beast) come to the aid of the nation of Israel in Palestine; and the Lord (through both natural and supernatural means) shall fight for His people (Ezek. 38:18-39:7). As Jacob’s night of wrestling ended with the dawn of morning light (Gen. 32:24), so shall a new day dawn for a remnant of the Jews who shall come “through the fire” calling upon the name of the Lord their God (Zech. 13:9). it was not Jacob’s cleverness or strategy that saved him when confronted with Esau, but the fact that he finally came to the end of himself and earnestly sought the deliverance and blessing of his God (Gen. 32:9-11, 26-30). The remnant that survives the purging fires of conflict in their land will be refined, purified, and eager to accept their Messiah and returning King, Jesus Christ.
Further evidence of this is found in Dan. 8:14 where we read that the “sanctuary shall be cleansed”. In its original application, this no doubt referred too cleansing of the physical sanctuary or temple from the desecration of Antiochus Epiphanes in the days of Judas Maccabees . You can read this interesting account in the book of First Maccabees in the Apocrypha. In I Maccabees 1:54, the “abomination of desolation upon the altar” is mentioned, and I Maccabees 4:1-58 tells of the cleansing and the feast of dedication lasting 8 days. This event is still celebrated by the Jews for an 8 day period in the month of December, known as Hanukkah. The book of I Maccabees is very helpful in understanding the 8th and 11th chapters of the book of Daniel as far as the original historical application is concerned. However, such primary fulfillments are types, foreshadowing later and final end-time fulfillments. And in our day, it is not a literal Temple or sanctuary which is to be closed, but a sanctuary-people. According to the original Hebrew, the phrase “the sanctuary shall be cleansed” in Dan. 8:14, can be rendered “and holiness (or, ‘holy thing,’ ‘offering’) shall be justified”. Thus a cleansed remnant of the Jews will be as a “holiness” or “offering” unto the Lord, “justified” through acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior and Messiah-King.
In Dan. 8:14, the messenger declares that it was to be 2300 days from the beginning of the “treading down” of the “sanctuary and host” until the cleansing. Although it was Antiochus Epiphanes (the “little horn” of Dan.8:9) who most severely desolated the sanctuary and people as previously shown, it was actually Alexander the Great (the “notable horn” of Dan. 8:5) who invaded Palestine and began the “treading down” by the kingdom of Greece. This took place in 332 B.C.; Counting a day for a year (Ezek. 4:6) 2300 years from that date brings us to 1968-70 A. D., or the very TIME in which we are living [editor’s note: 1968-70 was the approximate time at which LE wrote this book]. We are no doubt living in the “tarrying period ” of the Bridegroom, (Mt. 25:5), giving us an extended time of grace. But even so, the time is short, and the “cleansing of the sanctuary” is near.
I am well aware of the fact that the Jews are now not ALL of the descendants of Abraham after the flesh. However, the prophecies of Daniel have to do with “thy people “(Dan. 9:24) and Daniel was a prophet among the people of the kingdom of Judah who had been carried captive to Babylon. The southern kingdom of Judah consisted largely of the tribes of Judah-Benjamin. However, at the time of the revolt of the ten tribes under the leadership of Jeroboam, all of the priests and Levites, as well as many from the ten tribes, migrated to the southern kingdom in order to get away from Jeroboam’s apostasy and in order to continue the true worship of God at the temple in Jerusalem (see the following scriptures: II Chron. 11:13-14,16-17, 15:9). Thus the kingdom of Judah, later known as the “Jews” (which means “of Judah”), had “remnants” of the 10 tribes in their land, and these were integrated into the population. So, regardless of how many peoples in the world today may be descendants of Abraham through the “lost ” tribes, the Jews in Palestine are representative of all Israel in their possession of the promised land once again. Although at the present time, they are still “enemies” as concerning the gospel; “as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sake (Romans 11:28). Their return to the land of Palestine is necessary for Christ’s words in Lk. l9:22 to be fulfilled: “But these mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them (see 19:14), bring hither, and slay them before me.” “Before me” indicates previous to His coming they must be in the land of promise, and “bring hither” indicates He is drawing them there for their appointed destiny of being slain (all except a “remnant” which will come through cleansed and purified to become the nucleus of the Kingdom of God on earth).
Dan. 12:7 indicates that the anti-Christ shall “scatter the power of the holy people” (the Amplified Version says, “shattering and crushing the power of the holy people”), and this to take place in a period of “time, times, and a half”, This no doubt has reference to the tribulation period of 3 and one half years (see Dan. 7:25, Rev, 11:2-3, 12:6,14). And during that period “there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time” (Dan. 12:1). It will be “the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it” (Jer. 30:7). This corresponds to Dan. 12:1, for at that time of extremity “Michael shall stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people. . and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book,” That will also be the time when “the sanctuary (people) shall be cleansed” (Dan. 8:14).
Finally, we see from Dan, 12:11, that “from the time that the daily” (“sacrifice” not in the originals) shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate setup, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.” In the original historical fulfillment, Antiochus Epiphanes did abolish the daily sacrifice in his attempt to force Grecian paganism on the Jews, but just what specifically will be involved in the end-time by a “daily” being taken away, I cannot say. We have already seen that the “abomination” being “set up” is communism in one form or another. The 1290 days would begin 30 days preceding the 1260 days of the great tribulation. It could indicate the time when the anti-Christ comes upon the scene and begins to exert his power, for in one sense he, in himself, personifies “the abomination that maketh desolate”. In II Thess. 2:4 we read that this “man of sin” opposes all that is of God, and we have already witnessed in our day how this attitude is embodied in the Communist philosophy which seeks to subvert and destroy the “daily” standards which have been the accepted (though not always practiced) foundation for Christian society for hundreds of years. And no doubt this attack will be intensified many fold when the man controlled by Satan himself begins to assume the attitude of a god on earth by repudiation all that has become accepted as standard — all beliefs, laws, practices; discounting all institutions, treaties, pacts and agreements except and unless they serve his own purpose, and also seeking to dictate his philosophy and policies to the rest of the world.
We see this pictured by type in Dan. 3:1 where Nebuchadnezzar the king, who was the HEAD of gold (see Dan. 2:38) made on IMAGE of gold, and commanded all peoples, nations, and languages in his empire to fall down and worship it (3:4-5). In the fulfillment of this type for this end time, it is not a literal idol or image that the anti-Christ will command the nations to submit to, but rather an ideological image (a philosophical system or way of life). “Gold” speaks of economics and materialism, and the power to control people’s lives. In Rev. 18:12-13, we see that “Babylon” traffics in both “the merchandise of gold” and the “souls of men”. “Babylon” has always been since the days of the tower of Babel (Gen. 11:4), and has manifested as both a literal empire and as symbolic of man’s systems apart from God (religious, commercial and political). All phases of “Babylon” or man’s systems are going to fall and be destroyed (Rev. 14:8, 18:2). But before this takes place we will see a final phase or system which will sum up in itself all that Babylon has been down through history (both literal and symbolic). Most Bible students have failed to notice that in the dream-vision of Nebuchadnezzar concerning the succession of Gentile empires, the entire image is together when it is destroyed (see Dan. 2:35). The same truth presented in different form in Rev. 13:1-2 where the Beast is a conglomerate of all the beasts of Dan. 7:1-8, thus summing up in itself all the evils of the past beastly empires from Babylon to our day. This end time Beast and abomination is Russian Communism (and satellite nations), along with its concomitant, a coming World Government, headed by the False Prophet (Beast No.2 of Rev. 13).
We will also see the organized churches (both Catholic and Protestant) moving further to the left in their blinded attempt to work out a “dialogue” and accommodation with communism. And because of the clever and powerful propaganda which will issue forth from the false prophet for a “one world society”, with a World Government urged as the panacea for all human ills, it is easy to see how the churches and multitudes of people will be deceived and start “rooting” for participation, even though it means “bowing down” to the IMAGE (Rev. 13:14-15) or likeness of the Beast, with World Government control led collectivist societies ala communist style where the “state” becomes the virtual “god” or Keeper of the people. “Mystery (religious) Babylon” (Rev. 17:1-5) has always been closely allied with the Beast powers, committing “fornication” (illicit relations) with the kings of the earth. But note the pattern: in Ezek. 23 we read of the “whoredoms” of Israel and Judah, and how they doted on their lovers, Assyria and Babylon, entering into agreements with them and worshiping their idols. Therefore God decreed that the very “lovers” that they were illicitly joined to would turn on them and desolate them (Ezek. 23:9,22). So we shall see it fulfilled in our day when the Beast powers desolate apostate churchianity (see Rev. 17:16). And that which has lost its savor shall be fully cast out and trodden under foot of communist men (Mt. 5:23), even as it has already happened in some nations of Christendom. But in the midst of the fiery crucible, shall be forged a truly spiritual church organism, refined and prepared for the Lord’s coming. The “abomination of desolation” will have wrought its work in the overruling providence of God. Amen!
By Mikkel Dahl
