THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION! PART ONE

What is the abomination of desolation? ABOMINATION: 1. The object of detestation, a common signification in scripture. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. Proverbs 15:9. 2. Hence, defilement, pollution, in a physical sense, or evil doctrines and practices, which are moral defilements, idols and idolatry, are called abominations. The Jews were an abomination to the Egyptians; and the sacred animals of the Egyptians were an abomination to the Jews. The Roman army is called the abomination of desolation. Matthew 24:13. In short, whatever is an object of extreme hatred, is called an abomination.

DESOLATION, n. 1. The act of desolating destruction or expulsion of inhabitants;

destruction; ruin; waste. 2. A desolate state; gloominess; sadness; destitution. The abomination of desolation, Roman armies which ravaged and destroyed Jerusalem. Matthew 24:15.

What is the abomination of desolation? Jesus says that if we want to know more about “the abomination of desolation,” we are to go to the book of Daniel (Matt. 24:15). The “abomination of desolation” is mentioned in Daniel four times. 1&2. Daniel 11:31 and 12:11— “The abomination that maketh desolate,” which is at the beginning of the time periods of the 1260, 1290, and 1335 days. 3. Daniel 8:13— “Transgression of desolation,” which is at the beginning of the 2300 days. 4. Daniel 9:26,27— “For the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate,” which is in point of prophetic time (a day = year), the only use in Daniel that can be applied to the disciples’ generation and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. (See 4BC 855.6; 5BC 499.3-6)

Who caused the abomination of desolation in Jerusalem?

Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. (Matt. 23:36-38) #1=ISRAEL They rejected the prophets & Christ Jesus. The “abomination of desolation” is called “armies” in Luke 21:20, and refers to the Roman army. “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.” This desolating power is spoken of by Daniel as follows: “And the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. . . . And for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” Margin, “desolator.” Dan.9:26,27. Here is a clear prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies. # 2= ROME

Two phase of Rome made a desolation of God’s presence with all their abominations!

•God’s sanctuary, which was trodden down first by paganism and then by the Papacy, was to be cleansed. In an early article (Review and Herald 1:28, 29, January 1851) James White had followed Crosier in arguing at length that the sanctuary trodden down was the one in heaven, but he did not define the "daily" in this article. When he later did define it, he emphatically described "the daily, and the transgression of desolation" as "two desolating powers; the first paganism, then, Papacy" (Sermons, p. 116).

When the (abominations) idolatrous standards the Romans should be set up in the holy ground, which extended some furlongs outside the city walls, then the followers of Christ were to find safety in flight. When the warning sign should be seen, judgment was to follow so quickly that those who would escape must make no delay. He who chanced to be upon the housetop must not go down through his house into the street; but he must speed his way from roof to roof until he reach the city wall, and be saved "so as by fire." Those who were working in the fields or vineyards must not take time to return for the outer garment laid aside while they should be toiling in the heat of the day. They must not hesitate a moment, lest they be involved in the general destruction. {4SP 26.2}

From Pagan to Papal Rome The agents by ‘which the sanctuary is trodden under foot are the daily, or continual desolation, and the transgression, or abomination of desolation. Dan. 8:13; 11:31; 12:11. These two desolations, as we have already seen, are paganism and papacy. It is often urged as a sufficient argument against the view of the sanctuary of God in Heaven, that such a sanctuary is not susceptible of being trodden under foot. But we answer, This is not impossible, when the New Testament shows us that wicked men (apostates) tread under foot the Minister of the heavenly sanctuary, our Lord Jesus Christ. Heb. 10:29; 8:1,2. If they can tread under foot the Minister of that sanctuary, then they can tread under foot the sanctuary itself. It is expressly predicted that the papal power should “war against the tabernacle of God in Heaven. Rev. 13:5-7. These blasphemous powers should cast down the truth to the ground, stamp upon the stars, and tread under foot the sanctuary and the host, is certainly figurative, as it would otherwise involve complete absurdities.

By the little horn the daily sacrifice was taken away. This little horn must be understood to symbolize Rome in its entire history including its two phases, pagan and papal. These two phases are elsewhere spoken of as the "daily" (sacrifice is a supplied word) and the "transgression of desolation;"the daily (desolation) signifying the pagan form, and the transgression of desolation, the papal. (See on verse 13.) In the actions ascribed to this power, sometimes one form is spoken of, sometimes the other. "By him" (the papal form) "the daily" (the pagan form) "was taken away." Pagan Rome was remodeled into papal Rome. And the place of his sanctuary, or worship, the city of Rome, was cast down. The seat of government was removed by Constantine in A.D.330 to Constantinople. This same transaction is brought to view in Rev.13:2, where it is said that the dragon, pagan Rome, gave to the beast, papal Rome, his seat, the city of Rome. (DANIEL and REVELATION p. 177 by Uriah Smith)

The change from paganism to popery is clearly shown in John’s view of the transfer of power from the dragon of Rev. 12, to the beast of Rev. 13. And that they are essentially the same thing, is evident from the fact that both the dragon and the beast are represented with the seven heads; thus showing that, in a certain sense, either may be understood to cover the whole time. And in the same sense we understand that either abomination covers all the period. Christ’s reference to the abomination of desolation (Matt. 24:15; Luke 21:20) is an absolute demonstration that Rome is the little horn of Dan. 8:9-12.

After the typical sanctuary of the first covenant had given place to the true sanctuary of God, Satan baptized his pagan sanctuary and heathen rites and ceremonies, calling them Christianity. Thenceforward he had at Rome a “temple of God” and in that temple, a being exalted above all that is called God or that is worshiped. 2. Thess. 2:4. And this papal abomination has trodden under foot the holy city (Rev. 11:2; 21:2), by persuading a large portion of the human family that Rome, the place of this counterfeit temple of God, was “the holy city,” or “the eternal city.” And it has trodden under foot and blasphemed God’s sanctuary or tabernacle (Rev. 13: 6; Heb. 8:2) by calling its own sanctuary the temple of God, and by turning away the worship of them that dwell on the earth, from “ the temple of God in Heaven,” to the sanctuary of Satan at Rome.

PAPAL ROME

It (The Papacy) has trodden under foot the Son of God, the minister of the heavenly sanctuary (Heb. 10:29; 8:2), by making the pope the head of the church, instead of Jesus Christ (Eph. 5:23), and by leading men to the worship of that “son of perdition,” as one able to forgive past sins, and confer the right to commit them in the future, and thus turning men from Him who alone has power on earth to forgive sins, and to pardon iniquity and transgression. Such has been the nature of the warfare which Satan has maintained against the sanctuary and the cause of God, in his vain attempts to defeat the great plan of redemption which God has been carrying forward in his sanctuary

THINK TO CHANGE TIMES AND LAW! (DAN. 7:25).

Why Paul calls it, “the Mystery of Iniquity”? Undue Church Authority Over Man

The Mystery of Iniquity: It has ever been the design of Satan to draw the minds of the people from Jesus to man, and to destroy individual accountability. Satan failed in his design when he tempted the Son of God; but he succeeded better when he came to fallen man. Christianity became corrupted. Popes and priests presumed to take an exalted position, and taught the people to look to them for the pardon of their sins, instead of looking to Christ for themselves. (EW, p.213). The papacy is the most cunningly contrived, false ecclesiastical system ever devised; and it may be called a system of iniquity because it has committed its abominations and practiced its orgies of superstition in the garb, and under the pretense, of pure and undefiled religion. (DAN.&REV. p. 177 by Urs).

The organization of the order of Jesuits, in reality a papacy of the papacy, sent into the world a body of active workers, shrewd, well educated, and armed with a double-faced conscience, which enabled them to penetrate anywhere and assume any role. One of their most efficient methods of procedure was in the schools. They founded new schools in the very shadow of the Protestant institutions, and drew from their patronage; or when this was impossible, they entered Protestant schools under the guise of Protestant teachers. Everywhere they gained the children and the youth. {1905 SNH, SSP 198.2}

The Jesuits are the right hand power of the Papacy (Mystery of Iniquity)!

Throughout Christendom, Protestantism was menaced by formidable foes. The first triumphs of the Reformation past, Rome summoned new forces, hoping to accomplish its destruction. At this time, the order of the Jesuits was created, the most cruel, unscrupulous, and powerful of all the champions of popery. Cut off from every earthly tie and human interest, dead to the claims of natural affection, reason and conscience wholly silenced, they knew no rule, no tie, but that of their order, and no duty but to extend its power. The gospel of Christ had enabled its adherents to meet danger and endure suffering, undismayed by cold, hunger, toil, and poverty, to uphold the banner of truth in face of the rack, the dungeon, and the stake. To combat these forces, Jesuitism inspired its followers with a fanaticism that enabled them to endure like dangers, and to oppose to the power of truth all the weapons of deception. There was no crime too great for them to commit, no deception too base for them to practice, no disguise too difficult for them to assume. Vowed to perpetual poverty and humility, it was their studied aim to secure wealth and power, to be devoted to the overthrow of Protestantism, and the re-establishment of the papal supremacy. {GC88 234.2}

When appearing as members of their order, they wore a garb of sanctity, visiting prisons and hospitals, ministering to the sick and the poor, professing to have renounced the world, and bearing the sacred name of Jesus, who went about doing good. But under this blameless exterior the most criminal and deadly purposes were concealed. It was a fundamental principle of the order that the end justifies the means. By this code, lying, theft, perjury, assassination, were not only pardonable but commendable, when they served the interests of the church. Under various disguises the Jesuits worked their way into offices of State, climbing up to be the counselors of kings, and shaping the policy of nations. They became servants, to act as spies upon their masters. (G.C. 88. p.235)

They established colleges for the sons of princes and nobles, and schools for the common people; and the children of Protestant parents were drawn into an observance of popish rites. All the outward pomp and display of the Romish worship was brought to bear to confuse the mind, and dazzle and captivate the imagination; and thus the liberty for which the fathers had toiled and bled was betrayed by the sons. The Jesuits rapidly spread themselves over Europe, and wherever they went, there followed a revival of popery. (G.C. 88. p.235)

Paul in his days advised them (The Church) not to look for the second coming in their day because the mystery of iniquity had already begun to work and it would produce the falling away. (2 Thess. 2:1-7) The falling away led to the development of the Papacy. It took 1260 years for Christianity to recover from the malady.

(time and times and the dividing of time = Daniel 7:25.) (A time, times, and an half=Daniel 12:7.) (A time, and times, and half a time = Revelation 12:14.) (forty and two months = Revelation 11:2.) (forty and two months = Revelation 13:5.) (thousand two hundred and threescore days= (1260) Revelation 11:3.) (thousand two hundred and threescore days= (1260) Revelation 12:6) 42 months x 30 days = 1260 (Jewish month = 30 days; Genesis 7:11, 24; 8:3-4). A time = 1 year; times = 2 years; dividing of time or half = ½ year; giving a total of 3½ years 42 months = 3½ years = 1260 days 538 to 1798 = 1260 years of Papal reign. (In apocalyptic Bible prophecy: 1 day = 1 year.) See Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6.

HOW LONG?

Papal reign 1260 years = 538 to 1798

HOW LONG?

Here the prophet beheld the sanctuary and the people of God being trodden down . (Dan . 8 :10-12 .) They shared a common fate at the hands of Antichrist . Then the question is asked, "How long shall be the vision . . . to give both the sanctuary and the host [God' s people] to be trodden under foot?" The answer given is, that at the end of the 2300 days, "then shall the sanctuary be cleansed [restored to its rightful state] ."— Dan . 8 :14, cf . RSV. Clearly, the restoration of the people is implicit in the restoration of the sanctuary . If the question had not been answered, the inquirer would certainly have asked again, "When will the people also be restored to their rightful state?" The conclusion follows, that the restoration of the sanctuary includes the restoration of the faithful .(SRES, p. 42)

Should Be Understood by All : The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise, it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time, or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill. Great Controversy, page 488. As Christ Cleanses the Sanctuary in Heaven: Christ is in the heavenly sanctuary, and He is there to make an atonement for the people. He is there to present His wounded side and pierced hands to His Father. He is there to plead for His Church that is upon the earth. He is cleansing the sanctuary from the sins of the people. What is our work? It is our work to be in harmony with the work of Christ. By faith we are to work with Him, to be in union with Him. Review and Herald, Jan. 28, 1890.

Carefully Review the Life: They do not seek to place themselves in harmony with the work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, where He is making an atonement for His people. While Christ is cleansing the sanctuary, the worshipers on earth should carefully review their life, and compare their character with the standard of righteousness. As they see their defects, they should seek the aid of the Spirit of God to enable them to have moral strength to resist the temptation of Satan, and to reach the perfection of the standard. They may be victors over the very temptations which seemed too strong for humanity to bear; for the divine power will be combined with their human effort, and Satan cannot overcome them. Review and Herald, April 8, 1890.

A Special Work of Purification: Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent efforts, they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment ,is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away sin, among God's people on earth-Review and Herald, Jan. 17, 1907, page 8.

Symbolical of Jehovah: The sacred ark, covered by the mercy-seat, and containing the holy law of God, was symbolical of Jehovah himself. It was the power of the Israelites to conquer in battle. Before it idols were thrown down, and for rashly looking into it, thousands perished. Never in our world has the Lord given such open manifestations of his supremacy as when he alone was the acknowledged king of Israel. Present Truth, April 1, 1886. Many and earnest were the efforts made to overthrow their faith. None could fail to see that if the earthly sanctuary was a figure or pattern of the heavenly, the law deposited in the ark on earth was an exact transcript of the law in the ark in heaven, and that an acceptance of the truth concerning the heavenly sanctuary involved an acknowledgment of the claims of God's law, and the obligation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment.

Christ came to our world to represent the character of God as it is represented in His holy law, for His law is a transcript of His character. Christ was both the law and the gospel. It is the pure in heart who shall see God in his true character, as a God of love. He who has the love of God shed abroad in his heart, will reflect the purity and love which exist in Jehovah, and which Christ represented in our world. He who has the love of God in his heart has no enmity against the law of God, but renders willing obedience to all his commandments, and this constitutes Christianity. He who has supreme love to God will reveal love to his fellow-men, who belong to God both by creation and by redemption. Love is the fulfilling of the law; and it is the duty of every child of God to render obedience to his commandments.

Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. REV. 22:14

CHOOSE THIS DAY, CHRIST OR THE POPE?

SEAL OF GOD OR MARK OF THE BEAST