But under the title of League of Nations this organization did not destroy Christendom. 10:6,11) Christendom is the antitype or the thing that was typed so long ago. Yes, it is the same as "the disgusting thing that causes desolation" that began as the League of Nations and that now exists as the United Nations. It should be noted, however, that Daniel 11:31-35 and 12:9, 11 connect a disgusting thing causing desolation with the time of the end. It is reasonable that the development of this latter expression of the disgusting thing causing desolation in the time of the end should follow the general pattern of that in the first century C.E., though not being restricted to the land of Israel. 6 The present time of the end is therefore the period of time in which Christendom will be brought to desolation by the disgusting thing that is causing desolation. Christendom, be it remembered, is the dominant part of todays worldly system of things, and so unavoidably she must come to an end with it. This is what is symbolized in Revelation the 17th chapter where the 10 kings, symbolizing all the national governments, give their kingdom to the wild beast until the will of God is accomplished. That two-horned beast is properly understood to be the Anglo-American dyad. Today, Barry Cooper turns to the context of Christ's warning to give clarity to this figure's identity. The use of en tachei [shortly] in Revelation 1:1 should make one pause before he decides. 11 Well then, is it the desolator? That is almost unbelievable! Jesus' reference to "the disgusting thing that is causing desolation" (11:31), in his prophecy about the sign of his presence, shows that this power struggle of the two kings continues right down to "the conclusion of the system of things." So what affects Babylon the Great must also affect Christendom. From the time when the regular daily offering is removed and an abominable thing that causes desolation is set up, there will be one thousand two hundred ninety days. When he comes it will be pointless for an unbeliever to try to flee. And a believer will not wantto flee. 7 What, though, is the disgusting thing that will soon bring Christendom to complete desolation? Is Narcissism the Problem Behind Pastors Moral Failures? While the Jewish people, and particularly their religious leaders in Jesus days on earth, were evidently scrupulous in avoiding anything connected with literal idols, they were, nevertheless, guilty of disgusting practices of self-idolatry, disobedience, hypocrisy, greed, and falsehood, and Jesus said that, like their forefathers, they had turned the temple into a cave of robbers. (Mt 23:1-15, 23-28; Lu 16:14, 15; compare Mt 21:13 and Jer 7:11,30.) As the angel explained the seven heads to the Christian apostle John: There are seven kings: five have fallen, one is [namely, imperial Rome], the other [the Anglo-American World Power] has not yet arrived, but when he does arrive he must remain a short while. The Disgusting Thing that Causes Desolation "Therefore, when you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as spoken about by Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place (let the reader use discernment), then let those in Judea begin fleeing to the mountains." Jesus Christ __________ Why, hate will soon lead to the destruction of the Babylonish world empire of false religion. Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular. At whichever spot. From eremoo; despoliation. Truly the Jewish system of things with those features came to its full conclusion with the desolating of ancient Jerusalem in 70C.E. . On the word immediately Dr.A.T.Robertson says in his commentaries: This word, common in Marks Gospel as euthus, gives trouble if one stresses the time element. Love of Christendom is not going to deepen or to spread. And perhaps the most conspicuous deficiency in the Watchtowers interpretation is the fact that Jesus forewarned his disciples of a massive deception aimed at misleading them. (a)What other gathering under angelic guidance has been going on since 1935C.E.? Now, though, Jehovahs Witnesses expect Jesus words to be realized in the future, coinciding with the attack of the beast upon the harlot. For he has executed judgment upon the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he has avenged the blood of his slaves at her hand.Rev. The Disgusting Thing that Causes Desolation - part 2 He uttered that remarkable prophecy in connection with foretelling the sign of . Christendom and the remainder of Babylon the Great are only a part, the religious part, of this age-old system of things. The system includes also the political, military, secular part, including now the Eighth World Power. But, alas, post-WWI Germany did not have anything to do with setting up the League. In short, the disgusting thing will stand in a holy place when the present system collapses and is replaced by a tyrannical world government, supported initially by organized religion, and the work of Jehovahs Witnesses is crushed. Hence what affects the most important part will also affect the rest or remaining part of Babylon the Great. The Disgusting Thing that Causes Desolation - part 2. Readers immersed in current debates about sexual ethics may first think an abomination is a sexual sin. The fall of Jerusalem, Jesus return, and the end of the age were one complex event in their minds. 9. In all justice the whole system must end! From ho and hote; the when, i.e. There will be 1290 days from that time until the time that the terrible thing that destroys is set up. Christ Jesus showed this view to be in error when he gave the warning to his disciples: Therefore, when you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place, (let the reader use discernment,) then let those in Judea begin fleeing to the mountains. (Mt 24:15,16) These words show that the disgusting thing that causes desolation was not then past but future. This attack on Babylon the Great will be the beginning of the great tribulation. These verses come in the context of the Olivet Discourse, which begins with Jesus telling his disciples that the temple will be destroyed (24:1-2). In, on, among. A generation normally lasts 40 years in Scripture, and Jerusalem and its temple did fall within 40 years, as Jesus said. Abomination also refers to idolatry in the prophets, including Daniel 9 and 11. The "abomination of desolation" is a Hebrew idiom, meaning "the abomination that maketh desolate." St. Luke ( Luke 21:20) does not use the expression; it would have sounded strange to his Gentile readers. 24:15, 16) In the first fulfillment, the "standing in a holy place" occurred in 66 C.E . (a)Whom, then, does this indicate Christendoms desolator to be? CHRISTENDOM is represented by her hundreds of religious sects. A wise preacher dealing with this passage may find particular value in focusing on this point. (b)Why will fulfillment of Revelation 17:16 mean great tribulation for Christendom, and how is her desolator like that of ancient Jewish Jerusalem? More than likely even some negligent Christians failed to escape Jerusalems awful fate. When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation' standing where it does not belong--let the reader understand--then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. An expression like that of Daniel (associating disgusting things with desolation) appears in the Apocryphal book of 1 Maccabees (1:54) as applying to this event. The pagan desecration of the temple altar by Antiochus, however disgusting in Gods sight, did not result in desolationfor Jerusalem, for the temple, or for the Jewish nation. 35. Many will rove about, and the true knowledge will become abundant. 27,28. Bring biblical wisdom to the confusing issues across the world by making a gift to our international work. Well, the United Nations of today cannot be called a Christian organization, for about half of the 127 member nations of which it is composed do not profess to be Christian. An abomination is normally a great sin, commonly worthy of death. But inexplicably the army withdrew. pagan Roman armies surrounded the holy city Jerusalem, now the center of Jewish revolt against Rome. Mentioned also in Matthew 24:15, this is one of the signs of the end, when the antichrist sets up an abomination in the holy place and will command the people to worship it. So what is the holy place according to the Scriptures? It may well be. Thus, the causing of desolation by the disgusting thing was imminent, and so this was the final signal for discerning Christians to flee to the mountains. (Mt 4:5; 27:53; 24:15, 16; Lu 19:43, 44; 21:20-22) Following their flight, the desolation of the city and nation occurred, Jerusalem being destroyed in the year 70C.E., and the last Jewish stronghold, Masada, falling to the Romans in 73C.E.Compare Da 9:25-27. Lamentations 1:10 The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation. 'Now when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION standing where it should not be let the reader understandthen those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. (b)What was the reason for this? 17:1-6,18) Back in 1930 the publication Light, VolumeII, pages87-93, explained her to be organized Christian religion or organized Christianity as exemplified in Christendom. Given the similar content and wording of the prophecies of Daniel it should be evident to the discerning reader that the holy place that is destined to come to desolation . That such parts deserve to be destroyed also will be shown to all the universe when the disgusting desolator, the mightily armed Eighth World Power, turns its forces against the Founder of Christianity, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God at HarMagedon.Rev. Is the Watchtowers interpretation that the disgusting thing is presently the U.N. correct? In reality, the idols were merely fronts for the demons to receive the worship that belonged to Jehovah. She, like the rest of Babylon the Great, will never be found again. (Rev. A desolation, devastation. It is a wholly artificial and self-serving interpretation intended to blind Jehovahs Witnesses to the judgments of Jehovah. Who or what is that Disgusting thing that causes desolation? Matthew 24:15 ESV - "So when you see the | Biblia 7. Reliable history now proves that the gathering together of the anointed chosen ones of Jehovah God began in 1919, or after World WarI, and that in continues, at least to some extent, down till now. Attempting to stamp out the worship of Jehovah, Antiochus built an altar over the great altar of Jehovah and sacrificed upon this a pig to the Olympian Zeus (Jupiter). When you see this (let the reader take note), In the concluding words of the prophecy Daniel recorded the words of an angel who said: It is apparent that the removal of the constant feature and the placing of the disgusting thing are inseparable. standing in a holy place. (Mt 24:15) In 66C.E. 5,6. The segment ends with Jesus promising this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place (24:35). We begin with the key phrase, "abomination of desolation." The term "abomination" (Hebrew toevah and siqqus) appears more than 100 times in the Old Testament and just a few times in the New Testament. In what sense should readers flee to the mountains? From ana and ginosko; to know again, i.e. As regards the little horn with eyes and a mouth speaking great blasphemies, the prophecy states: I kept watching as that horn made war on the holy ones, and it was prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was rendered in favor of the holy ones of the Supreme One, and the appointed time arrived for the holy ones to take possession of the kingdom., In the book of Revelation, the same event is depicted thusly: But as for the courtyard that is outside the temple sanctuary, leave it out and do not measure it, because it has been given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city underfoot for 42 months. Jesus gave relatively little attention to the question When? and much toward the question How shall we live faithfully? Preaching on such texts today should be shaped by Jesus concern for the welfare and endurance of his church. It is Christs congregation, made up of holy ones. (b)With whom else must Jehovah God settle accounts, and by what means? For just as the lightning comes out of the east and shines over to the west, so the presence of the Son of man will be. But she had her type back there in Bible times. Whatever remains of the Watchtower then will be subservient to Satans kingdom. Let the Reader Use Discernment - Jehovah's Watchman Also, those called and chosen and faithful with him will do so.. It should be noted, however, that Daniel 11:31-35 and 12:9, 11 connect a 'disgusting thing causing desolation' with "the time of the end." It is reasonable that the development of this latter expression of 'the disgusting thing causing desolation' in the time of the end should follow the . This is the first installment in a new series that analyzes perplexing passages of the Bible. What abomination does Jesus have in mind? From bdelusso; a detestation, i.e. 36 Boast for just a little while the Eighth World Power may, that it has desolated all false religion included in Babylon the Great, but it will never be able to boast that it will have desolated Gods only true religion, the miraculously preserved true Christianity. Abomination of Desolation | Ligonier Ministries Even though they are used as an instrument in bringing devastation upon Babylon the Great, they gain no reward for this. (1Cor. 18 Those who are in the field should not turn back to get their coats. Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural. Not only that, but consider this: If the holy place represents Christendom then how is it possible that false Christs and false prophets are operating after the point at which the disgusting thing brings desolation? Verse 11. So how could the international peace-and-security organization promoted by it be the abomination or disgusting thing? The temple that was built for the worship of Jehovah as God has never been rebuilt, and never will be. The United Nations is the disgusting thing, and Christendom is viewed as a holy place by its followers. But how is it even possible that the chosen ones could be misled by the clergy or anyone not associated with the leadership of the trusted Watchtower organization? 18 So when Revelation 17:16 foretells that the symbolic wild beast and its ten horns turn to hating the religious harlot and make her devastated and naked and eat up her fleshy parts and completely burn her with fire, it means that this treatment will be experienced and shared by Christendom, the antitypical unfaithful Jerusalem.