Matthew 24 - Part 25

We are continuing our investigation of Matthew 24:15 which states: When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:). We have learned previously that the "holy place" can only point to the churches and denominations that came under the wrath of God, once God finished using them as His divine organism after 1955 years (May 22, 33 AD- May 21, 1988). Before we compare the two terms, abomination [bdelugma:G946] and of desolation [eremosis:G2050] in Matthew 24:15 with its Hebrew counterpart abomination [shiqquwts:H8251/TWOT:2459b*] and desolate [shamem:H8074/TWOT:2049]  found in Daniel 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11, I would like us to consider the two Greek expressions, whoso readeth, let him understand. Incidentally, I want to correct a typo I made in the December newsletter. I mistakenly left out the correct Strong's # for desolate or shamem, which is H8074, and instead substituted it with the TWOT #2049. The correction above is in blue.

Whoso Readeth [anaginosko:G314] Let Him Understand [noeo:G3539]

There are only two other passages in which these two Greek words are found together:

Mark 13:14 is the parallel account to Matthew 24:15, But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth [anaginosko:G314] understand [noeo:G3539],) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

And verse 4 of Ephesians 3:3-5 maintains: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, {4} Whereby, when ye read [anaginosko:G314], ye may understand [noeo:G3539] my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) {5} Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

We have discovered that the methodology for arriving at Truth in the Bible is by comparing spiritual with spiritual as 1 Corinthians 2:13 instructs. The two expressions abomination [anaginosko:G314] and of desolation [eremosis:G2050] only surface again in the Mark 13:14 reference: But when ye shall see the abomination [anaginosko:G314] of desolation [eremosis:G2050], spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains. We can now turn our attention to the Hebrew words for abomination and desolate found only in Daniel 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11, 

*Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament

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Abomination [shiqquwts:H8251/TWOT:2459b*] & Desolate [shamem:H8074/TWOT:2049*]

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations [shiqquwts:H8251/TWOT:2459b] he shall make [it] desolate [shamem:H8074/TWOT:2049], even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate [shamem:H8074/TWOT:2049]... {11:31} And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily [sacrifice], and they shall place the abomination [shiqquwts:H8251/TWOT:2459b] that maketh desolate [shamem:H8074/TWOT:2049]... {12:11} And from the time [that] the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken away, and the abomination [shiqquwts:H8251/TWOT:2459b]  that maketh desolate [shamem:H8074/TWOT:2049] set up, [there shall be] a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

What Is The Abomination Of Desolation?

There has been much confusion, speculation and misrepresentation regarding the abomination of desolation, as there has been surrounding the identity of the antichrist (who is none other than Satan as 1 John 4:3 underscores: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it [he] should come; and even now already is it [he] in the world. In order for antichrist to already be in the world at the time when this epistle was written and still appear in the future by the future tense, should come, cannot be speaking of a particular "man" but rather the Devil. Simply put the abomination of desolation stands in the holy place, (i.e., the churches or denominations) or the house of God, as 1 Peter 4:17 clarifies:  For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God? According to Mark 13:14, it is ...standing where it ought not... One discovers that the abomination of desolation that is set up in Daniel 12:11 is defined by what we read in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 and is a fulfillment of Isaiah 14:12-15 respectively; please note the usage of the first person singular ("I") in the Isaiah passage: 

Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away [apostasia:G646] first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; {4} Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth [to sit = to rule] in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! {13} For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit [i.e., "rule"] also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: {14} I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. {15} Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell [the grave], to the sides of the pit. [the grave]

Incidentally, and to be very clear, it is God Himself that allowed Satan to infilitrate the New Testament churches and denominations, as a judgment against them, as He warned them again and again in Revelation that He would remove their candlestick (Revelation 2:5) if they did not repent, which they failed to do over the course of the 1955 years of the era of the New Testament churches and denominations.

Flee Into The Mountains

Why don't we proceed to Matthew 24:16 which affirms: Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains. Those in Judaea is another reference to the members of the New Testament churches and denominations to flee that formerly divine institution, and head for the mountains. Which mountains? In the Bible mountains are indicative of kingdoms, and in this context, the Kingdom of God, or the Bible is in view, which we will investigate further in our next study.

Prayer And Praise

We thank God for each one of you and pray for God's continued spiritual blessings in your life for 2021. Thank you  for remembering our daughter Maria in your prayers.

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