- Worship — The best explanation of what it means?
- The high places: A powerful illumination of the precept
- The holy place — an important precept you MUST know
- Altars & Idols: Breaking down the stones and sacrifices
- The abomination of desolation: The truth sets you free!
The abomination of desolation is referenced within the scriptures several times. Despite the references, there is very little substance written on the topic. Daniel raised the alarm in prophecy, and Jesus put more emphasis on it. But what is it?
It confused me for a very long time, and many people are curious to know what it is and its significance. Today I will present the understanding which will surprise, shock and scare you.
Scriptural references
The following scriptures all speak of the abomination of desolation. Together these passages give us the basis for the precept, and with supporting knowledge, the significance becomes obvious.
10. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
11. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
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:)
41. Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people,
42. And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king.
43. Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath.
44. For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land,
45. And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane the sabbaths and festival days:
46. And pollute the sanctuary and holy people:
47. Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine’s flesh, and unclean beasts:
48. That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation:
49. To the end they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances.
50. And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, he said, he should die.
51. In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and appointed overseers over all the people, commanding the cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city.
52. Then many of the people were gathered unto them, to wit every one that forsook the law; and so they committed evils in the land;
53. And drove the Israelites into secret places, even wheresoever they could flee for succour.
54. Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities of Juda on every side;
55. And burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the streets.
56. And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire.
57. And whosoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any committed to the law, the king’s commandment was, that they should put him to death.
58. Thus did they by their authority unto the Israelites every month, to as many as were found in the cities.
The daily sacrifice
This daily sacrifice was commanded in the law (Number 28:1-8, Exodus 20:24-26) in the places where God put his name. God took rest in Israel and placed his name there—his instructions.
He gave the instructions to perform these sacrifices upon an unpolluted altar. The smoke ascends to God for a sweet savour in the destruction of sin by fire. The removal of sin was God’s delight rather than the burnt offering’s smoke.
Altars
Antiochus Epiphanes, the king of Grecia, established idol altars throughout the city after removing the daily sacrifice. His aim was not only to eliminate the act of the daily sacrifice but its significance. Setting up an abomination upon the altar to turn the people away from the commandments of God.
But what is an altar according to scripture?
What is an altar?
The parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-17) provides interesting insight into what altars are. As always with the scriptures, the passage below is cunningly written in literary artistry with a puzzle laid out in an array of voices.
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Looking deeply into the meaning of the deceptively telling phase, the care, gives insight into the heart of the matter. The things that entangle and distract people away from God.
Biblical Translation, Current & Historical Definitions
The phrase “the care”, from the Greek word μέριμνα (mérimna) and pronounced mer’-im-nah means:
The care phrase encapsulates activities that disturb, cause trouble, create anxiety, harass, and even provoke. Cares are the altars and idols in this world which distract and dominate our time and lives. They keep us engaged in the sins of the world.
The altar that powers all sin is money which everything in this world is measured against.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Kept in context with the removal of the daily sacrifice, the altars and idols established, aroused, disturbed, and occupied the people by removing their attention from God and allowing unrepentant sin to dominate their lives.
The Abomination Of Desolation
As did Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:27-33), Antiochus established false idols, doctrines and distractions for the children of Israel and anyone that followed to stumble and turn away from the truth. He set altars and idols for worship, not under the instructions of God, for the people would forget the law and change the ordinances.
To establish his kingdom and follow his laws, the king of Grecia, Antiochus Epiphanes, established many altars—systems of polluted distraction, while trampling the doctrine of God. The world contains many idols, and many people sacrifice on these altars by indulging in them and wasting the time they have in this life.
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
He aimed to destroy all the instructions of God, the laws, the holy days, the feast days, and any word uttered out of the mouth of God. He spoke great words and destroyed many, but ultimately he failed.
Sports, gambling, unclean foods, religion, career, travelling, shopping, vanity, the pursuit of money, material possessions, hedonism, houses, books, television, movies, games, comics, science, role-playing, streaming, pornography, LGBTQIA+ and the selfish quest under the guise of improving the world while at the same time destroying it, and many more.
All these distractions take the place of getting to know your maker and wasting the one chance given in this life to save yourself.
The wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure: and he that hath little business shall become wise.
To get to know God, we all need time. The abomination intends to occupy that time outside God and create a world desolate of righteousness.
The wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure: and he that hath little business shall become wise.
For into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter; nor dwell in the body that is subject unto sin.
For wisdom is a loving spirit; and will not acquit a blasphemer of his words: for God is witness of his reins, and a true beholder of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.
Everywhere you turn, there is another outlet for time-wasting being set up. Another online game and business model created for financial gain and, most importantly, the distraction of another set of people. Providing a bribe that meets the price of everyone, at which point they turn away from God.
Those who do not succumb to these powerful trinkets of dissuasion from the truth endure relentless persecution—fear, poison, income denial, neverending temptation, stalking and the obstruction of every venture pursued.
The difficulty faced, as have many in the past and the future, is you cannot beat God. Anyone standing with the most High is a force to be reckoned with, which was the challenge for the Grecian king.
When establishing control requires the removal of any opposition or obstacles. The king could not confirm his kingdom while there was service to God since those who serve God follow God’s instructions and not that of earthly leaders.
To destroy these people, you must turn them away from their God, their defender. The only way to victory.
The Balaam Effect
Balaam advised Balak to get the Israelites to sin (Revelation 2:14, 2 Peter 2:15, Jude 1:11, Numbers 25:1-9) rather that going head to head in battle. He assured Balak that he would lose if he fought against Israel while God was on their side. Instead, use any means necessary, including fornication with their women and sacrificing at their altars, to get them to sin.
Achior's Advice
The Moabite Archior advised Holofernes against fighting the Israelites (Judith 5) when they served God. The advice was ignored, and the inevitable consequence of the death of Holofernes and the scattering of their armies was realised through the hand of Judith.
The Wolves
The world is run by spiritual wickedness (Ephesians 6:12)—those who control (the positions of influence) the masses. From the rulers of the world to the leaders of the churches, schools, social media influencers and even the gossippers next door. They all play their role in keeping you following the script.
The wolves are everywhere (she sees demons) and seek the rewards of this kingdom on earth. Some only follow through fear, being persecuted when on the outside—denied all avenues of income to steer them to join and establish this kingdom of hedonism and greed. They wish to live forever, but outside of the creator, there is no life. Satan would not have life if not for God, so how can he give them life?
Nevertheless, the kingdom is built on these abominations, and all those who do not fear God, follow these solicitudes and indulge in the cares of this world. Either through love or fear, nonetheless, these indulgences are abominations in the eyes of God.
Deer In The Headlights
When you see the abomination of desolation, ensure that you are standing in the holy place (Matthew 24:15). Knowing that the entire world walks with Satan is daunting. Seeing the agreement with your own eyes transforms you into the deer staring frozen into the headlights.
Imagine a group of people who support each other, and monopolise influential positions in every avenue of life. Imagine that they see anyone outside of the group as prey, and open season and fair game to exploit. They focus only on satiating their thirst for money and establishing their agenda despite destroying the world in the process.
Imagine they have a secret doctrine that only the selected get access to, who force and persecute everyone outside of their circle. Also, imagine this group has recruited, through enticement or fear, almost everyone in the world, knowingly and unknowingly.
Seeing all of this, and you are on the outside? What on earth are you going to do?
Conclusion
The abomination of desolation is the abominable or sinful altars set up to establish Satan’s kingdom by destroying God’s laws. These altars are used for sacrificing, committing sins, and keeping the masses distracted from the truth of God.
The kingdom of the earth pushes the sacrificing to idols of money, greed, sports, television, hedonism, adultery, murder and all things abominable. Their god is who they worship, and by following the instructions of Satan, they made him their god.
Anyone who wishes to survive the abomination of desolation must stand in the holy place. In this place, your protector becomes God. The only one who can guide you, protect you and put a hedge (Job 1:10) around you.
Enter the sanctuary of God by keeping his commandments.
God bless you abundantly and grant you more revelation and understanding of His word for us. This is a great eye opener to the subtle and crafty methods the devil is going to deceive and lure many from The True God and Savior.