”The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about – the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.” Matthew 24:15 (NLT)

When this event occurs, it will dominate contemporary news headlines. Christ tells us it will also be a sign to the world that His Glorious Appearing is close at hand.

The abomination of desolation will mark the beginning of a time of unspeakable satanic violence and human anguish. In fact, Jesus told His disciples it will be a time of great tribulation such as the world has never seen, nor ever will see again. A cursory glance at Jewish historical events of the past century, which include the Holocaust, Stalin’s pogroms, and Muslim attempts to wipe out the Jewish state of Israel, vividly illustrate the depths of human depravity. Yet, our Lord informs us that these horrors will pale in comparison to those which are to come.

What is the Abomination of Desolation?

In order for people to recognize the abomination of desolation when it takes place, they must first know what it is. Some translations of the bible render this phrase the “abomination which causes desolation,” a more accurate depiction of the event. For this act of abomination, once committed, will literally cause the desolation of Israel.

Let’s examine the definitions of the key components in this satanic act of arrogance.

”Abomination” Defined

Webster’s dictionary defines the word “abomination” as a “loathsome or disgusting act.” This serves as an adequate biblical definition as well, for when the bible mentions something as an “abomination” it means “an act which is loathsome or disgusting in the eyes of God.” In most instances in which the word “abomination” is used in the bible, it is used to describe the sin of idolatry. Therefore, it’s reasonable to conclude that the abomination which is the abomination of desolation will be an idolatrous act which will defile the Holy Place.

If this is true, then what is “the Holy Place”?

”The Holy Place” Defined

The “Holy Place” of which Jesus spoke is the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Although some people have interpreted the “holy place” as any number of things – Israel, Jerusalem, the Jews, or the church – the full context of the scriptures makes it fully clear that Jesus is referring to the Jewish Temple.

In the Book of Acts, the Jewish Temple is referred to as the “Holy Place” (emphasis added):

”The seven days were almost ended when some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the Temple and roused a mob against him. They grabbed him, yelling, ‘Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who preaches against our people everywhere and tells everybody to disobey the Jewish laws. He speaks against the Temple – and even defiles this holy place by bringing in Gentiles.’ (For earlier that day they had seen him in the city with Trophimus, a Gentile from Ephesus, and they assumed Paul had taken him into the Temple.)” Acts 21:27-29 (NLT)

In addition, the prophet Daniel refers to the abomination of desolation in reference to the Jewish Temple:

”He will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. Then as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the end that has been decreed is poured out on this defiler.” Daniel 9:27 (NLT)

The fact that the abomination of desolation occurs along with putting “an end to the sacrifices and offerings” is further evidence that the Jewish Temple plays a pivotal role in this infamous event.

So why is the abomination one of “desolation”?

”Desolation” Defined

Webster’s dictionary defines “desolation” as “a barren, neglected state or area.” This is the perfect definition for understanding the meaning of our topic. For Jesus tells us that this act will cause the desolation of Israel:

”Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat. How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones.” Matthew 24:16-22 (NLT)

Once the abomination of desolation takes place, it will soon be followed by unprecedented persecution of the Jewish people. This is difficult to believe, given our knowledge of the Holocaust. But according to Jesus, these will be the darkest days in Jewish history.

The Jews will face persecution at the hands of the Antichrist, an arrogant world dictator who will commit the abomination of desolation by proclaiming himself to be God.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes

Believe it or not, a similar abomination took place in history once before.

In 167 B.C., the Syrian king Antiochus IV Epiphanes erected a statue of Zeus in the Holy of Holies and desecrated the sanctuary and its holy vessels. Several centuries prior to this, the prophet Daniel (in Daniel 11:21-35) prophesied the life and times of this sinister figure. Yet those same verses, in many ways, also apply to the Antichrist, whose life is detailed in Daniel 11:36-45.

Some people claim that Antiochus IV Epiphanes committed the abomination of desolation, thus fulfilling the prophecies of Daniel 9:27 and Matthew 24:15. But this is simply not true. Although the Book of Daniel was written prior to 167 B.C., the Olivet Discourse took place almost two centuries later. Jesus was well aware of the abominable acts committed by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. After all, the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is a celebration of the Temple’s liberation from the rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Clearly, Jesus spoke of a future abomination:

”The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about – the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.” Matthew 24:15 (NLT)

Although Antiochus IV Epiphanes came in the spirit and power of the Antichrist, the Antichrist himself will be the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecies in Daniel 11, Daniel 9:27, and Matthew 24:15. This is why Jesus referred to the desecration of the Temple as a still future event.

If we examine the signs of the times, we’ll find God is warning us that this future event will take place soon – in our generation.

The Antichrist and the Abomination of Desolation

The Book of Revelation provides us with further knowledge regarding the Antichrist and his monumental act of desecration:

”He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life. He was then permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die.” Revelation 13:14-15 (NLT)

The Antichrist will fulfill this prophesy by standing in the Jewish Temple and proclaiming himself to be God. He will set up an image in the Holy Place and demand the world worship it.

Such a scenario is in full agreement with the apostle Paul’s description of the Antichrist and his character:

”He will exalt himself and defy every god there is and tear down every object of adoration and worship. He will position himself in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT)

The Antichrist will not just be an enemy of God Almighty, but of anything which distracts the human race from the worship of himself as the one true God. Needless to say, the Antichrist will be quite arrogant.

Unfortunately, much of the world will answer the call to worship him:

”And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made – the Book that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered.” Revelation 13:8 (NLT)

When Will the Abomination of Desolation Occur?

The bible is clear that the abomination of desolation will occur at the mid-point of the Tribulation, a seven year period in Israel’s history set into motion by a covenant between Israel and the Antichrist:

”The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him.” Daniel 9:27 (NLT)

The Antichrist will sign a treaty with the state of Israel for a period of seven years. The details and nature of this treaty are yet unknown, but many have speculated that in a bid to secure peace with its neighbors, Israel will agree to rely on the Antichrist for its national security. God refers to this agreement as a “covenant with Sheol” (or hell), and God’s assessment will prove true when the Antichrist breaks this covenant after three and a half years. The abomination of desolation will serve as a public acknowledgment that he is breaking his treaty with Israel, and it will signal the beginning of the Great Tribulation, a time of unprecedented persecution of God’s people:

”And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place to care for her for 1,260 days.” Revelation 12:6 (NLT)

The woman referenced in this passage is the nation of Israel, which gave birth to the Messiah. Because of the Antichrist’s persecution, the nation of Israel will be forced to flee into the wilderness, where God will supernaturally protect her. The Antichrist’s campaign of persecution against the Jews will last 1,260 days, which is 3.5 biblical years.

Conclusion

The implications of the abomination of desolation can not be overstated. Our generation has already witnessed the fulfillment and initial fulfillment of most of the bible’s end times prophecies. The Jews have been gathered from distant lands to resurrect the nation of Israel. The Jews are in possession of Jerusalem. The Gog and Magog alliance is forming. The European Union (the revived Roman Empire) is quickly becoming the world’s most powerful super state. All of these are signs of the times. Yet, in order for the abomination of desolation to occur, still another event must take place – the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple.

As of this writing, the secular world views the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple as a highly improbable event. Yet, God Himself has told us the Jewish Temple will exist in the last days. Therefore, when the Temple is rebuilt, it will serve as a sign to the entire world that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is God Almighty, the Alpha and the Omega.

Nearly the entire world – a billion Muslims, countless Anti-Semites, world leaders and diplomats, and even Israeli politicians frightened of war – speak with one voice when it comes to the idea of rebuilding the Jewish Temple. “It will never happen!” they say. But God has other plans. The Temple will be rebuilt, and soon thereafter, the world will tremble when a man of unprecedented power and frightening arrogance visits its inner sanctuary.

Knowing that everything the Lord has revealed to His prophets is destined for fulfillment, we should pray for the people of this world, while living our lives for the next and remaining alert to the soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

”Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:36 (NLT)

The Robie House floor plan, named for its original owner, was the expression of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie Style architecture at its most expansive and expressive. With its low pitched roof cantilevers that hung over literally dozens of oddly sized balconies, it was an outrage to Chicago’s high society Hyde Park neighbors. The hidden front door reached down an alley and rooms radiated from a central fireplace. Bricks were laid in a pattern that highlighted the stretched-out horizontal feel and the living room is on the second floor rather than the main floor as would be expected of most homes.

The Robie House suffered more indignities than just the disdain of the Hyde Park neighbors over the course of its life. Used for a dorm and dining hall for the Chicago Theological Seminary from 1926 to 1959, it was nearly demolished twice to make room for a more normal style dorm. Frank L. Wright, who was in his 90s at the time, protested so loudly that it was spared. Registered as a National Historic Landmark in 1963, demolition of the Robie House floor plan was a subject never raised again.

The floor plan of the Robie House is eccentric to say the least. The interior space speaks to Mr. Wright’s meticulous attention to design detail. The living room is tapered into a prow not unlike a boat with lighting divided into a “sun” type globe fixture in a wooden frame as well as a “moon” fixture located behind panels. The second floor balconies lining an entire side of the house were deteriorating rapidly, which is an unfortunate effect of Wright’s outrageous designs requiring frequent restoration.

For those who would like to visit the Robie House, it’s located on the University of Chicago campus at the corner of Southwood Lawn Avenue and 58th Street. Guided tours are conducted on weekdays every 15 minutes between 11 a.m and 3:30 p.m. Cost is $9.00 for adults and $7.00 for children and senior citizens.

Rape is no longer just the stereotyped gun-to-the-head or knife-to-the-throat situation, contrary to what a large portion of the population believes but an ever growing proportion of rapes and sexual assaults are carried out by attackers who are known to their victims.

Funny that isn’t it? Or rather not funny but in a macabre and sordid way, slowly but surely the lid is being lifted on what has hitherto been viewed as merely a woman’s problem.

To many, rape is exclusively a man’s abuse of power against a woman. Rape is forced, unwanted sexual intercourse. Fact: Rape is a big deal.

Rape is a very personal and intimate traumatic experience. Reporting a rape is difficult, and can be embarrassing, shameful, hurtful, frustrating, and too often unfulfilling. The true victim of a rape is the girl who said no all along.

Ask any victims of sexual assault or rape about the mental scars they carry and sadly all too often you will find that these scars are there for life. For the rape victim, escape from the horrors of what befell them is very rarely an option.

Rape is not about sex to the rapist; it has to do with control and power. But in this entire emotional outpouring let us not try to diminish what this is all about. It is not enough when the authorities are involved and the entire issue revolves around whether the rape or assault was completed or attempted.

Attempted rape is still a serious crime and should be reported. As a result, rape is seen, if at all, as a “women’s issue”. The phrase sexual assault can be misleading because rape is not really about sex.

About 44% of rape victims are under age 18, and 80% are under age 30.

Now take a little time, think and study those figures. If you are a rape victim and you are in your teen that’s a life sentence you are now carrying for something that was not your fault. Is it any wonder the hidden appalling consequences of rape can include mental and social difficulties that can impact on the wider family circle of the victim?

Many rape victims experience what is referred to as Rape-Related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (also called Rape Trauma Syndrome).

Rape is called the most underreported violent crime in America. So forget about the so called “bling bling” culture of glamour, drugs and armed crime. America’s most violent crimes are sometimes being carried out right under the noses of the most sophisticated and middle class neighbours. In towns and streets that you would not believe

Rape is an everyday occurrence. A single act of rape is barbaric. Rape is not about sex to the rapist; it has to do with control and power. Rape is truly an abomination no civilized society can tolerate.

The bad news is that the reality of rape is not simple.

We Now Live In an Obama Nation and have become an abomination: A letter to my senator

By Michael R. Sears, Copyright 2009

This may be important or you may have already thought about it. I heard Obama say last night that if this near $1,000,000,000,000.00 stimulus fails it will cause devastation to the economy and America.

My questions is this: Did the Democrats come up with a package that they knew Republicans would never accept and let through?

When it doesn’t go through and a collapse occurs will they then shift the blame onto the Republicans?

Surely they are not that sneaky, crafty, underhanded, and diabolical!

If their stimulus passes and then further collapse occurs, then they will be blamed. If the Republicans stop their stimulus and further collapse occurs, then the Republicans will be blamed.

One thing we know is that further collapse is going to occur. I think they are that diabolical and care nothing about the country and only about their devious hides. They are scoundrels, thieves, crooks, thugs, and weasels, all of them, with only their self interest at heart. They could care less about our country or the common folks, as O’Reilly calls them. They feel like they are better than the folks and don’t have to pay taxes or perhaps they see how stupid this tax system is and what a waste it is and how unfair it is and how it needs to be changed, but there are none of them that have the guts to do anything for fear of losing perks, their jobs, or perhaps their lives, as I believe the mafia is now in it up to their neck.

Obama’s first interview was with the network of a Moslem nation that hates us and that are murders and thugs themselves who put women and children in front of their army as human casualties they can use to influence the gullible media. They openly and proudly hate Israel and the U.S. and have vowed their and our destruction. Can you reason with madness? Can you negotiate with Nimrod?

Be warned that they that love and protect Israel, God (Elohim) will bless and those that hate Israel, God (Elohim) will curse and judge. Israel is the only democracy in this region and must be protected and aided with all the force of America and with all the cooperation of America, or America will be judged. We need to immediately, stop any aid to our enemies and put hard and fast rules in place, should they want to negotiate, which is not their culture unless it is to negotiate to bide time, re-arm, or pull a sneak attack.  America has been paying them millions of dollars of our tax money in order to sooth that beast and keep it at bay, like a mafia goon collecting his intimidation money.  I say, lets quit giving them a dime and get the battle on, if that’s what they want.

Democrats feel like they can brain wash the “stupid” American public at any time with any of their hair brained dialogues, and, sadly, this has been proven, to some extent, to be true. We did elect a person with very little experience, who said that he would re-distribute the “wealth”, and who had all sorts of sorted associations with terrorists and thugs. He said he would immediately sign to resume partial birth abortions, which is murder of the innocent beyond description. Abortion is almost a non-issue now with the media, as is the destructive perversion of homosexuality that is a stain and evil upon our society now, becoming engrained like scared god given rights of humanity (not my God). Just look at the cast of shady characters Obama has appointed or attempted to appoint. Should this not tell us something about the man’s character, as well?

Where are all the black preachers denouncing Obama and demanding morality to be restored? Well, they are all so mesmerized by the new “messiah’s” hypnotic speech that they have abandoned all reason on the basis of a man’s heritage, a problem they have always had. I hope they are soon shocked back into the reality of truth by some miracle!

Have we become Sodom and Gomorrah?

Have we become an Obama nation and an abomination to God (Elohim)?