Unveiling the Mystery of Abomination of Desolation

“When ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judea flee to the mountains (Mark 13:14).”

When Jesus included the abomination of desolation on his list of end time signs, he magnified the importance of Daniel’s vision, and caused his followers to know that they would not see this sign until it was the time of the end. Jesus prophesied additional clues that are to aid in the interpretation of Daniel's vision: The abomination will stand in the holy place (Matthew 24:15), and the holy place is a place where it ought not stand (Mark 13:14). The mystery concerning the abomination was sealed up till the time of the end, which is why solving it is unprecedented. “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us… that we may do all the words of this law (Deuteronomy 29:29).”

The abomination of desolation is also called the transgression of desolation, therefore it is necessary to know the God's interpretation of the word, transgression (Daniel 8:13). Transgressions are sins against God, but transgressions and iniquities are not the same thing. Iniquities are unintentional mistakes which are being made against God because his people are observing religion's laws, for they are professing and believing certain misrepresentations of the deep and hidden mysteries of God's word; whereas transgressions are sins which happen because people know and understand the truth of God's word, but fail to do it. Religious iniquities become transgression in the day that believers discover religion's errs, and they forsake the truth of God's word, and continue to promote their long standing traditional religious beliefs. “His power and wrath are against all them that forsake him (Ezra 8:22).”

From the beginning of time God determined that spiritual death would be the punishment of transgressors (Proverbs 14:12). When Adam and Eve transgressed in the garden, God recorded their eviction as a pattern for our edification (Genesis 3:23). The pattern of their eviction from the garden suggests that when people transgress against God's word, they are separated from God. It’s what John eluded to in the verse: “There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it (1John 5:16).” It’s also what Ezekiel expressed in the words: “The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression (Ezekiel 33:12).”

When a priest perceives the truth of the covenant message but elects to ignore it, then even his words become transgression and abomination. “Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, O house of Israel (Ezekiel 18:30-31)?”

Being able to see the abomination of desolation requires finding a solution to the eleventh chapter of the book of Daniel. This chapter orates a battle between a mighty king of the north, and a strong king of the south. Right there in the midst of the battle, helpers stand to assist the king of the north, and they place the abomination that maketh desolate. “Arms 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 that maketh desolate (Daniel 11:31).”

Above all else, the battle of end times is a battle which is meant to cause believers to accept the newly revealed truths of prophecy, and convert their understandings of God's word. God will cause Islam, Judaism, and Christianity to be united into one way of serving him, for he is giving them a new covenant. “His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south (Zechariah 14:4).” The dividing lines for the north and south are based upon one thing: whether or not people will hear and receive the covenant message. “Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south (Psalms 75:6).” This informative verse implies that promotion comes from the north.

God grouped together every person that has not heard the covenant message, and they are the people of the south; and everyone that has heard the covenant message is of the north, regardless of whether they believed the message, or not. A big mistake which is being made by the northerners, is documented in the words, “He that cometh against him shall do according to his own will (Daniel 11:16).” Believers are suppose act in accordance with God's will, and they are do all things in accordance with his word. Be aware that people on both sides of this controversy are making big mistakes, for they are under the very powerful influence and persuasions of their forefather's teachings. Also be aware that when believers perform a work which promotes the new covenant, then God removes them from these kingdoms, and they are received into everlasting habitations.

“His kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others besides those (Daniel 11:4).” In essence, God will be plucking up the occupants of these kingdoms, casting them down in their pride, and setting others in their stead. This means that ever changing faces will be coming in and going out of these kingdoms, with massive exchanges taking place when God changes the times. This precept is especially evident in verses nineteen through twenty one, wherein one king falls, and another king stands in his estate, then after a few days he is destroyed, and still another stands in his estate. 

The details which are necessary for interpreting Daniel’s vision are strewn throughout scripture. To insure that all of the proper details are applied to the vision, parable names must first be ascribed to the kings. Start by aligning occurrences which are prophesied throughout scripture with events that occur in the vision. Next, find out who God is addressing in the aligned prophecy, and therein you will have the king’s name. When parable names are ascribed to the kings of this vision, then the prophecy is understood, and knowledge concerning the time of the end, is increased.

Another vision which was delivered by Daniel, aligns itself with this vision and thereby it is used to identify and name the first king to stand up in this vision: “The rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation (Daniel 8:21-22).” Grecia is the name of the first king to stand up and entertain the covenant message. The name "Grecia" also translates into the word, Greece. Both of these city names were used in the new testament to elude to Christianity, for it is the gentile nation. “When he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided towards the four winds of heaven (Daniel 11:4).” This verse is suggesting that as soon as even one Christian priest stands up and acquires understanding of the covenant message, then the thoughts, beliefs, and ways of its people will be divided, and they will go in four different directions. See how that thought aligns itself with the vision from chapter eight that is quoted above.

The next name to be applied to the vision, is the king of Tyrus: this name is used in prophecy to represent Christian priests which have either ignored, or refused to hear the covenant message. “The king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes (Daniel 11:5).” Scripture records lamentations for the king of Tyrus, as well as for the prince of Tyrus (Ezekiel 28:2; 28:12). By studying these lamentations, believers can conclude that the king of Tyrus' name represents those priests which have either ignored, or refused to hear the covenant message. Being titled a king, means that Tyrus already possess a crown: the crown is an inerrant symbol that Tyrus is righteous in the Lord's eyes. The same symbolic meaning of the crown applies to all the other kings of Daniel's vision. Tyrus was beautiful, and perfect in his ways until the day that iniquity was found in him. Pride lifted his heart, and iniquity corrupted his wisdom. His own merchandise is a factor that is warring against him: but his books and his merchandise will fall into the midst of the sea. God will judge Tyrus for not listening to his messengers: Tyrus will be afflicted by the loathsome pestilence. “I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.” (Ezekiel chapter 28 and Ezekiel 27:34).

Tyrus was forewarned: “If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book… then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and long continuance, and sore sickness (from Deuteronomy 28:58-60).” This is God’s answer against those priests which have refused to listen to the warnings of his messengers. “The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; what wisdom is in them (Jeremiah 8:9)?” Pestilence will humble Tyrus, and it will repay him for what he’s done unto the congregation (Isaiah 59:18). “Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty (Ezekiel 28:12).” “I am against the shepherds; I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock (Ezekiel 34:10).”

The Assyrian is the next king to stand up on behalf of Christianity, and he stands up in the north. Although he has entertained the covenant message, he remained unconvinced, therefore he’s not sharing its controversial news with the congregation. Nevertheless, the covenant message is being propelled by his newly awakened passions. “Oh my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction (Isaiah 10:24-25).” The Assyrian is identified by his escapades with Ephraim:

Ephraim is called the daughter of the south in the vision. The name of Ephraim applies to Christianity; and use of the female gender suggests that the parable name of Ephraim represents the elders, as well as the other people that are helping to run the Christian church. “In the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king’s daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: But she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm (Daniel 11:6).” Ephraim goes to the Assyrian when her priest is afflicted, because she is looking for a new priest. “When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian (Hosea 5:13).”

Ephraim is either ignorant of, or fighting against the covenant message. “I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not I healed them… He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refuse to return (Hosea 11:3, 11:5).”

Because the Assyrian took the time to at least consider the covenant message, he will escape the afflicting pestilence. However, if the Assyrian fails to tell the congregation the truth, then his transgressions will be discovered. Therefore the Assyrian will taste of spiritual death, which is the punishment that is ordained for transgressors. This is God’s way of not only punishing the Assyrian, but also of encouraging him to change his direction. The Assyrian is guilty of ignoring the end time instructions of God's word. When the Assyrian does finally change his direction, then the noisome pestilence will be waiting. Find evidence that both of these punishments are prophesied to come against the Assyrian, in the verse: “Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon... I have delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness (Ezekiel 31:11).”

“Out of the branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail: and shall carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes… and he shall continue more years than the king of the north (Daniel 11:7-8)." The word, Egypt, is the prominent clue which identifies the next king to stand up in Daniel's vision. Pharaoh is the reigning king of the south, and he retains the title of "king of the south" throughout the remainder of the vision. Pharaoh is Islamic. Believers can be certain of this, because the prophesies concerning that name are connected to the descendants of Esau, Ishmael and Lot. Also remember that the parable of the south, pertains unto the people that are ignorant of the covenant message, and Christian priests that are ignorant of it, were given the parable name of Tyrus (Ezekiel 28:19). The words “carry captives into Egypt” insinuate that some Christian believers will be persuaded to turn unto Islam, and the Koran for answers.

But as the covenant message gets louder, God's messengers will carry news of the newly revealed truths of prophecy unto those who went into the captivity. “They of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man (Zachariah 10:7).” Their messages will be heard by the sons of Islam. “One shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through (Daniel 11:10).” Islamic leaders will be offended by this. “The king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north (Daniel 11:11).”

In this battle, the beliefs of Islam shall prevail. “When he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it (Daniel 11:12).” This is God’s way of purging our iniquities. “My people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoices, shall descend into it (Isaiah 5:13-14).”

“I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms (Ezekiel 30:22).” This is one of those prophesies which align itself with Daniel’s vision, and confirm that Pharaoh is the king of the south. “The arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand (Daniel 11:15).” Pharaoh was strong as long as he was ignorant of the covenant message, however his strength is broken by the voice of prophecy. “The spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof (Isaiah 19:3).”

After God pours affliction upon Christian priests, a sound of rejoicing is heard coming from the princes of Tyrus: “Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned me (Ezekiel 26:2).” That same offensive sound is heard coming from the sons of Islam. “Say to the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord God; Thus saith the Lord God; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned… and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity; Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession (Ezekiel 25:3-4).” The voices of these princes are an offense to God, as well as to his people, for they are celebrating the adversity of others. Whereas these princes ought to be fearing the Lord and having concern for the condition of their own souls, instead they are viewing the affliction as an opportunity to advance their own religious beliefs, and increase their riches. They will be delivered into the hands of their enemies, for God will cut off their rejoicings.

When affliction causes priests to be removed from ministry, then church officials will inadvertently hire false teachers as replacements. These false teachers will not regard the voice of the church, and they will oppress the congregations which they lead. In their eyes the congregation is corrupt, because their leaders were afflicted by God. “Ephraim has hired lovers (Hosea 8:9).” “Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee… and I will bring them against thee on every side; the Babylonians… and all the Assyrians with them (Ezekiel 23:22-23).” The souls of these replacements are not right with God, for they have despised the covenant message. In essence, strangers are occupying the pulpits, and these strangers will rage against the congregation. “We offend not, because they have sinned against the Lord, the habitation of justice, even the Lord, the hope of their fathers (Jeremiah 50:7).”

The bible warns about this development. “My face will I turn from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for robbers shall enter into it, and defile it (Ezekiel 7:22).” “You have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it… they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations (Ezekiel 44:7).” Robbers are prophesied to lead all congregations that are refusing to listen to God. “If ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me… I will send the pestilence among you; and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy… And if you will not for all this hearken unto me, but will walk contrary unto me… I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation (from Leviticus 26:21-31).”

These robbers will bring into the sanctuary divisive and offensive religious memorabilia. “They shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate (Daniel 11:31).” There it is: the abomination that maketh desolate. Robbers are brought into the sanctuary, to stand in the pulpits and teach God's people. These robbers will bring religious memorabilia into the sanctuary with them, and set it before the eyes of the people. This is an attempt to propagate a religion. “I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable and abominable things (Jeremiah 16:18).”

It’s time to take courage: Asa took courage and put away the idols which his fathers had made (1Kings 15:12); Hezekiah removed high places and broke down images, including the brazen serpent which Moses made (2Kings 18:4). Manasseh destroyed idols, including all the altars which he was responsible for building (2Chronicles 33:15); Josiah purged the high places of Israel and Judah, destroying all of their carved images, molten images, and their altars and groves (2Chronicles 34:3-7). These were courageous acts which took great boldness. “That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past (Ecclesiastes 3:15).”

In order for God to unite the religions, the sanctuary must be free of offensive memorabilia; memorabilia it is the stumbling block of our iniquity (Ezekiel 7:19). “They ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity (Ezekiel 44:12).” Should Christianity be exempt from the purposes of God? “He that exalts his gate seeketh destruction (Proverbs 17:19).” God prophesied that during these times we will remove our idols. “In that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin (Isaiah 31: 7).” “Thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth (Isaiah 30:22).” “Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword (Isaiah 31: 7).”

Memorabilia in the sanctuary, is iniquity. “Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee (Deuteronomy 4:23).” “Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the Lord thy God hateth (Deuteronomy 16:22).” “Cursed be the man that maketh any graven image, or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and puts it in the secret place (Deuteronomy 27:15).”

In the vision, another king stands up in the north. “Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom (Daniel 11:20).” Behold Nebuchadnezzar, the forth king which stands up on behalf of Christianity: Grecia, Tyrus, the Assyrian, and Nebuchadnezzar. The best way to identify this king is to delve into the Hebrew word which was translated “taxes.” That same word was translated “oppressor” and it was used in the verse, “Take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased (Isaiah 14:4)!” The king of Babylon is being dubbed, the oppressor, or, the raiser of taxes. Nebuchadnezzar is the king of Babylon, however, in prophecy, the names, king of Babylon, and Nebuchadnezzar, are considered separately. Nebuchadnezzar is the first king to stand up and believe the covenant message, therefore his name is used to represent all of the priests and prophets which are rising up and believing the covenant message, even though they are not following the instructions of it. “Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms (Jeremiah 51:20).” These kings are moving in the right direction, however their practices are not perfect. Pride, covetousness, and the mistreatment of others, are some of their offenses. “I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria (Jeremiah 50:18).”

“In his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom.” The Hebrew word which was translated into the word “vile” credits this appearance as being that of the king of Moab, for that same Hebrew word was translated “despised” and it was used in the verse, “I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised (Obadiah 1-2).” Moab is the first Islamic king to stand up and entertain the teachings of the covenant message, but he rejects them. He is throughly convinced that the heritage of the Lord is Islam’s for the taking (Ezekiel 35:10; 36:5). He and his fellows devise a crafty plan to work together with Edom and come against Christianity, when its priests are afflicted by God (Psalms 83:2-8).

“Keep not thou silence, O God… they that hate thee have lifted the head (Psalms 83:1-2).” “My sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment… The Lord hath a great sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea… it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance (Isaiah 34:5-8).” “I will lay vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord (Ezekiel 25:14).”

Because Moab is the instigator of this battle, indignation will rise up against him, and it will destroy him. “The people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood (Daniel 9:26).” “With an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof (Nahum 1:8).” “With the arms of a flood shall they be over flown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant (Daniel 11:22).”

After the flood, Gog, who is referred to as the prince of the covenant, makes his debut in the north (Ezekiel 38:15). Gog is a prince, for he has no crown, because his works have not been pleasing to the Lord. “If a man strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully (2Timothy 2:5).” “There shall stand up yet three kings in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than they all (Daniel 11:2).” Gog is the anticipated fourth presence to stand up on behalf of Islam: Pharaoh, Moab, Edom, and Gog. Gog represents the reinvented princes of Islam. These princes have heard the covenant message, and they believed it, however they also continue to believe that God favors the Islamic religion. Gog gains a following, and becomes a strong host (Daniel 11:23). “I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth (Ezekiel 38:3-4).”

“By his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia (Daniel 11:2).” Gog is against the Christian priests which are leading Islamic congregations. The Hebrew word “Grecia” also translates “Javan,” and this word provides evidence that Grecian’s are backslidden Christian believers (Isaiah 66:19). “The children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold to the Grecians (Joel 3:6).” These backslidden leaders are ignoring the warnings of God's word, and they are meddling with Islam. This is known as defiling their neighbor’s wife (Ezekiel 18:6). Certain priests are electing to ease themselves from studying God's word, and they opting to sell their congregations into the hands of preachers of other religions. Not only do some Islamic priests sell their congregations into the hands of the Grecians, but there are also some Christian priests which are selling their congregations into the hands of Islam. “Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompense upon your own head (Joel 3:6).”

Prophesy reveals that Ephraim will be sold unto Egypt by the Assyrian: “He shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him (Daniel 11:17).” Hosea concurred, “They shall not dwell in the Lord’s land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt (Hosea 9:3).” Defilement is God's punishment for pride, and it will cause the ignorance of the congregation to cease. “I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the Lord hath spoken it (Joel 3:8).”

Gog's discontentment is for good reason. Grecian's are strangers unto God, for they have ignored the truth of his word. They are endangering the congregation because they are misrepresenting God's intended meanings of prophecy. Having false teachers is the punishment which is prophesied to come against rebellious congregations. Believers who despise and refuse to obey the instructions of God's word, are reserved unto the day of his wrath. “In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee (Ezekiel 24:13).” “I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it (Leviticus 26:32).”

Daniel describes Gog as coming “like a whirlwind” (Daniel 11:40); Ezekiel calls it, “like a storm” (Ezekiel 38:9). The day wherein Gog leads his people to attack the deceived Christian priests which are preaching before Islamic congregations, is the day of God's wrath. In that day God will pour afflicting pestilence upon everyone that is fighting against his word; and the rebellion of the rebellious will be destroyed, forever. "It shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face… I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon all his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone (from Ezekiel 38:18-22-23)." "The destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the Lord shall be consumed (Isaiah 1:28)." "Then shall ye know that I am the Lord, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars (Ezekiel 6:13)."

“Yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the Lord their God (Ezekiel 28:26).”