I COULD CARE LESS
THE FALSE PROPHET
Chapter 6
Part 2
By
Doug Krieger
THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
The
perseverance of the saints (Matthew
24:13) and the preaching of the “gospel of the kingdom” – wherein the
Messiah’s deliverance will reach its proclamation zenith prior to the next
great event – is followed by this grotesque occurrence from he lips of Jesus:
“‘Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place’ (whoever reads, let him understand) (Note: This parenthetical is in Scripture.), ‘then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s (‘chosen ones’) sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:15-21).
The importance of Jesus’ quotation from Daniel the Prophet cannot be stressed enough for its unmitigated significance – for Jesus to mention the prophet by name and to target his most ostentatious declaration of evil, the Abomination of Desolation (Daniel 8:13; 9:27; 11:31; 12:11) is prophetically cataclysmic at this juncture of the Olivet Discourse. Not only does Jesus dispel the liberal accolades given to the foretaste of this Abomination within the exclusive purview of Antiochus IV Epiphanes as the sum and substance of the phrase – but Jesus most definitely forecasts the event as tangible and yet future. At issue, in so far as the Preterists are concerned, is how far into the future—their claim is 70 A.D.; thence, the call to flee into the Judean Mountains ‘round about Jerusalem.
However, the entire discourse in Daniel concerns the destruction of the Desolator which will occur “unto the end” (Daniel 7:26 –
“But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.”) – for it is “Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him” (Daniel 7:27).
The Post-Millennialist relishes this verse and sings a chorus of “Fairest Lord Jesus, RULER of all nature!” Albeit, the “kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Rev. 11:15) does not occur until the rapture and resurrection of the Two Witnesses (Rev. 11:12) and the judgment or the Eschaton has commenced (Rev. 11:13-15a).
Furthermore, Daniel’s chronological repetitions are incessant throughout the dastardly deed of the Despicable One – and all occur at “the time of the end!”
“Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end . . . I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the INDIGNATION; for at the appointed time the end shall be . . . to make an end of sins (“for your people and for your holy city” – the Jews) . . . for the end will still be at the appointed time . . . some of those of understanding (Dan. 12:3, 10) shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time . . . at the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him (i.e., Antichrist); and the king of the North shall come up against him (i.e., Antichrist) . . . and he (Antichrist) shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him . . . But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end . . . How long shall be the end (i.e., “fulfillment”) of these matters . . . My lord, what shall be the end of these things . . . the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end . . . But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days” (Daniel 8:17, 19; 9:24; 11:27, 35, 40, 45; 12:4, 6, 8-9, 13).
Therefore, the cosmic struggle of the Sanctuary – as I have declared on numerous occasions (see here) is THE issue in the final eschatological analysis. There is profound meaning in the words of the Savior in the midst of all His prophetic discourse – for it is the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which draws the reader to these words: WHOEVER READS, LET HIM UNDERSTAND! For if we but read and do not fathom the depth of this contestation, we shall not understand and we shall not be prepared, nor shall we flee. The “Great Tribulation” was NOT in sum and substance the “time of the end” for the Jewish people – it may have been for the Herodian Temple where one stone would not be upon another, and, most certainly a huge number of Jews were slaughtered at the hands of the Romans – but it was not the Great Tribulation and the commencement of that fateful event known by Jesus as the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION.
It is that singular TRANSGRESSION OF DESOLATION wherein Satan is cast down to the earth and appears in the midst of the Seventieth Week of Daniel on the shoreline – yes, the “Dragon who gave authority to the beast” (Rev. 13:4) . . .
(Rev. 12:18) – “Now the dragon stood on the shore of the sea.” (Rev. 13:1-2) – “And I saw a beast ascending from the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns there were ten diadems, and on his heads there was a name of blasphemy. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, and he had feet like a bear and a mouth like a mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.”
We speak here, once again, of the INCARNATION OF SATAN INTO THE BODY OF ANTICHRIST wherein he becomes THE BEAST! There is no doubt about this supernatural demonstration of evil – the despicable parody of the resurrection – yes, now are the words of the Apostle Paul fulfilled:
“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away (i.e., the Apostasy) comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God . . . for the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And THEN the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with ALL UNRIGHTEOUS DECEPTION among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (II Thessalonians 2:3-4, 7-10).
The discovery that Jesus introduces the GREAT TRIBULATION period (Matthew 24:21) as a time of such tribulation that no such tribulation has been “since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” – to conjecture, as Preterists do, that this event in time took place in 70 A.D. astounds – and why? Because, as the Scriptures emphasize:
“And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved!” (Matthew 24:22).
Either we take these words literally – i.e., NO FLESH MEANS NO FLESH – PERIOD! – or we dabble in the theater of the absurd and make the English, the Greek and all languages of the earth, of no account.
Jesus then proceeds to warn of “false christs – false prophets” – “who will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect – see, (says Jesus) I have told you beforehand” (Matthew 24:23-24).
It is in the midst of this endurance – this horrific contest between the Beast and his “war against the saints” (Revelation 11:7; 12:17; 13:7) – Jesus exposes the rank deception of the Beast’s minions:
“Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.” (Matthew 24:26).
This
is NOT the coming of Christ – nor has He on that horrid day of Herodian’s
destruction entered into some “kingdom bliss” as the Preterists allude; no,
this is not “heaven on earth” we’re living in today! What a supercilious
notion propounded by the fakery of this inane eschatology! Listen, it’s as
“clear as the nose on your face” or the Hebraic expression: “For wherever the
carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together” (Matthew
24:28).
This is the END OF THE AGE – this is the SIGN OF YOUR COMING!
“For as the lighting comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:27).
Yes . . . .
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days (i.e., those days commenced by the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION – by Satan’s incursion into the human spirit of the Antichrist – for just as Satan entered into Judas to commit the betrayal, even so, he shall enter into Antichrist . . . AND the destruction of the literal yet-to-be rebuilt Third Temple)” – there will be the cosmic signs and “the powers of the heavens will be shaken” – “THEN THE SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN WILL APPEAR IN HEAVEN!” (Matthew 24:29-31).
The sequence is ironclad – the promise is literal and visible – THIS SAME JESUS SHALL COME IN LIKE MANNER! The Abomination of Desolation – the “tribulation of those days” – and then the Second Coming of Christ – none of which have taken place in their prophetic fullness!
THERE ARE NO END TO THE SIGNS OF HIS COMING
From here (Matthew 24:32) Jesus launches into seven types and parables surrounding the final environment and/or the immediate “attitude” which all disciples of the Son of Man should possess at the end of the age, at His Coming. It is noteworthy to highlight each one – for then we shall learn what is our posture in this life – what is our expectation “at the end of the age.”
(1) The Parable of the Fig Tree (Matthew 24:32-35) – prelude to many signs of His Coming
Some have taken this to mean Israel’s rebirth. Some the issue of faith. But the parable clearly signals its own meaning: “So you also, when you see all these things, know that it (or HE) is near—at the doors!” (Matthew 24:33). It is a matter of keen awareness that when these signs abound—even so, HE IS NEAR – AT THE DOORS! “When you see ALL THESE THINGS . . . .” Yes, all these things aforementioned by our Lord in Matthew 24:3-25:31. All “these things” are directly connected to His Coming and the end of the and how we are to know and live our lives in accordance with these revelations.
(2) The Sign of Noah (Matthew 24:36-39)
Noah
was “a building the ark” for nigh 70 years! What, I believe, the Lord
illustrates here is the supreme indifference to the Noahic flood and, in
general, that the Almighty had spoken to Noah. This will be the environment
prior to the coming of Christ. The indifference and lackadaisical attitudes
prevailing will astound; the total investment of humankind in this transitory
life – “so also will the coming of the son of Man be.” The people are either
invested in their affairs—most of which, by the way, are legitimate—but
indicate where the heart of the people abide. No one’s looking for the
flood—but by walking with God, you’re prepared! When THE Judgment comes upon
the whole earth – will we be ready for the rapture/resurrection of
Revelation 11:12, I Thess. 4:16-17; I Cor. 15:51-54.
(3) One Taken the Other Left (Matthew 24:40-44)
One man taken in the field, one woman grinding at the mill (taken) – and “the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into . . . watch. . . you also be ready, for the son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” – this is not, as the pre-tribulationists (viz., dispensationalists) suggest that the “one taken” is “taken off to judgment” – and that the one left behind is the sanctified. They interpret this to mean that those still at the grinding mill or in the bed are those who enter live into the Millennium. They use the example of Noah who was “left behind” (i.e., saved from the flood); whereas those “taken in the flood” are the unsaved. It sounds backwards and is backwards – the point of the matter is simply to be ready: You also be ready at His Coming.
(4) Parable of the Faithful and Evil Servant (Matthew 24:45-51)
In sum: “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing” – for “the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of” – most certainly, just as the Noahic earth could care less, the servant who does likewise, will not anticipate the coming of his master. All the moral implications and interpretations of this passage may impress – but its significance should not obscure its prophetic meaning (the same goes for all seven of these examples, types and parables). So, what should the posture be for the disciples at His Coming? Jesus targets the subjective condition of His disciples at His Coming – not necessarily His Coming. The disciples wanted to know when the present age would end and the literal kingdom commenced. Jesus turned the entire inquiry on its head – His admonitions did not circumvent His literal coming again in glory (notwithstanding, the disciples were expectant that He was talking about His FIRST APPEARANCE and the end of Roman rule), but laid stress upon the believer’s focus upon their Lord!
(5) Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
All the controversy surrounding whether or not these are “saved people” is not at issue here. Likewise, all the emphasis by well-meaning but grossly deceived brethren, who make grand issue of this passage to proclaim the partial rapture of the church and the reward of that rapture given to the “overcomers”—overcomers who will be seated at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and those not “overcoming” will not be so seated (See: Witness Lee). Simply put, they are all virgins – some are ready for the bridegroom and others aren’t. Those virgins with insufficient oil lost out—plain and simple—did not make the Marriage Feast. Again, this is an issue of preparedness – an illustration of one’s anticipation of the bridegroom, knowing he’s coming and preparing for His coming.
(6) The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-29)
This is NOT a lesson in managing your finances. Here the issue has everything to do with investing the talents given by “his lord” and reproducing those talents – the parable illustrates that the disciples are to be aware of their Lord’s commitments to them and to invest those commitments to be well pleasing to Him at His Coming. At stake in all these illustrations and parables is the issue of loss versus gain – those prepared, those aware of the consequence of what indifference, being ill-prepared, being fearful, being faithless or non-observant, will suffer loss. Those who behold all these signs (the fig tree) as obedience to the Lord (as Noah); being watchful (the thief); faithfulness to Christ; preparedness for the wedding feast; investing in what God has given us, knowing full-well we must be accountable to Him at His Coming; and, finally, treating one another as beloved brethren – knowing this, when He comes we will either be “sheep” or “goats” – the implications are very serious!
(7) The Son of Man Will Judge the Nations (Matthew 25:31-46)
The final and seventh parable and/or illustration must be viewed in context with the other illustrations/parables. At issue is how one lives their life before the Lord – how we treat those we know and those we don’t know will determine if one is a “sheep” or part of the “goat” nations . . . “these (goats) will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous (sheep) into eternal life.” Once again, it all revolves around how we live our lives before the Lord. If one could care less how he/she treats others – well, then, look out! I realize that these verses have been used, even by yours truly, to connote the final judgment of the nations prior to the Millennium; however, the context of these verses demands they be connected to the rest of the parables and illustrations. This, however, does not distract from the Lord “settling accounts” with humankind prior to the commencement of His Millennial reign on earth during the time between His Coming and the period I have described as “the unveiling of Messiah to Israel” – i.e., the 45 days of Daniel 12:12 – “Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.”
WHAT HUMANS WILL POPULATE THE KINGDOM ON EARTH?
The Pre-tribulationist claims that in order to populate the Millennium with humans (Note: Most Premillenarians, aside from the Seventh-Day Adventists and other aberrant eschatologies, embrace the overwhelming biblical evidence that National Israel will be fully ensconced in their Millenarian role on the earth), the “tribulation saints” (those saved during the 70th Week of Daniel – i.e., what they consider the “sheep nations”) will enter into the literal Millennial Kingdom; however, the “goat nations” are likened unto those who have “received the mark of the Beast” – and they are as it says in Revelation: “Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh” (Revelation 19:20-21).
Notwithstanding the Pre-trib (Dispensational) understanding here that the “tribulation saints” are not a part of the Church, they, nevertheless, bear the same Testimony of Jesus (Rev. 12:17) that John the Apostle bore (Rev. 1:2), their confinement of the Church outside the 70th Week is simply indefensible, for at issue here (i.e., in Matthew 24-25) illustrates the spiritual demography of spiritual expectation and preparedness for the coming of the Lord at the “end of the age.” The Bible does not submit the proposal that during the pouring out of the Wrath of the Lamb that ALL humanity decisively refuses to repent (e.g., “Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great”) – to the contrary, there is every indication that prior to the Eschaton, to the Second Coming of Christ and the destruction of the Beast, we will witness the final expression of God’s mercy to all those who are still free to decide:
“Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; for the winepress is full, the vats overflow—for their wickedness is great” (cf. Revelation 14:17-20) (Joel 3:12-13).
But then we hear this startling disclosure:
“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will diminish their brightness. The LORD also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; the heavens and earth will shake; but the LORD will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel” (Joel 3:14-16).
Are these the Millenarian “multitudes” who during the very Day of the Lord “decide” to repent of their sins and cry out to Him? I affirm this to be the case for the Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance – yet by this time so many would not ascent to His claims on their lives:
“And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory . . . they blasphemed the god of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds” (Revelation 16:9, 11).
Until we read . . .
“For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty . . . and they gather them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon” (Revelation 16:14, 16).
Yet, in the very midst of this defilement – at the extremity of these bowls poured out upon the earth and man’s utter defiance and unrepentant heart toward his Maker – yes, in the throes of the Wrath of the Lamb, we, again are startled by the interjection of the words of the Son of Man:
“Behold I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame” (Revelation 16:15) (Note: Smack dab in the middle of the Sixth Bowl!)
The “thief” metaphor is the same thief metaphor used in Matthew 24:43. Undoubtedly, there is a call for watchfulness given at this most amazing juncture—deep within the bowels of the bowl judgments when the Wrath of God and of the Lamb is poured out! Pre-tribulationists and even Post-tribulationists have a great deal of finagling to do in somehow excising this verse from the confinement of the Fifth Bowl Judgment. Is it out of context, oddly inserted, looking back in time prior to the Wrath of the Lamb? No, He is calling forth the “multitudes in the valley of decision” prior to His literal return in glory; thereby, ushering in multitudes who have made their “decision” to be “watchful” and await His Coming in the very midst of the Wrath of the Lamb – these shall be the sheep nations who enter into His Millenarian Kingdom – these shall be those of whom it is said in Zechariah:
“And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:16).
However, and whatever turned these “last-minute multitudes” that it is said, “Came against Jerusalem” – even these, they shall now “go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and . . . keep the Feast of Tabernacles!” What majestic love is this - from antagonists to compliant sheep is a fascinating enigma known only to God. Astounding – Oh the Grace of the Lord – how unfathomable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Friend – you can’t wait until that extremity where His mercy, though it be as high as the heavens and as deep as the depth of the sea, extends His final appeal to you to repent. No, “now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation!” Talk to Him – He’s waiting “at the doors” – don’t let Him be your thief – let Him be your Master and Lord. Confess His salvation as your salvation and bring your debate to an end: FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD IS NEAR IN THE VALLEY OF DECISION. If you are a believer in the Coming One – then get with it – don’t let your investments, your preoccupations, your indifference spoil His Coming – turn your “Where is the promise of His Coming?” into “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
HE WHO TESTIFIES TO THESE THINGS SAYS
“SURELY I COME QUICKLY”
EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS!
