Music...
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Pastor Bohr: Shall we
bow our heads for prayer?
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"Father in heaven, we
come before Your awesome throne
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in the name of Jesus
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and we come boldly
because we do come in His name.
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We ask that You would
bless our study together
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that we might learn
and apply the lessons
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that You have for us today.
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We thank You for the
promise of Your presence
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and we claim that promise.
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In the precious
name of Jesus, amen. "
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The title of our study today is:
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The Abomination of
Desolation in History.
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If you remember, in
our last presentation
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we studied Matthew chapter
24 and verses 4 through 14
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and, of course, it dealt
with the historical application
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of those verses to the
destruction of Jerusalem
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and the events that
led up to that great event.
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So, let's start by reviewing
what we studied last time
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from Matthew 24
verses 4 through verse 14
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and I'm going to do this quickly
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because we want to
move on to speak about
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the abomination of
desolation that is referred to
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in Matthew
chapter 24 and verse 15.
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So, here's the review.
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First of all, Jesus stated
that false Christs and prophets
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would arise to deceive many.
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We noticed that that happened
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between the death of Christ
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and the
destruction of Jerusalem.
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Then, there's a
mention of disasters...
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wars and rumors of wars...
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nation against nation...
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kingdom against kingdom...
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pestilence...
famine and earthquakes.
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We notice that
those things existed
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between the death of Christ
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and the destruction
of Jerusalem as well
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and then, the
reason for these disasters
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caused by Satan
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was so that God's
people would be blamed
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and that's Matthew
chapter 24 and verse 9.
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God's people would
be cast into tribulation
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and many of them
would be actually killed
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and that happened
between the death of Christ
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and the
destruction of Jerusalem.
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Then we are told that
many would be offended
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when that persecution came.
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Absolutely that happened as well
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according to what
we studied last time.
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We notice also
that family members
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would turn on family
members and friends on friends.
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We noticed that that happened
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before the
destruction of Jerusalem.
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and then, we're told that
many of God's faithful people
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would have to
stand before magistrates
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and they were to think about
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what they were
going to speak about
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when they appeared before
magistrates and before rulers
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because the Holy
Spirit would give them wisdom
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and words to
speak at that moment.
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Then we notice also that
false prophets would arise
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during that time predicting
peace... peace for Jerusalem
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when there really was no peace.
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We notice also that because
of the transgression of the law,
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many people's
love would grow cold
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which means that their
love at one time was hot
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and then it just
cooled off and disappeared
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because of the
deceptions of Satan...
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because of what the
false prophets were saying
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and also, because of
the persecution that arose
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and then, Jesus says,
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"In patience you
will save your souls... "
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and Matthew says,
"Those who persevere
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until the end
shall be saved... "
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and then we notice in
Matthew chapter 24 and verse 14
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that the gospel would be
preached to the whole world
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and then the end would come.
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Well, the fact is
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that we read
several verses where it says
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that the gospel went to the
entire civilized Roman world
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at that time
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and then, we come
after doing this review
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to Matthew
chapter 24 and verse 15.
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It's speaking about the
abomination of desolation.
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It says there in
Matthew 24 and verse 15,
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"Therefore when you see... "
he's speaking to his disciples,
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"when you see the
'abomination of desolation,'
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spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
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standing in the holy place...
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whoever reads,
let him understand. "
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So, notice that the
abomination of desolation
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could be seen by
Christ's followers
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and that
abomination of desolation
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was spoken of
previously by the Prophet Daniel
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and the abomination was
to stand in the Holy Place.
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Now, let's notice
several important details
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about this verse.
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First of all, Daniel
had previously written about
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this abomination of desolation.
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So, in order to
understand what it means,
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we need to go back
to the book of Daniel.
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Secondly, the
abomination of desolation
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was something that
the followers of Jesus
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would see... it was a
sign that was visible to them.
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And third,
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the Holy Place was not
within the city of Jerusalem,
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but rather, outside
the city of Jerusalem.
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You say, "Why is that?"
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Because the text
tells us in the book of Luke
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that the Roman
armies would surround
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the city of Jerusalem
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and so, how could
those inside the city
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flee if the city was surrounded.
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So, the sign is not something
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that is placed inside
the city of Jerusalem,
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that sign has to do
with the Roman armies
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surrounding the city
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and then something happening
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so that God's people
could flee from the city
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without opposition
by the Roman legions.
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So, we need to go
back to the book of Daniel
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to understand the
abomination of desolation
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because Jesus said
that Daniel spoke about
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the abomination of desolation.
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So, let's go back
to the book of Daniel.
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If you remember in one
of our previous studies,
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we notice that after the 70-year
captivity of Israel in Babylon,
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God restored the people
to the city and the temple.
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In fact, the
city... the temple...
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and the walls of
the city were rebuilt
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and the civil and religious
institutions were reestablished
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after the captivity
beginning in the year 536 B.C.
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And then, God gave
His people 70 years
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of grace to shape up.
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In other words, now
God is giving Israel
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a second opportunity
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after Babylon
destroyed Jerusalem...
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the city... the
temple and the walls.
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So, God is saying,
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"I'm going to
give you another 70...
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another 70
weeks... in this case...
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which is 490 years to shape up
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or else the city is going
to be destroyed once more.
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Let's read the
passage in the book of Daniel
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so that we understand this.
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The passage is
in Daniel chapter 9
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and we will begin
reading at verse 25
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and go through verse 27.
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It says here,
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"And after the
sixty-two weeks... "
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it's understood if you
read the passage carefully
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that's after the 62 and 7 weeks.
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In other words, after 69 weeks,
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what's going to happen?
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"Messiah shall be cut off... "
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the word "Messiah"
means the anointed one...
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"but not for Himself;
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and the people of
the prince who is to come
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shall destroy the
city and the sanctuary. "
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So, notice, 70 weeks are
given to the Jewish nation
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to follow the principles
that God has given them
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and to accept the Messiah
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and then, because
they rejected the Messiah,
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we're told that the city
is going to be destroyed again
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because we're told
here that after 69 weeks
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Messiah would be cut
off... not for Himself...
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and the people of the prince
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who was to come
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would destroy the city
and the sanctuary once more
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and then we find...
it continues saying,
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"The end of it... " that is,
of the city and the sanctuary,
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"shall be with the flood,
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and till the end of the war
desolations are determined. "
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So, you notice the keyword,
"Desolations are determined. "
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And then, in verse 27
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it returns to speak about what
happens during the last week
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the 70th week... then it says,
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"He shall confirm...
" that is the Messiah
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shall confirm a
covenant with many for one week;
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but in the middle of the week
He... " that is the Messiah...
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shall bring an end to
sacrifice and offering. "
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And then it repeats once again
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the city is
going to be destroyed.
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It says, "And on the
wing of abominations... "
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that's the key word
we found in Matthew 24,
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"And on the wing of abominations
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shall be one who makes desolate,
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even until the consummation,
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which is determined,
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is poured out on the desolate. "
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So, notice the word
"abominations" is used
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and the word
"desolate" is used twice.
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The abomination of desolation.
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So, let's review what
we find in this passage.
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First of all,
after the captivity,
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God gave the Jewish
nation... the Jewish theocracy
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seventy weeks which is 490 years
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to fulfill their mission.
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At the end of the 69th week,
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the Anointed One or
the Messiah would come.
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That's speaking
about the baptism of Christ
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and the Messiah
would confirm the covenant
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with many for one week...
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that's the 70th
week... the last one...
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it would be cut off in
the middle of the last week
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which is what
happened with Christ
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and when He was cut off,
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He would bring an end
to sacrifices and offerings
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which means that Israel
no longer needed to sacrifice
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animals because
Christ the Lamb of God
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who takes away
the sin of the world
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had been sacrificed.
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And then we're told
there in Daniel chapter 9
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that after these events,
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they people of the
Prince who was to come
00:10:54.52\00:10:57.62
would destroy the city
and the sanctuary once more.
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Now, the big question is,
00:11:01.19\00:11:03.22
who are the people of
the Prince who is to come?
00:11:03.26\00:11:07.90
Who are the people
and who is the Prince?
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Well, there are
different interpretations.
00:11:10.50\00:11:12.93
Futurists believe that
the prince who is to come
00:11:12.97\00:11:17.64
is the Antichrist who will rise
after the rapture of the church
00:11:17.67\00:11:22.41
at the very end of time.
00:11:22.44\00:11:24.15
Others believe that the
Prince that is spoken of here
00:11:24.18\00:11:28.78
as destroying
the city of Jerusalem
00:11:28.82\00:11:31.95
refers to Titus
who came in the year 70
00:11:31.99\00:11:35.02
and with the Roman
legions besieged the city
00:11:35.06\00:11:38.36
and destroyed the city.
00:11:38.39\00:11:39.73
But there's
another interpretation
00:11:39.76\00:11:41.66
which I believe fits best
with this particular passage
00:11:41.70\00:11:46.67
as well as with
other places in Scripture.
00:11:46.70\00:11:49.64
You see, when you read about
the destruction of Jerusalem,
00:11:49.67\00:11:53.31
and now we'll refer to the
first destruction of Jerusalem
00:11:53.34\00:11:56.95
by Nebuchadnezzar,
00:11:56.98\00:11:58.55
you find that it says that God
destroyed the city of Jerusalem.
00:11:58.58\00:12:02.62
We're also told
that Nebuchadnezzar
00:12:02.68\00:12:04.55
destroyed the city of Jerusalem
00:12:04.59\00:12:06.35
and we're told that
Israel destroyed its own city.
00:12:06.42\00:12:10.63
You say, "Now, what
are you talking about?"
00:12:10.66\00:12:12.46
Well, let's go to
Daniel chapter 9...
00:12:12.49\00:12:15.00
Daniel 9 and verse 14...
00:12:15.03\00:12:17.23
Daniel chapter 9 and verse 14...
00:12:17.27\00:12:20.27
it says very clearly
here that God was the one
00:12:20.30\00:12:24.07
who destroyed
the city of Jerusalem
00:12:24.11\00:12:26.44
in the first destruction.
00:12:26.47\00:12:29.08
It says there,
00:12:29.11\00:12:30.48
"Therefore the Lord has
kept the disaster in mind,
00:12:30.51\00:12:34.32
and brought it upon us:
00:12:34.35\00:12:36.65
for the Lord our God is
righteous in all the works
00:12:36.69\00:12:40.19
which He does:
00:12:40.22\00:12:41.62
though we have not
obeyed His voice. "
00:12:41.66\00:12:43.53
So, it says very clearly,
00:12:43.56\00:12:44.89
"Therefore the Lord has
kept this disaster in mind,
00:12:44.93\00:12:47.80
and brought it upon us. "
00:12:47.83\00:12:49.90
So, the Lord brought the
destruction of Jerusalem...
00:12:49.93\00:12:53.07
the first
destruction of Jerusalem.
00:12:53.10\00:12:54.54
But we also are told
00:12:54.57\00:12:57.01
that Nebuchadnezzar
destroyed the city.
00:12:57.04\00:12:59.21
If you go with me in your
Bibles to 2nd Chronicles...
00:12:59.24\00:13:02.41
2nd Chronicles chapter 36...
00:13:02.44\00:13:05.11
that's the last
chapter in 2nd Chronicles...
00:13:05.15\00:13:08.28
2nd Chronicles chapter 36
00:13:08.32\00:13:10.19
and we will read
beginning with verse 17...
00:13:10.22\00:13:13.86
36 verse 17 says the following,
00:13:13.89\00:13:18.16
here it is...
00:13:18.19\00:13:21.36
"Therefore He brought against
them the king of the Chaldeans"
00:13:21.40\00:13:25.10
God brought against
Israel the king of the Chaldeans
00:13:25.13\00:13:28.14
who killed their
young men with the sword
00:13:28.17\00:13:30.81
in the house of their sanctuary,
00:13:30.84\00:13:32.84
and had no compassion
on young man or virgin,
00:13:32.87\00:13:35.98
on the aged or the weak;
00:13:36.01\00:13:38.05
He gave them
all into his hand. "
00:13:38.08\00:13:40.18
That is...
Nebuchadnezzar's hand.
00:13:40.22\00:13:41.55
So, you'll notice here
00:13:41.58\00:13:43.22
that Nebuchadnezzar was
the one who destroyed Jerusalem
00:13:43.25\00:13:47.22
but the Bible also tells us
00:13:47.26\00:13:50.19
that Israel destroyed...
00:13:50.23\00:13:51.86
or brought
destruction upon their own city.
00:13:51.89\00:13:54.36
You say now, "Where
did you get that from?"
00:13:54.40\00:13:56.53
Well, let's go back
to Daniel chapter 9,
00:13:56.56\00:13:58.63
Daniel chapter 9 and
verse 11 says the following,
00:13:58.67\00:14:02.37
"Yes, all Israel has
transgressed Your law... "
00:14:02.40\00:14:05.77
here Daniel is praying...
00:14:05.81\00:14:07.14
"and has departed so
as not to obey Your voice;
00:14:07.18\00:14:10.25
therefore the curse and the oath
00:14:10.28\00:14:12.85
written in the Law of
Moses the servant of God
00:14:12.88\00:14:15.05
have been poured out on us,
00:14:15.08\00:14:16.79
because we have
sinned against Him. "
00:14:16.82\00:14:18.65
So, because of their sins,
destruction came upon the city.
00:14:18.69\00:14:22.42
They brought
destruction upon the city.
00:14:22.46\00:14:24.49
And then, notice
verses 14 and 15,
00:14:24.53\00:14:26.90
"Therefore the Lord has
kept the disaster in mind,
00:14:26.96\00:14:29.76
and brought it upon us;
00:14:29.80\00:14:31.63
for the Lord our God is
righteous in all the works
00:14:31.67\00:14:34.14
which He does,
00:14:34.17\00:14:35.50
though we have
not obeyed His voice.
00:14:35.54\00:14:37.31
And now, O Lord our God,
00:14:37.34\00:14:39.01
who brought Your people
out of the land of Egypt
00:14:39.04\00:14:42.04
with a mighty hand,
00:14:42.08\00:14:43.41
and made Yourself a
name, as it is this day...
00:14:43.45\00:14:45.51
we have sinned, we
have done wickedly!"
00:14:45.55\00:14:49.08
In fact, if you go
to Jeremiah chapter 38,
00:14:49.12\00:14:52.72
Jeremiah chapter 38
it's even more explicit.
00:14:52.75\00:14:56.32
Let's read
Jeremiah 38 and verse 23.
00:14:56.36\00:15:00.50
Jeremiah 38 and verse
23 says the following,
00:15:00.53\00:15:04.83
"So they shall surrender
all your wives and children
00:15:04.87\00:15:09.17
to the Chaldeans.
00:15:09.20\00:15:10.54
You shall not
escape from their hand,
00:15:10.57\00:15:12.87
but shall be taken by the
hand of the king of Babylon. "
00:15:12.91\00:15:16.28
And now notice this,
00:15:16.31\00:15:18.11
He's speaking to Israel,
00:15:18.15\00:15:19.85
"And you shall cause this
city to be burned with fire. "
00:15:19.91\00:15:24.45
So, who is it that brought
destruction upon the city?
00:15:24.52\00:15:29.02
It was Israel.
00:15:29.09\00:15:30.73
So, if I ask you the question:
00:15:30.76\00:15:32.69
Who destroyed
Jerusalem the first time?
00:15:32.73\00:15:36.00
Was it God? Was
it Nebuchadnezzar?
00:15:36.03\00:15:38.60
Or was it Israel?
00:15:38.63\00:15:40.40
Of course the
answer is, "Yes... "
00:15:40.44\00:15:43.30
This is the way it works.
00:15:43.34\00:15:45.07
Because of Israel's
sins, God employed His servant,
00:15:45.11\00:15:49.51
Nebuchadnezzar,
00:15:49.54\00:15:50.88
to destroy the
city and the temple.
00:15:50.91\00:15:53.75
By the way,
something similar happened
00:15:53.82\00:15:56.58
with the second destruction
of Jerusalem in the year 70.
00:15:56.62\00:16:01.12
I want to read you a statement
that we find in the book,
00:16:01.16\00:16:03.79
The Great
Controversy, pages 35 and 36.
00:16:03.83\00:16:07.70
It says there,
00:16:07.73\00:16:09.36
"The Jews had
forged their own fetters;
00:16:09.40\00:16:13.13
they had filled for themselves
the cup of vengeance. "
00:16:13.17\00:16:18.14
So, notice what it says,
00:16:18.17\00:16:19.51
"The Jews had
forged their own fetters;
00:16:19.54\00:16:22.04
they had filled for
themselves the cup of vengeance.
00:16:22.08\00:16:25.65
In the utter destruction
that befell them as a nation,
00:16:25.68\00:16:29.28
and in all the
woes that followed them
00:16:29.32\00:16:31.39
in their dispersion,
00:16:31.45\00:16:32.79
they were but
reaping the harvest
00:16:32.82\00:16:35.82
which their hands had sown.
00:16:35.86\00:16:38.39
Says the prophet: 'O Israel,
00:16:38.43\00:16:40.96
thou has destroyed thyself:
00:16:41.00\00:16:43.60
for thou has fallen
by thine iniquity. '"
00:16:43.63\00:16:46.43
That's Hosea 13:9 and 14:1.
00:16:46.47\00:16:49.24
"Their sufferings...
" Ellen White writes,
00:16:49.27\00:16:52.27
"are often represented as a
punishment visited upon them
00:16:52.31\00:16:56.14
by the direct decree of God.
00:16:56.18\00:16:58.51
It is thus that
the great deceiver
00:16:58.55\00:17:01.05
seeks to conceal his own work.
00:17:01.08\00:17:02.95
By stubborn rejection
of divine love and mercy,
00:17:02.98\00:17:07.12
the Jews had caused
the protection of God
00:17:07.16\00:17:11.46
to be withdrawn from them,
00:17:11.49\00:17:12.99
and Satan was
permitted to rule them
00:17:13.03\00:17:16.26
according to his will. "
00:17:16.30\00:17:19.03
Now, there's an interesting
parable that Jesus told
00:17:19.07\00:17:22.50
in Matthew chapter 22...
00:17:22.54\00:17:25.74
the same book that
we're studying from
00:17:25.77\00:17:28.14
and it's just a couple of
chapters before chapter 24.
00:17:28.18\00:17:31.35
In Matthew
chapter 22 and verse 7,
00:17:31.38\00:17:35.42
we find predicted the
destruction of Jerusalem
00:17:35.45\00:17:38.89
and notice, all
three are involved
00:17:38.92\00:17:41.12
in this story.
00:17:41.16\00:17:42.49
It says that
servants were sent to Israel
00:17:42.52\00:17:46.29
and they rejected the servants
and so in verse 7 it says,
00:17:46.33\00:17:50.13
"But when the king...
" who is God the Father
00:17:50.17\00:17:52.53
"heard about it, He was furious.
00:17:52.57\00:17:54.80
And He... " that is God...
00:17:54.84\00:17:56.64
"sent out His
armies... " which are the Romans
00:17:56.67\00:17:59.67
"and destroyed those murderers,
00:17:59.71\00:18:01.81
and burned their city. "
00:18:01.84\00:18:03.18
So, you notice,
all three are involved
00:18:03.21\00:18:05.55
in the second
destruction of Jerusalem.
00:18:05.58\00:18:07.58
God sent His armies...
00:18:07.62\00:18:10.02
He allowed the Roman
armies... the legions
00:18:10.05\00:18:11.95
to come to destroy those who had
killed the Son, Jesus Christ.
00:18:12.02\00:18:19.19
Now, let's go to Matthew
chapter 23 and verses 38 and 39.
00:18:19.23\00:18:24.83
Matthew 23 verses 38 and 39.
00:18:24.87\00:18:28.64
Here Jesus is leaving
the temple for the last time
00:18:28.67\00:18:34.11
and He speaks some
words that we noticed
00:18:34.14\00:18:37.61
in a previous lecture.
00:18:37.65\00:18:38.98
It says there in
Matthew 23 verses 38,
00:18:39.01\00:18:41.45
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
00:18:41.48\00:18:44.02
the one who kills the prophets
00:18:44.05\00:18:46.25
and stones those
who are sent to her!
00:18:46.29\00:18:48.52
How often I wanted to
gather your children together,
00:18:48.56\00:18:52.13
as a hen gathers her
chicks under her wings,
00:18:52.16\00:18:56.10
but you were not willing!"
00:18:56.13\00:18:59.27
Now, that's very important.
00:18:59.30\00:19:02.17
Jesus said, "I wanted to gather
together all of the children...
00:19:02.20\00:19:06.31
all of Israel... I wanted
to gather them together...
00:19:06.34\00:19:09.41
you who killed the prophets
00:19:09.44\00:19:11.68
and stoned those
who were sent to her,
00:19:11.71\00:19:13.85
I wanted you to gather to Me.
00:19:13.88\00:19:16.85
But then He says,
"You were not willing. "
00:19:16.89\00:19:21.06
And then comes the key
word that we've been looking at,
00:19:21.09\00:19:24.49
verse 38, Jesus says to them,
00:19:24.53\00:19:27.66
"See... " and He's speaking
to the religious leaders...
00:19:27.70\00:19:30.47
Scribes and Pharisees...
00:19:30.50\00:19:31.90
"See! Your house... it
was no longer My house... "
00:19:31.93\00:19:37.04
it was no longer
the temple of God...
00:19:37.07\00:19:38.47
He says, "Your house is
left unto you desolate. "
00:19:38.51\00:19:43.18
In other words,
Jesus left the temple
00:19:43.21\00:19:45.55
and then if you notice
chapter 24 verses 1 to 3,
00:19:45.58\00:19:49.28
the next point
00:19:49.32\00:19:50.65
is that Jesus speaks about
the destruction of Jerusalem.
00:19:50.69\00:19:53.46
So, notice,
Israel rejected Christ...
00:19:53.49\00:19:58.63
therefore, the
house was left desolate
00:19:58.66\00:20:01.10
and immediately after
00:20:01.13\00:20:03.53
the destruction
of the city comes.
00:20:03.57\00:20:06.60
Let's read Mark 13 verse 14,
00:20:06.63\00:20:11.01
the parallel passage to
Matthew 24 and verse 15.
00:20:11.04\00:20:15.18
Jesus said, "So when you see
the 'abomination of desolation,'
00:20:15.21\00:20:21.38
spoken of by Daniel the prophet"
00:20:21.42\00:20:23.32
and now comes the
detail that is not in Matthew,
00:20:23.35\00:20:26.19
"standing where
it ought not... "
00:20:26.22\00:20:28.82
let the reader understand...
00:20:28.86\00:20:31.33
"then let those who are in
Judea flee to the mountains. "
00:20:31.36\00:20:35.93
So, Mark adds that the
abomination of desolation
00:20:35.96\00:20:39.40
was put in a place
where it should not be.
00:20:39.43\00:20:42.87
Now, when we read Luke, it's...
00:20:42.90\00:20:47.28
it's almost totally
different than what you find
00:20:47.31\00:20:49.78
in Matthew and Mark.
00:20:49.81\00:20:51.25
It says in Luke
chapter 21 and verse 20,
00:20:51.28\00:20:54.38
Jesus is speaking...
00:20:54.42\00:20:55.85
this is the same sermon
that He preached in Matthew 24,
00:20:55.88\00:20:58.65
"But when you see
Jerusalem surrounded by armies,
00:20:58.72\00:21:03.86
then know that its
desolation is near. "
00:21:03.89\00:21:07.76
So, I want you to notice here
00:21:07.80\00:21:10.00
that the
abomination of desolation
00:21:10.03\00:21:12.67
spoken of by Daniel
00:21:12.70\00:21:14.37
Luke interprets...
actually it's Jesus...
00:21:14.40\00:21:17.31
it's recorded in
the gospel of Luke...
00:21:17.34\00:21:20.18
in the gospel of Luke,
00:21:20.21\00:21:22.11
it means the Roman armies
00:21:22.14\00:21:23.95
surrounding the
city of Jerusalem...
00:21:24.01\00:21:26.65
in other words,
that is the sign...
00:21:26.68\00:21:29.42
that is the
abomination of desolation.
00:21:29.45\00:21:32.15
Now, I want you to notice
00:21:32.22\00:21:34.16
that the abomination
is the siege of the city
00:21:34.19\00:21:37.89
by the Roman Legion.
00:21:37.93\00:21:39.83
It is not the
destruction of the city itself.
00:21:39.86\00:21:43.40
Thus, the expression:
Standing in the Holy Place
00:21:43.43\00:21:47.57
must refer to an area
outside the city walls
00:21:47.60\00:21:51.67
rather than the destruction
00:21:51.71\00:21:53.98
of the city and
the temple itself.
00:21:54.01\00:21:56.28
Now, Jesus told His
followers to flee from the city.
00:21:56.31\00:22:01.05
However, they
couldn't flee from the city
00:22:01.08\00:22:04.32
when the city was totally
surrounded by the Roman legions.
00:22:04.35\00:22:07.69
So, the question is,
00:22:07.72\00:22:09.42
"What is it that was the
abomination of desolation?"
00:22:09.49\00:22:14.26
The fact is that the abomination
was the Roman legions
00:22:14.30\00:22:19.03
surrounding the
city of Jerusalem
00:22:19.07\00:22:21.10
and that was the
harbinger or the omen...
00:22:21.14\00:22:25.27
the sign... if you please...
00:22:25.31\00:22:27.44
that the desolation of
the city was about to come.
00:22:27.48\00:22:31.95
In fact, Josephus said
that Titus actually built
00:22:31.98\00:22:36.45
a wall around the whole city.
00:22:36.48\00:22:39.85
In other words,
00:22:39.89\00:22:41.22
there was no escape
when Titus came to the city.
00:22:41.26\00:22:44.36
Now, Ellen White had something
very interesting to say
00:22:44.39\00:22:48.86
about this sign that would
be seen outside the city...
00:22:48.90\00:22:52.50
the abomination that would
be seen outside the city...
00:22:52.53\00:22:56.10
the Roman legions.
00:22:56.14\00:22:57.47
In the book: The
Great Controversy, page 26
00:22:57.51\00:23:00.68
she wrote the following,
00:23:00.71\00:23:02.18
"When the idolatrous
standards of the Romans... "
00:23:02.21\00:23:06.98
notice... not
only the standards...
00:23:07.02\00:23:09.25
"When the idolatrous
standards of the Romans
00:23:09.28\00:23:12.99
should be set up
in the holy ground,
00:23:13.02\00:23:16.79
which extended some
furlongs outside the city walls"
00:23:16.83\00:23:22.36
so... even an area
outside the city walls
00:23:22.40\00:23:24.90
was considered
"holy" among the Jews.
00:23:24.93\00:23:27.37
So, once again,
00:23:27.44\00:23:28.90
"When the idolatrous
standards of the Romans
00:23:28.94\00:23:31.27
should be set up
in the holy ground,
00:23:31.31\00:23:33.27
which extended some
furlongs outside the city walls,
00:23:33.31\00:23:37.45
then the followers of Christ
were to find safety in flight.
00:23:37.48\00:23:42.45
When the warning
sign should be seen,
00:23:42.48\00:23:45.52
those who would
escape must make no delay. "
00:23:45.55\00:23:51.29
And Ellen White explains
00:23:51.33\00:23:53.86
what was on the
idolatrous Roman standards.
00:23:53.90\00:23:56.77
She wrote in The
Great Controversy, page 41,
00:23:56.80\00:23:59.63
"The gospel
penetrated into regions
00:23:59.70\00:24:02.97
that were inaccessible
even to the eagles of Rome. "
00:24:03.00\00:24:08.84
So, what did the
Roman standard have?
00:24:08.91\00:24:11.65
The Roman standard had an eagle.
00:24:11.68\00:24:15.08
Now, let's talk a
little bit about the history
00:24:15.12\00:24:18.35
of the Roman standard...
00:24:18.39\00:24:19.72
the idolatrous Roman standard.
00:24:19.75\00:24:22.56
The official
standard of the Roman legions
00:24:22.59\00:24:26.09
in the time of
Christ was the eagle.
00:24:26.13\00:24:29.43
Now, until the year 104 B.C.,
00:24:29.46\00:24:32.87
the Roman legions had different
beasts on their standards
00:24:32.93\00:24:37.31
depending on their division.
00:24:37.34\00:24:38.81
Some had a bull...
some had a snake...
00:24:38.84\00:24:42.34
some had a lion
and some had a vulture.
00:24:42.38\00:24:45.81
However, in the year 63 B.C.,
00:24:45.85\00:24:49.52
the Roman General Pompey
deified the Roman standards
00:24:49.55\00:24:54.82
and the eagle
became the lone beast
00:24:54.89\00:24:59.19
that was on the Roman standard.
00:24:59.23\00:25:01.43
Now, why did
Pompey adopt the eagle
00:25:01.46\00:25:05.30
as the insignia of
the Roman standard?
00:25:05.33\00:25:09.14
The reason is very simple.
00:25:09.20\00:25:11.01
In a military
campaign to Asia Minor,
00:25:11.04\00:25:14.71
Pompey adopted a
god called: Mithra.
00:25:14.74\00:25:18.55
Mithra was the
sun god in Asia Minor
00:25:18.58\00:25:22.32
and Pompey adopted
Mithra as the patron god
00:25:22.38\00:25:28.02
of the Roman legions
00:25:28.06\00:25:29.66
and so, he adopted the
eagle as the lone beast
00:25:29.69\00:25:35.06
on the Roman standard.
00:25:35.10\00:25:36.93
By the way,
Constantine the Great
00:25:36.97\00:25:40.40
worshipped this God.
00:25:40.44\00:25:42.27
Constantine called
this god: Deus Sol Invictus
00:25:42.30\00:25:47.08
which means: To
the invincible sun.
00:25:47.11\00:25:50.31
The eagle standard
thus became a symbol
00:25:50.35\00:25:53.52
of the invincibility of Rome.
00:25:53.55\00:25:56.18
As the sun defeats the
darkness when it rises,
00:25:56.25\00:25:59.92
So, the Roman armies...
00:25:59.95\00:26:02.09
the Roman legions
defeated their enemies.
00:26:02.12\00:26:04.79
Now, when you look
at the Roman standard,
00:26:04.83\00:26:07.40
it had several characteristics,
00:26:07.43\00:26:10.50
first of all, it had an eagle.
00:26:10.53\00:26:13.54
The eagle's wings
were outstretched.
00:26:13.57\00:26:17.94
A golden wreath
surrounded the eagle
00:26:17.97\00:26:22.28
representing the orb of the sun
00:26:22.31\00:26:25.48
and in the talons of the eagle,
00:26:25.51\00:26:28.62
there were arrows.
00:26:28.68\00:26:31.42
Josephus tells us that when
the Romans surrounded Jerusalem,
00:26:31.45\00:26:36.83
they offered sacrifices
00:26:36.86\00:26:39.33
and they worshipped
their eagle standards.
00:26:39.39\00:26:43.73
What were they worshipping
00:26:43.77\00:26:45.10
when they bowed
before the eagle standard
00:26:45.13\00:26:47.10
when they besieged Jerusalem?
00:26:47.14\00:26:48.80
They were
worshipping the sun god Mithra.
00:26:48.84\00:26:52.51
Notice what Josephus had to say
in his book: Wars of the Jews.
00:26:52.54\00:26:58.15
"Then came the ensigns
encompassing the eagle,
00:26:58.18\00:27:03.22
which is at the head
of every Roman legion,
00:27:03.25\00:27:07.52
the king, and the
strongest of all birds,
00:27:07.56\00:27:11.73
which seems to them...
" now listen carefully...
00:27:11.79\00:27:15.00
"seems to them... "
that is to the Roman legions,
00:27:15.03\00:27:18.23
"a signal of dominion,
00:27:18.27\00:27:21.47
and an omen
00:27:21.50\00:27:23.30
that they shall conquer
all against whom they march. "
00:27:23.34\00:27:26.98
Jesus spoke of the abomination
of desolation as a sign.
00:27:27.04\00:27:30.85
Josephus says that the Romans
considered their standards
00:27:30.88\00:27:34.68
as the signal of
dominion and an omen
00:27:34.72\00:27:37.72
that they shall conquer
all against whom they march.
00:27:37.75\00:27:41.59
Now, it's very interesting that
in 1st Peter chapter 5 verse 13,
00:27:41.62\00:27:46.63
Peter referred to
Rome as Babylon...
00:27:46.66\00:27:51.53
as a new Babylon.
00:27:51.57\00:27:53.70
It says there,
"She who is in Babylon,
00:27:53.74\00:27:57.11
elect together
with you, greets you;
00:27:57.14\00:28:00.48
and so does Mark my son. "
00:28:00.51\00:28:02.78
So, Peter refers
to Rome as Babylon.
00:28:02.81\00:28:06.38
Therefore, a new
Babylon destroyed Jerusalem
00:28:06.41\00:28:11.09
in the year 70 A.D.
00:28:11.12\00:28:13.46
just as old Babylon had
destroyed the city of Jerusalem
00:28:13.49\00:28:18.59
in the days of Nebuchadnezzar.
00:28:18.63\00:28:20.23
And as we found in our
study... in a previous study...
00:28:20.26\00:28:24.80
that Nebuchadnezzar is spoken of
00:28:24.83\00:28:30.24
as an eagle
coming against Jerusalem,
00:28:30.27\00:28:32.64
so, the Roman legions come
with their eagle standards.
00:28:32.67\00:28:37.68
It is no coincidence, Folks,
00:28:37.71\00:28:40.62
that in Matthew
chapter 24 and verse 28,
00:28:40.65\00:28:44.62
we are told, "For
wherever the carcass is,
00:28:44.65\00:28:49.52
there the eagles will
be gathered together. "
00:28:49.56\00:28:54.03
You see, in the
destruction of Jerusalem,
00:28:54.06\00:28:56.70
where the carcass was...
where the carcasses were...
00:28:56.73\00:29:00.04
there, the eagles
would be gathered together...
00:29:00.07\00:29:03.64
it's referring
to the Roman eagles.
00:29:03.67\00:29:06.68
But now comes a
very important question.
00:29:06.71\00:29:09.48
How could the Christians
in the city of Jerusalem
00:29:09.51\00:29:14.08
escape the city
00:29:14.12\00:29:16.12
when the city was
surrounded by the Roman legions?
00:29:16.15\00:29:19.75
There was no escape...
00:29:19.79\00:29:21.32
it was like a wall
built around the city.
00:29:21.36\00:29:24.39
So how... when
they saw the sign...
00:29:24.43\00:29:26.93
could they escape from the city?
00:29:26.96\00:29:28.50
Well, Flavius
Josephus has the explanation
00:29:28.53\00:29:32.77
and by the way, Flavius Josephus
was born in the year 37 A.D.
00:29:32.80\00:29:38.84
and he was an eye witness to
the destruction of Jerusalem.
00:29:38.87\00:29:42.14
He was a historian that
knew exactly what happened.
00:29:42.18\00:29:45.28
So, he wrote the following.
00:29:45.31\00:29:47.82
Let me give you a
little bit of context.
00:29:47.85\00:29:49.78
In the year 66, Cestius Gallus
00:29:49.82\00:29:53.25
who was leading
the Roman legions,
00:29:53.29\00:29:55.66
besieged Jerusalem
00:29:55.69\00:29:57.93
and everything looked
like the city was about to fall
00:29:57.96\00:30:01.00
and then, suddenly, Cestius
and the Roman legions fled.
00:30:01.03\00:30:06.20
It was like
something spooked them
00:30:06.23\00:30:08.14
and, of course, Josephus...
00:30:08.17\00:30:11.07
he said that there was
no explainable reason...
00:30:11.11\00:30:13.11
we know that there
was an explainable reason
00:30:13.14\00:30:15.81
but anyway, this is
what he stated in his book:
00:30:15.84\00:30:18.48
The Wars of the Jews...
00:30:18.51\00:30:19.85
"without having
received any disgrace,
00:30:19.88\00:30:23.08
Cestius retired from the city,
00:30:23.12\00:30:26.42
without any
reason in the world. "
00:30:26.45\00:30:30.59
In other words, he
just picked up and left...
00:30:30.63\00:30:33.13
when everything looked like
he was going to conquer the city
00:30:33.16\00:30:37.70
and the Jews... when
they saw Cestius retreating,
00:30:37.73\00:30:41.54
they said, "See" the
false prophet said...
00:30:41.60\00:30:43.87
"see... we told you that the
city was not going to fall...
00:30:43.91\00:30:47.14
that God is with the city... "
00:30:47.18\00:30:49.01
and so, they went
after the Roman legions
00:30:49.04\00:30:51.71
and Josephus tells us
00:30:51.75\00:30:53.52
that the Roman
legions suffered many loses
00:30:53.55\00:30:56.48
because the Jews
had come against them
00:30:56.52\00:30:59.12
as they fled back to Rome.
00:30:59.15\00:31:01.52
But then, the Romans came back
00:31:01.59\00:31:05.46
and this time,
they did not retreat.
00:31:05.49\00:31:08.93
In the year 70,
Titus surrounded the city
00:31:08.96\00:31:12.30
and as Josephus says,
00:31:12.33\00:31:14.94
the Roman legions were
like a wall outside the city
00:31:14.97\00:31:18.47
and there was no escape.
00:31:18.51\00:31:20.64
However, God's people... His
faithful people inside the city,
00:31:20.68\00:31:25.48
faithful
Christians had seen the sign
00:31:25.51\00:31:28.78
and they had fled when
Cestius Gallus retreated
00:31:28.82\00:31:33.25
and not one
Christian we're going to find,
00:31:33.29\00:31:36.09
was destroyed when
the city was destroyed.
00:31:36.12\00:31:38.89
Let's read
Matthew 24 verses 16 to 22
00:31:38.93\00:31:42.30
which describes what happens
00:31:42.33\00:31:44.67
after the
Christians see the sign
00:31:44.70\00:31:47.34
of the
abomination of desolation.
00:31:47.37\00:31:49.94
Matthew 24 and verse 16,
00:31:50.01\00:31:53.04
we've already noticed verse 15.
00:31:53.07\00:31:54.68
verse 16 says,
00:31:54.71\00:31:57.01
"Then... " that is when they see
the abomination of desolation...
00:31:57.05\00:32:00.45
"then let those who are in
Judea flee to the mountains.
00:32:00.48\00:32:05.82
Let him who is on the housetop
00:32:05.85\00:32:08.06
not go down to take
anything out of his house.
00:32:08.09\00:32:11.46
And let him who is in the field
00:32:11.49\00:32:14.00
not go back to get his clothes.
00:32:14.03\00:32:16.70
But woe to
those who are pregnant
00:32:16.73\00:32:20.07
and to those who are
nursing babies in those days!"
00:32:20.10\00:32:23.10
Very interesting.
00:32:23.14\00:32:25.87
This is quite a flight.
00:32:25.91\00:32:27.64
"Flee to the
mountains from the city. "
00:32:27.68\00:32:30.01
Those on the housetop...
don't go down to get anything,
00:32:30.05\00:32:32.95
those who are in the field...
00:32:32.98\00:32:34.98
don't go back even
to get your clothes,
00:32:35.02\00:32:36.95
but woe... this is
such a difficult time...
00:32:36.99\00:32:40.49
"woe to those who are pregnant
00:32:40.52\00:32:42.39
and those who are
nursing babies in those days!"
00:32:42.42\00:32:44.46
And then comes a
very interesting detail...
00:32:44.49\00:32:46.83
all of the Christians
inside the city that escaped
00:32:46.86\00:32:52.17
were Sabbath keepers.
00:32:52.20\00:32:54.87
They observed the
seventh-day Sabbath.
00:32:54.90\00:32:57.61
Now, I want you to
notice what it says in verse 20.
00:32:57.64\00:33:01.64
"And pray that your
flight may not be in winter... "
00:33:01.68\00:33:05.65
of course, because
it would be very cold...
00:33:05.68\00:33:07.25
or on the Sabbath.
00:33:07.28\00:33:10.25
The Christians were keeping
the Sabbath in the year 70
00:33:10.29\00:33:14.52
so, Sunday was not
the day of worship.
00:33:14.56\00:33:17.09
And then, verse 21...
00:33:17.13\00:33:18.79
"For then there will
be great tribulation... "
00:33:18.86\00:33:21.76
you notice that in verse 9,
00:33:21.80\00:33:23.87
there was going
to be a tribulation
00:33:23.93\00:33:25.57
and many would be slain
00:33:25.60\00:33:26.94
but this is an
intensified tribulation.
00:33:26.97\00:33:29.77
It says once again,
00:33:29.80\00:33:31.34
"For then there will
be a great tribulation,
00:33:31.37\00:33:34.01
such as has not been
since the beginning of the world
00:33:34.04\00:33:37.35
until this time... "
remember that expression,
00:33:37.38\00:33:39.45
"such has not been since
the beginning of the world
00:33:39.51\00:33:42.95
until this time,
no, nor ever shall be. "
00:33:42.98\00:33:45.79
And then He says, "unless
those days were shortened,
00:33:45.82\00:33:49.32
no flesh would be saved;
00:33:49.36\00:33:51.16
but for the elect's sake
those days will be shortened. "
00:33:51.19\00:33:54.90
I want you to remember
the expression here that says,
00:33:54.93\00:33:58.10
"that has not been since
the beginning of the world
00:33:58.13\00:34:01.24
until this time. "
00:34:01.27\00:34:02.60
We'll come back
with... in a few moments.
00:34:02.64\00:34:04.54
Let me just digress a
moment and speak about
00:34:04.57\00:34:06.57
Lot's departure
from the city of Sodom.
00:34:06.61\00:34:09.84
As you know, his wife
went out of Sodom with him
00:34:09.88\00:34:13.25
but Sodom had not gone out
of the heart of Lot's wife.
00:34:13.31\00:34:17.59
She looked back...
00:34:17.62\00:34:19.12
you notice, she was thinking,
00:34:19.15\00:34:20.56
"Oh! all of the things
that I'm leaving behind. "
00:34:20.59\00:34:23.02
That's why Jesus
said, "When you flee...
00:34:23.06\00:34:24.86
don't go back to get anything...
00:34:24.89\00:34:26.86
don't focus on
what's behind you. "
00:34:26.90\00:34:28.86
Luke 17:28 to 32,
00:34:28.90\00:34:31.87
describes here the
experience of Lot's wife.
00:34:31.90\00:34:36.87
"Likewise as it was
also in the days of Lot:
00:34:36.91\00:34:40.81
They ate, they drank,
they bought, they sold,
00:34:40.88\00:34:44.71
they planted, they built;
00:34:44.75\00:34:46.08
but on the day that
Lot went out of Sodom
00:34:46.11\00:34:48.38
it rained fire and
brimstone from heaven
00:34:48.42\00:34:50.35
and destroyed them all. "
00:34:50.39\00:34:51.72
Now notice, "Even so
will it be in the day
00:34:51.75\00:34:54.32
when the Son of
Man is revealed. "
00:34:54.36\00:34:55.92
"In that day, he
who is on the housetop,
00:34:55.96\00:34:59.29
and his goods are in the house,
00:34:59.33\00:35:00.83
let him not come
down to take them away.
00:35:00.86\00:35:03.47
And likewise the
one who is in the field,
00:35:03.50\00:35:06.07
let him not turn back... "
00:35:06.10\00:35:08.97
and then, we find a
sermon in three words:
00:35:09.00\00:35:13.58
actually four...
because there's an apostrophe,
00:35:13.61\00:35:16.54
"Remember Lot's wife. "
00:35:16.61\00:35:20.48
She looked back.
00:35:20.52\00:35:22.12
Now, in the book:
Messages to Young People
00:35:22.15\00:35:25.19
page 419,
00:35:25.22\00:35:26.72
Ellen White wrote some
words about why Lot decided
00:35:26.76\00:35:31.73
to establish
himself in the cities.
00:35:31.76\00:35:34.06
It was because
00:35:34.10\00:35:35.43
life was so much more
convenient there in the cities.
00:35:35.46\00:35:38.63
This is what the statement says,
00:35:38.67\00:35:42.20
"Lot chose as a
place of residence
00:35:42.24\00:35:45.74
because he looked
more to the temporal...
00:35:45.77\00:35:48.11
he chose Sodom as
a place of residence
00:35:48.14\00:35:50.35
because he looked more
to the temporal advantages
00:35:50.38\00:35:53.78
he would gain
00:35:53.82\00:35:55.15
than to the moral influences
00:35:55.18\00:35:58.49
that would surround
himself and his family. "
00:35:58.52\00:36:00.62
So, in other words, he wanted
the temporal advantages...
00:36:00.66\00:36:04.16
the financial advantages
00:36:04.19\00:36:05.69
instead of the moral
influences of the cities.
00:36:05.73\00:36:08.06
And then Ellen White asks,
00:36:08.10\00:36:10.57
"What did he gain so far
as the things of this world
00:36:10.63\00:36:13.13
are concerned?"
00:36:13.17\00:36:14.67
Here's the result.
00:36:14.70\00:36:16.04
"His possessions were destroyed,
00:36:16.07\00:36:18.24
part of his children
perished in the destruction
00:36:18.27\00:36:22.18
of that wicked city,
00:36:22.24\00:36:23.58
his wife was turned to a
pillar of salt by the way,
00:36:23.61\00:36:27.15
and he himself was
saved 'so as by fire. '
00:36:27.18\00:36:31.69
Nor did the evil results of
his selfish choice end here;
00:36:31.72\00:36:36.76
but the moral
corruption of the place
00:36:36.79\00:36:39.79
was so interwoven with
the character of his children
00:36:39.83\00:36:43.06
that they could not distinguish
between good and evil,
00:36:43.10\00:36:46.60
sin and righteousness. "
00:36:46.63\00:36:49.10
Ellen White describes the sign
00:36:49.14\00:36:52.27
that indicated to those
Christians in the cities
00:36:52.31\00:36:54.98
that they should
leave and not look back.
00:36:55.01\00:36:57.35
Great Controversy, page 30,
00:36:57.38\00:36:59.48
"But God's merciful
providence was directing events
00:36:59.51\00:37:03.59
for the good of His own people.
00:37:03.62\00:37:05.32
The promised sign... "
00:37:05.35\00:37:07.69
which is the
abomination of desolation...
00:37:07.72\00:37:09.86
"The promised sign had been
given to the waiting Christians,
00:37:09.89\00:37:13.96
and now an opportunity
was offered for all who would,
00:37:14.00\00:37:18.97
to obey the Savior's warning. "
00:37:19.00\00:37:21.70
So, the sequence
that we find here is...
00:37:21.74\00:37:24.67
there's the sign... the
abomination of desolation,
00:37:24.71\00:37:27.88
this is the sign that the...
00:37:27.91\00:37:30.45
God's faithful
people should flee
00:37:30.48\00:37:32.45
and then, when they flee...
00:37:32.51\00:37:34.52
you have the great tribulation
spoken of in verses 21 and 22.
00:37:34.55\00:37:40.76
So, the abomination
was seen outside the city.
00:37:40.79\00:37:45.03
Let's talk a little about
the desolation of the city.
00:37:45.06\00:37:49.46
Later...
00:37:49.50\00:37:51.10
this is after Cestius had
the city surrounded and left...
00:37:51.13\00:37:54.37
Vespasian and then
Titus returned to Jerusalem
00:37:54.40\00:37:58.71
and there was no retreat.
00:37:58.74\00:38:01.08
God's people had seen
the Roman eagle standards
00:38:01.14\00:38:05.41
and how the Roman legions
00:38:05.45\00:38:06.95
bowed and worshipped the sun god
00:38:07.02\00:38:09.95
and they immediately escaped.
00:38:09.98\00:38:12.85
Now, I want you to notice
this very important point,
00:38:12.89\00:38:16.32
"Thus, the final test came
when the faithful saw the sign.
00:38:16.36\00:38:22.56
Those who were in the
city... who were in apostasy...
00:38:22.60\00:38:26.77
they did not understand the sign
00:38:26.84\00:38:29.40
but there was a group
that did understand the sign.
00:38:29.44\00:38:32.07
So, basically, the sign divided
Jerusalem into two groups.
00:38:32.11\00:38:38.08
Those who saw
the sign and escaped
00:38:38.11\00:38:41.12
and those who paid no
regard to the sign and stayed.
00:38:41.15\00:38:44.89
We'll deal more with
this a little bit later on.
00:38:44.92\00:38:48.32
So, immediately
after God's people escaped,
00:38:48.36\00:38:51.93
then you have the
terrible tribulation
00:38:51.96\00:38:54.23
described in Matthew 24
00:38:54.26\00:38:56.00
and 1.1 million
Jews... according to Josephus,
00:38:56.03\00:39:00.87
perished in the
destruction of the city
00:39:00.90\00:39:03.00
but Ellen White in Great
Controversy page 30 wrote,
00:39:03.04\00:39:06.47
"Not one Christian perished
00:39:06.51\00:39:09.81
in the
destruction of Jerusalem. "
00:39:09.84\00:39:12.35
Now, do you
remember the expression
00:39:12.38\00:39:14.65
that I told you to keep in mind?
00:39:14.68\00:39:16.95
"Since the beginning of
the world until this time... "
00:39:16.99\00:39:20.46
in other words, the
worst period of tribulation
00:39:20.49\00:39:22.56
since the beginning of
the world until this time...
00:39:22.59\00:39:24.93
you know, Josephus...
I'm sure he was not reading
00:39:24.96\00:39:27.26
the sermon of
Jesus in Matthew 24,
00:39:27.30\00:39:29.36
he uses a very
similar expression.
00:39:29.40\00:39:32.10
He wrote in the book: Wars...
00:39:32.13\00:39:34.80
"The misfortunes of all men
from the beginning of the world
00:39:34.84\00:39:39.84
if they be compared
to these of the Jews
00:39:39.87\00:39:43.24
are not
considerable as they were. "
00:39:43.31\00:39:46.61
And those in the city
were all Sabbath keepers...
00:39:46.65\00:39:52.89
pray that your flight
not be on the Sabbath.
00:39:52.92\00:39:58.53
So, national
apostasy led to national ruin.
00:39:58.56\00:40:03.77
We find in Luke
chapter 19 verse 41 to 44
00:40:03.80\00:40:07.50
the following
words of Jesus, you see,
00:40:07.54\00:40:11.17
the rejection of the Messiah
00:40:11.21\00:40:12.81
now becomes the
reason for national ruin.
00:40:12.87\00:40:18.08
It says there in Luke 19:41,
00:40:18.11\00:40:20.42
speaking about Jesus
as He nears Jerusalem
00:40:20.45\00:40:23.65
from the east side.
00:40:23.69\00:40:25.19
"Now as He drew near,
00:40:25.22\00:40:26.65
He saw the city
and wept over it,
00:40:26.69\00:40:29.06
saying, 'If you
had known, even you,
00:40:29.09\00:40:31.43
especially in this your day,
00:40:31.46\00:40:33.80
the things that
make for your peace!"
00:40:33.83\00:40:35.70
If you had only known
how you could have peace...
00:40:35.73\00:40:37.73
he continues,
00:40:37.77\00:40:39.43
"But now they are
hidden from your eyes.
00:40:39.47\00:40:41.30
For the days will come upon you
00:40:41.34\00:40:44.01
when your enemies will
build an embankment around you,
00:40:44.04\00:40:47.64
surround you and close
you in on every side... "
00:40:47.68\00:40:51.08
that's the Roman
army surrounding the city.
00:40:51.11\00:40:53.85
And then... "and level you,
00:40:53.88\00:40:56.72
and your children
within you, to the ground;
00:40:56.75\00:40:59.55
and they will not leave in
you one stone upon another... "
00:40:59.59\00:41:04.66
and then comes the reason,
00:41:04.69\00:41:06.26
"because you did not know
the time of your visitation. "
00:41:06.29\00:41:12.03
It was the
rejection of the Messiah
00:41:12.07\00:41:15.17
that was the great abomination
00:41:15.20\00:41:17.44
that led to the
desolation of the city.
00:41:17.47\00:41:19.87
And as I read in
a previous lecture,
00:41:19.91\00:41:22.24
this Christian
world at the end of time
00:41:22.31\00:41:24.61
will be guilty of the same sin.
00:41:24.68\00:41:27.78
You say, "But the
Christian world...
00:41:27.82\00:41:29.48
they say that we
accept the Messiah... "
00:41:29.52\00:41:31.05
true...
00:41:31.09\00:41:32.42
but they reject the law
00:41:32.45\00:41:33.96
which is a reflection
of the Messiah's character.
00:41:33.99\00:41:36.83
How can you say that the
law was nailed to the cross...
00:41:36.86\00:41:40.40
we don't have to
keep the law of God...
00:41:40.43\00:41:43.03
that, you know, the
law takes away our freedom,
00:41:43.06\00:41:46.30
and at the same time
say, "I love Jesus... "
00:41:46.33\00:41:49.54
if the law is a reflection
of the character of Christ?
00:41:49.57\00:41:52.81
You can't reject the reflection
00:41:52.84\00:41:55.18
and not reject
Christ at the same time.
00:41:55.24\00:41:59.61
Now, let me get ahead
of myself for a moment
00:41:59.68\00:42:02.42
so you see where we
are going with this.
00:42:02.45\00:42:05.75
When the final
test came for Jerusalem,
00:42:05.79\00:42:08.99
the sign separated the
inhabitants of the city
00:42:09.02\00:42:13.66
into two distinct groups.
00:42:13.70\00:42:16.16
At the end, there will be a sign
00:42:16.20\00:42:19.53
that will separate the
world into two distinct groups.
00:42:19.57\00:42:24.34
At the end of
time, it will not be
00:42:24.37\00:42:27.24
the worshipping of the
sun... the great abomination
00:42:27.28\00:42:31.38
but rather, the worshipping
on the day of the sun.
00:42:31.41\00:42:35.48
You see, during the 1260 years
00:42:35.52\00:42:38.69
that the Papacy
predominated in Europe,
00:42:38.72\00:42:42.32
they thought to
change God's holy law
00:42:42.36\00:42:45.89
which is an abomination.
00:42:45.96\00:42:47.93
Daniel 7 verse 25
describes a Little Horn
00:42:47.96\00:42:51.13
that thought it
could change God's law.
00:42:51.17\00:42:54.27
That is the abomination
spoken of in Daniel chapter 8.
00:42:54.30\00:42:58.97
At the end of time,
00:42:59.01\00:43:00.68
the civil powers of the
world will join with the Papacy
00:43:00.71\00:43:04.31
and they will
impose The Day of the Sun.
00:43:04.35\00:43:07.68
The United States will
impose a National Sunday Law
00:43:07.75\00:43:11.32
followed by a
Universal Sunday Law.
00:43:11.35\00:43:13.15
This will be the sign...
00:43:13.19\00:43:15.09
they will separate
the world into two groups.
00:43:15.12\00:43:18.63
Let me read you a statement from
Great Controversy, 615 and 616.
00:43:18.66\00:43:23.47
I hope you'll stay
tuned in this Series, Folks,
00:43:23.50\00:43:25.87
because we're going to prove all
of these things from Scripture
00:43:25.90\00:43:29.90
and also the support
of the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:43:29.94\00:43:33.41
Great Controversy 615 and 616.
00:43:33.44\00:43:36.08
She's speaking
about the end time.
00:43:36.11\00:43:38.65
"As the Sabbath has become
the special point of controversy
00:43:38.68\00:43:42.48
throughout Christendom,
00:43:42.52\00:43:44.25
and religious and secular
authorities have combined
00:43:44.29\00:43:48.06
to enforce the
observance of Sunday,
00:43:48.09\00:43:51.43
the persistent
refusal of a small minority
00:43:51.46\00:43:55.46
to yield to the popular demand
00:43:55.50\00:43:57.87
will make the objects
of universal execration.
00:43:57.90\00:44:01.67
It will be urged
00:44:01.70\00:44:03.51
that the few who
stand in opposition
00:44:03.54\00:44:07.14
to an institution of the
church and a law of the state
00:44:07.18\00:44:10.81
ought not to be tolerated;
00:44:10.85\00:44:13.11
that it is better
for them to suffer
00:44:13.15\00:44:15.98
than for whole nations
00:44:16.02\00:44:17.39
to be thrown into
confusion and lawlessness. "
00:44:17.45\00:44:20.56
And then she goes back
to the times of Christ,
00:44:20.59\00:44:23.69
"The same
argument many centuries ago
00:44:23.73\00:44:27.56
was brought against Christ
by the 'rulers of the people. '
00:44:27.60\00:44:30.70
'It is expedient for
us,' said the wily Caiaphas,
00:44:30.77\00:44:35.80
'that one man
should die for the people,
00:44:35.84\00:44:38.74
and that the whole
nation perish not. '"
00:44:38.77\00:44:42.28
And then, she goes
back to the end time,
00:44:42.31\00:44:45.68
"This argument
will appear conclusive;
00:44:45.71\00:44:49.02
and a decree will
finally be issued against those
00:44:49.05\00:44:52.12
who hallow the Sabbath
of the fourth commandment,
00:44:52.15\00:44:55.16
denouncing them as deserving
of the severest punishment
00:44:55.19\00:44:58.93
and giving the people
liberty, after a certain time,
00:44:58.96\00:45:02.66
to put them to death. "
00:45:02.70\00:45:05.33
"Wow!" you say,
"That could never happen
00:45:05.37\00:45:08.00
in these United
States of America. "
00:45:08.04\00:45:10.61
Well, if you study
Revelation 13 verses 11 to 18,
00:45:10.64\00:45:14.41
you're not only going
to find that it is possible
00:45:14.44\00:45:18.18
but it is
actually going to happen...
00:45:18.21\00:45:20.35
that at the end
of time it won't be
00:45:20.38\00:45:22.48
worshipping the sun...
00:45:22.52\00:45:24.35
people are too sophisticated
in the Western world
00:45:24.39\00:45:26.96
to worship the sun,
00:45:26.99\00:45:28.32
it will be worshipping
on the "Day of the Sun. "
00:45:28.36\00:45:31.06
You say, "Well, there's
no similarity whatsoever. "
00:45:31.09\00:45:34.03
It's not the same
to worship the sun
00:45:34.10\00:45:36.03
as worship on the
day of the sun... "
00:45:36.06\00:45:37.53
and I say in principle it is.
00:45:37.57\00:45:39.60
You say, "How's that?"
00:45:39.63\00:45:41.04
Well let me ask you,
"Who created the sun?"
00:45:41.10\00:45:43.91
I'm sure your
answer would be "God"
00:45:43.94\00:45:46.37
that is... if
you are a Christian.
00:45:46.41\00:45:48.81
So, the question is,
00:45:48.84\00:45:50.31
"Did God create
the sun for worship?"
00:45:50.35\00:45:52.11
No... the sun is
a secular object.
00:45:52.15\00:45:55.88
It's to give us light.
00:45:55.92\00:45:57.75
So, let me ask you,
00:45:57.79\00:45:59.75
"What happens
if you make the sun
00:45:59.79\00:46:01.82
an object of worship?"
00:46:01.86\00:46:03.19
That's what the
Bible calls: Idolatry.
00:46:03.22\00:46:06.06
Now, let me ask you,
00:46:06.09\00:46:07.96
"Who created the
first day of the week?"
00:46:08.00\00:46:09.86
The first day of the
week was created by God.
00:46:09.90\00:46:13.34
You can read it
in Genesis chapter 1.
00:46:13.37\00:46:16.14
You know, it was the evening
and the morning of the first day
00:46:16.17\00:46:18.87
so, God created the
first day of the week.
00:46:18.91\00:46:22.14
Let me ask you, "Did He
create the first day of the week
00:46:22.18\00:46:25.41
as a holy day?"
00:46:25.45\00:46:26.92
No, He didn't...
00:46:26.95\00:46:28.28
it's a secular day
that we're supposed to work.
00:46:28.32\00:46:30.55
The fourth commandment says,
00:46:30.59\00:46:32.29
"Six days you shall
labor and do all your work,
00:46:32.32\00:46:34.52
but the seventh day is the
Sabbath of the Lord your God. "
00:46:34.56\00:46:37.89
So, God created the first day...
00:46:37.93\00:46:40.33
He did not create it
to be used for worship.
00:46:40.40\00:46:43.70
So, what happens if we
make the first day of the week
00:46:43.73\00:46:47.34
a day of worship?
00:46:47.37\00:46:49.14
It's the same principle.
00:46:49.17\00:46:50.91
It's idolatry
00:46:50.94\00:46:52.27
because any thing that
man establishes for worship
00:46:52.31\00:46:55.28
that God did not
establish for worship,
00:46:55.31\00:46:57.18
is idolatry.
00:46:57.21\00:46:58.98
I hope you're
understanding what I'm saying.
00:46:59.01\00:47:01.68
Now, I want to go to John
chapter 11 verses 48 through 51.
00:47:01.72\00:47:06.69
John 11:48 through 51.
00:47:06.76\00:47:10.93
Jesus has just
resurrected Lazarus
00:47:10.96\00:47:14.70
and the religious
leaders are furious at Jesus.
00:47:14.73\00:47:18.37
Because we're told that
multitudes upon multitudes
00:47:18.40\00:47:22.00
of Jews are now following Jesus.
00:47:22.04\00:47:23.67
And so, now,
Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin
00:47:23.71\00:47:26.57
meet and they say,
00:47:26.64\00:47:27.98
"You know, this is
a national emergency
00:47:28.01\00:47:30.35
because if
everybody believes in Jesus,
00:47:30.41\00:47:32.95
then the Romans are going to
come and take away our nation
00:47:32.98\00:47:36.18
and we'll have no
reason to exist. "
00:47:36.22\00:47:38.05
Christianity will
take the place of Judaism.
00:47:38.09\00:47:41.42
And so, now they
are going to plan
00:47:41.49\00:47:44.23
how to deal with
this national emergency.
00:47:44.26\00:47:47.03
Let's read
beginning in verse 48,
00:47:47.06\00:47:49.90
here Caiaphas is speaking.
00:47:49.93\00:47:53.17
"If we let Him alone like this,
00:47:53.20\00:47:56.20
everyone will believe in Him,
00:47:56.24\00:47:58.97
and the Romans will come
00:47:59.01\00:48:01.14
and take away both
our place and nation.
00:48:01.18\00:48:04.31
And one of them, Caiaphas,
being high priest that year,
00:48:04.35\00:48:08.72
said to them, "You
know nothing at all,
00:48:08.75\00:48:11.62
nor do you consider
that it is expedient for us
00:48:11.65\00:48:15.89
that one man
should die for the people,
00:48:15.92\00:48:18.76
and not that the whole
nation should perish. "
00:48:18.79\00:48:21.46
In other words, "Public
enemy number one needs to die
00:48:21.50\00:48:24.87
to save the nation. "
00:48:24.90\00:48:26.50
Folks, at the end of time,
00:48:26.53\00:48:28.44
the same argument
is going to be used
00:48:28.47\00:48:30.24
not against Christ
but against the remnant...
00:48:30.27\00:48:33.58
the final remnant of Christ.
00:48:33.64\00:48:35.01
We find in
Revelation chapter 12 verse 17
00:48:35.04\00:48:37.75
that the dragon was
enraged against the woman...
00:48:37.78\00:48:40.48
went to make war
against the remnant of her seed
00:48:40.52\00:48:43.15
who keep the commandments of God
00:48:43.18\00:48:45.62
and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.
00:48:45.65\00:48:48.22
This story will be repeated.
00:48:48.26\00:48:50.39
And Folks, I might mention
00:48:50.43\00:48:52.49
that those who did this
professed to serve the true God.
00:48:52.53\00:48:56.16
They were not Atheists.
00:48:56.20\00:48:57.80
They were not secular people...
00:48:57.83\00:49:00.17
they were individuals who
professed to be God's people
00:49:00.20\00:49:02.94
and they rose against the
faithful remnant of that time.
00:49:02.97\00:49:07.48
This scenario will
be repeated once again.
00:49:07.51\00:49:11.61
In Great Controversy page 27,
00:49:11.65\00:49:14.75
Ellen White explains
this a little bit further.
00:49:14.78\00:49:18.12
I read... speaking
about the Jewish nation,
00:49:18.15\00:49:22.06
the leadership primarily,
00:49:22.09\00:49:23.43
"They hated Christ
00:49:23.46\00:49:24.86
because His purity and holiness
revealed their iniquity;
00:49:24.89\00:49:30.00
and they accused Him
00:49:30.03\00:49:32.27
of being the cause
of all the troubles
00:49:32.30\00:49:35.14
which had come upon them in
consequence of their sins. "
00:49:35.17\00:49:38.57
So, notice, they
blame Jesus and say,
00:49:38.61\00:49:41.38
"The reason why all of
these trials and problems
00:49:41.41\00:49:44.01
have come upon us is
because of this man, Jesus. "
00:49:44.05\00:49:46.61
But actually, it was the
purity and holiness of Jesus
00:49:46.65\00:49:50.92
that revealed their iniquity
00:49:50.95\00:49:52.89
that filled them with
rage and anger against Christ.
00:49:52.92\00:49:56.59
The end-time remnant will
reveal the character of Christ
00:49:56.62\00:50:00.90
in their lives
00:50:00.96\00:50:02.46
and the world
will rise against them.
00:50:02.50\00:50:04.63
Not because God's people
are causing all of troubles
00:50:04.67\00:50:09.14
although this is the way
that the world will perceive it,
00:50:09.17\00:50:11.74
but because their
purity and holiness
00:50:11.77\00:50:14.61
is a rebuke to the world
00:50:14.64\00:50:17.15
and they cannot
stand what they are seeing.
00:50:17.18\00:50:21.02
And at the end of time,
00:50:21.05\00:50:22.38
it will not be the
secular... the worldlings...
00:50:22.42\00:50:25.45
the Atheists...
00:50:25.49\00:50:26.82
it will be people who
claim to be Christians
00:50:26.86\00:50:30.43
just like the Jews claimed to
be the professed people of God.
00:50:30.46\00:50:34.86
She continues her commentary,
00:50:34.90\00:50:37.60
"Though they knew
Him to be sinless,
00:50:37.63\00:50:40.77
they had declared that
His death was necessary
00:50:40.80\00:50:44.31
to their safety as a nation. "
00:50:44.34\00:50:47.01
Folks, the same is
going to be argued here
00:50:47.08\00:50:50.35
in the United States of America.
00:50:50.38\00:50:51.71
"To save the nation,
00:50:51.75\00:50:53.31
we need to get rid of those
who are observing the Sabbath
00:50:53.35\00:50:55.88
because Sunday is a National Law
00:50:55.92\00:50:58.75
and God is punishing this nation
00:50:58.82\00:51:01.59
because these
people will not go along
00:51:01.62\00:51:05.03
with the Law of the Church
and with the Law of the State. "
00:51:05.09\00:51:08.60
She continues, "Though
they knew Him to be sinless,
00:51:08.63\00:51:11.77
they had declared that
His death was necessary
00:51:11.80\00:51:14.34
for their safety as a nation. "
00:51:14.37\00:51:15.87
And then, comes a
quotation from John 11 verse 48,
00:51:15.90\00:51:19.74
"If we let Him thus
alone," said the Jewish leaders,
00:51:19.77\00:51:23.24
"all men will believe in Him;
00:51:23.28\00:51:24.98
and the Romans shall come
00:51:25.01\00:51:26.98
and take away both
our place and nation. "
00:51:27.02\00:51:29.28
Then she
continues her commentary,
00:51:29.32\00:51:31.95
"If Christ were
sacrificed... " notice this,
00:51:31.99\00:51:36.22
"they might once more become
a strong, united people. "
00:51:36.26\00:51:41.70
So, what was the
solution in destroying Christ?
00:51:41.73\00:51:45.60
"Oh, then we will be a
strong united people. "
00:51:45.63\00:51:49.47
"Thus, they reasoned,
00:51:49.50\00:51:51.81
and they
concurred in their decision
00:51:51.84\00:51:55.71
of their high priest,
00:51:55.74\00:51:57.58
that it would be
better for one man to die
00:51:57.61\00:52:00.58
than for the whole
nation to perish. "
00:52:00.62\00:52:04.55
And so, this abomination of
the rejection of the Messiah
00:52:04.59\00:52:10.03
led to national ruin...
00:52:10.06\00:52:12.69
national apostasy
led to national ruin.
00:52:12.76\00:52:17.20
They thought that by getting
rid of Jesus and His followers,
00:52:17.27\00:52:21.80
they would save Jerusalem
00:52:21.84\00:52:23.71
but instead, by slaying Jesus
00:52:23.74\00:52:26.78
they brought
destruction upon Jerusalem.
00:52:26.81\00:52:30.58
Now, let me touch on one point
00:52:30.61\00:52:32.55
before we bring this to an end.
00:52:32.61\00:52:35.65
The Jewish nation as a church
00:52:35.68\00:52:38.65
could not execute
the death penalty.
00:52:38.69\00:52:41.96
So, they
couldn't just arrest Jesus
00:52:41.99\00:52:44.93
and take Him and execute Christ,
00:52:44.99\00:52:47.86
they needed... for
the State to make a decree
00:52:47.90\00:52:53.74
for Jesus to be killed
00:52:53.77\00:52:55.44
because as a church
they could not do it
00:52:55.47\00:52:57.57
and so, what did they do?
00:52:57.61\00:52:59.17
They went before
Pilate who was the civil ruler
00:52:59.21\00:53:02.58
and they said, "Pilate,
we've got this problem. "
00:53:02.61\00:53:05.98
We have this man who
claims to be the Messiah
00:53:06.01\00:53:09.32
and we want Him
to be crucified...
00:53:09.35\00:53:12.72
we want Him to die... "
00:53:12.75\00:53:14.82
and Pilate said, "Folks,
you know you have a church law,
00:53:14.86\00:53:18.43
go and judge Him by your law. "
00:53:18.46\00:53:20.40
And the Jewish leaders
said, "But, wait a minute,
00:53:20.43\00:53:24.17
our law does not allow
us to put anyone to death. "
00:53:24.20\00:53:27.84
And so, they said, "Pilate,
we need the help of the State. "
00:53:27.87\00:53:32.31
We need the help of
the civil power of Rome
00:53:32.34\00:53:35.78
in order for our
desires to be fulfilled.
00:53:35.81\00:53:39.38
And so, to make
a long story short,
00:53:39.41\00:53:42.22
because Pilate was
intimidated by them
00:53:42.25\00:53:46.29
and they said, "We're
going to tell the Emperor
00:53:46.32\00:53:48.99
that, you know, that you
released a man that is guilty
00:53:49.02\00:53:52.13
who claimed to be a king... "
00:53:52.16\00:53:53.66
and for fear of losing
his political position,
00:53:53.70\00:53:57.17
Pilate condemned an innocent man
00:53:57.20\00:54:00.30
and by the way, three times
Pilate publically announced
00:54:00.34\00:54:04.81
that he found no sin
or no guilt in Christ.
00:54:04.84\00:54:08.61
And yet, he condemned
an innocent man to death.
00:54:08.64\00:54:12.38
In other words, there was
a union of Church and State
00:54:12.51\00:54:17.55
involved in the death of Christ.
00:54:17.59\00:54:19.75
At the end of time, once again,
00:54:19.79\00:54:22.29
there will also be a
union of Church and State
00:54:22.32\00:54:26.16
to give a decree against
God's true faithful remnant
00:54:26.19\00:54:32.17
because they are... as it
says in the story of Elijah...
00:54:32.20\00:54:35.64
they are
troublers of the people.
00:54:35.67\00:54:39.41
I hope that you've understood
what we have studied...
00:54:39.44\00:54:42.14
I've gotten ahead
of myself a little bit,
00:54:42.18\00:54:43.85
because I want you to
see where we are trending
00:54:43.88\00:54:46.78
in our study together.
00:54:46.82\00:54:48.15
So, let's review: What is
the abomination of desolation
00:54:48.18\00:54:52.95
spoken of by Daniel the prophet?
00:54:52.99\00:54:55.56
It's when the Roman
armies surrounded Jerusalem
00:54:55.59\00:54:59.29
and with their eagle standards
which they put in the ground,
00:54:59.33\00:55:03.00
they knelt and
worshipped their eagle standards
00:55:03.03\00:55:06.33
which
represented the worshipping
00:55:06.37\00:55:09.00
of the sun god, Mithra.
00:55:09.04\00:55:11.64
When the
Christians inside the city...
00:55:11.67\00:55:14.18
the city was besieged...
00:55:14.21\00:55:16.11
when they saw
the sign they said,
00:55:16.14\00:55:18.61
"This is our
opportunity to flee... "
00:55:18.65\00:55:20.78
but the city was surrounded.
00:55:20.82\00:55:22.68
Suddenly, as if by accident...
00:55:22.72\00:55:26.19
but we know that was
in the providence of God,
00:55:26.22\00:55:28.16
Cestius Gallus picks
up and leaves the city
00:55:28.19\00:55:32.19
and now the Jews
inside the city...
00:55:32.23\00:55:35.50
you know, their
false prophets say,
00:55:35.56\00:55:38.77
"See, we told you
that God is with us... "
00:55:38.80\00:55:41.07
they go after the Roman legions
00:55:41.10\00:55:43.41
and the Roman
legions suffer many losses
00:55:43.44\00:55:46.04
and at that moment,
God's faithful people...
00:55:46.07\00:55:48.64
they've seen the sign
and they leave the city...
00:55:48.68\00:55:52.21
they flee from the city
00:55:52.25\00:55:53.58
and not one Christian dies
in the destruction of Jerusalem.
00:55:53.62\00:55:57.69
Just a few years later,
the Roman legions came back
00:55:57.72\00:56:02.29
under the
leadership of the General Titus
00:56:02.32\00:56:05.69
and this time,
the city was besieged
00:56:05.73\00:56:09.73
and there was no retreat.
00:56:09.76\00:56:11.80
We're told by Josephus...
00:56:11.83\00:56:13.84
in fact, I would
encourage you to read
00:56:13.87\00:56:15.70
the book: Wars of the Jews
00:56:15.74\00:56:18.11
where it describes Jerusalem in
its condition before the siege,
00:56:18.14\00:56:22.81
during the siege and at
the point of destruction.
00:56:22.84\00:56:25.85
It is a depressing story
00:56:25.88\00:56:28.35
of what happened to the
people who were within the city
00:56:28.38\00:56:31.52
during the siege
00:56:31.55\00:56:32.89
and the destruction
that actually took place.
00:56:32.92\00:56:35.19
National apostasy...
00:56:35.22\00:56:37.43
the rejection of the
Messiah had led to national ruin
00:56:37.46\00:56:42.13
and the Jews were
scattered all over the world.
00:56:42.16\00:56:45.13
Once again, they
were led captive...
00:56:45.17\00:56:47.54
once again, the
city was destroyed...
00:56:47.57\00:56:49.87
the temple was destroyed
00:56:49.90\00:56:51.41
and they were
dispersed among all the nations.
00:56:51.47\00:56:56.18
And I repeat once again
the sin of the Jewish nation
00:56:56.21\00:56:59.95
is the same sin
that would characterize
00:56:59.98\00:57:02.15
the Christian
world at the end of time.
00:57:02.18\00:57:04.29
The Jews rejected Jesus
Christ as Savior and Lord.
00:57:04.32\00:57:09.32
Whereas the Christian
world will reject the law of God
00:57:09.36\00:57:14.03
which is a reflection
of the character of Christ.
00:57:14.06\00:57:17.67
In other words, the
law describes what Christ
00:57:17.73\00:57:20.70
in His character...
in His person is like.
00:57:20.74\00:57:23.81
So, you can't say,
"I reject the reflection
00:57:23.84\00:57:26.88
whereas I accept
Christ the reality
00:57:26.94\00:57:30.41
who is reflected in the law. "
00:57:30.45\00:57:31.88
It's like looking in
the mirror and saying,
00:57:31.91\00:57:34.52
"Well, I accept that I'm a
person looking in the mirror,
00:57:34.55\00:57:38.59
but I reject that reflection. "
00:57:38.62\00:57:40.39
The fact is that the reflection
is part of the individual
00:57:40.42\00:57:46.39
who is casting the
reflection into the mirror.
00:57:46.43\00:57:49.36
So, I hope you've
understood our study together.
00:57:49.40\00:57:52.97
The next time we will
study how Matthew chapter 24
00:57:53.00\00:57:56.57
verses 4 through 14
apply in the end time
00:57:56.60\00:58:00.14
and then we will study
the abomination of desolation
00:58:00.18\00:58:02.34
in the end.
00:58:02.38\00:58:03.71
God bless you and keep you.
00:58:03.75\00:58:05.08
Thank you for being with us.
00:58:05.11\00:58:06.45