“The Abomination of Desolation”

Transcript

GRM 879
11/30/2003
“The Abomination of Desolation”
Matthew 24:15
Gil Rugh

I want to take you back to Matthew chapter 24, Matthew and the 24th chapter, a chapter that has to do with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to earth. I have some articles I want to share with you, a number of them next week. But I did want to at least draw your attention to a couple of them. Didn’t want to get into too many of them for fear we wouldn’t make our progress through Matthew 24. But I noticed in today’s paper an article on the European Union Defense Plan Wins Wide Support, and you’re aware the European Union, the Bible has prophesied. Back to the days of Daniel 500 years before Christ that in the last days there would be a revival of the Roman Empire, and the western nations would be joined together in a confederacy of nations, 10-nation confederacy, the Bible says. I believe the European Union is definitely, seems to be laying the foundation for that. This article says France, Britain and Germany won broad support Saturday for a plan to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities. But European Union countries failed to reach agreement on the emotionally charged issue of whether the European Union constitution should mention God or include a reference to Europe’s Christian heritage.

Isn’t it amazing where things mire down? But it’s of interest to us, here they are establishing a constitution for this United States of Europe. But one of the big concerns is, should we allow God’s name to be mentioned in that constitution? Should we have any reference to the Christian heritage that Europe has. European Union foreign ministers welcome the defense plan as a major achievement in efforts to map out an independent military role for the European Union. We take note of that because we know in the last days, we will be referring to some of this. The antichrist who will lead the western nations will also marshal military forces and dominate the world. With the deadline for the final draft of this constitution just two weeks away European nations remain deeply divided over a number of issues, including whether the constitution should include a reference to God or Christianity. Just amazing. France, Germany, Britain proposed a permanent European Union military planning and command cell at NATO’s military headquarters in Belgium, where European Union planners can use NATO planes, satellite intelligence and communication network for peacekeeping missions. Along with the rise of a revived Roman Empire, the rise of the nation Israel, particularly since it became a recognized nation after World War II, now we see a growing anti-Semitic movement. Not just in Muslim countries, but in Europe, which becomes very crucial because it is out of that revived Roman Empire that the great persecution of Israel will come. There have been a number of articles, including one of the leading news magazines had its cover story on this very subject. But this came out of the local paper within the last week. Anti-Semitic or Anti-Israel? More and more the line between the criticism of Israel and the hatred of Jews has become blurred. Where does legitimate criticism of Israeli government policy end and anti-Semitism begin? There has always been sharp disagreement in Israel over where to draw the line, but the debate assumed greater urgency in recent weeks. First the Malaysian prime minister said Jews dominated the world, to the applause of Muslim heads of state. Next, listen to this, a poll found 59% of Europeans consider Israel a threat to peace, ahead of such nations as North Korea. Israel is a greater threat to peace in the world today than North Korea, and that’s a poll of Europeans.

Last week a Greek composer, in condemning Israeli actions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip called Israel the root of evil. I’m not reading consecutively, it’s a rather long article. In some quarters in Europe, we are witnessing a vilifying wave of anti-Semitism, coupled with hatred and incitement against Israel, said one of Sharon’s advisors. Because it is not politically correct to say you hate Jews, you say you hate Israel. Anti-Semitism gets masked under the guise of just disagreeing with the nation, and really just becomes a mask for the hatred of Israel. You know there are 189 nations that are members of the United Nations, 188 of those nations rotate positions on the Security Commission of the United Nations. You know the one nation that is not allowed to be part of the rotation? The nation Israel, the only democracy that exists in the Middle East. Iran takes its turn in rotation; Cuba takes its turn in rotation. Out of 189 member nations of the United Nations, only one nation is not allowed to be represented in rotation to be a member of the Security Council. Amazing.

A report by Tel Aviv University said the number of violent anti-Semitic incidents worldwide increased sharply from 228 in 2001 to 311 a year later. Of those, a majority in western Europe. The number of violent, anti-Semitic incidents, as they’re referred to, worldwide increased sharply in a year, and the majority took place in Europe. We see the seething anti-Semitism that’s just below the veneer that has to be put on a respectability of political correctness, and yet the attitude toward Israel is there.

Well in Matthew chapter 24 Jesus is answering the question of His disciples. Verse 3 of chapter 24, “tells us when these things will happen and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age.” You understand the disciples still do not have a grasp of what is taking place. As we noted, even though Jesus has told them of His coming crucifixion at Jerusalem, that’s not what they’re expecting. The Jews knew that in connection with the coming of Christ to set up His kingdom there would be a time of trouble and tribulation for Israel, for the nation. But the Jews thought they were experiencing that. They have been subjugated by the Babylonians, carried into captivity. Before that the Assyrians, and now they live under the domination of the Romans. There has been a restoration to the land, but not an independence. When they were allowed to return after the Babylonian captivity it was at the good pleasure of the Persian Empire and now the Romans dominate Jerusalem.

In the thinking of the Jews and even these disciples of Christ, they’ve not sorted out what would be the sign of these things and of your coming. Now they don’t grasp that question that He’s going to die and leave and then return at a much later date. They’re probably thinking in the context of His coming to establish His kingdom, His coming into His kingdom. The restoration, they’re expecting, could happen at any time. I mean they’ve been part of the triumphal entry; they’ve heard the praises of acclaim given to Him. They realize there can be turmoil here, they understand that Zechariah prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem in connection with the coming of the Messiah to establish His kingdom. But maybe that’s what is going to take place here in the next few days or weeks. So, fill us in on what will take place.

I just want to remind you that the disciples did not understand and weren’t thinking, well no Christ is going to be crucified and then He’ll go to heaven. We want to know now when are you going to be coming back to this earth to establish the kingdom? That ends up literally being the correct understanding of the question, but it’s not what they would have had in mind, because those kinds of events are foreign to them. What happens when we get to Acts chapter 1? They’re thinking well maybe now we’ve come through the worst of that because the Messiah was crucified. Will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? Now are we ready? It’s a process that is unfolding.

What Jesus does is overview that seven-year period we know as the 70th week of Daniel for their benefit. We’ve looked down through some of these verses, down through verse 14, which is really an overview of what we call the Tribulation, the 70th week of Daniel, those seven years leading up to the return of Christ. Revelation chapters 6-19 give you the details of what are given in summary fashion here. Then you see something of the magnitude of events that will take place. The Tribulation, that 7-year period, is divided into two 3½ year segments. Really basically down through verse 8 of chapter 24 you have the first 3½ years, the beginning of birth pangs. The picture is of a woman coming into labor, ready to give birth; and we’re talking about the birth of the kingdom, if you will, with the coming of the Messiah. These sufferings and difficulties that begin with the four horsemen of the apocalypse in the sealed judgments in Revelation chapters 6 and following.

Then, verse 9, “they’ll deliver you to tribulation and kill you.” In the middle of the 70th week of Daniel there is going to be a radical turning against Israel. The antichrist who has been a false Christ and a false savior to the nation. He signed an agreement with them at the beginning of that 7-year period to guarantee the sovereignty and security of the nation, now breaks that covenant and persecution breaks out against the Jews. It’s going to be so intense, verse 10, “that at that time many will fall away, many will betray one another. False prophets will arise, mislead many. Many people’s love will grow cold. The one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” But there is going to be great destruction and loss of life during this time among the Jews. The one who endures to the end will be saved.

Turn over to Romans chapter 11. We referred to this in our last study, but it was a tremendous passage. There are many, even within the evangelical world who believe there is no real future for physical Israel, that the church has inherited and taken over all the promises given to Israel. But Romans chapter 11 verse 1 says, “I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be.” Such a thought is inconceivable. We’re talking about His people Israel, because he moves on to say, “I too am an Israelite.” Then he goes on to talk about the fact God’s program with Israel is based upon His grace, just like His dealings with you and me as Gentiles are based upon grace. So, verse 6,” if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works otherwise grace is no longer grace.” Salvation cannot be by grace plus works because grace wouldn’t be grace any longer. Grace by very definition means it’s not by works.

Verse 11, “I say then they did not stumble so as to fall, did they?” Did Israel stumble over the stumbling stone, their Messiah, and have fallen and that’s the end? Mn yevoito, “May it never be.” What has happened is God has used the sin of Israel and their disobedience to provide the occasion to turn his salvation to the Gentiles. This is the day of the fullness of the Gentiles, the day of Gentile salvation. Jews may be saved, some Jews are saved, this is not the day of Jewish salvation. This is the day when God is dealing with Gentiles, primarily. Some Jews, they are part of that remnant of God’s grace in verse 5. But there is coming a future time and jump down further in the chapter to verse 25. “For I do not want you brethren to be uninformed of this mystery.” A mystery is something not revealed in the Old Testament. God’s plan of Gentile evangelization during the church age is a mystery, the Bible, something not revealed in the Old Testament. In Ephesians chapter 3 Paul talks about the fact that God revealed this mystery to him. Here I don’t want you to be uninformed of this mystery so that you will not be wise in your own estimation; so we Gentiles don’t get puffed up. You know, easy for that attitude toward the Jews to infect us even as believers. They deserve to be punished for their sins, and I can’t understand with all that God did for Israel how they could act like they did. We need to be careful that we don’t become arrogant as though we were saved by something other than the pure grace of God displayed to us.

“So that you will not be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel,” now note this, “until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” All Israel will be saved. “He who endures to the end will be saved.” There is future salvation for Israel, it will happen after the Church Age. God will resume His program. Remember the 70th week of Daniel is the last 7-year period in a period of 490 years in God’s program with Israel. The church fits between the 69th week and the 70th week of Daniel. We sometimes call it a parenthesis, not because it’s a parenthesis in God’s overall sovereign plan, but because it is something not revealed in his revelation of His plan in the Old Testament. But then He will return to His plan.

“Then a deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. This is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” From the standpoint of the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. From the standpoint of election, they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. “For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.” If there were no other passage on Israel’s future in all the Bible but this one, it ought to settle it. The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. That means that God’s call given to Israel revealed in so many passages in the Old Testament is irrevocable. We are in a time when they were experiencing the judgment of God. Verse 28, “From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake,” you Gentiles’ sake. So that we can be beneficiaries of God’s saving grace. But from the standpoint of the work of election in God choosing them, they are beloved for the sake of the fathers, because of the promises given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Then you understand those promises are irrevocable. Don’t give me any nonsense about the church has become the spiritual Israel and taken over the promises of God. What kind of nonsense is that? You think I want to die and get to the gates of heaven and have God say guess what? I didn’t mean you; those promises were transferred to someone else. What kind of foolish twisting of scripture? The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. That is security for you and me as member of the church of Jesus Christ, and that is the security for the nation as the nation. There is election of the nation in the plan of God, the nation Israel. There is the election to salvation of individual Jews within the nation that will fulfill the promises of God and His choice of the nation, of the nation yet to come and you’ll note that’s in the context of the Second Coming of Christ.

All right, back to Matthew 24. “The gospel will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations.” verse 14. This is talking about after the rapture of the church. So even though it’s a good fund raising thing for radio programs and missions programs and so on, verse 14 does not refer to our day. I’m not saying we shouldn’t go into all the world to preach the gospel. That’s part of the Great Commission. But I’m saying we’re not about that so that we can saturate the world and we’re almost there because when that happens then the end will come. That will happen in the 70th week of Daniel and it will be a direct supernatural work of God. We looked in Revelation chapter 14 verses 6-7 where an angel will fly in the sky declaring the gospel, calling men to worship God. All the world will hear the gospel.

“Then the end shall come.” The end, the coming of Christ. Verse 29, “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be dark, and the moon will not give its light” and so on. Verse 30 “then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the heavens,” and so on. Now what happens with verse 15, He goes back and elaborates on this last half of the tribulation period. So, in verse 9, “Then they will deliver you to tribulation.” You know you tell me something like that, that’s where my interest is drawn, right? He gives an overview of the 70th week of Daniel and he tells them at a certain point the Jews; when He says you will be delivered to tribulation, a common way that the prophets spoke. They would speak to the people of their day and the people of their day would often receive the message that would realize its fulfillment in subsequent generations. He addresses His disciples here, but His disciples won’t personally experience this, but the Jews will. A common prophetic way of speaking and we won’t take the time for examples of that.

Verse 15, “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place,” run for your lives. Why? Verse 21, “for then there will be a great tribulation such as not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will be.” When we get to the end of that time, verse 27, “just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.” I want to tell you, folks, that hasn’t happened. I say that because there are those who are preterists. Just a word that means the past. They believe that this is all fulfilled in connection with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. I don’t think you have to do much reading here to realize this hasn’t happened. Christ hasn’t come. The sun and the moon haven’t been darkened and all these things happened, and Christ has come with a blaze of glory across the skies. We can’t spiritualize or allegorize this in relation to His Second Coming anymore than we could the crucifixion. Well maybe Isaiah 53 doesn’t mean literal suffering and a literal death and all of that. There is a spiritual truth there but not a literal…I tell you, it’s literal. The mark in the middle of the tribulation which is of key interest and importance to Israel is the abomination of desolation.

It’s the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet and it will be standing in the holy place. Let’s go back to Daniel chapter 9, down in verse 27. The antichrist, the political ruler of the revived Roman Empire, the 10-nation confederacy, he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, one 7-year period. But in the middle of the week, he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering, halfway through that seven-year period. “And on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate.” There is our abomination of desolation. An abomination is something despicable to God, something God hates and despises. Here this one who brings desolation, that is so abominable to God, does this in the middle of that 7-year period.

Turn over to chapter 11 verse 31. We’re in a past figure in verses 29-35 here. It’s an historical reference to Antiochus IV, usually known as Antiochus Epiphanes, because he gave himself the title, Theos Epiphanes, God manifest. He reigned in Syria between 175-163 B.C. You’ll note in verse 31, “And forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress and do away with the regular sacrifice. They will set up the abomination of desolation.” What he did in the temple in Jerusalem became a type of what would take place with that coming western ruler of Daniel 9:27. In fact he is such a picture of that coming ruler, the historical figure, Antiochus Epiphanes, that in verse 36 the picture will change to the willful king, and we are transported to a future time in the 70th week of Daniel.

Let me just say something about what Antiochus Epiphanes did. He severely persecuted the Jews. I told you he took to himself the name “God Manifest,” and when he swept into Jerusalem, what happened he thought he was going to assert his power. You know when you call yourself “God Manifest” and are nothing but a human being, you are losing your perspective. When he swept down from Syria into Egypt the Egyptians called upon the Romans for help. Mistake. But they did. The Romans were happy because the Romans had not asserted their direct influence into the whole Middle East up to that point. But they did accept the invitation of the Egyptians to come, and they sent the Roman fleet. Antiochus Epiphanes arrives in Egypt and the Roman commander is there to meet him and tells him he has to go back, or he’ll have to fight against Rome. Antiochus Epiphanes says he’ll need time to think about it and that well known story, the Roman commander took his sword and drew a circle around Antiochus Epiphanes in the sand and said you have until you leave the circle to give me your answer. Obviously, he could not fight the might of Rome, so he stormed back through Palestine, and he is in a rage. When he comes to Jerusalem, he vents his anger on the Jews. He desecrates the temple, he turned it into a pagan temple of worship to Zeus, he offered a pig on the altar and terrible things done to the Jews at this time. Several years later the Jews recovered and retook the temple. This led to the revolt of the Maccabees and when they recovered and then cleansed the temple, they established a feast which has continued down in Judaism until today, and it will be celebrated in the month of December. It’s the Feast of Lights, or the Feast of Hanukkah. Hanukkah is from a Hebrew word that means dedication. It’s in honor and remembrance of that time when the temple was rededicated after such terrible desecration. It’s also called the Feast of Lights because supposedly at that time when they lit the lamps and so on, the oil of the lamps in the temple was miraculously sustained so that the lights continued to burn, and the oil didn’t get used up. So many of the Jews celebrate Hanukkah, the Feast of Lights, by putting candles out, and so on, to celebrate the Feast of Lights. All of that to say here is an anticipation of the abomination of desolation where a man would set himself up in the temple, declare himself to be God.

Turn over to Daniel chapter 12 verse 11. Now we are at the end time, and you’ll note chapter 11 came down and from chapter 11 verse 36, “the king who will do as he pleases,” that’s why another title for the antichrist is the willful king. But we sometimes identify these with a passage of scripture. We’ll talk about the willful king of Daniel 11. We pick that up from Daniel 11:36, “the coming antichrist who worships and honors himself as God,” his conflicts and so on. Then down in chapter 12 verse 1, “at the time of the end Michael the great prince who stand guard over the sons of your people will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time.” Remember what Jesus said, “at that time there will be a great tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world or ever shall be.” Now remember that “Michael at that time, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people.” Michael the archangel is the chief angel with responsibility over the nation Israel. We’ll refer to him in a moment. There is resurrection at this time, verses 2-3. How long is this time going to go on? Look down in verse 7, a little over halfway through. “It will be for a time, times and a half time,” or literally a time, two times and a half time. That’s another way of referring to the 3 ½ years.

Go down to verse 11, “from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished, and the abomination of desolation is set up there will be 1290 days. How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains until 1335 days.” Remember a prophetic year in scripture is 360 days, rounded off so you can divide and work out the time. 1290 days, well 1260 days is 3 1/2 years. You have an extra 30 days here. Then you go to 1335 days, because you have the judgments and so on, and they will be referred to, particularly in Matthew chapter 25, the sifting out. There are events between the return of Christ and the destruction of His enemies and so on. Then the judging of Israel, the judging of the nations and the establishing of the kingdom. Here you have in verse 11 the abomination of desolation is set up. So, the regular sacrifice is abolished, the abomination of desolation set up. Basically, the same thing as Daniel 9:27. It said what? “In the middle of the week he’ll put an end to sacrifice and grain offerings and we have the abomination of desolation.” It happens in the middle of the tribulation period.

Now Jesus said in Matthew chapter 24, as you come back there, verse 15, “Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of through Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place.” Remember this discussion started out with the discussion about the temple. Now we find out the temple is going to be destroyed, but the temple is going to be rebuilt, because this abomination of desolation will stand in the holy place, the place that is reserved for God. The temple will be rebuilt and that is referred to in other passages of scripture as well.

Come over to II Thessalonians chapter 2, II Thessalonians chapter 2. And Paul writes to encourage the Thessalonians who were experiencing great persecution, that they weren’t in the Day of the Lord, another reference to the tribulation, the 70th week of Daniel. “Now we request you brethren,” II Thessalonians 2:1, “with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, our gathering together to Him, that you be not quickly shaken from your composure, or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as from us as to the effect the Day of the Lord has come.” They are all worried they are in the tribulation. It’s no, not in the tribulation. “Let no one deceive you, it will not come unless the apostasy or the departure comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So that he takes his seat in the temple of God displaying himself as being God.” Very clear markers for this period of time. The unveiling of that western world leader signs an agreement with Israel and then in the middle of that 7-year period sets himself up in the temple of God displaying himself as being God. Remember that reference as we ago to the book of Revelation. There will be no worship allowed in the world except the worship of this man. The world, generally speaking, will gladly worship him because the evidence will be irrefutable, humanly speaking, that he is God as he claims to be.” Paul reminds them that I was telling you these things when I was with you. Paul only spent a few weeks with them, amazing the theology that he got into.

“Now you know what restrains him now,” verse 6, “so that in his time he will be revealed. 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. Then that lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth, bring to an end by the appearance of His coming, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish. Because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason, God will send upon them a deluding influence that they should believe what is false, in order that they all might be judged who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in wickedness. But we give thanks to God for you, brethren, beloved for the Lord, because God has chosen you.” You’ll note here, and I take it the restrainer, the one who holds back the tide of wickedness and lawlessness is the Holy Spirit; and the restrainer will be removed from the world at the rapture of the church. That does not mean the Holy Spirit will not be present, but the Holy Spirit came in a unique way in Acts chapter 2 with the establishing of the church. When the church is removed from the earth at the rapture, the Holy Spirit will be removed in that unique way also. Then events can unfold to complete God’s final 7-year period with Israel. The restraint there is now, we think our world is unraveling in wickedness and vileness and losing our direction, and we are. There is no standard. What silliness. You know we’re all supposedly in such a sense of indignation that one of the rock stars is accused of improper action with children. Oh, how could he do that? One of the major psychiatric groups now has changed the definition of whether that is some kind of seriously perverted behavior to - if it’s harmful to the child it is. There was a time when they viewed homosexual activity as seriously perverted, but now it’s become commonly accepted. Any wonder that we say what do we do, what do we do? Well, it’s going to get much, much, much, much, much, much worse before it gets better. There is no comparison to the vileness going on in the world today and what it will be like after the rapture of the church, when the restraint on man’s vileness is removed and he has the freedom to give vent to the most vile, evil, perverted desires of a sinful heart. Then lawlessness, not just lawlessness in the sense of breaking a specific law of man, but lawlessness toward God, all that God stands for, the laws of God as we would say, even in common grace, the restraint will be removed. That will prepare the way for satan to present the man who is the greatest incarnation of himself, even as Jesus Christ was the incarnation of God. This man will be satan’s man in a greater way than anyone has ever been, the vilest of vile.

You’ll note in verse 9, his coming is in accord with the activity of satan, “with all power and signs and false wonders.” This man will be a miracle worker second only to Christ Himself. Satan now is given liberty to deceive the world. God will send a deluding influence that they should believe a lie and satan is given greater freedom than ever before to delude and deceive people.

Turn over to the book of Revelation, go to chapter 12. We’re going to chapter 13 but stop in chapter 12. “The great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet and on her head a crown with 12 stars.” That refers to Israel. The picture came out of Joseph’s dream that caused so many problems with his brothers, remember. “She has on her head a crown of 12 stars, the 12 tribes of Israel. She was with child, ready to give birth.” That’s the Messiah who was what? Born of Israel. And another sign appears in heaven, “the great red dragon, having seven heads and 10 horns. And on his heads were seven diadems, seven heads and 10 horns.” This picture goes back to the book of Daniel, particularly Daniel chapter 7. If I have time, I’ll say more about that, if not I’ll save it for next week. Then his fall, and you’ll note in verse 4, “the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth so that when she gave birth, he might devour her child.” Satan is ready with the birth of the Messiah to destroy Him. We see that attempt by Herod the Great to what? Slay all the male children under two years of age in Bethlehem, an attempt to try to destroy the Messiah.

Verse 5, “she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God and to His throne.” There we go through the birth of Christ, His death, His resurrection and ascension to heaven. But you know what? Between verses 5 and 6 or Revelation 12 there are about 2000 years. Remember we said in Old Testament prophecy the Old Testament prophets did not see the first and second coming of Christ as separated events because the Church Age was not explained to them. So, you have a continuous program unfolded. Now we find out from the New Testament the mystery. But wait a minute. Between the first coming there are two comings to earth, the coming to suffer and die and the coming to reign in glory; and there are about 2000 years. Well, we leave in verse 5 when Christ ascended to heaven in Acts chapter 1 to the middle of the tribulation in verse 6. Verse 5, the ascension recorded in Acts 1; verse 6, we’re in the middle of the tribulation. “Then the woman, Israel, fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God so that she would be nourished for I wonder how long—it would be a time, two times and a half time. It could be the last half of the 70th week of Daniel, or you might say 1260 days for that 3½ year period. That’s where Jesus says in Matthew 24, we’ll go back there in a minute, “when you see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place, flee.” Don’t even go back into your house to pack a bag. Why? Because persecution is going to break out immediately. They are going to be after the Jews wherever they are.

God has prepared a place in the wilderness, the region of Moab, Jordan, the Trans-Jordan area, Petra, rugged territory where there are caves and places they could hide. They will be hiding in these desolate regions, and God will care for Israel for that 3½ year period. In verse 7, “and there was war in heaven.” Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. Remember Daniel chapter 12 verse 1? At that time Michael, the chief prince, will stand up. Well, here we are. There is a war in heaven. “The dragon and his angels waged war, they were not strong enough and no place was found for them. The dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old.” In case you don’t know who we’re talking about. We talk about the dragon, he’s the one called the devil, satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, his angels were thrown down with him. You say I thought satan was cast out of heaven in the past, so this must be something that happened in the past. Well, satan lost his position in heaven, remember, the anointing cherub that covered the throne of God. But satan did not lose his access to heaven. Remember Job chapters 1-2 “where there came a day when the sons of God come to present themselves before the throne of God. And satan came also among them. God says where have you been? Going to and fro on the face of the earth.” So satan has access to heaven. You say I thought the Bible says that God can’t look on evil. But the Bible says the eyes of the Lord run to and fro on the face of the earth beholding the evil and the good. God cannot look on evil with approval, but of course He sees the sinful, wicked acts of men. Satan by his presence doesn’t defile heaven. But on this occasion now, heaven is closed to satan and his followers. Of course, heaven rejoices because now those of heaven know they’re near the end as well as satan knows it.

They rejoice in verse 10, that we’re coming to ultimate salvation and the kingdom because the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accused them before our God day and night. What did he do with Job? He accused him. Verse 13, “when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.” That’s Israel. Here’s where the persecution of Israel breaks out. “And two wings of a great eagle were given to the woman so she could flee into the wilderness where she is nourished for a time, and times and a half time.” The serpent attempts to destroy her but is unsuccessful.

Then you come to chapter 13, the beast coming up out of the sea, and this is the antichrist. The beast coming up out of the sea has 10 horns and seven heads. Back in verse 3 of chapter 12 “the dragon appeared having seven heads and 10 horns and seven diadems on the horns.” And in chapter 13 verse 1 you have “10 horns and seven diadems and 10 diadems on horns.” We go back to the Old Testament and put it together with Daniel chapter 2 and Daniel chapter 7 and the seven heads are the seven empires that impact with Israel. We’re not concerned about China; we’re not concerned about other empires that may have been. The Bible is only concerned about what impacts Israel. So where do you start in the Bible with earthly empires that are impacting Israel? Egypt, then you have what? Assyria. Then you have Babylon. Now let me tell you Daniel began where he was, so he started with Babylon. There you had five empires that he’ll deal with because he just picked up from where he was. Like in Daniel chapter 2 he starts with “you oh king are the head of gold,” representing the Babylonian Empire. But Daniel goes back to the beginning, so we go with Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome—there are six. I know because I numbered them. Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome. So that’s the seven heads and the 10 horns? The same thing as the 10 toes on the feet of the image in chapter 2, but the 10 horns come from Daniel chapter 7 where you have that fierce beast representing the Roman Empire and it had 10 horns. The 10 horns wore crowns because just like the heads refer to empires or kings or kingdoms and so are crowned, so the horns refer to kings or kingdoms, nations. Now there are seven. We only mentioned six, but we really mentioned seven because we have the Roman Empire, but in two forms. The Roman Empire, but then the Roman Empire is crushed and defeated, and we talk about when the Roman Empire phased out the eastern portion of the empire, the western portion of the empire. But there is a revival of the Roman Empire, the 10-nation confederacy, the 10 horns here. So that forms the 7th empire, a 10-horned federation. In fact, when we get to chapter 17 we find that John breaks it down even more finely, that the first 3½ years are the 10-nation confederacy forming the 7th world empire, and the last 3½ years form the 8th, because the antichrist rules as world dictator. In Revelation 17 verses 9-13 John says the 8th is of the 7th but is himself the 8th. Because he really came out of the 10, remember. He displaced three of them, overpowers three of the nations, becomes a dominant element during the first 3½ years and then we are told that all 10 nations are agreed that he ought to have sovereign authority alone in chapter 17. So that’s the picture here. We talked about the miracles he’s done, and this will be as far as we can go. This we’ll summarize when we get back to Matthew 24, I didn’t forget we were doing Matthew 24. When we get back there this is what Jesus says in summary.

But you see some of the things that are going to happen here. Again, the dragon at the end of verse 2 gave him his power, his throne and great authority. Here is the most satanic empowered man who has ever been. Now satan is free to use this man without the restraint of the Holy Spirit that formally had ben operative. “I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain and his fatal wound was healed. The whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast.” Evidently the antichrist, perhaps in the conflicts of assembling power is mortally wounded and soon to be dead. He comes back to life. But what do we have? Satan’s counterfeit of Christ who was crucified and resurrected; and now here you have this man. The whole earth is amazed. I mean they wouldn’t accept the death of the Messiah, the Son of God. But when satan’s man is mortally wounded and brought back, then the world is ready to worship him.

They worship the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast. When you worship the beast, you’re worshipping the devil. “They worshipped the beast saying who is like the beast, who is able to wage war with him? And there was given a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemy, authority to act for 42 months,” which is 3½ years. Verse 7, “and it was given to him to make war with the saints, to overcome them. Authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.” There is coming a world ruler. Those who dwell on the earth worship him.

Jump down, there’s a second beast here and his rule is to direct the worship of the world to the first beast. You have a satanic trinity—satan usurping the place of God the Father, the antichrist usurping the place of God the Son, and the false prophet usurping the place of the Holy Spirit. What does the Holy Spirit do but testify of Christ, direct attention to Him. Now here the false prophet’s role is verse 12, “he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. He deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which were given to him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and came to life.” So here it’s not only the antichrist who suffered a mortal wound and now has been brought back to life, but let’s make an image to him. Verse 15, “it was given to him to give breath or spirit to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast would even speak.” Now that’s impressive. Who else but God can give life? So, we have a second evidence, not only has the antichrist been brought back to life before the world, now they have made an image out of gold or silver or whatever they use and then it’s been called to life. Perhaps a demon indwells it, it was given spirit or breath. We don’t know. Remember the restraint is removed. God sends a deluding influence by giving satan more freedom than he has ever had, and the world will be overwhelmed. He was raised from the dead; he gave life to that image. It must be God.

The chapter concludes, “no one will buy or sell who has not identified himself as a worshipper of the antichrist. He will have the number on the forehead or the back of the hand, 666.” In our next study I will reveal to you what that means. No, I have no idea; and it won’t be revealed until after the rapture, so save yourself the grief and all the work. Because remember II Thessalonians 2? It’s not until after the church is removed, after the restrainer is removed, and then the man of lawlessness will be revealed. You can figure out the number because if the rapture is going to occur in the next coming years this man is alive on the earth. If it is any reasonable period of time in the next few years, he evidently has some kind of political position in the European Union. I know we could identify a number of people there that we might think would qualify. But this won’t be one of the leaders at this point because remember he is a little horn, just not significant at the beginning. But he makes a rapid rise to power.

For us all of this is after we have been transported to glory. That ought to heighten our anticipation and expectation of the coming of the Lord for His church.

Let’s pray together. Thank you, Lord, for your grace, your grace in saving us, in making yourself know to us, in revealing these wonderful, breathtaking truths. We are in awe as we consider how clearly you have revealed the future. Lord, much of this future seems to be unfolding before us in preparation for the true fulfillment of what was prophesied so long ago. Lord, may we be alert, may we be ready, may we be a people looking for the coming of our Lord to take us to Himself and to bring us into the glory of your presence very, very soon. We praise you for such a blessed hope. In Christ’s name. Amen.