Lesson One

Shortly before the Lord Jesus was crucified, four of His disciples came to Him privately and asked for the sign of His coming and the end of the age.²³¹ Jesus answered that they were to look for "the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place."²³²

Jesus said that His return would be signaled by a specific sign. But what was the meaning of this sign?

If there existed a need for the disciples of the first century to know the sign of Jesus’ coming, there exists an even greater need for the disciples of the twenty-first century to know that sign. The passage of time has brought the church closer to the promised coming of her Lord, and has provided opportunity for the simple teaching about the sign to become distorted and nearly lost. Before one begins an examination of the Revelation of Jesus Christ set forth in the book of Revelation, it is necessary first to clear up what Jesus said would signal His coming.

An investigation and review of the sign involves a look at that which joins the natural present to the supernatural future, the reality of everyday life to the world of antichrist, miracles, angels, and the Lamb-become-King. We find here that just as the Lord spoke from a burning bush to Moses about the coming deliverance of His people from the slavery of Egypt, He will speak from a burning world to those who look for His promised coming.

It is apparent from the words of the apostle Paul in his second letter to the Thessalonian church that they also did not understand the sign of Jesus' coming.²³³ So confused were they, that some in that church had apparently become convinced that the day of the Lord had come. So, to set them straight, Paul wrote specifically about what would signal the coming of the Lord Jesus. To this gentile congregation he effectively converted "the abomination of desolation...standing in the holy place," a phrase meaningful to Jews,²³⁴ to words that gentiles could understand.

The apostle presented a very simple argument: the Lord Jesus will come after, and in response to the appearance of a particular man who rises to power when the church is experiencing apostasy.²³⁵ He will be recognized by certain things that he does. The things that this man does will include lawlessness (2:3,8) and destruction (2:3), taking God's place (2:4)²³⁶ and the display of power, signs and false wonders (2:9).

The Lord Jesus had said that the abomination of desolation would stand in the holy place. Paul had written that the son of destruction would take the place of God. The Thessalonians would understand that "the abomination of desolation" is a phrase that characterizes and describes "the man of lawlessness, son of destruction," whose actions and words would amount to standing "in the holy place," God's place.²³⁷

The apostle Paul's description is essentially the same as Daniel's. He described the man of lawlessness as the "son of destruction," just as Daniel described one who would destroy and cause desolation. Paul said that the lawless one "exalts himself above every so-called god," nearly a quotation of "he will exalt and magnify himself above every god" (Dan. 11:36), Daniel's description of the end-time king "set-up" as the "abomination of desolation."²⁴⁴ Paul, as Daniel, also revealed that the man of lawlessness would be destroyed by the coming Lord (2 Thess. 2:8).

The apostle John also reported details of events that would precede the coming of the Lord in The Revelation. He saw the majority of the Lord's churches fallen and compromised (Rev. 2-3). The saints experience some kind of victory, indicated by the rider on the white horse who is given a crown of victory. They are also embarked on a righteous course probably consistent with the recent victory. This appears to be a military crusade in light of the fact that a bow is in the hand of the rider. But then John shows the saints being killed by one who “takes peace from the earth.” The reader then witnesses a series of judgments against the world, its gods, institutions and leaders, followed by the coming of the Lord (7-19). The one who "...make[s] war with the saints and overcome[s] them..." (Rev. 13:7) is described further by John as a "beast" who would be worshipped as God (13:8) and utter "...blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle..." (13:6). John also sees him defeated and destroyed by the returning Lord (19:20).

Both Daniel and John reveal that the saints are in a position of military power at the time they are attacked. As Daniel describes the destructive actions of the "little horn" he says, "he will destroy mighty and holy people."²⁴⁷ He is prophesied to “take action against the strongest of fortresses” (Dan. 11:39). When John reveals the saints in the symbol of the rider on the white horse (Rev. 6:2), the rider (saints) is portrayed receiving a crown of victory, probably symbolizing military victory. The crown of victory is probably from some recent military victory, in light of the fact that the rider is also seen in possession of "a bow" (a symbol of military power) and is “going out conquering and to conquer.”

Daniel and John give us additional information that indicates the possible nationality of the end-time desolator. John identifies the end-time desolator as one who represents and uses the power of ten kings. These ten kings are a confederation, an eighth empire that arises immediately from the pieces of a seventh empire (Rev. 13:1-3; 17:8-13). Daniel wrote about the same confederation of ten kings (Dan. 7:8-24). In Daniel's account we learn that the end-time ruler who wields their power does so after seizing the power of three of the ten kings.

Various authors have attempted to equate the ten kings as pieces of the Roman Empire. But this is impossible because of the explanation of the ten kings given by the angel to John in the Revelation. The angel tells John that the time frame in which John lived was the time of the sixth "head" or kingdom (Rev. 17:9-13). John lived in the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire was the sixth head. That empire was to be followed by a seventh empire that would die and be resurrected as an eighth empire of ten kings.

Only one empire has arisen since the Roman Empire that meets all the necessary criteria for the seventh head. For over 70 years the atheistic USSR spread like a cancer over the face of the earth, a totalarian government that held her population captive, persecuting Jews and Christians. But because it was economically unsound the USSR dissolved in September of 1991 and was replaced immediately by a ten-member confederation, the Confederation of Independent States (CIS). It immediately became dominated by Russia, after Russia took control of the nuclear arsenal that had been controlled by three others of the ten members.

Thus Russia appears to be the source of the end-time desolator.

On September 3, 1991, the Salt Lake Tribune reported the following on their front page: "Old USSR Buried." "10 Republics Forging New Union." "The old Soviet Union, mortally wounded in last month's coup, was buried Monday by Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and leaders from 10 of the nation's 15 republics. In an effort to stop the disintegration of the country and preserve some kind of union, Gorbachev and the 10 republic leaders presented the national congress with a historic plan that would dismantle the old Soviet Union and replace it with a loose confederation of independent states." The Arizona Republic, on September 29, 1991, reported this as the "End of an Empire."

The sign given by the Lord Jesus, "...the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place..." (Matt. 24:15) emerges from Paul, Daniel and John with very definite meaning.

During a time of apostasy in the churches, when the world’s most powerful nation has embarked on a righteous crusade, an individual arises from Russia and makes war against the “strongest of fortresses,” a nation populated in part by saints. His attack is in cooperation with “a foreign god,” another powerful nation or entity. The catalyst for his attack is twofold: (1) the saints, as a military power, are an obstacle to his ambition, and (2) the saints are attempting a righteous course of action with their military power. The extent of his destructive war against the saints earns for him the very ominous description, "the abomination of desolation," "man of lawlessness, son of destruction." As a result of his successful attack he declares himself to be God.²⁴⁸

If any of these prophecies play out in our times then it is apparent that Russia, probably in cooperation with either China or some Muslim organization, will attack and desolate the United States when the United States is engaged in a righteous military activity. Since the United States is the principal ally of Israel, then after the desolation of the United States Israel will become vulnerable to her enemies. The conqueror will easily reason with the remaining world that the Christian God does not exist because He allowed such a desolation.

Question: What about the Temple? Doesn't the Bible say somewhere that another temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem before Jesus comes? Answer: No.

Some have suggested that one must be rebuilt because Daniel 9:27 mentions sacrifice being stopped. They reason that a temple would be needed for sacrifice to be practiced and stopped.

However, the one who stops sacrifice in Daniel 9:27 is the Messiah. He did so when He gave His life as the final sacrifice.

Matthew mentions the abomination of desolation standing "in the holy place." Does not the "holy place" have to be located in the temple (Matt. 24:15)?

No. Standing in the "holy place" is a reference to the fact that the end-time ruler will declare himself to be God (taking God's place).

Paul said, "he exalts himself so that he takes his seat in the temple of God" (2 Thess. 2:4). So, how could an antichrist take a seat in the temple unless one is built?

John is instructed to "measure the temple" in Rev. 11. How can he measure the temple unless there is a temple?

The temple measured by John is a symbol of the whole community of God's saints, not a building. (See Chapter Nine, "The Two Witnesses)."

The most important and explicit evidence regarding the Jewish temple is given by the Lord Jesus himself as He instructed His disciples about the signs preceding His coming. Just before His crucifixion, while with His disciples He pointed to the temple and said, "...not one stone here shall be left upon another." They then said, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming and the end of the age "(Matt. 24:2-3). He then proceeded to describe to them the time of the end when their precious temple would be in ruins. If the temple was to be rebuilt as a sign of His coming He would have said so at that critical time. But he did not.

Question: Doesn't the Bible say somewhere that the antichrist will make a covenant with the Jews, before Jesus returns?

Answer: No. This is suggested by some who read, "And he will make a firm covenant with the many..." understanding "he" as a reference to antichrist. But the reference is to the Messiah, who is the subject of the two preceding verses in the prophecy of the seventy weeks. (See Appendix E, "Daniel 9:24-27")

Question: Doesn't the Bible say somewhere that the antichrist is going to desecrate a rebuilt Jewish temple, and that this act will be the abomination of desolation?

Answer: No.

In 167 B.C. Antiochus Epiphanies IV desecrated the Jewish temple when he erected an altar to the Greek god Zeus over the altar of burnt offerings. Some commentators have suggested that the antichrist will do something like this. But this is merely a suggestion or guess, not a teaching of the Bible.

As we have demonstrated above, "the abomination of desolation" is the description of a person who attacks and destroys the saints after he declares himself to be God.

The definite sign of the coming of the Lord Jesus will not be done in a corner. The sign will be of such a nature that "the abomination of desolation," "son of destruction," will be regarded and worshipped by many as God .

If you are a follower of the Lord Jesus residing outside of Israel in a powerful nation where many other Christians live, and,

If the destruction of your nation would work a strategic disadvantage to Israel, and,

If the destruction of your nation would work a strategic advantage to someone with ambitions to rule the world, and,

 If you are living during a time of a righteous military crusade²⁵⁰

YOU may become one of the saints destroyed suddenly by "the abomination of desolation," and never witness the sign!

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