Meet the Antichrist Part Seven

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Meet the Antichrist
Part Seven

The Abomination and the Third Temple

The Abomination of Desolation

This defining act of evil, this "abomination of desolation" is another of the major signs that the End of the Age is near. It therefore behooves us to invest a bit of time to understand this somewhat cryptic warning of both Prophet Daniel and Master Y'shua. As we will soon see, other prophets warn of this dark event as well!

One traditional Jewish commentary says Daniel's prophecy applies to Cyrus and Alexander Yannai, but again I don't see the evidence for such an interpretation and even if such exists, we have already seen that there is sometimes more than a single correct interpretation to divine revelations, one being immediate, the other far off as if a shadow of the main fulfillment. Also, according to Master Y'shua, its fulfillment was yet future at his point in time. Jews do not accept the teachings of Prophet Y'shua of course but for those of us who do, we understand the fulfillment of this prophecy to be yet in the future.

The Antichrist is described in verse 27 and his appearance is yet future. As we approach his appearance, HaShem will make his identity clear to people of faith through the scriptures and through His End Times prophets:

Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Some things have been understood throughout the long history of Israel, however others have been concealed, only to be revealed in the End of Days:

Daniel 12:8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

Much prophetic understanding is only now becoming clear.

The Last Seven Years of this Age

According to the prophets, the final seven years of the age will be like none other in human history. The prophets have a lot of information about this seven year period and the thousand years that will follow it.

This week (seven days) is the seven year Tribulation period ("a day for a year" or one week – Ezek. 4:6; Num. 14:34 and so on).

We discussed the Great Falling Away above.

As we learned at Daniel 9:27 this Son of Perdition will sign a contact or treaty between Israel and its enemies for seven years ("a day for a year" or one week – Ezek. 4:6; Num. 14:34 and so on), but "in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease." The Son of Perdition, the Antichrist, will violate the terms of the treaty by committing the abomination of desolation and turn against Israel with a vengeance unlike anything the world has ever seen. This is confirmed by Master Y'shua:

Matt. 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Prophet Jeremiah speaks of this terrible time:

Jeremiah 31:15 Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
16 Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
17 And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.

This unprecedented time of sorrow was foreshadowed by the likes of Adolf Hitler and his Nazi regime however what will soon befall the earth will be far worse than even those dark days.

The Son of Perdition will enter the yet to be rebuilt Jerusalem Temple and perform the abomination spoken of by Prophet Daniel. The scripture tells us that "as God [he] sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." For those who watching his identity will doubtless be clear before this event, but for those still unsure at that point, this will make it clear. Another sign given here and elsewhere is the rebuilding of the Temple. Once this happens those who know the prophecies should be certain the End of the Age is about to begin.

There are many who believe that Paul and his contemporaries expected Master Y'shua to return in their lifetime and establish the Kingdom. I don't think the case is clear on this question either way. However, it seems most likely to me that considering that Paul wrote this letter to prepare his readers for a long struggle, whether or not the Temple was then standing, Paul was aware that it would be destroyed as per the Master's prophecies. That being the case, Paul would have known that the Temple would be rebuilt, as per Isaiah's prophecies. Concerning the strained relations between the Romans and the Jews he surely would have viewed this happening any time soon as very unlikely. If this writing to the Thessalonian Believers comes from circa 75-90 CE he obviously knew it would be rebuilt a third time (Micah 3:12; Isa 4:6) and the case is that much stronger. This is an interesting consideration, but the point here is that since the Temple was destroyed nearly 2000 years ago, it must be rebuilt. Until it is the Son of Perdition will not be able to fulfill his foretold desecration.

So then the natural question arises, by whom, how and when will the Third Temple be built?

Part Eight Coming Soon