THE ABOMINATION THAT CAUSES DESOLATION

Matthew 24:15&16 says, “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”

This raises the question, “What is the abomination that causes desolation?” and the answer is found in the book of Daniel: just as the Scripture indicates.

The second chapter of Daniel is where the abomination is described and, because we have just read Matthew 24:15, God will let us understand.

The second chapter describes a statue, made of mostly metal, that is destroyed by a rock that was not cut out by human hands. It stands to reason that if it was not cut out by human hands, then it was cut out by the hand of God.

We are told that the different metals are different kingdoms (Dan 2:38-40). Kingdoms of this earth are basically governments. Kingdoms are ruled by one man, but not all governments are kingdoms. However all governments recognize one man as the ultimate authority at any point in time. Our president changes from time to time, but whoever is president is recognized as the ultimate authority at that time.

So, using our words, the different metals are symbolic of governments and one can see that the height of the statue is also symbolic of time, or history: history to us, but prophetic to those of Daniel’s time. As the metals are worth less and less, so the governments are worth less and less, as history plays out.

Now, I would think that you are asking, ‘If the statue represents the abomination that causes desolation, and that abomination is governments, then what is wrong with governments?’

Well, look at governments through the eyes of God. God made everything that was made. What is apparent with only a little thought is, God made everything for us. He didn’t need the universe, or anything in it, but it was all made for us. God wants children. Someone to share everything that He has and He wants to take care of His children, just as any loving father wants. He wants to be recognized as our God, King, Leader, but I believe, even more than that, He wants us to see Him as our Father, Provider, and Protector.

However, most of us do not believe this. If one does not believe that God will take care of them, then they must take care of themselves. This leads to governments that are only men leading men! After all that God has done for us, it becomes clear that any government, by man, is an abomination to God, and as one examines the governments of man, it is clear that they all lead to desolation. Governments of man, no matter what type, or what they are called, only oppress and destroy the people.

The most inferior of the governments are those of the feet of the statue. They are governments of men that are mixed with baked clay. We are all made of clay, but baked clay is symbolic of men that have become hardened of heart. We have hardened our hearts and have become mixed into, and with, the government. In this country, every four years, we prove to God that we want to govern ourselves, but we do not even understand that we are rejecting God, and that it is an abomination to Him!

We reside at the time of the feet of the statue and Jesus, the rock carved out by God, is about to destroy all of the statue, or governments of man. He is going to establish, forever, the government of God. We cannot know the exact time that Jesus will come, but we can know the season and we are in that season.

The great God has shown Nebuchadnezzar, and the reader, what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy.