The Abomination of Desolation

There is a lot of discussion revolving around the Abomination of Desolation. After watching the news one afternoon, a picture of the Dome of the Rock appeared. At that very moment, I wondered if the Dome of the Rock could be the Abomination of Desolation. I immediately grabbed my Bible, which is never too far from my side, and began to look at the scriptures again. Preferably, Mark 13, Luke 21 and Daniel 11,12. From there I pulled out my concordance in search of, "What exactly does the word "abomination" mean? And according to the Strong's Concordance the Hebrew/Greek definition # G0946, means the following:

Abomination: βδελυγμα bdelugma {bdel'-oog-mah} from 948; TDNT - 1:598,103; n n AV - abomination 6; 6 1) a foul thing, a detestable thing 1a) of idols and things pertaining to idolatry.

Now, the key word in this definition is, "idolatry" and we know that idolatry means to worship someone or something other than our heavenly Father, the creator of the heaven and the earth and all living creatures on the land, in the sea and under the sea. 

Let's take a look at Mark 13:14, "But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:"

The word in italics, "standing" I think when most people hear that word they immediately think of someone standing, a human body; however, in the Strong's Concordance, the Hebrew/Greek definition of standing is the following: 

Standing: ιστημι histemi {his'-tay-mee} a prolonged form of a primary stao {stah'-o} (of the same meaning, and used for it in certain tenses); TDNT - 7:638,1082; v AV - stand 116, set 11, establish 5, stand still 4, stand by 3, misc 17, vr stand 2; 158 1) to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set 1a) to bid to stand by, [set up] 1a1) in the presence of others, in the midst, before judges, before members of the Sanhedrin; 1a2) to place 1b) to make firm, fix establish 1b1) to cause a person or a thing to keep his or its place 1b2) to stand, be kept intact (of family, a kingdom), to escape in safety 1b3) to establish a thing, cause it to stand 1b31) to uphold or sustain the authority or force of anything 1c) to set or place in a balance 1c1) to weigh: money to one (because in very early times before the introduction of coinage, the metals used to be weighed) 2) to stand 2a) to stand by or near 2a1) to stop, stand still, to stand immovable, stand firm 2a1a) of the foundation of a building 2b) to stand 2b1) continue safe and sound, stand unharmed, to stand ready or prepared 2b2) to be of a steadfast mind 2b3) of quality, one who does not hesitate, does not waiver

Now, we know from the above definition that anything standing can be an immovable foundation that was placed, put or set. Therefore, the word "standing" does not necessarily refer to a human being, it can be a building or a foundation as well.

Now, let's back up a little bit. What exactly is the Dome of the Rock? Where is it located?   

The Dome of the Rock is an Islamic Shrine. It stands in the exact place of the first and second Jewish Temple. 

The Dome of the Rock is located at the visual center of a platform known as the Temple Mount. It was constructed on the site of the Second Jewish Temple, which was destroyed during the Roman Siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE. In 637 CE, Jerusalem surrendered to the Rashidun Caliphate army during the Muslim conquest of Syria. The Second Temple was the most important Jewish shrine which stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem between 516 BCE and 70 CE. It replaced the First Temple, built by Solomon, which was destroyed in 586 BCE, when the Jewish nation was exiled to Babylon. 

Let's go back in Biblical times in II Chronicles 3:1, "Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite." We know from scriptures that Solomon built the first house of the LORD on the Temple Mount. And Nehemiah and other Jews/Hebrews began constructing the second Temple in the entire book of Nehemiah 1-13.

What is the Temple Mount? Well, it's one of the most important religious sites in the Old City of Jerusalem. the Temple Mount is commonly referred to as the place where our Father/God chose the Divine Presence to rest Isaiah 8:18; according to some scholars, it was from the Temple Mount that the world expanded into its present form and where our Father/God gathered the dust used to create the first man, Adam. The site is also known to be the location of Abraham's binding of Isaac, found in Genesis 22:1-19.

During my studying of this, which reminds me of, II Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." I found a wonderful article entitled: The Time of the Resurrection as Revealed in Daniel 12, written by David M Rogers, www.BibleTruth.cc and Published: July 2006. Upon reading his article, I could really see the effort and studying that was put forth in the publishing of this article. Please copy and paste the link below: 

http://www.bibletruth.cc/Body_AbominationofDesolation.htm

What I have found truly remarkable in studying Biblical prophecy, is the majority of the Body of Christ, do not agree on the book of Revelation: however, most agree in the timing of events and attest to the belief that we're in the last of the last days. I have also noticed that a great number, of individuals who do not accept our Father's Word as truth or guidance, but rather look at the world on an economic standpoint, also agree that we're in the last of the last days. We will never know the hour or the day that our Messiah will return; however, we will know the season.

Luke 12:54-56 Yeshua/Jesus says, "...When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?' This is the chapter where Yeshua/Jesus is instructing His disciples to watch and prepare.

Now with regard to the Temple. Let's look at Revelation 21:1-3, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband, And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."

There are a lot of individuals who are waiting for a new Temple to be built; however, some believers, including myself, do not believe that there will be a new Temple built especially by the hands of man. For the new Jerusalem will come down from heaven as it is written in Revelation 21:1-3. This earth as we know it will pass away. For those individuals who believe in the building of a new Temple, may I suggest that you keep reading those verses that suggest a building of new Temple, then read the entire chapter, then read the entire Book that the scripture came from, however, always reading in the Spirit. You may receive a different revelation. Sometimes individuals pull out a verse and run with it, rather than reading the entire chapter. It's important that we study to shew ourselves approved, rather than relying on someone for information, who may or may not have studied themselves.

We know that this world will one day come to an end; it's not a matter of if but a matter of when. Therefore, it is imperative for all those in the Body of Christ to repent daily and fully commit to being a follower of our brother Yeshua/Jesus. As always remain in the Spirit and in the Word.

Our closing scripture is going to be again, from the book of II Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." This verse means that you don't have to go along with the masses, especially if the Holy Spirit is telling you something different. You may stand alone in your beliefs being guided by the Holy Spirit. But remember this, you and our Father will always make the majority.

Other Resources:

Here is an excerpt from: The Riddle of the Dome of the Rock: Was it Built as a Jewish Place of Prayer

"This building which is located on the exact site of the First and Second Temples can never be a replacement for the Third Temple. This, like the El Aqsa mosque, is a foreign building on the Temple Mount. According to the Tanach (which even the Moslems believe) the Temple Mount should only be the site of one house, the house of the G-d of Israel. As with other foreign buildings which were built on the Temple Mount after the destruction of the Second Temple they are an abomination. G-d will remove them from His holy hill and He will again make it the holy site of His real “last house” — the Third Temple."

Written by The Voice of the Temple Mount Faithful: Summer 5761/2001

Read the entire article at: http://www.templemountfaithful.org/Newsletters/2001/5761-11.htm make sure you copy and paste the link. I think you'll find it very interesting.