The Abomination of Desolation
Jesus Christ’s strongest prophecy is recorded in Matthew 24. It is known as the Olivet prophecy. God has given His very elect—His loyal people—understanding of this vital prophecy.
In this prophecy, Christ discussed the abomination of desolation, the number one sign that it is time for God’s people to flee to a place of protection (Matthew 24:15-20). It is extremely important that we know exactly what this sign is.
Luke’s version of the Olivet prophecy adds a lot to our understanding. “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh” (Luke 21:20). Armies will surround Jerusalem in the near future, but not the armies that most would probably think of. These are not Arab armies; they are European armies. Mark’s version says these military forces stand where they “ought not” (Mark 13:14). They shouldn’t be in Jerusalem at all.
The Prophet Daniel used the term “abomination that maketh desolate” (Daniel 12:11). This is talking about nuclear war. God will punish His own people severely, and then He will destroy the abomination.
“Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days” (Daniel 10:14). Daniel himself didn’t understand this message (Daniel 12:4, 9). It is for the end time.
God must have somebody to warn the world about the abomination of desolation. Who else makes the meaning clear?
The abomination is a specific event carried out by a specific world power. A look at history helps us to identify which nation will lead the way.
At the close of World War ii, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and United States President Franklin Roosevelt released this statement in 1945:
It is our inflexible purpose to destroy German militarism and Nazism and to ensure that Germany will never again be able to disturb the peace of the world. We are determined to disarm and disband all German armed forces; break up for all time the German General Staff that has repeatedly contrived the resurgence of German militarism; remove or destroy all German military equipment; eliminate or control all German industry that could be used for military production ….
Today, Germany ranks third in military exports! Britain and America have failed to follow through on their determined declaration. At theTrumpet.com, we wrote on February 27: “Germany’s Bundeswehr has been charged with establishing and commanding a new [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] military headquarters. … As Deutsche Welle noted, the new headquarters ‘will not be integrated into the current nato command structure.’”
The nations of Europe and the entire world just sleepily go along with the plan, in spite of Germany’s war-making history! It won’t be long before the European Union is pared down to just 10 “kings,” or nations, that will wreak havoc. We have warned of this for over 80 years!
“U.S. Ambassador to nato Kay Bailey Hutchison said that if recent European military developments become ‘a protectionist vehicle for the EU,’ it threatens to ‘splinter the strong security alliance that we have,’” our article stated. “Splinter” is not a strong enough word. Germany is threatening to tear apart nato. The Bible says America’s “lovers” will turn against us.
“And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries” (Daniel 11:21). A “vile person” will lead Germany into World War iii. He won’t take charge by winning an election. Right now, Germany is struggling to form a fractious coalition government. Do you suppose this German strongman could come to power even this year by pretending to be somebody he isn’t? This leader will hijack the EU!
Germany has the number one currency in the world and has practically enslaved other European nations to the euro. Meanwhile, the United States dollar keeps getting weaker.
The coming German strongman will receive power from an evil spirit (Daniel 8:23-24). This prophecy is dual. Anciently, Antiochus Epiphanies did everything possible to destroy the faith of the Jews. That is not normal. Satan and the demons have the power to possess and control human minds! The soon-to-be leader of the Holy Roman Empire will have a “mind change” (Habakkuk 1:11).
Europe is in crisis and yearning for a bold, decisive, strong leader. Europeans will regret that desire when he finally seizes command. He will direct a European force to enter Jerusalem, posing as a peacekeeping unit, after wiping out the king of the south (radical Islam led by Iran).
“And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate” (Daniel 11:31). As Herbert W. Armstrong explained in The United States and Britain in Prophecy, God will use Germany to punish three nations in particular: America, Britain and the Jewish state.
“And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits” (verse 32). At the same time, God’s Church is doing a powerful work and explaining to the world what this abomination of desolation is all about.
“And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done” (verse 36). Here is an ultimate dictator with near-limitless power. For a while at least, the European superpower will be stronger than America, Russia and China.
To this day, Europe remains proud of the bloody Holy Roman Empire. Before his death, former European Parliament member Otto von Habsburg said, “The [European] Community is living largely by the heritage of the Holy Roman Empire, though the great majority of the people who live by it don’t know by what heritage they live.” Throughout history, the Holy Roman Empire has risen to dominance six separate times, wading through rivers of blood to convert people to its false religion. Should anyone take pride in that legacy?
“We don’t understand German thoroughness,” Mr. Armstrong declared in a radio broadcast on May 9, 1945. “From the very start of World War ii, they have considered the possibility of losing this second round, as they did the first—and they have carefully, methodically planned, in such eventuality, the third round—World War iii!” Mr. Armstrong knew this because it is revealed in more than 100 prophecies in your Bible!
“Berlin, capital of Germany. That we know about. But Berlin, capital of Europe?” wrote the Guardian Weekly on Jan. 17, 1998. “The world has not yet got in focus the monster now emerging from the Prussian sand, rising up out of the rubble of World War ii.”
The article continued: “Germany will be the heartland, the engine room, of a united Europe in the 21st century. The new single currency, the euro, will be run from Frankfurt.” Germany runs everything, mainly because American and British leaders have forgotten history.
Through the chaos, God preserves His people. “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. … And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:1, 3).
The greatest reward for all eternity goes to God’s very elect. We will shine forever and rule at the top of the government echelon in the World Tomorrow. That’s the payoff for simply obeying God.
Verse 12 shows that we will be blessed for waiting on God. As another translation puts it, “Oh, the blisses!”
