According to Jesus, there must be a Holy Place before the end of the age.
Before the abomination, there will be a Holy Place. The defiling can’t be first. During this time of anxious anticipation, with a global pandemic stirring fear, the Holy Place is the sign of the end everyone must look for.
The Holy PLace sign is found in Jesus’ sermon. Matthew 24:15
“Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
The COVID-19 virus, or Coronavirus, is ravaging its way around the globe. People and governments are grappling with it while at the same time, trying to place blame on people or nations. But as I wrote in another article here, this virus is a test. It’s a test of our character and faith. The people of God must prepare themselves to meet the challenges ahead. Importantly, this is a prelude to a more difficult series of events. We are not in the final seven years of humanity’s trial.
If we can’t handle this ‘warning shot,’ then, we will not be able to handle the truly difficult times ahead. The prophet Habakkuk received a similar warning.
Jeremiah 12:5
“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?
https://thewritelife.tech/2020/04/03/covid-19-warrior-training-for-faint-hearts/
It’s the Holy Place.
That’s the clear sign we all should look for. In order for the end-of-days scenarios to unfold, the Holy Place must exist. But, instead of looking for the clear sign, people tend to look for signs that Jesus said are not the signs we should focus on.
Many of us have heard a line from a famous country-western song, “looking for love in all the wrong places.” Well, in an obviously similar way, Bible prophecy students and scholars are looking for signs of the end in all the wrong places.
The Lord could not have been more clear about certain signs.
Matthew 24: 4-8: Not the key signs!
4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.
5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.
6 “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.
7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
8 “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
In the Lord’s opening sentences, he warned about the beginning of birth pangs. Those beginning “signs” are not the key indicators that the time is at hand.
And yet, every earthquake, famine, pestilence, or war starts another series of “this is it!” timelines.
We need to relax, grab a cup of coffee or tea and get our Bibles out and study. Put aside your YouTube scholar who’s searching for clicks and get back to studying. 🙂
What was ‘The Holy Place?’
It was an important part of the Tabernacle which the Lord instructed Moses to build.
The tabernacle, or tent, consisted of two sections. Both sections were off-limits to most people. Accessing these sections was considered an act of drawing near to Jehovah God. And only “holy” or separated and clean individuals were allowed to do so. (That’s another huge study for another time.) Only the Levitical priests were allowed to enter the Holy Place.
The priests entered the Holy Place daily to minister to the Lord. The table of showbread stood on the right. The seven-branched golden lampstand stood on the left. The altar of incense stood in front of the veiled Most Holy Place. The Most Holy Place is where the Ark of the Covenant stood.
In Jesus’ prophecy, he referred to the first section, not the second. And he pointed us to Daniel’s prophecies as well. The Apostle Paul was wise enough to catch the obvious hint. And John’s revelation in chapter thirteen builds upon those revelations.
Daniel 9:23
At the beginning of your petitions, an answer went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly precious. So consider the message and understand the vision.
Daniel 9:27
And he will confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week, he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of the temple will come the abomination that causes desolation, until the decreed destruction is poured out upon him.”
Daniel 11:31
His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation.
Daniel 12:11
And from the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation set up, there will be 1,290 days.
Mark 13:14
So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
So, we should look for the right signs. And as we do, let’s give thanks for the early tests that allow us to improve our faith and trust in the Lord.
There must be a Temple in order for the Antichrist to desecrate it. And the sacrifices must begin before they are stopped.
Daniel 9:24
“Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.”
White Stone Watcher
Hello readers,
I’ve served as a children and youth pastor for over three decades. It was a great honor and pleasure to serve the Lord in that way. It’s been my prayer, that many of them will learn of Jesus’ love and decide to commit their lives to follow Him.
I wrote the fiction story, ‘White Stone Watcher’ for them and their parents. In the story, we see a young man, and his best friend, Amanda. They face the normal challenges that today’s kids face at school. But with one huge difference.
Their challenge is twelve feet tall to be exact with an enormous set of six wings. Just like the prophet Isaiah saw in the throne room of God. He’s a Watcher, an angelic being who is still invisible to Amanda. The messenger from God is about to lead both of them on a spiritual journey. They find they can’t escape the unseen war that rages all around them. They will become key players that God will use in the battle between the Sons of Darkness and the Children of Light.
I invite you to pray about a youth that might enjoy and benefit from this story. As the world grows darker, our youth must become aware that the Lord is calling them to join the Children of Light in the fight for what is righteous. We’re all involved, whether we realize it or not. If they won’t go to church, maybe they’ll read a book about someone just like them facing challenges at school.
God is calling them.
Praying for the youth, and spiritual awakening.
Pastor Doug
Let me know what you think.