“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place”… “For then there will be great tribulation…” — Matthew 24:15-21

Prophecy is God’s word spoken, or sent forth by God’s direction. Since it is His Word, it does not return void (Isaiah 55:11) and it never fails (Matthew 24:35). It continues to be true and applicable to human situations and circumstances as they intersect with each other.

When we speak of the abomination of desolation we want it to be a particular person or event that defiles in a physical way the Temple of God. This was true during the time of the Maccabees in 168 BC, and again under Roman rule in AD 70, but an even greater abomination of desolation exists today. It is the absence of the presence of God in the hearts of men (His holy temple, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19). 

No person or army, or herd of swine, or any other contrivance of man so desecrates God’s temple as does the absence of His presence in those who are in the Church. It is the heart of a man that is desolate (void) of the presence of God that is the real abomination, and the desolation is most abominable when it occurs in those who are “members” of God’s Church. When this happens, tribulations begin and increase as the abomination increases.

We must see to it that we are not a part of the abomination of desolation that is a heart devoid of God’s presence. As we study end times scriptures, we quickly learn of the Antichrist and the horrific things that will take place when he is revealed. John tells us in 1 John 2:18 that many antichrists have already come into our world; these are the false teachers, preachers, and prophets, who are spreading a false gospel and confusing and dividing God’s Church.

The spirit of antichrist has for centuries sought to dilute and weaken the gospel message. It has succeeded far too well and, unless we begin to live out the true gospel they will continue to weaken the Church. It is our responsibility to be who we say that we are, to be the “salt and light” that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 5:13-14. Filled with God’s Spirit, we can make a positive difference in our world.

Rev. Bobby Thornhill is a retired pastor.