{"id":602,"date":"2010-04-23T14:44:43","date_gmt":"2010-04-23T21:44:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/groansfromwithin.com\/?p=602"},"modified":"2013-03-08T13:47:35","modified_gmt":"2013-03-08T21:47:35","slug":"abomination-of-desolation-%e2%89%a0-antichrist-earthquakes%e2%80%a6signs-of-the-times-5-mark-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thepangeablog\/2010\/04\/23\/abomination-of-desolation-%e2%89%a0-antichrist-earthquakes%e2%80%a6signs-of-the-times-5-mark-13\/","title":{"rendered":"Abomination of Desolation \u2260 AntiChrist! [Earthquakes\u2026Signs of the Times, 5 (Mark 13)]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This is the fifth post in a series titled: Earthquakes\u2026 Signs of the Times?\u00a0 I invite you to read the rest of the series here<\/a> <\/em>to catch up (the first post would be extremely helpful)\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n

A popular phrase in the Christian subculture is \u201cAntichrist\u201d who is often identified as the \u201cAbomination of Desolation\u201d or the \u201cBeast\u201d who will brand sinners with his mark of \u201c666.\u201d\u00a0 For instance, in the popular book series\/ movie \u201cLeft Behind,\u201d this figure is known as Nicolae Carpathia (see image).\u00a0 This has been so embedded in our theologies that to raise any questions about our interpretation of these things often frustrates many of the faithful.\u00a0 If this is you\u2026 I apologize in advance but would ask you to lay aside your presuppositions and follow my logic and interpretive scheme to see if it holds up.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The phrase that deserves some investigation is what the TNIV designates: \u201cthe abomination that causes desolation\u201d (v. 14).\u00a0 Comparatively, the NRSV renders this as \u201cdesolating sacrilege\u201d and the NLT as \u201cthe sacrilegious object that causes desecration.\u201d\u00a0 Now, for the purposes of biblical interpretation, a question must be asked: Is this referring to a person or to an object? <\/em> In many popular futurist theologies (rapture\u2013> tribulation \u2013> millennial reign \u2013> eternity in brand new heavenly world as opposed to this one), it is assumed that this phrase refers to the so-called \u2018Antichrist\u2019 who will step into the holy place of the (rebuilt?) Temple; but based on Jewish history it seems more likely that this was indeed some kind of pagan altar or object.[1]<\/a> It should be noted that the best rendering of this verse will indicate that it was primarily an object and not a person who desecrated the Temple.\u00a0 So, with this in mind, we need a translation of the passage that indicates this the most clearly.\u00a0 The worst of the aforementioned translations is the NLT who leaves this verse in ambiguous tension.\u00a0 For although it clearly explains that the abomination is an object, the phrase that follows is: \u201c\u2026standing where he<\/em> should not be.\u201d\u00a0 This barely makes logical sense in English and seems to impose a futurist eschatological perspective (again, \u201cLeft Behind\u201d).\u00a0 Simply put, I want to explore the possibility that this passage should be seen as regarding an object rather than a person (especially a future<\/em> Antichrist).[2]<\/a><\/p>\n

Last post<\/a> we observed that when the \u201cabomination\u201d takes place that this is when the disciples are instructed by Jesus to \u201cflee\u201d (v. 14).\u00a0 The reason that an object makes more sense than a person is that this phrase has both a biblical and historical back-story.\u00a0 The language is developed from the book of Daniel which states:<\/p>\n

His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the Temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice.\u00a0 Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation\u2026\u00a0 Daniel ll.31<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This was a prophecy that seems to have found fulfillment in history during the Jewish struggle under Antiochus Epiphanes.\u00a0 The story is told in 1 Maccabees 1.54ff where it states that \u201con the fifteenth day of Chislev, in the one hundred forty-fifth year, they erected a desolating sacrilege on the altar of burnt offering\u201d (NRSV).\u00a0 These are the historical and biblical links from which Jesus speaks.[3]<\/a> When the \u201cdesolating sacrilege\u201d or the \u201cabomination that causes desolation\u201d disgraced the Temple in the past, it was not primarily a person but a pagan altar that was set up on the altar of God.\u00a0 There is some evidence to suggest that the Jews used this language directly referring to Zeus.\u00a0 In fact, it probably was an altar that had on it an image of the pagan god.[4]<\/a> Therefore it follows that Jesus, having this story in his mind, was referring to an object that would be set up to disgrace the Temple once again at the time when it was nearing its destruction.\u00a0 The belief that this refers to a future \u201canti-Christ\u201d figure cannot be found in our text; and when it is read to claim such, it is an importation of popular futurists views.\u00a0 No, when this object is set up where it does not belong, the faithful disciples who have chosen to endure the various tribulations will now have warrant to \u201cflee to the mountains\u201d (v. 14).\u00a0 This I suggest was completely a first century reality.<\/p>\n

So, what is the point?\u00a0 Well, I again want to raise a fundamental question about how we promote the Christian message: Is the Christian Church called to be a broker of hope in our world or fear?\u00a0 Are we called to scare the hell out of people, or to invite others into a movement of the living God who is \u201cgathering up all things in Christ (heaven and earth)?\u201d\u00a0 Should our message be: Beware of the coming Antichrist who will take over the world after the rapture\u2026 do you want to be left behind? OR: Do you want to become part of God\u2019s mission of grace, love, and hope that can only be found in the reconciliation of Jesus?<\/em> I think you get my point\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

PS \u2013 Obama is not the Antichrist or setting us up to be on the wrong side of the tribulation as a nation \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 Those who worry about or claim such are casting judgment that is unbiblcial and simply put, SIN.\u00a0 Even if you don\u2019t like him, the text doesn\u2019t allow us to go there\u2026 ha!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

[1]<\/a>. \u201cAbomination of Desolation,\u201d in The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology<\/em>, ed. Colin Brown, 5th ed. 1<\/em>(Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1980), 74-75.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Although I must admit that the use of \u201che\u201d rather than \u201cit\u201d is not completely out of the question based on the Greek.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a>. \u00a0David E. Garland, Mark<\/em>, ed. Terry Muck, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996), 495.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a>. The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology<\/em>, 74-75.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is the fifth post in a series titled: Earthquakes\u2026 Signs of the Times?\u00a0 I invite you to read the rest of the series here to catch up (the first post would be extremely helpful)\u2026 \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013 A popular phrase in the Christian subculture is \u201cAntichrist\u201d who is often identified as the \u201cAbomination of Desolation\u201d or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,73,91,92,94],"tags":[117,133,151,277,19161,338,360,361,494,498,19186],"class_list":["post-602","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-earthquakes-signs-of-the-times-series","category-politics","category-temple","category-theology","category-tribulation","tag-abomination-of-desolation","tag-antichrist","tag-beast","tag-end-times","tag-eschatology","tag-god","tag-haiti","tag-haitian-earthquake","tag-mark-13","tag-mark-138","tag-theology"],"yoast_head":"\nAbomination of Desolation \u2260 AntiChrist! 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