So how should one deal with Daniel 9:27
and Matthew 24:15 and their references to the "abomination of
desolation standing in the holy
place"? The reference
to the "holy place,"
while traditionally understood as the "temple"
takes on new significance in the New Testament
as the temple image shifts from structure to
person. Bodies have now become "holy
places" or temples of God's Spirit. The
"desolation" of the "temple" is people who will
be made desolate and will embody the
"abomination" that forces the Spirit of God to
be replaced by something else....OR BE
KILLED! THESE are the "living sacrifices"
who will be killed for their testimony in
Christ.
The common teaching regarding a
"tribulation temple" in which "the man of sin"
or "the antichrist" will enter into and defile
by declaring himself to be God are supported
mainly from one verse in 2 Thessalonians
2:4, which states that the man of sin
"sits as
God in the temple of God showing
himself that he is God."
There are two different
Greek words that are translated as "temple"
in English. One word
"hieron" is used by Paul
when referring to an actual building
made with wood and stones. The other word "naos" is
used when referring to the spiritual
temple of God which refers to His
people. The word "naos" is the one used in
this
2 Thessalonians 2:4 verse, and therefore is
NOT talking about a physical
temple.
I will concede that in Vines Expository
Dictionary, it says: "the word naos can
be regarded in different ways - either as
a literal temple or as the 'inner
sanctuary." However, when
the word hieron is used, it is always
denoting a physical place as opposed
to "naos/the 'inner santuary'" (which
is given the option of being used
differently only because of the
'literal view'.) However, beginning
with the Book of Acts, after the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit, all the way through the
Book of Revelation, the word "naos" is used
ONLY referring to PEOPLE as the TEMPLE NOT
MADE WITH HANDS. Why? Because
the Book of Revelation is the REVEALING of
Jesus Christ, and He is revealed in the
MIDST of the Lampstands &
candlesticks (the 2 witnesses and the
churches.)
* We should view
all scripture, including
prophecies, with a literal exegesis
(explanation), but with a spiritual eye
toward the symbolic identification
embedded within the literal passage,
which symbols are there to give
understanding to what it is trying to teach
us --- which is also why we see
"warnings" throughout scripture such as: "He
who hears, let him understand."
It's like somebody telling you something and
then saying "GET IT?" In other words,
it's just as much an error to
view scripture only as
being figurative or symbolic, as much
as it is to view scripture as strictly
literal.....which robs the reader of any
sensible comprehension.
The symbolism of Paul's "bodily temple"
comparison and that of Revelation's
identification of the seven stars, seven
candlesticks, 2 lampstands, etc. are there as
symbols so that we can understand
literally who is involved and what will
play out. We can have confidence
that Scripture will interpret Scripture.
Why then is there so much confusion when 2
Thessalonians 2:4 speaks of the man of sin
seated in the NAOS (spiritual
temple/people of God, “)...which temple
(naos) YE ARE...”(1Corinthians
3:17). Second Thessalonians 2:4 is
NOT referring to an actual physical temple.
The antichrist comes out from among us (the
temple of God) just like Judas came out from
among the disciples of Jesus, yet he was not
manifested (made known) until the end of
Jesus' ministry. Likewise, "the man of
sin" (whom many of us believe has been
among us for almost 3 years) just like Judas,
will be made known (manifested & revealed)
in the midst (4th year) of the 70th Week
> Rosh HaShanah 2011 to Rosh HaShanah 2012.
Maybe you or others don't think it matters
how this temple imagery is interpreted;
but unfortunately, furthering the belief
that a brick and mortar temple must be rebuilt
in order for it to be desecrated in Jerusalem
not only is the bone of contention of the
infamous "final status" talks (which will no
doubt lead to the confirming of the Covenant
in an effort to assauge and allay the
Jews when/if a Palestinian State is
declared....but it also (spiritually speaking)
destroys understanding of the awareness
that we are in the 70th Week because "Oh
no, there is no rebuilt temple so it cannot
be the 70th Week !"
Barry you said: "I am not clear on
with your position, (that we are now in the
70th week and almost to the half way point),
is that I thought that there must be a
period of time in which the Jews accept
Antichrist as messiah and during which he
and or the false prophet are doing miracles
and deceiving everyone." WHERE
does it say ANYWHERE the Jews accept the
antichrist as messiah? In the
present State of Israel not only are the vast
majority of Israelis unbelievers in the
Messiah, but they would classify themselves as
athiests or agnostics! They have
re-gathered in the Land in unbelief....the dry
bones of Ezekiel 37.....yet they are without
the breath of God....the Spirit is not yet in
them. They are not looking for a
messiah. And they are not going to
ACCEPT any man as messiah
either! In fact, to prove it,
we read in Matthew and
in Revelation that when the
antichrist declares himself the messiah/god,
those who understand are going to FLEE!
It says nowhere that they
are first going to "accept" a messiah and then
flee from him. Jesus told
those who will be in Judea at the time
to RUN --- FLEE --- don't even
go back in your houses for clothes!
Not only that, but WHERE does it say anything
at all about him bringing
"peace?" He will lie about
strengthening the Covenant (that they do have
a right to exist in the Land God gave them)
and to appease them with another lie
> a promise
of 'security')....but when the First
Seal is opened and the antichrist declares
himself god he is going forth to
"conquer." There is no peace!!! In
fact this matches 1 Thess. 5:3 > For when they shall say,
peace and security; then
shall sudden destruction come upon
them."
As for your question: "When does the AC
have time to fulfil these things (be seen as
peace maker and savior of the world as well
as Jewish messiah) and still later become
the obviously evil one too? Is Obama the
Jews' Messiah now or doing miracles?"
Well, he seems to have already
done it. Didn't he already
win the Nobel Peace Prize
right before your very eyes? Explain
that one. He was in office for barely a
month before nominations were cut off....and
he won! What did he DO
exactly? He's already been called the
"messiah" and "annointed one" - and not just
in sarcastic humor. He's already
pulled the wool over the eyes of our nation
- coming out of nowhere, no background,
his past shrouded in mystery, yet rising to be
called "messiah"??? Winning the Peace
Prize before he did anything. Fooling
most of the American Jewish
voters (yet not fooling very many in
Israel as many I've talked to tell
me they believe he's a Muslim.) He's
already in the most important seat of
authority in the world. He
unconstitutionally took on the position of
Chief of the U.N. SECURITY Council (that sets
him up in a good position now doesn't it, to
confirm the covenant and soothe Israel
with his lies.) I mean, what more do you
want him to accomplish before the big day when
satan gives him his seat of
authority (which is granted to him by
God to continue
for 42 months.) You think he's going to
at first be "good" and then turn "evil?"
I'd say he's already accomplished a good many
"miracles" and he ain't even gotten started
yet. Wait until his buddy the False
Prophet comes from under the woodwork
to help! There'll be plenty of
time for some mighty miracles to fool the
people! But the only ones going to be
fooled are those who "love not the truth for
the truth (Jesus Christ) is not in them."
Barry, I know all about being wrong and
losing credibility. But it's wrong to
throw the baby out with the bath water.
I don't know one person who has it all
right. Even when I am listening to
someone who seems to see it the way I do,
invariably I am disappointed when they go off
on another tack that I don't agree with.
But there is illumination -and progressive
revelation- from studying, trying to get
it, understanding where you might have
misunderstood, studying again and letting the
Spirit help us, teach us. As I said
before, we all have our "opinions" but God's
Word is sure. Admittedly prophecy is a
difficult and controversial subject. Oh
how we need the Holy Spirit's guidance!
But I hope maybe some of what I've written
clarifies some of it for you or others - and I
say that with a tinge
of fear....because to tell the truth,
sometimes I wonder what I am supposed to do
with this information. Does the Lord
want me to share it? Am I supposed to
keep the light (I think I have) hidden
under the proverbial bushel? I
dunno. I guess after 13 years of
writing, posting, changing positions
& views, debating, arguing, and crying a
lot over responses you would think I'd finally
give up. But I can't say why I keep
doing it. Maybe I'm nuts. Or maybe
I just have to keep running after
the Lord, wanting to know what's
next?.....wanting to know how
soon?.....wanting to share it with those of
like (or unlike) mind, and wanting to just
finally go home (but taking as many as I can
with me.) Just come Lord Jesus,
come!
~Sherry Vance