Jesus, of course, did not go around bandying the term “Antichrist.”  When the apostle John used it, years after Christ’s death and resurrection, it was never intended to be a term associated with the End of the Age as he (John) and his friends had asked the Lord concerning, “back in the day.”

Why not?

Because, Jesus had already told them whom to look for, and it wasn’t an antichrist.  It was someone else. The Abomination that Causes Desolation, as spoken of by the prophet Daniel.

Matthew 24:15 “So when you see the abomination that causes desolation , spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand), 16 “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains! 17 A man on the housetop must not come down to get things out of his house. 18 And a man in the field must not go back to get his clothes. 19 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! 20 Pray that your escape may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great tribulation, the kind that hasn’t taken place since the beginning of the world until now, and never will again! 22 Unless those days were cut short, no one would survive. But because of the elect those days will be cut short.

Jesus’ friends asked what they should look for, at the End of the Age.  He says “when you see the Abomination that Causes Desolation….”  So, Jesus says there will be one person in particular to look for.  And when that man is seen standing in the holy place, everyone needs to clear out of civilization, really.  There is going to be a great tribulation, the Lord says.  And his people — the elect! — will have to live through it.  God will be merciful and cut the days shorter than they might otherwise be, but even the people of God will have to meet this tribulation.

What did Daniel say, anyway?

Daniel 9:27 He will make a firm covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering. And the abomination of desolation will be on a wing of the temple until the decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator.”

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. 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will be strong and take action. 33 Those who are wise among the people will give understanding to many, yet they will die by sword and flame, and be captured and plundered for a time.

Next time…  We’ll take a look at that.  Jesus referred to it, so it HAS to be good!

Tags: abomination, Daniel, desolation, End of the Age, Jesus, prophecy, tribulation

One thing that I love about teaching an Advent series to the kids every year is that every year, I see something new. Something more clearly. Something more powerfully. Whatever.  I still teach out of Isaiah, Micah, Genesis, Psalms, Jeremiah, but sometimes, I just get a cool “oooh!” from something.

This year, for me, it was this verse:

Now, I know all the discussions on “Matthew did not correctly interpret “almah” or “maiden” or “virgin.”  I have heard them and studied them. I still believe in the miraculous conception of Jesus.  It is of necessity something I take on faith, of course, since I was not personally at any physical exam to determine the true virginity of a young lady named Mary a long, long time ago.

But it isn’t that which made me go, “oooh!” today.  It was realizing how cool it is that Jesus was prophesied to be called Immanu’el.  It means, as you can see above, “God with us.”

As I tried to tell the kids today, this is a biggie.  Up until the birth of Christ, God was only with us in terms of his holy presence in the Holiest of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem.  In order to approach the Almighty in person, there were cleansing rituals that had to be observed.  Lots were cast.  One was chosen to go and represent the people on their behalf in the very presence of God.  What an amazing concept.  You can read more about that, if you wish, in the first chapter of Luke’s gospel.

But the Messiah foretold and promised from God would be called Immanu’el.  He would be called God with us.  Because in him and through him, God would be with man.  He would walk with his creation. Talk with them. Understand them. Become one of them. Not as some terrifying presence behind a holy curtain, unapproachable save for a chosen few, but with US. Every single person.

To me, that is completely awesome, in the most correct sense.  That God would become for a time a human being.  With itches, zits, hunger pangs, sore feet, heartbreak.  God with us.

So, yeah, we started off a little early in our time of Advent celebration. Our preparation for the celebration of Christ’s birth (the timing of which I have probably blogged about before, I’ll have to check.).  But for me and for those who love him as Lord and Savior, really, we celebrate the coming of the Messiah, of Y’shua HaMashiach, all year long.

God with us. He is with me. He wants to be with you. Every day. Every moment. Every beat of your heart. And it’s not because he’s nosy. It’s because he loves you enough so that his own life was not too much to ask of him.

For us, it’s not too much to lengthen our time of celebration in honor of his birth.  It’s way cool to celebrate Christmas, no matter what time of year.

(Originally published by Sandi Layne, November, 2006)

Tags: Advent, Christmas, Jesus, prophecy