(October 28, 1998): In Matthew 24:15 Jesus said, "Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand). Verse 15 follows verse 14 which is talking about the time of the end (end of the age), and the time of the Lord's coming. (Also see Matthew 24:3)

The abomination of desolation is usually taught to be an image (statue) that the anti-christ places in the end-time temple in Jerusalem, and that may be a correct application of Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14, but I want to offer another understanding of these scriptures for your consideration.

I want to talk about another temple in which the abomination that brings desolation is being established in and how that is taking place. The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." In verse 18 he warns us with these words, "Let no one deceive you." In other words don't be deceived as to the importance of keeping the temple undefiled.

Satan's plan is to seduce God's people to establish (set up) graven images (idols) in our own hearts and minds that will bring the abomination (perverse thinking) that causes desolation (defilement which quenches the Holy Spirit and puts him out of the temple of God).

Consider Luke 16:15...and Jesus said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God." Revelation 17:4 pictures Mystery Babylon (the end-time harlot church) as having a "golden cup full of abominations." I believe this golden cup represents the desires of the heart that are not the desires of God's heart for His people.

Now, we can begin to see that these perverse images of the desires of man's heart that are in opposition to the Word of God will bring a desolation (departure of the Spirit) when we justify ourselves in our perversions of the Word of God.

On October 16, 1998. this word came forth with regard to the graven images: You are the children of the Lord, the children of Zion. You sing those songs from your heart, and you call Me Messiah; you call Me the Son of God; you call Me Savior; you call Me King. But, I come to you tonight to tell you that many yet have not found Me. Many still do not call to Me out of an intimate relationship. They call Me not by name, but they call me according to the images that they have engraved upon their hearts--graven images to the unknown God. Surely, I say, that they have not yet found Me. I am coming with an anointing to break the yoke that has held all of Mine from Me that they may find Me. I have spoken to you in times past that these are the days in which many walk through the Valley of Decision, but I say to some of you that it is the dark valley of the soul where you cry out wondering where I am, calling My name, but not able to find Me. But, I am just before you, waiting for you to reach unto Me, waiting for you to take hold of My hand, so I can lead you through this hour of the darkness of the shadow of the souls of men to bring you forth into new light and a new dimension.

What are these graven images to the "unknown God?" These are the images of our concepts of God and the wrong image or ideal is established in the holy place (our heart) in a position of idolatry where the true image of God is "unknown" to us. These false ideals (our concepts established because of our desires) bring forth self-justification which is an abomination to God, and desolation (lack of truth) is found in the temple of God.

Now, I will make a startling statement which may offend some who call themselves Christians. It is most likely true that all who call themselves Christians have established some form of abomination (in the temple) which has created a desolation of the true character and will of God, and God is, therefore, unknown to them regarding the abomination established. The abomination can be false doctrine or simply wrong concepts about how one thinks God should interact with them.

For instance, there are those that God is only a God of love and mercy and grace. They will not allow their concepts to embrace a God of severity. That thinking creates an image of who they will allow God to be to them, which is false. The desolation produced is their understanding that God will save everyone, or that He will not judge His own children harshly. The desolation (void) is then a lack of godly fear and trembling before a God who will have to tell some of those so-called Christians, "Depart from Me I never knew you." So, God became unknown to them in this aspect of judgment.

Images are very powerful because our image of God is the object of our faith. Selah. Therefore, our faith will function according to our image (idol, ideals) of the God that we have set up in the holy place of our hearts. If you don't believe that God heals by faith (in this present dispensation), then the image of God within the temple isn't able to heal because your faith is based upon God Himself--He is the substance of things hoped for and brings forth the evidence of things unseen.

Idolatry in the Christian camp is the establishment of self-desire and self-will in the temple of God (your body), and the bowing down to self-desire (personal pleasure), which is based upon self-love. Listen to what the Apostle Paul wrote concerning those who have only a form (image) of godliness which is based on self-desire. 2 Timothy 3:1-5, "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!"

As the Apostle prophesied, these are perilous times (very dangerous times) in which Satan is seducing God's people. 1 Timothy 4:1, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons."

The seduction is to get us to establish the abomination of self-serving attitudes and doctrines in the temple of God that will produce desolation (a lack of power) to live the overcoming Christian life. Let us remember the Apostle's words in 1 Corinthians 3:18, " Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise."

Bill Burns bdburns@imageline.com

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