Israel: God’s Eternal Treasure
Abomination of Desolation
Last time we discussed about how anyone that defiles the temple is punishable. In 2 Kings 21:1-7, we see that Manasseh defiles the temple by bringing in a Asherah rod. He is punished by the invasion of his nation.
Abomination of Desolation
Daniel 12:7,11 discusses how 3.5 years will be the period of time from when the daily sacrifices are stopped until the abomination of desolation. This aligns with the 42 months that the Beast is allowed to speak blasphemy.
Daniel 9:11 discusses what happens with Antiochus Epiphanes — 1 Macc 1:34-37, the setup of a statue to Zeus in the temple — but also prophesies what will ultimately happen in Revelation. This would be the second temple (Nehemiah/Ezra’s temple1) as Manasseh, at this point, had already desecrated the first temple (Solomon’s temple) by setting up an alter to a false god. The third temple is the one that is described to be desecrated in Revelation.
There they installed a sinful race, transgressors of the law, who fortified themselves inside it. They stored up weapons and provisions, depositing there the plunder they had collected from Jerusalem, and they became a great snare. The citadel became an ambush against the sanctuary, and a wicked adversary to Israel at all times. They shed innocent blood around the sanctuary; they defiled the sanctuary.
New Testament
Link to originalMat 24:15-21 ESV 15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
1 Cor 3:16-17 - we are the temple and defilement of the temple leads to destruction. Do not defile yourself.
Rev 16 - the temple that is defiled at the end will be ripped into three.
Ezekiel 40, Zechariah 14 - Jesus’s temple, which cannot be defiled is the one to come. No one uncircumcised in heart or flesh may enter. We must be a part of the law in spirit and truth.
We will join in the new temple together, forever in the new kingdom:
The Anointing of the High Priest
Messiah = Anointed = smeared with oil (Christos)
The first time the word appears is in Gen 28:18-19, where a rock is anointed and city re-named “The house of God” (Bethel)
Lev 8, Moses anoints the artifacts of the tabernacle as well as Aaron. This points to us and Jesus, in spiritual terms (we are the temple, Aaron is the high priest, ultimately fulfilled by Jesus)
1 Sam 16 - David is anointed and the Holy Spirit is on him from that day. This was a specific oil, as instructed by God through Moses to represent his Spirit: the oil of anointing.
Psalms 23, anoint my head with oil in the presence of my enemies, my cup overflows… I will dwell with you forever
Matt 3:16-17, God speaks over Jesus after his baptism. Here we see the Messiah anointed with the true spirit, not just a shadow of the Spirit. This is confirmed by Jesus himself when he reads before the synagogue in Luke 4:18. He affirms it when Peter calls him the Messiah in Matt 16:15-17. Again, Peter confirms this in Acts 10:38, before Cornelius.
The Ephod
A plate worn on the chest of the high priest. It has 12 precious stones representing the nations of Israel. Ex 15:3-6, we know that we are a special treasure to God, just as the stones are precious on earth. It is kept next to the heart of the high priest, shadowing that we are near the heart of the high priest, Jesus (Heb 6:19-20). We also see that the same colors appear in the holy city in Rev 21:19-20, but one differs from the breastplate: ruby vs carnelian. In Hebrew vs Greek, however, these may be the same thing, as they greatly resemble each other.
Isaiah 51:7a - God’s people are the ones who have the Torah in their hearts.
Links:
Abomination of Desolation Part 1: From the Garden to Golgotha Part 2: The Bread & Light of Life Part 3: The Consuming Fire of the Almighty Part 4: The Throne of the Most High Part 5: Temple of the Living God
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