Reformed Presbytery in North America GM

In seeking to understand what is meant by an abomination that makes desolate (Daniel 12:11), wehave considered 4 possible interpretations: (1) The idol set up in the Temple in 168-167 B.C. by AntiochusEpiphanes and the persecution of the Jews at that time; (2) The idolatrous ensign set up in the Temple in 70A.D. by Titus at the destruction of the Temple and the Roman persecution of the Jews at that time; (3) Thesitting in a rebuilt Temple by a future Antichrist who will declare himself to be God and the persecution ofJews/Christians at that time; (4) The sitting in the Visible Church of Christ (the New Covenant Temple) by thePapal King/Son of Perdition who usurps the titles and authority of Christ, institutes idolatry in the Church, andinstigates centuries of persecution against faithful saints.

Let us not think for a moment that the love of God is finished with us once we are received andrejoiced over by the Father as a beloved child of God. The love of God not only receives us as His adopted childbut also chastens us as His adopted child. The love of God is not only manifested in the kisses of our HeavenlyFather but is also manifested in the rod He uses to discipline us for our good. The father of lies (the devil)tempts us to despise the rod, but the God of love (who cannot lie) exhorts us to kiss therod.

What happens to believers after the Second Coming of Christ when Jesus raises the dead (both just andunjust) and judges them? Does the believer's hope end with the resurrection of the body? Does everythingcome to an end at that time? Surely, there is a divine purpose for our bodies being raised in glory and inconformity to that of Jesus Christ.

Our bodily resurrection gives us hope in this life to persevere in faithfulness to Christ and His truth inall trials/suffering/tribulation, for at the end of this world, we will be conformed to Christ in body/soul.Our certain hope transcends even the great heights of reformation in the world which is to come to allnations when they will be converted to Christ. That is just the beginning. Our end and certain hope are in thepromise of Christ that He will raise us bodily to live in perfect communion with Him and to serve Him in a NewHeaven and a New Earth wherein dwells only righteousness/peace/joy/love and freedom from all temptationand sin. That is our end/hope—perfect and everlasting communion with the Lord Jesus in body/soul.Let's consider that certain hope that is found in Christ alone. Our main points over the next coupleweeks are: (1) The Resurrection of the Dead (Daniel 12:2); (2) The New Heaven and the New Earth (Daniel12:3).

What can we say about the origin of the celebration of Christmas? First, there is no New Testamentevidence that Christ or the apostles celebrated or authorized the celebration of Christmas. Second, there is noevidence for the celebration of Christmas for the first three hundred years after the resurrection of Christ (theearliest evidence for the celebration of Christmas is in the year 354 A.D.). Third, the universal testimony ofboth Christian and non-Christian scholars is that both the date (December 25th) and various practicesassociated with Christmas originate in paganism.

I believe the Lord has given us the Book of Revelation as a key to unlock many mysteries found in the Book of Daniel (and vice versa). Where we may become confused by certain symbols or periods of time in Daniel, I believe they are given to us in greater detail in Revelation. These two prophetic Books clarify one another. To better understand Revelation is to better understand Daniel (and the opposite as well). We have already seen the prophetic connection between Daniel 11:40 and Revelation 9:1-11 (where the king of the south is realized in the invasion of the Islamic Saracens against the Papal King in the 5th Trumpet Judgment for his idolatry) and the prophetic connection between Daniel 11:40-43 and Revelation 9:12-21 (where the king of the north is realized in the invasion of the Islamic Turks against the Papal King in the 6th Trumpet for his continued idolatry). Today we see the Papal King's last stand in Daniel 11:44-45.