THE LAST JUDGMENT
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And therefore the consideration of this judgment is justly terrible and dreadful to the wicked and ungodly, but most desirable and comfortable to the righteous and the elect; because then their full deliverance shall be perfected, and there they shall receive the fruits of their labor and trouble which they have borne. Their innocence shall be known to all, and they shall see the terrible vengeance which God shall execute on the wicked, who most cruelly persecuted, oppressed, and tormented them in this world; and who shall be convicted by the testimony of their own consciences, and, being immortal, shall be tormented in that everlasting fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels …
The Abomination of Desolation of Daniel 11-12
A. Prophecy
Daniel 11:31: “And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.”
Daniel 12:11: “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.”
B. Fulfilment
I Maccabees 1:20-64:
20. And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he returned again in the hundred forty and third year, and went up against Israel and Jerusalem with a great multitude,
21. And entered proudly into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof,
22. And the table of the shewbread, and the pouring vessels, and the vials. and the censers of gold, and the veil, and the crown, and the golden ornaments that were before the temple, all which he pulled off.
23. He took also the silver and the gold, and the precious vessels: also he took the hidden treasures which he found.
24. And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land, having made a great massacre, and spoken very proudly.
25. Therefore there was a great mourning in Israel, in every place where they were;
26. So that the princes and elders mourned, the virgins and young men were made feeble, and the beauty of women was changed.
27. Every bridegroom took up lamentation, and she that sat in the marriage chamber was in heaviness,
28. The land also was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion.
29. And after two years fully expired the king sent his chief collector of tribute unto the cities of Juda, who came unto Jerusalem with a great multitude,
30. And spake peaceable words unto them, but all was deceit: for when they had given him credence, he fell suddenly upon the city, and smote it very sore, and destroyed much people of Israel.
31. And when he had taken the spoils of the city, he set it on fire, and pulled down the houses and walls thereof on every side.
32. But the women and children took they captive, and possessed the cattle.
33. Then builded they the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with mighty towers, and made it a strong hold for them.
34. And they put therein a sinful nation, wicked men, and fortified themselves therein.
35. They stored it also with armour and victuals, and when they had gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up there, and so they became a sore snare:
36. For it was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel.
37. Thus they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled it:
38. Insomuch that the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them: whereupon the city was made an habitation of strangers, and became strange to those that were born in her; and her own children left her.
39. Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach her honour into contempt.
40. As had been her glory, so was her dishonour increased, and her excellency was turned into mourning.
41. Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people,
42. And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king.
43. Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath.
44. For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land,
45. And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane the sabbaths and festival days:
46. And pollute the sanctuary and holy people:
47. Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine’s flesh, and unclean beasts:
48. That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation:
49. To the end they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances.
50. And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, he said, he should die.
51. In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and appointed overseers over all the people, commanding the cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city.
52. Then many of the people were gathered unto them, to wit every one that forsook the law; and so they committed evils in the land;
53. And drove the Israelites into secret places, even wheresoever they could flee for succour.
54. Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities of Juda on every side;
55. And burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the streets.
56. And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire.
57. And whosoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any committed to the law, the king’s commandment was, that they should put him to death.
58. Thus did they by their authority unto the Israelites every month, to as many as were found in the cities.
59. Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of God.
60. At which time according to the commandment they put to death certain women, that had caused their children to be circumcised.
61. And they hanged the infants about their necks, and rifled their houses, and slew them that had circumcised them.
62. Howbeit many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat any unclean thing.
63. Wherefore the rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: so then they died.
64. And there was very great wrath upon Israel.
II Maccabees 6:1-11:
1. Not long after this the king sent an old man of Athens to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers, and not to live after the laws of God:
2. And to pollute also the temple in Jerusalem, and to call it the temple of Jupiter Olympius; and that in Garizim, of Jupiter the Defender of strangers, as they did desire that dwelt in the place.
3. The coming in of this mischief was sore and grievous to the people:
4. For the temple was filled with riot and revelling by the Gentiles, who dallied with harlots, and had to do with women within the circuit of the holy places, and besides that brought in things that were not lawful.
5. The altar also was filled with profane things, which the law forbiddeth.
6. Neither was it lawful for a man to keep sabbath days or ancient fasts, or to profess himself at all to be a Jew.
7. And in the day of the king’s birth every month they were brought by bitter constraint to eat of the sacrifices; and when the fast of Bacchus was kept, the Jews were compelled to go in procession to Bacchus, carrying ivy.
8. Moreover there went out a decree to the neighbour cities of the heathen, by the suggestion of Ptolemee, against the Jews, that they should observe the same fashions, and be partakers of their sacrifices:
9. And whoso would not conform themselves to the manners of the Gentiles should be put to death. Then might a man have seen the present misery.
10. For there were two women brought, who had circumcised their children; whom when they had openly led round about the city, the babes handing at their breasts, they cast them down headlong from the wall.
11. And others, that had run together into caves near by, to keep the sabbath day secretly, being discovered by Philip, were all burnt together, because they made a conscience to help themselves for the honour of the most sacred day.