"therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, for to be sure the promise to all the seed, not to those of the Law only, but also to those of the faith of Abraham..."1
In the Seed we see the promises of God being fulfilled to all, we see the remnant, the elect, it is the chosen that Paul writes of in the book of Romans, "So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace."2 To better understand what it means to be chosen by grace lets look at Israel, of the flesh, in a state of desolation and at the promises for them in Christ. By faith they receive the gift of righteousness that it may be according to grace, so that the promise would be sure to all.
"Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them, and say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God... I will destroy your high places, so shall be desolate your altars, broken your images, cast down, slain in front of you, your idols... in all your dwelling places, the cities shall be laid waste and the high places desolate, to the end, laid waste and desolate your altars, broken and ceased, your idols, that may be cut down your images, abolished your works."3
Promise of desolation. We see the fulfillment of prophecy in Christ, the high place, the temple is made desolate, the altars and city laid waste, such occurred in 70 AD by the Romans and as Jesus said would happen. We see that desolation was the promise of God, these things would happen so they "shall know that I am the Lord," and that the chosen would be by grace, not by works. In such we have more insight into the new covenant in Christ, of grace and truth, whereby we receive righteousness, not by works but by faith. In the promise of desolation we see core elements of the new covenant; Christ our atoning sacrifice, no longer sacrifices of animals so "desolate your altars" and no longer a works of the Law but a righteousness by faith, thus "abolished your works."
"For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast."4
Through the Church God would carry on with His master plan, a dispensation of grace, the gospel, a ministry of righteousness, redemption, and reconciliation, not a ministry of fear and condemnation as the glory of the new surpasses that of the old. Such was hidden in the beginning, this mystery being revealed through the Church, Christ being the head, founded on the prophets, who had insight into this mystery, and on the Jewish apostles. John writes that Christ came in the fullness of the Father, of grace and truth, thus the new covenant is one of faith and love. The Law or not having the Law counts for nothing but only "faith working through love," thus fulfillment of the promise, "abolished your works." "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."5
“Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: Though the number of the Israelites is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved."6
In the promise of desolation we see mentioned the remnant, the elect. It is those "chosen by grace" not by works of the law, so that the promise is to all by faith. Paul writes of such a remnant of Israel in the book of Romans, "So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace."7 Who is to question God in this? such was by His will, he chose to give mercy to whom he wills, he chose Jacob over Esau, thus the older servers the younger, so that it is by promise, and that it is to all, all nations and all peoples are blessed in Jesus."Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, for to be sure the promise to all the seed, not to those of the Law only, but also to those who of the faith of Abraham..."8
"For the promise to Abraham and his seed that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith."9
Ezekiel speaks of Israel leaving covenant, leaving first love, which was a covenant of the Law, even after seeing the wrath of God upon her sisters, Sodom, Gomorrah, Samaria, her abominations become even more. It is good God had a remnant chosen by grace, "It is just as Isaiah predicted: “Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us seed, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah."5 God kept His Word, in fact He sent His Word among men. We see Israel being of purpose, through the vessels of His wrath, came the vessels of His mercy. Though sin abounded his grace super-abounded. Under fear and condemnation, Israel being held captive and penalized by the Law, would have died, if there had not been a Seed, they would have become like Sodom, fallen under the wrath of God for their sin, under the terrible hand of a righteous and holy God. But there was a remnant chosen by grace.
"so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."10
God laid waste the altars, the temporary blood sacrifices, the works of the Law, and through the vessels of His wrath, came A vessel of His mercy, full of grace and truth. Through the Seed, salvation and mercy, and reconciliation and the promises of God. Those of faith are the remnant chosen by grace, vessels of His mercy. In Christ we receive abundant grace and the free gift of righteousness. It is a free gift received by faith, not by works of the Law. "By Grace are you saved!" Israel did not seek a righteousness by faith but by works, they lived to laws, ordinances, and principles of do not taste, do not touch, do not handle... Christ was a stumbling block to them, like Eve who the devil had convinced the tree was "good for food" they thought such was good for food and did not seek, by faith, food that endures unto everlasting Life.
"And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,"11
The promise of desolation speaks of the old covenant being replaced by the new, the desolation of the altars, and the works of the Law and of the old covenant being abolished. In its place comes Christ the propitiation or atoning sacrifice for sin, we are justified by faith, the blood of Christ redeems us. And thankfully we have such an eternal High Priest who sympathizes with our weakness. Paul writes the devil attempted in the early Church through those he calls the "circumcision party," to bring teachings of the Law into the Church. Paul writes these are doctrines of demons, not of men. The Churches in Galatia had been bewitched by such teachings, Paul speaks to them...
"You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace."12
They went back to justification by works of the Law. With such understanding of the promise of desolation and of Paul's writing we ask this question, is the abomination of desolation speaking of Satan's attempt to bring back a justification by works, not by faith, doctrines into the Church? We can go even further and say it is a rebuilding of what was abolished, or torn down, or it is re-veiling of the old glory that has been surpassed. Idolatry is an abomination to God but much more so is that under the name of God, men would create an image of God made like that of man and worship it instead of the creator. To justify oneself by works is to reject the power of the gospel into salvation,
"Indeed I am not ashamed of the gospel, power indeed of God it is into salvation to everyone believing to the Jew and the Gentile, the righteousness of God revealed by faith to faith, as it is written, moreover the righteous live by faith."12
To exchange God into an image made like man, I can think of no worse abomination. The Pharisees did such a thing, "For not understanding the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness."14 Not only so, they held the keys to understanding from the people, this is a great abomination. Paul experienced these teachers of the law in the early Church, and we are warned that in the end times there would be a falling away. If we exchange the gospel of grace and faith for one that finds justification in works, such is an abomination. Can we say such is the abomination of the desolation? We can go further and say Satan would attempt to build such a system in the Church.
"So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),"15
Abomination of desolation. In Revelations we see mentioned a synagogue of Satan, not a synagogue of outright devil worship but one where they worship God, or a creation of God, not the creator, the truth being exchanged for a lie, here a justification by works. If we go further do we see more of the abomination? like in rebuilding of a temple that again offers the sacrifices of animals, denying the blood Christ shed. Is such an abomination of the promise of desolation? And can we go even further? a deeper question, that would go against modern prophecy and theology, but worth examining, the abomination of desolation of land. "I will stretch out My hand against them and make the land more desolate and waste than the wilderness toward Diblah; thus they will know that I am the LORD."14 It is an abomination of desolation, for the land to be made fruitful by the hand of man, cultivated by modern technology and techniques of agriculture, and not by the hand of God.
"Jesus replied, "This is the work of God: to believe in the One He has sent."16
We see in the promise of desolation two core elements; desolate your altars, and abolished your works. Such speaks of a new covenant in Christ and of a remnant chosen by grace. This covenant is established in the blood of Christ, sealed by the Holy Spirit, in those being born of Spirit the heart of stone, symbolic of the law on tablets of stone, is replaced by a new heart, one circumcised by the Spirit. We are born of Spirit, by which we receive through faith in Jesus, thus we are true worshipers of God serving Him in this way, Spirit and Truth. To go back to the glory of the old, such would reject the atoning blood of Christ, again building an altar of temporary sacrifices and a justification by works of the Law, not by faith. Such would be rejecting the gift of righteousness we receive freely in Christ for one created by our own efforts, such is an abomination.
"just as David proclaims the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works"17
Paul writes the Jew of the flesh are enemies of the cross, however, the Jew of the Spirit, is the remnant chosen by Grace. The Church are those of faith, founded upon the apostles and is the root Gentiles are grafted into. The promise of desolation is that they "shall know I am Lord" and fits into what Paul writes, the Jew of the flesh is being provoked to jealousy. But such asks the question, if we say Israel of the flesh is a blessed nation of God then how are they being provoked to jealousy? Such a question is not being antisemitic, but one that seeks to continue in the will of God, to provoke them to jealousy and to encourage the Church to evangelize them. It is God who willed such a thing and his promises stand in Christ. Who are we to question the wisdom in God to choose by grace, and that the promise should come through Jacob and not Esau? But such a question attempts to expose the schemes of the devil, as he did in the early Church he seeks to introduce a works justification, not by faith. Such is against the promise of desolation and of being chosen by grace.
"therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, for to be sure the promise to all the seed, not to those of the Law only, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham..."9
Let us not fail as Israel did to enter into His rest. We stand in Grace before God, we can approach His throne of Grace boldly, all because of Christ, in whom we receive the free gift of grace and righteousness. When we believed in Him we were given a Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father! His Spirit dwells within me, testifying that I am His child and as His child I have bold access to the Father. I receive spiritual blessings in Christ and as a child of God who can be against me? I stand in such Liberty, no man is to judge me, I fall or stand as a servant of Christ, nor does any spirit have power over me. I am not as one under fear and condemnation, but as one chosen by grace, of promise!
“... they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”16
Who are the children of a living God? All those who call upon the name of Jesus, there is no distinction, these by the same power that raised Christ from the dead are made alive in Christ and sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. By faith in Him we receive the riches of grace, the riches of glory, all by the good pleasure of the will of the Father, by the counsel of His will, according to His manifold wisdom, we are chosen by grace. To the praise of His name, glory, and honor, forever and ever amen!!
Forever
"Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them, and say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God... I will destroy your high places, so shall be desolate your altars, broken your images, cast down, slain in front of you, your idols... in all your dwelling places, the cities shall be laid waste and the high places desolate, to the end, laid waste and desolate your altars, broken and ceased, your idols, that may be cut down your images, abolished your works."3
Promise of desolation. We see the fulfillment of prophecy in Christ, the high place, the temple is made desolate, the altars and city laid waste, such occurred in 70 AD by the Romans and as Jesus said would happen. We see that desolation was the promise of God, these things would happen so they "shall know that I am the Lord," and that the chosen would be by grace, not by works. In such we have more insight into the new covenant in Christ, of grace and truth, whereby we receive righteousness, not by works but by faith. In the promise of desolation we see core elements of the new covenant; Christ our atoning sacrifice, no longer sacrifices of animals so "desolate your altars" and no longer a works of the Law but a righteousness by faith, thus "abolished your works."
"For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast."4
Through the Church God would carry on with His master plan, a dispensation of grace, the gospel, a ministry of righteousness, redemption, and reconciliation, not a ministry of fear and condemnation as the glory of the new surpasses that of the old. Such was hidden in the beginning, this mystery being revealed through the Church, Christ being the head, founded on the prophets, who had insight into this mystery, and on the Jewish apostles. John writes that Christ came in the fullness of the Father, of grace and truth, thus the new covenant is one of faith and love. The Law or not having the Law counts for nothing but only "faith working through love," thus fulfillment of the promise, "abolished your works." "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."5
“Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: Though the number of the Israelites is like the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved."6
In the promise of desolation we see mentioned the remnant, the elect. It is those "chosen by grace" not by works of the law, so that the promise is to all by faith. Paul writes of such a remnant of Israel in the book of Romans, "So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace."7 Who is to question God in this? such was by His will, he chose to give mercy to whom he wills, he chose Jacob over Esau, thus the older servers the younger, so that it is by promise, and that it is to all, all nations and all peoples are blessed in Jesus."Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, for to be sure the promise to all the seed, not to those of the Law only, but also to those who of the faith of Abraham..."8
"For the promise to Abraham and his seed that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith."9
Ezekiel speaks of Israel leaving covenant, leaving first love, which was a covenant of the Law, even after seeing the wrath of God upon her sisters, Sodom, Gomorrah, Samaria, her abominations become even more. It is good God had a remnant chosen by grace, "It is just as Isaiah predicted: “Unless the Lord of Hosts had left us seed, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah."5 God kept His Word, in fact He sent His Word among men. We see Israel being of purpose, through the vessels of His wrath, came the vessels of His mercy. Though sin abounded his grace super-abounded. Under fear and condemnation, Israel being held captive and penalized by the Law, would have died, if there had not been a Seed, they would have become like Sodom, fallen under the wrath of God for their sin, under the terrible hand of a righteous and holy God. But there was a remnant chosen by grace.
"so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."10
God laid waste the altars, the temporary blood sacrifices, the works of the Law, and through the vessels of His wrath, came A vessel of His mercy, full of grace and truth. Through the Seed, salvation and mercy, and reconciliation and the promises of God. Those of faith are the remnant chosen by grace, vessels of His mercy. In Christ we receive abundant grace and the free gift of righteousness. It is a free gift received by faith, not by works of the Law. "By Grace are you saved!" Israel did not seek a righteousness by faith but by works, they lived to laws, ordinances, and principles of do not taste, do not touch, do not handle... Christ was a stumbling block to them, like Eve who the devil had convinced the tree was "good for food" they thought such was good for food and did not seek, by faith, food that endures unto everlasting Life.
"And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,"11
The promise of desolation speaks of the old covenant being replaced by the new, the desolation of the altars, and the works of the Law and of the old covenant being abolished. In its place comes Christ the propitiation or atoning sacrifice for sin, we are justified by faith, the blood of Christ redeems us. And thankfully we have such an eternal High Priest who sympathizes with our weakness. Paul writes the devil attempted in the early Church through those he calls the "circumcision party," to bring teachings of the Law into the Church. Paul writes these are doctrines of demons, not of men. The Churches in Galatia had been bewitched by such teachings, Paul speaks to them...
"You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace."12
They went back to justification by works of the Law. With such understanding of the promise of desolation and of Paul's writing we ask this question, is the abomination of desolation speaking of Satan's attempt to bring back a justification by works, not by faith, doctrines into the Church? We can go even further and say it is a rebuilding of what was abolished, or torn down, or it is re-veiling of the old glory that has been surpassed. Idolatry is an abomination to God but much more so is that under the name of God, men would create an image of God made like that of man and worship it instead of the creator. To justify oneself by works is to reject the power of the gospel into salvation,
"Indeed I am not ashamed of the gospel, power indeed of God it is into salvation to everyone believing to the Jew and the Gentile, the righteousness of God revealed by faith to faith, as it is written, moreover the righteous live by faith."12
To exchange God into an image made like man, I can think of no worse abomination. The Pharisees did such a thing, "For not understanding the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness."14 Not only so, they held the keys to understanding from the people, this is a great abomination. Paul experienced these teachers of the law in the early Church, and we are warned that in the end times there would be a falling away. If we exchange the gospel of grace and faith for one that finds justification in works, such is an abomination. Can we say such is the abomination of the desolation? We can go further and say Satan would attempt to build such a system in the Church.
"So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),"15
Abomination of desolation. In Revelations we see mentioned a synagogue of Satan, not a synagogue of outright devil worship but one where they worship God, or a creation of God, not the creator, the truth being exchanged for a lie, here a justification by works. If we go further do we see more of the abomination? like in rebuilding of a temple that again offers the sacrifices of animals, denying the blood Christ shed. Is such an abomination of the promise of desolation? And can we go even further? a deeper question, that would go against modern prophecy and theology, but worth examining, the abomination of desolation of land. "I will stretch out My hand against them and make the land more desolate and waste than the wilderness toward Diblah; thus they will know that I am the LORD."14 It is an abomination of desolation, for the land to be made fruitful by the hand of man, cultivated by modern technology and techniques of agriculture, and not by the hand of God.
"Jesus replied, "This is the work of God: to believe in the One He has sent."16
We see in the promise of desolation two core elements; desolate your altars, and abolished your works. Such speaks of a new covenant in Christ and of a remnant chosen by grace. This covenant is established in the blood of Christ, sealed by the Holy Spirit, in those being born of Spirit the heart of stone, symbolic of the law on tablets of stone, is replaced by a new heart, one circumcised by the Spirit. We are born of Spirit, by which we receive through faith in Jesus, thus we are true worshipers of God serving Him in this way, Spirit and Truth. To go back to the glory of the old, such would reject the atoning blood of Christ, again building an altar of temporary sacrifices and a justification by works of the Law, not by faith. Such would be rejecting the gift of righteousness we receive freely in Christ for one created by our own efforts, such is an abomination.
"just as David proclaims the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works"17
Paul writes the Jew of the flesh are enemies of the cross, however, the Jew of the Spirit, is the remnant chosen by Grace. The Church are those of faith, founded upon the apostles and is the root Gentiles are grafted into. The promise of desolation is that they "shall know I am Lord" and fits into what Paul writes, the Jew of the flesh is being provoked to jealousy. But such asks the question, if we say Israel of the flesh is a blessed nation of God then how are they being provoked to jealousy? Such a question is not being antisemitic, but one that seeks to continue in the will of God, to provoke them to jealousy and to encourage the Church to evangelize them. It is God who willed such a thing and his promises stand in Christ. Who are we to question the wisdom in God to choose by grace, and that the promise should come through Jacob and not Esau? But such a question attempts to expose the schemes of the devil, as he did in the early Church he seeks to introduce a works justification, not by faith. Such is against the promise of desolation and of being chosen by grace.
"therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, for to be sure the promise to all the seed, not to those of the Law only, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham..."9
Let us not fail as Israel did to enter into His rest. We stand in Grace before God, we can approach His throne of Grace boldly, all because of Christ, in whom we receive the free gift of grace and righteousness. When we believed in Him we were given a Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father! His Spirit dwells within me, testifying that I am His child and as His child I have bold access to the Father. I receive spiritual blessings in Christ and as a child of God who can be against me? I stand in such Liberty, no man is to judge me, I fall or stand as a servant of Christ, nor does any spirit have power over me. I am not as one under fear and condemnation, but as one chosen by grace, of promise!
“... they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”16
Who are the children of a living God? All those who call upon the name of Jesus, there is no distinction, these by the same power that raised Christ from the dead are made alive in Christ and sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. By faith in Him we receive the riches of grace, the riches of glory, all by the good pleasure of the will of the Father, by the counsel of His will, according to His manifold wisdom, we are chosen by grace. To the praise of His name, glory, and honor, forever and ever amen!!
Forever