(By Gary Curtis) During the first half of the biblically prophesied future-tribulation period, about which Daniel, Jesus and Paul taught, there will be a forced mass-conversion to cause many worldwide to worship an image of a rising world leader. This unusual and unique idol will be constructed and established in the sanctuary of a great new Jewish temple in Jerusalem (see Daniel 9:27, 11:31-12:1-11; Matt. 24:15-21; 2 Thess. 2:1-4). It will have lifelike features and people will be required to worship it, as though it were God! Daniel referred to this detestable image and event as the “abomination of desolation.”
Jesus quoted Daniel’s term and said that this event will inaugurate “great tribulation, such as has not happened since the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.”Paul taught the Gentile converts in Thessalonica (2 Thess. 2:3-12) that this “great tribulation” will be the beginning of the “Day of the Lord,” a long-prophesied time of God’s judgment and wrath on unbelievers. But, that “Day” will not commence until two key events happen: first, some professed believers will rebel against God and cause a great apostasy or “falling away” from the faith; second “the man of sin,” “the son of destruction,” “the lawless one” will be “revealed,” as though being hidden from view or discernment until that point in time. CONTINUE
