August 9: THE DAILY (part 3)
Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, “How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?” Daniel 8:13
Daniel was deeply impressed regarding the prosperity and the far-reaching severity of the little horn’s activities. The vision was like a horror movie in slow-motion that was allowed to progress… on and on it went! He was stunned to the point of speechlessness. And in his silence, one of the angels nearby voiced the obvious question hanging heavily in the air: “How long” will this be allowed to continue? The little horn, operating under the shadow of Satan, clearly does not want individuals to be saved. But he does favor a deceptive appearance of it. And if he can interfere in the relationship between a saved person and the Lord, he will do it. This is why the daily is under attack (for the third time in as many verses, the word sacrifices is added). Each of us needs a daily infilling of God’s Holy Spirit, and we are taught to continually seek for that infilling. The sincere heart that desires to grow spiritually will readily, daily, welcome the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit. Such a one is anxious to please the Lord and seeks to eliminate any thoughts or habits that weaken the relationship.
What is meant by the transgression of desolation? A hardened heart that refuses to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice is one that prefers sin over the way that leads to life. Such a one constantly seeks for “loopholes” that will justify ignoring the plain instruction given in God’s Word and confirmed by the still, small voice of His Spirit. Our Creator has a rightful claim over every area of this life that He has loaned to us, and His “operations manual” is a glorious gift that, if properly valued, will lead an individual out from under the shadow of Satan’s influence. When Jesus, with a broken heart, departed the temple that He had earlier called “My Father’s house” (John 2:16), He told the religious leaders, “See! Your house is left to you desolate” (Matthew 23:38). By their own choices, desolation—a lack of the Holy Spirit—resulted. The frightful truth of Daniel’s vision was that the fallen church would encourage all that leads to desolation while claiming the ability to forgive sin.
The little horn has a counterfeit for the heavenly sanctuary where Jesus serves as our High Priest. Earthly buildings that feature the world’s largest collection of material wealth including paintings, sculptures that are prayed to, and a collection of jewel-encrusted crowns worn by the various popes.* History records that a numberless host of Christ-followers who did not accept the practices of the little horn have been trampled underfoot.
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders. 2 Thessalonians 2:9
* These things are represented as sacred, though both the architecture and the contents are the result of centuries of slave labor, commissioned artworks depicting Dark Ages theology, and monetary donations from Biblically illiterate masses who have been deceived. Pilgrimages to see it are strongly encouraged, and of course one must pay to see. Another source of revenue: the sale of “indulgences”, certificates to minimize time in “purgatory” through purchasing access to the church’s “treasury of merit”. These deceptions and other false practices have led unnumbered multitudes away from God and into false worship.