June 14: TAKING AWAY THE DAILY
And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily [sacrifices]*, and place there the abomination of desolation. Daniel 11:31
In the days following the earthly ministry of Christ, the spread of Christianity was effective through very simple means. The daily elements of the Christian life included the study of Scripture, talking with the Lord through prayer, and alertness to the spiritual needs of others (witnessing opportunities). Jesus emphasized the written Word (Matthew 4:4; Luke 24:45), demonstrated the essential nature of prayer (Mark 1:35), and taught His followers to witness (Matthew 5:14). These things had been symbolized in the earthly portable tabernacle from the early days after the children of Israel were rescued from Egypt. Such are daily essentials!
Led by the Holy Spirit, Jude encouraged his fellow believers to contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). Jude was not alone in his first-century awareness of trouble brewing. Paul wrote: But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3). Within only a few centuries, compromise with paganism took root in the church. This began on the heels of Emperor Constantine’s Edict of Milan in 313AD legalizing Christianity. Though it brought welcome relief from the intense persecution of pagan Rome, something sinister and crafty began to displace the simple truths upon which the early church was founded. By 330 Constantine had moved to Byzantium and renamed it Constantinople, inaugurating the eastern city named for himself as the new capital of the Roman Empire.
The bishop of Rome (later called the pope) was left in charge of western affairs. Moral corruption and fiscal irresponsibility wrought governmental collapse by 476. By 538, under the pope’s direction, the last of three nations was crushed because of opposition to papal rule. During the following 1260 years of papal supremacy known as the Dark Ages, gaining and maintaining control over the people was achieved by depriving them of the word of God. In place of the word, many unbiblical traditions replaced God’s truth. People were told to see a priest for forgiveness. Prayer was taught as a repetitive set of rote phrases. Witnessing came only through the priests, while the common person was suppressed as unqualified to understand the Bible. To own a copy of the word, to seek forgiveness directly from Christ, or witness of Him to others were actually considered sins! Such teachings are an abomination that leads to desolation . . . individuals bereft of a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus.
A true witness delivers souls, But a deceitful witness speaks lies. In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence. And His children will have a place of refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:25-27
*When Daniel was given the vision of this dark period, he wrote that the daily was taken away. In today’s opening verse, the word “sacrifices” was added by translators. This is also the case in 8:11,12, & 13. These verses make much more sense without the added word.