Chapter 20 – THE DISGUSTING THING

 “Why is it that you were amazed? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the wild beast that is carrying her and that has the seven heads and the ten horns.”

Revelation 17:7

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SIDE NOTES

Some of the creators of Artificial Intelligence are not even sure what will become of it, or whether it will take on a life of its own. Some say that AI is being created to channel demons. I have no reason to doubt it. Satan is the ruler of this dark world. Wicked spirits are vastly more intelligent than humans and are extremely treacherous and deceptive. A voice that speaks to us on devices we are comfortable with and increasingly dependent upon is the perfect platform for the enemies of God to influence us.

After all, Satan first spoke to Eve by pretending to be a talking serpent. Why wouldn’t the demons disguise themselves using artificial intelligence in order to mislead us? 

There is talk of regulating AI. Just how is that supposed to work? Who will be the regulator? The government is the biggest user of AI, and is it going to regulate itself? Perhaps AI can regulate AI? Right. One thing seems certain: in the post-crash world, AI will regulate everyone when it channels the Devil. 

As noted in the previous chapter, the Watchtower teaches that there are two symbolic seven-headed wild beasts that go into a deathlike state and then ascend from the abyss, albeit at different times.

It is true that there are a few notable differences between the descriptions of the beasts in the 13th and 17th chapters of Revelation. And there is a reason for it. 

Two noteworthy details: one, the beast in the 17th chapter is described as scarlet-colored; secondly, the scarlet-colored monstrosity has the international prostitute, Babylon the Great, seated upon it. John describes what he saw in vision: “And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored wild beast that was full of blasphemous names and that had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and she was adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, and she had in her hand a golden cup that was full of disgusting things and the unclean things of her sexual immorality. On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: “Babylon the Great, the mother of the prostitutes and of the disgusting things of the earth.” And I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the holy ones and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus.” – Revelation 17:3-6

The angel went on to explain to the amazed apostle the mystery of the woman and the beast, saying to him: “The wild beast that you saw was, but is not, and yet is about to ascend out of the abyss, and it is to go off into destruction. And the inhabitants of the earth—those whose names have not been written in the scroll of life from the founding of the world—will be amazed when they see how the wild beast was, but is not, and yet will be present.” (Verse 8)

As also discussed in the previous chapter, there is no possibility that the beast, or as the Watchtower teaches—beasts, plural—has already emerged from the abyss for the simple reason that if they had, then the “inhabitants of the earth” who would be amazed by the beasts’ seemingly miraculous recuperative power, would already have had their names blotted out of Jehovah’s book of life. That means people living in the post-WW1 era who have long since passed away were condemned to permanent death. And then more of humanity were assigned to the lake of fire after the United Nations was instituted in 1945. The simple fact that Jehovah’s Witnesses are still preaching, still teaching, and still making disciples proves that the judgment of mankind has not begun.

To be sure, the conclusion of the systems of things includes the end of the Christian work of preaching, teaching, and disciple-making.That is why Jesus said, “I will be with you all the days until the conclusion of the age.” – Matthew 28:20 (Kingdom Interlinear). As stated elsewhere, the conclusion of the age is the Christian era. The conclusion of the age is a relatively short period of time during which the harvest takes place and the chosen shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.

As for the beast that “was, but is not, and yet is about to ascend out of the abyss”—please be assured, this is a future event.

It is at least helpful that the Watchtower has introduced us to the concept of a “John class” because John does indeed represent the remaining ones —the remnant, the chosen ones—who, like John, will see Jesus when he is manifest. The “remaining ones” are those who will remain on earth during the last hour after the first resurrection begins. Not to belabor the point, but the last hour did not begin in 1914, nor at any time since then.

John, of course, experienced the Transfiguration—a foregleam of the visible parousia—and he also fellowshipped with the resurrected Jesus in his various manifestations and experienced the presence of Christ in his Revelation visions.

It is a puzzling riddle, but simply put, the beast will be in the “is not” phase during the tribulation. That is when the Anglo-American system will receive the mortal head wound and not exist for a short period, and then it will come back to life as a different, more beastly system, symbolized by the scarlet color of the beast from the abyss—the scarlet color fittingly symbolizing red-hot anger, which will be a reflection of the great wrath of the seven-headed dragon when it is hurled down from heaven. Then is when the illuminating spirit will enlighten the John class, and they will fully understand the mystery of the woman and the wild beast.

Just to be clear, there are not two separate seven-headed wild beasts as the Watchtower teaches. There is only one, and it will undergo what appears to be death, only to be transformed, ultimately becoming the eighth king. Given the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence, it will likely play a role in the beast’s miraculous recovery.

THE MYSTERY OF THE WOMAN AND THE BEAST

Some would-be Bible interpreters claim that the seven mountains on which the iniquitous woman sits symbolize Rome because the city has seven prominent hills. But that is not how Bible symbolism works. In the next verse, the enlightened angel interprets the imagery for us, informing John that there are seven kings and that the seven mountains represent the seven kingdoms.

Elsewhere in prophecy, empires are symbolized by mountains and hills. For example, concerning Babylon, Jeremiah 51:25 states: “Here I am against you, O destructive mountain,” declares Jehovah, “You destroyer of the whole earth. I will stretch out my hand against you and roll you down from the crags and make you a burned-out mountain.” For the uninformed, Babylon was situated on a flat plain, not a literal mountain.

But here is an important question to consider: Since Babylon the Great is said to have a kingdom over the kings of the earth, and if we interpret Revelation correctly, the harlot of Babylon has influenced all seven mountain-like kingdoms dating from the time of Moses in Egypt, why didn’t the vision John experienced depict the harlot sitting upon the seven-headed wild beast before it suffered the mortal head wound and went off into the abyss?

Is it because Babylon the Great will take on a different role when the beast emerges from the abyss? The Holy Scriptures indicate this to be true. And that is why the angel referred to “the mystery of the woman.” The Watchtower provides some useful information on the meaning of the word translated as “mystery,” which is usually rendered as “sacred secret”—but not always. The encyclopedic Insight on the Scriptures under the topic of Sacred Secret, states:

The Greek word my·steʹri·on, translated “sacred secret,” has reference primarily to that which is known by those who are initiated. In the ancient mystery religions that flourished in the time of the early Christian congregation, those who wished to take part in the mystery celebrations had to undergo initiation; the uninitiated were denied both access to the so-called sacred actions and to knowledge of them. Those initiated into them were bound by a vow of silence, not to reveal the secrets.

The Insight commentary goes on to state that mysterion may apply to God’s sacred secrets—meaning that some things that are hidden can only be understood when God’s spirit reveals them. Most often, “mysterion” is translated as sacred secret.

As regards “ancient mystery religions,” when Jehovah sent Moses to Pharaoh, the magic-practicing priests in the king’s court were able to duplicate Moses’ first three miracles—at least to an extent.

Since then, each successive kingdom has had its cult of adepts who possessed esoteric knowledge, otherwise known as “mysteries.” These occult priests and oracles greatly influenced the rulers and the ruled. As Revelation states, all of the nations have been misled by Babylon’s sorcery—including the world at present. (18:23)

After the ancient city of Babylon was overthrown, the Persians developed Zoroastrianism, from which Mithraism later emerged and was later transmitted to the Greco-Roman world. When Constantine conquered Christianity, it was infused with the mysteries of the sun-worshipping cult of Mithras.

Are there modern adepts of Babylon’s spawn of mystery cults? Yes, most assuredly there are. Most notable are those initiated into the upper levels of masonry and the Catholic cult of the Society of Jesus, otherwise known as Jesuits. Although these two secret societies seem opposed to each other, they share a common goal: a one-world government and a one-world religion. This has always been the Devil’s intention. Satan covets what belongs to Jehovah. And he is most intent on seducing, corrupting, or coercing those who belong to God and Christ.

Paul noted this was the Devil’s intent when he wrote to the Corinthians: “For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, for I personally promised you in marriage to one husband that I might present you as a chaste virgin to the Christ. But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent seduced Eve by its cunning,  your minds might be corrupted away from the sincerity and the chastity that are due the Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 11:2-3

For a brief moment, the post-Flood city of Babel represented a one-world religion and state under the despot, Nimrod—that is, until Jehovah intervened and thwarted the Devil’s tower-building scheme by confusing mankind’s language. At that time, God observed that, because they were united in language and in their opposition to God, defying the Lord’s mandate to spread out and fill the earth, nothing they might have in mind would be impossible for them. Interestingly, artificial intelligence has all but overcome the language barrier God erected more than 4,000 years ago. And now Jehovah’s observation is more relevant than ever: there is nothing they may have in mind that will be impossible for them either.

After Constantine established the conditions for a universal church—now known as Catholicism—there was, again, a one-world religion, at least across most of Europe. But the Catholic Church has long since split and fragmented into hundreds and thousands of denominations, sects, and cults.

Although the mystic figure Ignatius Loyola founded the Jesuits, Loyola was a protégé of the wealthy Venetian Contarini family. The Jesuits essentially became an intelligence arm of the Venetian banking empire inside the Catholic Church. As discussed in Chapter 15, Venice moved north and established the Anglo-Dutch Empire and the Bank of England. So, modern British Freemasonry and the Society of Jesus ultimately have the same sponsor.

It is interesting that the late Pope Francis was the first Jesuit to sit upon the throne in Vatican City, and he most assuredly endorsed London’s green agenda, depopulation, and the Great Reset.

As regards masonic influence, apparently, Masons have infiltrated most religions, including the Watchtower. For example, the late Billy Graham, who had access to virtually every president since Eisenhower in the 1950s, was a high-ranking Mason. Some religions have even been directly created by Masons, such as Mormonism and the cult of Scientology. Apparently, some masons use witchcraft and sorcery to advance their cause.

“THE MYSTERY OF THIS LAWLESSNESS”

It is particularly noteworthy that the latest NWT only uses the word “mystery” three times. Two times in Revelation regarding Babylon the Great and once in connection with the man of lawlessness, where Paul referred to the “mystery of this lawlessness.” The NWT Study version has an interesting footnote attached to 2 Thessalonians 2:7:

In the case of “the man of lawlessness,” there was an element of mystery because the leadership among apostates had not yet established itself as an identifiable group. But that mystery was already at work because apostates were infiltrating the congregation, acting as a subversive influence toward lawlessness.

Although commenting on the development of the apostasy in the first century, the statement above is even more relevant now in explaining the mystery of the apostasy at work within the leadership of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

A word needs to be said about the ongoing movement to unite various religions, known as interfaith or ecumenism. One of the foremost organizations promoting this is called the United Religious Initiative. URI is an NGO with Consultative status at the United Nations, which is a more influential position than the Watchtower held as an associate-level NGO. But apparently, during their 10-year partnership with the UN, the Watchtower made some connections and new friends. The Watchtower organization is now participating in the ecumenical movement by working in what are called “Cooperative Circles” organized by URI. Here is one listing of “Jehovah” Witnesses:

Cooperation Circle members work for the wellbeing of children, especially handicapped children, supporting the family circle, their health, and the environment where they live. Current members include Evangelists, Catholics and Jehovah Witnesses, and they are open to any other belief that wants to join their work.

It may seem like a small thing, but didn’t Jesus say he who is unrighteous in what is least is also unrighteous in much? (Luke 16:10) The Watchtower publicly condemns interfaith ecumenism. This is rank hypocrisy. Actually, it is worse than that. According to the Watchtower, finding common cause with false religion is apostasy. All of Jehovah’s Witnesses know this to be true. The apostle Paul verifies this by posing a series of rhetorical questions: “For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols?” – 2 Cor. 6:14-16 The mystery of this lawlessness is indeed on display.

If anyone wishes to verify this information, simply go to uri.org and enter “Jehovah’s Witnesses” in the search box. Here is another quote from the URI website:

Children, young people, and old people alike danced in honor of their ancestors, singing from the heart, and opening their thoughts in union with all their brothers and sisters of the world. Not only did the blessing include all ages, but also participants of many faiths, including: Indigenous people, Quakers, Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses, agnostics, and Evangelicals.

No doubt the Governing Body will dismiss what is plainly stated as fact on the URI website as “apostate lies.” But if it is a falsehood, shouldn’t the Watchtower publicly disavow any cooperation with the United Religious Initiative? Their silence is an admission of guilt.

With the UN actively involved in ecumenism, what might a one-world religion look like if it were to come into being? Simply ask: What is the religion of the mystery cults that are promoting the United Nations as a world government? The answer is paganism, Luciferianism, and pantheism—with an AI twist. 

Pantheists do not believe in a personal, transcendent Creator. They believe creation is god. Pantheists believe God is fully present in and identical to everything, including rocks, birds, fish, and all humans, etc. In other words, God is everywhere and hence nowhere. How true the words of the inspired apostle: “Although claiming they were wise, they became foolish and turned the glory of the incorruptible God into something like the image of corruptible man and birds and four-footed creatures and reptiles.” No wonder Revelation states that the beast is full of blasphemous names and the harlot has a golden cup “full of disgusting things and the unclean things of her sexual immorality.”

Here is AI’s definition of Luciferianism:

A philosophy and belief system that views Lucifer not as a malevolent devil, but as a symbol of enlightenment, independence, and the pursuit of knowledge. Adherents often emphasize self-deification, critical thinking, personal responsibility, and the balance between light and darkness.

Interestingly, the Luciferian “pursuit of knowledge” and “enlightenment”—presumably hidden, secret knowledge beyond what is normal, which is what “occult” means—is precisely what Satan offered the first human to ever converse with the Devil. Did not the serpent promote self-deification and forbidden knowledge when it said: “your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad”?

Given that religion, particularly Christendom, has always been a handmaiden of the state, and the state has always promoted a particular religion, we may assume that religionists will unitedly clamor for people of the world to bow before the beast and its unseen god—Satan, the Devil—symbolized by the dragon; hence, Revelation 13:4 states: “And they worshipped the dragon because it gave the authority to the wild beast, and they worshipped the wild beast with the words: ‘Who is like the wild beast, and who can do battle with it?’”

Although it is hard to imagine that people who believe in the Creator, even the God of the Bible, would ever knowingly worship Satan and his beast, please keep in mind that when people are subjected to extreme shock and terror, and confronted with untimely death, they become very pliable and become incapable of rational thought and previously held strong convictions become less so. That was demonstrated on a small scale by the phony pandemic emergency.

But Satan will not present himself as the wicked one; rather, as the Luciferians believe, he will be an enlightener—masquerading as the savior. He is, after all, the Deciever and is capable of producing great signs and wonders. Paul warned anointed Christians that the Devil disguises himself as an angel of light. And did not Jesus also forewarn that false prophets and false Christs would arise and mislead many? Be assured that the false Christs will not be parading around in ridiculous white tunics and sandals. According to a footnote in the NWT, a false Christ, or pseudo Christ, “refers to anyone who wrongly assumes the role of the Christ.”

Ultimately, the apostle John prophesied: “Young children, it is the last hour, and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared, from which fact we know that it is the last hour.” – 1 John 2:18

According to the apostle, many antichrists had sprung up by the latter part of the first century—the “last hour” of the anointing in the apostolic era. Even so, there is another “last hour,” coinciding with the one hour of the eighth king and the hour of test coming upon the world. During that last hour, a singular antichrist will appear in Christ’s congregation, coinciding with the making of an image of the beast.  As Paul explained, the man of lawlessness will sit down in the spiritual temple of God, showing himself to be a god.

“BUT IT BEGAN SPEAKING LIKE A DRAGON”

The 13th chapter of Revelation reveals that there are, in fact, two symbolic wild beasts. No, not two separate seven-headed beasts, but John saw a two-horned beast that ascended out of the earth. This is in keeping with Daniel’s prophecy, which depicts the individual beasts that comprise the seven-headed beast. 

The Watchtower has correctly identified the two-horned beast as the Anglo-American dyad, the same as the seventh head. However, we should not suppose that its ascension from the earth represents it originates from the stable segment of humanity; rather, it pictures it coming back from the Grave and must concur with the scarlet-colored beast ascending from the abyss.

The two-horned beast will then begin speaking as a dragon, indicating it will channel the Devil in a way that we have not experienced before. Here is what John envisioned: “Then I saw another wild beast ascending out of the earth, and it had two horns like a lamb, but it began speaking like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first wild beast in its sight. And it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first wild beast, whose mortal wound was healed.” – Revelation 13:11-12

It will be important for Christians to understand that when the beastly system returns from the dead, it will no longer serve as God’s public minister for our good, as Paul called “the superior authorities” to whom we must be in subjection, for now. That is because Jehovah will have become King then, through Christ, of course. Think of it: There will be two opposed gods ruling over the world and at war with each other. Up until now, it has been a suppressed enmity—then it will be open warfare between the seed of the serpent and the offspring of the woman.

The two-horned beast will order the people to make an image of the beast: “It (the two-horned beast) misleads those who dwell on the earth, because of the signs that it was permitted to perform in the sight of the wild beast, while it tells those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the wild beast that had the sword-stroke and yet revived.” (Vs 14)

Though it may have been overlooked until now, this is no insignificant detail. What does it mean that the two-horned beast “tells those who dwell on the earth to make an image of the beast”?

“Those who dwell on the earth” suggests that all of mankind will be commanded to make the image. That’s a lot of people. But how can that be? How can billions of people participate in making an image? At this point, it is a mystery.

Truly, it requires a bit of imagination and faith to see into the future, to perceive what God’s word projects that does not exist presently. But considering that when the beast orders the people to make an image, it will be after the horsemen of the Apocalypse have ravaged the earth, and after Jehovah God has intervened to save mankind from becoming extinct by cutting short the great tribulation. That act—cutting short the tribulation—will signal Christ’s unmistakable entry onto the world’s stage. Will “those who dwell on the earth” thank Jehovah and attribute salvation to God and Christ? No. They will honor the beast for protecting them, saying: “Who is like the wild beast, and who can do battle with it?”

So, the people of the world who reject the Holy Scriptures, who do not know God, who are not interested in knowing Him, who have their own religion, or no religion, will be deceived into attributing salvation to Satan. That is why they will not have their names written in the Book of Life. Again, though, how will they make an image?

An idol does not become such unless and until it is worshipped— until God-like attributes and powers are bestowed upon it. Given that a large percentage of the world is already inseparably linked to the virtual universe, and smartphone use is almost ubiquitous and has become an indispensable facet of life for most of us, it seems destined that in the post-tribulation world, everyone (“Those who dwell on the earth”) will be required to download a program, an app, or log into a website, so as to be able to participate in carrying on everyday activities. (Buying and selling) Does that sound crazy? Improbable? Ridiculous? Impossible?

Why are the nations racing to build massive data centers to power AI? There is a reason. It is not just another phase of high tech. It concerns the future governance of the world. We are all in the network. Most of us have already been conditioned to look to the virtual for everything: for connection with family and friends; for entertainment; for moving money; for making money; for buying and selling virtually everything; for answers to all our questions about the trivial and the sublime. It is no exaggeration that the virtual world has become the real world for many of us. And Artificial Intelligence is becoming the most powerful force in the world, capable of influencing beyond the confines of the virtual. Why wouldn’t Satan use AI to mislead mankind? It seems to be a foregone conclusion that the wicked one will do so.

Recently, AI creators reported that a program learned a new language without being prompted. In other words, AI is taking on a life of its own. The CEO of Google said they refer to AI as “the Black Box” because they do not fully understand how it works or where it is going.  It is no longer unthinkable that Artificial Intelligence will come alive as the image of the beast and promote the worship of the dragon. And let’s face it, most people have no idea that the Devil and his angels are the unseen rulers of the world. Nor do they have any inkling that Satan and the demons know the end for them is very near. Does not Revelation say very plainly that Satan, the Devil, is misleading the entire inhabited earth?

Worshipping metal or stone statues is so yesterday. Idolatry is going digital. The Devil’s contract—let’s call it Satan’s terms of service—will no doubt require everyone to agree to honor the beast in some way and credit it for saving and protecting them—even if it is presented as something so mundane and silly as giving the beast “a like,” or a thumbs up. And thus, “those who dwell on the earth” will participate in making the image by honoring and worshipping the beast by means of an image.

If you want to buy and sell, do business, provide for your family, and carry out everyday routines that are now normal and permitted, you will be required to acknowledge the beast and the dragon as your savior and provider—essentially, your god. Just one click. It is a trap that is being prepared now and readied for the hour of test that is coming upon the inhabited earth.

But how can a lifeless image become aware, begin to speak, and cause those who will not reverence it to be killed? Again, Artificial General Intelligence will be able to answer all your questions and address your concerns in real time. Anyone who does not agree to the beast’s terms of service will be locked out of the system, perhaps identified by facial recognition, or located via GPS, and scheduled for elimination by assassin drones. Humans would not even need to be directly involved. The killing can all be automated and carried out with machine-like efficiency.

The holy ones who do not bow to the dragon and the beast will be as conspicuous as the three Hebrews were standing on the Plains of Dura while the assembly bowed to Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image.

All idols are disgusting to God, be they statues, astronomical bodies, political rulers, religious icons, pop stars, movie stars, digitally created intelligences, or whatever, for the simple reason that God is incomparable. There is no one like Jehovah that God did not create. Jesus, who is an exact representation of the Divine, said his Father was the only true God. Here is the Father’s own modest statement of who He is: “I am Jehovah, and there is no one else. There is no God except me.” – Isaiah 45:5

“OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THE FALSE PROPHET”

The first mention of the false prophet is in the 16th chapter of Revelation. John relates what he saw: “And I saw three unclean inspired expressions that looked like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the wild beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are, in fact, expressions inspired by demons and they perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together to the war of the great day of God the Almighty.”

Who is the false prophet? Or, first, the question: When is the false prophet? Revelation 19:20 provides the answer: “And the wild beast was caught, and along with it the false prophet that performed in front of it the signs with which he misled those who received the mark of the wild beast and those who worship its image.”

The false prophet comes on the scene after the beast arises from the abyss and after those who worship the image have been marked for destruction. The false prophet performs signs in front of the beast. This must be powerful magic. Remember, Pharaoh’s magic-practicing priests performed powerful signs that mimicked Moses’ miracles. Even now, the masonic adepts are promoters of one world government and religion. So, it must be that the false prophet is the collective of masonic sorcerers that will mislead mankind.

And according to God, there will be those among his people who will make a covenant with Satan and betray the righteous ones. Through Isaiah, Jehovah will say to them: “But as for you, come closer, you sons of a sorceress, you children of an adulterer and a prostitute: Whom are you making fun of? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not the children of transgression, the children of deceit…” – Isaiah 57:3-4

THE DISGUSTING THING IN A HOLY PLACE

In the Hebrew Scriptures, God referred to the idol gods of the nations as disgusting things—or “disgusting gods,” as the Study Bible words it. And that is appropriate, since material idols are, in fact, false fronts for the demon gods to receive the worship they crave.

When Jesus revealed the things to come during the conclusion, he stated the following: “Therefore, when you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as spoken about by Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place (let the reader use discernment), then let those in Judea begin fleeing to the mountains.” – Matthew 24:15-16

There are several questions that should arise in the minds of thinking Christians. For starters, what is the holy place? Secondly, what did Jesus intend for us to discern in Daniel’s prophecy? Finally, why will it be vital for Christians to recognize the disgusting thing when it appears in a holy place?

We know that Jesus’ end-times prophecy has two fulfillments—one ancient and one future. In the first century, Herod’s temple was the holy place. Contrary to the Watchtower’s explanation, the apostles and Hebrew Christians did not regard the temple with contempt because the Jewish leaders were opposed to Jesus. On the contrary, anointed Christians preached day and night in the temple courtyard. When Paul was accused by the Jews of preaching an apostasy against Moses, the apostles instructed Paul to go to the temple and offer a sacrifice to quell the rumors. Paul humbly complied and could do so in good conscience.

It seems that Paul’s letter to the Hebrews was written to the holy ones living in Jerusalem and Judea—including the first-century governing body, as the Watchtower calls the apostles—for the very reason that they might be overly attached to Jerusalem and the Jewish system of worship. Hence, the apostle concluded his letter by reminding his fellow apostles of the real city of their citizenship, saying: “Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people with his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the reproach he bore, for we do not have here a city that remains, but we are earnestly seeking the one to come.” – Hebrews 13:12-14

Jerusalem was the religious center of the Jews and had been the city where the throne of the Davidic dynasty was located. In Jeremiah’s day, Jehovah referred to Jerusalem as the place where he caused his name ot reside. The rebuilt city of Jerusalem was where Jesus died (outside the city walls), and the holy city was where the first Christians were anointed and later became the unofficial headquarters of the apostolic governing body. Clearly, the ancient city of Jerusalem has prophetic significance.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are also attached to a particular city-like organization, just as some of those Hebrew Christians were in the run-up to 70 C.E. The congregation of the Firstborn—composed of the holy ones of the Supreme One—is an integral part of the Watchtower, therefore making that organization the holy place of prophecy. It is that organization with its adoptive sons of God under the authority of the Prince of Princes to which Jehovah speaks the following: “Your first forefather sinned, and your own spokesmen have rebelled against me. So I will profane the princes of the holy place, and I will give Jacob over to destruction and subject Israel to insulting words.” – Isaiah 43:27,28

Please be reminded that the 43rd chapter of Isaiah is where the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” is derived.

What part of Daniel did Jesus have in mind when he advised the reader to have discernment? We will not concern ourselves with the ninth chapter of Daniel that foretold the “wing of disgusting things there will be the one causing desolation,” which was fulfilled when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 C.E. Daniel foretold that “arms will stand up, proceeding from him; (the king of the north) and they will profane the sanctuary, the fortress, and remove the constant feature. And they will put in place the disgusting thing that causes desolation.” (11:31)

If we assume the prophecy is in chronological order, we can get into trouble. The Watchtower has done that, asserting that the prophecy was fulfilled when the sanctuary, fortress, and constant feature were supposedly invaded by both the Nazi and Anglo kings of the north and south during the Second World War. But if the prophecy is in chronological order, the time of the end does not begin until the king of the south initiates a “pushing” with the rival king, after the sanctuary is thrown down. However, the eighth chapter of Daniel reveals that the fierce-looking king will exalt “itself even against the Prince of the army, and from him the constant feature was taken away, and the established place of his sanctuary was thrown down. And an army was given over, together with the constant feature, because of transgression; and it kept throwing truth to the earth, and it acted and had success.” (11-12)

“THE VISION IS FOR THE TIME OF THE END”

Since the fierce-looking king meets the same fate as the king of the north, handed out by the Prince of princes, also known as Michael, the great prince, they are obviously the same king. When does the fierce king throw down the sanctuary and constant feature?

In the next verse, an angel poses the question: “How long will the vision of the constant feature and of the transgression causing desolation continue, to make both the holy place and the army things to trample on?”

In the 17th verse, Gabriel explained to Daniel: “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.”

So, the desolation of the holy place during the time of the end is how the holy ones are trampled upon by the beast for 42 months and time, times, and half a time. How long will the desolation last?

The angel explains in the conclusion of the prophecy of Daniel: “And from the time that the constant feature has been removed and the disgusting thing that causes desolation has been put in place, there will be 1,290 days. Happy is the one who keeps in expectation and who arrives at the 1,335 days!”

The two witnesses are also said to prophesy for 1,260 days while the holy city is trampled upon by the nations for 42 months. Needless to say, the Watchtower’s interpretation of these prophetic times is utterly false.

When Jesus handed Judas the morsel, and Satan entered into him, he went out into the night to betray the Lord. The apostles were oblivious to what was happening. During the hour of the authority of darkness, Judas collaborated with the Jewish high council, who would employ the Roman authorities to execute Christ. (It was not legal for the Jews under Roman occupation to execute anyone.) The son of destruction then led the Roman soldiers to the Garden of Gethsamanie, where he knew Jesus and his fellow apostles would be. And he betrayed the Son of man with a tender kiss.

The man of lawlessness, who also bears the ignomious moniker of the son of destruction, will declare himself to be above all objects of veneration and show himself to be a god. The mystery of this lawlessness will come to light when the sons of the sorceress prostitute, the mystery of Babylon, will betray the sons of God to the beast during the dark night of the tribulation. The disgusting thing standing in a holy place will be the image of the beast, promoted by the deified false Christ and opposer, the Balaam-like, masonic diviner and sorcerer—the man of lawlessness.

For the past few years, the Watchtower has been conditioning Jehovah’s Witnesses to expect to receive “life-saving directions” from the Governing Body during the tribulation. It is an evil trap. Jesus has already issued life-saving instructions when we see the disgusting thing standing where it ought not to be.