THE TWO DESOLATIONS

3. The daily sacrifice and the transgression of desolation represent Rome in its pagan and papal forms. Leaving out the supplied words, the text would read, “The daily, and the transgression of desolation.” These are two desolating powers; first, paganism, then, papacy. Of these, Paul, in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8, says: “Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Remember ye not that when I was yet with you I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” That which withheld the manifestation of the papacy in Paul’s day was paganism. These are the two powers which have desolated the people of God, of which the angel speaks in the vision of Daniel 8.BIAD 127.1