Incredible History Unveiled
Back to 1The Bible’s Greatest Prophecies Unlocked!
Now comes fascinating knowledge. You have almost certainly never heard it. History reveals that the idol Antiochus placed in the Temple—or “holy place”—was a statue of Zeus or Jupiter Olympus, the chief deity of pagan Hellenists of Greece and Macedonia.
Volume Four of A Dictionary of Christian Biography, Literature, Sects and Doctrines makes this clear. The context has to do with Simon (Magus) the sorcerer, described in Acts 8:1-40 “When Justin Martyr wrote [AD 152] his Apology [his book] the sect of the Simonians [from Simon Magus] appears to have been formidable, for he speaks four times of their founder, Simon [Magus]…and we need not doubt that he identified him with the Simon of the [book of] Acts. He states that he was a Samaritan [Acts 8:1-40 makes that clear], adding that his birthplace was a village called Gitta; he describes him as a formidable magician, and tells that he came to Rome in the days of Claudius Caesar [which is AD 45], and made such an impression by his magical powers, that he was honoured as a god, a statue being erected to him on the Tiber [River], between the two bridges, bearing the inscription ‘Simoni deo Sancto’” (p. 682). This inscription means “Holy God Simon.” Also note that Simon’s followers generally called him Jupiter.
We can ask: Is this the very same statue placed by Antiochus?
Following the journey of this statue is vital. Do not miss the flow of events. Remember, God expects they be understood!
Statue Reappears
It has been well reported that many centuries ago a statue of the pagan god Jupiter was found in Rome. The large bronze statue was altered and renamed St. Peter. One strong indication of this comes from John Parker: “…by some writers it is affirmed to be no other than the statue of Jupiter, with a new head and hands; others stating that this famous statue was melted down by order of Pope Leo I. in the middle of the fifth century, and recast into this figure of S. Peter, holding the keys of heaven with one hand, whilst the other is raised in the act of benediction in the Roman manner, with the first and second fingers extended” (The Archaeology of Rome, p. 38).
Ralph Woodrow, author of Babylon Mystery Religion, goes further: “This statue is looked upon with most profound veneration and its foot has been kissed so many times [by devotees] that the toes are nearly worn away!” (It is more than interesting to note that the Catholic religion has a long tradition of kissing idols—feet, rings and crosses—yet the pagan origin of this practice can clearly be found in I Kings 19:18 and Hosea 13:1-2.)
Incredible! Yet these are the facts from history. This same statue—directly related to the abomination of desolation—is now prominently displayed in Rome!
Remember, Jesus said His servants—those who understand God’s prophecies and know what to watch for—shall “see” the abomination of desolation. This must be referring to something that is physically set up and visible in the holy place.
Will this statue be brought back, full-circle, to Jerusalem to fulfill this end-time prophecy? God, through the initial fulfillment, has almost certainly provided the answer for those willing to believe His Word and plain accounts of history regarding the role of this image and its connection to the end-time civil ruler (Beast), and the religious leader (False Prophet) who will direct that it be placed—with himself—in Jerusalem.
In Place of God
Ezekiel 28:1-26 provides a fuller picture of the audaciousness of the False Prophet when he enters Jerusalem: “The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, ‘Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus [a man, not to be confused with the king of Tyrus referenced in Eze 28:12, who is clearly Satan]…Thus says the Lord God; because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, ‘I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas” (Eze 28:1-2).
Daniel 11:45 explains that the king of the north will “plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain…” Of course, the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea are about equidistant on either side of Jerusalem, east and west. Any map of the Middle East shows this. The False Prophet will obviously participate in this move and join him.
Continuing in Ezekiel 28:1-26 about the False Prophet: “Yet you are a man, and not God, though you set your heart as the heart of God: behold, you are wiser than Daniel [this man will think he is]; there is no secret that they can hide from you [describing his proud thinking]. With your wisdom and with your understanding you have gotten you riches, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasures” (Eze 28:2-4).
Let’s pause to summarize. A United Europe will transform the crashing global economy and usher in a time of world prosperity unlike any previous time. The False Prophet will proclaim himself to be God. Amazingly, hundreds of millions will believe him, having been seduced by accompanying miracles. The world will rejoice and also worship the Beast because he will bring peace and prosperity back to the world.
Eze 28:5-8 describe more of this religious leader’s pride in the context of what his end will be: “By your great wisdom and traffick have you increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches: therefore thus says the Lord God; because you have set your heart as the heart of God; behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon you…they shall bring you down to the pit.”
Antiochus Epiphanes was a forerunning type of the False Prophet (but also of the Beast because he too is worshipped).
Future Fulfillment
The ultimate fulfillment of the abomination of desolation is not only the statue, it is the final leader of the religious system—the human personification of the Babylonish whore herself—who enters into Jerusalem and says, “I am God.”
In fact, the entire Babylonish system that this False Prophet—supported by the Beast—represents istwice referenced regarding “abominations.” A previously referenced passage is important to revisit in this context: “So he [an angel] carried me [the apostle John] away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: and upon her forehead was a name written, mystery, babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth” (Rev. 17:3-5).
God does not just describe this false religious system as abominable, but refers to it as “the mother of...abominations.”
This religious leader is described in II Thessalonians and there referred to as the “man of sin.” Quoted previously, this passage reappears because of the broader application it brings to this chapter. “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day [Christ’s Return] shall not come, except there come a falling away first [a prophecy fulfilled in the twentieth century] and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition…Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2Thes 2:3-4).
2Thes 2:9-10 explain how this deceiver will sway great numbers to worship him and the civil leader: “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth…” The allure of miracles will seduce the masses into supporting and even worshipping the Beast. (See also Revelation 13:11-14 and 19:20.)
This is clearly the False Prophet of Revelation 16:13, not the Beast. But do not be confused. They both are seen as divine. Remember, Antiochus Epiphanes—the civil ruler—as well as the statue—representing the religious system of Babylon in Jerusalem—was a type of the coming Beast and False Prophet.