Lake Louisa State Park, Clermont, Florida
His (Antiochus IV Epiphanes) armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant (apostate Jews), but the people who know their God will firmly resist Him (Maccabees, etc.) ~ Daniel 11:31-32
- On Kislev (Nov-Dec) 25, 168BC, Epiphanes set up an altar to Zeus Olympius inside the Holy Temple of God on His altar of burnt offering. This was the “abomination that causes desolation”
- It is also a prefiguration of a similar abomination that Jesus announced would be erected (Mt 24:15)
- Epiphanes also had the devout Jewish men butchered and their women and children sold into slavery
- He made a royal decree proclaiming the abolition of the Jewish mode of worship – Sabbaths and festivals were not to be observed, circumcision was not to be performed, the sacred books were to be surrendered and the Jews were compelled to offer sacrifices to the idols that had been erected. An inquisition was established with monthly sessions for investigation. Breaking any of the royal laws regarding the Jewish faith was punishable by death
- This was the beginning of the Maccabean revolt (the Jewish resistance mentioned at the end of verse 32)
If you’d like to know more about the Maccabees, you can go to
https://cdn.britannica.com/53/3353-050-94DC29A9/Palestine-Maccabean.jpg?w=300&h=300
We both spent over four hours in front of computer screens this morning! Time to get out and burn some calories and breathe fresh air, some way, some how!
And we did! We rode our bikes for miles and miles on asphalt-covered roads and trails that were made of sand and covered in grasses, or pine needles, or sometimes just packed or loose sand. It was not an easy ride. To get a pretty accurate description of our day, revert back to my post from February 9th. I’d probably write pretty much the same drama today as I did then. 😊
Watch out people! Comin’ through!
It’s the tannic acid from leaves and trees.
We’re not into pushing our bikes through loose sand for who knows how long.
We saw lots of sunshine today, as well as a Ranger-guided horse tour. It was a pretty large group, so we had to wait quite a while alongside the trail as the horses and their riders ambled by.
It just seemed wrong to snap up-close pictures of strangers as they went by. . .
so Blaine took a picture. There were at least twice this many in the group.
No tortoise though. : (
I have to entertain myself with something else. : )
This is my birthstone ring Mom gave me when I turned 16.
Isn’t it beautiful?!? It’s a ruby star sapphire. So cool that it makes that star in bright light!!
Where in the world did that come from??
All in all, it was a great ride! Tomorrow, we move on. Yes. On Valentine’s Day. ♥