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There are three passages in Daniel to consider
first. Dan. 11:31 and 12:11 are part of
the same latter-day prophesy, in Dan. 10-12.
In 11:31 “the abomination of desolation” is something set up in the
temple in connection with the forced cessation of the daily sacrifices. The great majority of commentators refer this
verse to Antiochus Epiphanes, in the time between Malachi and Matthew. And most of those men would say that Antiochus
is a type of the great antichrist to come.
Dan. 12:11 bears out this thought, that the “abomination of desolation”
is both a past event (Antiochus) and a future event. The past event was described in some detail,
both in the apocryphal writings (1 Maccabees 1, and 2 Maccabees 6) and in the
writings of Josephus (Book 10, Chapter 11).
·
Daniel 9:24-27, in the prophecy of “70 Weeks”
includes a reference to an event in the middle of the last week of seven years
in v27: But in the middle of the week, He shall bring an end to sacrifice
and offering. And on the wing of
abominations shall be one who makes desolate. We have posted on this passage several times
so we will not go into detail. Our view
is that the last seven of the 490 years (70X7) are yet future. Thus, it makes sense Dan. 9 and 12 speak of
the same, future event.
·
When you put Daniel and Matt. 24 and the
Revelation together, it is clear to me that they are speaking of the same time
framework. There are some who seek to apply Jesus’ words in Matt. 24 to the Roman destruction of Jerusalem
in 70AD. We do not believe that this
interpretation fulfills what is called for.
The question is not whether the Romans desecrated the temple; depending
on your definition of “desecration” they certainly entered it as Roman idolaters
and then destroyed it. The question is,
does that event fit the context of Mt. 24?
The years 33-70AD, in Israel, do not fit what Jesus describes in
24:4-14. Further, 24:16-28 describe what
is called great tribulation (v21), traumatic events that are followed immediately
after (v29-31) by the return of Christ.
In addition, the prophecy of Daniel 9 indicates the abomination
occurs in the middle of seven years, and that after the latter three and a half
years the purposes are accomplished, including the anointing of the Most
Holy (9:24). Likewise, Dan. 12:11
places the abomination of desolation in the context of the resurrection
of the just and unjust (12:1-3), the salvation of Israel (12:7,10) and the
introduction of blessings (12:12).
What we conclude is that, first, of course, Jesus used the Scripture properly. He referred to an event that it seems He expected even the twelve to understand. Remember the questions of the disciples that produced this sermon: When will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age? (24:3). Jesus knew of and had predicted the destruction by the Romans (Mt. 23:37-39). The Romans were the ones who fulfilled the prophecy of not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down (24:2). But 70AD did not usher in the Kingdom. It did not result in the return of Christ immediately after.
Not only did Jesus use Daniel’s prophecy correctly. He also took it upon Himself to predict His return in power and great glory. And He did it with His own timeline of events, with the beginning of sorrows (24:8), the abomination of desolation (24:15), great tribulation (24:21), and then His return (24:29-31). Jesus fulfilled prophecy. Then Jesus declared prophecy, which He will fulfill in His return.
Hallelujah!
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