“And he (the anti-christ) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (7 years): and in the midst of the week (3 1/2 years) he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation (Second Coming of Jesus Christ), and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
Daniel 9:27
Over the many years I have discussed Biblical Prophecy with numerous people, most have heard of Armageddon, the Second Coming, the anti-christ, 666, etc. What has surprised me is how very few had ever heard of the Abomination of Desolation! This event, foretold by Daniel 2,600 years ago and clarified by Jesus Christ Himself gives us one of the very, very few events in the Bible which proclaims the EXACT day of His Return!
So, what is the Abomination of Desolation? To answer that I must first acquaint you with other prophecies which set the stage for this key event. Basically, in the Last Days there will be a peace treaty, or “covenant”, signed with Israel and the countries of the world. This agreement will establish a Palestinian state in Judea (which we refer to as the West Bank). It will recognize Israel as the home of the Jewish people. It will finally allow the Jews to rebuild their 3rd Holy Temple on the Temple Mount. Interestingly and notably, to do so WILL NOT require destroying the holy Muslim sites of the Dome of the Rock or the El Aqsa mosque which today sit on the Temple Mount. Instead, it will be built just north of the Dome of the Rock in the courtyard.
“And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. BUT (capitals mine) the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles (non-believers): and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months (3 1/2 years).”
Revelation 11:1-2
Here, John is told to measure the site for the 3rd Temple but to “leave out” a specific area given to the Gentiles. Many scholars believe the “peace covenant” signed by Israel with the countries of the world (the UN?) WILL NOT ultimately settle who “owns” Jerusalem but will instead put off that decision for 7 years AFTER the signing. Think of this in the context of the Iran nuclear deal signed by President Obama. It only put off (supposedly) the Iranians being able to develop nuclear bombs for 10 years. After that they would have to renegotiate the treaty to ensure the Iranians still did not get nuclear bombs. It will be during the first half of this seven year time period the Jews will rebuild their Holy Temple and again begin instituting the daily animal sacrifices as dictated in the Torah. With President Trump recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on December 6, 2017 and officially moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on their 70th anniversary of the refounding of the modern day state of Israel on May 14, 2018, there has been much speculation recently about a “peace treaty” that is now ready to go but which has been delayed because of the turmoil in the area caused with these decisions. Rumor has it that this peace treaty will recognize a state for the Palestinians in what is Judea (West Bank). With 800,000 Jews now living there, this treaty will have to give them the ability to stay there, just as there are many Palestinians that today live in Israel as citizens. This makes the prophecy Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24 more relevant today as the Jews are told to flee from Judea (not the other parts of Israel) when they see the Abomination of Desolation occur:
“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judea (the West Bank) flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! But pray that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: FOR THEN SHALL BE GREAT TRIBULATION (capitals mine), such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
Matthew 24:15-21
Jesus said when the Jews living in Judea (soon to be the Palestinian State) see the Abomination of Desolation, they are to IMMEDIATELY flee for their lives. Obviously, at that time the Palestinians will be emboldened to murder all Jews living in their land. What happens with the Abomination of Desolation that would cause the Palestinians and the rest of the world to turn on the Jews?
“For the ships of Chittim (believed to be the countries around by the Mediterranean) shall come against him: therefore he (anti-christ) shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant (the peace treaty): so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.”
Daniel 11:30-31
Apparently, there will be a revolt against the anti-christ in parts of Europe because of his appeasement of the Jews in the peace treaty and he then will turn on the Jews and cause the recently re-instated daily sacrifices in the Holy Temple to cease. More than that, he will “pollute” their sanctuary making it desolate and no longer holy (see Revelation 13:14-15). Many believe this will be due to him placing an image of himself in the Temple and demanding to being worshipped as the messiah or as God. “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped ; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that HE IS GOD (capitals mine).” – 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4.
The anti-christ will enter the rebuilt 3rd Temple of the Jews and tell the world he is God and must be worshipped as God. That will be an abomination for all that is holy in the eyes of God’s select people, the Jews! Also, through previous scriptures we are told this event will happen half way through the 7 year Tribulation period which begins with the signing of the peace treaty and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ at Armageddon. The last 3 1/2 years is referred to as the Great Tribulation, the worst time period in human history which will see God’s Wrath cast upon an unbelieving world!
“And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days (3 1/2 years).”
Daniel 12:11
Amazingly, if we are here to witness the Abomination of Desolation (I don’t plan, by the way, to see it while on earth), God tells us EXACTLY 1,290 days later Jesus will Return at Armageddon and will throw the anti-christ and false prophet into hell for eternity and will bind up Satan for 1,000 years while Christ Rules on the earth!!! We will know EXACTLY (1,290 days after the Abomination of Desolation) when Christ will return! All the things foretold in the Bible to occur in the very last days could be very troubling to the unbeliever. But, Jesus gives us Hope because He told us ahead of time what to expect and what will happen!
“For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed; behold, I HAVE FORETOLD YOU ALL THINGS (capitals mine).”
Mark 13:22-23
Our responsibility is not to scare people with Christ’s message to us but to comfort them. We have a path to Heaven; we have a Promise of Redemption; and, we have been told what will occur in the Last Days. By knowing all of these things we are told to not be afraid, but rather we have ALL been told to “…therefore, comfort one another with these words.” Have you told your friends and family? Have you shared God’s message? Please do so today. We don’t have much time left!
May God continue to Bless you!