The Abomination of Desolation

In the book of Daniel there is found thrice the mentioning of an abomination of desolation, either in those words or “transgression that desolates.” It has been the strange compulsion of many evangelical Christians (and unfortunately some Jews) to regard this as a purely futuristic event. This is unusual, and unfortunately shows the rather self-gravitating mentality our time has developed.

   The “abomination that desolates” is mentioned in Daniel 8 and Daniel 9 & 12. Another unfortunate habit of some evangelicals today is to consider these all the same event. These passages, however, refer to not one event, but two separate events. The period for each’s duration is given, the one in Daniel 8 is “2300 evening and mornings” and in Daniel 12 it is given as “1290 days” and then there is an extension of 45 days thus making it “1335 days.” These passages also contain general clues as to what era of time these will happen in, and what certain signs must occur beforehand, and each ends an era or period of time.

   It is strange indeed that these are looked upon today as future events, given the language of the prophecy. However, it could well be evangelical misunderstanding of the one Hebrew text they have: the Codex Leningradis. In this text, the meaning of “an end of time” is not clearly understood. In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of other texts, the text remains intact, rendering it accurately. The vision is for “an end of time” or “an appointed time.” In modern Christian Bibles it says “for the end of time.” Thus the prophecy seems to be for the last days of the Earth. However, the prophecies apply to an end of eras.

   Let us look first at Daniel 8. The quotation below is taken from the common Christian bible: the King James Version, which is based on the Codex Leningradis. Let us look at the entire chapter:

    1: In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. 2: And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai. 3: Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 4: I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. 5: And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 6: And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had there seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. 7: And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. 8: Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven. 9: And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. 10: And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. 11: Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 12: And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

13: Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? 14: And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

15: And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. 16: And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. 17: So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. 18: Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. 19: And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. 20: The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. 21: And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22: Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. 23: And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 24: And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25: And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. 26: And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. 27: And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

   There is no question that this is speaking of the Kingdom of the Greeks, as it was called by our fathers. No one, even in evangelical circles, disputes that the first part is referring to Alexander the Great’s coming— the “He-goat” with the notable horn is the Greeks and the horn is Alexander. The four horns that come up in its place are the 4 lieutenants of Alexander that arose in his place: Ptolemy; Antipatros; Seleucus; Antigonus.  The coming of that small horn is limited in time, for it is clarified that “in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.” This was accepted to be Antiochus Epiphanes of the Seleucid Dynasty, as most any Jew knows.

   It is not the purpose of this article to go into detail on the Jewish War of Independence from the Seleucid kingdom. The reader is encouraged to read the book of 1 Maccabees for that information.

   Suffice it to say here that the atrocities which Antiochus committed in Israel match what was foretold of him. These first began in the 143rd year of the Kingdom of the Greeks and lasted until his death in the year 148 of the Kingdom of the Greeks. Although the war continued, it was not the same as when Antiochus was alive. Also, the atrocities were not as great after the cleansing of the Temple since Israel was fighting back, exacting retribution upon the Seleucids. The greatest atrocities began in 143 and continued on until the revolt under Judah Maccabee.

The Abomination of Desolation was set up on the holy altar of the temple on 15 Kislev 145: “Now the fifteenth day of the month Kislev, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities of Judah on every side; and burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the streets. And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire. [57] And whosoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any committed to the law, the king’s commandment was that they should put him to death. [58] Thus did they by their authority unto the Israelites every month, to as many as were found in the cities. [59] Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of God. [60] At which time according to the commandment they put to death certain women, that had caused their children to be circumcised. [61] And they hanged the infants about their necks, and rifled their houses, and slew them that had circumcised them.” (1 Maccabees 1:54-61)

   On 25 Kislev 148 the sanctuary was finally cleansed:  [52] “Now on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month, which is called the month Kislev, in the hundred forty and eighth year, they rose up betimes in the morning, [53] And offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of burnt offerings, which they had made. [54] At what time and what day the heathen had profaned it, even in that was it dedicated with songs, and citherns, and harps, and cymbals. [55] Then all the people fell upon their faces, worshipping and praising the God of heaven, who had given them good success. [56] And so they kept the dedication of the altar eight days and offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed the sacrifice of deliverance and praise. [57] They decked also the forefront of the temple with crowns of gold, and with shields; and the gates and the chambers they renewed, and hanged doors upon them. [58] Thus was there very great gladness among the people, for that the reproach of the heathen was put away.”

   The amount of time for the abomination of desolation is roughly 1100 days. However, Daniel 8 does not imply that the “2300 evening and mornings” encompass only the abomination of desolation. The daily is involved. The LXX places it in much better context. Let’s start at verse 8:

   “And the male goat grew exceedingly great. And when he was strong, his great horn was broken; and four other horns rose up in its place toward the four winds of heaven. 9 And out of one of them came forth one strong horn, and it grew very great toward the south, and toward the host. 10 And it magnified itself to the host of heaven; and there fell to the earth some of the host of heaven and of the stars, and they trampled on them. 11 And this shall be until the Chief Captain has delivered the captivity: and by reason of the horn the sacrifice was disturbed, and he prospered; and the holy place shall be made desolate. 12 And a sin offering was given for the sacrifice, and righteousness was cast down to the ground; and he did all this, and prospered. 13 And I heard one saint speaking, and a saint said to a certain one speaking, How long shall the vision continue, even the removal of the sacrifice, and the bringing in of the sin of desolation; and how long shall the sanctuary and host be trampled? 14 And he said to him, Evening and morning there shall be two thousand three hundred days; and then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.

   15 And it came to pass, as I, Daniel, saw the vision, and sought to understand it, that behold, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of the Ulai; and he called, and said, Gabriel, cause this man to understand the vision. 17 And he came and stood near where I stood. And when he came, I was struck with awe, and fell upon my face. But he said to me, Understand, son of man, for yet the vision is for an appointed time [or “an end of time”]. 18 And while he spoke with me, I fell upon my face to the earth. And he touched me, and set me on my feet. 19 And he said, Behold, I make you know the things that shall come to pass at the end of the wrath: for the vision is yet for an appointed time.

   20 The ram which you saw that had the horns is the king of the Medes and Persians. 21 The male goat is the king of the Greeks: and the great horn which was between his eyes, he is the first king. 22 And as for the one that was broken, in whose place there stood up four horns, four kings shall arise out of his nation, but not in their own strength. 23 And at the latter time of their kingdom, when their sins are coming to the full, there shall arise a king of fierce countenance, who understands riddles; 24 and his power shall be great, and he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive, and shall destroy the mighty men, and the holy people. 25 And the yoke of his chain shall prosper: there is underhanded treachery in his hand, and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by deceit he shall destroy many, and shall stand up for the destruction of many, and shall crush them like eggs in his hand. 26 And the vision of the evening and morning that was mentioned is true: seal up the vision; for it is for many days.”

   Antiochus first looted the temple in 143^rd year of the Kingdom of the Greeks, and caused at the same time the first of his many massacres. In 145, sometime before the abomination was set up, he had caused the daily to stop and there was more fighting and massacres. According to the prophecy about 6 years and 4 months Israel would suffer: the daily would be removed, the abomination would be set up, and the host and sanctuary would be trampled. Unfortunately no exact dates were entered into Maccabees for when Antiochus began to plunder the temple in the 143rd year, nor when his laws in 145 started to be carried out. We have only the time the abomination was set up and the time the sanctuary was cleansed. Yet the duration of troubles is clearly around 6 years 4 months, though we do not have a precise day for the beginning. It is not likely that 2300 evening and mornings is referring to counting the evenings and mornings separately, that is, 1150 evenings and 1150 mornings thus tallying up to 2300 evening and mornings. It may be possible, but it does not seem entirely probable. It is quite possible that there was a period of 50 days or so after the sacrifice was banned before the statue of Zeus was raised on God’s altar and the abomination set up. If so, than it could be referring to an actual 1150 days. Most likely, the duration extends between the year 143 to 148 when the sanctuary was cleansed.

   In any case, we know that the prophecy was limited to this time. The language clearly limits it to the time of the kingdom of the Greeks; and Jews clearly interpreted it that way from the language of Maccabees. It is very apparent that Daniel was well-known by the author of Maccabees. It may shock some evangelicals and Gnostics, but we are no longer in the Kingdom of the Greeks. (See Metaphorical Mephisto)

   It is puzzling how modern Christians understand the prophecy of Daniel 2 as pointing to the coming of Jesus Christ; but then many attempt to look at the near identical language in Daniel 8 as referring to a modern event. Before we continue with Daniel 9, here is the quotation from Daniel 2, taken from the Vaticanus codex of the Septuagint.

27 And Daniel answered before the king, and said, The mystery which the king asks the explanation of is not in the power of the wise men, magicians, enchanters, or soothsayers to declare to the king. 28 But there is a God in heaven revealing mysteries, and he has made known to king Nabuchodonosor what things must come to pass in the last days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are as follows, 29 O king: thy thoughts upon thy bed arose as to what must come to pass hereafter: and he that reveals mysteries has made known to thee what must come to pass. 30 Moreover, this mystery has not been revealed to me by reason of wisdom which is in me beyond all others living, but for the sake of making known the interpretation to the king, that thou mightest know the thoughts of thine heart.

31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold an image: that image was great, and the appearance of it excellent, standing before thy face; and the form of it was terrible. 32 It was an image, the head of which was of fine gold, its hands and breast and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of brass, 33 its legs of iron, its feet, part of iron and part of earthenware. 34 Thou sawest until a stone was cut out of a mountain without hands, and it smote the image upon its feet of iron and earthenware, and utterly reduced them to powder. 35 Then once for all the earthenware, the iron, the brass, the silver, the gold, were ground to powder, and became as chaff from the summer threshingfloor; and the violence of the wind carried them away, and no place was found for them: and the stone which had smitten the image became a great mountain, and filled all the earth. 36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.

37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given a powerful and strong and honourable kingdom, 38 in every place where the children of men dwell: and he has given into thine hand the wild beasts of the field, and the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and he has made thee lord of all. 39 Thou art the head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, an a third kingdom which is the brass, which shall have dominion over all the earth; 40 and a fourth kingdom, which shall be strong as iron: as iron beats to powder and subdues all things, so shall it beat to powder and subdue.

41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and the toes, part of earthenware and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet there shall be in it of the strength of iron, as thou sawest the iron mixed with earthenware. 42 And whereas the toes of the feet were part of iron and part of earthenware, part of the kingdom shall be strong, and part of it shall be broken. 43 Whereas thou sawest the iron mixed with earthenware, they shall be mingled with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave together, as the iron does not mix itself with earthenware. 44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and his kingdom shall not be left to another people, but it shall beat to pieces and grind to powder all other kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 45 Whereas thou sawest that a stone was cut out of a mountain without hands, and it beat to pieces the earthenware, the iron, the brass, the silver, the gold; the great God has made known to the king what must happen hereafter: and the dream is true, and the interpretation thereof sure.

46 Then king Nabuchodonosor fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and gave orders to offer to him gifts and incense. 47 And the king answered and said to Daniel, Of a truth your God is a God of gods, and Lord of kings, who reveals mysteries; for thou has been able to reveal this mystery. 48 And the king promoted Daniel, and gave him great and abundant gifts, and set him over the whole province of Babylon, and made him chief satrap over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 And Daniel asked of the king, and he appointed Sedrach, Misach, and Abdenago, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel was in the king’s palace.

   The kingdom of iron and clay is obviously the Romans, fitting both what the Romans tried to do by uniting the world and the fact they followed the Kingdom of the Greeks in chronological order. During this time Jesus was born and the kingdom of God established. Yet by what rationale, other than utter contempt for God’s word, can someone have for thinking that Daniel 8 speaks of a future event from today’s perspective when it is so clearly slated for the Kingdom of the Greeks, a king coming from one of the four that arose after Alexander of Macedon?

       Let us continue:

Daniel 9 & 12.

   Daniel 9 and 12 are not so easy. They represent another abomination of desolation that shall be set up and shall then last for 1335 days until it ends with massive destruction, sweeping in the end of the age. The abomination occurs within a certain period (the end) of the 70 weeks of Daniel 9. At the end of the “70 weeks” or 7 sets of 70 comes the abomination. (See Daniel 9 Cipher) This will extend for 1290 days, and then the temple will be destroyed, and then 45 days later the city will be consumed. The end will then have come.

   Obviously, people argue exactly when the “70 weeks” begins. But its ending cannot be in dispute. The LXX reads much more correctly that the “daily sacrifice” will be changed.

Daniel 9

24 Seventy weeks have been determined upon thy people, and upon the holy city, for sin to be ended, and to seal up transgressions, and to blot out the iniquities, and to make atonement for iniquities, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal the vision and the prophet, and to anoint the Most Holy.

25 And thou shalt know and understand, that from the going forth of the command for the answer and for the building of Jerusalem until Christ the prince there shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks; and then the time shall return, and the street shall be built, and the wall, and the times shall be exhausted.

26 And after the sixty-two weeks, the anointed one shall be destroyed, and there is no judgment in him: and he shall destroy the city and the sanctuary with the prince that is coming: they shall be cut off with a flood, and to the end of the war which is rapidly completed he shall appoint the city to desolations.

27 And one week shall establish the covenant with many: and in the midst of the week my sacrifice and drink-offering shall be taken away: and on the temple shall be the abomination of desolations; and at the end of time an end shall be put to the desolation.

       In his Jewish Wars, Josephus makes it clear that in February of 66 AD the beginning of war with the Romans came with one act: Eleazar the son of Ananias was governor of the Temple and he convinced the Jews to stop accepting sacrifices and gifts on behalf of Gentiles and Caesar. The priests were vexed. They pleaded this could not be done. They told all the younger men about that the temple was adorned by gifts from the nations and that they could not fail to offer up sacrifices before God on behalf of any who came before the LORD with a right heart.

     Nevertheless, the younger men did not listen. They left off their divine duties, as Josephus words it, and everywhere prepared for war. A sign was raised proclaiming to all that no such offerings are acceptable from a foreigner, nor will sacrifices be given on behalf of foreigners.

     No greater abomination can be conceived than this. This was not just the mere polluting of the physical temple. This was outright arrogance, warping the very image of God.  They were regarding God as no more than an idol, the creation of man, to be carted out when it served the purpose of the state, to bless, to curse, and to be taken back in. To dare come between God and man was the greatest abomination of any servant of the temple. To make God look as if he was the creation of the Jewish state or people, and ultimately their servant, was the true abomination that maketh desolate. A people that were this corrupt had already forsaken all the scripture and ways of God. To them it was mere outward rituals that were to serve the purpose of Jewish culture where and when needed.

   God as a real being, the true creator, was completely lost. He was an idea, a concept, a cultural icon to serve the whims and needs of Jewish cultural expression. (Let those Jews who do this in their heart today take care. No one comes between God and man.) That holy place is not an idol for Jews. It is the house of the LORD; and we were chosen to minister before the LORD on behalf of all mankind.

     Josephus plainly said that this lead to the war, for the sacrifices on behalf of Caesar ceased. When news was carried to the Romans that this had happened, the Roman army prepared for the war that was to come. At this very time all hell broke loose, and Rome couldn’t even keep order. Palestine and Syria were so plunged into a state of vengeance, that many rejoiced at seeing the Roman Army come and restore order. Some 20,000 Jews were massacred in Damascus, other Jews were slaughtered in many other cities. The entire area went mad with killing, Jews against Jews, Idumeans against Jews, pure wanton, pointless destruction. Those that took notice of Christ’s warnings, when they saw the sign lifted upon the holy place, left Jerusalem and Judea for Moab and Edom, which would remain safe according to the scriptures.

   Jerusalem would suffer siege. Then 3 ½ years after the abomination was set up, the daily ceased (Josephus says on 17 Tammuz ((July)), which would be in 70 AD. The temple was burned around August 6, and Jerusalem fell in early Elul, about 45 days later (if Josephus’ actual dates are accurate). The prophecy was fulfilled.

Daniel 12

5 And I Daniel saw, and, behold, two others stood, on one side of the bank of the river, and the other on the other side of the bank of the river. 6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was over the water of the river, When will be the end of the wonders which thou has mentioned? 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was over the water of the river, and he lifted up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and sware by him that lives for ever, that it should be for a time of times and half a time: when the dispersion is ended they shall know all these things.

8 And I heard, but I understood not: and I said, O Lord, what will be the end of these things? 9 And he said, Go, Daniel: for the words are closed and sealed up to the time of the end. 10 Many must be tested, and thoroughly whitened, and tried with fire, and sanctified; but the transgressors shall transgress: and none of the transgressors shall understand; but the wise shall understand. 11 And from the time of the removal [change] of the perpetual sacrifice, when the abomination of desolation shall be set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he that waits, and comes to the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. 13 But go thou, and rest; for there are yet days and seasons to the fulfillment of the end; and thou shalt stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

   There clearly exists the time element of 1335 days from the time the daily was changed, causing the abomination of desolation, and the fall of Jerusalem. The era ended. The Second Temple period was gone, and to this day there has been no third temple. Israel was cast off and scattered into all the nations. Those that remained, under the new patriarchs, were denied any area of worship. Permission was granted to rebuild the temple under Julian, but then he soon died and the plans came to nought. The new Catholic Christendom was being ushered in in Rome, and none wanted to see Rome superseded as the place to worship God. The emperors were now “God’s regent of the Earth;” and the popes were their dutiful advisors. Soon the Eastern Roman Empire would be overrun by the conquering Arabs, and Islam would dominate and build on the holy site, thereby preventing any weak Jewish faction that remained from ever restoring the symbol of God’s presence with his people.

   Why?— because the rebuilding of the temple signifies the beginning of another age. God would not have the age of the nations end until the entire time was fulfilled. A sign of that fulfillment is obvious to deduce: that the nations as corporate bodies would go back to their idolatrous ways and cast his name from them. It is at that point Israel would repent and turn back to God.

   As Luke 21 clarified, Jerusalem and the holy mount would be trodden down of the nations until their time was fulfilled. Many evangelicals have tried to get “spiritual” about this in order to wipe out any literal fulfillment for the actual mount and for the Jews. However, the allegorizing and metaphorizing of modern Gnosticism cannot do away with the language of Scripture. The hopes of Israel and of the apostles was that just such a time would come. They didn’t know how long it would be. But God in his mercy has given the nations just as much time as he gave Israel to prepare. He is not quick to wrath, nor does he delight in destruction. The age now comes when he shall restore the symbol of his presence. That would not mean anything unless he turns Israel first. That will be the sign predicted, and then when the house is built there can be no doubt that all Christendom must reevaluate itself. A greater change will happen than happened during the Reformation.