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If the sanctuary is cleansed at the end of the 2,300 years, what then remains is to discover when the sanctuary of the Temple was made desolate. In other words, when would Jesus' followers have been able to see what Jesus was foretelling, that is, the beginning of the abomination of desolation? (78:1) Prophecies Concerning the Beginning of the Desolation-- In the Book of Daniel, several points are mentioned which suggest the nature of the abomination and help us determine when it was to occur. The first point is that the vision states 'both the sanctuary and the host' will be 'trampled under foot' (Dan. 8:13). This indicates that the abomination of desolation is a period of time during which the 'host', that is, the people of God, will suffer. Again, this period ends when the 2,300-year period ends (Dan. 8:13), that is, in 1844. (78:2) The inclusion of the believers in this period of time is also indicated in Daniel 12:6-7: (78:3) And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, 'How long shall the fulfilment of these wonders be?' (78:4) Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. (Emphasis added) (78:5) The vision states that 'all these things shall be finished' after 'the power of the holy people has been completely shattered'. This again suggests that Jesus' prophecy concerning 'the abomination of desolation' refers to the beginning of a period of time wherein the believers will suffer; and this period will not end until all is finished, that is, the end of the age.
(78:6)
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