|
3rd - [Abomination of Desolation] (16:7) This third promise was again given in direct answer to the questions of His (Christ's) disciples: (17:1) "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives. the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming?" (Matt 24:3) (17:2) see Christ foretold that "iniquity shall abound" in that day, and that the "love of many shall wax cold"; then He makes His third promise in these words: (17:3) "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.)" (Matt 24:15) (17:4) see The chapters of Daniel which deal with this subject are those from eight to twelve inclusive. These chapters.. foretell not only the second coming of Christ, but.. His first appearance as well... (17:5) ..Daniel prophesies that from the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem, until the time when the Messiah shall be cut off (crucified) there are appointed 70 weeks. Daniel gives this prophecy in two different ways: (17:7) 1.As 70 weeks (17:8) 2.As 7 weeks, 62 weeks, and one week; during which the Messiah confirms the covenant (17:9) However, both ways total up to 70 weeks or to 490 days. This becomes 490 years in prophecy with a day for a year (see 'Day = Year' in Teaching Aid). (17:10) ..there were four decrees to rebuild Jerusalem.. : (18:2) 1.Issued by Cyrus in the year 536 B.C. This decree is recorded in the first chapter of Ezra. It went unfulfilled (18:3) 2.Issued by Darius in the year 519 B.C. This decree is recorded in the sixth chapter of Ezra. It also went unfulfilled. Only the Temple was rebuilt (18:4) 3.Issued by Artaxerxes in the seventh year of his reign in the year 457 B.C. This is recorded in the seventh chapter of Ezra. It was fulfilled by the fourth decree (18:5) 4.Issued by the same Artaxerxes in the year 444 B.C. This is recorded in the second chapter of Nehemiah. This decree fulfilled the third (18:6) Most of the students of Scripture accepted the third decree.. They reasoned that since the fourth decree was merely and extension of the third, and was issued by the same king it was in reality the same decree. Therefore, they favoured the decree issued in 457 B.C (18:7) ..From the issuing of the decree of Artaxerxes in the year 457 B.C. until the time of the crucifixion of Jesus the Christ, there would be appointed 70 weeks, 490 days-- or in prophecy, 490 years (18:8) ..Daniel had given the time for the first coming (crucifixion) of Christ. No wonder Jesus Himself was so emphatic about Daniel's prophecy concerning His second coming, or return. He told His disciples to "stand in a holy place" when Daniel's prophecy about the "abomination of desolation: was fulfilled. In that day He promised: (19:2) "...they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven..." (Matt 24:30) (19:3) see ..concerning the 'abomination of desolation', His exact words were: (19:4) "How long shall the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the abomination of desolation, to give the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." (Dan 8:13-14) (19:5) see Using the same frame of reference for the second coming, as was used for the first coming (the decree of Artaxerxes).. Bible scholars made the following calculations: (20:2) 1.The decree was issued in 457.. 457 from 2300 (equals) 1843. Thus the year 1843.. would mark the beginning of the end of the "abomination of desolation."
(20:3)
|