“So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing where it ought not (let the reader understand) then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains…” (Mark 13:14 – emphases mine – re Dan 9:27 NKJV)

NO such thing as coincidence! WOTTA-WEEK of God-incidents last week was! And which metaphor better describes it: The Lord’s full hand pointing out certain things, or His dropping them like pieces of His Invisible Jigsaw ??

It’s remained uppermost in mind, as though the Lord began pointing (index finger) at Mark 13’s reference to ‘the abomination of desolation’ in Book of Daniel, then (middle finger) I shared a reference whilst a friend brought a related prophecy, next another published an article, and finally I got the ‘thumb’s up’ from a third friend telling me of currently studying Daniel!

However, as with many previous postings let’s examine these five-fold indicators like jigsaw pieces being dropped and placed into the bigger picture, which we don’t yet see in its entirety:

1st PIECE – 8th Dec:

As reported with Adam Harding Willis’ spectacular sermon notes of Dave Wright in my Memorable Motifs’ on Mark 13, Jesus’ above prophetic statement is cited. At video’s 55:25 time-point Dave notes that Daniel’s prophecy at Dan 9:27 was initially fulfilled in BC168 when Antiochus Epiphanes (‘God manifest’) set up an altar to Zeus in and upon the Temple’s altar and sacrificed a pig thereon, thus desecrating the Almighty’s most holy sanctuary.

For history see Antiochus Epiphanes—The Bible’s Most Notoriously Forgotten Villain – Biblical Archaeology Society NB: Hanukkah (lit.“rededication”) is eight-day festival beginning on 25 Kislev, celebrated the Maccabees’ recapture of the second Temple from the Syrian Greeks, and its rededication, marked by the miraculous kindling of lights on a menorah or chanukiah. Only one small jug of oil was found for fuelling the lights and expected to last just one day – but they burned for EIGHT days!!

As ‘the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy’ (Rev 19:10) then His instruction “So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing where it ought not, then…” is indubitably prophetic about this sign appearing sometime in the future. Thus, Jesus not only confirms the accuracy of the angel Gabriel’s prophecy to Daniel but also bears witness to its coming true, thereby establishing it according to the principle of Deuteronomy 19:15.

Our church team leader’s message closed by urging us to consider:

2nd PIECE – 9th Dec:

As that question would be discussed in Home Group I took a seminal book The Invisible Hand (1984) on geo-political history of the Holy Land to cite its reference to a later appearance of ‘The Abomination’.

As recounted in Bio Info, the Lord had put this in my hand and validated its content by what was being shown simultaneously on BBC. Its author Victor Dunstan examines the time-scales of Daniel’s prophecies and the ‘Abomination of Desolation’.

He cites Gibbon’s ‘The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’ regarding the outcome of the six months’ siege of Jerusalem (636-7 AD) during Muslim attacks against the Christian Byzantine empire and conquest of The Levant. Its Patriarch agreed to surrender on condition he submit to the Caliph Umar in person:

‘After signing the capitulation, he entered the city without fear or precaution; and courteously discoursed with the Patriarch concerning its religious antiquities. Sophronius bowed before his new master and secretly muttered, in the words of Daniel, “The abomination of desolation is in the holy place!”

Three decades later the Islamic shrine and Dome on the Rock mosque was completed upon a wing of the ruins of the Temple Mount. Victor emphases – it still STANDS there!.

3rd PIECE – 11th Dec:

I noticed Veronika West reports a “9th hour” vision experienced on 9th December of America and “Daniel 9, a stitch in time”.

As I’d already started drafting my post on Mark 13 and its reference to Daniel 9, as well as including the “abomination” remarks on Caliph Umar’s from The Invisible Hand, then in sharing Veronika’s post I noted the God-incidence, as shown herein.

Veronika does not refer in any extent on the content of Daniel 9 but we know it’s prime matter is the intense intercession and deep penitence for and confession of his and his people’s sins and rebellion.

He record’s the Lord’s response in sending the angel Gabriel to give him assurance and give him understanding of a the vision of an awesome Seventy ‘Weeks’ to “finish their transgression, make an end of sins, make reconciliation for iniquity, bring everlasting righteousness, seal up the vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy” .

So Veronika’s hearing the Lord, “I say again, for this is the Ninth Hour! Yes! Daniel 9 — For a Stitch in time shall save nine!” may well mean His answering intercessory prayers for America!

4th PIECE – 13th Dec:

John Barber, friend and author of Prophets of the Bible, posts in his series on Daniel’s four visions: (Daniel 9) Daniel’s Seventy Weeks

5th PIECE – 14th Dec:

Chatting with Andrew Milne as he prepared food at his and his wife’s party, I asked about his study for Masters in Divinity course and he mentioned reading Daniel and an exegetical exposition on Daniel 9’s prophecy of 70 ‘weeks’!!

We have a similar stance on the Holy Spirit gifting of prophecy and recognise its lack of appreciation by scholars of ‘classical interpretation’ hinders a full understanding.

CONCLUSION

My New Spirit-Filled Life Study Bible’s very helpful footnotes also cite the ‘Classical Interpretation’ of Dan 9:26-7 and close its three paragraphs on that, as follows:

‘The classical approach does not, however, rule out antitype fulfillment of the broader principles in Jesus Christ, in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70, nor in the last days’ rampages of the Antichrist. Daniel’s language is clearly eschatological at points, denoting a multilevel prophetic fulfillment. See note on Obad 15.’

SO, IS THE LORD POINTING TO OBADIAH 15?

‘For the Day of the LORD upon all the nations is near; and as you have done, it shall be done to you; your reprisal shall return upon your own head.’

‘Note: …The word ‘day’ occurs 11 times in vv 8-14. Now it becomes the day of the LORD, a season of judgement and divine justice upon all the nations around Israel. The OT looked ever forward to this time.’ [Emphases as published therein.]

Therefore, has The Day Of The LORD arrived??

End-Times Briefing 20: The Great and Fearful Day of the LORD – Chris G Bennett

Image Credits, courtesy Freedigitalphotos.net

• Puzzle Globe and Book by Thanunkorn
• Hand and Puzzle Pieces by Anusorn P. Nachol.