I am going back to Jesus’ words concerning the sign of His coming in Matthew 24, “When you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place. (Whoever reads, let him understand).” This direct link from Christ to Daniel is critical. There is no way to erase this connection. It is written and it will be done! In fact, Daniel is so accurate in all of his prophetic passages that the date for his writing has been attacked time and again. “It must be history,” the critics say. No mere human can predict the future this accurately.
Daniel 9:24-27 has come to be called “The Seventieth Week of Daniel.” The very important sign given by Christ above is found there. In addition, Daniel 9:24-27 predicted the very day that Christ would ride into Jerusalem on the donkey. We dare not and we will not let it pass lightly. All the other words spoken by Christ concerning His second coming, such as Matthew 24:1-14 and Mark 13:1-10, hang on the truth of Christ’s words concerning Daniel recorded here. Revelation chapters 5-19 are a fulfillment of these words.
Jesus tells those who see this abomination of desolation in the temple to run for their lives – flee to the mountains, don’t go back to get anything, just go. It is going to be a bad time for those who are pregnant and those who are nursing babies. Jesus tells them to pray that it does not happen in winter or on the Sabbath. The reason? Because there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.
These are ominous words coming from the One who cannot lie. Don’t leave this point! Jesus Christ is the One speaking, not some wild conspiracy theorist. This tribulation will be so severe that unless the days are shortened, no flesh will be saved! Wow! God is going to help tribulation believers get through (Matt. 24:15–22).
The key that unlocks this prophecy of Jesus is found in Daniel 9:24–27. God had required Israel to let the land rest every seventh year so that the soil could replenish itself. Good farmers know the value of this. The people had disobeyed God and had done so for years. God responded by initiating the 5th cycle of discipline (Lev. 26:33). He moved the people into Babylon for seventy years to allow the land to rest for the exact number of years that God had required the land to lay unplanted. This 70-year exile is what the prophets called “the Babylonian captivity.”
The armies of Nebuchadnezzar had decimated the city of Jerusalem (2 Chron. 36:17-21). Daniel was taken captive and went into Babylon with the scroll of Jeremiah tucked under his arm. Jeremiah had predicted this very captivity and had also prophesied the precise time of Israel’s release. He said that after the 70 years are completed at Babylon, “I [God] will visit you and perform My good word toward you and cause you to return to this place” (Jer. 29:10).
Daniel had grown old, but he knew that they were approaching time to go home. Knowing this, he began to pray. While he was praying, God sent the angel Gabriel to him with God’s answer (Dan. 9:8–23). Gabriel said, “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate” (Dan. 9:24–27).
Jesus’ warning concerning the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet is found right here. It is important that we understand every word of this prophecy. The beginning of the whole period has a fixed point – the going forth to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (vs. 25, 27). We are going to study carefully this amazing prophecy. Stay safe and stay tuned.