Verse 31 “Arms shall stand on his (the wining “kings”) part (i.e. Papacy) [or, "strong ones out of him stand up"--Young's translation], and shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the continual sacrifice, and they will SET UP, the desolating abomination (The Abomination of Desolation).”
“This we interpret to mean that, though neither the church nor the civil power succeeded in swallowing up the other, as at one time seemed probable, yet "strong ones" (“corrupt ones”) arose, who polluted the fundamental principles both of the civil government and also of true religion.
The "sanctuary of strength," the sacred precincts of CIVIL AUTHORITY, which for the time God had delivered over to the Gentiles, to the kingdoms of this world, was undermined by those in the Church who thirsted for present dominion, and who sought by every device to obtain civil power to help forward their ecclesiastical schemes; and the sanctuary of God (his sacred dwelling--the Church) was defiled and degraded by the persistent efforts of these "strong ones" to obtain power with the civil rulers, and numbers, and influence with the people. This was Papacy in embryo, scheming to set itself up in power as a sacerdotal empire.” (C 36)
“They shall pollute the sanctuary of strength [the true Church], and shall take away the daily sacrifice [the continual sacrifice].”
The doctrine of the Mass or Transubstantiation nullifies Christ’s continual sacrifice. In the ceremony Christ dies every time the Mass is said. The bread is supposed to be his actual flesh and the wine his blood. There is said to be a fresh death with every Mass. Roman Catholicism teaches that Christ started the Christian Church, but through their priesthood the communicants’ condition has to be refreshed. They claim that all are sinners and thus all need absolution of sins committed daily. “They shall place there (in the sanctuary of strength) THE ABOMINATION THAT MAKES DESOLATE [the doctrine of the Mass or Transubstantiation].”
“It should be noted that Matt 24:15, 16 proves conclusively that the “abomination that makes desolate” still had not been fulfilled in Jesus’ day. Since Antiochus Epiphanes lived prior to Christ, he clearly cannot be the fulfillment as some commentaries suggest.
“When ye therefore shall see (the eyes of your understanding being opened) the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whosoever reads, let him understand) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.”
Jesus was warning his followers to look into the future for the fulfillment.” (The Book of Daniel, Page 142)
Verse 32 and 33 “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering.”
“Those in the Church who failed to live up to their covenant with the Lord fell an easy prey to the flatteries, honors, titles, etc., held before them by the Papal hierarchy as it began to have influence. But though many yielded to the errors, all did not; for we read, "But the people that do know their God shall be strong and deal valiantly; and they that understand among the people shall instruct many."
Thus is shown a division of the Church into two marked classes, distinguished in Dan. 8:11-14 as the sanctuary and the host: one class, corrupted by the flattering honors of the world, violated its covenant with God, while the other class was really strengthened by the persecutions to which their loyalty to God exposed them. Among the latter class were some who understood the situation, and taught the faithful that thus it was written in the Scriptures that the ANTICHRIST, or Man of Sin, would develop from a great falling away in the Church.” (C 37)
“But the people that do know their God [the faithful or truly consecrated] shall be strong, and do exploits.” (Verse 32)
Rev 2:13 speaks of them as “Antipas,” meaning “against the fathers.” “Thou holds fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells” (Rev 2:13). The faithful minority who did “know their God” were “strong,” boldly risking their lives unto death. The Pergamos period of the Church extended from 313 A.D. to 1157 A.D. “many days.” (The Book of Daniel, Page 143)
We continue with Verse 34 in our next post.
