What is it? Who is it? These are some of the questions we ask when we try to determine exactly what this is. Based on my studies, I think the only thing it can be is a statue/image of the “man” who will be known, in Christian circles as the anti-Christ. Let’s see what the bible has to say about it.
Dan. 11:31 – “And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate."
Dan. 12:11 – “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.”
I think the terms “place” and “set up” imply an inanimate object being erected and positioned in a specific spot. What’s the next verse? Matt. 24:15 – “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:)” Not to definitive. This could apply to a man or an image.
The next possible reference is found in 2 Thess. 2:4 – “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
A lot of folks would read this scripture and say, “See this must be the abomination of desolation (a of d)? It’s a man sitting in the place of God.” However, within the context, the a/of d is never used to describe this event.
Are there other scriptures that might narrow the focus? Yes and they are all in Revelations.
Rev. 13:14 – “And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.”
There are many definitions of the word “make” and one of them is “raising up”. The rest of the vss. describe them as two separate things, “the beast and his image” or other words to that effect.
Rev. 14:9,11 – “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand…11)” And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”
Rev. 15:2 – “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.”
Rev. 16:2 – “And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.”
Rev. 20:4 – “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
If we believe that this is indeed a statue or idol, when will this occur? What is the timing of Rev. 13:14? Most people assume this occurs at the mid-point of the 70th week. Why? Because the timing of these passages does seem to imply it.
Rev. 12:14 – “And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time (1260 days), from the face of the serpent.”
Rev. 13:5 – “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.”
Let us also not forget Dan. 9:27 – “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
Most folks believe the emboldened phrase means the exact middle of the week, the 1261st day. I don’t believe that to be true. While the word “chetsiy” (H2677) translated as “midst” can be defined as “half” or the “middle” it can also be used for “part”. Usually, it is translated as “half” when used as a measurement or counting something and by far this word is defined as “half” in the majority of times it is used which is close to 100 times. It is translated as “part” 3 times and “midst” 6 times and “middle” once. It is also the word used when writing “mid”night (twice). Let’s take a look at an example of when it is translated as “midst”.
Josh. 10:13 – “And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.”
I don’t believe this is implying the exact middle of the sky, just generally, somewhere up in the sky as it didn’t continue its movement towards sunset. I like to use this analogy. Let’s say there is a bible chapter with 19 verses. We have a first verse (1) a last verse (19) and a middle verse (10) but all the verses from 2-18 can be considered the “midst” of the chapter.
Dan. 11:31 – “And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate."
Dan. 12:11 – “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.”
I think the terms “place” and “set up” imply an inanimate object being erected and positioned in a specific spot. What’s the next verse? Matt. 24:15 – “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:)” Not to definitive. This could apply to a man or an image.
The next possible reference is found in 2 Thess. 2:4 – “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
A lot of folks would read this scripture and say, “See this must be the abomination of desolation (a of d)? It’s a man sitting in the place of God.” However, within the context, the a/of d is never used to describe this event.
Are there other scriptures that might narrow the focus? Yes and they are all in Revelations.
Rev. 13:14 – “And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.”
There are many definitions of the word “make” and one of them is “raising up”. The rest of the vss. describe them as two separate things, “the beast and his image” or other words to that effect.
Rev. 14:9,11 – “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand…11)” And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”
Rev. 15:2 – “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.”
Rev. 16:2 – “And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.”
Rev. 20:4 – “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
If we believe that this is indeed a statue or idol, when will this occur? What is the timing of Rev. 13:14? Most people assume this occurs at the mid-point of the 70th week. Why? Because the timing of these passages does seem to imply it.
Rev. 12:14 – “And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time (1260 days), from the face of the serpent.”
Rev. 13:5 – “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.”
Let us also not forget Dan. 9:27 – “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
Most folks believe the emboldened phrase means the exact middle of the week, the 1261st day. I don’t believe that to be true. While the word “chetsiy” (H2677) translated as “midst” can be defined as “half” or the “middle” it can also be used for “part”. Usually, it is translated as “half” when used as a measurement or counting something and by far this word is defined as “half” in the majority of times it is used which is close to 100 times. It is translated as “part” 3 times and “midst” 6 times and “middle” once. It is also the word used when writing “mid”night (twice). Let’s take a look at an example of when it is translated as “midst”.
Josh. 10:13 – “And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.”
I don’t believe this is implying the exact middle of the sky, just generally, somewhere up in the sky as it didn’t continue its movement towards sunset. I like to use this analogy. Let’s say there is a bible chapter with 19 verses. We have a first verse (1) a last verse (19) and a middle verse (10) but all the verses from 2-18 can be considered the “midst” of the chapter.
