Tribulation Length - Article 2
Some more thoughts - Desolate
Ken McDonald
11/24/23 ©
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:)
A. Did you notice the smiley face? It does make one happy when they understand the word of God! :)
Alright, I’ll get serious.
1. Matt 24:15 takes place 3 1/2 years into the Tribulation.
A. God is in His Temple in the first 3 1/2 years with Moses and Elijah (Rev. 11:3) prophesying and smiting the earth with plagues and killing their enemies by fire coming out of their mouths. (Rev. 11:5)
1. 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.
2. The blasphemies are him proclaiming himself to be God (2 Thess. 2:4)
B. 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. Approx. 3 1/2 years.
1. Notice “the holy place” in Matt. 24:15. Obviously a reference to the Temple. (Rev. 11:1). This is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and it has the presence of God in it for the first half of the Tribulation. (Rev. 11:1, 4)
2. The first 3 1/2 years has passed and Moses and Elijah are dead. (Rev. 11:3) The Man of sin walks into the temple, sets up an idol ie. Image, sits down and blasphemously declares that he is God. (2 Thess. 2:4)
3. The idol is an abomination -
Deut. 7:25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God. Deut. 7:26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.
(See also Deut. 13:14, 27:15, 2 Kings 23:13, Isa. 44:19)
4. The man of sin walks into the Temple, sets up an idol and God’s presence leaves the Temple. Thus the Temple is desolate. The Temple is forsaken and absent of the presence of God. The abomination (Image of the beast) that maketh desolate. God deserts his temple thus leaving it desolate.
Webster 1913 - Desolate: 1. Destitute or deprived of inhabitants; deserted; uninhabited; hence, gloomy; as, a desolate isle; a desolate wilderness; a desolate house.
God is in His Temple for 3 1/2 years
Satan is in the Temple for 3 1/2 years
7 years total.