Page 52 - Heavenly Signs II by Mel Gable

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We know this event is in reference to the End Times or the Tribulation period because Christ spoke to us about
it in both Matthew and Mark where it is recorded. Christ didn’t say like or similar to the Antiochus Epiphanes
ruler in 175 BC. He spoke of the event in the future; when you see the “Abomination of Desolation” of the Holy
Temple in Jerusalem. The Temple was not desecrated during the Roman destruction in 70 AD.

Matthew 24:15 “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of
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through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),”
Isn’t it interesting for the insertion of the statement “let the reader understand”. In the Old Testament, the use of
the phrase “ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION” only appears twice in the Old Testament and both times in the Book
of Daniel. The first occurrence is Daniel 11:31 and then again in Daniel 12:11.

It looks like Christ was quoting directly from Daniel which proves this is not the time of Antiochus Epiphanes as
Bible scholars have assumed. We know the passage above appears in Mark as well. It is relative to the End
Times and Christ’s return to earth that the Apostles were asking Christ what would be the sign of His coming
and the end of the age. Chapters 11 and 12 of Daniel must be prophetic relative to the End Times. Let us look at
the opening statement of Daniel 12.
Daniel 12:1 “Now, at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people,
will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that
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time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.”
Michael the Archangel is telling Daniel this “will be a time of distress such as never occurred” which is also stated by
Christ in His Olivet Discourse. Even Michael is stating that the prophetic nature of chapters 11 and 12 of Daniel
relate to the End of the Age events. Throughout Daniel 11, “End Times” is used. Prime examples are the
following scripture verses from Daniel 11.

Daniel 11:35 “Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure
until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time.”
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Daniel 11:40 “At the end time the king of the South will collide with him, and the king of the North will
storm against him with chariots, with horsemen and with many ships; and he will enter countries,
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overflow them and pass through.”
It is like Christ knew that this passage in Daniel was to be interpreted differently by Bible Scholars, with the
insertion of the phrase “let the reader understand” that this passage in Daniel relates to the End Times. This is not in
agreement with Bible Scholars such as Easton’s Bible Dictionary, Holman Concise Bible Dictionary, J. Vernon McGee’s
Commentary and Marvin Rosenthal in The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church. Please take a look at the text below from
each Biblical source.

Holman: ANTIOCHUS (Ăn tī ŏ kŭs) Name of 13 rulers of Syria between 281 B.C and 64 B.C. They were part of the Seleucid
dynasty that inherited part of Alexander the Great’s kingdom. No Antiochus is specifically mentioned in Scripture. Many Bible
students think the book of Daniel originally had its attention focused on the Seleucid kings, particularly Antiochus IV (175 to

78 New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Mt 24:15). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

79 New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Da 12:1). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

80 New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Da 11:35). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

81 New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Da 11:40). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.