https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/daniel-9-27 says that verse 27 refers to the end times, when Antichrist will defile the rebuilt third temple. That will lead directly to his undoing. The “abomination that causes desolation” also refers to how Antiochus Epiphanes set up a tribute to Zeus directly inside the ancient second temple, permanently defiling it (despite the fact that the rebuilt temple of Zerubabbel never held either the Ark of the Covenant mercy seat or God’s presence filling the Holy of Holies).
https://evidenceforchristianity.org/can-you-explain-what-the-prophecy-in-daniel-927-is-about/ says that this verse refers to both a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD AND a prophecy about Jesus’ ministry as Messiah some 40 years before that.
My Concordia says something altogether different. Just what does this complicated and difficult verse really mean? What does it mean to you?
Yesterday we talked about how the previous verse foretold bad times. Today’s verse seems to continue that thought. But have you ever considered that, in order to get to the permanent blessings of eternity, we have to endure hardship? That was a constant in Daniel’s time and ours as well. To save His very good creation, Jesus had to die a horrific death of torture and rejection before being glorified and resurrected. Before we can live in His presence forever, we will also die, maybe by horrible death as well. None of us knows ahead of time.
It’s this strange paradox of humanity, to endure awful things while living in a world where God also continually blesses us. Instead of looking apocalyptic verses as dreadful, perhaps such verses are actually beautiful blessings. God gave Daniel a set of things to look for so that those who believed Him would know when the signs were coming true. When they happened, they could look for the redemption that only Jesus can bring (and Daniel didn’t even know who Jesus was, yet he still believed). So it is for us. Even in the middle of terrible days, we get to see how God actually uses those times to bless us, to comfort us by telling us ahead of time what would happen so that we wouldn’t be surprised or frightened. By being with us.
Spin? Maybe a little, but isn’t it a wonderful thing, no matter what anyone else says, to know that the God of the universe thought enough of you to tell you that He would be with you even when things seem to be falling apart.
For further reading: Isaiah 10:22, Daniel 10:1
Lord Jesus, You always abide with me. Live with me and through me today even in these difficult times.
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