Where does the abomination of desolation really stand?

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Christians expect the Antichrist to commit the “abomination of desolation in the holy place.” To them, this means a complete temple must be completed BEFORE the Antichrist and Messiah comes. The Jews consider this a past event, and do not expect to have a complete temple until AFTER the Moshiach (Messiah) comes.   Since the Jews have no intention of building a 3rd final, complete temple before their Messiah arrives, what will the Antichrist use?

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Here are the passages from Daniel

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.

Passages quoting Jesus about the abomination.

Mat 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:)

Mar 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

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First points to be made:

1. One abomination did occur, after Daniel, with an earlier temple, but the king did not establish a covenant for one week, as Daniel described. Daniel was referring to the end times, or last days. One should not make the assumption that there will be a complete temple present for the future abomination.

2. Daniel describes a “sanctuary,” and the “daily sacrifice.” Matthew describes the “holy place.” Both are describing the outer sanctuary, not the inner sanctuary. The holy place was outside the holy of holies, and just consisted of incense, showbread, a candlestick, etc.

3. This means that one does not need a complete temple built before the Antichrist and the Messiah can come. One only needs the outer court area, with the incense, showbread, a candlestick in it. This is already built and furnished now in Israel, as a training place for the priests, for when the final temple is rebuilt.

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So what temporary or incomplete structure will be built by the Jews before the Messiah comes, who will then complete it? Answer: the “tabernacle of David.”

Old Testament:

Isa 16:5 And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.

Amo 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

Amo 9:12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.

Amo 9:13 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt

Amo 9:14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit [them]; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

Amo 9:15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

New Testament:

Act 15:16 After this I [Jesus] will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up

Recall that the complete 2nd temple was not built until Solomon, who took over after his father, David, died.

The only tabernacle that David had was a tent and the ark of the covenant. They got that now.   A tent is no problem, and they have the ark hidden until it is “safe” to bring out.

From the descriptions above, they do not even need the ark.

All they need is the outer sanctuary assembled. This would just be the Menorah, shewbread and stand, and the table of incense.

In some ways, the Western Wall (Kotel) is the current “holy place” for the Jews. The Antichrist could commit an abomination there, which is most likely an image of himself, since that is usually what abomination meant then.

The Jews will use this temporary structure, until Messiah comes, and they do not plan to build the final temple before the Messiah comes. This is because they expect the Messiah, himself, to rebuilt the final temple when he comes. So, if the Jews do not plan to build it, it will not get built.

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Reference:

http://www.aish.com/jewishissues/jerusalem/Rebuilding_the_Temple.asp

So, for those Christians who are waiting for the 3^rd temple to be built in its entirety before the Antichrist comes, it can be seen that this is not necessary.

Everything that is needed for the abomination of desolation to happen is ready and set up right now. It will occur in the temporary structure.

The Antichrist will only violate the outer sanctuary of the temporary or incomplete structure, according to prophecy. The presence of the inner sanctuary is not required.

Once the Antichrist has been defeated by the Messiah, then the Messiah will produce the final finished structure, the Ezekiel temple, on the Temple Mount, for the Messianic reign, which is modeled after the Davidic tabernacle.