Matt. xxiv, 15 by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 10, 1867

By Editor

“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.)”

This language was spoken by our Lord, in reference to the destruction of Jerusalem; and the desolating power here mentioned, as spoken of by Daniel the prophet, has by some been supposed to be the same as that brought to view in Dan. viii, 13, under the terms, “transgression of desolation.” This has been an occasion of some difficulty, as the desolating power thus described in this passage in Daniel, is understood to be the Papal Roman power; while the power by which Jerusalem was overthrown, and to which Matt. xxiv, 15, refers, was the Pagan Roman power—the Papal not having been fully developed till nearly five hundred years afterward.

There are two supposable ways in which this difficulty could be met: first, on the ground that the reference in Matt. xxiv, 15, is to some portion of Daniel’s prophecy, other than Dan. viii, 13; and secondly, that the “abomination of desolation” spoken of in Matthew, is not the same power that is described as the “transgression of desolation,” in Dan. viii.

We notice in the first place, that the terms used are not identical in both passages; hence the powers referred to may not be the same. The “abomination of desolation,” is not necessarily the same as the “transgression of desolation,” although the similarity in the form of expression might suggest such an idea.

But we find further, by a reference to the original, that the forms of expression are not so similar as our translation would make them. Bloomfield’s New Testament has this note on the passage: “The abomination of desolation.] Dan. ix, 27; xii, 11. Here βδέλυγμα [abomination] has (by Hebraism) the force of an adjective; as in Luke, i, 48; the ‘low estate of his handmaiden,’ for his ‘low [or humble] handmaiden.’ The sense is, ‘the abominable desolation;’ i. e., the Roman army; always abominable, as composed of heathens, and carrying idolatrous standards; but then abominably desolating, as being invaders and destroyers.”

In the light of this criticism, the mind is not so naturally taken to Dan. viii, 13, as to Dan. ix, 26, 27. This last is undoubtedly the true reference. Here is a desolating power brought to view which is identical with the one referred to in Matt. xxiv, 15; but this is not the same as the transgression of desolation of Dan. viii. Hence we see that our Lord did not quote from that portion of Daniel’s prophecy which describes the Papacy; and consequently, the passage is freed from all difficulty.—ED.

Matt. xxiv, 15.