Eschatology and the Hermeneutics Thereof

Also stated is the law of double reference. I call this a type and shadow of things to come or a double entendre. Let me explain. Going to the Bible in the book of Matthew 24:15, Jesus is telling his disciples to look for the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet. The reason for this is he gives the Bible student clues for when he would come again.

This abomination is mentioned four times in Daniel’s writings. Daniel 11:31 is one of these times he talks about this abomination. In fact, the whole chapter describes events that were prophetic in Daniel’s day. But these prophetic statements had already come to pass by the time Jesus comes on the scene. Was Jesus contradicting himself by saying they would happen again? Not at all! What Jesus did was give an illustration of the last days just before he came again. In God’s magnificent plan for man, he gave a detailed description of the future using historic events. In this description, we see the man of perdition and all his dastardly deeds. For example, in chapter 11:37, it is stated he would not regard the desire of women. Surprisingly enough, homosexuality is an open driving force in some of the highest established world governments. Not so just fifty years ago. So, we know by this that the coming of Jesus is getting closer.

So why was God pointing our attention to Daniel and the abomination of desolation? Jesus was giving the Bible student a type and shadow of something or some event to come. He used a historic leader, Antiochus Epiphanes, and a specific event in his life. The event was Antiochus perpetrating the act of the abomination of desolation, which was burning a pig on the altar of sacrifice. In Daniel’s day, an event prophesied and coming to pass in the future, but was not completely fulfilled; the completion taking place at another time. When Jesus referred us to Daniel 11:31, knowing this event had already happened, he was, in fact, telling us it would happen again. That is why there is a double identity or double reference to Daniel’s prophecy. The antichrist will perpetrate this act again in the last days before Jesus comes again. Instead of a pig offered up, he sits on the throne and declares himself God. We can read about this event in II Thessalonians, chapter two.