Introduction The Abomination That Maketh Desolate Introductory Comments by Jim M. Roane, PhD   Insight into the sequence of end time events is only revealed to certain people (Ref: Dan. 12:10); so it is not surprising that there are differences of opinion on the matter. However, for the benefit of those that believe in a Rapture (as I do) most of the outline of the sequence of events given by Ellis Skolfield does not exclude the rapture (although, Skolfield, himself, does not personally believe in a Rapture that is distinctly different from the Resurrection).    It is interesting to note, in reference to end time events, that the angel says to Daniel: "But go thou thy way till the end [be]: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days." ( Dan. 12:13)   To "stand in thy lot" does not preclude an earlier resurrection for Daniel at the time of the Crucifixion. It seems reasonable to assume that this “First Fruits” resurrection should include Daniel in that body of resurrected saints that took place at the Crucifixion of Our Lord. In reference to this, the Scripture reads: "At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. " NIV     Therefore, the resurrection of Daniel need not necessarily be at the time of the Rapture, or even the Second Coming of Our Lord. I believe that these Old Testament Saints, including Daniel were part of the "last days events" that are continuing; and will climax when the resurrected saints—past and future—will receive their rewards (i.e., “standing in their lot’ at “the end of these things”).    So, the countdown was already in effect at the death of Christ, having begun at the end of the Sacrifices of Daniels reference, and continued through the death of Jesus, Our Lord, and through the setting up of the Abomination of Desolation under the Caliph Abd el Malik ibn Marwan, who build the Dome of the Rock Mosque in the Court of the Gentiles, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. (Ref: 2Ch 3:1) Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.   Jerry Landay[1] records that when Khalifah Omar entered Jerusalem in 639AD, he was met by Sophronius, Bishop of the Jerusalem Church, who showed him around the city. Seeing the temple mount (then in rubble), Omar declared that he was going to build a memorial to Muhammad on the original site of the temple of God. Sophronius exclaimed in horror, Verily, this is the Abomination of Desolation as spoken of by Daniel the prophet, and it now stands in the holy place.. Though Sophronius was a very old man of about 80, Khalifah Omar put him in prison and to forced labor, the severities of which killed him. The Dome of the Rock being the Abomination that maketh Desolate is not a new theology. It’s a truth that’s been with the Church for over 1300 years, but somehow we have managed to forget the prophetic words of Sophronius, Bishop of the Jerusalem Church.   It should be noted also, the the abomination "maketh" desolate; that is, because of the anti-Christ mosque there the Temple can not be build, therefore its' presence "maketh" the site "desolate," of any Godly or Temple presence. The countdown has already begun, and continues! May God give you wisdom to understand these things.   [1] The Dome of the Rock (Newsweek, New York, NY, 1972) p. 18