Daniel 8:9-"And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. [10] And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. [11] Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. [12] And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered".

 

Most prophetic expositors agree that this passage is referring to the antichrist and him stopping the "daily sacrifice" in the rebuilt Tribulation Temple in Jerusalem.

 

What is this "daily sacrifice" and why does the antichrist need an "host" given him against the "daily sacrifice"?

 

This is a very good question.

 

A "host" is a very large army of men/soldiers.

 

If there is to be a rebuilt block-and-stone Tribulation Temple in Jerusalem where Jews are going to be sacrificing animals for sin, then why would the antichrist need a large army of men to stop the "daily sacrifice"?

 

Scripture is clear that "by him (the antichrist) the daily sacrifice was taken away" (Daniel 8:11) and that "...in the midst of the week he (the antichrist) shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease..." (Daniel 9:27).

 

And again we read in Daniel 12:11 that "...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".

 

2nd Thessalonians 2:4-"Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God".

 

Again, if the "temple" spoken of in 2nd Thessalonians 2:4 is a literal block-and-stone temple, then why would the antichrist need a large army to stop the daily sacrifice?

 

Now think people! Fifteen to twenty well-trained combat soldiers could easily stop animal sacrifices in a rebuilt Temple in less than one single day. But an army? An "host"?

 

And why do these killings/desolations then go on for more than one day as the following passage from Daniel chapter 8 clearly shows?

 

Daniel 8:13-"Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? [14] And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed".

 

Why does the antichrist need an "host" (large army) to go after and stop the "daily sacrifice" if the daily sacrifice is indeed referring to animal sacrifices by the Jews in a rebuilt Temple?

 

Do any of you see what I mean?

 

And where is this rebuilt Temple that is supposed to be constructed if the 70th Week is to begin this October as so many believe?

 

Or is the "temple" simply what scripture indicates that it is (simply the body of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ).

 

1st Corinthians 6:19-"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

 

There are many more New Testament references that indicate that the body of believers is indeed called the "temple of God".

 

1st Corinthians 3:16-"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? [17] If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are".

 

In light of all the passages listed in this post, which makes more scriptural sense? A rebuilt Temple of block-and-stone or a "temple" made up of believers who will be killed by the antichrist because of their testimony for Jesus Christ?

 

In the time of "great tribulation", the antichrist will stop the "daily sacrifice" (the sacrifice of praise, prayers/oblations) that the Tribulation believers are offerring to God. These are the "spiritual sacrifices" that are mentioned in the New Testament which all born-again believers offer up to God.

 

1st Peter 2:5-"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ".

 

That is why the antichrist needs "an host" (large army) to go after and stop (by killing them!) the spiritual sacrifices ("daily sacrifice") of the believers themselves who ARE the "temple of God". And this goes on for a LONG time folks; not just a stoppage of one day as Daniel chapter 8 shows.

 

I sure hope this is making some scriptural sense to some of you.

 

It is time that we re-think what we have been taught from our youth regarding eschatology

 

 

Kevin