Verse 31: “And he will cause his forces to stand, and they are going to profane the sanctuary of power. He is going to remove the daily sacrifice, and place there the abomination of desolation.”

He: There is no doubt that this is now talking about the final antichrist.

Forces: Armies

Profane: Pollute

Sanctuary of power: The Temple in Jerusalem.

Daily sacrifice: This tells us that a functional temple is going to be established in Jerusalem. However, this temple is going to be satanically inspired and established in order for the purposes of the antichrist (false messiah) to be fulfilled. The temple, and the sacrifices performed in it, will not be pleasing to God. At a certain point in those final seven years (after about 3.5 years) the antichrist is going to stop the sacrificial worship of God and insist that he is the only one who should be worshipped.

Abomination of desolation: This is one of the most significant acts in the last days.

Note: If we do not know and understand what the abomination of desolation is, when it happens, why it happens, who does it and for what purpose then we are not going to have a great understanding of the last days.

When Yeshua spoke about the end of the church age, in Matthew 24:14-15, He told us the end would not come until the gospel of the Kingdom had been proclaimed to all the nations as a testimony (this is an opportunity for every single person to accept Yeshua as the true Messiah).

After this, we are told that the abomination of desolation will take place. This very significant event will be a key event to give us understanding of the times we are living in and of the closeness of the rapture (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

Verse 32: “And the violators of the Covenant he will pollute with flattery; but the people who know their God will be strong and they will do battle.”

Violators of the Covenant: Wicked ones

Flattery: Slippery words of deception.

Strong: Strengthened

Will do battle: Those who know God are going to be in conflict with the antichrist and his wicked people.

Verse 33: “And the wise ones of the people are going to give understanding to many, but they are going to stumble because of the sword, because of the flame, because of captivity and a despising of the days.”

The wise ones of the people: Those who know the truth.

Stumble: Fall

Flame: Fire

A despising of the days: It is going to be a hard period of time for those wise ones as they are going to meet with great persecution.

Verse 34: “And among those who stumble they are going to be helped with a little help, but many shall join with them by intrigue.”

Intrigue: Deception, flattery, slippery words.

Verse 35: “And from those that are wise they are going to stumble a little, to refine them, purge them, and make them white, until the time of the end – for there is an appointed time.”

Stumble: Encounter persecution.

Refine: The opposition that they are going to encounter is going to be for the purpose of transforming them.

White: Holy