Daniel 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11, mentions the Abomination of Desolation and modern biblical scholars say it refers to an altar to Zeus that was set up in the Jerusalem Temple by Antiochus IV Epiphanes in about 167BC. Many of these scholars claim that Daniel is a "prophecy after the event". It was made to seem like it was written in an earlier time (and therefore a prophecy) but was in fact written after the event (and is therefore an historical record, not a prophecy).
Hi Snagglefritz,
There are a lot of "scholars" saying a lot of different things but there is hard PHYSICAL and existant Archeological proof many are wrong. The Dead Sea scrolls which contain fragments of MANY copies of Daniel that have been scientifically dated around 165-200BC are themselves incontrovertable proof the Book of Daniel was written well BEFORE most of the events prophecied. The presence of so many copies is evidence that even by that time Daniel was regarded as a significant prophet and his writings "canonical" (accepted as Scripture - the word of God) by the Jewish people. That does not easily or quickly happen indicating that even in 165-200BC the writings of Daniel were ancient and well established as scripture.
But do not do as many scholars and other do, and that is assume all the prophesies of Daniel can be "mixed" together. They stand as individual and separate prophesys, especially those of Chapter 8 and those of Chapter 9. But having said that some of the prophesies do cover the same time periods although not directly related. Chapter 8 deals with Alexander the Great and the Greek Empire and specifically the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes and HIS defiling of the sanctuary and the daily sacrifice, not only by statues, Greek altars, the sacrificing of pigs, etc. but more tellingly by the appointment of a non-Aaronic high priest (Menelaus) in 171BC some 2300 days before the Macabees and the levitical priesthood cleansed the temple on 24th Kislev 165BC (Kislev is around late November-December in our calendar). Under the law of God only a descendent of AAron could perform the duties of High Priest (including the Daily Sacrifice). Menelaus was a Benjaminite and his appointment by Antiochus was a grievous transgression of the Law of God and the Daily Sacrifices were no longer acceptable to the Lord.
However the Abomination of desolation referred to in Chapter 9 has nothing to do with the time of Antiochus but is about the capture and desecration of the Temple by the Roman soldiers in 70 AD. I have yet to check it out but I did hear that most christians got out of Jerusalem safely because they heeded Jesus' warning from years before.
Wht is a significant passage is Daniel 12:7 in which Daniel is told when these various prophecies will reach their culmination and indeed their ultimate purpose and that is to destroy all the cities, temples and high places of Israel and scatter "the power [nation] of the Holy people.
Daniel 12:7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
This was the culmination of the sevenfold increasing curses of Leviticus 26:14-46 That Daniel Chapter 9 deals with (This is what Daniel was contemplating when Gabriel came to him to help him understand what was written. The scattering of the power of the Holy People was accomplished with the fall of the last city and stronghold of Israel. The city and fortress of MASSADA in 74AD.
The problem many scholars have is that they do not really believe prophesy is possible. Consequently the only way they can handle the prophesies of Daniel is to believe that it was written after the events. To admit it was, in fact, written well before the facts as all the actual evidence attests to, is to admit that the Bible really does foretell the future of man. To admit that is to admit that the Lord really exists and that is something many of them just can't bring themselves to do.
We should not make the mistake of believing that all biblical scholars and theologians are actually believers. "Theology" is but the ACADEMIC STUDY of God and religion. It is not faith in god but the SCIENTIFIC STUDY of faith in god. Even Atheists and sceptics (and a percentage are) can be Theologians.