When Jesus’s disciples asked Him what would be the sign of His coming, Jesus replied by listing false prophets, wars, rumours of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, persecutions, and martyrdom, Matthew 24.  Such things have already occurred, repeatedly.

There are other events described in the books of Daniel and Revelation which occur about 3½ years before Jesus’s return, such as the appearance of the Two Witnesses, a powerful secular leader (the beast), a religious leader performing miraculous signs (the false prophet), and the enforcement of the mark of the beast.

But are there any major events which must happen before the last 3½ years which will signal the beginning of the end?  If so, what are they?

Let’s take a closer look.  In Matthew 24, Jesus spoke of the abomination of desolation standing in the “holy place”, directly followed by great tribulation.

Mat 24:15  “Therefore when you see the ‘ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place”  (whoever reads, let him understand),
Mat 24:16  “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Mat 24:17  Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.
Mat 24:18  And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.
Mat 24:19  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
Mat 24:20  And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
Mat 24:21  For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

The “holy place” is clearly referring to the temple of God.  The temple of God is also mentioned in the prophecy of the Two Witnesses in Revelation 11.

Rev 11:1  Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.
Rev 11:2  But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.
Rev 11:3  And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

The apostle Paul also mentions the temple of God in relation to the coming “man of sin”. 

2Th 2:1  Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
2Th 2:2  not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
2Th 2:3  Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
2Th 2:4  who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

This “man of sin” who sits in the temple of God, is almost certainly the abomination of desolation and the false prophet (second beast of Revelation 13).

From these short passages we see that that leading up to Jesus’s return there must first be a holy place, then the appearance of the abomination of desolation, and then immediately after that the great tribulation. 

The book of Daniel has more information about the abomination of desolation.

Dan 12:11  “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.

Sometime leading up to Jesus’s return the daily sacrifices will be reinstituted.  From the time they are stopped, and the abomination of desolation is set up, to the time of Jesus’s return will be 1,290 days, which is about 3½ years.  This means that the abomination of desolation and the great tribulation both occur in the last 3½ years.

So here we have two events which must occur before the last 3½ years:

• the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem
• the reinstitution of the daily sacrifices.

For more information about the abomination of desolation, see “What is the ‘Abomination of Desolation’?” 

Are there any Scriptures which indicate when these two events will occur?  Yes. 

The passage of Daniel 9:24-27 covers what is known as The Seventy Weeks prophecy.  (See “What is the meaning of The Seventy Weeks prophecy?” for more information.)  The last “week” of the prophecy relates to the seven years preceding the return of Jesus Christ.

Dan 9:27  Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”

The phrase, “On the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate”, is a reference to the abomination of desolation.  This is a prophecy regarding the seven years before the return of Jesus Christ, when a future world leader will broker a peace deal in the middle east.  (The middle east because the previous verses mention Jerusalem.)  However 3½ years later (“the middle of the week”) he will stop the daily sacrifices and “makes desolate” on the “wing of abominations” (set up the abomination of desolation).

Daniel 9: 27 indicates that the Temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt and the daily sacrifices restored 7 years before the return of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Two events which must happen next before the return of Jesus Christ are:

• the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem
• the reinstitution of the daily sacrifices.

Scripture indicates these will happen seven years before the return of Jesus Christ.