The 12th chapter of Daniel is a prophecy about the return of Christ and the events surrounding his second advent.  Verses 11 and 12 deal with the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ and his return.

The daily, or more correctly, the continual sacrifice, is the sacrifice of Jesus, the ransom for all that takes away the sin of the world. No other sacrifice has any part in the ransom.  Jesus gave his flesh for the life of the world – “as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22

The “abomination that makes desolate” is the Catholic Church’s sacrament of the Mass. The Mass ritually sacrifices our Lord over and over again for individual sins. This practice is an abomination in the eyes of God. The scriptures clearly declare, “…we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:10 (RSV)

Verses 11 and 12 indicate we should focus on the date when the Mass became enforced by ecclesiastical and civil power. In 539 A.D., the Papacy and the Catholic Church gained civil power over Rome and Italy. In this position, the Pope and his under-priests constituted the Antichrist system. They had the civil and religious power to persecute, imprison, torture, and murder any Christians who opposed the Mass or the Catholic church. They began to reign. 

But the Apostle Paul warned against this very error: “You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us… We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!…We have been made as the filth of the world…” (1 Corinthians 4:8, 10, 13).

1290 and 1335 Days

We understand that ‘days’ in scripture represent years, so 1290 days is really 1290 years. By adding 1290 years to A.D. 539 A.D., we arrive at the year 1829. During that time period, Mr. William Miller began studying Bible chronology and believed that the Lord would return in A.D. 1844.  Although 1844 was not the correct date for Jesus’s return, there was renewed interest by sincere believers in knowing the true date of our Lord’s second advent.  

Similarly, when we add 1335 to 539, the year A.D. 1874 becomes significant. Bible students believe our Lord returned invisibly as a divine spirit being at this date. 

Jesus did not return as a man because He gave his flesh for the life of the world. John 6:51, “I am the living bread…the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” 

He has returned as “a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). Christ is overruling the demolition (Daniel 2:44) of the present evil world (Galatians 1:4) in order to establish the peaceable kingdom of justice and righteousness. “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 

Additional Resources:
Christian Questions Podcast 
Episode #786: “Why Do Historians Dislike Daniel So Much?”
The astounding scope of Daniel’s prophecies
CQ Rewind Show Notes

For a more in-depth study of Jesus’s invisible return and the signs that he is assuming control of the world’s affairs –download the free PDF: I Will Come Again