| Both
Shea55 and Hasel56
present strenuous arguments that makon, which is translated
normally as “place”, “habitation”, or “dwelling” should be
translated as “foundation.” The argument is based in part on the
conclusion that the tamid represents Christ’s high-priestly
ministry which was taken away by papal Rome who in turn cast down the “foundation”
of Christ’s sanctuary. It is asserted that the foundation of God’s
throne which is righteousness and justice in Ps. 89:14 is equivalent to
the “foundation” of His sanctuary in Dn. 8:11 to justify the
translation of makon as foundation in both cases.
In addition to the evidence
revealing that miqdash, the sanctuary in Dn. 8:11, represents an
earthly dwelling of pagan Rome, evidence will be presented which
contravenes the establishment of a one-for-one equivalency of the “foundation
of His throne” in Ps. 89:14 with the “foundation of his sanctuary”
in Dn. 8:11.
From the seventeen occurrences of
makon in the OT a clear definition of the word is inherently
portrayed in 2 Chron. 6:2 wherein “I have built an exalted house for You
and a place (makon) for You to dwell forever”. Makon is
equated with house and dwelling. A similar definition is provided in Ex.
15:17 wherein “...the place (makon) You have made O Lord for Your
dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, Your hands have prepared.” Makon
is equated again with dwelling and also sanctuary.
It is suggested that makon
consistently manifests the connotation of habitation or dwelling in all
seventeen occurrences. In only three instances, Ps. 89:14; 97:2 &
104:5 can makon be logically translated as “foundation”. In Ps.
89:14 and 97:2 righteousness and justice are the habitation of His throne
which is equivalent to saying God’s throne dwells in righteousness and
justice. Where God is present righteousness and justice exist, since He,
the Source of righteousness and justice, is sitting on His throne.
In Ps. 104:5 God literally “founded
the earth on its ‘foundations’; it shall not be shaken forever”.
Equivalently, “God founded the earth on its `habitations’…”. Makon
is plural in this instance, and it is suggested that God founded the earth
on its two primary dwelling places: 1) its internal axis of rotation and
2) its axis of rotation about the sun. The earth’s two axes of rotation
represent its permanent dwelling places or habitations which God created.
Although maqom from
the root qum (meaning to stand up) is also translated as “place”
in about 400 occurrences, it connotes the sense of “general locational
area”. On the other hand, makon from the root kun (similar
to qum in meaning: to stand firm) connotes the sense of habitation
or dwelling and is used primarily in a cultic or counterfeit cultic
context as in Dn. 8:11. The cognitive sense of makon and maqom
may be deduced from a careful examination of the lexical evidence57
and their application in the OT.58
In view of the evidence, it
is suggested Daniel used miqdash to designate an earthly dedicated
pagan sanctuary in Dn. 8:11 in stark contrast to God’s holy sanctuary in
8:13 & 14. Makon specifically identifies the habitation of his
sanctuary which was the city of Rome. Thus, simultaneously at the time “the
continual” self-exalting character of pagan Rome was lifted up by papal
Rome, the place or habitation of pagan Rome’s sanctuary was cast down by
Constantine and transferred to Constantinople in AD 330. Pagan Rome’s
original sanctuary in Rome remained and was permanently occupied by papal
Rome. This is the historicist position of U. Smith and majority of the
pioneers of the SDA church.59
5.3
VERSE 12 AND THE TRANSGRESSION |