Saint Paul refers to the abomination of desolation after he visited Mecca. He knew what was going to happen in about 666 years with Mohammud.

Add another 666 years and you get roughly the time of the Crusades, trying to keep Jerusalem out of pagan muslim control. This is the second time the desert pagans were important in history.

And three is an important number in the Bible, so add a third 666 and you get roughly today. For the first time since the righteous Crusades the desert peoples are important again with all their oil money.