The Abomination of Desolation

2023-03-22

The abomination of desolation is spoken of by Jesus in the Olivet Discourse in the Matthew and Mark accounts. It was a much later event after 70 A.D. since the phrase is accompanied by “let him that readeth understand” (Mark 13:14). This parenthetical is inserted because it is distinct from the more imminent event that Luke spoke of (“when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies...”). A composite of the three Synoptics gives you the whole picture of what Jesus preached about that day, which consists of both events from 70 A.D. and the yet-future.

By definition, an abomination is something very offensive to God and His people. This abomination also will cause desolation. This horrifying thing will also cause astonishing destruction.

Jesus specifically said this event was spoken of by the prophet Daniel. It is mentioned three times by the prophet.

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)

Here, we see that sacrifice was commanded to be stopped by the Antichrist and the abomination of desolation placed there instead. The Antichrist would make some agreement with (presumably) the Jews, but then he would break this agreement and set this thing up in the temple. It will remain there until the end of that age.

And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. (Daniel 11:31)

Here, we see that the abomination is set up in the temple. From the context, we know there is a preliminary fulfillment of this by Antiochus Epiphanes when he sacrificed a pig on the temple altar. The subsequent exploits mentioned in the following verse were done by Judas Maccabeus. However, in Jesus’s day, long after Antiochus, our Lord spoke of a future event that was the real abomination of desolation.

And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. (Daniel 12:11)

There are 1,290 days, or about three and one half years, from the abomination until (presumably) the end. It does not specifically say what happens after that period, and from the other verses we saw, it is unlikely there is that many days between the ceasing of sacrifice and the setting up of the abomination.

The abomination is likely referring to the idol that the false prophet will set up. “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed” (Revelation 13:15). This idol is clearly an abomination that causes desolation. Requiring the “mark of the beast” seems to be some manner of registration with the Antichrist’s government that allows people to escape this destruction and allows one to participate in the world economy.

It is no wonder that Jesus says, “then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains” (Mark 13:14).