What is the "abomination of desolation" mentioned in Matthew 24:15? Setting the Scene “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ described by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand)….” • Jesus is speaking on the Mount of Olives about events that will precede His return. • He points His listeners back to Daniel’s prophecies, implying a literal fulfillment still ahead when something abhorrent will invade the “holy place.” Tracing the Phrase in Daniel • Daniel 9:27—“On the wing of abominations will come the desolator, until the decreed destruction is poured out upon him.” • Daniel 11:31—“Forces from him will arise, desecrate the temple fortress, abolish the daily sacrifice, and set up the abomination of desolation.” • Daniel 12:11—“From the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.” Key observations • “Abomination” = a detestable, idolatrous act. • “Desolation” = the ruin and defilement that follows. • Daniel links the act to a halt in regular temple worship and to a countdown of days. A Past Foreshadowing • 167 BC: Antiochus IV Epiphanes erected an altar to Zeus and sacrificed swine in the Second Temple (cf. Daniel 11:31). • Though pre-Christian, this event previewed the kind of outrage Jesus says will happen again. The Near AD 70 Fulfillment • Luke 21:20 clarifies: “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near.” • Roman legions entered the Temple precincts in AD 70, burned it, and set up their standards—images of Caesar—on the ruins. • This satisfied Jesus’ warning in a proximate sense, yet His language also pushes beyond, pointing to a climactic replay. A Future, Climactic Fulfillment Scripture points to a final abomination still ahead: • 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4—The “man of lawlessness…sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” • Revelation 13:14-15—The Beast’s image is given breath so that it speaks, and those who refuse to worship it are killed. • Mark 13:14 echoes the same warning as Matthew, underscoring its end-time thrust. Therefore • A rebuilt or repurposed sanctuary in Jerusalem is implied. • A world leader—empowered by Satan—will enter that holy place, halt legitimate worship, and demand idolatrous devotion. • This act unleashes “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21) unparalleled in history. Why It Matters Today • Recognize the precision of prophecy: past fulfillments validate Scripture’s reliability and foreshadow the final scenario. • Stay alert: Jesus ties this sign to His imminent return (Matthew 24:30-33). • Hold fast to hope: though desolation comes, it is “cut short” for the sake of the elect (Matthew 24:22), and Christ’s kingdom follows. Summary Points • “Abomination of desolation” refers to a literal desecration of the Temple involving idolatry that halts true worship. • It was previewed by Antiochus and partially fulfilled in AD 70, yet it awaits a final end-time enactment by the Antichrist. • Jesus’ words call believers to vigilance, confidence in Scripture, and eager anticipation of His victorious return. |
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