What is the biblical abomination that causes desolation?

Answer 1

The phrase "abomination of desolation" refers to Matthew 24:15 (KJV): "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel-let the reader understand." This is referring to Daniel 9:27, "He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing [of the temple] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." In 167 B.C. a Greek ruler by the name of Antiochus Epiphanies set up an altar to Zeus over the altar of burnt offerings in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. He also sacrificed a pig on the altar in the Temple in Jerusalem. This event is known as the abomination of desolation.

In Matthew 24:15, Jesus was speaking some 200 years after the abomination of desolation described above had already occurred. So, Jesus must have been prophesying that some time in the future another abomination of desolation would occur in a Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Most Bible prophecy interpreters believe that Jesus was referring to the Antichrist who will do something very similar to what Antiochus Epiphanies did. This is confirmed by the fact that some of what Daniel prophesied in Daniel 9:27 did not occur in 167 B.C. with Antiochus Epiphanies. Antiochus did not confirm a covenant with Israel for seven years. It is the Antichrist who, in the end times, will establish a covenant with Israel for seven years and then break it by doing something similar to the abomination of desolation in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem.

Whatever the future abomination of desolation is, it will leave no doubt in anyone's mind that the one perpetrating it is the person known as the Antichrist. Revelation 13:14 describes him making some kind of image which all are forced to worship. Turning the temple of the living God into a place of worship for the Antichrist is truly an "abomination." Those who are alive and remain during the tribulation should be watchful and recognize that this event is the beginning of 3 1/2 years of the worst of the tribulation period and that the return of the Lord Jesus is imminent. "Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36).

More on the subject;

The failure in understanding "The Seven" comment is most people attempt to cram everything into one earth iteration, which simply is not the truth. In 2nd Peter 3 you learn there will be 3 earth iterations, Flesh mankind occurs during the 2nd iteration (now).

The Seven the initial poster mentions is simply a week consisting of 7 days. However in 2nd Peter 3 we learn that a day with the Lord is as 1000 years to man. This indicates that the first 6 days necessary to create this earth iteration were a time period to man of 6000 years, next was a day of rest (7th day) which its self was 1000 year (the first week therefore made up the first 7000 years).

Where people get things wrong is not focusing on the second week which starts with the man to till the soil (eth-ha-adam) or Adam on the 8th day (1st day of the second week). Why do you think the circumcision required by our father in is Covenant with Abraham, was to occur on the 8th day (it identified a people).

There are two weeks assigned to this second earth iteration (read 2nd Peter 3).

One week has completely passed

We are upon the 6th day of the second week.

Christ existed in the flesh in the middle of the second week, when he was killed in the flesh, an end to the sacrifice and offering was achieved as it is written in Daniel. But don't worry it will come back

Daniel 9 identifies the abomination of desolation

Daniel 7 also identifies the same but in that context he is referred to as little horn, which matches his identification in Revelation 13. (looks like the lamb slain)

Revelation 9 identifies the time frame Satan as the Anti-Christ will have while on earth (5 months), that 5 months is split into two time periods of 2 and 1/2 months each. One can understand these by counting backward from the 1st day of the 7th month (blowing of trumpets), which occurs around the middle to end of April and during the entire summer.

How does the Abomination make desolate? He gets you to worship him as if he is Christ. As it states in Daniel 11 he comes in peacefully which deceives everybody, as it states in Revelation 13 he can perform miracles in the sigh of men which further deceives them. He will undoubtedly come during very extreme times he comes in peacefully and working miracles, who can deny that as being Christ? But wait... He is in the flesh .... So there is a problem....because it is written flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of our Father. Therefore your identification is simple, anyone claiming to be Christ while in the flesh ..... is a fake.

Answer 2

This phrase is found in the book of Daniel (11:31 and 12:11) and was also used by Jesus in the gospels (Matt 24:15 and Mark 13:14).

In Daniel 11:31 it refers to the sacrifice of a pig, by Antiochus Epiphanes, in the temple in Jerusalem in 168 BC. The Jews referred to this act as "the abomination that caused desolation" since it polluted their altar and made sacrifices to God on it impossible.

Jesus Christ indicated that another similar atrocity would befall the Jews in the future (Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14). Daniel 12:11 refers to this future atrocity. In Matthew chapter 14 Jesus, referring to a time after this abomination of desolation happens said:

Matthew 24:21,22 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

The world has not seen this kind of tribulation yet. The description isolates this period of tribulation from all the inquisitions, purges, massacres, and genocides of history. This prophecy could not have been fulfilled by any previous persecutions. So this is still in the future, Antiochus' actions were a preview of similar atrocities that are yet to befall the Jews.

Therefore we cannot say exactly what this phrase means.

The Book of Revelation predicts the coming of a "beast" who will set up an idolatrous image in the holy place, i.e., the temple in Jerusalem. All men will be ordered to worship this abominable idol. Failure to comply will be punishable by death - Revelation 13:15. Maybe this is what both Daniel and Christ spoke about.

Answer 3

We read of the "abomination of desolation" in Daniel 11:31; 12:11, after Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 BCE) punished attempts at resistance by attacking Jerusalem, slaughtering the population, plundering the Temple and erecting a statue to Zeus on the Temple altar of burnt offering. These words became a symbol of desecration of the Temple.

Mark 13:14 uses the same words to describe the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, at the end of the First Roman-Jewish War.

Answer 4

It refers to idolatry (Rashi commentary on Daniel).