Abomination of Desolation?

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

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Many seem confused about the meaning of the phrase Jesus used in Matthew 24:15-16, “abomination of desolation” or “abomination that desolates,” depending on your translation. The Gospel Coalition[1] is merely one group that embraces the Preterist viewpoint[2]. This group of people see most of Scripture as having already been fulfilled, making the Bible is essentially a history book that already happened. However, some view the physical return of Jesus as yet future.

Preterism is really a separate subject, something I’ll likely do a short series on soon and I’ve written about briefly before. Suffice it to say, in general terms, that Preterists believe God completed His work with Israel (in AD 70 as judgment for their rejection of Jesus as Messiah and the end of the old covenant), and has cast them aside forever, transferring all remaining blessings to the Church.

Preterism really did not come to the fore until around 1500 AD, yet these same folks argue that the PreTrib Rapture is relatively new with Darby/Scofield. The difference is that many of the early church fathers of the 1st, 2nd and early 3rd centuries clearly had adopted a PreTrib position, which was likely passed onto them from some of the original apostles. This is evident in their writings (collected in the Ante-Nicene Fathers works).

Preterists also view certain books of the Bible like Revelation as very symbolic. Certainly there is symbolism within the pages of Revelation but even symbolism normally has only one specific meaning. However Preterists see nothing literal in its pages. For the Preterist, biblical eschatology is all in the past. There are huge problems with Preterism (partial and full Preterism).[3]

Let’s take a look at Matthew 24:15-22 (see also Mark 13:14).

¹⁵ “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), ¹⁶ “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.¹⁷ Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.¹⁸ And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.¹⁹ But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!²⁰ And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.²¹ For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.²² And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

The phrase “abomination of desolation” in the text is an interesting reference. Many take that to mean the total and absolute destruction of the then existing Temple in Jerusalem. If it was destroyed, then clearly, the sacrificial system was put on hold since then, correct? That is certainly true. But does the phrase solely refer to the complete destruction of the Temple physically or does it include whatever it was that actually defiled it? The phrase “whoever reads, let him understand,” points us to a deeper understanding of what Jesus was referring to.

The phrase “abomination of desolation” actually goes back to the prophet Daniel as Jesus notes, “…the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place…” It seems clear then that Jesus wants us to go back to the Book of Daniel to get more information. So which part of Daniel do we go to? The most obvious place to look is in Daniel 9, the chapter that deals with the “70 weeks,” though this is not the only chapter. In fact, the Book of Daniel refers to the abomination of desolation in three separate chapters: Daniel 9:27, Daniel 11:31 and Daniel 12:11. 

If a reference to this abomination of desolation is repeated three times in just one Old Testament book, it must have some very real importance in understanding its meaning. The fact that Jesus specifically refers us to Daniel also tells us of its importance (emphasis added below).

And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.” (Daniel 9:27b)

31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. (Daniel 11:31)

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

Notice in Daniel 9:27, the first part says, “And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate…” The use of the term “one” points to an actual person, not an object or an action (destruction of the Temple). We would take the same meaning if we heard someone say, “Well, if one were to consider this…” where the term “one” is clearly referring to a person.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes (King of Syria) was a real person who actually defiled the Jewish Temple standing at the time in 167-168 BC. He did this by going into the Holy of Holies, erecting a statue of Zeus and sacrificing a pig on the altar accompanied by his military troops to conquer. The only thing Antiochus IV did not do was to enter into or confirm a covenant with Israel for seven years. In that sense, what Antiochus did was a partial fulfillment of what Jesus noted, using Antiochus to point to what would occur in the future. The same holds true for Rome’s conquering of Jerusalem. It was partial fulfillment because they also did not enter into a seven year covenant with Israel then. Rome simply destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. The complete fulfillment of what our Lord says is yet future. The only way to get around that is to allegorize what Jesus meant.

Jesus points us back to Daniel’s prophecy and all Jews during Jesus’ day would have been very familiar with this past desolation directed by Antiochus and the resultant Maccabean Revolt. Jesus was saying, “Remember in the past when a human ruler desecrated the previous Jewish Temple by going into the Holy of Holies, sacrificing a pig and setting up the statue of Zeus, causing the abomination that desolates?” Jesus referred to that without providing details because He didn’t need to provide details to His audience since they were all familiar with that past event. Because of Antiochus’ actions, the Temple became thoroughly unusable, yet was still standing. It needed to be completely cleansed ceremonially before it could ever be used again. This incident is historical fact.

Having referred back to this incident with Antiochus IV, Jesus seems to be indicating that a similar situation would occur in the future from His day. This was only partially fulfilled in AD 70 with the actual destruction of the Temple in AD 70, for reasons noted above, but not completely fulfilled because no human being did what Antiochus had done inside the Holy of Holies nor was a seven year covenant entered into with Israel.

Paul’s prophecy in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4. appears to establish the idea that an actual human being will come on the scene and sit in the Holy of Holies and declare himself to be God and will enter into or confirm a covenant with Israel for one “week” (or seven years).

Some take this to mean that the “temple” is the heart of the Christian overtaken by some sort of idolatrous practice(s). Even though a Christian, God is supplanted in that Christian’s heart. However, Paul’s wording seems to negate any such meaning. He seems to be referring to an actual individual, someone he calls the “man of lawlessness” or “son of perdition.” Just as Judas was an actual person who betrayed our Lord, who was also referred to as the “son of perdition” in John 17:12. The term “son of perdition” literally means “man doomed to destruction.”

The only other person referred to as “son of perdition” in Scripture is the coming Antichrist. While yes, there is a “spirit” of Antichrist overtaking the world (since the fall), there appears to also be a physical person who will be the full embodiment of that evil “spirit,” as Paul notes.

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Here Paul expressly speaks of a “man of sin/son of perdition” who would rise to power, oppose everything that is God and exalt himself instead (as Antiochus IV did). He will even do what Antiochus previously did by going into the Jewish Temple, sit inside the Holy of Holies (possibly on the Mercy Seat on top of reconstructed Ark of the Covenant), and declare to the world that he is God. Obviously, in order for this to occur, the Jewish Temple must be rebuilt during the coming Tribulation period. Antichrist will then confirm a covenant with Israel for seven years. Neither Antiochus in 167-168 BC or Roman Emperor Vespasian in AD 70 fulfilled all aspects of this prophecy. This will be fulfilled in the future.

The apostle John in 1 and 2 John does not deny that an actual physical human being known as Antichrist will rise up. John simply notes that the spirit of Antichrist has been in this world for quite some time and works to overthrow God. However, there will be one final Antichrist who rises above all and becomes the final world ruler. The people who don’t believe this are the same ones who do not realize what is currently happening in the world to usher in a final, one world order.

In Daniel 7, we learn that a future “boastful king” will change the times and seasons to his own liking (Daniel 7:25). This is the same man who will deceptively leads Israel into a 7-year covenant only to break it at the midpoint (Daniel 9). He is the man of sin in 2 Thessalonians 2 and the rider on the white horse of Revelation 6:2. Revelation 13 highlights how this Antichrist is the first beast that rises out of the sea (a reference to all the nations). It is clear in this chapter that this first beast receives his power and authority from Satan himself. Certainly Antichrist is a true “beast” in heart, yet is a person. He hates Jews with a deadly passion and wants their destruction as much as he will want God’s destruction. While symbolism is used to describe this evil human being, the actual meaning behind the symbolism seems clear enough.

Is Satan an actual lion? Is he actually a dragon? He is a celestial being who exists mainly in the spiritual realm. No one knows what he looks like. The terms “lion” and “dragon” are used not to make us believe he looks like that, but to indicate his character.

The only way a person can arrive to the conclusion that the Antichrist is only a “spirit” that influences people is by denying the literality of Scripture. Even the symbolic nature of several passages noted above requires a specific meaning. This is no difference from figures of speech used today.

“He is a lion on the battlefield.”

The picture here is of a great and powerful warrior who deftly deals with his opponents. No one would think that a person who takes to the battlefield somehow becomes an actual lion. The metaphor used above has one meaning.

“This backpack weighs a ton.”

The use of hyperbole is common. No one using the above figure of speech is actually saying that their backpack actually weighs 2,000 pounds. They simply mean it is heavy. Understanding the Bible literally (in its most plain and ordinary sense) is what helps us to rightly divide God’s Word. Anything else is simply guessing, often based on the way a person feels about their conclusions.

The abomination of desolation is a real situation that occurred once in the past carried out by Antiochus IV Epiphanes without a covenant being put into place. Jesus specifically referred to this incident in His Olivet Discourse of Matthew 24. He pointed to the near future partial fulfillment of AD 70 and ultimately, to a time that remains ahead of us, prior to His physical return to this earth.

In Jerusalem today, everything is currently in place to build another Temple on the Temple Mount. The mosques there are the only things standing in the way. Priests are being trained in all the priestly duties at a full size Temple in Samaria. The altar has been built. Every piece of furniture and priestly garments have been created and is ready.

The Jews expect a time when they will rebuild their Temple. It will happen during the Tribulation under the watchful eye of the “man of sin,” who will encourage Israel to rebuild it. He will want this ultimately for himself, to desecrate it as Antiochus IV (a type of Antichrist), did before him.

The abomination of desolation is a real occurrence. The Antichrist will be a real person, empowered by Satan to attempt to overthrow God Himself. The final abomination of desolation will occur at the midpoint of the coming Tribulation and when that happens, Jews who are paying attention will literally need to run to the mountains for protection as their first century counterparts did in AD 70.

While I don’t believe Christians will be here for that time, I do believe it is possible that Christians may begin to see the rise of the Antichrist. However, as always, Christians should be looking for the coming of our Lord and Savior, not the Antichrist.

May our lives in all things – our words, our thoughts and our actions – always give praise to Jesus!

[1] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-is-the-abomination-of-desolation/

[2] https://www.gotquestions.org/preterist.html

[3] Ibid

[4] https://studygrowknowblog.com/2018/11/02/is-it-this-or-that/

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective