What is the Abomination of Desolation in Daniel?

What is the Abomination of Desolation?

Jesus warned his disciples about something called the Abomination of Desolation. He referred to one of the most respected prophets in Israel’s history when he said Daniel the prophet wrote about this subject.

But what is the Abomination of Desolation?

There has been a lot of conjecture, but does anyone know what the Abomination of Desolation is? Biblical scholars, as a group, surely do not. If we look at the numerous Bible commentaries on this subject it quickly becomes clear that the ‘experts’ are not in agreement. From one expert to the next they vary in their opinions about what it is or was.

The ‘experts,’ those who we trust to know what they are talking about, have multiple suggestions. Some say the abomination was an image of Zeus set up by Antiochus Epiphanes. Others suggest it was the image of eagles emblazoned on the banners flying over the armies of Rome.

Various Translations add help to our understanding:

Below I’ve included several translations of the key verse. As we study the passage we need to stay alert to similarities as well as ways in which the passages differ. We’ll also need to consider the original language in order to see if some of the translations are staying true to the original intent or if they are going too far in their efforts to make their translation easier to understand for the novice reader.

A note about translations

As many of you are aware, a lot of so-called translations aren’t real translations at all. Some Bibles merely present a paraphrased interpretation of the original text. They attempt to make God’s Word easier to understand but miss some very important truths which we only find in the original text.

I will not suggest an interpretation in this article. That’s your responsibility. Since the experts can’t decide, it’s your turn to decide what Jesus referred to in Daniel’s prophecy. Back your opinion with scripture, not what another ‘expert’ says.

 

New International Version

“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,‘ spoken of through the prophet Daniel. Let the reader understand

 

New Living Translation

“The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about–the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.” (Reader, pay attention!)

 

English Standard Version

“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)

 

Berean Study Bible

So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ described by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand)

 

New American Standard Bible

Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)

 

King James Bible

When ye, therefore, shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

 

Good News Translation

“You will see ‘The Awful Horror’ of which the prophet Daniel spoke. It will be standing in the holy place.” (Note to the reader: understand what this means!)

 

The Awful Horror

This last verse from the ‘Good News translation’ adds the very poor interpretation of “Awful Horror.” This emphasizes the point I mentioned earlier that some translations just try to convey a thought to the modern reader. The awful horror translation has a very weak connection to the original language. We are just led to believe something really terrible will happen. With that suggestion, we can use our own creative imagination to come up with our own ideas about what the abomination could be.

See the source image
What does the Bible say about the Abomination of Desolation?

That’s not acceptable if we want to find God’s answers instead of just making up our own ideas. We have enough of our own thoughts. When we study the Bible we want God’s thoughts, not our own.

 

What the experts claim:

Now I’ll provide brief snippets from some of the Bible experts who suggest a wide range of options for you to consider.

 

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

 

(15) The abomination of desolation.–The words, as they stand in Daniel 12:11, seem to refer to the desecration of the sanctuary by the mad attempt of Antiochus Epiphanes to stop the “daily sacrifice,” and to substitute an idolatrous worship in its place (2 Maccabees 6:1-9).

 

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 15. – In this second strain of the prophecy contained in vers. 15-22, our Lord confines himself almost entirely to the fate of Jerusalem. Therefore, the illative particle carries us back to the signs given in the previous section (vers. 5-14). By saying when ye shall see, he implies that some of his hearers shall behold this mysterious sign, and have the opportunity of profiting by the knowledge thereof.

The alternative interpretation, which has seemed to many more probable, explains it of the sanguinary deeds of the Zealots, who, after the war had been carried on for some years, seized the temple, put a stop to the daily sacrifice, deluged the sacred courts with blood, and were guilty of most hideous crimes and excesses, which, as Josephus testifies, were the immediate cause of the city’s, ruin.

 

Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

When ye, therefore, shall see the abomination of desolation. From signs, Christ proceeds to the immediate cause of the destruction of Jerusalem, which was, “the abomination of desolation”, or the desolating abomination. Or that abominable thing, which threatened and brought desolation upon the city, temple, and nation. By which is meant, not any statue placed in the temple by the Romans, or their order. And not the golden eagle which Herod set upon the temple gate.

Was it the image of Tiberius?

for that was before Christ said these words; nor the image of Tiberius Caesar, which Pilate is said to bring into the temple. For this, if true, must be about this time. Whereas Christ cannot be thought to refer to anything so near at hand. Much less the statue of Adrian, set in the most holy place, which was an hundred and thirty years and upwards, after the destruction of the city and temple. nor was it the statue of Titus.

Was it the Roman banners?

…who destroyed both, which does not appear, ever to be set up, or attempted. Nor of Caligula, which, though ordered, was prevented being placed there. But the Roman army is designed. See Luke 21:20 which was the , “the wing”, or “army of abominations making desolate”, Daniel 9:27. Armies are called wings, Isaiah 8:8 and the Roman armies were desolating ones to the Jews, and to whom they were an abomination.

And what were the wings?

Not only because they consisted of Heathen men, and uncircumcised persons, but chiefly because of the images of their gods, which were upon their ensigns. For images and idols were always an abomination to them. So the “filthiness” which Hezekiah ordered to be carried out of the holy place, 2 Chronicles 29:5 is by the Targum called, “an abomination”. And this, by the Jewish writers (w), is said to be an idol, which Ahaz had placed upon the altar. And such was the abomination of desolation, which Antiochus caused to be set upon the altar.

 

The last Bible ‘expert’ used one insanely long sentence to suggest several options. (I took the liberty to change the punctuation to make it more readable.) Most of the options, he concluded, were insufficient to answer the question.

Okay, now you’re the expert. What do you think Jesus was referring to when he mentioned the Abomination of Desolation?

More from Daniel 

 

The ClayWriter

 

What did the early Church Fathers know about the Antichrist?

Get your copy at this great price


Comments

5 responses to “What is the Abomination of Desolation in Daniel?”

  1. A question to get back to basics on this is whether you think Matt 24 and Luke 21 are in lockstep with each other and thus referring to the SAME event.
    Luke 21 speaks of the destruction of Jerusalem BUT NOT the Abomination of Desolation (AoD).
    Matthew 24 however speaks NOT of the destruction of Jerusalem BUT the Abomination of Desolation (AoD).
    IF like many you think the AoD IS the destruction of Jerusalem (as Matthew speaks of it where Luke seems to speak of the other) THEN you have ALREADY created your answer because of your assumptions.
    IF however you go deeper, THEN you will note the discrepancies between Matthew and Luke which show that they do NOT speak of the SAME event even though BOTH speak about Jerusalem and a need to leave it.
    Luke writes of things which occur in 66 AD prior to the destruction of Jerusalem. The early church heeded this warning of Jesus and left Jerusalem after the event mentioned (that is Jerusalem being surrounded by an army – the first Roman army – and went to Petra beyond the Jordan.
    Matthew however writes of events which are AFTER many things have occurred and which is the START of the Great Tribulation (which is also mentioned in Revelation 7). This is tied into the AoD, and requires study of Revelation, especially Revelation 11 when the Two Witnesses are murdered in Jerusalem (and I suggest the Temple there) and their bodies left to rot. This would be an Abomination, similar to that perpetrated by Antiochus IV Epiphanes when he slaughtered a pig in the temple.

    1. Again, we see these in a similar fashion. I am aware of the differences between Luke and Matthew. Luke did highlight some events that pointed to an early fulfillment but also pointed to the final events that are still future. Matthew gave us great detail that we will see unfolding. And yes, Rev. eleven is an important passage regarding the last temple and what Paul, Daniel, and the Lord described as the abomination of desolation.

  2. I feel the abomination of desolation /the awful horror means the punishment we will face before the coming of Christ. The following verses are telling us to pray so that we can overcome the obstacles and stand before Christ by the time he comes. The end of the world coming when we least expect it. Let us be prayerful and abide in the word of God. God says we should pray to him. Do not be fooled by the words of the unholy so that when Christ comes we can stand before him. God bless you .

  3. The Abomination of Desolation is made perfectly clear in the LAW. The law and the Prophets are the 2 witnesses. It does not matter what man thinks this is or not. The Holy Spirit reveals all things even those things hidden. The abomination is that NO ONE other then a HIGH PRIEST was allowed behind the veil into the area of the ark. They must follow the law and be blameless with no bloodshed on their hands, this is related over and over in scripture.
    The Abomination of Desolation is a person NOT of the FAMILY of HIGH PRIESTS, no one other than the HIGH PRIEST is allowed in the Holy of Holies. Thus anyone selected for the position of High Priest MUST come through the line that GOD set apart for the Priesthood. This would be the man Phinnias ben Samuel whom was placed in the position in 67ad to 70ad, by casting lots (which is illegal). He was killed while in the temple the Holy of Holies on October 3, 70ad when the temple was cast down.
    A person can count backwards to know the exact time this happened, 1290 days = 26ad when Christ was killed on April 19, 26ad. The 1260, 1290 and 1335 days are not discerning the time between these 3 days (1260,1290,1335) there are 30 years between the first (1260) and 1290. Between the 1290 and 1335 there are 45 years. The Zealots began plotting soon after the death of Christ, as were the events that Christ told the disciples of his coming again.
    Blessings Sharon

    1. Doug Drake Avatar
      Doug Drake

      Eschatology 101: What is Amillennialism?

      This is the belief that the thousand-year reign of Jesus is spiritual, rather than actual. Jesus reigns in the hearts of his followers now, and not on a future throne in Jerusalem. The ‘first resurrection’ which we find mentioned in Revelation 20:5 isn’t a physical rising from the dead, in which dead bodies come back to life. But instead, it’s a spiritual regeneration. Christ already triumphed over Satan through his death and resurrection. That work on the cross restrained the power of Satan on earth. The Apostle John wrote about this in Revelation 20:1-3.

      The persecution of Christians is the tribulation. It started shortly after Jesus left and will continue until his return. The expansion of God’s kingdom is the millennium, not a literal thousand years. We are in it now. And it will continue until Jesus’ return. At the time of His return, Jesus will defeat the residual powers of evil and restore life to the dead, both the just and unjust. After that, each individual will face their eternal destinies. Most if not all of the references to Israel that we find in the Book of Revelation are symbolic. It doesn’t mean the Jewish People but refers to the elect of God or the Church.

      https://therevelationroad.com/2018/11/01/eschatology-101-four-different-views-of-the-end-of-the-world/

Let me know what you think.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Discover more from The Revelation Road

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading