Biblical Context: Abomination of Desolation

“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that the desolation is close. And when you see the abomination of desolation that the prophet Daniel spoke of standing in the holy place where he shouldn’t be,” – let the reader understand – “then those in Judea must escape to the mountains, those in the city must leave, and those in the country must not enter the city.” 

– The Story of Jesus 28.2

[Adapted from Mt 24:15-16; Mk 13:14-16; Lk 21:20-21]

The abomination of desolation (bdelygma eremosis in Greek) mentioned by Matthew and Mark is a reference to a particular event prophesied by Daniel, recorded in the apocalyptic portion of his Old Testament book. Daniel uses this phrase three times (shiqquwts shamen in Aramaic). The first word of this phrase refers to an object of extreme hate and was used in the Old Testament as another term for “idol.” It’s typically translated “abomination,” but could also mean “bane” or “horror.” The second word means “desolation,” “barrenness,” or “waste.” Many views exist on what exactly the abomination of desolation is or was: 

1. In 167 BC, the Seleucid ruler Antiochus Epiphanes returned to Jerusalem to find it had revolted against him. His furious recapture of the city and slaughter of the Jews culminated in his desecration of the Temple. Antiochus erected a statue of Zeus and sacrificed pigs (unclean animals) on the altar.

2. The fall of Jerusalem to the Romans in 70 AD saw  the Gentile army conquer and destroy the Temple. Then they worshipped Roman standards on the Temple Mount.

3. Judah’s king Manasseh built numerous altars to other gods in the 7th century BC. He also practiced sorcery and divination, even burning his own sons as sacrifices. He erected an idol in the Temple in Jerusalem.

4. The book of Revelation and other apocalyptic writings describe future events in which a beast or “anti-christ” will rule much of the world and oppose Israel.