What was Jesus referring to by “the abomination of desolation?” He said it was mentioned by Daniel. Daniel’s prophecy reveals several possible references.
*Dan. 8:13-14: In the prophecy of the male goat (Greece) with the large horn (Alexander the Great) which was broken and replaced with four smaller horns (the four generals who ruled various parts of the Greek empire after Alexander), one of the smaller horns rules the area of Israel. Under his rule he opposes or stops the daily sacrifices at the temple in what is called “the transgression of desolation.” This period lasts for 2300 days, just under seven years.
*Dan. 11:31: In this prophecy of the time between Malachi and Matthew, there is a person who “take(s) away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.” This lasts for many days. It seems quite likely this is the same event as in Dan. 8. It is during the intertestamental time when Israel was ruled by the Greeks shortly before the Roman’s took control.
*Dan. 9:24-27: This is prophecy of Daniel’s Seventy Weeks, 490 years established by the LORD to complete His purposes for Israel, including their salvation. In v27 Daniel is told of the final seven years (final week), and that in the middle of that time “he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate.” “He” refers to the Roman prince (“prince who is to come,” v26), who destroys Jerusalem and the temple.
*Dan. 12:4-13: This is the same prophecy as Dan. 11, except that the time has not moved from the intertestamental to the time of the end, when God’s purposed for Daniel’s people are accomplished. Daniel is not permitted to give us the details. But he does record that in the end time the daily sacrifice will be taken away and the abomination of desolation set up in its place. This is not the same event as in Dan. 8 and 11; it can only be connected to the one in Dan. 9 when it occurs in the closing years that God established to complete His work with Daniel’s people, Israel.
Thus, what is Jesus talking about? Together all four describe a time when the worship of the temple is halted and prohibited, and in its place is an abominable form of worship. Apparently, in the earlier event, Antiochus Epiphanes replaced temple worship with the sacrifice of pigs, just to desecrate the religion of Israel. We don’t know the exact nature of the future abomination but it will be equally shameful.
Why do we know Jesus was talking about the later event? Because, in c. 33AD, on the Mount of Olives, the one event had already taken place and the other was still future. And He was talking about a future event. Further, the later event occurs in the middle of the 70th week, leaving 3½ years. The next question is, could this event have been what happened in 70AD? Or does it fit better with a still-future even related to Jesus return?
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