Is the Antichrist “sitting in the temple of God” the same as “the abomination of desolation standing in the Holy place”?

Turkish President Erdogan sat in the Hagia Sophia Cathedral exalting himself above Christ.

By Craig C. White

Most Bible teachers think that the Antichrist will sit in the newly built temple in Jerusalem showing himself that he is God. But I think that “the Antichrist sitting in the temple of God” in 2Thessalonians 2:4 is different than “the abomination of desolation standing in the Holy place” in Matthew 24:15.

In 2Thessalonians chapter 2 Paul is telling the early Church which events will precede the Tribulation. Before the seven year long Tribulation period can begin Satan must fall and the Antichrist must be revealed by sitting in the temple of God showing himself that he is God. Paul is assuring the Thessalonians that it wasn’t yet time for the Tribulation.

2Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

In 2Thessalonians 2:4 the Antichrist will sit in the temple of God. The Greek word that is translated as sit or sitteth is kath-id’-zo meaning to make to sit down.

In Mathew chapter 24 the Jews in Jerusalem and Judea are instructed to flee to the wilderness because the armies of the Antichrist are coming. This will happen in the middle of the seven year long Tribulation period. Just a note: There is no warning to flee in 2Thessalonians chapter 2.

Matthew 24:15-17 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:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

In 2Tessalonians 2:4 the Antichrist sits. In Matthew 24:15 the abomination of desolation stands. The Greek word that is translated as stand in Matthew 24:15 is the word histēmi meaning to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set.

The Antichrist “sitting in the temple of God” is a separate event from “the abomination of desolation standing in the Holy place”. The Antichrist must sit in the temple of God before the seven year long Tribulation period can begin. This is a sign to Christians that the Rapture is near.

In Daniel 12:11 the abomination of desolation will be “set up”. There is a difference between sitting and being set up. The Hebrew word that is translated as set up is nâthan meaning to give, put, set.

Daniel 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

The abomination of desolation will be “set up” in the newly built temple in Jerusalem during the middle of the seven year long Tribulation period. When the Jews see the abomination of desolation it is an alarm for them to flee. The abomination of desolation will not sit in the Holy place. On the other hand the Antichrist will literally sit in the temple of God.

Ask yourself three questions. Is the man called the Antichrist the same as the abomination of desolation? Is sitting the same as standing? Could the temple of God be different than the Holy place?

The Greek word that is translated as “temple” in 2Thessalonians 2:4 can refer to any temple or shrine. It does not have to refer to the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. The Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul, Turkey is the most significant Christian Cathedral in world history. It was first built in the third century and served as the patriarchal Cathedral of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. It was conquered by the Ottoman Turks. On July 24th 2020 Turkish President Erdogan sat in the Hagia Sophia Cathedral exalting himself above Christ. By the way, Erdogan literally sat on the floor. According to 2Thessalonians 2:4 Erdogan officially revealed himself as the Antichrist.