What is the abomination of desolation?

By Craig C. White

The Prophet Daniel describes an action that will bring desolation upon Jerusalem and pollute its new temple.

Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

The abomination that makes desolate is an action that desecrates the next temple to be built in Jerusalem. The Antichrist will either sit in the temple and proclaim that he should be worshiped as god; or he will erect an image or idol in the temple that claims that he is god.

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.

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:

The action of desecrating the temple will usher in a three and one half year period of God’s indignation towards Israel. During this time the enemies of Israel will overrun Jerusalem. God has determined three and one half years of suffering for Jerusalem. At the end of this time Jesus Christ will return to rescue the last remaining Jews in Jerusalem and vanquish Israel’s enemies.