SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION

This phrase is used exclusively for someone who brings inappropriate images or sacrifices (i.e., gifts to pagan gods) into the temple of YHWH in Jerusalem.

M. R. Vincent describes well the term "abomination":

 "The cognate verb, ßδελύσσμαι, means to feel a nausea or loathing for food, hence used of disgust generally. In a moral sense it denotes an object of moral or religious repugnance (cf. 2 Chr. 15:8; Jer. 13:27; Ezek. 11:21; Dan. 9:27; 11:31). It is used as equivalent to idolatry in 1 Kings 11:17; Deut. 7:26; 2 Kings 23:13. It denotes anything in which estrangement from God manifests itself; as the eating of unclean beasts, Lev. 11:11; Deut. 14:3; and, generally, all forms of heathenism. This moral sense must be emphasized in the New Testament use of the word (i.e., compare Luke 16:15; Rev. 17:4,5; 21:27). It does not denote mere physical or esthetic disgust. The reference here is probably to the occupation of the temple precincts by the idolatrous Romans under Titus, with their standards and ensigns. Josephus says that after the burning of the temple the Romans brought their ensigns and set them over against the eastern gate, and there they offered sacrifices to them, and declared Titus, with acclamations, to be emperor" (Word Studies in the New Testament, pp. 74-75).

The Hebrew word "desolation" (BDB 1055, KB 1640) meant sacrilege. This phrase is used in Dan. 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11.

  1. It originally referred to Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who put an altar to Zeus Olympios in the temple in Jerusalem in 167 B.C. and sacrificed a pig on it (cf. Dan. 8:9-14; 9:24-27; I Macc. 1:54, 59; II Macc. 6:1-2; Josephus' Antiq. 12.252).
  2. In Dan. 7:7-8 it relates to the Little Horn of the 4th Kingdom
    1. "Man of Lawlessness" ‒ 2 Thessalonians 2
    2. "Antichrist" ‒ 1 John 2:18; 4:3; 2 John v. 7
    3. "sea beast" ‒ Rev. 11:7; 13:1,14-15; 15:2; 16:13; 17:8
  3. In Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14; Luke 21:20; Dan. 9:24-27; and possibly 11:36-39) it refers to the coming of the Roman General (later Emperor) Titus' army in A.D. 70 (see esp. Luke 21:20), who sacrificed to their army standards which were dedicated to pagan gods, placed by the eastern gate close to the temple. It cannot refer to the siege of Jerusalem itself because it would be too late for believers to escape.
  4. I am becoming more and more convinced that the eschatological texts of Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; 2 Thessalonians 2; and the book of Revelation, for the most part, refer to the Jewish rebellion starting in A.D. 66 and culminating in the seige and destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. This judgment on Judaism completely removed the possibility of Mosaic worship! I think in my past studies I have been overly influenced by a "futuristic" view of these texts. For more information on "partial preterism" see
    1. John C. Bray ‒ Matthew 24 Fulfilled
    2. Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr. ‒ Before Jerusalem Fell
    3. Steve Gregg ‒ Revelation : Four Views, A Parallel Commentary, Revised and Updated Edition
    4. Milton S. Terry ‒ The Apocalypse of John: A Preterist Commentary on the Book of Revelation

This is an example of a phrase being used in several different, but related, senses. This is called "multiple fulfillment prophecy." It is impossible to interpret until after the events occur; looking back, the typology is obvious.

SPECIAL TOPIC: ABOMINATION (OT)

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTICHRIST

 

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