The LORD does not want you to be caught unaware when the time of tribulation approaches. So, abomination of desolation is a strong signal that needs critical observation.

Today’s message would compare the prophecy of Daniel and Jesus as related to the information about the end-time.

Prophecy of Daniel

The abomination of desolation is mentioned three times in the book of Daniel:

1. Daniel chapter 9 verse 27: “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week, He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate”

2. Daniel chapter 11 verse 31: “And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.”

3. Daniel chapter 12 verse 11: “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.”

Is Daniel’s Prediction Fulfilled?

Antiochus Epiphanes obtain the Seleucid throne in 175 B.C.

He set himself against the Jews, massacred many of them and plundered the temple at Jerusalem before returning to Syria.

Antiochus issued a decree that all nations in his empire should abandon their own customs and become one people. All the Gentiles and even many of the Israelites submitted to this decree. They adopted the official pagan religion, offered sacrifices to idols, and no longer observed the Sabbath.

All the people were even ordered to defile the Temple and the holy things in it. They were commanded to build pagan altars, temples, and shrines, and to sacrifice pigs and other unclean animals there.

The Israelites were forbidden to circumcise their sons and were required to make themselves unclean in every way they could, so that they would forget the Law which the Lord had given through Moses and would disobey all its commands. The penalty for disobeying the king’s decree was death.

On the fifteenth day of the month Kislev in the year 168/167 B.C., “Antiochus set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar” of the temple. This appears to have been a pagan altar, probably with an image representing the Greek chief god Zeus.

Any books of the Law which were found were torn up and burned, and anyone who was caught with a copy of the sacred books or who obeyed the Law was put to death by order of the king.

Thus, no argument that the prophesy of Daniel was fulfilled.

Prophecy of Jesus – Abomination of Desolation

Matthew chapter 24 was a loaded passage explaining signs of the end times.

Verse 15 to 22: “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),

Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes…

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”

Is Jesus’ End Time Prophecy Fulfilled?

A second fulfilment of the abomination of desolation occurred in A.D. 70 when Roman armies under Titus sacked the city of Jerusalem. In the process, Titus’ forces destroyed the temple building and altar and it has not been rebuilt to this day.

The event was a partial fulfilment of Jesus’ prophecy because the greatest tribulation is around the corner. The third repeated fulfilment of the prophecy related to “abomination of desolation” is imminent!

Abomination of desolation is an idolatry practice in the church. My personal observation is that the love of money had taken over the love of God in our midst. Who can convince me that the god of Mammon is not the idol on the altar of the church today?

This is food for thought for every Christian getting ready for the last day…