What is the Abomination of Desolation?
The phrase “abomination of desolation” stands among the most sobering prophetic terms in Scripture. Its weight lies not only in the horror it portrays but in what it reveals about humanity’s rebellion against God and the ultimate triumph of divine justice. Both the Old and New Testaments address this concept, revealing its multi-layered meaning and its place in the unfolding redemptive history culminating in the return of Jesus Christ. This article explores the biblical foundation and theological significance of the abomination of desolation, especially as it appears in the books of Daniel, Matthew, and Mark, while synthesizing both the historical and end times implications.
The Meaning of “Abomination” and “Desolation” in Scripture
The term “abomination” in the Bible refers to that which is detestable or loathsome in God’s sight, often connected with idolatry or moral perversion. In the Old Testament, it is used to describe pagan practices and the worship of false gods (Deuteronomy 7:25-26; 1 Kings 11:5-7). The Hebrew word shiqquts conveys something ceremonially or morally repugnant, especially in the context of idolatry.
Likewise, “desolation” translates the Hebrew shamem, which means “to devastate” or “to make uninhabitable.” When combined, the phrase “abomination of desolation” signifies an act of idolatry or blasphemy so offensive that it brings ruin or abandonment. Therefore, the idea is not merely physical destruction, but a spiritual defilement that leads to abandonment by God of what was once considered holy.
The Abomination of Desolation in the Old Testament
The expression appears explicitly in Daniel’s prophecy, where it carries both immediate and ultimate fulfillments. Daniel 9:27 states, “And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” Later, Daniel 11:31 elaborates, “Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.” Again, in Daniel 12:11, “And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days.”
Historically, these prophecies found a near-term fulfillment in the second century BC under the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He desecrated the Jerusalem temple by erecting an altar to Zeus on the temple altar and offering swine upon it. This event, recorded in 1 Maccabees 1:54, was indeed an “abomination” and led to the temple’s “desolation,” or spiritual ruin. Yet, as with many prophecies, Daniel’s vision transcends this immediate event, anticipating a more profound and climactic future fulfillment.
Regardless of whether the abomination of desolation is a person or a thing, Daniel predicted the following: A future ruler will make a treaty with the people of Israel… and will eventually defile the sanctuary." This prophetic pattern–of a near historical fulfillment and an ultimate end-times realization–prepares the reader for Jesus’ later references to this prophecy.
The Abomination of Desolation in the New Testament
The New Testament references to the abomination of desolation come primarily from Jesus himself, who directly quotes Daniel’s prophecy in his Olivet Discourse. Matthew 24:15 says, “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” Similarly, Mark 13:14 records, “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”
Here, Jesus reintroduces the prophetic imagery to his listeners, applying it to both a soon-coming historical event and a future eschatological one. In the near term, the prophecy anticipated the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Romans in AD 70 under Titus. Roman armies desecrated the temple by placing their imperial standards–objects of idolatrous veneration–into the sanctuary area. This desecration served as the immediate fulfillment of Jesus’ warning.
However, like Daniel’s prophecy before it, the abomination of desolation also points forward to the final rebellion of the Antichrist in the last days. Daniel prophesied it, with a near fulfillment in Antiochus IV’s desecration of the Jerusalem temple, and a future fulfillment involving the Antichrist. Jesus referenced this event in Matthew 24:15, pointing to a future moment when the Antichrist will proclaim himself as God in the rebuilt temple. This aligns with Paul’s teaching in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4: “Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed… who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.”
The Abomination of Desolation in the Gospel of Mark
In Mark’s Gospel, the language and structure of Jesus’ warning emphasize watchfulness and discernment. Mark’s version (Mark 13:14) includes the phrase “standing where he ought not,” implying a personal presence–perhaps an individual rather than merely an object–defiling the sacred space. This supports the view that in the ultimate sense, the abomination will be embodied in the person of the Antichrist himself.
Mark’s context also underscores the urgency of Jesus’ teaching. The warning “let the reader understand” seems to indicate that those discerning the prophetic signs must respond decisively. The primary message in Mark’s usage, therefore, is not only interpretive but ethical–urging vigilance, readiness, and spiritual endurance during trials that accompany apostasy and persecution.
The abomination in Mark thus signifies both a historical desecration and a symbolic reality of spiritual defilement manifested through rebellion and self-exaltation. It represents humanity’s demand to worship self or empire rather than the Creator, culminating in the Antichrist’s ultimate blasphemy.
The Abomination of Desolation in Matthew 24:15
Jesus’ reference in Matthew 24:15 functions as both a prophetic sign and a moral warning. His words, “when you see the abomination of desolation … standing in the holy place,” refer first to the desecration of the temple by Roman forces, but also anticipate an ultimate desecration in the final days.
The interpretive parenthetical phrase–“let the reader understand”–shows that Jesus’ prophecy is intended for discerning believers who will interpret the times through Scripture. The “holy place” likely refers to the temple in Jerusalem, which implies there will one day be a restored or rebuilt temple in which the Antichrist will seat himself as God. Paul describes this in 2 Thessalonians 2:4, and John expands upon it in Revelation 13, where an image of the beast becomes the center of worldwide idolatry and deception.
This future defilement represents the epitome of human pride and spiritual blindness. The abomination of desolation at the end of the age will thus mark the final outworking of Satan’s rebellion, manifested through the Antichrist’s claim to divinity. Yet this defiance will be short-lived, as the Lord Jesus will return to destroy the lawless one “by the breath of his mouth and bring him to nothing by the appearance of his coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:8).
Theological and Eschatological Implications
The abomination of desolation stands as a profound theological warning about the nature of idolatry and the consequences of rejecting God’s rightful rule. Historically, it reminds the Church that desecrating what is holy–whether through false worship, spiritual compromise, or self-exaltation–invites divine judgment. Eschatologically, it points forward to the culmination of history in the final confrontation between Christ and Antichrist.
For believers, the prophecy serves not merely as a signpost for the future but as a call to spiritual vigilance. Jesus’ warning, “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains,” underscores the necessity of discernment and obedience in the face of persecution. Christians are not to be naive or complacent about evil, but to remain steadfast in holiness, trusting that God’s sovereignty prevails even amid the apparent triumph of the wicked.
It is also vital to note that “desolation” eventually gives way to restoration. After judgment comes renewal. Daniel 9:24 promises that the seventy weeks ultimately lead to the anointing of the Most Holy One and the bringing in of everlasting righteousness. In this way, even the darkest prophecies point forward to the redemption accomplished in and through Jesus Christ.
Conclusion - What is the Abomination of Desolation?
The abomination of desolation, therefore, is both a specific prophetic event and a theological reality encapsulating humanity’s ultimate rebellion against God. It has been partially fulfilled in the desecration of the Jerusalem temple–first by Antiochus IV and later by the Romans–and it awaits future consummation in the Antichrist’s final blasphemy.
At its heart, this “abomination” is idolatry raised to its highest and most defiant expression, leading to “desolation,” a condition of divine judgment and abandonment. Yet even this terrifying prophecy serves to magnify the glory of Christ, who will one day return to cleanse, restore, and reign in righteousness. As Jesus warned, “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel… then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” (Matthew 24:15-16).
For those who trust in Jesus Christ, such prophecies are not given to instill fear but to inspire faithfulness. The abomination of desolation stands as a witness to both the depth of human depravity and the faithfulness of God’s redemptive plan–a plan that ends not in desolation, but in the renewal of all things.