What is the Abomination of Desolation?
Jesus warned his disciples about something called the Abomination of Desolation. He referred to one of the most respected prophets in Israel’s history when he said Daniel the prophet wrote about this subject.
But what is the Abomination of Desolation?
There has been a lot of conjecture, but does anyone know what the Abomination of Desolation is? Biblical scholars, as a group, surely do not. If we look at the numerous Bible commentaries on this subject it quickly becomes clear that the ‘experts’ are not in agreement. From one expert to the next they vary in their opinions about what it is or was.
The ‘experts,’ those who we trust to know what they are talking about, have multiple suggestions. Some say the abomination was an image of Zeus set up by Antiochus Epiphanes. Others suggest it was the image of eagles emblazoned on the banners flying over the armies of Rome.
Various Translations add help to our understanding:
Below I’ve included several translations of the key verse. As we study the passage we need to stay alert to similarities as well as ways in which the passages differ. We’ll also need to consider the original language in order to see if some of the translations are staying true to the original intent or if they are going too far in their efforts to make their translation easier to understand for the novice reader.
A note about translations
As many of you are aware, a lot of so-called translations aren’t real translations at all. Some Bibles merely present a paraphrased interpretation of the original text. They attempt to make God’s Word easier to understand but miss some very important truths which we only find in the original text.
I will not suggest an interpretation in this article. That’s your responsibility. Since the experts can’t decide, it’s your turn to decide what Jesus referred to in Daniel’s prophecy. Back your opinion with scripture, not what another ‘expert’ says.
New International Version
“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,‘ spoken of through the prophet Daniel. Let the reader understand
New Living Translation
“The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about–the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.” (Reader, pay attention!)
English Standard Version
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)
Berean Study Bible
So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ described by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand)
New American Standard Bible
“Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)
King James Bible
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:)
Good News Translation
“You will see ‘The Awful Horror’ of which the prophet Daniel spoke. It will be standing in the holy place.” (Note to the reader: understand what this means!)
The Awful Horror
This last verse from the ‘Good News translation’ adds the very poor interpretation of “Awful Horror.” This emphasizes the point I mentioned earlier that some translations just try to convey a thought to the modern reader. The awful horror translation has a very weak connection to the original language. We are just led to believe something really terrible will happen. With that suggestion, we can use our own creative imagination to come up with our own ideas about what the abomination could be.
That’s not acceptable if we want to find God’s answers instead of just making up our own ideas. We have enough of our own thoughts. When we study the Bible we want God’s thoughts, not our own.
What the experts claim:
Now I’ll provide brief snippets from some of the Bible experts who suggest a wide range of options for you to consider.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(15) The abomination of desolation.–The words, as they stand in Daniel 12:11, seem to refer to the desecration of the sanctuary by the mad attempt of Antiochus Epiphanes to stop the “daily sacrifice,” and to substitute an idolatrous worship in its place (2 Maccabees 6:1-9).
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 15. – In this second strain of the prophecy contained in vers. 15-22, our Lord confines himself almost entirely to the fate of Jerusalem. Therefore, the illative particle carries us back to the signs given in the previous section (vers. 5-14). By saying when ye shall see, he implies that some of his hearers shall behold this mysterious sign, and have the opportunity of profiting by the knowledge thereof.
The alternative interpretation, which has seemed to many more probable, explains it of the sanguinary deeds of the Zealots, who, after the war had been carried on for some years, seized the temple, put a stop to the daily sacrifice, deluged the sacred courts with blood, and were guilty of most hideous crimes and excesses, which, as Josephus testifies, were the immediate cause of the city’s, ruin.
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When ye, therefore, shall see the abomination of desolation. From signs, Christ proceeds to the immediate cause of the destruction of Jerusalem, which was, “the abomination of desolation”, or the desolating abomination. Or that abominable thing, which threatened and brought desolation upon the city, temple, and nation. By which is meant, not any statue placed in the temple by the Romans, or their order. And not the golden eagle which Herod set upon the temple gate.
Was it the image of Tiberius?
for that was before Christ said these words; nor the image of Tiberius Caesar, which Pilate is said to bring into the temple. For this, if true, must be about this time. Whereas Christ cannot be thought to refer to anything so near at hand. Much less the statue of Adrian, set in the most holy place, which was an hundred and thirty years and upwards, after the destruction of the city and temple. nor was it the statue of Titus.
Was it the Roman banners?
…who destroyed both, which does not appear, ever to be set up, or attempted. Nor of Caligula, which, though ordered, was prevented being placed there. But the Roman army is designed. See Luke 21:20 which was the , “the wing”, or “army of abominations making desolate”, Daniel 9:27. Armies are called wings, Isaiah 8:8 and the Roman armies were desolating ones to the Jews, and to whom they were an abomination.
And what were the wings?
Not only because they consisted of Heathen men, and uncircumcised persons, but chiefly because of the images of their gods, which were upon their ensigns. For images and idols were always an abomination to them. So the “filthiness” which Hezekiah ordered to be carried out of the holy place, 2 Chronicles 29:5 is by the Targum called, “an abomination”. And this, by the Jewish writers (w), is said to be an idol, which Ahaz had placed upon the altar. And such was the abomination of desolation, which Antiochus caused to be set upon the altar.
The last Bible ‘expert’ used one insanely long sentence to suggest several options. (I took the liberty to change the punctuation to make it more readable.) Most of the options, he concluded, were insufficient to answer the question.
Okay, now you’re the expert. What do you think Jesus was referring to when he mentioned the Abomination of Desolation?
What did the early Church Fathers know about the Antichrist?
Let me know what you think.