Recap of How We Got to the Abomination of Desolation
We have been going over the Feasts of the Lord on most Thursday night Bible studies since this church opened in October 2024. We have made it to the Fall Feasts and the Blowing of the Trumpets. I believe the first fall feast, the Blowing of the Trumpets, is directly related to the Abomination of Desolation.
To better understand the Abomination of Desolation, we went over Matthew 24 in great detail, verse by verse. The abomination of desolation is given in Matthew 24. Now, I want to focus in on the Abomination of Desolation.
Matthew 24:15-18
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: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Matthew 24:19-21
And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Remember, we are going over this because the Fall Feasts are related to End Times Events. And the abomination of desolation is mentioned in End Times Events, and I believe it is related to the Blowing of the Trumpets Feast.
If you study Matthew 24 verse by verse as we did during three different Bible studies, you’ll see the Abomination of Desolation occurs before the second coming of Jesus Christ when he comes back in the clouds and raptures his people before the antichrist kills all of them. This means the Abomination of Desolation comes before the return of Jesus Christ.
And this is when tribulation turns to great tribulation. The abomination of desolation is the beginning of great tribulation. Now, let’s see what the Scriptures say about the abomination of desolation so you know what this means.
I. Key Passages Where The Phrase Appears
The exact phrase “abomination of desolation” appears in the King James Version of the Bible two times: once in Matthew 24 and once in Mark 13. But there are other passages that speak of this same event.
Every Related Reference to the Abomination of Desolation
| # | Verse | Key Phrase |
| 1 | Daniel 8:13 | transgression of desolation |
| 2 | Daniel 9:27 | overspreading of abominations… make it desolate |
| 3 | Daniel 11:31 | abomination that maketh desolate |
| 4 | Daniel 12:11 | abomination that maketh desolate |
| 5 | Matthew 24:15 | abomination of desolation |
| 6 | Mark 13:14 | abomination of desolation |
| 7 | Luke 21:20 | desolation thereof is nigh (parallel passage) |
Daniel (The Foundation for Jesus’ Reference)
1. Daniel 8:13
Daniel 8:13
Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
- Unique phrasing: “transgression of desolation”
- Refers to a rebellion or sinful act causing devastation in the temple
2. Daniel 9:27
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.
- Key phrase: “overspreading of abominations” and “make it desolate”
- Strong connection to the event Jesus refers to
- Implies abominations causing desolation over time
- Happens in the midst or middle of Daniel’s 70th week or the final seven years
3. Daniel 11:31
Daniel 11:31
And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
- Directly connects an abomination being placed in the holy place
- It involves a pollution of the sanctuary.
- Many believe this refers (in part) to Antiochus Epiphanes setting up an idol and offering swine flesh on the altar—but this is not stated in Scripture and cannot be confirmed by the Bible itself.
4. Daniel 12:11
Daniel 12:11
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
- Adds timing: 1290 days from when it is set up
- Reinforces the placement of the abomination and its connection to the temple
- Again, it’s connected to the daily sacrifice being taken away.
- We are not told what the abomination is—but it is clearly something set up in place of the daily sacrifice.
New Testament References by Jesus
5. Matthew 24:15
Matthew 24:15
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:)
- This is the first appearance of the exact phrase
- Jesus is referring back to Daniel—likely Daniel 11:31 or 12:11
- It’s something people can see—it’s visible.
- It is something that stands in the holy place—likely referring to the temple or some future religious center.
- Jesus tells believers to understand it—so it is important to discern this correctly.
6. Mark 13:14
Mark 13:14
But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
- Parallel to Matthew 24:15
- Adds “standing where it ought not”—emphasizes visibility and defilement
- The context makes clear that when this is seen, fleeing is urgent—it’s the signal of coming danger.
- This is connected with great tribulation and persecution.
Luke’s Parallel—Not the Phrase, but the Event
7. Luke 21:20
Luke 21:20
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
- Doesn’t use “abomination,” but describes the same moment from a broader geopolitical angle
- Desolation is triggered by surrounding armies
- When Jerusalem is compassed with armies, you know the abomination of desolation is near
II. What Is The “Abomination Of Desolation”?
When Jesus warned of the “abomination of desolation,” He was using a phrase packed with meaning—both moral and prophetic. To understand what this means, we must look closely at the words abomination and desolation as used throughout the Bible. These are not generic terms. They are specific, weighty, and deeply connected to the wrath of God against sin—especially in His house.
ABOMINATION — What Does God Call Abominable?
The word abomination in Scripture always refers to something God utterly detests. It’s used for the worst kinds of rebellion—idolatry, sexual perversion, and defiled worship.
1. Idolatry and False Gods
Deuteronomy 7:25–26
The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God. 26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.
1 Kings 11:7
Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
Ezekiel 8:10
So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about.
God doesn’t ignore idol worship—He calls it abomination. When men build altars to false gods or bring idols into holy places, they defile what God has declared sacred.
2. Sexual Perversion
Leviticus 18:22
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
Leviticus 20:13
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Abominations aren’t just about statues. They include perverse acts that mock God’s created order. These sins aren’t “alternative lifestyles”—God calls them detestable.
3. Defiled Sacrifices and Hypocritical Worship
Deuteronomy 17:1
Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavourdness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Proverbs 15:8
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
A sacrifice may look religious, but if it’s offered by a wicked man or done in hypocrisy, God doesn’t accept it. In fact, He hates it. Worship without obedience is abomination.
DESOLATION — What Does It Mean?
The word desolation means to make something ruined, empty, or forsaken. In the Bible, it is often the result of God’s judgment after a people or place is defiled.
1. Judgment on Disobedient Nations and Temples
Jeremiah 22:5
But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.
When Israel rejected God’s words, the temple—the very house of God—was turned into an empty ruin.
Lamentations 1:13
From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.
Desolation is not just physical ruin. It brings sorrow, weakness, and fear. It affects the soul and spirit of a people.
Ezekiel 6:6
In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.
This is what happens when God cleans house. Every trace of false religion is destroyed. Altars are shattered. Cities laid waste. Worship ceases. This is desolation by divine judgment.
The Abomination That Maketh Desolate
Now let’s put it together.
“Abomination” = an act of rebellion or defilement so wicked it stirs God’s wrath.
“Desolation” = the ruin and judgment that follows.
Jesus pulled this phrase from Daniel’s prophecy and pointed us back to the temple.
Matthew 24:15
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:)
This will be a visible, physical act that happens in a holy place. It’s not symbolic. You will see it. And when you do, the great tribulation is beginning.
This aligns with Daniel’s prophecy:
Daniel 11:31
And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
Daniel 12:11
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
And it is fulfilled in what Paul describes:
2 Thessalonians 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.
This is the ultimate act of rebellion—a man claiming to be God, sitting in God’s temple, demanding worship, and polluting the holy place. That’s not just blasphemy. That’s the abomination that maketh desolate.
Summary Statement:
The abomination of desolation is a visible, blasphemous act of idolatry or rebellion committed in the holy place by the Antichrist. It is rooted in the pattern of Scripture where abomination leads to destruction. Just as idols in the temple led to Babylonian invasion, so this act will trigger the Great Tribulation and the outpouring of God’s final wrath.
III. Most Likely Possibilities (Biblically Based)
While the Bible doesn’t tell us exactly what the abomination of desolation will be, it gives us enough specific clues to make informed, biblically grounded possibilities. Based on Scripture alone (KJV), here’s a ranked list of the most likely to least likely interpretations—with reasons for each.
Most Likely Possibilities (Biblically Based)
1. The Antichrist Sitting in the Temple Declaring Himself God
Key Verses:
2 Thessalonians 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
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:)
Why It’s Likely:
- This directly matches the “standing in the holy place” warning.
- It’s the climax of idolatry—a man claiming to be God.
- It ties to the midpoint of the 70th week, when the Antichrist breaks his covenant.
This is the most literal and direct fulfillment of Jesus’ warning and Daniel’s prophecy.
2. An Image or Idol of the Beast Set Up in the Temple
Key Verse:
Revelation 13:14-15
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Why It’s Likely:
- Daniel speaks of an “abomination that maketh desolate”—a thing being placed.
- Revelation 13 speaks of an image with power, and worship enforced.
- Idol worship is repeatedly called an abomination throughout Scripture.
This could be the visible “abomination”—a literal idol placed in the holy place.
3. The Ending of Daily Sacrifices and Replacement with False Worship
Key Verse:
Daniel 11:31
And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
Why It’s Possible:
- Involves stopping legitimate religious practice and starting something wicked in its place.
- Could include pagan rituals, blasphemous offerings, or honoring the beast instead of God.
Not the abomination itself, but part of the same moment—what is taken away and what replaces it.
4. A Blasphemous Declaration—Like Changing God’s Law or Times
Daniel 7:25
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Why It’s Plausible:
- May involve rewriting God’s law, changing holy days, or replacing the Bible with the Antichrist’s own words.
- Could accompany the Antichrist’s self-deification.
Less about what is seen, more about what is said and legislated—but could accompany the visible act.
Less Likely but Still Possible Interpretations
5. A Homosexual Act or Marriage Ceremony in the Temple
Key Verse:
Leviticus 18:22
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
Why It’s Possible:
- Homosexuality is called abomination.
- Today’s world sees this sin as sacred, and it is being celebrated in churches and religious spaces.
- If done in the holy place of a rebuilt temple, it would fulfill the concept of defiling worship.
While this would be deeply offensive to God, it’s less likely the central fulfillment—but could be part of the broader rebellion.
6. Animal Sacrifice of an Unclean Beast (Like a Pig) on the Altar
Historical Connection:
- Antiochus Epiphanes, a type of the Antichrist, offered swine on the altar and set up a Zeus statue in the temple (1 Maccabees—not Scripture, but echoed in Daniel 8 imagery).
Why It’s Possible:
- Pigs were unclean (Leviticus 11), and swine sacrifice would be an intentional insult to God.
- Daniel 11:31 speaks of polluting the sanctuary.
This fits the type seen in history, but Scripture never directly says the Antichrist will do this.
7. A Symbolic or Spiritual “Standing” (e.g., Ecumenical Worship of different denominations and different religions or AI Worship)
Why It’s Speculative:
- Some believe it could be a spiritual idea, like replacing God with a false religion or technology.
- Examples: AI called “god,” universal religion summit in the holy place, etc.
Jesus said, “When ye shall see it… standing in the holy place.” This points to a physical, visible event, not just a concept.
Final Ranking: Most to Least Likely
| Rank | Possibility | Reason |
| 1 | Antichrist declaring himself God in the temple | Fits 2 Thess. 2:4 and Matthew 24:15 exactly |
| 2 | Image of the beast set up in the temple | Matches Revelation 13 and Daniel 11:31 |
| 3 | Sacrifices stopped and false worship begins | Tied directly to Daniel’s prophecy |
| 4 | Law or times changed; global worship redirected | Fits Daniel 7:25 but may be accompanying |
| 5 | Homosexual act/marriage in the temple | Abominable, but not clearly predicted |
| 6 | Swine or unclean animal sacrificed on the altar | Typologically accurate, but not stated |
| 7 | Symbolic interpretation only (ecumenical worship, AI) | Not likely; contradicts “ye shall see” |
You could even see human sacrifice or a Satanic ritual in the temple in Jerusalem. Sons and daughters are burnt in the fire. It is abomination.
Other possibilities: Maybe the Quran or other blasphemous religious book is placed in the Holy Place. Israel accepting a false Messiah. A false resurrection or fake second coming event. Worship of AI. Maybe AI in humanoid form with godlike control. Desecration of the found ark of the covenant. Universal worship ceremony for all religions or interfaith services.
This is the most detailed sermon on the abomination of desolation and what it is and what it might be. Remember, we’re talking about this because we’re studying the Feasts of the Lord and the Blowing of the Trumpets.
The Abomination of Desolation triggers a period of great tribulation.
Let’s pray.
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