The “Abomination of Desolation” is something Daniel spoke of, and Jesus Christ referred to.  But what is it?  Let’s take a closer look.

Let’s first look at where Jesus mentioned the “Abomination of Desolation”.  Jesus only mentioned it once, although it appears in two gospel accounts. 

Mat 24:15  “Therefore when you see the ‘ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place”  (whoever reads, let him understand),
Mat 24:16  “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Mar 13:14  “So when you see the ‘ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Speaking about the end of the age, Jesus exhorted those in Judea to flee to the mountains when the “Abomination of Desolation” appears in the holy place.  He didn’t go into any detail and, frustratingly, the gospel writers added “let the reader understand” without any further explanation.  So, in the gospel accounts, there is useful information about what to do when you see the “Abomination of Desolation”, but no explanation of what it is.

Let’s now look in the book of Daniel where the “Abomination of Desolation” is mentioned for more information.

Daniel 8:13

Daniel chapter 8 covers Daniel’s vision of the Ram and the Goat and its interpretation.  The Ram represents the kingdoms of Media and Persia, and the goat represents the kingdom of Greece, verses 20-21.  In the latter time of the Greek kingdom, “A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes”, verse 23.  It was this Greek king who took away the daily sacrifices and implemented “the transgression of desolation”, verse 13, or in other words, the “Abomination of Desolation”.

Dan 8:11  He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down.
Dan 8:12  Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.
Dan 8:13  Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, “How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?”
Dan 8:14  And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.”

This is a prophecy about a particular Greek king who would stop the daily sacrifices and set up the abomination of desolation, a prophecy that was fulfilled towards the end of the Greek empire, in 167 B.C., when Antiochus IV Epiphanes stopped the daily sacrifices and desecrated the temple by setting up an altar to Zeus and sacrificing swine on the altar.

Daniel 9:27

The passage of Daniel 9:24-27 covers what is known as The Seventy Weeks prophecy.  (See “What is the meaning of The Seventy Weeks prophecy?” for more information.)  The last “week” of the prophecy relates to the seven years preceding the return of Jesus Christ.

Dan 9:27  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.”

The phrase, “On the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate”, is a reference to the “Abomination of Desolation”.  This is a prophecy regarding the 7 years before the return of Jesus Christ, when a future world leader will broker a peace deal in the middle east.  (The middle east because the previous verses mention Jerusalem.)  However 3½ years later he will stop the daily sacrifices and “makes desolate” on the “wing of abominations” (set up the abomination of desolation).

Daniel 11:31

Daniel chapter 11 is a very long chapter covering very detailed prophecies about the kings of the north and the south, most of which have been fulfilled. 

Dan 11:31  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.

This was fulfilled in 167 B.C. when Antiochus IV Epiphanes stopped the daily sacrifices and desecrated the temple by setting up an altar to Zeus and sacrificing swine on the altar.

Daniel 12:11

Daniel chapter 12 covers the time of the end.

Dan 12:10  Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
Dan 12:11  “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.

This is a prophecy that just before the return of Jesus Christ, the daily sacrifices are stopped, and the abomination of desolation is set up.

To summarise the above, we see that these four prophecies in Daniel pertain to the stopping of the daily sacrifices and the setting up of the “Abomination of Desolation”.  Daniel 8:13 and 11:31 are prophecies which have been fulfilled by Antiochus IV Epiphanes.  Daniel 9:27 and 12:11 are prophecies which are yet to be fulfilled by some future king (world leader).  Antiochus’s defilement of the temple was how the “Abomination of Desolation” in Daniel 8:13 and 11:31 was fulfilled and it is the most obvious way to understand how Daniel 9:27 and 12:11 will be fulfilled.

Conclusion

The historical record of Antiochus IV Epiphanes and what he did leads to the conclusion that the “Abomination of Desolation” relates to the defilement of and end time temple in Jerusalem, (which to date has not been built).