The Abomination of Desolation: A Multifaceted Prophecy
The phrase “abomination of desolation” is very important historically and religiously. It is linked to sacrilege and idolatry in the ancient temple of YHWH in Jerusalem. The phrase has been used in different ways throughout history, each with its own meanings but all connected.
Definition and Moral Implications
The word “abomination1” refers to actions that lead to separation from God. It includes idolatry and any acts that go against divine principles. In the New Testament, it’s highlighted for its spiritual offensiveness rather than just physical or aesthetic disgust.
Historical Instances
The “abomination of desolation” originated with Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who defiled the Jerusalem temple by setting up an altar to Zeus Olympios and sacrificing a pig on it (cf. Dan. 8:9-14; 9:24-27; I Macc. 1:54, 59; II Macc. 6:1-2). This disrespectful act led to the phrase being used and understood in different ways.
In A.D. 70, during the siege of Jerusalem, Roman General Titus, who later became Emperor, and his army brought pagan symbols and offerings into the temple, which fulfilled a prophecy of desolation and was seen as a significant event (cf. Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14; Luke 21:20; Dan. 9:24-27; and possibly 11:36-39)
Biblical and Prophetic Context
The phrase “abomination of desolation” is very important in the Bible. It appears in the prophecies of Daniel in the Old Testament (Dan. 7:7-8). It is connected to the Little Horn of the 4th Kingdom and the events of A.D. 70, showing its deep prophetic meaning and the connection between historical and divine fulfillment.
Interpretive Complexity and Typological Significance
This is an illustration of a phrase that is employed in various, albeit interconnected, meanings. This phenomenon is referred to as “multiple fulfillment prophecy.” Its interpretation remains elusive until after the events transpire; in retrospect, the typology becomes unmistakable.
The “abomination of desolation” represents a combination of historical desecrations and prophetic foretelling. It is a symbol of sacrilege and divine judgment with a rich context that includes historical events, biblical prophecies, and theological interpretations.
- M. R. Vincent describes well the term “abomination”:
“The cognate verb, ßδελύσσμαι, means to feel a nausea or loathing for food, hence used of disgust generally. In a moral sense it denotes an object of moral or religious repugnance (cf. 2 Chr. 15:8; Jer. 13:27; Ezek. 11:21; Dan. 9:27; 11:31). It is used as equivalent to idolatry in 1 Kings 11:17; Deut. 7:26; 2 Kings 23:13. It denotes anything in which estrangement from God manifests itself; as the eating of unclean beasts, Lev. 11:11; Deut. 14:3; and, generally, all forms of heathenism. This moral sense must be emphasized in the New Testament use of the word (i.e., compare Luke 16:15; Rev. 17:4,5; 21:27). It does not denote mere physical or esthetic disgust. The reference here is probably to the occupation of the temple precincts by the idolatrous Romans under Titus, with their standards and ensigns. Josephus says that after the burning of the temple the Romans brought their ensigns and set them over against the eastern gate, and there they offered sacrifices to them, and declared Titus, with acclamations, to be emperor” (Word Studies in the New Testament, pp. 74-75). ↩︎
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