What is the “abomination of desolation,” mentioned in Matthew 24:15 and several other passages?

One must first understand the meaning of the term “abomination of desolation.” The word “abomination” in Matthew is from the Greek word bdelugma, which means, a foul thing (loathsome on account of its stench), a detestable thing (Joseph Henry Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 1977). As we will see below, in all cases, something detestable made (and will make) Jerusalem desolate or empty.

Most Bible prophecies are dual in fulfilment. In this case, there is even a third realization of Daniel’s original prophecy (Dan. 12:11). The first was in 167 B.C., on the 25th day of the month Kislev (November or December). The Syrian king Antiochus Epiphanes offered a pig upon an altar to the Greek god Zeus directly on the temple mount in Jerusalem. Request our free booklet The Mid-East in Bible Prophecy for more details.

The second fulfilment is the one mentioned by Christ in Matthew 24:15, occurring when the Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70. However, in addition to that event, He was also referring to a third, yet future, fulfilment.

A short time before Christ returns to earth, armies will again surround Jerusalem and another “abomination” will take place. At that time, God’s people are commanded to flee to safety (Matt. 24:16-22, Luke 21:20-27).

In addition to the aforementioned booklet on the Middle East, you may also wish to request our article What Is the “Abomination of Desolation”? Our booklets Are These the Last Days? and Revelation Explained at Last! also explain the end-time events preceding Christ’s Return.

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