Shema Living During End Times (12)
The Abomination of Desolation
“So when you see the abomination of desolation – spoken about by Daniel the prophet – standing in the holy place (let the reader understand)…” (Matthew 24:15)
I would guess that like most children who grew up in church, we heard and hopefully understood the important message to honor the church sanctuary or God’s house. A few “no, no’s” that I recall were: one could not carry anything to drink in the sanctuary; you could not wear a hat. (I believe, except for ladies who maybe had one to match their Easter Sunday dress.); and finally, no running in the sanctuary.
The message: God’s house and the church building is a special place and we are to reverence and respect it with care and to refrain from certain actions.
Though these “no, no’s” do not hold a candle to what Jesus presents and means in Matthew 24:15, they do introduce the topic of respect and the message of reverence for the Lord’s Temple and the abomination of desolation will shatter all courtesy and respect for the Lord’s house. Jesus utilizes the phrase from Old Testament prophecy of Daniel to underscore a significant moment and indicator for the Jewish Temple that would occur with the Roman destruction in AD70 as well as a still future moment that signals the end and His second coming.
Old Testament exile, advisor, and prophet Daniel mentions the abomination of desolation or “the desolating sacrilege” multiple times—Daniel 8:13; 9:27; 11:31; 12:11. A literal meaning is “to feel nausea or hatred for food.” (Vincent) Overall descriptive words of the phrase include dreadful, shameful, or spoil. (Newman) Specifically, the word “abomination” denotes a form of idolatry and the worship of it. Examples of such acts are mentioned in Deuteronomy 29 referencing the idols of the nations that Israel was to occupy; as well as when Solomon built a high place to worship the false gods Chemosh and Molech. (Zion’s Fire, Vol. 28, no. 2). The word “desolation” depicts the result of when the abomination is erected and worshipped as described in the phrase, “the desecrating sacrilege.” (Newman, Zion’s Fire)
With these moments happening prior to Daniel’s time, his use of the word speaks forward to moments when an idol has been brought in, instituted, and worshipped in the Temple. Thus, defiling and desecrating the holy place of God. The initial prophetic “desolating sacrilege” matching Daniel’s prophecy occurs when Antiochus Epiphanes, the Seleucid king, in 167BC. Antiochus built an altar to Zeus and worshipped by sacrificing an unclean pig in the Temple. This event is recorded in the Intertestamental book of 1 Maccabees. Another abominable moment mentioned by commentary writer, Keener, occurs around AD66 by Romans when an anointed, priestly ruler was killed. Shedding innocent blood in the Temple profaned it (Macc. 1:37; Matt. 23:35). Just a few years later the Romans under Caesar Titus would destroy the Temple as Jesus prophesied in verse 2.
Yet, another future “abomination of desolation” occurrence is to be anticipated from Jesus’ prophecy denoting His coming. This future idol worship in the Temple will not only follow the historical-biblical pattern that has been consistently woven in the fabric of prophecy and remedial judgment but also will happen to signal the “end of the age” as it did for the Temple destruction in the first-century. When this moment occurs Jesus’ followers must take notice. (Morris)
Both in Matthew’s Gospel and in Mark’s (13:14) the parenthetical phrase ends the verse, “Let the reader understand.” The phrase seeks to make the reader, with Daniel’s words in mind, to pause and truly ponder its meaning. With all the chaos that Jesus has declared earlier to describe what will be occurring in the world at this time, a full grasp of what this profane and desecrating sacrilege will be may not be able to be understood until it happens. Again, the encouragement to “Watch and pray” is vital.
Our Father, this transition to fixate our hearts on Your Temple necessitates a needed pivot and unwavering attention from Your followers. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Again, thank You for the details and assistance to follow Your progression towards Your second advent. Though these prophetic moments are given by You as “whenever” we trust You and the certainty of their happening. By Your Holy Spirit, “Let the reader understand.” In Jesus’ name, amen.
