What is the coming “abomination of desolation”?

Dear friends,

Unfortunately, some readers still cannot understand what the future “abomination of desolation” really is. But it is important. Because after it’s appearance you will need to leave the meetings and other places of your former worship immediately and not return to them again. In fact, in the last article, which was dedicated to the reasons and urgency of fleeing from the coming “abomination of desolation”, the definition of this “abomination” was not given directly. Although it was visible to the attentive reader — in context.

However, all Christians are different, and some need simpler explanations. Therefore, I sincerely apologize and fill in this gap. I.e. I give a simpler wording for understanding.

What is the “abomination of desolation”?

So, when we talk about the “abomination of desolation”, it is most important that this is not just an abomination, but “abomination of DESOLATION“.

And the key word here is “DESOLATION”.

Yes, the most important thing…

…this is not just “desolation”, but desolation in the spiritual Temple. I.e. it is the stopping of public sacrifices to God. This lack of a “sacrifice of praise” is an abomination to God. And confirmation of this fact can be read from the prophet Daniel:

And out of one of them there came forth another horn, a small one, and it kept getting very much greater toward the south and toward the sunrising and toward the Decoration. And it kept getting greater all the way to the army of the heavens, so that it caused some of the army and some of the stars to fall to the earth, and it went trampling them down. And all the way to the Prince of the army it put on great airs, and from him the constant feature was taken away, and the established place of his sanctuary was thrown down. (Daniel 8:9-11, NWT, © 1961,1981,1984 WTBTS)

What is it about? It is about the taking away of the daily sacrifice from the God himself, i.e. it is the complete desolation on His altar. This is the “abomination of desolation.” Many other prophecies discussed in the previous article say the same thing.

In addition, this is clearly evident from the fact that when writing down the prophecy of Jesus, the Apostle Luke also focuses not on the “abomination”, but on the coming “desolation” of the Holy city:

Furthermore, when YOU see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then know that the desolating of her has drawn near (Luke 21:20, NWT).

This form of communication from Luke is particularly important because Luke was not with Jesus at the time when He gave this prophecy. However, by the time he recorded this message, the congregation was receiving the direct influence of the Holy spirit. And since this prophecy was told in the context of the coming of Christ (Matthew 24:1-3) and in the context of the prophecy of Daniel (Matthew 24:15), it must have been discussed in detail and repeatedly in the congregations. This is why Luke repeatedly heard this story from the apostles, and since the comparison of Apostolic and prophetic texts shows that Luke was a meticulous researcher (compare Luke 1:1-4), it is clear that the Apostle simply had to put the emphasis correctly. So it’s not surprising that:

the main idea of Luke’s message was also the impending desolation of the Holy city, and as a result, desolation of the Temple.

There are many “abominations”, but there is only one “abomination of desolation”!

When reading about various “abominations” in the Bible, it is very important not to get confused. There are many abominations described in the Bible, and they are all different: these are vile acts, “lame sacrifices”, idols, idolatry, and many other sinful concepts.

But Daniel, to whom Jesus referred, is not just talking about sins or idols. Here he speaks precisely of the “abomination of DESOLATION” associated with the stop of sacrifices. After all, the sacrifice of which the prophet speaks is offered to God. Therefore, the stop of such a sacrifice is an “abomination” to God in the first place. And only then for His loyal disciples at all times.

Reading about the future, we see that the pagans together with the “beast” (i.e., with a growing small horn) will suddenly attack the “Temple” (i.e., those who glorify God’s Name) and stop their “sacrifices”. And so they will put this “abomination”. But the pagans themselves are not! Of course, their actions and their idols are also an abomination to the worshippers of God, and this is also mentioned in the previous article. However, this is not just about “abomination”, but precisely about the “abomination of DESOLATION” — that is, the stop of the sacrifice of praise and the stop of public praise of God’s Name.

It will all begin when a government “beast” appears and launches a surprise attack on the congregations of those who bear and glorify God’s name in order to prohibit and destroy their worship. So when you see that the attack started and that across the land begins the stop of public sacrifices of praise to Jehovah, then know that the “abomination of desolation” and set of “time of the end” has begun.

For more details, please see the article: When you see the abomination of desolation… flee!