The Abomination That Causes Desolation
Dani’el 9:27b, 12:11 and Matthew 24:15

The abomination that causes desolation DIG: When and where will this abomination be set up? What is the purpose of the image? How will this image affect the Jews who are still alive at that time? Who will be decimated? Where will most of them flee to? What will happen there?

The first event tied to the breaking of the seven-year covenant (see Bz) will be the abomination that causes desolation. There are three key passages.

The first is found in the book of Dani’el. The prophet tells us that the antichrist will confirm a covenant with the Jews for one seven year period. In the middle of the seven years of tribulation he will put an end to the daily burnt offering sacrifice and offering. And on the wings of the Tribulation temple he will set up an abomination that causes it to be spiritually deserted as far a God is concerned. The phrase on the wings is taken from the Hebrew root word kanap, means to cover over, in a negative sense.

Since the Garden of Eden, Satan has always wanted to be worshiped in place of God (Genesis 3:1-4; Isaiah 14:13-14 and Ezeki’el 28:2). Just as the Holy Trinity works together in unison, so will the unholy trinity. As a result, in the middle of the Great Tribulation, the antichrist, who will be the epitome of Satan, will have his image set up in the most holy place in the tribulation temple by the false prophet. There the counterfeit son will claim to be God. He sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God (Second Thessalonians 2:4). Because Tziyon is the religious capital of the world for ADONAI, the counterfeit Messiah will set up his counterfeit religious capital in Jerusalem.

The counterfeit father and the counterfeit son will be inseparable, just like the true Father and the true Son. So when the image of the antichrist is worshiped, Satan will also be worshiped. Where the true and living God dwelt between the overspreading wings of the cherubim on the mercy seat, Satan will foolishly try to take His place. So the antichrist, in turn, will demand to be worshiped until the end of the three-and-one-half-year period that God has decreed to be poured out on him and the world (Dani’el 9:27b).

A second passage gives the length of time that the abomination that causes desolation will last. From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days (Dani’el 12:11). That is a full thirty days beyond the 1,260 days of the Great Tribulation (Rev 11:3). His image will continue to be worshiped for an additional 30 days after he is killed, then it will be disposed of during the Seventy-Five-Day Interval (to see link click Ey The Seventy-Five Day Interval).

The third passage, found in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14, finds Jesus referring to Dani’el’s prophecy. Our Lord prophesied: So when you see the abomination that causes desolation standing in the most holy place spoken of through the prophet Dani’el, let the reader understand. Once again the Tribulation temple is mentioned here. Up to the mid-point in the Tribulation, Isra’el will consider the antichrist an ally. But when they see his image standing in the most holy place demanding to be worshiped as God, the spiritual scales will fall from their eyes and they will see his true identity. That abomination will cause 42 months of desolation as two thirds of the Jews will be killed. Most will flee to Bozrah where the Lord will return at the end of the Great Tribulation (see my commentary on Isaiah KgThe Second Coming of Jesus Christ to Bozrah). Their flight will start the second half of the Great Tribulation where Satan and the rest of the Gentile world will attempt to hunt down and destroy the Jews for the last time. It is Satan’s final solution.

Dear Heavenly Father, You are so loving! Please remind all who are being threatened or persecuted because of their love for Your Holy Yeshua, that Death is a defeated enemy. Yeshua rose in victory form the grave (Matthew 28) and has given His righteousness to those who love and follow Him. He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (Second Corinthians 5:21). Heaven is a reality for all who love and follow Yeshua as their Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10). In heaven there will be no crying, no dying, no sadness, nor pain (Revelation 21:4). Heaven will be a home of everlasting peace and joy! We love You and will not focus on pain and evil but we will bring to mind often that You have redeemed Your children and will bring them to live with You forever! We love and praise You. In Your holy Son’s name and power of His resurrection. Amen