Abomination of Desolation: The Primary Sign
I. WHAT IS THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION?
A. The Abomination of Desolation will clearly signal the beginning of the Great Tribulation. The Church will see it standing
in the holy place of the Jerusalem Temple and will understand.
15 When you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place"
(whoever reads, let him understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains…21 For then
there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor
ever shall be. 22 Unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved… (Matthew 24:15-22)
B. The Abomination of Desolation involves a specific worldwide practice in the End-Times that is an abomination to
God. This abomination will lead to the desolation (destruction) of many people and nations. This abomination begins when
the Antichrist claims to be God and then forces hundreds of millions of people by law to accept this claim as evidenced
by worshipping him as God. This legal decree of the Antichrist will cause great desolation worldwide.
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and
the man of sin (Antichrist) is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that
is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is
God. (2 Thessalonians 2:2-4)
C. The Antichrist will set up an idol (image or statue) of himself in the Jerusalem Temple and then command the nations
to worship him as God. Multitudes will join in this blasphemy of God. This will be the greatest abomination to God in history, yet
it will be the Church’s greatest hour.
D. The abomination to God will occur in two ways. First, by the fact that the Antichrist will demand by law to be received
as God as he sits in the holy place in the Jerusalem Temple. The essence of the abomination is that he uses his political
position to force the whole earth into satanic worship. Second, because hundreds of millions of people will fully accept his
claims.
E. The Antichrist will seek to bring desolation (destruction) to all who refuse to worship him. God will destroy the
people who do worship him by the plagues in the Book of Revelation (7 seals, 7 trumpets and 7 bowls of wrath). This
abomination will lead to 3½ years of global desolation.
F. The very thing that Satan wanted from Jesus in Matt. 4 is what he demands from the whole earth.
8 The devil…showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, "All these things I
will give You if You will fall down and worship me." (Matthew 4:8-9)
G. The Antichrist will demand to be worshipped before an idol as Nebuchadnezzar did (Daniel 3:1-6).
1 Nebuchadnezzar…made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits (90 feet) and its width six cubits
(9 feet)…4 Then a herald cried aloud, "…You shall… worship the gold image …6 whoever does not fall down
and worship shall be cast into…fiery furnace." (Daniel 3:1-6)
II. ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION: SUPERNATURAL STATUE OF THE ANTICHRIST
A. The supernatural image or statue of the Antichrist that breathes and talks along with the mark of the Beast will be
the main vehicles to deceive and enforce the worldwide worship of the Antichrist. The False Prophet will convince many to
make an image to the Antichrist.
4 They worshiped the Beast (Antichrist), saying, "Who is like the Beast? Who is able to make war with him?"
5…He was given authority to continue for forty-two months (3½ years)…7 It was granted to him to make war
with the saints and to overcome them. Authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All
who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life…11 I saw
another beast (False Prophet)… 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first Beast (Antichrist)…and
causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first Beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven…14 And he deceives those
who dwell on the earth by those signs…telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the Beast
who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the Beast,
that the image of the Beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the
Beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark
on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark
or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18…His number is 666. (Revelation 13:4-18)
B. The great catalytic event that thrusts the Antichrist into worldwide prominence will be a dramatic head wound and
apparent healing (Revelation 13:3, 12, 14). He will seemingly be killed and healed before all causing them to be
overwhelmed with awe so as to worship him. It will be a mockery, a parody of Jesus’ dying and rising from the dead. After
the Antichrist’s head wound is healed, then the Abomination of Desolation which involves the setting up his image in the
Jerusalem Temple will be the next significant legislation in his plan to rule the earth.
C. The image of the Beast is when the Antichrist sets up a blasphemous idol of himself in the Jerusalem Temple. The
image will probably resemble the Antichrist. It may even speak like him. It will represent him in a personal way. This will
cause great desolation, even threatening the life of the majority for the people on earth (Matthew 24:22). This is one of
the most significant prophetic signs in the End-Times. John emphasized this statue ten times (Revelation 13:14, 15 [three
times]; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4). This will occur in the middle of the last 7 year period.
22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved (physically saved from death) but for the
elect's sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:22)
D. The image or statue will combine cutting edge technology and a supernatural demonic element causing this image
to breathe and speak. What will it say? I think it will prophesy by demonic power as it tells people private information, such
as giving the contents of their dreams or of a private conversation with a deceased person (as in a séance). It will speak
things that will cause the nations to worship the Antichrist as God.
E. People will worship the image (or the statue) of the Antichrist.
9 A third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the Beast (Antichrist) and his
image, and receives his mark…10 he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone...11 And the smoke of their
torment ascends forever and ever…who worship the Beast and his image…" (Revelation 14:9-11)
F. Men will make idols that will be connected to the abomination in Jerusalem. They will make the idols out of different
materials according to their economic ability.
20 The rest of mankind…did not repent…that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver,
brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. 21 They did not repent of their murders or
their sorceries or their sexual immorality or thefts. (Revelation 9:20-21)
G. There will be some sort of a global network of these high-tech statues (or holograms) in local “Antichrist worship
sanctuaries” that will be connected to the Jerusalem temple. They will probably monitor the people’s attendance (to give
proof of their allegiance to the Antichrist).
H. The mark of the Beast (Antichrist) will be a public mark on people’s right hand or forehead. It will be used to
regularly identify the people that promise to worship the Antichrist (Revelation 13:16-17). Those who refuse this mark will
not be allowed to buy or sell the necessities of life. They will be viewed as criminals of the state who are guilty of the death
penalty. It will be illegal to refuse the mark. All who refuse to worship the Antichrist will be sought out. Parents will betray
their children and children will betray their parents who refuse to receive this mark.
I. This mark will be the outward proof of one’s covenant to worship Satan and the Antichrist. In other words, people will not
accidentally take this mark, nor will it be given to them against their will. The significance of the mark is found in making
a heart commitment to worship Satan. Just as no one can accidentally commit their life to Jesus and receive salvation, so the
mark will
only be taken by those who willingly understand what they are doing. The foundational technology for the mark of the Beast
currently exists in the form of implanted microchips. Microchip technology itself is not evil, but it gives us insight into how the
mark could operate. The mark will undoubtedly be much more advanced than our present technology.
J. This abomination will lead to worldwide desolation. It is important to have clarity about this.
15 The four angels…were released to kill a third of mankind. (Revelation 9:15)
14 The LORD will judge all flesh; and the slain of the LORD shall be many. (Isaiah 66:14-16)
33 The slain of the LORD shall be from one end of the earth even to the other... (Jeremiah 25:33)
1 The LORD makes the earth empty and makes it waste …3. The land shall be entirely emptied and utterly
plundered …6. The curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell in it are desolate. Therefore the
inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left. (Isaiah 24:1-6)
III. DANIEL’S PROPHECIES ABOUT THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
A. The Abomination of Desolation is referred to by name 6 times in Scripture, 4 times by Daniel (Daniel 8:13; 9:27;
11:31; 12:11) and twice by Jesus (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14). The Abomination of Desolation is the scriptural name for
this period of this crisis and its activity.
B. The Abomination of Desolation will need to be “set up”. In other words, the whole system needs to be “set up”. This
will involve setting up the statue of the Antichrist (image of the Beast) in the Jerusalem Temple and setting up a worldwide
infrastructure so that all can worship the image (Revelation 14:9-11). The Abomination of Desolation or the statue or
image of the Antichrist will ‘stand in’ or be ‘set up’ in the Jerusalem Temple. The Abomination involves desolating the
Jerusalem Temple with the image of the Beast and stopping the animal sacrifice offered there.
11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the Abomination of Desolation is set up,
there shall be 1,290 days. (Daniel 12:11)
27 On the wing of abominations shall be one (Antichrist) who makes desolate … (Daniel 9:27)
C. Antiochus Epiphanes (Antiochus IV; 175-164 BC) defiled the Temple in a way that would prophetically foretell how
the Antichrist will defile it in the End-Times. Daniel 11:31 describes historical events in Antiochus’ day that give insight into
when the Antichrist does this.
31 They shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the
Abomination of Desolation. (Daniel 11:31)
13 I heard a holy one (angel) speaking…"How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the
transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host (army of Israel) to be trampled
under foot?" (Daniel 8:13)
D. Jesus quoted Daniel 12:11 as one of the most significant events in the End-Times. Matthew added, “whoever reads,
let him understand.” Gabriel told Daniel to understand (Daniel 9:23, 25).
15 When you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy
place" (whoever reads, let him understand)… (Matthew 24:15)
E. The Abomination of Desolation cannot occur unless Israel rebuilds the Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
For the Antichrist to stop the daily sacrifices in the Temple, the Tribulation Temple must exist. The Temple does not
currently exist, but we know that it must be rebuilt (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 11:1-2;
13:12-18; Daniel 9:26, 27; 11:31; 12:11). Even now plans to rebuild the Third Temple are being pursued aggressively in
Israel. This may occur just before the first half of the final 7-year period (often referred to as Daniel's 70th Week).
F. The Third Temple is NOT the same as the Millennial Temple. There are two distinct Jerusalem Temples prophesied
in Scriptures i.e. the Tribulation Temple (Third Temple) which will be built by unbelieving Jews and then desecrated by the
Antichrist. The Millennial Temple will be built by Jesus (Isaiah 2:3; 60:6, 10, 13; Ezekiel 37:26-28; 40-48; Zechariah 2:11;
6:12-15; 14:16-21).