Abomination of Desolation: Primary Sign of the Tribulation
I. WHAT IS THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION?
A. The Abomination of Desolation is a series of evil or abominable events that will occur in the final 3½ years before
Jesus returns. They will be an abomination to God and will result in great worldwide desolation (destruction). Thus, it
will be an abomination that leads to great desolation.
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. 17 Let him who is on the housetop
not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 Let him who is in the field not go back…21 For there will be great
tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time… (Matthew 24:15-21)
B. The abomination will center around an image (statue) of the Antichrist standing in the holy place in the Jerusalem
Temple (to be rebuilt). It will be the primary sign that the Great Tribulation has begun. Jesus prophesied that believers
would “see” it and would understand its significance. Those in Judea must flee to the mountains because the next 3½
years will be very difficult.
C. Paul described the abomination of desolation as requiring a rebuilt Temple with a sacrifice system re-established
(2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). The Antichrist will enter the Temple to stop the sacrifices.
3 For that Day (Rapture) will not come unless…the man of sin (Antichrist) is revealed…4 who opposes and exalts himself
above all that is called (associated with) God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the Temple of God, showing
himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
II. THE COMING ABOMINATION: FOUR MAIN EVIL ACTIVITIES
A. First, the abomination begins when the Antichrist sits in the Temple claiming to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
Antichrist is a counterfeit to Jesus ruling from the Temple (Ezekiel 43:5-7; Zechariah 6:12-13).
B. Second, the False Prophet will tell people to make an image (statue/idol) that is associated with the Antichrist. By
combining Jesus’ and Paul’s information we know that the Antichrist will sit in the Temple (2 Thessalonians 2:4) and that
an idol will stand there (Matthew 24:15). Therefore, we can safely assume that the “primary” idol related to the Antichrist
will be in the Jerusalem Temple.
14 And he (False Prophet) deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs…telling those who dwell on the earth to
make an image to the Beast (Antichrist). (Revelation 13:14)
C. Third, the False Prophet will tell the leaders in the nations to make an image to the Antichrist. I believe that many
local leaders will have a duplicate image of the Antichrist that is demonically and technologically connected to the
“primary” image in Jerusalem. The result will be a global network of local “Antichrist worship sanctuaries” that include
high-tech images (holograms?) of the Antichrist. Men will make these idols out of materials of different economic value.
20 The rest of mankind…did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of
gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood… (Revelation 9:20)
D. Fourth, the False Prophet will cause (command/force) all the nations to worship the Antichrist as God. All will be
required by law to worship the Antichrist as God. These laws will also empower the wicked to kill the righteous. These laws
and the response to them will be an abomination.
12 And he (False Prophet) exercises all the authority of the first Beast (Antichrist)…and causes the earth and those who
dwell in it to worship the first Beast…15 He was granted power to…cause as many as would not worship the image of the
Beast to be killed. (Revelation 13:12, 15)
8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him (Antichrist), whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the
Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)
E. People will worship the Antichrist’s image itself.
9 If anyone worships the Beast (Antichrist) and his image…10 shall be tormented... (Revelation 14:9)
III. THE DESOLATION OF THE NATIONS: 2 SOURCES OF DESTRUCTION
A. The consequences of the coming abominations will result in great desolation (destruction) coming to many nations
from two totally different sources, from Jesus and the Antichrist. There will be 3½ years of global desolation that will
threaten the life of the majority of the earth.
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)
1 The LORD makes the earth empty (of people)…3. The land shall be entirely emptied…6. The inhabitants of the earth
are burned, and few men are left. (Isaiah 24:1-6)
9 The day of the LORD comes…to lay the land desolate; He will destroy its sinners from it...11 I will punish the world…
12 I will make a mortal more rare than gold... (Isaiah 13:9-12)
B. First, Jesus will destroy the people and places who worship the Antichrist and/or his image. Jesus will open the
scroll to release the plagues in book of Revelation (7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 bowls).
8 Power was given to them over a fourth of the earth…. (Revelation 6:8)
15 The four angels…were released to kill a third of mankind. (Revelation 9:15)
16 The LORD will judge all flesh; and the slain of the LORD shall be many. (Isaiah 66:16)
33 The slain of the LORD shall be from one end of the earth even to the other... (Jeremiah 25:33)
C. Second, the Antichrist will use his unprecedented political, military and economic power to seek to destroy those
refuse to worship him.
15 To cause as many as would not worship…the Beast to be killed. (Revelation 13:12, 15)
3 The man of sin (Antichrist) is revealed, the son of perdition (destruction) (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
27 On the wing of abominations shall be one (Antichrist) who makes desolate… (Daniel 9:27)
IV. ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION: THE IMAGE AND THE MARK OF THE BEAST
A. The image of the Beast 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.
B. The Abomination of Desolation will be convincing to many because of demonic miracles.
9 The coming of the lawless one (Antichrist) is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
10 and with all unrighteous deception... (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)
24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
(Matthew 24:24)
C. The image of the Beast that breathes and talks and the mark of the Beast will be two components of the
Abomination of Desolation that deceives the world into worshipping the Antichrist.
13 He (False Prophet) 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…15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the Beast, that the
image of the Beast should speak… 16 He causes all…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… 18 His number is 666. (Revelation 13:13-18)
D. The mark of the Beast (Antichrist) is a key component of the Abomination of Desolation system. It will be a public
mark on people’s right hand or forehead (Revelation 13:16-17).
E. The Antichrist’s image will combine cutting edge technology (or holograms?) and supernatural demonic elements
causing this image to breathe and speak. The image will probably resemble the Antichrist. It may even speak like him so
that it represents him in a personal way.
F. What will the Antichrist’s image say? It was granted power to give breath to the image or to give a false
“appearance” of life. By speaking, it will appear to think freely as it makes laws that cause people to be killed who
refuse to worship the Antichrist. It may speak on others issues.
G. I believe the image will speak to the people in personal ways by prophesying by demonic power about private
matters. It may relate the dreams or private conversations with a deceased person (séance) as a counterfeit to the
End-Time worship and prophetic movement.
17 It shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy… (Acts 2:17)
H. A global network of local “Antichrist worship sanctuaries” that prophesy would be a counterfeit claim to the
Antichrist’s omnipresence. These demonic local outposts will be the focal points of spiritual warfare as the true houses
of prayer fill the earth at that time. Daniel revealed Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2:19, 26-28). This caused
Nebuchadnezzar to worship Daniel’s God.
V. THE END-TIME SATANIC COUNTERFEIT WORSHIP MOVEMENT
A. The Holy Spirit is raising up a End-Time prophetic worship movement (Revelation 22:17; 5:8; 8:4; Luke 18:7-8;
Matthew 25:1-13; Isaiah 62:6-7; 24:14-16; 25:9; 26:8-9; 27:2-5, 13; 30:18-19; 42:10-13; 43:26; 51:11; 52:8;
Joel 2:12-17, 32; Jeremiah 31:7; Micah 5:3-4; Zephaniah 2:1-3; Psalm 102:17-20; Zechariah 12:10).
B. Hundreds of millions will accept the Antichrist’s claims and thus, participate in Satan worship.
4 They worshiped the dragon (Satan) who gave authority to the Beast (Antichrist); and they worshiped the Beast saying,
"Who is like the Beast?...” (Revelation 13:4)
8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him (Antichrist), whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the
Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)
C. 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)
D. 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)
VI. UNDERSTANDING MORE ABOUT THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
A. Scripture exhorts us to understand the vision (which included the Abomination of Desolation).
23 Therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision… (Daniel 9:23)
25 Know therefore and understand… (Daniel 9:25)
B. We are exhorted “read and understand” or to take the necessary efforts to understand.
15 The abomination of desolation…whoever reads, let him understand… (Matthew 24:15)
C. The Abomination of Desolation is directly 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 the Antichrist’s image that is placed in the Temple. The Abomination of Desolation is described without using
the name 4 more times in Scripture (Revelation 13:11-18; 14:9-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Daniel 3:1-30)
D. 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 beginning of the final 7-year period.
E. 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 in the Jerusalem Temple and setting up a worldwide infrastructure
so that all can worship the image (Revelation 14:9-11). The Abomination involves stopping the animal sacrifices to
replace them with the image of the Beast. It is referred to in the singular as “the” Abomination of Desolation.
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)
1. Jesus spoke of the statue of the Antichrist ‘standing in’ in the Temple.
15 The Abomination of Desolation…standing in the holy place… (Matthew 24:15)
2. The Antichrist’s armies will take the statue and ‘place it there’ in the Temple.
31 They shall…place there the Abomination of Desolation. (Daniel 11:31)
F. Daniel 8:13 gives us details to give us insight into what the Antichrist will do.
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)
1. The Antichrist will act in a way that concerns the daily sacrifices.
2. He will lead the nations into “the transgression” that leads to the desolation of nations.
3. Someone or a group of people will “give” the sanctuary and the host to be trampled. Does this refer to God, the
Antichrist, the False Prophet, or another person or group?
4. The transgression will involve giving the sanctuary to be trampled under foot or to be degraded or defiled. The
sanctuary or Temple will not be torn down, but the furniture and activities will be defiled and degraded. The Abomination
involves desolating the Temple with the image of the Beast and stopping the animal sacrifices offered there.
5. The transgression will involve giving the host (army of Israel or army of the Lord) to be trampled under foot. This
speaks of persecuting the host. The army of Israel will be small yet it will be anointed of the Lord at the end of the
conflict (Zechariah 12:5-8).
G. Antiochus Epiphanes (Antiochus IV; 175-163 BC) defiled the Temple in a way that would prophetically foretell how
the Antichrist will defile it in the End-Times. Daniel 11:31 gives us details from Antiochus’ example to give us insight into
what the Antichrist will do. Antiochus’ forces defiled the sanctuary fortress or the Temple complex. Antiochus’ forces took
away the daily sacrifices. Antiochus’ forces placed the Abomination of Desolation in the Temple.
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)
H. The sacrifices will be taken away. This was emphasized three out of the four times that Daniel referred to the
Abomination of Desolation (Daniel 8:13; 11:31; 12:11). The sacrifices are “daily” showing us Israel’s commitment to
host “daily” sacrifices.
I. The Antichrist will operate on the wing (pinnacle or extreme expression) of abominations.
27 On the wing of abominations shall be one (Antichrist) who makes desolate … (Daniel 9:27)
J. Daniel 11 provides us a picture from history of the abomination of desolation which is such a significant End-Times
event that an entire chapter was needed to give us an adequate historical context to make the picture clear. Antiochus
Epiphanes slaughtered thousands of Jews and desecrated Israel’s temple by sacrificing a pig on the altar and setting
up a statue of a Greek god in it, then he stopped the daily temple sacrifices (Daniel 11:31).
K. 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).