The Abomination of Desolation and The Great Tribulation
I. A MAN WITH A FALSE ANOINTING SAYING HE IS GOD WILL LEAD TO GLOBAL DESOLATION
A. The Abomination of Desolation
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place…”
(Matthew 24:15)
1. The abomination of desolation is the time when the antichrist stands in the temple in Jerusalem declaring himself to
be God.
2. The antichrist will make all the people of the earth worship him. It is the abomination that leads to global desolation.
It is not figurative, but it is literal.
3. The abomination of desolations is God’s title for this period of crisis. The abomination of desolation is the greatest
abomination of all history. It will be the church’s greatest hour.
B. When the antichrist governs the political systems of the world using demonic signs and wonders then declares
himself to be God. Because he will be in the top position as world leader, the stakes are very high. The essence of the
abomination is that he uses his political position to force the whole earth into satanic worship. This abomination is backed
up by demonic signs and wonders.
C. The abomination is that he demands satan worship from every human being on the earth at the price of human life.
No one can buy nor sell without worshipping the devil. All who refuse will be sought out as a criminal of the state under a
real threat of martyrdom.
D. The very thing that satan wanted from Jesus in Matthew 4 is what he demands from he whole earth.
“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and 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)
E. This terminology is used seven times in scripture.
1. It is used five times in the book of Daniel: Daniel 8:13; 9:26, 27; 11:31; 12:11
2. It is used two times in the New Testament: Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14
II. SCRIPTURES ON THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATIONS
A. Jesus’ teaching on the abomination of desolations:
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy
place” (Matthew 24:15)
“So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not”
(let the reader understand), then let those whoa re in Judea flee to the mountains” (Mark 13:14)
B. Angelic teaching given to the prophet Daniel
“…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)
“After the 62 weeks Messiah shall be cut off … and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city …
the end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. Then he shall confirm a covenant
with many for one week; but in the middle of the week he shall bring an end of sacrifice … on the wing of abominations
shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate”
(Daniel 9:26-27)
“…they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the
abomination of desolation.” (Daniel 11:31)
“Then I heard a holy one 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 to be trampled under foot?” (Daniel 8:13)
III. THERE IS A DRAMATIC SEVEN YEAR PERIOD AT THE END OF THE AGE
A. The Holy Spirit is orchestrating a seven year drama at the end of natural history.
B. Daniel was the first one to receive understanding of this seven year period described in Daniel 9:24-27
“Seventy weeks are determined for your people … to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting
righteousness … Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore … Jerusalem until
Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks … And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut
off … and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city … the end of it shall be with a flood, and till the
end of the war desolations are determined. Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle
of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice … and on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even
until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate” (Daniel 9:24-27)
C. The seven year period will be divided into two important parts each being 3-1/2 years.
1. The first three and a half years will be dramatic and difficult. It is referred to as birth pangs.
2. The second three and a half years will even be more dramatic and severe. The last three and a half years it he
heavy labor. It is called the great tribulation.
D. We may well now be in “morning sickness”. The birth pangs will be more intense than what is now occurring in
most places of the earth.
IV. SCRIPTURES FOR THE LAST 3-1/2 YEAR PERIOD OF NATURAL HISTORY
A. Forty-two months:
“But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the gentiles. And
they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.” (Revelation 11:2)
“And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-
two months. (Revelation 13:5)
B. 1,260 days:
“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed
in sackcloth” (Revelation 11:3)
“Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God that they should feed her there
one thousand two hundred and sixty days. (Revelation 12:6)
C. Time, times and half a time:
“But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she
is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. (Revelation 12:14)
“He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend
to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. (Daniel 7:25)
Then I heard the man clothed in linen … swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a
time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:7)
V. SCRIPTURES ON THE GREAT TRIBULATION:
“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.” (Matthew 24:21)
“At that time … there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time.
(Daniel 12:1)
A. In Daniel 12, the angel told Daniel about this the most difficult time in history for believers. There is coming a
cataclysmic tribulation upon planet earth.
1. The last 3-1/2 years is called the Great Tribulation. It is a literal 42 month period. It is also referred to as 1,260
days or “time, times and half a time”.
“The Great Tribulation begins with the great act of abomination that leads to global desolation.”
B. Jesus’ teaching on the Great Tribulation:
“For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of creation which God created
until this time, nor ever shall be.” (Mark 13:19)
“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.” (Matthew 24:21)
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars
will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (Matthew 24:29)
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
(Matthew 24:9)
For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. (Luke 21:23)
And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity,
the sea and the waves roaring… (Luke 21:25)
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33)
C. John in the Book of Revelation:
“Behold, a great multitude … of all nations, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the
Lamb” Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these … and where did they come from?” He said to
me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation…” (Revelation 7:9-14)
D. Old Testament prophets:
“Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of
it.” (Jeremiah 30:7)
“At that time Michael shall stand up … and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a
nation, even to that time.” (Daniel 12:1)
“And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the
Lord will drive you. And there you will serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone … But from there you will
seek the Lord your God and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in
distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice.”
(Deuteronomy 4:27-30)
VI. PURPOSE FOR TRIBULATION
“And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the
end; because it is still for the appointed time.” (Daniel 11:35)
“Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall
understand, but the wise shall understand.” (Daniel 12:10)
“…that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she
should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:27)
“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made
herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright…” (Revelation 19:7-8)
VII. THE GREAT TRIBULATION IS SATAN’S WRATH NOT GOD’S
A. Satan’s wrath against the church
“Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the
devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” (Revelation 12:12)
B. The great apostasy occurs due to the wrath of satan against believers
“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 is revealed, the son of perdition…” (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
“And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.” (Matthew 24:10)
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and
doctrines of demons…” (1 Timothy 4:1)
VIII. GOD’S WRATH IS NOT AGAINST THE CHURCH
“…even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:10)
“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9)
“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9)
IX. GOD’S WRATH IS AGAINST THOSE WHO ARE IN REBELLION AGAINST HIM
“So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of
mankind.” (Revelation 9:15)
“And it shall come to pass in all the land, says the Lord, That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, but one third shall
be left in it” (Zechariah 13:8)
“They shall go into the holes of the rocks and into the caves of the earth, from the terror of the Lord and the glory of
His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth mightily.” (Isaiah 2:19)
“And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy – everyone who is
recorded among the living in Jerusalem. When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged
the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, then the Lord will create
above every dwelling place of Mount Zion and above her assemblies a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a
flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering.” (Isaiah 4:3-5)
“And He said, ‘Go, and tell this people: “Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not
perceive’ Then I said, “Lord how long?” And He answered: “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, the
houses are without a man, the land is utterly desolate. The Lord has removed men far away, and the forsaken places
are many in the midst of the land. But yet a tenth will be in it, and will return and be for consuming … as an oak, whose
stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump.” (Isaiah 6:9-13)
“Behold, the Lord makes the earth empty and makes it waste, distorts its surface and scatters abroad its inhabitants.
The land shall be entirely emptied and utterly plundered, for the Lord has spoken this word. The earth mourns and fades
away, the world languishes and fades away; the haughty people of the earth languish. The earth is also defiled under its
inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws … therefore 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)
“Fear and the pit and the snare are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth. For the windows from on high are open,
and the foundations of the earth are shaken. The earth is violently broken, the earth is split open, the earth is shaken
exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall totter like a hut; its transgression shall be heavy
upon it, and it will fall, and not rise again. It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord will punish on high the host of
exalted ones, and on the earth the kings of the earth. They will be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the
pit, and will be shut up in the prison; after many days they will be punished. Then the moon will be disgraced and the
sun ashamed; for the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before His elders, gloriously.”
(Isaiah 24:17-23)
“Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little
moment, until the indignation is past. For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth
for their iniquity; the earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain.” (Isaiah 26:20-21)
“Come near, you nations, to hear; let the earth hear, and all that is in it. For the indignation of the Lord is against all
nations, and His fury against all their armies; he has utterly destroyed them, He has given them over to the slaughter.
Also their slain shall be thrown out; their stench shall rise from their corpses, and the mountains shall be melted with their
blood. All the host of heaven shall be dissolved and the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; all their host shall fall
down as the leaf falls from the vine. The sword of the Lord is filled with blood … for it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance,
the year of recompense for the cause of Zion.” (Isaiah 34:1-8)
“Who is this who comes form Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah this One who is glorious in His apparel, traveling
in the greatness of His strength? I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” Why is Your apparel red, and Your
garments like one who treads in the winepress? I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was
with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger and trampled them in My fury; their blood is sprinkled upon My garments
and I have stained all My robes. For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come. …
My own fury, it sustained Me. I have trodden down the peoples in My anger, made them drunk in My fury and brought
down their strength to the earth.” (Isaiah 63:1-6)
“He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven …
followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He
Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And
He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Then I saw an angel …
saying to all the birds, “Come … for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains,
the flesh of mighty men … both small and great.” I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered
together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him
the false prophet who worked signs in his presence… These tow were cast alive into the lake of fire … And the rest were
killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their
flesh.” (Revelation 19:13-21)
“But the day of the Lord … in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with
fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up, looking for and hastening the coming of the day
of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heart.”
(2 Peter 3:10-12)
“The Lord shall be known to His servants, and His indignation to His enemies. For behold, the Lord will come with
fire and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and
by His sword the Lord will judge all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many.” (Isaiah 66:14-16)
“And at that day the slain of the Lord shall be from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth. The
shall not be lamented, or gathered, or buried; they shall become refuse on the ground.” (Jeremiah 25:33)
“I have cut off nations … I have made their streets desolate, with none passing by. Their cities are destroyed; there
is no one, no inhabitant. I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me, you will receive instruction’ – so that her dwelling would not be cut
off, despite everything for which I punished her. But they rose early and corrupted all their deeds. “Therefore wait for Me”
says the Lord, “Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations to My assembly of kingdoms,
to pour on them My indignation, all my fierce anger; all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy.”
(Zephaniah 3:6-8)
“He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His
wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure. Ask of Me and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance. You
shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.” (Psalm 2:4-9)
“The Lord is at Your right hand; he shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the nations,
He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries. (Psalm 110:5-6)
“The first angel sounded: and hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a
third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. Then the second angel sounded; … fire was
thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. And a third of the living creatures in the sea died … Then the
third angel sounded: a third of the waters became wormwood and many men died form the water … Then the fourth
angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them
were darkened … I heard an angel flying … saying, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the
remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound” (Revelation 8:7-13)
“Then the fifth angel sounded: he opened the bottomless pit … the sun and the air were darkened because of the
smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions
of the earth have power. And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. And their
torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. In those days men will seek death and will not find it;
they will desire to die, and death will flee from them. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails.
Their power was to hurt men five months. And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name
in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon. One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming
after these things. Then the sixth angel sounded: … “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.
So the four angels who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of
mankind. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed – by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came
out of their mouths. But the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues did not repent of the works of their
hands that they should not worship demons … And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual
immorality or their thefts. (Revelation 9:1-21)
“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of
God on the earth.” So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon
the men who had the mark of the beast … Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood …
and every living creature in the sea died. Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and
they became blood. Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men
with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God … Then the fifth angel poured
out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because
of the pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their
deeds. Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl … and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the
throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake,
such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Then every island fled away,
and the mountains were not found. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent.
Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great. (Revelation 16:1-21)