Abomination of desolation

Enthroned Zeus (Greek, c. 100 BCE)

"Abomination of desolation"[a] is a phrase from the Book of Daniel describing the pagan sacrifices with which the 2nd century BC Greek king Antiochus IV Epiphanes replaced the twice-daily offering in the Jewish temple, or alternatively the altar on which such offerings were made.[1]

In the 1st century AD it was taken up by the authors of the gospels in the context of the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in the year 70,[2] with the Gospel of Mark placing the "abomination of desolation" into a speech by Jesus concerning the Second Coming.[3] It is widely accepted that Mark was the primary source used by the authors of the Gospel of Matthew and of Luke for their parallel passages,[4] with Matthew 24:15–16[5] adding a reference to Daniel[6] and Luke 21:20–21[7] giving a description of the Roman armies ("But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies..."); in all three it is likely that the authors had in mind a future eschatological (i.e., end-time) event, and perhaps the activities of some antichrist.[8]


Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).

  1. ^ Lust 2001, p. 682.
  2. ^ Ryken, Wilhoit & Longman 2010, p. 3.
  3. ^ Schroter 2010, p. 291.
  4. ^ Reddish 2011, pp. 28–31.
  5. ^ Matthew 24:15–16
  6. ^ Davies & Allison 1988, p. 345.
  7. ^ Luke 21:20–21
  8. ^ Davies & Allison 1988, pp. 345–46.