In Matthew 24:15, Jesus speaks of the Abomination of Desolation, referenced by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place. This points to prophecies in Daniel, including the 70 Weeks Prophecy in Daniel 9:27, as well as Daniel 11:30-31 and Daniel 12:11. In Daniel 11, a king from the north of Judea is described as showing favor to those who forsake the holy covenant, defiling the sanctuary fortress, taking away the daily sacrifices, and setting up the abomination of desolation, which may be understood as an appalling abomination. Historically, this had a fulfillment around 167 BC when Antiochus IV, known as Epiphanes, constructed an altar to Zeus within the Temple at Jerusalem and sacrificed swine on it, an act that horrified those who feared God and respected His word. A similar event occurred in the first century when, as recorded by Josephus, the Roman army under Titus entered the Temple with their standards, which included the Roman eagle and the image of the Emperor, worshipped by the Romans. Sacrifices were made to these standards in the Temple, declaring Titus as imperator in the place dedicated to the worship of the true God. The pattern of the Abomination of Desolation indicates an idolatrous act, honoring a foreign god in the place dedicated to the true God. This sign, alongside the preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom to all nations, marks a critical indicator of the end of the age and the return of Christ, amidst a time of intense tribulation and spiritual decline among God's people.

The concept of the Abomination of Desolation emerges in the prophecy concerning Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a later Syrian king of the Greek Empire, as described in Daniel's visions. Identified as a little horn in Daniel 8:9-14, Antiochus pursued violently anti-Jewish policies, forbidding circumcision, Sabbath and holy day observance, and the possession of Torah scrolls under penalty of death. He executed those who refused to eat swine's flesh and those who would not bow to pagan images. Most notably, he erected a statue of Zeus Olympius in the Temple, an act termed an abomination of desolation in Daniel 11:31, desecrating the sacred space with swine sacrifices and pagan rites, orgies, and festivals on the Temple grounds. In his arrogance, as noted in Daniel 8:11, he demanded worship as Zeus, minting coins with the inscription proclaiming himself as God manifest, a vile counterfeit of the true Divine presence. His actions, including wars against Egypt and the Maccabees, are further detailed in Daniel 11:21-35, portraying him as a precursor to the end-time Beast who will similarly blaspheme and persecute God's people.

ThereThere are three significant events prophesied to occur before the return of Christ and the ushering in of the Millennium. One of these is the reinstitution of the daily sacrifices. The daily sacrifices must be restarted, and then they will be taken away, marking the beginning of the Tribulation. When the sacrifices are stopped by the anti-Christ, it will be for 1290 days, a period spanning a little over three and a half years during the Tribulation. The concept of the abomination of desolation is tied to this cessation of sacrifices. As mentioned in Daniel 12:11, the daily sacrifices will be halted, and the abomination of desolation will be set up. Historically, Antiochus Epiphanes fulfilled a similar prophecy by stopping the morning and evening sacrifices, totaling 1150 days, as referenced in Daniel 8:14. This act serves as a forerunner to what is still to come in the end times. Currently, there are Jews in Israel who are earnestly striving to reinstate the daily sacrifices. They have constructed a portable altar weighing four and a half tons, demonstrating their serious intent. However, opposition from Jewish authorities in Jerusalem and concerns about conflict with Muslims are creating obstacles. Despite these challenges, their determination signals that the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the daily sacrifices and the abomination of desolation could be approaching. God instructs His people to watch for the signs of prophecy being fulfilled, not to preserve physical life, but to prepare spiritually and draw closer to Him. The reinstitution of the daily sacrifices is a critical sign to observe, as it is one of the three events that must precede Christ's return. ]