A key sign to watch for as given by Jesus (NAB):

Mt 24:15-16 "When you see the desolating abomination spoken of through Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains,"

This web page is a technical analysis of the words Jesus used to describe this sign, where the same words can be found in Daniel and whether or not these passages apply to the end times. The key events from the passages will be presented graphically. A discussion of what these events may be will follow on another page.

To what was Jesus referring. To answer this question we must find the words in Daniel, written in both Aramaic and Hebrew, that express the same thoughts as the Greek words used in Matthew. Even though I frequently quote from the NAB version, I like the overall translation the best, the KJV will be used in the next chart because it is more consistent in using the same English word for the same concept. The NAB translates desolating in Daniel to horrible.

The ideas expressed by Jesus, "desolating abomination", appear together only in Daniel chapters 9, 11 and 12. The same source word for desolation, "shamen", is used in all four chapters cited above. The word chosen to express abomination or detestable thing is "shiqquwts" and it is used only in chapters 9, 11 and 12. The source word used in chapter 8 in conjunction with "shamen" is "pesha", which does not have the same expression of disgust as does "shiqquwts". The prophecy described in chapter 8 is different from the one introduced in chapter 9 and amplified in chapters 11 and 12, so the latter vision is the one to which Jesus must have been refering. (Click here if you want greater detail.) However, chapter 8 does have application to this concept also, as we shall see later. "Daily sacrifice" was added to the table because it is relevant to the topic. Sacrifice is in parentheses to show that it is an implied word. There is one Hebrew word which translates to daily or regular and the context implies sacrifice. The NAB version of these passages follow:

8:11-14: The little horn: "It boasted even against the prince of the host, from whom it removed the daily sacrifice, and whose sanctuary it cast down, as well as the host, while sin replaced the daily sacrifice. It cast truth to the ground, and was succeeding in its undertaking. I heard a holy one speaking, and another said to whichever one it was that spoke, 'How long shall the events of this vision last concerning the daily sacrifice, the desolating sin which is placed there, the sanctuary, and the trampled host?' He answered him, 'For two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be purified.'"

9:27 "For one week he shall make a firm compact with the many; Half the week he shall abolish sacrifice and oblation; On the temple wing shall be the horrible abomination until the ruin that is decreed is poured out upon the horror."
[Note: the word for week in Hebrew translates to 7 years.]

11:30-31: "... Then he shall direct his rage and energy against the holy covenant; those who forsake it he shall once more single out. Armed forces shall move at his command and defile the sanctuary stronghold, abolishing the daily sacrifice and setting up the horrible abomination."

12: 11-12 "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the horrible abomination is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is the man who has patience and perseveres until the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days."

Do these References in Daniel refer to the Past or the Future?

8:11-14 This passage was fulfilled in the past at the end of the Greek period when Antiochus Epiphanes defiled the temple. The sanctuary was restored with the miracle of Hanukah. (For more detail see the book Don't Worry... Be Faithful) However, what Antiochus did is a type of what the end-time Antichrist will do. The portion that alludes to the end times begins at 8:25 "...But when he rises against the prince of princes...".

Also, the Hebrew for "desolating sin", which is not "desolating abomination", contains a wordplay referring to the Greek god whose statue Antiochus placed in the sanctuary.

9:27 This passage is yet to be fulfilled. It will be completed when there is an end of sin and the end of the war between the two princes (KJV). The two princes being Satan & Christ. This has not occurred yet.

11:30-31 This passage occurs during a description of the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. The passage now calls what he did a horrible abomination and establishes it as a type for the end times because of the subsequent change of time frame to the end times. Note that verse 35 refers to the "end time" as "still appointed to come" and then verse 40 makes the transition to that time: "At the appointed time..."

12: 11-12 This passage continues in the same time frame as the prior chapter, the end times. 12:1 "At that time...".

The prophecy of the 70 weeks of years and the vision of the last days apply directly to our time. The details describe the final week of the 70 weeks of years, hereafter referred to as Daniel's 70th Week. A graphic representation of these passages is shown below. The other two visions develop the image of Antiochus Epiphanes as the type of the Antichrist to come.

As one reflects upon these passages and the chart below, it becomes clear that in order to understand the desolating abomination one must first encounter sacrifice and oblation.