What is the abomination of desolation? Let’s start with the book of Daniel.
Daniel uses this phrase: “the abomination that maketh desolate” (Dan. 11:31; 12:11). The abomination is a physical object, a detestable thing that makes desolate.
As for whether this word desolate is an adjective or a verb, it is an adjective. Professor Gordon Campbell of the University of Leicester commented on the matter, explaining that in English “desolate” as a verb is always transitive, and it clearly is not that here. Transitive verbs must have an object: you have to desolate something. There is no object in either Daniel 11:31 or 12:11. Thus “desolate” is an adjective in those Scriptures.
The adjective desolate means “without inhabitants; uninhabited; deprived of inhabitants; laid waste”.
Jesus uses this phrase: “the abomination of desolation” (Matt. 24:15; Mar. 13:14). Because the abomination makes desolate, through metonymy it is of desolation. The noun desolation means “a loneliness or lying waste”; “a laying or a lying waste”.
The abomination of desolation is an abhorrent object that the antichrist’s military force will both place and set up in the Jews’ third temple. This will happen in the middle of a seven-year covenant, which the antichrist shall confirm with many. (Compare: Dan. 9:26,27; 11:31; 12:11; Matt. 24:15; Mar. 13:14.)
Of a truth, the abomination of desolation is an abomination that astonishes, that is, surprises, amazes, and confounds. For it shall astound the Jews to see not only an abomination, not only desolation, but an abomination of desolation set up in their holy temple. This shall grieve and astonish them, and shall stir up emotions of fear and wonder.
Not only will the antichrist put a detestable object in the Jews’ temple, but his military force shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, that is, they will defile the temple; and with his abominable armies he shall make the temple desolate. (Compare: Dan. 8:11,12; 9:27; 11:31; Luk. 21:20–24.)
The abomination of desolation is likely an idol of the false god spoken of in Daniel chapter 11, which says of antichrist, “a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, …”
Some people believe that Daniel’s prophecies were fulfilled by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Greek Hellenistic king who attacked Jerusalem in the second century BC. There are a few problems with this belief:
Firstly, Daniel chapter twelve shows that a resurrection will occur several years after the wicked king sets up the abomination that makes desolate. Thus to believe that Daniel is talking about Antiochus is to believe that a resurrection took place in the second century BC. Since no resurrection happened, these prophesies are yet future. (Read: Dan. 11:21–12:3.)
In addition, those who believe that Daniel’s prophecies were fulfilled in Antiochus’ day must explain who the people were who shone as the brightness of the firmament, and those others who shone as the stars (see, Dan. 12:2,3).
Those of us who believe that these prophecies will happen during the antichrist’s reign understand the shining ones are those who are resurrected at the Lord’s coming (see, Rev. 20:5,6).
References:
KJV. 1611. Annotation for “for the overspreading of abominations” in Daniel 9:27.
KJV. 1611. Annotation for “maketh desolate” in Daniel 11:31.
Phillips, Edward. “Desolation.” The New World of English Words, E.P., 1658.
Coles, Elisha. “Desolation.” An English Dictionary, Peter Parker, 1677.
“Desolate, adj.” A Dictionary of the English Language, by Samuel Johnson. 1755.
“Astonish, v.a.” A Dictionary of the English Language, by Samuel Johnson. 1755.
Received by Gordon Campbell, A Question Regarding a 17th-Century Phrase, 30 June - 01 July 2024.