The phrase "Abomination of Desolation" appears in the Book of Daniel and is referenced by Jesus in the New Testament. But what does this cryptic term actually mean? Is it referring to Antiochus Epiphanes sacrificing a pig on the altar? Does it refer to Clovis, King of the Franks, establishing Catholicism in the Roman Empire? Or does it point to something else entirely? In this article, you will learn the true meaning of the Abomination of Desolation. Let's begin.

The Four References in Daniel

The concept of an Abomination or Transgression of Desolation appears in four different locations in the Book of Daniel:

1. Daniel 8:13 refers to the "the transgression of desolation"
2. Daniel 9:27 refers to "the overspreading of abomination he shall make it desolate."
3. Daniel 11:31 refers to "they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate."
4. Daniel 12:11 refers to "the abomination that maketh desolate."

You may have noticed that Daniel 8 refers to a "transgression of desolation," while the other three references use the term "abomination." Although this distinction is significant, I believe it still represents the same concept. Transgression is defined as a rebellious act against God, and Abomination is a specific transgression that typically relates to idolatry. Thus, although Daniel 8 employs "transgression" in lieu of "abomination," most scholars believe the Trangression in Daniel 8, and the Abomination in later chapters refer to the same concept.

Defining the Abomination of Desolation

To understand this phrase properly, we need to break it down:

• Abomination: Something detestable or disgusting to God, particularly relating to idolatry
• Desolation: Ruin, emptiness, or destruction

Combining these two concepts, we can define the "Abomination of Desolation" as something detestable that results in ruin or destruction. It is also imperative that you see, the Abomination always comes before the Desolation. The reason for this is due to the fact that the Desolation is the result of the Abomination.

Common Misinterpretations

Antiochus Epiphanes Theory

Many evangelical scholars believe the abomination of desolation refers to Antiochus Epiphanes placing and sacrificing a pig (an unclean animal) on the altar in Jerusalem around 167 BCE. While this act was certainly detestable to God's earthly sanctuary, there are two major problems with this interpretation:

1. The timeline doesn't align with Daniel's prophecy. If you remember, Antiochus Epiphanes ruled during the Greek dispensation. However, in a previous study, we determined that by the end of verse 9, the prophecy was dealing with the Papal Roman dispensation.    
2. According to historical accounts in the Book of Maccabees (which I call, the Book of Make-believe) Antiochus, "...plundered the city, set it on fire, and tore down its buildings and walls." 1Macabees 1:31. According to our definition, this represents the Desolation of Jerusalem. Then notice what verse 47 says - "They were commanded to build pagan altars, temples, and shrines, and to sacrifice pigs and other unclean animals there." Here we should see that this represents what Evangelicals call the Abomination. However, this order of events determines Antiochus did not enact an Abomination of Desolation, but rather a Desolation that preceded an Abomination. Do you see it? Antiochus first destroyed Jerusalem (the desolation) and then performed the sacrifice (the abomination). This reverses the order required by the definition of "abomination of desolation," where the abomination leads to desolation.

Clovis Theory

Many historicalists within Adventism believe that Clovis I, King of the Franks, was responsible for the Abomination of Desolation by establishing Catholicism in the Roman Empire. History says that around 496-497 CE, Clovis converted from Arian Christianity to Catholicism, and in 508 CE, he won a decisive battle that enabled him to establish Catholicism as the dominant religion in the Western Roman Empire. Here's what a few of our authors said about Clovis:

France, during the reign of Clovis, was the principal actor in placing the Abomination. Apollos Hale, The Second Advent Manual p. 83

How was the daily, or paganism, taken away? As this is spoken of in connection with the placing or setting up of the abomination of desolation, or the papacy, it must denote, not merely the nominal change of the religion of the empire from paganism to Christianity...As we approach the year A.D.508, we behold a grand crisis ripening between Catholicism and the pagan influences still existing in the empire. Up to the time of the conversion of Clovis, king of France, A.D.496, the French and other nations of Western Rome were pagan; but subsequently to that event, the efforts to convert idolaters to Romanism were crowned with great success. Uriah Smith, Daniel and the Revelation p. 283

Although Clovis is responsible for spreading Catholicism in the West, and is relevant to prophecy, we must understand that just because a king is relevant to Bible prophecy doesn't always mean that king is mentioned in Bible prophecy. And although Clovis was the arm of Catholicism, the Frankish king just isn't explicitly located in the pages of Daniel's prophecy. This may be offensive to many Adventists, but I believe this misappropriation of the Abomination of Desolation to Clovis stems from a misunderstanding of what the Abomination of Desolation actually represents.

Jesus Provides the Key to Understanding

Jesus himself offers the clearest explanation of the abomination of desolation in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14, where he warns:

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand. Matthew 24:15

But when ye shall see the abomination  of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains Mark 13:14

Notice that Jesus reveals that this prophecy was also spoken of by Daniel the prophet. However, we remember the Book of Daniel makes four mentions of the Abomination of Desolation. Which one was Jesus referring to? Once we analyze all four references, it's pretty easy to see that the Daniel 9:27 reference is the only one that doesn't mention the Daily being taken away in conjunction with the Abomination of Desolation being set up. We also see that the previous verse refers to the destruction of Jerusalem:

And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. Daniel 9:26

It should be clear that when Jesus referred to the Abomination of Desolation, He was referring to Daniel 9. It's the only reference that doesn't mention the Daily being taken away and also is the only account that refers to the destruction of Jerusalem. We confirm this idea when we read Luke's parallel account of the Abomination of Desolation conversation with his disciples:

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation  thereof is nigh.

You may not see it yet, but here, we should be able to see that Christ is giving us the template for understanding the meaning of the Abomination of Desolation. Notice, that He reveals that when the Roman armies surrounded Jerusalem, this was what He referred to as the Abomination, and the destruction of Jerusalem (in 70 AD) was its Desolation.

The True Meaning Revealed

Notice Ellen White's commentary on the Roman armies committing the Abomination:

When the idolatrous standards of the Romans should be set up in the holy ground, which extended some furlongs outside the city walls, then the followers of Christ were to find safety in flight. Great Controversy p. 25

The Roman military standards were staff-like objects with Roman symbols that were considered sacred by its armies. According to Ellen White, when these pagan, idolatrous symbols entered the holy ground of Jerusalem, it constituted an Abomination. This Abomination led to the Desolation of Jerusalem.

From this view, we should be able to see that an Abomination is when God's territory is infiltrated by Paganism. In essence, when the holy is mixed with the profane, that's an Abomination. And this Abomination is what leads to desolation. Notice how the Bible confirms this view:

Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination  is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this... Malachi 2:11-12

Can you see the mixing of the Holy and Profane is what the Abomination is? And the cutting off of the man is the desolation? Once you understand this definition, you will come to realize this is THE definition, it's the ONLY definition, and it can't be anything but this definition. The Abomination of Desolation can only be the mixing of Holy and Profane.

Based on this understanding, we must ask ourselves, after 70 CE, was there ever a time when Paganism infiltrated the grounds of God's people? Yes.

Ladies and Gentlemen, after the Church was established in the first century, it wasn't long afterward that the Church became "Romanized." It began slowly accepting Pagan traditions into its doors, and this culminated in the creation of the Papacy in 538 AD. The Papacy embodies a mixture of Pagan philosophies and Christian doctrines—honoring apostles with pagan-style statues, elevating Mary in ways similar to pagan goddess worship, introducing forms of necromancy through praying to dead saints, and adopting pagan holidays and traditions under a Christian guise. It is this Abomination that nearly led to the destruction of the Christian Church established by Christ.

Conclusion

The Abomination of Desolation, properly understood, always refers to the infiltration of pagan idolatry onto holy ground—the mixing of the profane with the holy. This definition helps us correctly interpret Daniel's prophecies and obtain a true understanding of God's Word.