"When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.”  Mark 13:14

            Jesus spoke of the “abomination that causes desolation” in Matthew and Mark and he is referencing the prophet Daniel who used that phrase three times.

He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” Daniel 9:27

 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.” Daniel 11:31

 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.” Daniel 12:11

            An “abomination that causes desolation” means a horrible, filthy thing that will completely devastate, ruin and cause people to abandon it.  After Daniel, one such abomination occurred when the Greek leader Antiochus IV Epiphanes put a Zeus statue in the temple in 168 BC and sacrificed a pig inside.  That certainly was an abomination and the temple was desolate for a period of time.

            After Jesus spoke this, another abomination was the siege and invasion by Rome in 70 AD which completely destroyed the temple to complete uselessness even to this day!

            Daniel points to a desolation in his own near future and so does Jesus.  Many want to create another desolation in the future, believing the temple will be rebuilt.  No Christian should be rooting for a rebuilt temple because the temple is not needed.  We have Jesus.  We are the temples taking the Gospel to the world.