Matthew 24:15 - Abomination of desolation (1st century understanding & historical fulfillment?)
Matthew 24:15 (1st century understanding & historical fulfillment?)
Matthew 24:14 - Good-news proclaimed (1st century biblical fulfillment?):
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Matthew 24:15
Matthew 24:15 & Luke 21:20 - Jerusalem surrounded by armies (1st century historical fulfillment?):
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Matthew 24:16 - Flee to the mountains (1st century historical fulfillment?):
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Matthew 24:15: "“Therefore when you-see the abomination (of) desolation — the (thing) having-been-spoken through Daniel the prophet — having-stood in (the) holy place, let the (one) reading understand,"
Summary
Jesus said: "when YOU-see the abomination (of) desolation" (Matthew 24:15). Jesus addressed here His 1st century disciples.
Jesus then added: "when you-see the abomination (of) desolation — the (thing) having-been-spoken through Daniel the prophet — HAVING-STOOD in (the) holy place, let the (one) reading understand" (Matthew 24:15). The Greek word found in early manuscripts for "HAVING-STOOD" here is in the perfect tense, which is a past tense. What was this abomination of desolation spoken through Daniel the prophet which in the past STOOD in the holy place?
In the 2nd century BC, the Greek army under Antiochus IV Epiphanies set up an idol of a foreign god in the temple of Jerusalem, and sacrificed to it there. This would have been the original abomination that causes desolation (Daniel 11:31). In the 1st century AD, the Roman army had a similar idol linked to the same foreign god that they were carrying with them, and they approached Jerusalem with it around AD 66. The similar idol that STOOD in the past in the holy place would thus now be SEEN again with the Roman armies approaching. Jews in the 1st century would have referred to such idols as an "abomination" when they would see the Roman armies with it. This may be why Jesus said in the parallel account to Matthew 24:15 found in Luke 21:20: "when you-SEE Jerusalem being-surrounded by ARMY-ENCAMPTMENTS, then recognize that her DESOLATION has-drawn-near."
After the Roman armies approached Jerusalem around AD 66, the First Jewish-Roman War then ensued, having for its consequence the DESOLATION of Jerusalem and its temple around AD 70 by the Roman armies. These Roman armies with their idols were an ABOMINATION that caused the DESOLATION of Jerusalem.
As a result of the Roman army attacking Jerusalem, the general of the Roman army ended up also setting up an idol of a foreign god in the temple of Jerusalem, and ended up offering sacrifices to it there, mirroring the act that Antiochus IV Epiphanies did in the past, confirming that their idols were indeed the same kind of abomination causing the desolation of Jerusalem.
You can find below evidences for that.
1st century audience?
Jesus said: "when YOU-see the abomination (of) desolation" (Matthew 24:15).
Who can be the "YOU" (Matthew 24:15) addressed in this passage?
12 verses earlier, Jesus spoke to His 1st century disciples, as "the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us" (Matthew 24:3) and "having-responded, Jesus said (to) them" (Matthew 24:4) these things.
1st century audience according to an early Christian author
Jesus said: "when YOU-see the abomination (of) desolation" (Matthew 24:15).
An early Christian author wrote how this passage was indicating a 1st century audience.
In the 4th century, a Christian author named Chrysostom wrote in "Homilies on Matthew":
(Homily 75): "in order that they might learn that these things will be while some of them are alive, therefore He said, When you see the abomination of desolation [Matthew 24:15]"
The instances of "the abomination of desolation" in Daniel the prophet
Jesus talked about "the ABOMINATION (of) DESOLATION— the (thing) having-been-spoken through DANIEL the prophet" (Matthew 24:15).
Daniel the prophet may have referred to it several times:
Daniel 8:13 (LXX): "And I was hearing another holy (one) speaking, and the other said to a certain person, to the one speaking, “How long will the vision stand, and the sacrifice having been taken away, and the sin of DESOLATION having been given; and will the holy (things) be DESOLATED by trampling?”"
Daniel 9:27 (Masoretic): "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of ABOMINATIONS will come one who makes DESOLATE, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes DESOLATE."
Daniel 11:31 (LXX): "And armies will stand with him, and they will defile the holy (place) of the fear, and they will remove the sacrifice, and place (the) ABOMINATION of DESOLATION."
Daniel 12:11 (LXX): "From which (time) of the through all sacrifice will be withdrawn, and the ABOMINATION of the DESOLATION shall be prepared to be set up, there will be a thousand two hundred ninety days."
The abomination of desolation "having-stood"?
Jesus said: "when you-see the abomination (of) desolation — the (thing) having-been-spoken through Daniel the prophet — HAVING-STOOD in (the) holy place, let the (one) reading understand" (Matthew 24:15). The Greek word found in early manuscripts for "HAVING-STOOD" here is in the perfect tense, which is a past tense.
This one would specifically be referring to "the (thing) having-been-spoken through Daniel the prophet — HAVING-STOOD in (the) holy place" (Matthew 24:15).
The parallel account to Matthew 24:15 found in Mark 13:14 has the Greek word for "HAVING-STOOD" in the masculine gender. This may indicate also that it could also refer to a man.
The abomination of desolation in Daniel the prophet having-stood "in the holy place": fulfilled by Antiochus IV Epiphanies?
Jesus talked about "the ABOMINATION (of) DESOLATION — the (thing) having-been-spoken through DANIEL the prophet — having-stood IN (THE) HOLY PLACE" (Matthew 24:15).
This specific instance may refer to the following passage in Daniel:
Daniel 11:31 (LXX): "And armies will stand with him, and they will defile THE HOLY (PLACE) of the fear, and they will remove the sacrifice, and place (the) ABOMINATION of DESOLATION."
This specific passage could have found a fulfillment around the 2nd century BC with Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who attacked Jerusalem with his armies, and removed the sacrifice at that time, and placed "(the) ABOMINATION of DESOLATION" in the temple, as it is recorded in 1 Maccabees 1:54: "on the fifteenth day of (the month) of Chislev, in the fifth and fortieth and hundredth year [167 B.C.], he erected (the) ABOMINATION of DESOLATION upon the altar (of God) and built altars (of idols) in (the) cities of Judah round about."
This idol upon the altar of God may have had to do with Zeus, as may be implied in the following account: "Now not after much time, the king sent an old man, an Athenian, to be compelling the Jews to be departing from the ancestral laws and not to be living by the laws of God; and to defile even the temple in Jerusalem and to call (it) by the name of ZEUS of Olympus and the (temple) in Garizim, of ZEUS Friend of Strangers, just as was happening (with) the ones inhabiting the place." (2 Maccabees 6:1-2).
The 1st century historian Josephus also indicated that at that time Antiochus would have removed the daily sacrifice in the temple of Jerusalem, set up an idol altar and ended up sacrificing a pig there.
The 1st century historian Josephus wrote in "Antiquities of the Jews":
(12:5:3-4): "King Antiochus [...] [An. 168.] after two years, in the hundred forty and fifth year, on the twenty fifth day of that month which is by us called Chasleu, and by the Macedonians Apelleus; in the hundred and fifty third olympiad, that the King came up to Jerusalem: [...] he forbad them to offer those daily sacrifices which they used to offer to God, according to the law. [...] And when the King had built an idol altar upon God’s altar he slew swine upon it, and so offered a sacrifice neither according to the law, nor the Jewish religious worship in that countrey. He also compelled them to forsake the worship which they paid their own God, and to adore those whom he took to be Gods; and made them build temples, and raise idol altars in every city and village; and offer swine upon them every day."
Idol similar to Zeus on the ensigns of the Roman armies in the 1st century?
In the 1st century, the Roman armies could march around with ensigns when going into battle. Their main ensign was an eagle named "AQUILA" which was understood to be a bird associated with ZEUS.
An early Roman mythographer referred how "Aquila" and "Zeus" could be understood as linked.
Around the 2nd century, a Roman mythographer wrote in "Pseudo-Hyginus":
(Astronomica 2.16): "Aquila. This is the eagle which is said to have snatched Ganymede up and given him to his lover, Jove [Zeus]. This bird, too, Jupiter [Zeus] is thought first to have singled out from the tribe of birds, because it alone, men say, strives to fly straight into the rays of the rising sun. And so it seems to fly above Aquarius, who, as many imagine is Ganymede."
1st century Jews considered the Roman ensigns as an "abomination"
In the 1st century, the Roman armies could march around with ensigns or standards when going into battle. These ensigns were recognized as idols by the Roman, who worshipped them.
A Roman historian named Suetonius who was born in the 1st century wrote about how the Roman could require paying homage to the Roman standards, and especially the eagles.
The Roman historian Suetonius who was born in the 1st century wrote in "Caligula":
(14): "Artabanus, king of the Parthians, who had always manifested hatred and contempt for Tiberius, solicited his friendship; came to hold a conference with his consular lieutenant, and passing the Euphrates, paid the highest honours to the eagles, the Roman standards"
An early Christian author reported about the worship by the Romans of the standards above all gods.
Around the 2nd century AD, a Christian author named Tertullian wrote in "Apology":
(1.16): "The camp religion of the Romans is all through a worship of the standards, a setting the standards above all gods"
Because the ensigns were considered as idols and were worshipped, they would have been considered by 1st century Jews as an abomination. Indeed, idols being carved images of foreign gods were considered by the 1st century Jews as an abomination, as it is written in the Law of Moses: "You shall burn with fire THE CARVED (IMAGES) OF THEIR GODS; you will not covet (their) silver, neither also will you take to yourself gold from them, lest you should stumble by it, because it (is) an ABOMINATION to the LORD your God" (Deuteronomy 7:25).
An early Christian author also wrote how the "ABOMINATION" in the passage of Matthew 24:15 would be connected with the worship of idols.
Around the 3rd century AD, a Christian author named Victorinus of Pettau wrote in "Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John":
(13.13): "But when ye shall see the abomination which is spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place, let him who readeth understand [Matthew 24:15]." It is called an abomination when God is provoked, because idols are worshipped instead of God"
1st century Jews could not look at the idols on the ensigns of the Roman armies
In the 1st century, the Roman armies could march around with ensigns or standards when going into battle. These Jews in the 1st century were recorded to not be willing to even see these ensigns in their presence.
Around AD 27, Pilate tried to set up Roman ensigns into Jerusalem and the Jews requested that they be removed, ready to die for them to not stay there.
The 1st century historian Josephus wrote in "Antiquities of the Jews":
(18.3.1): "Pilate [...] introduced Cesar’s effigies, which were upon the ensigns, and brought them into the city: whereas our law forbids us the very making of images. On which account the former procurators were wont to make their entry into the city with such ensigns as had not those ornaments. Pilate was the first who brought those images to Jerusalem, and set them up there. Which was done without the knowledge of the people; because it was done in the night time. But as soon as they knew it, they came in multitudes to Cesarea, and interceded with Pilate many days, that he would remove the images. And when he would not grant their requests, because this would tend to the injury of Cesar; while yet they persevered in their request; on the sixth day he ordered his soldiers to have their weapons privately; while he came and sat upon his judgment seat. Which seat was so prepared, in the open place of the city, that it concealed the army that lay ready to oppress them. And when the Jews petitioned him again, he gave a signal to the soldiers to encompass them round; and threatened that their punishment should be no less than immediate death, unless they would leave off disturbing him, and go their ways home. But they threw themselves upon the ground, and laid their necks bare, and said they would take their death very willingly, rather than the wisdom of their laws should be transgressed. Upon which Pilate was deeply affected with their firm resolution to keep their laws inviolable: and presently commanded the images to be carried back from Jerusalem to Cesarea."
Around AD 37, Jews were recorded addressing the governor of Syria to not pass through Judea with the Roman legions because it was a violation of their law for Jews to overlook the images of the idols from the Roman ensigns.
The 1st century historian Josephus wrote in "Antiquities of the Jews":
(18.5.3): "Vitellius prepared to make war with Aretas, having with him two legions of armed men. He also took with him all those of light armature, and of the horsemen which belonged to them, and were drawn out of those Kingdoms which were under the Romans; and made haste for Petra: and came to Ptolemais. But as he was marching very busily, and leading his army through Judea, the principal men [Jews] met him; and desired that he would not thus march through their land. For that the laws of their countrey would not permit them to overlook those images which were brought into it: of which there were a great many in their ensigns. So he was persuaded by what they said; and changed that resolution of his which he had before taken in this matter. Whereupon he ordered the army to march along the great plain."
The 1st century Roman armies with their ensigns considered as an "abomination of desolation" that they would "see"?
In the 1st century, the Roman armies could march around with ensigns or standards when going into battle. These ensigns were recognized as idols by the Roman, who worshipped them, and so they were considered by 1st century as an "ABOMINATION". This is why they could not LOOK upon them when they approached them.
This could explain why Jesus said in the parallel account to Matthew 24:15 found in Luke 21:20: "when you-SEE Jerusalem being-surrounded by ARMY-ENCAMPTMENTS, then recognize the her DESOLATION has-drawn-near" (Luke 21:20). This would be similar to saying: "when you-SEE the ABOMINATION (of) DESOLATION" (Matthew 24:15). The Roman armies with their ensigns being seen as an ABOMINATION would be the cause of the DESOLATION of "Jerusalem" (Luke 21:20), so as soon as they SAW them, they would need to flee.
1st century events
Jesus said: "when you-SEE the ABOMINATION (of) DESOLATION" (Matthew 24:15) and in the parallel account in Luke 21:20: "when you-SEE Jerusalem being-surrounded by ARMY-ENCAMPTMENTS, then recognize that her DESOLATION has-drawn-near" (Luke 21:20). Jesus then added: "let the (ones) in JUDEA be-fleeing to the mountains" (Matthew 24:16).
Around AD 66, the Roman ARMIES were seen marching toward Jerusalem and going first throughout different cities in JUDEA, which ended in its DESOLATION around AD 70.
For more details:
Matthew 24:15 & Luke 21:20 - Jerusalem surrounded by armies (1st century historical fulfillment?):
The people in JUDEA could have SEEN these Roman armies, and flee to the mountains. Many people were recorded to have fled JUDEA around that time.
For more details on the Roman armies marching toward Jerusalem around AD 66:
Matthew 24:16 - Flee to the mountains (1st century historical fulfillment?):
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Early Christian on the abomination of desolation as the Roman armies in the 1st century
An early Christian author made a connection between the abomination of desolation and the Roman armies in the 1st century during the First Jewish-Roman War.
In the 4th century, a Christian author named Chrysostom wrote in "Homilies on Matthew":
(Homily 76): "And see how He relates the war, by the things that seem to be small setting forth how intolerable it was to be. For, Then, says He, let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains [Matthew 24:16]. Then, When? When these things should be, when the abomination of desolation should stand in the holy place [Matthew 24:15]. Whence he seems to me to be speaking of the armies. Flee therefore then, says He, for thenceforth there is no hope of safety for you."
The Roman armies setting up their ensigns in the temple and sacrificing to them around AD 70
After that the Roman armies attacked Jerusalem, an event was reported around the time of the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem (around AD 70).
The 1st century historian Josephus wrote in "The Wars of the Jews":
(6.315-316): "And now the Romans, upon the flight of the seditious into the city, and upon the burning of the holy house itself, and of all the buildings round about it, brought their ensigns to the temple, and set them over against its eastern gate; and there did they offer sacrifices to them, and there did they make Titus imperator, with the greatest acclamations of joy."
Josephus added that the destruction of temple was in accordance with an ancient prophecy.
The 1st century historian Josephus wrote in "The Wars of the Jews":
(4.6.3): "for there was a certain ancient oracle of those men, that the city should then be taken and the sanctuary burnt, by right of war, when a sedition should invade the Jews, and their own hand should pollute the temple of God"
Josephus may have referred specifically to a prophecy found... in Daniel.
The 1st century historian Josephus wrote in "Antiquities of the Jews":
(10.11.7): "And indeed it so came to pass, that our nation suffered these things under Antiochus Epiphanes, according to Daniel’s vision, and what he wrote many years before they came to pass. In the very same manner Daniel also wrote concerning the Roman government, and that our country should be made desolate by them."
Prophecy in Daniel 9 about the "abomination of desolation" & 1st century events
It is written in Daniel 9:27 (Masoretic): "IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK he will PUT A STOP TO SACRIFICE and grain offering; and on the WING of ABOMINATIONS will come one who makes DESOLATE, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes DESOLATE.
As recorded by Josephus, the Roman general Titus did "PUT A STOP TO SACRIFICE" (Daniel 9:27 (Masoretic)) as this happened "upon the burning of the holy house itself", which was the burning of the temple of Jerusalem leading where the sacrifices were offered. This burning lead to its desolation, putting a stop to the sacrifices offered there.
This would happen "IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK" (Daniel 9:27 (Masoretic)) which could be interpreted as 3.5 years. The First Jewish-Roman war in which the temple was destroyed during that event would actually have started about 3.5 years earlier around AD 66.
The following description would also happen: "on the WING of ABOMINATIONS will come one who makes DESOLATE" (Daniel 9:27 (Masoretic)). Josephus recorded that "UPON THE BURNING of the holy house itself, and of all the buildings round about it, brought THEIR ENSIGNS to the temple, and set them over AGAINST ITS EASTERN GATE; and there did they offer sacrifices to them".
The previous verse in Daniel 9 even indicated that "the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined" (Daniel 9:26 (Masoretic)). The Roman general Titus destroyed during that event both the city of Jerusalem and the temple, during the First Jewish-Roman War.
Prophecy in Daniel 12 about the "abomination of desolation" & 1st century events
Another passage in Daniel may also have been fulfilled.
It is written in Daniel 12:11 (LXX): "From which (time) of the daily sacrifice will be withdrawn, and the ABOMINATION of the DESOLATION shall be prepared to be set up, there will be a thousand two hundred ninety days."
Here "the daily sacrifice will be withdrawn" (Daniel 12:11 (LXX)). This specific daily sacrifice would have referred to a daily sacrifice offered for Caesar (not all the sacrifices which were put to an end around AD 70 as seen above by the destruction of the temple). Around AD 66, about "a thousand two hundred ninety days" (Daniel 12:11 (LXX)) earlier, which would have been about 3.5 years earlier, Eleazar who was governor of the temple of Jerusalem at that time rejected the daily sacrifice for Caesar, which marked for the Romans the true beginning of the First Jewish-Roman War.
The 1st century historian Josephus wrote in "The Wars of the Jews":
(2.17.2): "At the same time Eleazar, the son of Ananias the high-priest, a very bold youth, who was at that time governor of the temple, persuaded those that officiated in the divine service to receive no gift or sacrifice for any foreigner. And this was the true beginning of our war with the Romans; for they rejected the [daily] sacrifice of Caesar on this account"
The prophecy in Daniel 12 indicated that "there will be a thousand two hundred ninety days" "From which (time) of the daily sacrifice will be withdrawn, and the ABOMINATION of the DESOLATION shall be prepared to be set up". There was about 1290 days, or 3.5 years from the time Eleazar withdrew the daily sacrifice for Caesar and the time when the Roman armies with their ensigns prepared themselves with their camp around Jerusalem before finally attacking it around AD 70.
It is then written later in Daniel in the same chapter: "Blessed (is) the one remaining, and will gather to (the) thousand three hundred thirty-five days" (Daniel 12:12). Here "(the) thousand three hundred thirty-five days" (Daniel 12:12) refers to 1335 days, which would be about 3.5 years. There were exactly 1335 days between the time Eleazar withdrew the daily sacrifice for Caesar and the time when the Roman armies with their ensigns started their siege against Jerusalem around AD 70 (which ended in the desolation of Jerusalem and its temple).
Early Christian on the abomination of desolation fulfilled in the 1st century
An early Christian author wrote about the fact that this prophecy from Jesus had been fulfilled in the 1st century during the First Jewish-Roman War, as the abomination of desolation also ended up standing in the temple there.
Around the 4th century, the Christian historian Eusebius wrote in "The Proof of the Gospel":
(2:138): "And from that time a succession of all kinds of troubles afflicted the whole nation and their city until the last war against them, and the final siege, in which destruction rushed on them like a flood [Dan. 9:26] with all kinds of misery of famine [Matt. 24:7], plague [Luke 21:21] and sword [Luke 21:24], and all who had conspired against the Saviour in their youth were cut off; then, too, the abomination of desolation stood in the Temple [Matt. 24:15], and it has remained there even till to-day, while they [the Jews] have daily reached deeper depths of desolation"
Around the 4th century, the Christian historian Eusebius also wrote in "Ecclesiastical History":
(3.5.4): "many great sieges which were carried on against the cities of Judea, [...] and how at last the abomination of desolation, proclaimed by the prophets, stood in the very temple of God, so celebrated of old, the temple which was now awaiting its total and final destruction by fire,— all these things any one that wishes may find accurately described in the history written by Josephus."
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