Abomination of desolation in the Third Temple?
Summary
The abomination of desolation concerns the second temple and not a third, as a careful comparison of Jesus' end-time discourse (Olivet Discourse) in the Gospels shows.
According to the doctrine of Pre-Tribulation Rapture, the Antichrist will sit in the Third Temple in Jerusalem and set up his idol - the abomination of desolation. This puts an end to the offering of sacrifices. This happens exactly 3.5 years before the visible return of Christ.
Answer
The abomination of desolation mentioned in Jesus' Olivet Discourse (discourse of the end time) refers to the time of the destruction of Jerusalem and the second temple by the Romans in 70 AD.
The abomination of desolation does not refer to the time of the Antichrist and a possible future third temple.
Jesus' Olivet Discourse can be found in three gospels: Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. If one carefully compares these three treatises, one realizes that the structure is almost identical and thus the abomination of desolation is closely related to the desolation of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
The structure of the Olivet Discourse is as follows:
1. The Olivet Discourse begins in all three Gospels with Jesus' prediction about the temple, that not one stone will be left upon another.
2. The disciples ask: when will this happen?
3. The Lord answers the question of when the flight should take place
4. About tribulation/affliction
5. The Lord gives instructions to flee to the mountains
You can compare the texts from the three Gospels in the following table.
But not only is the structure almost identical, the wording is often similar too.
The answer to the question "when ...?" is immediately followed by the instruction to flee, which is formulated in exactly the same way in all three Gospels:
then let those who are in Judea flee into the mountains.
... But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
This wording only occurs here in the three Gospels and nowhere else in the Bible.
This is also a strong indication that these passages describe the same thing.
But according to the doctrine of Pre-Tribulation Rapture, these passages do not describe the same thing:
The disciples' question about the time of the destruction of the second temple is only answered in the Gospel of Luke, but not in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark.
Instead, the Gospels of Matthew and Mark report a much later event, namely the abomination of desolation by the Antichrist in a temple yet to come.
And consequently, while the instructions to flee in Luke refer to the past around 70 AD, the instructions to flee in Matthew and Mark refer to the coming much later time of the Antichrist and the third temple.
Judge for yourself - also on the basis of the following Bible texts - whether this is true.
Jesus' Olivet Discourse: Text comparison (part)
Matthew 24 | Mark 13 | Luke 21 |
---|---|---|
Jesus announces the destruction of the temple | ||
1 And Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 But Jesus said to them, Do you not see all these things? Truly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down. | 1 And as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings! 2 And Jesus answered and said to him, Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down. | 5 And as some spoke of the temple, that it was adorned with beautiful stones and votive gifts, He said, 6 As for these things which you see; the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another stone that shall not be thrown down. |
The question of the disciples: when ... ? | ||
3 And as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age? | 3 And as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James [or: Jacob], John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished? | 7 So they asked Him, saying, Teacher, therefore when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place? |
Warning against deceit | ||
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and they will deceive many. | 5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 For many will come in My name, saying, I AM, and will deceive many. | 8 And He said: Watch out that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, I AM, and, The time is near. Therefore do not go after them. |
… | … | … |
Abomination of desolation / Desolation of Jerusalem and instruction to flee | ||
15 Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, whoever reads, let him understand, 16 then let those who are in Judea flee into the mountains. | 14 But when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it should not, let the reader understand, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. | 20 But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. … let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. |
17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. | 15 And let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. | |
19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 But pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. | 17 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 18 But pray that your flight may not be in winter. | 23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! |
For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. |
Jesus' Olivet Discourse: Text comparison
It is remarkable that the Lord first warns the disciples against deception before he answers their question about the time of the destruction of the second temple.