It refers to the Antichrist's desolating defilement of the temple at the midpoint of the final seven-year period.
In Daniel 9:27, the KJV says that in the middle of the week 'he' causes the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he makes the temple desolate. Les Feldick identifies this 'he' as the Antichrist, who stops Israel's temple worship, defiles the sanctuary, and turns on the Jewish people. This begins the final three and a half years of great tribulation and continues until the consummation.
Daniel 9:27 — This is the verse containing the exact phrase 'the overspreading of abominations' and the statement that the temple is made desolate until the consummation.
Daniel 12:11 — It gives the related detail that after the daily sacrifice is taken away and the abomination that maketh desolate is set up, there are 1,290 days.
Matthew 24:15 — Jesus identifies the same event as the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place.
Daniel 9:27 in the King James Version says: 'And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.' The verse describes a seven-year 'week' in which the sacrifice ceases at the middle, and an overspreading of abominations makes the sanctuary desolate until the consummation. Daniel 12:11 adds: 'And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.' Jesus also connects to this in Matthew 24:15-16: '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:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.' The biblical language ties the desolation to the stopping of sacrifice and the setting up of an abomination in the holy place.
Les Feldick teaches that Daniel 9:27 concerns the final seven years of Daniel's prophecy, following the 483 fulfilled years. The 'he' who confirms the covenant is the Antichrist, a prince coming from the boundaries of the old Roman empire, and the treaty involves Israel and much of the Arab world. At the midpoint, the Antichrist enters the rebuilt temple, causes the daily sacrifice and oblation to stop, defiles the sanctuary, and turns on the Jewish people. This is what Les calls the 'overspreading of abominations' that makes the temple desolate. Les repeatedly connects Daniel's prophecy to Matthew 24, where Jesus speaks of the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place and tells those in Judea to flee to the mountains. He emphasizes that Israel must have a functioning temple before the midpoint, because sacrifices and oblations can only be offered at the temple. From the midpoint on, the last three and a half years are a horrible period of tribulation; Daniel 12:11 gives 1,290 days after the daily sacrifice is removed and the abomination set up.
Les Feldick identifies the 'he' in Daniel 9:27 as the Antichrist, the prince that shall come from the people who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple — the old Roman Empire. This prince confirms a covenant 'with many' for one week; Les says this is normally felt to be with Israel but also involves the Arab world. In the middle of the week, this Antichrist causes the sacrifice and oblation to cease.
At the midpoint, the Antichrist will cause the daily sacrifice and temple oblation to stop, enter and defile the rebuilt temple, and turn on Israel. Les says he may do it like Antiochus the Syrian, perhaps offering a hog on the altar. This defilement is the 'overspreading of abominations' that makes the temple desolate, and it begins the last three and a half years of great tribulation.
Jesus quotes Daniel's prophecy: 'When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place... then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.' Les notes that Jesus puts his stamp of approval on Daniel. Jesus also says that from the midpoint on, there will be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world.
Daniel 9:27 says the desolation continues 'until the consummation.' Les says the prophecy covers the last three and a half years, when the earth comes under wrath from God and Satan, and then everything is finished. Daniel 12:11 gives 1,290 days from the time the daily sacrifice is taken away and the abomination set up — three and a half years plus an extra thirty days.
Daniel's 70th Week Context
Les sets the context: the prince that shall come is the Antichrist from the old Roman empire, and he confirms a covenant with many, including Israel and Arab peoples, leading into the final seven years.
The Last Three and a Half Years
At the midpoint the Antichrist defiles the temple and turns on the Jew, and the last three and a half years are a horrible period of wrath from God and Satan.
Midpoint Desecration and Flight
At the midpoint the temple is desecrated, and Jesus tells Israel to flee to the mountains; from that point begins the great tribulation.
The Temple Defiled and Israel's Flight
The Antichrist enters the rebuilt temple, defiles it, perhaps like Antiochus, turns on Israel, and Jesus instructs those in Judea to flee.
Jesus Endorses Daniel's Prophecy
Jesus calls the event the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, thereby confirming Daniel's prophecy.
The Abomination in the Holy Place
Jesus specifically tells the twelve to flee when they see the abomination of desolation standing in the temple in the holy place.
The Daily Sacrifice Removed
At the midpoint the Antichrist shuts down temple worship and forces worship of himself; 1,290 days follow from the removal of the sacrifice to the abomination set up.
Sacrifice and Oblation Cease
The Antichrist stops sacrifices and oblations in the middle of the week, then causes an overspreading of abominations that makes the temple desolate.
Daniel 9:27: And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
This is the verse that directly answers the question, giving the phrase 'the overspreading of abominations.'
Daniel 12:11: And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
This verse shows the specific timing associated with the removal of the daily sacrifice and the setting up of the abomination.
Matthew 24:15: 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:)
Jesus directly identifies the abomination of desolation with Daniel's prophecy, placing it in the holy place.
Matthew 24:16: Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
This is the immediate response Jesus commands when the abomination of desolation is seen in the holy place.
Matthew 24:21: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
This describes the great tribulation that follows the abomination at the midpoint.
It refers to the abominable sacrilege that makes the temple desolate. Les Feldick teaches that at the midpoint of the final seven years, the Antichrist causes the sacrifice and oblation to cease, defiles the temple, and turns on Israel. The desolation continues until the consummation.
It happens at the midpoint of the seven-year period described in Daniel 9:27. Daniel says 'in the midst of the week' he causes the sacrifice and oblation to cease. Les says this begins the last three and a half years of great tribulation.
Les connects Daniel's language with Matthew 24:15, where Jesus calls it the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet. It is the same event: the Antichrist standing in the holy place and defiling the temple.
Jesus told those in Judea to flee to the mountains and not to go back for their belongings. Les emphasizes that this instruction is for the nation of Israel at the midpoint of the tribulation.
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