The abomination of desolation is the Antichrist’s future defilement of the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem at the midpoint of the Tribulation, as Daniel prophesied and Jesus referenced in Matthew 24:15.
Les Feldick teaches that this is the event Jesus warns about when He says, “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place” (Matthew 24:15). Les places it in the middle of the seven-year Tribulation, when the Antichrist stops the temple sacrifices and defiles the sanctuary. When it happens, Jesus tells those in Judea to flee to the mountains immediately.
Matthew 24:15 — The verse where Jesus directly names the abomination of desolation and points back to Daniel’s prophecy.
Daniel 9:27 — The Daniel prophecy Jesus references, describing the stopping of sacrifice and the desolation in the middle of the week.
The Bible records Daniel’s prophecy in 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.” In Matthew 24:15, Jesus quotes Daniel and applies the prophecy to the temple: “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:).” The Gospel text does not define the abomination beyond calling it the thing Daniel spoke of; it simply points the reader to Daniel’s prophecy.
Les Feldick teaches that the abomination of desolation is the Antichrist’s defilement of the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. He says Daniel prophesied that in the middle of a seven-year treaty the Antichrist would turn on Israel and set himself up as God in the temple, and Jesus puts His stamp of approval on Daniel’s prophecy when He quotes it in Matthew 24:15 (Clips 1 and 7). Les describes the event as the Antichrist coming into Jerusalem and into the Temple and defiling it at the midpoint of the Tribulation (Clips 2 and 3). He even thinks the defilement may include sacrificing a hog on the temple altar (Clip 2). Les also points to Daniel 9:27, where the “overspreading of abominations” is the Antichrist making the temple desolate, and he says the judgments of Revelation will be poured out on this desolator (Clip 4). He also notes that the Antichrist will cause the sacrifice and the oblation to stop, which means Israel must have a rebuilt temple (Clip 6). At the same hour, a remnant of Israel will flee from Jerusalem and Judea to the mountains, possibly to Petra (Clip 5).
In Clip 7, Les emphasizes that when Matthew 24:15 says the abomination of desolation will “stand in the holy place,” it means Jerusalem, in the temple. He reads the phrase this way: “stand in the holy place, that is, in Jerusalem in the temple.” So for Les, the location is not symbolic; it is the literal temple in Jerusalem.
Les points out that in Matthew 24, Jesus is talking to the twelve and to the nation of Israel. In Clip 1 he says, “he’s talking to the 12th, he’s talking to the nation of Israel.” The warning is therefore directed to Israel, not to Gentile believers, and the commands to flee apply to Jews in Judea.
According to Les, the abomination of desolation will take place at the midpoint of the seven-year Tribulation. He connects this to Daniel 9:27, saying that “in the middle of the week, He will go into the temple and He will defile it” (Clip 3). In Clip 6 he repeats that this happens “in the middle of the 7 years,” after three and a half years.
Les teaches that at the midpoint, the Antichrist will come into Jerusalem and into the temple and defile it (Clip 2). He will also cause the sacrifice and the oblation to stop, which is why Israel must have a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem (Clip 6). Les thinks the defilement could include sacrificing a hog on the temple altar (Clip 2). He also says Daniel 9:27’s “overspreading of abominations” refers to the Antichrist making the temple desolate, and the judgments of Revelation will be poured out on him (Clip 4).
Les says after the Antichrist defiles the temple, he “is going to turn on the Jew” and take away their freedom of worship (Clip 5). This is why Jesus, in Matthew 24:16, tells those in Judea to flee to the mountains. Les notes that at the same hour, a remnant of Israel will leave Jerusalem and Judea, with some thinking the destination is Petra, down to the southeast (Clip 5).
The Abomination of Desolation: Why Israel Must Flee (Matthew 24)
the blackboard. I'll try to stay out of the way once in a while. And if you're in any of those four areas, why, make contact with us, and we'd love to have you come into one of the classes. All right, now then, Exodus chapter 19, and now the third month, the month of June, the children of Israel were going forth out of the land of Egypt. The same day they came to the wilderness of Sinai.
Jesus Confirms Daniel’s Prophecy
Les shows that Jesus, speaking to the twelve and to Israel, quotes Daniel’s prophecy about the abomination of desolation and applies it to the Antichrist setting himself up as God in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem.
Hog Sacrifice on the Temple Altar
Les suggests the Antichrist will perform the abomination of desolation by sacrificing a hog on the rebuilt temple’s altar, defiling it in the middle of the Tribulation.
Midpoint of the Week
Les connects Matthew 24:15 to Daniel 9:27, explaining that the abomination occurs in the middle of the seven-year Tribulation, at the end of three and a half years.
Overspreading of Abominations
Les identifies the “overspreading of abominations” in Daniel 9:27 as the Antichrist making the temple desolate, with all prophesied judgments being poured out on him.
Israel’s Flight from Judea
Les says the Antichrist, coming from Western Europe, will defile the temple and turn on the Jews, and at the same hour a remnant of Israel will flee from Jerusalem and Judea to the mountains, possibly Petra.
Sacrifices Must Stop at the Temple
Les explains that the Antichrist will stop sacrifice and oblation at the midpoint of the seven years, which means Israel must have a rebuilt temple where sacrifices can be offered.
The Holy Place Is the Temple in Jerusalem
Les notes that Jesus Himself refers to Daniel’s words and identifies the holy place as Jerusalem, in the temple.
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:)
The verse Jesus uses to point His disciples back to Daniel’s prophecy about the coming abomination.
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.
Daniel’s prophecy that Jesus references; it describes the midpoint of the week when sacrifice ceases and the temple is made desolate.
Matthew 24:16: Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Jesus’ immediate instruction to those in Judea when the abomination of desolation appears.
According to Les Feldick, it is the event where the Antichrist enters the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem at the midpoint of the Tribulation and defiles it, stopping the Jewish sacrifices. Jesus references Daniel’s prophecy in Matthew 24:15.
Les says it will happen in the middle of the seven-year Tribulation, at the end of three and a half years. He connects this to Daniel 9:27’s “midst of the week.”
Les emphasizes that Jesus is speaking to the twelve and to the nation of Israel, not to Gentile believers. That is why the warning to flee is directed to Jews in Judea and the temple in Jerusalem.
Because after the abomination of desolation, the Antichrist turns on the Jewish people and takes away their freedom of worship. Jesus tells them to flee to the mountains immediately, and Les notes that a remnant of Israel will do so at that same hour.
Les thinks the Antichrist will come from Western Europe and then come down to the temple in Jerusalem to perform this desecration.
Watch the Teaching: The Abomination of Desolation: Why Israel Must Flee (Matthew 24)