Matthew 24:15-21

The Abomination of Desolation

24:15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation ¹  – spoken about by Daniel the prophet – standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 24:16 then those in Judea must flee ²  to the mountains. 24:17 The one on the roof ³  must not come down ⁴  to take anything out of his house, 24:18 and the one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 24:19 Woe ⁵  to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! 24:20 Pray ⁶  that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 24:21 For then there will be great suffering ⁷  unlike anything that has happened ⁸  from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen.

[24:15]  ¹ sn The reference to the abomination of desolation is an allusion to Dan 9:27. Though some have seen the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy in the actions of Antiochus IV (or a representative of his) in 167 b.c., the words of Jesus seem to indicate that Antiochus was not the final fulfillment, but that there was (from Jesus’ perspective) still another fulfillment yet to come. Some argue that this was realized in a.d. 70, while others claim that it refers specifically to Antichrist and will not be fully realized until the period of the great tribulation at the end of the age (cf. Mark 13:14, 19, 24; Rev 3:10).

[24:16]  ² sn Fleeing to the mountains is a key OT image: Gen 19:17; Judg 6:2; Isa 15:5; Jer 16:16; Zech 14:5.

[24:17]  ³ sn On the roof. Most of the roofs in the NT were flat roofs made of pounded dirt, sometimes mixed with lime or stones, supported by heavy wooden beams. They generally had an easy means of access, either a sturdy wooden ladder or stone stairway, sometimes on the outside of the house.

[24:17]  ⁴ sn The swiftness and devastation of the judgment will require a swift escape. There will be no time to come down from the roof and pick up anything from inside one’s home.

[24:19]  ⁵ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[24:20]  ⁶ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[24:21]  ⁷ tn Traditionally, “great tribulation.”

[24:21]  ⁸ sn Suffering unlike anything that has happened. Some refer this event to the destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 70. While the events of a.d. 70 may reflect somewhat the comments Jesus makes here, the reference to the scope and severity of this judgment strongly suggest that much more is in view. Most likely Jesus is referring to the great end-time judgment on Jerusalem in the great tribulation.