Abomination of desolation

"Abomination of desolation" is a phrase from Daniel's final vision in the Hebrew Bible (Daniel 11:31), which was later identified with the pagan sacrifices with which the 2nd century BC Seleucid Emperor Antiochus IV Epiphanes replaced the twice-daily qorban in the Second Temple, or the altar of sacrifice on which such offerings were made.

In the 1st century, it was taken up by the authors of the gospels in the context of the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in the year 70, with the Gospel of Mark placing the "abomination of desolation" into a speech by Jesus concerning the Second Coming. It is widely accepted that Mark was the primary source used by the authors of the Gospel of Matthew and of Luke for their parallel passages, with Matthew 24:15–16 adding a reference to Daniel and Luke 21:20–21 describing the Roman armies ("But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies..."); in all three the authors likely had in mind a future eschatological (i.e., end-time) event, and perhaps the activities of some antichrist.