VERSES 15‐20: “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 Judea flee into the mountains; let him which is on the housetop
not come down to take anything out of his house; neither let him
which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe
unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those
days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither
on the Sabbath day.”
Our Lord having in verses 5‐14, passed over the important events in the
Christian age down to the end, goes back and introduces in verse 15 the
destruction of Jerusalem, in answer to the inquiry, “When shall these
things be?” Luke’s version of this language is, “When ye shall see
Jerusalem encompassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof
is nigh.” Luke 21:20. By this we know that the term “abomination of
desolation” refers to the Roman army. This desolating power is spoken of
by Daniel as follows:—
“And the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the
city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood,
and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.... And for
the over‐spreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even
until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon
the desolate.” Margin, “desolator.” Dan. 9:26, 27.
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