“And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.”
My Notes
What Does Daniel 11:31 Mean?
Daniel prophesies the desecration of the temple with chilling precision: armies will stand on the oppressor's behalf, pollute the sanctuary, remove the daily sacrifice, and place "the abomination that maketh desolate" — the object or practice so offensive to God that it renders the holy place uninhabitable for divine presence.
The "abomination of desolation" (shiqquts meshomem) is one of the most significant prophetic phrases in Scripture. Jesus quotes it directly in Matthew 24:15 as a sign of the end times. Its historical fulfillment in Antiochus Epiphanes (167 BC) — who erected a pagan altar on the Jewish altar — serves as a type of a greater future desecration.
The phrase links two concepts: abomination (something detestable to God) and desolation (emptying, making desolate). The desecrating object doesn't just offend God; it empties the sanctuary of his presence. The holiest space becomes the most desolate space because what was placed there is incompatible with God's dwelling.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What has been placed in the 'holy place' of your life that doesn't belong there?
- 2.How does the removal of regular worship create space for counterfeit worship to be installed?
- 3.Why did Jesus point to this verse as a critical sign — and what does it tell you about spiritual vigilance?
- 4.What 'abomination of desolation' pattern (legitimate worship interrupted, counterfeit installed) do you see in modern contexts?
Devotional
The abomination that makes desolate. Something so offensive to God that it doesn't just profane the temple — it empties it. The presence of God and the presence of this object cannot coexist. One of them has to go. And in this case, it's God who leaves.
Jesus pointed to this verse from the Mount of Olives and said: when you see this, run. The abomination of desolation is the sign that the holy place has been so thoroughly corrupted that staying is no longer safe. The sanctuary that was supposed to be God's dwelling has been claimed by something that makes God leave.
The historical fulfillment — Antiochus Epiphanes slaughtering a pig on the Jewish altar and erecting a statue of Zeus — gives concrete content to the abstraction. The abomination is the replacement of the true God's worship with something counterfeit in the exact space designed for the original. It's not just idolatry in general; it's idolatry in the holy of holies.
The removal of the daily sacrifice is the companion act. First the regular rhythm of true worship is stopped. Then the replacement idol is installed. The pattern: interrupt the legitimate, then install the counterfeit. By the time the abomination appears, the daily sacrifice has already been missing long enough for people to accept the new arrangement.
What daily practice of genuine worship has been removed from your life — and what has crept into the empty space?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And arms shall stand on his part,.... Powerful armies sent by him into Judea; garrisons of soldiers placed in Jerusalem;…
And arms shall stand on his part - Up to this verse there is a general agreement among commentators, that the reference…
And arms shall stand on his part - After Antiochus, arms, that is, the Romans, shall stand up: for arms in this prophecy…
All this is a prophecy of the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, the little horn spoken of before (Dan 8:9) a sworn enemy to…
And armsi.e. forces (Dan 11:11; Dan 11:11) (coming) from him shall stand up] or (following the interpunction expressed…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture