The words Great Tribulation¹ and Abomination of Desolation² have particular meanings from history that both define and foreshadow future events at the Second Coming. Not every tribulation is the Great Tribulation, and not every abomination is the Abomination of Desolation.

In general, an abomination is any act of wickedness or evil³ that perverts the revealed word of God.⁴ God hates abominations.⁵ Idol worship and sexual immorality are among the worst abominations.⁶ Anciently, death was the prescribed punishment for abominations of this kind.⁷ False creeds and false religion are also an abomination in the sight of God,⁸ and the abominations of false religion lead to desolation.⁹

The word desolation has several meanings, including loneliness and afflictions in general.¹⁰ However, a desolation also occurs when a place is laid waste and left without inhabitants.¹¹ A desolation of this kind is even more specific when it is also an abomination that maketh desolate to use Daniel's words,¹² or an abomination of desolation to use the Savior's words from Matthew 24.¹³ An Abomination of Desolation occurs whenever wicked people profane and desecrate God's temple in Jerusalem¹⁴ and thereby cause the suspension of temple rites in that location.¹⁵ When this occurs the Lord's spirit withdraws,¹⁶ and the Lord's desolating wrath¹⁷ is then poured out upon the wicked desolators without measure.¹⁸

Abominations of Desolation have occurred at the temple of Jerusalem several times in history¹⁹ and they foreshadow the final Abomination of Desolation in Jerusalem²⁰ at the Second Coming.²¹ The three primary foreshadows include: (1) The complete destruction of Solomon's Temple and the city of Jerusalem in 587 BC by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon,²² (2) the desecration of the temple in Jerusalem²³ and killing of many Jews by Antiochus Epiphanes in 168 BC,²⁴ and (3) the genocidal killing of Jews among themselves and by the Romans in 70 AD.²⁵ In 70 AD, the temple at Jerusalem was also desecrated²⁶ and destroyed to the point that there was not one stone left standing on another.²⁷ The Savior predicted this Roman destruction on the eve of his crucifixion in Matthew 24.²⁸

Some have suggested that the Muslim attack on Jerusalem in 634 AD was also an Abomination of Desolation.²⁹ However, there had not been a temple in Jerusalem since 70 AD to desecrate. Therefore, this attack would not be considered an Abomination of Desolation.

Every Abomination of Desolation is accompanied by a prophetic period of intense tribulation³⁰ that is distinguished by, and designated as, the Great Tribulation.³¹ This is a prophetic period of unchecked evil³² that can last 3½ days,³³ 3½ years,³⁴ or 3½ decades in the case of the Abomination of Desolation in 70 AD.³⁵ The Great Tribulation at the Second Coming will include the 3½ year period from the gathering at Adam-ondi-Ahman until the Second Coming³⁶ when there will also be a 3½-day Abomination of Desolation between the death of the Two Witnesses in Jerusalem and their resurrection at the time of the Second Coming.³⁷

Based on foreshadows from the past and modern revelation, it appears certain that the unconverted and physically gathered Jews will build a Third Temple in Jerusalem in the modern era. This temple will be desecrated during the final Abomination of Desolation at the Second Coming, as follows:

First, the Jews that gather to modern Israel without a belief in Christ will rebuild the Third Temple in Jerusalem.³⁸ This structure and the ceremonies surrounding it are already in the planning stages among orthodox Jews. The construction of the Third Temple could be the very catalyst that strains Middle East relations to the breaking point and triggers the start of Physical Armageddon seven years before the Second Coming.³⁹ At some point during the construction of the Third Temple, the sons of Levi will ceremonially purify themselves and offer sacrifices in the Third Temple in fulfillment of many ancient prophecies.⁴⁰

Second, at the midpoint of Physical Armageddon–3½ years after the war begins–the gentile nations gathered against Jerusalem will be on the verge of overtaking the city.⁴¹ The gathering of saints will then convene at Adam-ondi-Ahman.⁴² At this gathering, the Two Witnesses will be called to protect Jerusalem during the Great Tribulation or last 3½ years before the Second Coming.⁴³ During this Great Tribulation, Jerusalem will be under siege to the gentile armies of Armageddon as it was to the Romans in the 3½ years before 70 AD.⁴⁴ The Two Witnesses will exercise the sealing power to protect Jerusalem and its inhabitants during the Great Tribulation.⁴⁵

Third, the Two Witnesses will protect Jerusalem for 3½ years and warn the Jews to repent and have faith in Jesus Christ before the final Abomination of Desolation befalls them.⁴⁶ After 3½ years, the Two Witnesses will be killed and their dead bodies will lie unburied in the streets of Jerusalem.⁴⁷ For the next 3½ days the gentile armies will overrun the city until the more wicked part (i.e., half) of all the Jewish inhabitants are dead.⁴⁸ The Gentiles will also desecrate the Third Temple, and the sacrifices and oblations will cease in fulfillment of ancient prophesies and foreshadows.⁴⁹

Fourth, after 3½ days, the Two Witnesses will be resurrected in view of the whole world.⁵⁰ The seven Vial Plagues of the Third Woe will immediately follow⁵¹ with desolations on the wicked that will exceed the desolations inflicted upon the Jews during all prior Abominations of Desolation.⁵² The physical battle of Armageddon will end at the time of Christ's Second Coming to the mount of Olives in Jerusalem.⁵³