The Abomination of Desolation will be when the Antichrist defiles the temple placing something in it that defiles it. In the days before Jesus during the time of the Maccabees, the Jews were overthrown and I believe it was a statue of Zeus that was setup in the temple defiling it. It will likely be something similar to this.
Regarding the time, I believe we are very close to the end. I believe we're with a generation.
You are so correct here...
Mat 24:15 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![]()
So, what did Daniel speak of?
In 168BC, Antiochus IV, Epiphanes (Epidimes) reared up a statue of Jupiter Olympus and sacrificed swine on the altar at the Temple. This made the Temple desolate of God's presence because it was defiled.
Christ said the AoD would be THE sign...
Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Notice that they asked what would be THE sign?
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
When all the things listed before and up to verse 14 have occurred, then this one, enigmatic event will take place...
Mat 24:15 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
Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
It signals the beginning of the Great Tribulation. It actually occurs in two parts...
Luk 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
When one sees armies surround Jerusalem, the desolation is near. When one sees the AoD as described by Daniel, it is time to get out of Dodge.
There's a couple of key elements to look at in the context if what is said here;
When we see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place...
Now consider this, what did Yahushua say about the temple?
Wasn't it something like destroy it and three days later he would raise it up again?
Think about that, and then consider what else might be a holy place besides a physical temple.
Where did He come into this world in physical form, the temple He rose again on the third day?
Would not the birthplace of ha'Mashiach be a holy place as well?
Then there is this... "statue" or graven image of a false mighty one that was put up in the older temple,
how ironic it is the name of that mighty one is also the same translation of a Greek name called upon in place of the name of Yahushua.