What exactly does the abomination of desolation mean?  Is it the same as the abomination that causes desolation?

Daniel 8:11-13,14 speaks of the “transgression of desolation” in the context of the “little horn” (who we call the Anti-Christ) setting up the sacrifice and ending it, followed by the destruction of the sanctuary and also the city of Jerusalem.  The Gentiles will overrun the city. 

Daniel 9:27 says that the sacrifice will cease for the overspreading of abominations and for that cause he will make it desolate (speaking of its destruction, the destruction of the temple).  Daniel 9:26 just spoke of the destruction of both the city and the sanctuary.  The abomination is the declaration that he is God. (II Thessalonians 2:4).  Daniel 11:31 and 12:11 also deals with this event.

In Matthew 24:2 the Lord Jesus spoke of the destruction of the temple and when asked when, he further explained the events that lead up to and follow “the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet.”  Not only will the temple be destroyed but Jerusalem shall fall to the hands of the Gentiles – see Luke 2120-24 and Revelation 11:1,2. 

All this takes place in the second half of the 70th week of Daniel, the last 3 1/2 years of the 7 years preceding the second coming of Jesus Christ.