The Abomination of Desolation - St. Marys Coptic Orthodox Church

HIS BEGINNINGS
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that has to be taken out of the way so that Antichrist can manifest
himself. Ancient writers of the Church speculated on this matter.
What then is it that withholdeth, that is, hindereth him from being
revealed? Some indeed say, the grace of the Spirit, but others the
Roman empire, to whom I most of all accede. Wherefore? Because if
he meant to say the Spirit, he would not have spoken obscurely, but
plainly, that even now the grace of the Spirit, that is the gifts, withhold
him. And otherwise he ought now to have come, if he was about to
come when the gifts ceased; for they have long since ceased. 1
Saint John Chrysostom is discussing the two views that were prevalent
in his time. One view is that the graces or gifts of the Holy Spirit have
to be lifted out of the world before Antichrist reveals himself. He
rejects this interpretation based on the fact that the gifts had already
ceased in the time of Chrysostom and Antichrist did not make his
appearance. The second view, which he favours is that The Roman
Empire had to be taken out of the way before Antichrist appears, a view
that is also held by St. Augustine:
For what does he mean by "For the mystery of iniquity doth already
work: only he who now holdeth, let him hold until he be taken out of
the way: and then shall the wicked be revealed?" I frankly confess I do
not know what he means. I will nevertheless mention such conjectures
as I have heard or read. Some think that the Apostle Paul referred to
the Roman empire, and that he was unwilling to use language more
explicit, lest he should incur the calumnious charge of wishing ill to the
empire which it was hoped would be eternal. 2
However, using the same argument, we can say, that the Roman
Empire disappeared 10 centuries ago and Antichrist has not yet
revealed himself! That brings us back to square one, that we don’t
know, from the speculations of the early Church interpreters what St.
Paul meant by “what withholdeth” and what has to be taken out of the
way before Antichrist makes his appearance.
1 John Chrysostom: Homily on II Thessalonians
2
Augustin of Hippo: City of God, chapter 19