The Abomination of Desolation - St. Marys Coptic Orthodox Church

GREAT TRIBULATION
109
shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in
the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt,
where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds
and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an
half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they
that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and
shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented
them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and an half the Spirit
of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and
great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice
from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up
to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same
hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell,
and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the
remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Rev
11:7-13)
Those who are called to the glory of martyrdom will also be tortured
and killed. Great will be the strife of those blessed ones, but great also
will be their reward:
Blessed shall they be who overcome the tyrant then. For they shall be
set forth as more illustrious and loftier than the first witnesses; for the
former witnesses overcame his minions only, but these overthrow and
conquer the accuser himself, the son of perdition. With what eulogies
and crowns, therefore, will they not be adorned by our King, Jesus
Christ! 1
Who then is the blessed man, that shall at that time devoutly witness for
Christ? For I say that the Martyrs of that time excel all martyrs. For the
Martyrs hitherto have wrestled with men only; but in the time of
Antichrist they shall do battle with Satan in his own person. And former
persecuting kings only put to death; they did not pretend to raise the
dead, nor did they make false shows of signs and wonders. But in his
time there shall be the evil inducement both of fear and of deceit, so
that if it be possible the very elect shall be deceived. 2
1 Hippolytus: Discourse on end of the World and on Antichrist
2 St. Cyril of Jerusalem: Catechetical lectures