The Abomination of Desolation - St. Marys Coptic Orthodox Church

132 BABYLON THE GREAT WHORE
her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath
remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and
double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she
hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and
lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in
her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and
famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord
God who judgeth her. (Rev 18:4-8)
A warning goes out to God’s people to leave “Babylon” before its
destruction. The same happened in the time of the destruction of
Jerusalem in 70 AD. Again we are told that it is because of her sins
that she is punished. These sins are summarized for us. First, she has
glorified herself (pampered herself) and lived deliciously (over indulged
herself in the pleasures of this world). The Lord Jesus in the Parable
of the sower, tells us, “And that which fell among thorns are they,
which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and
riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.” (Luke
8:14)
Overindulgence in riches and pleasures of this life can make one
fruitless and thus one loses his eternal life. The second sin is pride and
arrogance, over confidence, for she says to herself, “I am queen and am
no widow and shall see no sorrow.” People who live only for worldly
pleasures often think that life will go on like that and often forget or
convince themselves that there is no judgment or retribution, until
suddenly they come face to face with God’s righteous judgment; to give
each one according to his deeds.
Another clue about the destruction of Babylon is given to us, “she
shall be utterly burned with fire” that means she will be burned to the
ground, completely destroyed. Finally, we are reminded that this is the
judgment of God, “for strong is the Lord God who judges her.”
WORLD LEADERS WILL LAMENT BABYLON:
And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived
deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they
shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her
torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for
in one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall