The Abomination of Desolation - St. Marys Coptic Orthodox Church

134 BABYLON THE GREAT WHORE
all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood
afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying,
What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads,
and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city,
wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her
costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. (Rev 18:15-19)
Notice that the destruction of Babylon will lead to a major financial
crisis, since the merchants of the whole world were made rich by trading
with Babylon. Not only is Babylon a “mighty city” (Super power?), but
also probably the richest country on earth. Again we are reminded that
the destruction is accomplished in one hour. We are told repeatedly
that those who mourn Babylon will “stand afar off for fear of her
torment.” This means that they will not try to come close to rescue her
because of “fear of her torment.” Certainly after a major nuclear attack
no one wants to come near because of fear of radiation.
HEAVEN REJOICES AT THE DESTRUCTION OF BABYLON:
Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for
God hath avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone like
a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence
shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no
more at all. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and
trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of
whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound
of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of a
candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the
bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for
thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were
all nations deceived. (Rev 18:20-23)
Because of her sins, and the fact that Babylon made the world drunk
with her fornication (worldly lifestyle), heaven will rejoice at her
destruction. The angel declares to us that Babylon will forever
disappear from the face of the earth in a violent cataclysm. We are also
told that by her “sorcery” the whole world was deceived. Sorcery here
may mean the dazzling technological wizardry that Babylon offered the
whole world. The story of the destruction of Babylon is also echoed in
Old Testament prophecies: