The Abomination of Desolation - St. Marys Coptic Orthodox Church

DAY OF THE LORD 163
them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
What this means is that you can be a believer, and a “prophet” even an
exorcist and a miracle worker in the name of the Lord and yet if you
“work iniquity” you will not be saved on that judgment day. The same
we are told in Luke 13:23-28:
Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said
unto them, Strive to enter in at the straight gate: for many, I say unto
you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master
of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand
without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and
he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then
shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and
thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you
not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Those who are going to be left behind once “the master of the house is
risen up, and hath shut to the door,” are all believers! They plead with
Him saying, “Lord, Lord, open unto us!” They acknowledge Him as
Lord, and they want to be with Him. They even give evidence of
knowing Him by saying, “We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and
thou hast taught in our streets.” Probably meaning, “we have often
taken Communion and listened to many sermons,” but they hear the
awesome words, “depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” He did
not say “depart from me, all ye unfaithful ones” or “O ye of little faith”
but “all ye workers of iniquity.” There shall be “weeping and gnashing
of teeth.” The Parable of the ten virgins illustrates this very clearly:
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which
took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of
them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their
lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their
vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all
slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the
bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose,
and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of
your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not
so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them