The Abomination of Desolation - St. Marys Coptic Orthodox Church
The Abomination of Desolation - St. Marys Coptic Orthodox Church
The Abomination of Desolation - St. Marys Coptic Orthodox Church
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54<br />
THE UNHOLY TRINITY<br />
the slaying <strong>of</strong> the prophets and the cutting <strong>of</strong>f <strong>of</strong> the just. 1<br />
THE WOUNDED HEAD:<br />
“And I saw one <strong>of</strong> his heads as it were wounded to death; and his<br />
deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the<br />
beast.” (Rev 13:3) This head, which we are later told was “wounded<br />
by a sword, and did live.” (Rev 13:14) is thought by some to be the<br />
same politico-religious movement that arose to power five centuries<br />
after Revelations was written. To be wounded by a sword, in<br />
apocalyptic language, signifies a military defeat. Some see this<br />
fulfilled in the lack <strong>of</strong> military success <strong>of</strong> nations that follow this<br />
politico-religious system, over the last 50 years. But, in spite <strong>of</strong> the<br />
mortal wounds these nations experienced, many <strong>of</strong> these countries<br />
have recovered their military might (the deadly wound is healed.)<br />
At least one <strong>of</strong> these countries is known to have nuclear capabilities<br />
while three others are suspected <strong>of</strong> having the same.<br />
THE TEN HORNS OF THE BEAST:<br />
Revelation 17 tells us that the ten horns are “ten kings that will<br />
receive power as kings one hour with the beast. <strong>The</strong>se have one<br />
mind and shall give their power and strength unto the beast and<br />
make war with the Lamb.” <strong>The</strong>se will be ten nations that will enter<br />
into a military alliance with Antichrist. Hippolytus, writing 18<br />
centuries ago, describes these ten nations as ten “Democracies.” 2<br />
This is a very intriguing prophecy, since democracies did not exist<br />
at the time <strong>of</strong> Hippolytus.<br />
<strong>The</strong> number 10 does not have to be taken literally, but<br />
figuratively, to mean a certain number <strong>of</strong> nations. <strong>The</strong> fact that they<br />
are described by the Book <strong>of</strong> Revelation as “having one mind”<br />
coupled with Hippolytus’ prophetic description <strong>of</strong> these nations as<br />
“democracies” makes one wonder whether these nations that will be<br />
allied to the future Antichrist are not those nations that form the<br />
1 Irenaeus: Against heresies, Book V<br />
2 Hippolytus <strong>of</strong> Rome: Treatise on Christ and Antichrist