The Abomination of Desolation - St. Marys Coptic Orthodox Church

THE UNHOLY TRINITY 73
And see how He secures them; ‘Go not forth into the deserts, enter not
into the secret chambers.’ He did not say, ‘Go, and do not believe;’ but,
‘Go not forth, neither depart thither.’ For great then will be the
deceiving, because that even deceiving miracles are wrought.” 1
I often explain the perils of coming near the Abomination of Desolation
by using a parable! If you have a compass, it will always direct you in
your way. For it will always point to the North Pole (elementary physics!)
The compass is your free will, always directing you to heaven. (The
North pole is on the top of the globe towards heaven! ) Now, if you bring
your compass close to a strong magnet, it will no longer point to the
North Pole, but will always point to the magnet. The magnet is the
deceiver, and if you come near him he will captivate your free will and
you will not be able to go back to your previous condition. That is why
the Lord, in a most urgent way, admonishes us to “flee” and to
“remember Lot’s wife.” The Fathers emphasize this personal flight in
their writings:
But many who are hearers of the divine Scriptures, and have them in
their hand, and keep them in mind with understanding, will escape his
imposture. For they will see clearly through his insidious appearance and
his deceitful imposture, and will flee from his hands, and betake
themselves to the mountains, and hide themselves in the caves of the
earth; and they will seek after the Friend of man with tears and a contrite
heart; and He will deliver them out of his toils, and with His right hand
He will save those from his snares who in a worthy and righteous manner
make their supplication to Him. 2
For this cause the Lord knowing the greatness of the adversary grants
indulgence to the godly, saying, Then let them which be in Judaea flee to
the mountains. 3
1 Saint John Chrysostom: Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew
2 Hippolytus: Discourse on the end of the world and on Antichrist
3 Saint Cyril of Jerusalem: Catechetical Lectures