The Abomination of Desolation - St. Marys Coptic Orthodox Church

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ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
the words as truly divine and prophetic; for in them are mentioned
the things relating to the coming kingdom, beginning with the times
of Daniel, and continuing to the destruction of the world. And any
one who chooses may read it. Observe, however, whether the
prophecy regarding Antichrist be not as follows: “And at the latter
time of their kingdom, when their sins are coming to the full, there
shall arise a king, bold in countenance, and understanding riddles.
And his power shall be great, and he shall destroy wonderfully, and
prosper, and practise; and shall destroy mighty men, and the holy
people. And the yoke of his chain shall prosper: there is craft in his
hand, and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by craft shall
destroy many; and he shall stand up for the destruction of many, and
shall crush them as eggs in his hand.” 1
The Book of Daniel has two more passages dealing with Antichrist, the
Great Tribulation and the end of the world: Daniel 11: 31-45 and the
whole of chapter 12.
Saint Paul’s second epistle to the Thessalonians contains a major
passage about the early Church’s tradition concerning Antichrist:
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon
shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by
letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man
deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there
come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of
perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is
called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the
temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not,
that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye
know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For
the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth
will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked
be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his
mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even
him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and
signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the
1 Origen: Against Celsus.