The Abomination of Desolation - St. Marys Coptic Orthodox Church

92 HIS BEGINNINGS
Christ springs from the tribe of Judah, so Antichrist is to spring from
the tribe of Dan. 1
Note that both Christ and Antichrist were likened to a “lion’s whelp.”
Saint Hippolytus 2 explains this by saying that Antichrist wants to mimic
Christ in everything, Christ is likened to a lion, he is also likened to a
lion. Christ is the “Lion from the Tribe of Judah” (Rev 5:5) and
Antichrist is the “lion from the Tribe of Dan.” Note also that the Devil
has also been likened to a lion. (I Pe 5:8)
‘That it is in reality out of the tribe of Dan, then, that tyrant and king,
that dread judge, that son of the devil, is destined to spring and arise,
the prophet testifies when he says, Dan shall judge his people, as (he is)
also one tribe in Israel.’(Gen 49:16) But some one may say that this
refers to Samson, who sprang from the tribe of Dan, and judged the
people twenty years. Well, the prophecy had its partial fulfilment in
Samson, but its complete fulfilment is reserved for Antichrist. 3
Revelation 7:5-8 recounts the sealing of the elect, in giving the names
of the tribes of Israel, the Tribe of Dan is excluded.
And Jeremiah does not merely point out his sudden coming, but he
even indicates the tribe from which he shall come, where he says, “We
shall hear the voice of his swift horses from Dan; the whole earth shall
be moved by the voice of the neighing of his galloping horses: he shall
also come and devour the earth, and the fulness thereof, the city also,
and they that dwell therein.” (Jer 8:16) This, too, is the reason that this
tribe is not reckoned in the Apocalypse along with those which are
saved. 4
1 Hippolytus: Treatise on Christ and Antichrist
2 Saint Hyppolitus is recognized in our Coptic Synaxarion, his
feast day is the 6 th day of Meshir
3 Hippolytus: Treatise on Christ and Antichrist
4
Irenaeus: Against heresies, Book V