The Abomination of Desolation - St. Marys Coptic Orthodox Church

96 HIS BEGINNINGS
Most of the Fathers of the Church believe these two witnesses to be
Enoch and Elias (Elijah) which will come to earth to warn people not
to follow the deceiver (Antichrist). There are many reasons for this.
First is the fact that Enoch and Elias did not die, but were translated to
heaven alive. (Gen 5:24, 2 Kgs 2:11) The second is the allusion to their
power to “shut heaven that it rain not in the days of their prophecy,”
something Elijah already did during his earthly ministry (1 Kgs 17:1,
Jas 5:17)
The fire that proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies,
is symbolic of their fiery speeches that no one will be able to contradict.
“The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit” is none other than
Antichrist, who will be opposed by the two witnesses. Ultimately, he
will seize them and kill them and they will be left unburied for the
whole world to see. The city which is called Sodom and Egypt where
also our Lord was crucified is Jerusalem, which will become the seat of
Antichrist. It is called Sodom because under the rule of Antichrist, the
holy city will become an abomination, since there Antichrist will be
worshipped instead of God. It is also symbolically called Egypt because
like Egypt in the time of Moses persecuted God’s people, so will
Jerusalem become the centre from which Antichrist will give orders to
persecute the Church. We are also told that “they of the people and
kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days
and an half.” This would not have been possible during the time of the
writing of Revelations, but today, with satellite communications, the
whole world can watch this great spectacle on CNN!
We are also told that after three and a half days (symbolic) they will
be resurrected and taken to heaven. A great earthquake will shake the
city of Jerusalem, and “the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to
the God of heaven.” Here we find an allusion to the conversion of the
“remnant of Israel” that St. Paul spoke of, “Though the number of the
children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be
saved.”(Rom 9:27) When the Jews see what happens to the two
prophets, their resurrection and ascension, and the great earthquake,
the “remnant” will believe on Christ.
For when the threescore and two weeks are fulfilled, and Christ is come,
and the Gospel is preached in every place, the times being then
accomplished, there will remain only one week, the last, in which Elias