If we remember this, we will not bow down and worship the antichrist when he comes and seats himself in the "restored" Jewish temple. When he comes, we must flee into the mountains. These events spoken of in Daniel, in Ezekiel, and in Apocalypse are real events. Some modernists attempt to make them allegory, to such an extent that these revelations from God Himself are of no effect, but this is in opposition to the teachings of the Holy Fathers. Fr. Thomas Hopko scolded in a lecture not too long ago, those who minimize the events of the Last Days. He reminded us Orthodox Christians that almost all of the Holy Fathers speak about this topic, its importance for every serious Orthodox Christian, and the literal approach the Church takes to such things.
Our Lord's warning regarding the Last Days:
Matthew 24:15-27
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),“then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.
“Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
