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the Lord.

But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak

evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own
corruption;

And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it

pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves
with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

Having eyes full of adultery, and

that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised
with covetous practices; cursed children:

Which have forsaken the right way, and

are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of
unrighteousness;

But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with

man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

These are wells without water,

clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for
ever.

For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the

lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them
who live in error.

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants

of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the
latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

For it had been better for them not

to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from
the holy commandment delivered unto them.

But it is happened unto them according

to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was
washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Mark 13:14-23

But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel

the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let
them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

And let him that is on the housetop not

go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:

And

let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.

But woe to

them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

And pray ye that

your flight be not in the winter.

For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not

from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for
the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

And then if any

man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:

For false

Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it
were possible, even the elect.

But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all

things.

Bibliography

The Explanation of the Holy Gospel according to St Mark, by Blessed Theophylact, published by
Chrysostom Press -

http://www.chrysostompress.org/

. ALL FOUR BOOKS ARE HIGHLY

RECOMMENDED!

Priest Seraphim 2009.

St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, McKinney, Texas

http://www.orthodox.net/scripture/great-lent-week-before-great-lent-03-tuesday_2009_2peter2;9-22+mark13;14-23.html

http://www.orthodox.net/scripture/great-lent-week-before-great-lent-03-tuesday_2009_2peter2;9-22+mark13;14-23.rtf

http://www.orthodox.net/scripture/great-lent-week-before-great-lent-03-tuesday_2009_2peter2;9-22+mark13;14-23.pdf