Compilation
Justin was born in Samaria in a Gentile –
pagan family. He searched for truth in the Greek and Roman philosophers. One
day he came upon a Christian man who shared with him the wisdom of the prophets
of God and their prophecies about Christ. Justin had done much study in
philosophy and was yet unsatisfied with his conclusions. He became convinced
that the testimony of the prophets was more certain than the reasoning of
philosophers. As a result, he decided for Christ and dedicated himself to
travelling throughout the land spreading the knowledge of Christianity as the
true philosophy. He formed a school in Rome and wrote letters to the Senate and
Roman emperor, Antoninus, to abandon the persecution of the early Christians.
He was denounced by the cynic
philosopher Crescens and as a result tried in a Roman court and found
guilty of refusing to worship the Roman gods and disobedience to the Emperor.
He and six of his students were beheaded.[1]
Concerning the Antichrist he wrote,
“He who is about to speak blasphemous and audacious things,
against the Most High, being already at the doors – whose continuance Daniel
signifies as about to be for a time, times, and half a time.”[2]
Here we see Justin quoting from the book of Daniel found in the Old Testament. He describes some of the attributes of the Antichrist found in Daniel 7:25 and later in Daniel 11:36. Daniel 7:25 reads,
"And he (the Antichrist) shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time, and times and the dividing of time."
Daniel 11:36 is similar to Daniel 7:25 and is also speaking of the attributes of the Antichrist.
"And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done."
Justin also mentions the length of his rule as being a “time, times, and half a time,” which signifies 3 and ½ years as stated in various other places in the Scriptures, as in Daniel 7:25 above.[Daniel 7:25, 12:7] Justin continues,
“Foolish are they who do not understand, what indeed has
been pointed out by all the testimonies of the Prophets, that two Comings of
Christ are spoken of; one in which He is preached as the sufferer inglorious –
dishonored and crucified – the second, that in which He will come with glory
from heaven, at the time when the Man of Apostasy, who speaks great things
against the Most High shall be on the earth, and dare wicked things against us
Christians.”[3]
Again, Justin talks of the two comings of the Messiah. First to be crucified as a sheep before her shearers, as a lamb to the slaughter as seen in Isaiah 53 and in the Psalms and fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth in A.D. 30. His second coming is just after the reign of the Antichrist which Justin quotes from Daniel chapter seven and or 2nd Thessalonians as something yet to come.
“Irenaeus quotes the greatest part of 2 Thessalonians 2
respecting the Man of Sin, and applies it to Antichrist – saying that the
Temple in which he will sit, is the Temple in Jerusalem – quoting Matthew 24 as
to the abomination, and unequaled season of tribulation, and applies it to the
time of Antichrist’s blasphemy in Jerusalem – speaking of his arising as the
little Horn after the ten last Kings of the Roman Empire – and quoting the
words of Daniel – “time, times, and the dividing of time,” explaining them as
the three years and a half of Antichrist’s reign.”[5]
In the above quote, Christian apologista Benjamin Wills Newton from the 1800s explains that Irenaeus squarely places the “abomination of desolation” as a future event during the Antichrist’s reign in Jerusalem.
“At the half of the hebdomad (week or seven year period),
Daniel says, the sacrÃfice and libation shall be taken away, and in the Temple
shall be the Abomination of desolation – and until the consumation of the time,
a consumation shall be appointed upon the desolation, -- but the half of the
hebdomad (week or seven year period) is three years and six months.”[6]
In the above quote, Irenaeus is quoting from Daniel 9:27 which says,
“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrÃfice and the oblation to cease, and for the over spreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consumation, and that shall be poured upon the desolate.”
Without going over all the details of the verse, we can see that Irenaenus is referring this verse to the time of the Antichrist in the future and not a past event. The word “week” or “hebdomad” in Greek or “shabua” in Hebrew refers to a seven year period, not a seven day week. Daniel 9:27 mentions the “midst of the week” which Irenaeus properly understands as 3 and ½ years.
“But when Antichrist shall have ravaged all things in this world, reigning three years and six months, and shall have sat in the Temple at Jerusalem, then the Lord shall come from Heaven in clouds in the glory of the Father, to cast him and those that obey him, into the lake of fire. But He will bring in for the righteous, the times of the kingdom, that is to say – rest: -- the seventh day sanctified; and will restore to Abraham the promise of the inheritance, in which kingdom, says the Lord, many shall come from the East and West, and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”[7]
Irenaeus concludes that the Antichrist shall reign for 3 and ½ years which can be found in both Daniel and in the book of Revelation. From Paul’s Epistle of the Thessalonias we get the idea of the Antichrist sitting in the Temple. From Gospel of Mathhew and the book of Revelation Irenaeus gets the image of Jesus returning in the clouds of Heaven [Matthew 24:29-31] to cast the wicked into the lake of fire after [Revelation 19:20] which begins the one thousand year reign of peace on earth.[Revelation 20:3 & 5] The eschatology of Irenaeus is what is found written in the Bible.
I have included the Epistle of Barnabus even though we are not sure today who was the Barnabus that wrote it. The Epistle of Barnabus is considered one of the Apocrypha books of the New Testament. The Apocrypha books were considered good reading, but not on par with the writings that were considered Scripture. They were sometimes found at the end of the early New Testament manuscripts. Old Testament Apocrypha books are found in between the recognised Old Testament Scriptures and the New Testament. The Epistle of Barnabus was part of the New Testament Apocrypha. Some of the early believers considered the author of the epistle was that Barnabus who had been the early companion with Apostle Paul [Acts 9:27, 13:2] and thus considered an Apostle, also. These place the writing of the epistle as early as A.D. 70 – 80. Others, however, say the epistle was written by another Barnabus as late as A.D. 132. Eusebious, the Bishop of Ceasaria in A.D. 314, mentions the epistle in his writings saying that it was not included in the accepted writings of the Apostles. It was considered New Testament Apocryphra, i.e. good, but not Scripture. Clement of Alexandria and Origen also mention the Epistle of Barnabus and seemed to think it was authentic, i.e. written by Paul’s travelling companion.[8] I have included the epistle because it was a known to the early Church Fathers and was sometimes found included after the accepted books of the New Testament in some of the early original manuscripts. So it is authentic, but we don’t know if its from the early Barnabus or not.
“The consumating period of trial (the great tribulation) as
has been written, and as Daniel says, draws near; for the Lord has cut short
the times and days,[Matthew 24:22] in order that His beloved may hasten to His
inheritance. Thus says the prophet, Ten Kingdoms shall reign on the earth, and
after them shall arise a very little one who shall subdue three at once….Of this one, Daniel
says again, And I saw the fourth Beast that came from the sea; and on it there
appeared ten horns, and there came up another little horn in the midst of them,
and overthrew three of the great horns. Therefore we ought to understand.”[9]
Here we see Barnabus accurately quoting from Daniel 7:24-25 and identifying the verses as pertaining to the Antichrist who is yet to come.
“In the six thousand years all things shall be finished. And
He rested on the seventh day; this means, when His Son shall come, and shall
abolish the time of the Wicked One and shall judge the ungodly, and shall
change the sun and moon and stars; then He shall rest glorously on the seventh
day.”[10]
According to Judaic eschatology the world would cover a 7,000 year period. Six thousand years under the rule of man and one thousand years under the rule of the Messiah. We have no Bible verses that confirm that idea, though the Bible does say the Lord would make a short work on the earth.[Romans 9:28] The Apostle Peter also says “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”[2 Peter 3:8] In the Psalm of Moses we read, “A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by.”[Psalm 90:4] Since God made the world and everything in it in six days and then rested on the seventh,[Exodus 20:11] we can see where the Jewish idea of the Messiah coming for the last thousand year period came from. But we must say, that it seems to be Scriptural speculation.
“Also in the Apocalyspe of John, there is laid down the
course of the times, during which the souls of the martyrs beneath the altar,
demanding vengence and judgment are instructed to wait. First, the earth must
drink in its plagues from the vials of the angels; and the harlot city must
suffer destruction by the ten Kings, and the Beast Antichrist with his false
prophet, make war upon the Church of God; and then the Devil being banished for
a season to the bottomless pit, the privilegie of the first resurrection will
be adjuged, the sentence belonging to the universial resurrection, will be
pronounced from the books.”
In the above quote, Tertullian first quotes from Revelation 6:9-11 about the martyrs of the faith having to wait for vengence against their enemies. Then he mentions the “plagues from the vials of angels” which is specifically from the Wrath of God found in Revelation 16. He skips over the trumpets of tribulation of chapters 8-10 which only show 1/3 destruction, and mentions the Vials of Wrath which show complete destruction. From Revelation 17 and 18 he talks of the destruction of the harlot city “system.” He also mentions the Beast Antichrist and the false prophet of Revelation 13 and 19. He finishes up with his understanding of the events in Revelation 20. All very Scripturally presented, though without much detail.
Concerning the two witnesses of Revelation 11, he said the
following:
“Enoch and Elias are translated; their death is not found,
being delayed. Yet they are reserved to die, that with their blood they may
extinguish Antichrist.”[12]
Since neither Enoch [Genesis 5:24 (Great Grandfather of Noah), Hebrews 11:5] nor Elijah [2 Kings 2:1-17] in the Old Testament died, but were both translated into Heaven, the early Christians came to believe the two witnesses of Revelation chapter 11 that witness against the Antichrist system in Jerusalem for almost 3 and ½ years will be anointed with the spirits of Enoch and Elijah. Many Bible scholars today believe that could be a correct interpretation.
Hippolytus was an important
2nd-3rd century Christian theologian, but we don't know much about where he was located, where he served. Some
suggest he may have been in opposition to the church of Rome that was growing
up at that time. Eusebius and Jerome confess they cannot name where Hippolytus served in
church leadership. Some suggest he may have been involved in Roman
house-churches in conflict with the Bishop of Rome. During persecution under
Emperor Maximinus Thrax he was exiled to Sardinia to work in the mines there
and as a result died. Pope Fabian (236-250 AD) brought his remains back to Rome
for a church burial some years later.[13]
Speaking about the Image of Daniel 2 he wrote,
“After these come the Romans, being the iron legs of the
Image – strong as iron: in order that the democracies which are about to rise,
might be pointed out, answering respectively to the ten toes of the image, in
which there will be iron mingled with clay.”[14]
Again we see that Hippolytus places the ten toes from the image in Daniel 2 in the future and predicts the rise of democracies as represented as clay in the image.
In reference to 2 Thessalonians 2 he wrote,
“To explain the whole of this, is not our present business.
But there is in Daniel a prophecy about this same Antichrist, which cannot but
excite the admiration of any one who will read it with common sense and
candour. For there, in words truly divine and prophetic, are described the
kingdoms that were to come, beginning from the time of Daniel down to the
destruction of the world. And this prophecy may be read of all men. Now see if
Antichrist is not spoken of there also in these words,
‘In the end of their kingdoms when their transgressions are filled up, there shall rise a king impudent of face and understanding problems, and etc.’[Daniel 8:23]”
“And that which I have already quoted from the words of Paul, that he shall sit in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God [2nd Thessalonians 2:4] – even this also is said by Daniel, and in this manuer, ‘In the Temple shall be the abomination of desolation; and until the end of the time shall a consumation be given against the desolation.’[Daniel 9:27]”[16]
‘In the end of their kingdoms when their transgressions are filled up, there shall rise a king impudent of face and understanding problems, and etc.’[Daniel 8:23]”
“And that which I have already quoted from the words of Paul, that he shall sit in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God [2nd Thessalonians 2:4] – even this also is said by Daniel, and in this manuer, ‘In the Temple shall be the abomination of desolation; and until the end of the time shall a consumation be given against the desolation.’[Daniel 9:27]”[16]
Origen is very clearly quoting from Daniel 8 and 2nd Thessalonians 2 and Daniel 9:27, all in reference to the time of the Antichrist as some future event. He is, therefore, putting the fulfillment of Jesus’s words from Matthew 24 in the future under the Antichrist.
Victorinus was probably born in Greece, and
spoke Greek, but wrote in Latin. He was highly spoken of by Jerome and was the
Bishop of Pettau located in modern day Slovenia. He saw the soon coming of Christ as a continuous thread
throughout the book of Revelation. Before the end would come he wrote there
would be wars, famines, pestilences, and persecution of Christians. Victorinus
was martyred during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian.[17]
Talking about the false prophet in Revelation 13, he said,
“He will cause that a golden Image of Antichrist should be
placed in the Temple at Jerusalem; and that an apostate angel should enter
thereinto; thence to utter voices and oracles. He will also cause that slaves
and free men should receive as a mark on their foreheads or in their right
hands, the number of his name, that otherwise no one might buy or sell.”
In the above section, Victorinus speculates about how the image of Revelation 13:15 will speak and credits it to an apostate demonic angel. He quotes accuratedly from Revelation 13:16-17 about the mark of the beast.
Lactantius was an early Christian author who
became advisor to the first Christian Roman emperor, Constantine I, and tutored
his son Crispus who was between 10-15 at the time. His most important work was
“The Divine Institutes,” an apologetic intended to establish the truth and
reasonableness of Christianity to its pagan critics. Lactantius was a latin-speaking North African
of Berber origin and was not born into a Christian family. He does not show
much knowledge of Scripture in his writings but was good at rhetoric.[18]
Speaking of the Antichrist he wrote,
“He will command fire to descend from Heaven, and the sun to
stand still in its course, and an Image to speak; and these things shall be
done at his command. By these prodigies
the greater number even of a wise men, will be enticed by him. Then he will
attempt to overthrow the Temple of God, and will persecute the righteous
people; and there shall be pressure and trial, such as never has been from the
beginning of the world.”
In Revelation 13:13 we find Lactantius’s quote about “fire to descend from Heaven,” however, it is referring to the false prophet and not the Antichrist. There is no reference of the Antichrist or false prophet of being able to stop the sun in its course. Again it is the false prophet that has the power to make the image of the beast to speak. His reference to “the greater number even of wise men” being enticed either refers to Daniel 11:35 which says,
“And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white.”
Or to Jesus’s warning from the Gospel of Matthew chapter 24 which says,
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”[Matthew 24:24]
“All who shall believe in, and receive him, shall be marked
by him, as so many sheep: but they who shall reject his mark, shall either fly
to the mountains, or be seized and put to death….And it shall be given him to
desolate the world for forty and two months (3 ½ years). This is the period in
which righteousness will be cast out, and innocense detested. This is he who is
called Antichrist – but he will feign himself to be Christ, and will fight
against the true Christ.”[19]
The first section about receiving the mark is from Revelation 13.
“And he shall cause all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name…and his number is six hundred and threescore and six (666).”[Revelation 13:16-18]
“Fly to the mountains” seems to be refering to Revelation 12 where the Church, or believing Christians, flee from the Antichrist during the period of Great Tribulation. Let’s read from the Bible:
“And to the woman (the Church of Christian believers) were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.”[Revelation 12:14]
Or another possibility is that Lactanius is referring to Jesus’s words in the Gospel of Matthew,
“Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains.”[Matthew 24:16]
Lactantius’s forty-two months comes from Revelation 13 which speaks about the Antichrist's persecution of the saints and all those who refuse to submit to his world economic system. We read,
“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty.two months…And it was given unto him to make war with the saints and overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”[Revelation 13:5 & 7]
The Church Fathers knew of and taught that the Second Coming
of Christ would be preceded by the period of persecution under the Antichrist.
They quoted extensively from Daniel, Matthew 24, 2 Thessalonians 2, and
Revelation to make their point.
[3] Justin
Martyr, as cited by B.W. Newton, “The Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,”
p.373-374.
[4]
Wikipedia Irenaeus
[5] Newton,
B.W., “Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms” p.374
[6] Irenaeus
adver. Her. Chapter. 25, as quoted by B.W. Newton in “Prospects of the Ten
Kingdoms,” p.375.
[14]
Hippolytus, as cited by Maitland;
Chain on Daniel, as quoted by B.W. Newton in “Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,”
p.377.
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