Where Do the Turbo Cancers Come From?
Saturday, June 6, 2026
The Lord Has Heard the Voice of My Weeping! - Psalm 6
Psalm 6 – A Psalm of David Commentary by Dennis Edwards
1 O LORD, rebuke me not in Your anger, neither chasten me in
Your displeasure.
God’s word tells us specifically that when God chastens us,
He does so in love. In Hebrews 12:5b-6 we read, “My son, despise not the
chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of Him: for whom the
Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” Further on
the Lord explains why He chastens us, “Now no chastening seems to be joyous,
but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of
righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby,” Hebrews 12:11.
God has a purpose for whatever He is allowing in our lives that
is causing us problems, His “chastening.” It may seem hard while we are going
through it. However, if we yield to Lord, and learn from the problem, whatever
we need to learn, the “chastening” will bring out God’s goodness in our lives.
2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal
me; for my bones are vexed.
When we are going through an affliction, no matter what it
is, we feel weak, and we become discouraged, our bones ache and we feel older.
But God’s word says, “wherefore, lift up the hands which hang down, and the
feeble knees,” Hebrews 12:12. In other words, the Lord is admonishing us to
fight discouragement with praise and thanksgiving, and don’t give up! “In
everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning
you,” 1st Thessalonians 5:18.
3 My soul is also sore vexed: but You, O LORD, how long?
David is crying out to the Lord asking Him how long will he
need to go through the valley of affliction. In Psalm 84:6, the valley is
called Baca, which means weeping, in other words, the valley of weeping. In the
psalm the man whose strength is in the Lord, makes the valley a well of water, “the
rain also fills the pools,” or the Lord Himself sends His refreshment.
In Hebrews 12:13a we find, “And make straight paths for your
feet,” in other words, “Enter in at the straight gate; for wide is the gate,
and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in
there at: because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto
life, and few there be that find it,” Matthew 7:13-14. We need to stay on the
straight and narrow road to salvation and usefulness to God. When God corrects
us, we need to turn from our wayward paths, back to the path of God, “that
shines more and more unto that perfect day,” Proverbs 4:18b.
The rest of the verse in Hebrews says, “lest that which is
lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed,” Hebrews 12:13b.
God doesn’t want us to get discouraged in our testing or chastening. He wants
us to find victory and healing through it, not discouragement, or a falling
away, or bitterness.
4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh, save me for my
enemies’ sake.
5 For in death there is no remembrance of You: in the grave
who shall give You thanks?
In the Old Testament, various authors make mention of death
as being the end. Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9:6 writes, “For the living know that
they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any reward;
for the memory of them is forgotten.” Isaiah similarly transcribes, “For the
grave cannot praise You, death cannot celebrate You: they that go down into the
pit cannot hope for Your truth. The living, the living, he shall praise You, as
I do this day: the father to the children shall make known Your truth,” Isaiah
38:18-19.
However, Apostle Paul explains death differently. He says,
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain…For I am in a straight between
two, having a desire to depart, and be with Christ; which is far better;
nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you,” Philippians
2:21&23. We see Apostle Paul expecting to be with and see Jesus when he
dies.
In 2 Corinthians 5:10, he writes, “For we must all appear
before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done
in his body, according to that which he has done, whether it be good or bad.”
Death for Apostle Paul is very active. In the book of Revelation, we have a
similar view. We see that those who had arrived in heaven after the rapture are singing
and praising God.
“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and
them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over
his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having
harps of God. And they sang the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song
of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are thy ways, You King of saints. Who shall not fear you? O Lord,
and glorify Your name? for You only are holy: for all nations shall come and
worship before You; for Your judgments are made manifest,” Revelation 15:2-4.
We see the saints in the heavenly realm giving thanks and glory to God. Even in
death they shall sing, give thanks, and give praise unto God.
6 I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed to
swim; I water my mouth with my tears.
The psalmist is mourning over a loss, perhaps the death of a
loved one, a son or daughter, or wife. He is passing through that almost
uncontrollable grief we can experience as a result of a sudden death of a loved
one.
7 My eye is consumed because of grief; it waxes old because
of my enemies.
Job had said something similar, “My eye also is dim by
reason of my sorrow,” Job 17:7a. Earlier Job had said, “Oh that my grief was
thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! For now, it
would be heavier than the sand of the sea,” Job 6:1-2a. He implores God to
finish him off rather than let him suffer any longer. “Oh, that I might have my
request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! Even that it
would please God to destroy me; that He would let loose His hand, and cut me
off!” Job 6:8-9.
Among other catastrophes, Job had lost his 10 children in
one sudden disaster, Job 1:18-19. “While he was yet speaking, there came also
another (messenger), and said, Your sons and your daughters were eating and
drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, and, behold, there came a great
wind from the wilderness. And smote the four corners of the house. And it fell
upon the young men (and women), and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone
to tell you.”
Jeremiah was also overwhelmed with grief over the
difficulties he passed through in his life of warning Judah of her sins. He
said in a moment of despair, “Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the
day wherein my mother bare me be blessed. Cursed be the man who brought tidings
to my father, saying, A man child is born unto you; making him very glad. And
let that man be as the cities which the Lord overthrew, and repented not: and
let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide; because he
slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her
womb to be always great with me. Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see
labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?” Jeremiah 20:14-18.
A death in a family of a young child or adolescent, or even
an adult, especially if it was caused by an accident or something preventable,
can cause family members to accuse one another for their negligence. Family
members can become as enemies to one another causing even greater grief. A prolonged
sickness which seems to refuse to be healed like Parkinson or diabetes, a
physical handicap like blindness or deftness, a negative prognostic that
predicts that medical intervention cannot help like a back problem or hip bone;
these can cause us to spin into a cycle of despair and discouragement and lead
to depression and even suicide.
8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; for the LORD
has heard the voice of my weeping.
David is commanding the “workers of iniquity,” the spiritual demonic forces which are not flesh and blood, the principalities, the powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, the spiritual wickedness in high places, to depart from him. Ephesians 6:12. Our warfare is not just in the physical realm, but much more so in the spiritual. He is "casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5.
David is rebuking the devil.
When we rebuke the devil, he must flee. “Resist the devil and he will flee from
you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you,” James 4:7b-8. David is fighting the good fight of faith, and as he praises and thanks God and resists the enemy God's presence comes upon him once again. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in
the morning,” Psalm 30:5. God answers our prayers and sends relief. “He sent
His word and healed them, and delivered them out of their destructions,” Psalm
107:20.
9 The LORD has heard my supplication; the LORD will receive
my prayer.
Apostle Paul tells us, that as we pour out our heart in
prayer and in supplication with thanksgiving, God hears our prayers and
responds. He sends us peace of heart and mind that passes all our
understanding, Philippians 4:6-7. The Lord says, “Call upon Me, and I will
answer you,” Jeremiah 33:3a. In the Psalms we find, “He shall call upon Me, and
I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble: I will deliver him,” Psalm
91:15ab.
In Habakkuk 2:4b, the Lord tells us that the answer will
come, even if it’s slow in coming. “Though it tarries, wait for it: because it
will surely come, it will not tarry.” Hold on, the answer is coming! “It is
good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the
Lord,” Lamentations 3:26. “For the Lord will not cast off forever: but though He
cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His
mercies. For He does not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men,”
Lamentations 3:31-33.
10 Let all my enemies be ashamed and sore vexed (or troubled):
let them return and be ashamed suddenly.
David finishes the psalm praying against his enemies. In
contrast, we find Jesus at the cross saying, “Father, forgive them; for they
know not what they do,” Luke 23:34. Some believe Jesus was talking specifically
to the Roman soldiers who were only obeying orders. In Matthew 23:35, before
His Passion, Jesus had condemned the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, and said,
“That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the
blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom you
slew between the temple and the altar.”
The Scribes and Pharisees knew better, therefore, to them
was the greater condemnation. They were the false shepherds and hirelings which
cared not for the flock, John 10:13. “To him that knows to do good and does it
not, to him it is sin,” James 4:17. “When the lord therefore of the vineyard
comes, what will he do unto those husbandmen? …. He will miserably destroy
those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which
shall render him the fruits in their seasons…. Therefore, say I unto you, The
kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth
the fruits thereof,” Matthew 21:40-41&43. “There shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth,” Matthew 24:51b.
However, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ words are recorded as such: “You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbour, and hate your enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you; that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven,” Matthew 5:43-45a.
Prayer: Jesus, we pray against
our enemies’ evil influence on us and upon the world. We pray for their conversion. Help us to stand for love and truth and be faithful witnesses with our words and actions no matter what the results may bring. Help us to stand up for everything that is good and everything that is true in the face of evil. Help us not to be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, and be cowardice, but rather be brave and fearless in these evil days. May our words and lives be examples of Jesus and lift the discouraged and refute the wicked. In Jesus’ name,
we pray. Amen.
Originally published 11-07-2024.
O Senhor ouviu a voz do meu pranto! - Salmo 6
Salmo 6 – Um
Comentário ao Salmo de David de Dennis Edwards
1 Ó Senhor, não
me repreendas na tua ira, nem me castigues no teu desagrado.
A palavra de Deus
diz-nos especificamente que quando Deus nos castiga, fá-lo em amor. Em Hebreus
12:5b-6 lê-se: “Filho meu, não desprezes a correção do Senhor, nem desmaies
quando por ele és repreendido; porque o Senhor corrige a quem ama, e açoita a
todo aquele que recebe por filho”. Mais adiante, o Senhor explica porque nos
corrige: “Ora, nenhuma correção parece ser motivo de alegria, mas sim de
tristeza; contudo, depois produz um fruto pacÃfico de justiça para os que por
ela são exercidos”, Hebreus 12:11.
Deus tem um
propósito para tudo o que permite nas nossas vidas que nos está a causar
problemas, o Seu “castigo”. Pode parecer difÃcil enquanto estamos a passar por
isso. Contudo, se nos rendermos ao Senhor e aprendermos com o problema, seja o
que for que precisemos aprender, o “castigo” trará à tona a bondade de Deus nas
nossas vidas.
2 Tende piedade
de mim, Senhor; porque estou fraco. pois os meus ossos estão angustiados.
Quando estamos a
passar por uma aflição, não importa qual seja, sentimo-nos fracos e
desanimados, os nossos ossos doem e sentimo-nos mais velhos. Mas a palavra de
Deus diz: “levantai, pois, as mãos que pendem e os joelhos fracos”, Hebreus
12:12. Por outras palavras, o Senhor está a admoestar-nos a combater o desânimo
com louvor e ação de graças, e a não desistir! “Em tudo dai graças, porque esta
é a vontade de Deus em Cristo Jesus para convosco”, 1 Tessalonicenses 5:18.
3 Também a minha
alma está profundamente angustiada;
David está a
clamar ao Senhor perguntando-lhe quanto tempo precisará para passar pelo vale
da aflição. No Salmo 84:6, o vale é chamado Baca, que significa choro, ou seja,
vale do pranto. No salmo, o homem cuja força está no Senhor faz do vale um poço
de água, “a chuva também enche os tanques”, ou o próprio Senhor envia o Seu
refrigério.
Em Hebreus 12:13a
encontramos: “E fazei caminhos retos para os vossos pés”, por outras palavras:
“Entrai pela porta estreita; porque larga é a porta, e espaçoso o caminho que
conduz à perdição, e muitos são os que entram por ela; porque estreita é a porta,
e apertado o caminho que conduz à vida, e poucos são os que encontram isso”,
Mateus 7 :13-14. Precisamos de permanecer no caminho reto e estreito para a
salvação e a utilidade para Deus. Quando Deus nos corrige, precisamos de
abandonar os nossos caminhos rebeldes e voltar ao caminho de Deus, “que brilha
cada vez mais até à quele dia perfeito”, Provérbios 4:18b.
O resto do
versÃculo em Hebreus diz: “para que o coxo não se desvie do caminho; mas antes
seja curado”, Hebreus 12:13b. Deus não quer que fiquemos desanimados nos nossos
testes ou castigos. Ele quer que encontremos a vitória e a cura através disso,
e não do desânimo, do afastamento ou da amargura.
4 Volta, Senhor,
livra a minha alma;
5 Porque na morte
não há lembrança de ti;
No Antigo
Testamento, vários autores mencionam a morte como sendo o fim. Salomão está em
Eclesiastes 9:6 e escreve: “Porque os vivos sabem que morrerão; mas os mortos
nada sabem, nem têm recompensa; pois a memória deles foi esquecida.” IsaÃas
transcreve de forma semelhante: “Porque a sepultura não pode louvar-te, a morte
não pode celebrar-te: os que descem à cova não podem esperar pela tua verdade.
Os vivos, os vivos, ele te louvará, como eu hoje faço: o pai aos filhos dará a
conhecer a tua verdade”, IsaÃas 38:18-19.
No entanto, o
apóstolo Paulo explica a morte de forma diferente. Diz ele: “Porque para mim o
viver é Cristo, e o morrer é lucro… Porque estou numa situação de dois
extremos, tendo o desejo de partir e estar com Cristo; o que é muito melhor; no
entanto, permanecer na carne é mais necessário para vós”, Filipenses 2:21 e 23.
Vemos o apóstolo Paulo à espera de estar e ver Jesus quando morrer.
Em 2 CorÃntios
5:10, escreve: “Porque todos devemos comparecer perante o tribunal de Cristo;
para que cada um receba segundo o que tiver feito no seu corpo o que tiver
feito, quer seja bom, quer seja mau.” A morte do apóstolo Paulo é muito ativa.
No livro do Apocalipse, temos uma visão semelhante. Vemos aqueles que chegaram
ao céu após o arrebatamento a cantar e a louvar a Deus.
“E vi como um mar
de vidro misturado com fogo; e os que venceram a besta, e a sua imagem, e o seu
sinal, e o número do seu nome, estavam junto ao mar de vidro, tendo harpas de
Deus. E entoavam o cântico de Moisés, servo de Deus, e o cântico do Cordeiro, dizendo:
Grandes e maravilhosas são as tuas obras, Senhor Deus Todo-Poderoso. Justos e
verdadeiros são os teus caminhos, Rei dos santos. Quem não terá medo de si? Ó
Senhor, e glorificar o Teu nome? porque só tu és santo; porque todas as nações
virão e adorarão diante de ti; pois os teus juÃzos são manifestos”, Apocalipse
15:2-4. Vemos os santos no reino celestial a dar graças e glória a Deus. Mesmo
na morte cantarão, darão graças e louvarão a Deus.
6 Estou cansado
do meu gemido; toda a noite faço a cama para nadar; Rego a minha boca com as
minhas lágrimas.
O salmista está
de luto por uma perda, talvez a morte de um ente querido, de um filho ou filha,
ou de uma esposa. Ele está a passar por aquela dor quase incontrolável que
podemos sentir como resultado da morte súbita de um ente querido.
7 Os meus olhos
estão consumidos pela tristeza; envelhece por causa dos meus inimigos.
Job tinha dito
algo semelhante: “Os meus olhos também estão turvos por causa da minha
tristeza”, Job 17:7a. Anteriormente, Job tinha dito: “Oh, que a minha dor tenha
sido completamente pesada e a minha calamidade colocada na balança! Por
enquanto, seria mais pesado do que a areia do mar”, Job 6:1-2a. Suplica a Deus
que acabe com ele, em vez de o deixar sofrer por mais tempo. “Oh, se eu pudesse
receber o meu pedido; e que Deus me conceda aquilo que anseio! Mesmo que fosse
do agrado de Deus destruir-me; que Ele soltaria a Sua mão e me cortaria!” Job
6:8-9.
Entre outras
catástrofes, Job perdeu os seus 10 filhos num desastre repentino, Job 1:18-19.
“Estando ele ainda a falar, veio também outro (mensageiro) e disse: Os teus
filhos e as tuas filhas estavam a comer e a beber vinho na casa do seu irmão
mais velho, e eis que veio um grande vento do deserto. E feriu os quatro cantos
da casa. E caiu sobre os jovens (e mulheres), e eles morreram; e só eu escapei
sozinho para lhe contar.”
Jeremias também
ficou dominado pela tristeza pelas dificuldades por que passou na sua vida para
alertar Judá sobre os seus pecados. Disse num momento de desespero: “Maldito o
dia em que nasci; não seja abençoado o dia em que a minha mãe me deu à luz. Maldito
o homem que trouxe a notÃcia a meu pai, dizendo: Nasceu-te um filho varão;
deixando-o muito feliz. E seja esse homem como as cidades que o Senhor derrubou
e não se arrependeu; porque não me matou desde o ventre; ou que a minha mãe
pudesse ter sido o meu túmulo, e o seu ventre sempre grande comigo. Porque saÃ
do ventre para ver trabalho e tristeza, para que os meus dias fossem consumidos
pela vergonha?” Jeremias 20:14-18.
A morte de uma
criança pequena ou de um adolescente, ou mesmo de um adulto, na famÃlia,
principalmente se for provocada por um acidente ou algo evitável, pode fazer
com que os familiares se acusem mutuamente pela sua negligência. Os membros da
famÃlia podem tornar-se inimigos uns dos outros, causando um sofrimento ainda
maior. Uma doença prolongada que parece recusar-se a ser curada como Parkinson
ou diabetes, uma deficiência fÃsica como cegueira ou destreza, um prognóstico
negativo que prevê intervenção médica não pode ajudar como um problema nas
costas ou no osso da anca; pode levar-nos a um ciclo de desespero e desânimo e
levar à depressão e até ao suicÃdio.
8 Afastai-vos de
mim, todos vós que praticais a iniquidade; porque o Senhor ouviu a voz do meu
pranto.
David está a
ordenar aos “que praticam a iniquidade”, as forças demonÃacas espirituais que
não são de carne e osso, os principados, as potestades, os soberanos das trevas
deste mundo, a maldade espiritual nos lugares celestiais, que se afastem dele.
Efésios 6:12. A nossa guerra não ocorre apenas no domÃnio fÃsico, mas muito
mais no espiritual. David está a repreender o diabo. Quando repreendemos o
diabo, ele deve fugir. “Resiste ao diabo e ele fugirá de ti. Aproxima-te de
Deus, e Ele aproximar-se-á de ti”, Tiago 4:7b-8. David lutando a luta da fé. “O
choro pode durar uma noite, mas a alegria vem pela manhã”, Salmos 30:5. Deus
responde à s nossas orações e envia alÃvio. “Ele enviou a Sua palavra e os
curou, e os livrou da destruição”, Salmos 107:20.
9 O Senhor ouviu
a minha súplica; o Senhor receberá a minha oração.
O apóstolo Paulo
diz-nos que quando abrimos o nosso coração em oração e súplica com ações de
graças, Deus ouve as nossas orações e responde. Ele envia-nos paz de coração e
de mente que excede todo o nosso entendimento, Filipenses 4:6-7. O Senhor diz:
“Invoca-me, e eu te responderei”, Jeremias 33:3a. Nos salmos encontramos: “Ele
me invocará, e eu lhe responderei: estarei com ele na angústia: eu o livrarei”,
Salmo 91:15ab.
Em Habacuque
2:4b, o Senhor diz-nos que a resposta virá, mesmo que demore a chegar. “Embora
demore, espere: porque certamente virá, não tardará.” Espere, a resposta está a
chegar! “É bom que o homem tenha esperança e espere em silêncio pela salvação
do Senhor”, Lamentações 3:26. “Porque o Senhor não rejeitará para sempre;
Porque Ele não aflige nem entristece de bom grado os filhos dos homens”,
Lamentações 3:31-33.
10 Que todos os
meus inimigos fiquem envergonhados e angustiados (perturbados): voltem e sejam
subitamente envergonhados.
David termina o
salmo orando contra os seus inimigos. Em contraste, encontramos Jesus na cruz a
dizer: “Pai, perdoa-lhes; porque não sabem o que fazem”, Lucas 23:34. Alguns
acreditam que Jesus estava a falar especificamente aos soldados romanos que
apenas obedeciam às ordens. Em Mateus 23:35, antes da Sua Paixão, Jesus
condenou os fariseus pela sua hipocrisia e disse: “Para que caia sobre vós todo
o sangue justo, derramado sobre a terra, desde o sangue do justo Abel até ao
sangue de Zacarias, filho de Barachias, a quem mataste entre o templo e o
altar.”
Os escribas e os
fariseus sabiam melhor, por isso, para eles era a maior condenação. Eram os
falsos pastores e mercenários que não se preocupavam com o rebanho, João 10:13.
“Aquele que sabe fazer o bem e não o faz, para ele isso é pecado”, Tiago 4:17.
“Quando vier o senhor da vinha, que fará à queles agricultores? …. Ele destruirá
miseravelmente aqueles homens Ãmpios e arrendará a sua vinha a outros
agricultores, que lhe darão os frutos na sua estação. Por isso vos digo: O
reino de Deus vos será tirado e será dado a uma nação que produza os seus
frutos”, Mateus 21:40-41 e 43. “Haverá choro e ranger de dentes”, Mateus
24:51b.
No entanto, no
Sermão da Montanha, as palavras de Jesus estão assim registadas: “Ouvistes o
que foi dito: Amarás o teu próximo e odiarás o teu inimigo. Mas eu vos digo:
Amai os vossos inimigos, abençoai os que vos amaldiçoam, fazei o bem aos que
vos odeiam e orai pelos que vos usam maliciosamente e vos perseguem; para que
sejais filhos do vosso Pai que está nos Céus”, Mateus 5:43-45a. Rezemos, pois,
contra a má influência dos nossos inimigos sobre nós e sobre o mundo, ao mesmo
tempo que demonstramos amor e rezamos pela sua conversão à fé. Em nome de
Jesus, oramos. Amém.
Originalmente publicado 11-08-2024.
Compilation on the Church Fathers and their Concept of the Antichrist - Part 2
Dennis Edwards: 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. They did not teach a Pre-Tribulation Rapture. Let us continue in our study of their thoughts. To return to Part 1 click here.
Hilary of Poitiers A.D. 310 – 367
Hilary was the Bishop of Poitiers (France) sometimes referred to as the “Hammer of the Arians.” Born in a well-to-do pagan family, he studied the Old and New Testament and became a Christian with his wife and daughter. He was elected Bishop by the local people. “Hilary was a firm guardian of the trinity as taught by the western church and therefore saw the foreseen Antichrist in those who repudiated the divinity of the Son and thought Him to be but a created being (the Arians).”[20] Writing on Bible prophecy he said,
“Antichrist, being received by the Jews, will occupy the holy Place, in order that, in the very spot where God was want to be worshipped by the prayers of saints, there he might be venerated and received with divine honours by the unbelievers.”[21]
Hilary’s quote seems to be a reference to Paul’s 2nd Epistle to the Thessalonians where he says,
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (the day of Christ’s coming and our gathering together unto Him), shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” [2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4]
Ambrose was Archbishop of Milan who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century. He was a staunch opponent of Arianism. Augustine of Hippo was converted through his contact with Ambrose.[22] He wrote about the Antichrist coming when Jerusalem shall be compassed with armies,
“Truly ye shall see Jerusalem compassed by an army, and stormed by a Roman general; whence the Jews thought the abomination of desolation was set up when the Romans, mocking the Jewish cerimonial, threw a swine’s head into the Temple. With which I am not so mad as to agree – for the abomination of desolation is the abominable advent of Antichrist who with ill omend sacrilege will defile the inner chambers of men’s minds, and will moreover sit literally in the Temple, usurping the throne of Divine power…. then will come desolation, seeing that most will fall away from true religion, and lapse into error. Then will come the Day of the Lord.”
Ambose in the first section is clarifying that we will yet see Jerusalem compassed by an army. He does not agree with the Jews who say this prophecy was finally fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes before the time of Christ who threw a swine’s head into the temple in Jerusalem.[1 Maccabees 1 ] He believes we will yet see Antichrist sitting in the Temple as God, usurping God’s power which will bring on desolation as most of mankind will have fallen away from faith into unbelief. The results will be the Day of the Lord which signifies Christ’s return to save His own and then destroy the Antichrist and false prophet during the Battle of Armageddon. We have seen these events in the Scriptures already, so what Ambrose is saying is Scriptural.
“These thing we teach, not inventing them for ourselves, but learning them from the divine canonical Scriptures, and especially from Daniel. Even as Gabriel the Archangel interpreted, saying, that the fourth Beast should be the fourth Empire on the earth, and should surpass all the Empires that had gone before.[Daniel 7:23] I have already said, that ecclesiastical writers have delivered down, that this Empire is Rome. For after the Assyrian Empire had risen into distinction first – second, that of the Medes and Persians – third, that of the Macedonians – the fourth Empire, which at present exists, is that of the Romans. Gabriel proceeds to explain, that its ten horns are ten kings who shall arise: and after them, shall arise another king, who shall exceed in evil all that have gone before – not only the ten, but all who have proceeded; and he shall subdue three kings[Daniel 7:24]….And who this person is, and from what energy he acts, do thou, O Paul, signify. ‘Whose coming,’ he says, ‘is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and deceiving wonders,’[2nd Thessalonians 2:9] intimating this, that Satan uses this person as an instrument, personally acting in him. Again, the Apostle says; ‘Who opposes and exalts himself against every thing that is called God, or that is worshipped….so that he seats himself in the Temple of God.’[2nd Thessalonians 2:4] – What Temple? – The destroyed Temple of the Jews. God forbid it should be that in which we are. Why do I say this? I tell the reason, in order that I may not be thought to be showing favour to ourselves. If he comes to the Jews as Christ, and desires to be worshipped by the Jews, in order that he might the better deceive them, he will be most diligent about the Temple, thus causing it to be thought that he is of the family of David, the one destined to raise the Temple of Solomon….At first he will assune the appearance of philanthropy[Daniel 11:24] – but afterwards, will show himself full of stern severity, especially towards the saints of God; for he says, ‘I beheld, and that horn made war with the saints,’[Revelation 13:7 and Daniel 8:24] etc – and again, ‘There shall be a time of tribulation – tribulation such has not been, since the time there was a nation upon the earth.’[Daniel 12:1 and Matthew 24:21] On this account, the Lord knowing the mightiness of the adversary, gives permission to the godly, saying, ‘Then let those who are in Judea, flee,’[Matthew 24:16] etc….but thanks be to God who has circumscribed the greatness of the affliction within the compass of a few days – for He says, that ‘for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.’[Matthew 24:22] Antichrist shall reign three and a half years only. I say not this from the Apocryphal writings, but from Daniel; for he says, ‘and it shall be given into his hand until a time, times, and half a time,’[Daniel 7:25, 12:7] etc – now a time is one year.”[24]
Cyril emphasizes that his ideas on Bible prophecy didn’t come from the Apocryphal books, which were considered good or interesting literature, but not Divine Scriptures. His ideas come from the book of Daniel which was part of the Jewish Old Testament and therefore, Sacred Scripture.
Cyril seems to speculate that the Antichrist will rebuild the Temple of Solomon. Apostle Paul’s writings to the Thessalonians indicate the Antichrist will sit in the Temple of God. What or where that Temple will be, we don’t know for sure. But both in Daniel 8:11 and Daniel 11:31 are indications that the Antichrist will stop the “daily sacrÃfice.” If there is a “daily Sacrifice” then there must be a Temple in which to sacrÃfice. Let’s read the two verses from Daniel:
“Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrÃfice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary cast down.”
“And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrÃfice, and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate.”
Cyril is therefore placing the fulfilment of these Scripture in the future which causes him to speculate that a Temple will be built by the Antichrist to please and deceive the Jews, who are anticipating that the Messiah will rebuild the Temple. Some modern day eschatology scholars both Christian and Jewish agree that new Temple needs to be built. The Temple Institute in Jerusalem is working toward that very end.
John was Archbishop of Constantinople and an important Early Church Father. He is known for his preaching and public speaking and his denunciation of abuse of authority by church and political leaders. He was one of the most prolific authors of the early Church, exceeded only by Augustine of Hippo in the quantity of his surviving writings. He was a hermit for two years which damaged his stomach and kidneys. His straightforward understanding of the Scriptures meant that the themes of his talks were practical, explaining the Bible’s application to everyday life. He founded a series of hospitals in Constantinople to care for the poor.[25] Speaking on the Antichrist he wrote,
“He is called a son of perdition, because he himself will perish. And who is he? Satan? By no means; but a certain man, receiving all the operation of Satan. There shall be revealed, it says, the man who will be extolled above all that is called God, or that is made an object of worship. For he will not incite men to worship idols, but it will be himself as Antitheos. He will put down all gods, and command men to worship him as the very God. And he will sit in the Temple of God; not only that which is in Jerusalem, but in the churches everywhere.”[26]
Of course, the above quote is another example of the Church Father’s quoting from Apostle Paul’s 2nd Epistle to the Thessalonians chapter 2, again, perfectly scriptural.
“Therefore let us say, that which all ecclesiastical writers have delivered, that at the end of the world, when the kingdom of the Romans is to be destroyed, there will be ten kings to divide the Roman world amongst themselves, and that there will arise an eleventh, a very little king who will overcome three of the ten kings,….after the destruction of which kings, the seven other kings will submit their necks to the conqueror.[Daniel 7:24] And behold, he says, there were eyes like the eyes of a man in that horn.[Daniel 7:8] Let us not think, according to the opinions of some, that he is either a devil or a demon, but one from among men, in whom the whole of Satan is about to dwell bodily. And a mouth speaking great things: for he is the man of sin, the son of perdition, so as to sit in the Temple of God, showing that he is God.[2nd Thessalonians 2:4]”[28]
“’I beheld on account of the great words that the horn spake,’ etc. The judgment of God comes to crush pride: therefore the Roman Empire will be blotted out, because that horn spake great things[Daniel 7:25]….Time signifies a year, times (according to the idiom of the Hebrews, who themselves have a dual number) signify two years – half a time, six months; during which period, the saints are to be given over to Antichrist[Daniel 7:25], that the Jews might be condemned, who, not believing the truth, have taken up with a lie. Concerning which period also the Saviour speaks in the Gospel, ‘Unless those days were shortened there should no flesh be saved.’[Matthew 24:21]”[29]
Concerning Antiochus Epiphanes (175 – 164 B.C.) who violated the Temple and placed an abomination there prior to the time of Christ, Jerome wrote,
“Most of our people refer it to Antichrist and say, that what was done under Antiochus (IV) in type is to be fulfilled under the other in reality.”
Augustine’s mother was Christian and his father a pagan who converted on his deathbed. They were a highly Romanized Berber family that spoke Latin at home. As a youth he fell away from the faith of his mother and for a time led a hedonistic lifestyle. However, he was a brilliant student, except in Greek, and eventually obtained a job in Milan as a professor of Rhetoric. It was in Milan that Augustine came in contact with Ambrose whose good example led Augustine to accept Christianity. Augustine said it was Ambrose’s friendliness that attracted him as he was not expecting to find the truth in Christianity. Augustine was the most famous of the Church fathers and wrote extensively. He made the following comment on 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2:
“No one doubts that the Apostle said these things of Antichrist; and that the day of judgment, which he here calls the Day of the Lord, will not come, unless he, whom he calls an apostate, that is to say, from the Lord God, shall first come….But in what Temple of God he is about to sit is uncertain; whether in that ruined Temple, which was constructed by Solomon, or in the Church: for the Apostle would not call the temple of any idol or demon – the Temple of God.”
Often prophecy is not understood until after the fact.
We see Augustine was trying to figure out what the Scripture meant by “sitting in the temple of God.” Scripture tends to be better understood as it becomes fulfilled. The disciples of Jesus didn’t understand the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus until he opened up the minds of their reasoning “after the fact.” We read in Luke the story of the two disciples travelling to a small town outsider of Jerusalem on the third day after His death. Jesus in disguise walks and talks with them. Luke records the event,
“Then he (Jesus) said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself….And they said one to another, Did not our hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures.”[Luke 24:25-27, 32.]
Even Daniel didn’t understand the prophecies he received until God revealed unto him what they meant. In Daniel 12, his last chapter of prophecy, the Lord twice tells Daniel not to worry if he doesn’t understand what he’s writing, because the words were not for him, but for the future and would be sealed until the time of the end.
“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end….for the words are closed up and sealed til the time of the end.”[Daniel 12:4ª, 12:9b]
Even Isaac Newton tried to figure out what the prophecies in Daniel meant, but without much success. We living today have a better chance at understanding the prophecies, because we are living closer to their fulfilment. God will open up our eyes as the events come upon us and as He wills. He has told us that He will do nothing but He reveal it to His servants the prophets.[Amos 3:7] But it behoves us to be attentive and search the Scriptures daily, whether these things are so.[Acts 17:11]
“Augustine speaks of the four Empires mentioned in Daniel, as being those of Assyria, Persia, Macedon, and Rome; and refers to the commentary of Jerome on Daniel as a book which he highly approved. He adds that it is impossible for any one to read Daniel in the most careless manner, without seeing that the reign of Antichrist, although brief, will be most fierce against the Church. He interprets the time, times, and half of times as meaning three years and a half, and speaks of the unequalled season of tribulation as future.”[30a]
Reading again from Bible commentator B.W. Newton, we see that Theodoret continues with the same manner of interpretation as those before him.
“Theodoret, like those who have preceded, explains the metals of the second chapter, and the beasts of the seventh, as referring to the four successive empires of Assyria, Persia, Greece and Rome. Speaking of the little horn in the seventh chapter, he says that the prophet thereby indicates Antichrist. He supposes that it is called little, because Antichrist will arise from a little tribe of the Jews. He quotes and supplies the 2nd Thessalonians 2 in the same way as the (early) writers quoted. He forcibly describes his (the Antichrist’s) violent persecution of the saints, and says that they are to be delivered into his hands for three years and a half, at the end of which time he will be destroyed by the personal appearing of the Lord Jesus.”[31]
“In his commentary on the eleventh of Daniel, he explains the prophecy respecting the vile person,[Daniel 11:21] of Antiochus Epiphanes (175 – 164 B.C.) -- considers that those who are described as strong and doing exploits in the 32nd verse, are the Maccabees[1 Maccabees 1] – and thinks that Antichrist is not mentioned in that chapter until the 36th verse, as “the king who shall do according to his will.” After speaking of Antiochus Epiphanes, the prophet passes from the likeness to the antitype; for the Antichrist is the antitype of Antiochus (IV), and Antiochus the likeness of Antichrist. He then quotes the 2nd Thessalonians 2, and the words of our Lord in Matthew respecting the unequalled tribulation, and supplies them to the period of Antichrist.”[32]
“Concerning the end of the world, I believe what I have learnt from those who have gone before me. Antichrist will assume circumcision, asserting himself to be the Christ. He will then place a statue to be worshipped in the Temple at Jerusalem [Revelation 13:14], as we read that our Lord said, ‘Ye shall see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place.´[Matthew 24:15]”[33]
Gregory’s conclusion seem similar to those who went before him just as he said. Like the others, he confirms that the ultimate fulfilment of Jesus’s mention of the “abomination of desolation” from the book of Daniel is still a future event.
“And because the persecution will be most cruel at Jerusalem, therefore the martyrdoms of the saints are spoken of as being there: for the Jews will be the principle adherents of Antichrist, until they who are to be saved among them are converted by the preaching of Elias and Enoch (the Two Endtime Witnesses – Revelation 11).[35]
The following quote was recorded by Roger of Hoveden who lived during the reign of Henry II of England. Richard supposedly met a certain famous abbot in Sicily on his way to Palestine during his Crusade. Richard disagreed with the abbot’s wild biblical speculations and said,
“I thought that Antichrist would be born at Antioch, or at Babylon from the family of Dan, and would reign in the Temple of the Lord at Jerusalem, and would walk in the land in which Christ walked, and reign in it for three years and a half, and contend against Elias and Enoch (the two end-time witnesses), and would kill them, and afterwards himself perish.”[36]
Of course, King Richard the Lion-Hearted was not one of the Church Fathers, but he has been included to show that some knowledge of Bible Prophecy concerning the Antichrist was common to the educated and ruling class. The Church Fathers knew of and taught that the Second Coming of Christ would be preceded by a period of persecution under the Antichrist. They quoted extensively from Daniel, the Gospel of Matthew chapter 24, 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2, and Revelation to make their point. We would do well to not ignore their warnings.
I would like to give a special thanks to the writings of Benjamin Wills Newton where I found many of the above quotes. If you are interested in his writings they can be found at https://www.sgat.org/
Originally published November 8, 2022.
References:
[20] Wikipedia Hilary of Poitiers
[21] Hilary on Matthew 24, as cited by B.W. Newton, “The Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,” p.382.
[22] Wikipedia Ambrose
[23] Wikipedia Cyril
[24] Cyril, Catechism 15, as cited by B.W. Newton, “The Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,” p.385-386.
[25] Wikipedia John Chrysostom
[26] Chrysostom, as cited by B.W. Newton, “The Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,” p.387.
[27] Wikipedia Jerome
[29] Jerome, cited by B.W. Newton, “Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,” p.388
[30] Augustine, The City of God, book 20 chapter 19 and 23, as quoted by B.W.Newton, “Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,” p.390.
[30a] Augustine, The City of God, book 20 chapter 19 and 23, as quoted by B.W.Newton, “Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,” p.390.
[34] Wikipedia Alcuin of York
[35] Alcuin in Apocalyp, as cited by B.W. Newton, “Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,” p.395.
[36] King Richard of England, as recodred by Hoveden, as cited by B.W. Newton, “Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,” p.396.
