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 A.D. 340 – 397  

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.                                                                                                 

Cyril A.D. 313 -- 386   Cyril was Bishop of Jerusalem and was declared Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII (1878 – 1903). Cyril’s writings are filled with the loving and forgiving nature of God which was somewhat uncommon during his time period.[23] On Bible prophecy he wrote the following, but instead of commenting at the end, I will place the Scripture reference in the text so that you see Cyril is quoting Scripture.

“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 sacrífice.” If there is a “daily Sacrifice” then there must be a Temple in which to sacrífice. Let’s read the two verses from Daniel:

“Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrífice 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 sacrífice, 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 Chrysostom A.D. 349 – 407 

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.

Jerome A.D. 347 -- 420  Jerome was born in the town of Striden, the exact location of which is not known today, but somewhere within Croatia, Slovenia, or Bosnia. He is best known for his translation of most of the Bible into Latin, known as the Latin Vulgate, and for his homolies or commentaries on the Gospels. After a serious sickness he lay aside his secular studies to devote himself to God.[27]

“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 of Hippo (Algeria) A.D. 354 -- 430  

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.”[30]

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]

B.W. Newton, 1807 -- 1899, a 19th century Bible commentator of the Plymouth Brethren, who disagreed with John Nelson Darby's pre-tribulation rapture and therefore caused a split in the Plymouth Brethren, observed,

“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]

Theodoret of Cyrus A.D. 393 – 458/466 Theodoret was an influential theologian of the School of Antioch, the ruins of which lie near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey. The followers of Jesus were first called Christians in Antioch were Apostle Paul spent time teaching. Theodoret was a  Biblical commentator, and later Bishop of Cyrus.

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]

Georgory of Tours A.D. 538 – 594  Georgory was a Gallo – Roman historian and Bishop of Tours in France, which made him the leading Church figure in Gaul (France).

“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. 

Alcuin of York  A.D. 735 -- 804  Alcuin was born in Northumbria, Great Britain. He was a monk and acquired one of the best libraries in Europe and made York one of the major centres of learning. In 782 A.D. he was requested by Charles the Great to take care of the educational facilities for his court and was counsellor to the emperor.[34] Much of what he wrote was unscriptural, but in the midst of his superstitious and erroneous writing we find, concerning the time of the Antichrist,                     

“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]

King Richard I of England  A.D. 1157 – 1199 

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

[28] Jerome, cited by B.W. Newton, “Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,” p.387

[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.

[31] Theodoret , as cited by B.W.Newton, “Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,” p.391-392.

[32]Theodoret, as cited by B.W. Newton, “Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,” p.390-391.

[33] Gregory of Tours. “History of the Franks, Books I - X"

[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.

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Compilation on the Church Fathers and their Concept of the Antichrist - Part 1

Compilation by Dennis Edwards

Justin Martyr, A.D. 100 – 165  

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 – dishonoured 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, A.D. 130 – 202 Irenaeus was born in a Christian family and became a disciple of Polycarp, who was a disciple of Apostle John. He was the Greek Bishop of Lyon, France and wrote more on the subject of Bible prophecy than any of his predecessors.[4]

“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 apologist 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 sacrífice and libation shall be taken away, and in the Temple shall be the Abomination of desolation – and until the consummation of the time, a consummation 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 sacrífice and the oblation to cease, and for the over spreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, 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 Thessalonians we get the idea of the Antichrist sitting in the Temple. From Gospel of Matthew 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 consummating 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 gloriously 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.

Tertullian A.D. 155 – 225  Tertullian was a prolific early Christian writer from Carthage in Africa of Berber descent and possibly a son of a Roman Centurion. He is called the Father of western theology as he was the first theologian writing in Latin. He was also the first who used the term “trinity.” He converted around the age of 40 and said, “Christians are made, not born.” He was married to a Christian woman. He argued the principle of sufficiency of scripture and that Christian theology should not be dependent on any Academic philosophy.[11] Concerning Antichrist he wrote,

“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 vengeance 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 privilege of the first resurrection will be adjudged, the sentence belonging to the universal 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 vengeance 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 A.D. 170 – 235 

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.

Origen of Alexandria A.D. 184 – 254 Origen was one of the most significant early apologists of the Christian faith especially eastern Christianity and wrote in Greek. He pioneered the idea of threefold interpretation of scripture: the literal, the ethical, and the spiritual. His view that the Father was more God than the Son was perceived as the root of the Arianism heresy and he was condemned as a heretic. The Arian heresy considered Jesus the first created being and therefore of lesser authority than God and not co-equal with God.[15] Both the Mormons and the Jehovah Witnesses follow that theology.

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 manner, ‘In the Temple shall be the abomination of desolation; and until the end of the time shall a consummation 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 fulfilment of Jesus’s words from Matthew 24 in the future under the Antichrist.

Victorinus of Pettau  240(?) - 304 A.D.  

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 accurately from Revelation 13:16-17 about the mark of the beast.

Lactantius A.D. 240 – 320/325  

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]

Lactantius continues,

“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 innocence 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 referring 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.

To go to Part 2 click here.

Originally published October 23, 2019

Footnotes:

[1] Wikipedia Justin Martyr

[2] Justin Martyr, Letter to Trypho the Jew, p.159, as cited by B.W. Newton, “The Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,” p.373.
[3a] Daniel 7:25, 12:7

[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.

[7] Ibid, Chapter 30

[8] Wikipedia Epistle of Barnabus

[9] Epsitle of Barnabus, Latin version of #4, original Greek being lost, as quoted by B.W. Newton in       “Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,” p.372

[10] Ibid, #15

[11] Wikipedia Tertullian

[12] Tertullian as quoted by Maitland in his “Apostles’ School of Interpretation,” p. 165, and cited by B.W. Newton in “Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,” p. 376.

[13] Wikipedia Hippolytus

[14] Hippolytus, as cited by Maitland; Chain on Daniel, as quoted by B.W. Newton in “Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,” p.377.

[15] Wikipedia Origen of Alexandria

[16] Origin, as quoted by Maitland, p. 171, as cited by B.W. Newton, “The Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,” p. 377-378.

[17] Wikipedia Victorinus of Pettau 

[18] Wikipedia Lactantius
[19] Lactantius Institutes VII, as cited by B.W. Newton, “The Prospects of the Ten Kingdoms,” p.379.

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