The Antichrist HYPOLYTUS

7/27/2019 The Antichrist HYPOLYTUS

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The Antichrist

By St. Hippolytus

St. Hippolytus was a disciple of St. Irenaeus, who was a disciple of St. Polycarp, who wasa disciple of St. John

1. As i t was your desi r e, my bel oved br ot her Theophi l us, t obe t horoughl y i nf ormed on t hose t opi cs whi ch I putsummar i l y bef or e you, I have t hought i t r i ght t o set t hesemat t er s of i nqui r y cl ear l y f or t h t o your vi ew, dr awi ngl ar gel y f r om t he Hol y Scr i pt ur es t hemsel ves as f r om a hol yf ount ai n, i n order t hat you may not onl y have t he pl easureof hear i ng t hem on t he t est i mony of men, but may al so be

abl e, by sur veyi ng t hem i n t he l i ght of ( di vi ne) aut hor i t y,t o gl or i f y God i n al l . For t hi s wi l l be as a sur e suppl yf ur ni shed you by us f or your j our ney i n t hi s pr esent l i f e,so t hat by ready ar gument appl yi ng t hi ngs i l l under st oodand apprehended by most , you may sow t hem i n t he ground ofyour hear t , as i n a r i ch and cl ean soi l . By t hese, t oo, youwi l l be abl e t o si l ence t hose who oppose and gai nsay thewor d of sal vat i on. Onl y see that you do not gi ve t heset hi ngs over t o unbel i evi ng and bl asphemous t ongues, f ort hat i s no common danger . But i mpart t hem t o pi ous andf ai t hf ul men, who desi r e t o l i ve hol i l y and r i ght eousl ywi t h f ear . For i t i s not t o no pur pose t hat t he bl essedapost l e exhort s Ti mothy, and says, "O Ti mothy, keep t hatwhi ch i s commi t t ed t o thy t r ust , avoi di ng pr of ane and vai nbabbl i ngs, and opposi t i ons of sci ence f al sel y so cal l ed;whi ch some pr of essi ng have er r ed concer ni ng t he f ai t h. " Andagai n, "Thou t her ef or e, my son, be st r ong i n t he gr ace t hati s i n Chr i st J esus. And t he t hi ngs t hat t hou hast hear d ofme i n many exhor t at i ons, t he same commi t t hou t o f ai t hf ulmen, who shal l be abl e t o t each ot her s al so. " I f , t hen, t hebl essed ( apost l e) del i ver ed t hese t hi ngs wi t h a pi ouscaut i on, whi ch coul d be easi l y known by al l , as heper cei ved i n t he spi r i t t hat "al l men have not f ai t h, " how

much gr eat er wi l l be our danger , i f , r ashl y and wi t houtt hought , we commi t t he r evel at i ons of God t o pr of ane andunwor t hy men?


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2. For as t he bl essed pr ophets were made, so t o speak, eyesf or us, t hey f or esaw t hr ough f ai t h t he myst er i es of t heword, and became mi ni st er s of t hese t hi ngs al so t osucceedi ng gener at i ons, not onl y repor t i ng t he past , butal so announci ng I t he pr esent and t he f ut ur e, so that t hepr ophet mi ght not appear t o be one onl y f or t he t i me bei ng,but mi ght al so pr edi ct t he f ut ur e f or al l gener at i ons, andso be reckoned a ( t r ue) pr ophet . For t hese f at her s wer ef ur ni shed wi t h t he Spi r i t , and l ar gel y honour ed by t he Wor dHi msel f ; and j ust as i t i s wi t h i nst r ument s of musi c. sohad they t he Wor d al ways, l i ke t he pl ect r um, i n uni on wi t ht hem, and when moved by Hi m t he pr ophets announced what Godwi l l ed. For t hey spake not of t hei r own power ( l et t her e beno mi st ake as t o t hat ) , nei t her di d t hey decl ar e whatpl eased t hemsel ves. But Fi r st of al l t hey wer e endowed wi t hwi sdom by t he Wor d, and t hen agai n wer e r i ght l y i nst r uct edi n t he f ut ur e by means of vi si ons. And t hen, when t hus

t hemsel ves f ul l y convi nced, t hey spake t hose t hi ngs whi chwer e r eveal ed by God t o t hem al one, and conceal ed f r om al lother s. For wi t h what r eason shoul d t he pr ophet be cal l ed apr ophet , unl ess he i n spi r i t f or esaw t he f ut ur e? For i f t heprophet spake of any chance event , he woul d not be apr ophet t hen i n speaki ng of t hi ngs whi ch were under t he eyeof aI l . But one who set s f or t h i n det ai l t hi ngs yet t o be,was r i ght l y j udged a pr ophet . Wher ef ore pr ophet s wer e wi t hgood r eason cal l ed f r om t he ver y f i r st " seer s. " And hencewe, t oo, who ar e r i ght l y i nst r uct ed i n what was decl ar edaf oret i me by t hem, speak not of our own capaci t y. For we do

not at t empt t o made any change one way or anot her amongour sel ves i n the words t hat wer e spoken of ol d by t hem, butwe make t he Scr i pt ur es i n whi ch t hese ar e wr i t t en publ i c,and r ead t hem t o t hose who can bel i eve r i ght l y; f or t hat i sa common benef i t f or bot h par t i es: f or hi m who speaks, i nhol di ng i n memor y and set t i ng f or t h cor r ect l y t hi ngsut t er ed of ol d; and f or hi m who hear s, i n gi vi ng at t ent i ont o t he t hi ngs spoken. Si nce, t hen, i n t hi s t her e i s a wor kassi gned t o bot h par t i es t oget her , vi z. , t o hi m who speaks,t hat he speak f or t h f ai t hf ul l y wi t hout r egar d t o r i sk, andt o hi m who hear s, t hat he hear and r ecei ve i n f ai t h t hat

whi ch i s spoken, I beseech you t o st r i ve t oget her wi t h mei n pr ayer t o God.


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3. Do you wi sh t hen t o know i n what manner t he Wor d of God,who was agai n the Son of God, as He was of ol d the Wor d,communi cated Hi s r evel at i ons t o t he bl essed pr ophet s i n

f ormer t i mes? Wel l , as t he Word shows Hi s compass i on andHi s deni al of al l r espect of per sons by al l t he sai nt s, Heenl i ght ens t hem and adapt s t hem t o t hat whi ch i sadvant ageous f or us, l i ke a ski l f ul physi ci an,under st andi ng t he weakness of men. And t he i gnorant Hel oves t o t each, and t he er r i ng He t ur ns agai n t o Hi s ownt r ue way. And by t hose who l i ve by f ai t h He i s easi l yf ound; and t o those of pur e eye and hol y heart , who desi r et o knock at t he door , He opens i mmedi at el y. For He cast saway none of Hi s servant s as unwor t hy of t he di vi nemyst er i es. He does not est eem t he r i ch man more hi ghl y t hant he poor , nor does He despi se t he poor man f or hi s pover t y.

He does not di sdai n t he barbar i an, nor does He set t heeunuch asi de as no man. He does not hat e t he f emal e onaccount of t he woman s act of di sobedi ence i n thebegi nni ng, nor does He rej ect t he mal e on account of t heman s t r ansgr essi on. But He seeks al l , and desi r es t o saveal l , wi shi ng t o make al l t he chi l dr en of God, and cal l i ngal l t he sai nt s unt o one per f ect man. For t her e i s al so oneSon ( or Ser vant ) of God, by whom we t oo, r ecei vi ng t her egener at i on t hr ough t he Hol y Spi r i t , desi r e t o come al lunt o one per f ect and heavenl y man.

4. For whereas t he Word of God was wi t hout f l esh, He t ookupon Hi msel f t he hol y f l esh by the hol y Vi r gi n, andpr epared a r obe whi ch He wove f or Hi msel f , l i ke abr i degr oom, i n t he suf f er i ngs of t he cross, i n or der t hatby uni t i ng Hi s own power wi t h our moral body, and by mi xi ngt he i ncor r upt i bl e wi t h t he cor r upt i bl e, and t he st r ong wi t ht he weak, He mi ght save per i shi ng man. The web- beam,t her ef or e, i s t he pass on of t he Lor d upon t he cr oss, andt he war p on i t i s t he power of t he Hol y Spi r i t , and t hewoof i s t he hol y f l esh wr ought ( woven) by t he Spi r i t , andt he t hr ead i s t he gr ace whi ch by t he l ove of Chr i st bi nds

and uni t es t he t wo i n one, and the combs or ( r ods) are t he


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Word; and t he worker s are t he pat r i archs and pr ophets whoweave t he f ai r , l ong, per f ect t uni c f or Chr i st ; and t heWor d passi ng t hr ough t hese, l i ke t he combs or ( r ods) ,

compl et es t hr ough t hem t hat whi ch Hi s Fat her wi l l et h.

5. But as t i me now pr esses f or t he consi der at i on of t hequest i on i mmedi at el y i n hand, and as what has been al r eadysai d i n t he i nt r oduct i on wi t h r egar d t o t he gl or y of God,may suf f i ce, i t i s pr oper t hat we t ake t he Hol y Scr i pt ur est hemsel ves i n hand, and f i nd out f r om t hem what , and ofwhat manner , t he comi ng of Ant i chr i st i s; on what occasi onand at what t i me that i mpl ores one shal l be reveal ed; andwhence and f r om what I t r i be ( he shal l come) ; and what hi sname i s, whi ch i s i ndi cat ed by the number i n t he Scr i pt ur e;and how he shal l work err or among t he peopl e, gat her i ngt hem f r om t he ends of t he ear t h; and ( how) he shal l st i r upt r i bul at i on and per secut i on agai nst t he sai nt s; and how heshal l gl or i f y hi msel f as God; and what hi s end shal l be;and how t he sudden appear i ng of t he Lor d shal l be reveal edf r ot h heaven; and what t he conf l agr at i on of t he whol e wor l dshal l be; and what t he gl or i ous and heavenl y ki ngdom of t hesai nt s i s t o be, when t hey rei gn t oget her wi t h Chr i st ; andwhat t he puni shment of t he wi cked by f i r e.

6. Now, as our Lor d J esus Chr i st , who i s al so God, waspr ophesi ed of under t he f i gur e of a l i on, on account of Hi sr oyal t y and gl or y, i n t he same way have t he Scr i pt ur es al soaf or et i me spoken of Ant i chr i st as a l i on, on account of hi st yr anny and vi ol ence. For t he decei ver seeks t o l i kenhi msel f i n al l t hi ngs t o t he Son of God. Chr i st i s a l i on,so Ant i chr i st i s al so a l i on; Chr i st i s a ki ng, soAnt i chr i st i s al so a ki ng. The Savi our was mani f est ed as al amb; so he t oo, i n l i ke manner , wi l l appear as a l amb,t hough wi t hi n he i s a wol f . The Savi our came i nt o the Wor l di n the ci r cumci si on, and he wi l l come i n the same manner .

The Lor d sent apost l es among al l t he nat i ons, and he i nl i ke manner wi l l send f al se apost l es. The Savi our gat her ed


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t oget her t he sheep t hat wer e scat t er ed abr oad, and he i nl i ke manner wi l l br i ng t oget her a peopl e t hat i s scat t er edabr oad. The Lor d gave a seal t o t hose who bel i eved on Hi m,

and he wi l l gi ve one l i ke manner . The Savi our appeared i nt he f or m of man, and he t oo wi l l come i n t he f or m of a man.The Savi our r ai sed up and showed Hi s hol y f l esh l i ke at empl e, and he wi l l r ai se a t empl e of st one i n J er usal em.And hi s seduct i ve ar t s we shal l exhi bi t i n what f ol l ows.But f or t he pr esent l et us t ur n t o t he quest i on i n hand.

7. Now t he bl essed J acob speaks t o t he f ol l owi ng ef f ect i nhi s benedi ct i ons, t est i f yi ng pr ophet i cal l y of our Lor d andSavi our : " J udah, l et t hy br et hr en pr ai se t hee: t hy handshal l be on t he neck of t hi ne enemi es; t hy f at her schi l dr en shal l bow down bef or e t hee. J udah i s a l i on swhel p: f r om t he shoot , my son, t hou art gone up: he st oopeddown, he couched as a l i on, and as a l i on s whel p; whoshal l r ouse hi m up? A r ul er shal l not depar t f r om J udah,nor a l eader f r om hi s t hi ghs, unt i l he come f or whom i t i sr eser ved; and he shal l be t he expect at i on of t he nat i ons.Bi ndi ng hi s ass t o a vi ne, and hi s ass s col t t o t he vi net endr i l ; he shal l wash hi s gar ment i n wi ne, and hi s cl ot hesi n t he bl ood of t he gr apes. Hi s eyes shal l be gl adsome aswi t h wi ne, and hi s t eet h shal l be whi t er t han mi l k. "

8. Knowi ng, t hen, as I do, how t o expl ai n t hese t hi ngs i n

det ai l , I deem i t r i ght at pr esent t o quot e t he wor dst hemsel ves. But si nce the expr essi ons t hemsel ves urge us t ospeak of t hem. I shal l not omi t t o do so. For t hese ar et r ul y di vi ne and gl or i ous t hi ngs, and t hi ngs wel lcal cul at ed t o benef i t t he soul . The pr ophet , i n usi ng t heexpr essi on, a l i on s whel p, means hi m who spr ang f r om J udahand Davi d accor di ng t o t he f l esh, who was not made i ndeedof t he seed of Davi d, but was concei ved by t he ( power oft he) Hol y Ghost , and came f or t h f r om t he hol y shoot ofear t h. For I sai ah says, "Ther e shal l come f or t h a r od outof t he r oot of J esse, and a f l ower shal l gr ow up out of


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i t . " That whi ch i s cal l ed by I sai ah a f l ower , J acob cal l s ashoot . For f i r st he shot f or t h, and t hen he f l our i shed i nt he wor l d. And the expr essi on, "he st ooped down, he couchedas a l i on, and as a l i on s whel p, " r ef er s t o t he t hr eedays sl eep ( deat h, couchi ng) of Chr i st ; as al so I sai ahsays, "How i s f ai t hf ul Si on become an har l ot ! i t was f ul lof j udgment ; i n whi ch r i ght eousness l odged ( couched) ; butnow mur der er s. " And Davi d says t o t he same ef f ect , " I l ai dme down ( couched) and sl ept ; I awaked: f or t he Lord wi l lsust ai n me; " i n whi ch wor ds he poi nt s t o the f act of hi ssl eep and r i si ng agai n. And J acob says, "Who shal l r ousehi m up? " And t hat i s j ust what Davi d and Paul bot h r ef ert o, as when Paul says, "and God t he Father , who rai sed Hi mf r om t he dead. "

9. And i n sayi ng, "A r ul er shal l not depar t f r om J udah, nora l eader f r om hi s t hi ghs, unt i l he come f or whom i t i s

r eser ved; and he shal l be t he expect at i on of t he nat i ons, "he r ef er r ed t he f ul f i l ment ( of t hat pr ophecy) t o Chr i st .For He i s our expect at i on. For we expect Hi m, ( and) byf ai t h we behol d Hi m as He comes f r om heaven wi t h power .

10. "Bi ndi ng hi s ass t o a vi ne: " t hat means t hat He uni t esHi s peopl e of t he ci r cumci si on wi t h Hi s own cal l i ng( vocat i on) . For He was t he vi ne. "And hi s ass s col t t o t hevi ne- t endr i l : "t hat denot es t he peopl e of t he Gent i l es, asHe cal l s t he ci r cumci si on and the unci r cumci si on unt o onef ai th.

11. "He shal l wash hi s gar ment i n wi ne, " t hat i s, accor di ngt o t hat voi ce of Hi s Fat her whi ch came down by t he Hol yGhost at t he J or dan. "And hi s cl ot hes i n t he bl ood of t hegr ape. " I n t he bl ood of what gr ape, t hen, but j ust Hi s ownf l esh, whi ch hung upon t he t r ee l i ke a cl ust er of gr apes?f r om whose si de al so f l owed t wo st r eams, of bl ood andwat er , i n whi ch t he nat i ons ar e washed and pur i f i ed, whi ch( nat i ons) He may be supposed t o have as a r obe about Hi m.

12. "Hi s eyes gl adsome wi t h wi ne. " And what are t he eyes of

Chr i st but t he bl essed pr ophet s, who f or esaw i n t he Spi r i t ,and announced bef orehand, t he suf f er i ngs t hat wer e t obef al l Hi m, and r ej oi ced i n seei ng Hi m i n power wi t hspi r i t ual eyes, bei ng f ur ni shed ( f or t hei r vocat i on) by t heword Hi msel f and Hi s gr ace?

13. And i n sayi ng, "And hi s t eet h ( shal l be) whi t er t hanmi l k, " he ref er r ed t o t he commandment s t hat pr oceed f r om


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t he hol y mout h of Chr i st , and whi ch ar e pur e ( pur i f y) asmi l k.

14. Thus di d t he Scr i pt ur es pr each bef or e- t i me of t hi s l i onand l i on s whel p. And i n l i ke manner al so we f i nd i t

wr i t t en r egar di ng Ant i chr i st . For Moses speaks t hus: "Dani s a l i on s whel p, and he shal l l eap f r om Bashan. " But t hatno one may er r by supposi ng t hat t hi s i s sai d of t heSavi our , l et hi m at t end car ef ul l y t o t he mat t er . "Dan, " hesays, " i s a l i on s whel p; "and i n nami ng t he t r i be of Dan,he decl ar ed cl ear l y t he t r i be f r om whi ch Ant i chr i st i sdest i ned t o spr i ng. For as Chr i st spr i ngs f r om t he t r i be ofJ udah, so Ant i chr i st i s t o spr i ng f r om t he t r i be of Dan.And t hat t he case st ands t hus, we see al so f r om t he wor dsof J acob: "Let Dan be a ser pent , l yi ng upon t he gr ound,bi t i ng t he hor se s heel . " What , t hen, i s meant by t heser pent but Ant i chr i st , t hat decei ver who i s ment i oned i n

Genesi s, who decei ved Eve and suppl ant ed Adam, ( brui sedAdam s heel ) ? But si nce i t i s necessary t o pr ove t hi sasser t i on by suf f i ci ent t est i mony, we shal l not shr i nk f r omt he task.

15. That i t i s i n r eal i t y out of t he t r i be of Dan, t hen,t hat t hat t yr ant and ki ng, t hat dr ead j udge, t hat son oft he devi l , i s dest i ned t o spr i ng and ar i se, t he pr ophett est i f i es when he says, "Dan shal l j udge hi s peopl e, as ( hei s) al so one t r i be i n I sr ael . " But some one may say t hatt hi s r ef er s t o Samson, who spr ang f r om t he t r i be of Dan,

and j udged t he peopl e twent y year s. Wel l , t he pr ophecy hadi t s par t i al f ul f i l ment i n Samson, but i t s compl et ef ul f i l ment i s r eser ved f or Ant i chr i st . For J er emi ah al sospeaks t o t hi s ef f ect : "From Dan we ar e t o hear t he soundof t he swi f t ness of hi s hor ses: t he whol e l and t r embl ed att he sound of t he nei ghi ng, of t he dr i vi ng of hi s hor ses. "And anot her pr ophet says: "He shal l gat her t oget her al l hi sst r engt h, f r om t he east even t o t he west . They whom hecal l s, and t hey whom he cal l s not , shal l go wi t h hi m. Heshal l make t he sea whi t e wi t h t he sai l s of hi s shi ps, andt he pl ai n bl ack wi t h t he shi el ds of hi s armament s. And

whosoever shal l oppose hi m i n war shal l f al l by t he swor d. "That t hese t hi ngs, t hen, ar e sai d of no one el se but t hatt yrant , and shamel ess one, and adver sar y of God, we shal lshow i n what f ol l ows.

16. But I sai ah al so speaks t hus: "And i t shal l come t opass , t hat when t he Lor d hat h per f ormed Hi s whol e work uponMount Zi on and on J er usal em, He wi l l puni sh ( vi si t ) t he


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st out mi nd, t he ki ng of Assyr i a, and t he gr eat ness ( hei ght )of t he gl or y of hi s eyes. For he sai d, By my st r engt h wi l lI do i t , and by t he wi sdom of my under st andi ng I wi l lr emove t he bounds of t he peopl es, and wi l l r ob t hem oft hei r st r engt h: and I wi l l make t he i nhabi t ed ci t i est r embl e, and wi l l gat her t he whol e wor l d i n my hand l i ke anest, and I wi l l l i f t i t up l i ke eggs that ar e l ef t . Andt her e i s no one t hat shal l escape or gai nsay me, and opent he mout h and chat t er . Shal l t he axe boast i t sel f wi t houthi m t hat hewet h t her ewi t h? or shal l t he saw magni f y i t sel fwi t hout hi m t hat shaket h ( dr awet h) i t ? As i f one shoul dr ai se a r od or a staf f , and t he staf f shoul d l i f t i t sel fup: and not t hus. But t he Lor d shal l send di shonour unt ot hy honour ; and i nt o t hy gl or y a bur ni ng f i r e shal l bur n.And t he l i ght of I srael shal l be a f i r e, and shal l sancti f yhi m i n f l ame, and shal l consume t he f or est l i ke gr ass. "

17. And agai n he says i n anot her pl ace: "How bat h theexact or ceased, and how hat h the oppressor ceased! God hat hbr oken the yoke of t he rul er s of si nner s, He who smot e thepeopl e i n wr at h, and wi t h an i ncur abl e st r oke: He t hatst r i kes t he peopl e wi t h an i ncur abl e st r oke, whi ch He di dnot spar e. He ceased ( r est ed) conf i dent l y: t he whol e ear t hshout s wi t h r ej oi ci ng. The t r ees of Lebanon r ej oi ced att hee, and t he cedar of Lebanon, ( sayi ng) , Si nce t hou artl ai d down, no f el l er i s come up agai nst us. Hel l f r ombeneat h i s moved at meet i ng t hee: al l t he mi ght y ones, t her ul er s of t he ear t h, ar e gat her ed t oget her t he l or ds f r om

t hei r t hr ones. Al l t he ki ngs of t he nat i ons, al l t hey shal lanswer t oget her , and shal l say, And t hou, t oo, ar t t aken aswe; and t hou ar t r eckoned among us. Thy pomp i s br oughtdown t o ear t h, t hy gr eat r ej oi ci ng: t hey wi l l spr ead decayunder t hee; and t he wor m shal l be t hy cover i ng. How ar tt hou f al l en f r om heaven, O Luci f er , son of t he mor ni ng! Hei s cast down to t he gr ound who sends of f t o al l t henat i ons. And t hou di dst say i n t hy mi nd, I wi l l ascend i nt oheaven, I wi l l set my thr one above t he st ar s of heaven: Iwi l l si t down upon t he l of t y mount ai ns t owar ds t he nor t h: Iwi l l ascend above t he cl ouds: I wi l l be l i ke t he Most Hi gh.

Yet now t hou shal t be br ought down t o hel l , and t o t hef oundat i ons of t he ear t h! They t hat see t hee shal l wonderat t hee, and shal l say, Thi s i s t he man t hat exci t ed t heeart h, t hat di d shake ki ngs, t hat made t he whol e wor l d awi l der ness, and dest r oyed t he ci t i es, t hat r el eased nott hose i n pr i son. Al l t he ki ngs of t he ear t h di d l i e i nhonour , ever y one i n hi s own house; but t hou shal l be castout on t he mount ai ns l i ke a l oat hsome car case, wi t h many


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who f al l , pi er ced t hr ough wi t h t he sword, and goi ng down t ohel l . As a gar ment st ai ned wi t h bl ood i s not pur e, sonei t her shal l t hou be comel y (or cl ean) ; because thou hastdest r oyed my l and, and sl ai n my peopl e. Thou shal t notabi de, endur i ng f or ever , a wi cked seed. Pr epar e thychi l dr en f or sl aught er , f or t he si ns of t hy f at her , t hatt hey ri se not , nei t her possess my l and. "

18. Ezeki el al so speaks of hi m t o t he same ef f ect , t hus:"Thus sai t h t he Lor d God, Because t hi ne hear t i s l i f t ed up,and t hou hast sai d, I am God, I si t i n t he seat of God, i nt he mi dst of t he sea; yet ar t t hou a man, and not God,( t hough) t hou hast set t hi ne hear t as t he hear t of God. Ar tt hou wi ser t han Dani el ? Have t he wi se not i nst r uct ed t heei n t hei r wi sdom? Wi t h t hy wi sdom or wi t h t hi neunderst andi ng hast t hou got t en t hee power , and gol d andsi l ver i n t hy t r easur es? By t hy gr eat wi sdom and by t hy

t r af f i c hast t hou i ncreased t hy power ? Thy hear t i s l i f t edup i n thy power . Ther ef ore t hus sai t h the Lor d God: Becauset hou hast set t hi ne hear t as t he hear t of God: behol d,t her ef or e I wi l l br i ng st r anger s upon t hee, pl agues f r omt he nat i ons: and t hey shal l dr aw t hei r swor ds agai nst t hee,and agai nst t he beaut y of t hy wi sdom; and t hey shal l l evelt hy beaut y to dest r uct i on; and t hey shal l br i ng t hee down;and t hou shal l di e by t he deat h of t he wounded i n t he mi dstof t he sea. Wi l t t hou yet say bef or e t hem t hat sl ay t hee, Iam God? But t hou ar t a man, and no God, i n t he hand of t hemt hat wound t hee. Thou shal t di e t he deaths of t he

unci r cumci sed by t he hand of st r anger s: f or I have spokeni t , sai t h t he Lord. "

19. These words t hen bei ng thus pr esent ed, l et us observesomewhat i n det ai l what Dani el says i n hi s vi si ons. For i ndi st i ngui shi ng t he ki ngdoms t hat ar e t o r i se af t er t heset hi ngs, he showed al so t he comi ng of Ant i chr i st i n t he l astt i mes, and t he consummat i on of t he whol e wor l d. I nexpoundi ng t he vi si on of Nebuchadnezzar , t hen, he speakst hus: "Thou, O ki ng, sawest , and behol d a gr eat i magest andi ng bef or e thy f ace: t he head of whi ch was of f i ne

gol d, i t s ar ms and shoul der s of si l ver , i t s bel l y and i t st hi ghs of br ass, and i t s l egs of i r on, ( and) i t s f eet par tof i r on and par t of cl ay. Thou sawest , t hen, t i l l t hat ast one was cut out wi t hout hands, and smot e t he i mage upont he f eet t hat wer e of i r on and cl ay, and br ake t hem t o anend. Then wer e t he cl ay, t he i r on, t he br ass, t he si l ver ,( and) t he gol d br oken, and became l i ke t he chaf f f r om t hesummer t hr eshi ng- f l oor ; and t he st r engt h ( f ul ness) of t he


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wi nd carr i ed t hem away, and t her e was no pl ace f ound f ort hem. And t he st one t hat smot e t he i mage became a greatmount ai n, and f i l l ed t he whol e ear t h. "

20. Now i f we set Dani el s own vi si ons al so si de by si de

wi t h t hi s, we shal l have one exposi t i on t o gi ve of t he t wot oget her , and shal l ( be abl e t o) show how concordant wi t heach ot her t hey ar e, and how t r ue. For he speaks t hus: " IDani el saw, and behol d the f our wi nds of t he heaven st r oveupon t he gr eat sea. And f our gr eat beast s came up f r om t hesea, di ver se one f r om anot her . The f i r st ( was) l i ke al i oness, and had wi ngs as of an eagl e. I behel d t i l l t hewi ngs t her eof wer e pl ucked, and i t was l i f t ed up f r om t heeart h, and made st and upon t he f eet as a man, and a man shear t was gi ven t o i t . And behol d a second beast l i ke t o abear , and i t was made st and on one par t , and i t had t hr eer i bs i n t he mout h of i t . I behel d, and l o a beast l i ke a

l eopar d, and i t had upon t he back of i t f our wi ngs of af owl , and t he beast had f our heads. Af t er t hi s I saw, andbehol d a f our t h beast , dr eadf ul and t er r i bl e, and st r ongexceedi ngl y; i t had i r on t eet h and cl aws of br ass, whi chdevour ed and br ake i n pi eces, and i t st amped t he resi duewi t h t he f eet of i t ; and i t was di ver se f r om al l t he beast st hat wer e bef or e i t , and i t had t en hor ns. I consi der ed i t shorns, and behol d t her e came up among t hem anot her l i t t l ehor n, and bef or e i t t her e wer e t hr ee of t he f i r st hor nspl ucked up by t he root s; and behol d i n thi s hor n wer e eyesl i ke t he eyes of man, and a mout h speaki ng gr eat t hi ngs. "

21. "I behel d t i l l t he t hr ones wer e set , and t he Anci ent ofdays di d si t : and Hi s gar ment was whi t e as snow, and thehai r of Hi s head l i ke pur e wool : Hi s t hr one was a f l ame off i r e, Hi s wheel s wer e a bur ni ng f i r e. A st r eam of f i r ef l owed bef ore Hi m. Thousand t housands mi ni st ered unt o Hi m,and ten t housand t i mes t en t housand st ood ar ound Hi m: t hej udgment was set , and t he books wer e opened. I behel d t hen,because of t he voi ce of t he gr eat words whi ch t he hornspake, t i l l t he beast was sl ai n and per i shed, and hi s bodygi ven t o t he bur ni ng of f i r e. And t he domi ni on of t he ot her

beast s was t aken away. "

22. "I saw i n t he ni ght vi si on, and, behol d, one l i ke t heSon of man was comi ng wi t h t he cl ouds of heaven, and camet o t he Anci ent of days, and was br ought near bef ore Hi m.And ther e was gi ven Hi m domi ni on, and honour , and theki ngdom; and al l peopl es, t r i bes, and t ongues shal l ser ve


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Hi m: Hi s domi ni on i s an ever l ast i ng domi ni on, whi ch shal lnot pass away, and Hi s ki ngdom shal l not be dest r oyed. "

23. Now si nce these t hi ngs, spoken as t hey ar e wi t h amyst i cal meani ng, may seem t o some hard to underst and, we

shal l keep back not hi ng f i t t ed t o i mpar t an i nt el l i gentappr ehensi on of t hem t o those who ar e possessed of a soundmi nd. He sai d, t hen, t hat a "l i oness came up f r om t he sea, "and by t hat he meant t he ki ngdom of t he Babyl oni ans i n t hewor l d, whi ch al so was t he head of gol d on t he i mage. I nsayi ng t hat " i t had wi ngs as of an eagl e, " he meant t hatNebuchadnezzar t he ki ng was l i f t ed up and was exal t edagai nst God. Then he says, " t he wi ngs t her eof wer epl ucked, " t hat i s t o say, hi s gl or y was dest r oyed; f or hewas dr i ven out of hi s ki ngdom. And the words, "a man sheart was gi ven to i t , and i t was made st and upon t he f eetas a man, " r ef er t o the f act t hat he r epent ed and

r ecogni sed hi msel f t o be onl y a man, and gave t he gl ory t oGod.

24. Then, af t er t he l i oness, he sees a "second beast l i ke abear , " and t hat denot ed t he Per si ans. For af t er t heBabyl oni ans, t he Per si ans hel d t he sover ei gn power And i nsavi ng t hat t her e wer e " t hr ee r i bs i n t he mout h of i t , " hepoi nt ed t o t hr ee nat i ons, vi z. , t he Per si ans, and t heMedes, and t he Babyl oni ans; whi ch were al so r epr esent ed ont he i mage by t he si l ver af t er t he gol d. Then ( t her e was)" t he t hi r d beast , a l eopar d, " whi ch meant t he Gr eeks. For

af t er t he Per si ans, Al exander of Macedon obt ai ned t hesover ei gn power on subver t i ng Dar i us, as i s al so shown byt he br ass on t he i mage. And i n sayi ng t hat i t had " f ourwi ngs of a f owl , " he t aught us most cl ear l y how t he ki ngdomof Al exander was par t i t i oned. For i n speaki ng of " f ourheads, " he made ment i on of f our ki ngs, vi z. , t hose whoar ose out of t hat ( ki ngdom) . For Al exander , when dyi ng,par t i t i oned out hi s ki ngdom i nt o f our di vi si ons.

25. Then he says: "A f our t h beast , dr eadf ul and t er r i bl e;i t had i r on t eet h and cl aws of br ass. " And who are t hese

but t he Romans? whi ch ( ki ngdom) i s meant by t he i r ont heki ngdom whi ch i s now est abl i shed; f or t he l egs of t hat( i mage) wer e of i r on. And af t er t hi s, what r emai ns,bel oved, but t he t oes of t he f eet of t he i mage, i n whi chpar t i s i r on and par t cl ay, mi xed t oget her ? And myst i cal l yby t he toes of t he f eet he meant t he ki ngs who ar e to ar i sef r om among t hem; as Dani el al so says ( i n t he wor ds) , " Iconsi der ed t he beast , and l o t her e wer e ten horns behi nd


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i t , among whi ch shal l r i se anot her ( hor n) , an of f shoot , andshal l pl uck up by t he r oot s t he t hr ee ( t hat wer e) bef or ei t . " And under t hi s was si gni f i ed none ot her t hanAnt i chr i st , who i s al so hi msel f t o r ai se t he ki ngdom of t heJ ews. He says t hat t hree horns ar e pl ucked up by t he r ootby hi m, vi z. , t he t hr ee ki ngs of Egypt , and Li bya, andEt hi opi a, whom he cut s of f i n t he ar r ay of bat t l e. And he,af t er gai ni ng t er r i bl e power over al l , bei ng never t hel ess at yr ant , shal l st i r up t r i bul at i on and per secut i on agai nstmen, exal t i ng hi msel f agai nst t hem. For Dani el says: " Iconsi dered t he horn, and behol d t hat horn made war wi t h t hesai nt s, and pr evai l ed agai nst t hem, t i l l t he beast wassl ai n and per i shed, and i t s body was gi ven t o t he bur ni ngof f i r e. "

26. Af t er a l i t t l e space t he st one wi l l come f r om heavenwhi ch smi t es t he i mage and br eaks i t i n pi eces, and

subver t s al l t he ki ngdoms, and gi ves t he ki ngdom t o t hesai nt s of t he Most Hi gh. Thi s i s t he st one whi ch becomes agr eat mount ai n, and f i l l s t he whol e ear t h, of whi ch Dani elsays: " I saw i n t he ni ght vi si ons, and behol d one l i ke t heSon of man came wi t h t he cl ouds of heaven, and came t o t heAnci ent of days, and was brought near bef ore Hi m. And t herewas gi ven Hi m domi ni on, and gl ory, and a ki ngdom; and al lpeopl es, t r i bes, and l anguages shal l serve Hi m: and Hi sdomi ni on i s an ever l ast i ng domi ni on, whi ch shal l not passaway, and Hi s ki ngdom shal l not be dest r oyed. " He showedal l power gi ven by t he Fat her t o the Son, who i s or dai ned

Lor d of t hi ngs i n heaven, and t hi ngs on ear t h, and t hi ngsunder t he ear t h, and J udge of al l : of t hi ngs i n heaven,because He was born, t he Word of God, bef ore al l ( ages) ;and of t hi ngs on ear t h, because He became man i n t he mi dstof men, t o re- cr eat e our Adam t hr ough Hi msel f ; and oft hi ngs under t he ear t h, because He was al so r eckoned amongt he dead, pr eachi ng t he Gospel t o the soul s of t he sai nt s,( and) by deat h overcomi ng deat h.

27. As t hese t hi ngs, t hen, ar e i n t he f ut ur e, and as t het en t oes of t he i mage ar e equi val ent t o ( so many)

democraci es, and t he t en horns of t he f our t h beast aredi st r i but ed over t en ki ngdoms, l et us l ook at t he subj ect al i t t l e mor e cl osel y, and consi der t hese mat t er s as i n t hecl ear l i ght of a per sonal sur vey.

28. The gol den head of t he i mage and t he l i oness denot edt he Babyl oni ans; t he shoul der s and ar ms of si l ver , and t hebear , r epr esent ed t he Per si ans and Medes; t he bel l y and


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t hi ghs of br ass, and t he l eopard, meant t he Gr eeks, whohel d t he sover ei gnt y f r om Al exander s t i me; t he l egs ofi r on, and t he beast dr eadf ul and t er r i bl e, expr essed t heRomans, who hol d t he sover ei gnt y at pr esent ; t he t oes oft he f eet whi ch wer e par t cl ay and par t i r on, and t he tenhorns, wer e embl ems of t he ki ngdoms t hat are yet t o r i se;t he other l i t t l e horn t hat gr ows up among t hem meant t heAnt i chr i st i n t hei r mi dst ; t he st one t hat smi t es t he ear t hand br i ngs j udgment upon t he wor l d was Chr i st .

29. These t hi ngs, bel oved, we i mpar t t o you wi t h f ear , andyet r eadi l y, on account of t he l ove of Chr i st , whi chsur passet h al l . For i f t he bl essed pr ophet s who pr eceded usdi d not choose to pr ocl ai m t hese thi ngs, t hough t hey knewt hem, openl y and bol dl y, l est t hey shoul d di squi et t hesoul s of men, but r ecount ed t hem myst i cal l y i n par abl es anddark sayi ngs, speaki ng t hus, "Her e i s t he mi nd whi ch hath

wi sdom, " how much gr eater r i sk shal l we run i n vent ur i ng todecl ar e openl y t hi ngs spoken by t hem i n obscur e t er ms! Letus l ook, t her ef or e, at t he t hi ngs whi ch ar e t o bef al l t hi suncl ean har l ot i n t he l ast days; and ( l et us consi der ) whatand what manner of t r i bul at i on i s dest i ned t o vi si t her i nt he wr at h of God bef ore the j udgment as an ear nest of herdoom.

30. Come, t hen, O bl essed I sai ah; ar i se, t el l us cl ear l ywhat t hou di dst pr ophesy wi t h respect t o t he mi ght yBabyl on. For t hou di dst speak al so of J er usal em, and t hy

word i s accompl i shed. For t hou di dst speak bol dl y andopenl y: "Your count r y i s desol at e, your ci t i es ar e bur nedwi t h f i r e; your l and, st r anger s devour i t i n your pr esence,and i t i s desol ate as over t hr own by many st r anger s. Thedaught er of Si on shal l be l ef t as a cot t age i n a vi neyar d,and as a l odge i n a garden of cucumber s, as a besi egedci t y. " What t hen? Ar e not t hese t hi ngs come t o pass? Ar enot t he t hi ngs announced by t hee f ul f i l l ed? I s not t hei rcount r y, J udea, desol at e? I s not t he hol y pl ace bur ned wi t hf i r e? Ar e not t hei r wal l s cast down? Ar e not t hei r ci t i esdest r oyed? Thei r l and, do not st r anger s devour i t ? Do not

t he Romans r ul e the count r y? And i ndeed t hese i mpi ouspeopl e hat ed t hee, and di d saw t hee asunder , and t heycruci f i ed Chr i st . Thou ar t dead i n t he wor l d, but t houl i vest i n Chr i s t .

31. Whi ch of you, t hen, shal l I est eem mor e t han t hee? YetJ er emi ah, t oo, i s st oned. But i f I shoul d est eem J er emi ahmost , yet Dani el t oo has hi s t est i mony. Dani el , I commend


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t hee above al l ; yet J ohn t oo gi ves no f al se wi t ness. Wi t hhow many mout hs and t ongues woul d I prai se you; or r at hert he Word who spake i n you! Ye di ed wi t h Chr i st ; and ye wi l ll i ve wi t h Chr i st . Hear ye, and r ej oi ce; behol d t he t hi ngsannounced by you have been f ul f i l l ed i n t hei r t i me. For yesaw t hese thi ngs your sel ves f i r st , and t hen ye pr ocl ai medt hem t o al l gener at i ons. Ye mi ni st er ed t he or acl es of Godt o al l gener at i ons. Ye pr ophet s wer e cal l ed, t hat ye mi ghtbe abl e t o save al l . For t hen i s one a pr ophet i ndeed,when, havi ng announced bef oret i me t hi ngs about t o be, hecan af t erwards show t hat t hey have act ual l y happened. Yewer e t he di sci pl es of a good Mast er . These words I addr esst o you as i f al i ve, and wi t h pr opr i et y. For ye hol d al r eadyt he cr own of l i f e and i mmor t al i t y whi ch i s l ai d up f or youi n heaven.

32. Speak wi t h me, O bl essed Dani el . Gi ve me f ul l

assur ance, I beseech t hee. Thou dost pr ophesy concer ni ngt he l i oness i n Babyl on; f or t hou wast a capt i ve ther e. Thouhast unf ol ded t he f ut ur e r egar di ng t he bear ; f or t hou wastst i l l i n t he wor l d, and di dst see t he t hi ngs come t o pass.Then t hou speakest t o me of t he l eopar d; and whence canstt hou know t hi s, f or t hou ar t al r eady gone t o t hy rest ? Whoi nst r uct ed t hee t o announce t hese t hi ngs, but He who f ormedt hee i n ( f r om) t hy mother s womb? That i s God, t hou sayest .Thou hast spoken i ndeed, and t hat not f al sel y. The l eopar dhas ar i sen; t he he- goat i s come; he hath smi t t en t he r am;he hat h br oken hi s horns i n pi eces; he hat h st amped upon

hi m wi t h hi s f eet . He has been exal t ed by hi s f al l ; ( t he)f our hor ns have come up f r om under t hat one. Rej oi ce,bl essed Dani el ! t hou hast not been i n er r or : al l t heset hi ngs have come t o pass.

33. Af t er t hi s agai n t hou hast t ol d me of t he beastdr eadf ul and t er r i bl e. "I t had i r on t eet h and cl aws ofbr ass: i t devour ed and br ake i n pi eces, and st amped t her esi due wi t h t he f eet of i t . " Al r eady t he i r on r ul es;al r eady i t subdues and br eaks al l i n pi eces; al r eady i tbr i ngs al l t he unwi l l i ng i nt o subj ect i on; al r eady we see

t hese t hi ngs our sel ves. Now we gl or i f y God, bei ngi nst r uct ed by t hee.

34. But as t he t ask bef or e us was t o speak of t he har l ot ,be thou wi t h us, O bl essed I sai ah. Let us mark what t housayest about Babyl on. "Come down, si t upon t he ground, Ovi r gi n daught er of Babyl on; si t , O daught er of t heChal deans; t hou shal t no l onger be cal l ed t ender and


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del i cat e. Take t he mi l l st one, gr i nd meal , dr aw asi de t hyvei l , shave t he gr ey hai r s, make bar e t he l egs, pass overt he r i ver s. Thy shame shal l be uncover ed, t hy repr oachshal l be seen: I wi l l t ake j ust i ce of t hee, I wi l l no mor egi ve t hee over t o men. As f or t hy Redeemer , ( He i s) t heLor d of host s, t he Hol y One of I sr ael i s hi s name. Si t t houi n compunct i on, get t hee i nt o darkness, O daught er of t heChal deans: t hou shal l no l onger be cal l ed t he st r engt h oft he ki ngdom.

35. " I was wr oth wi t h my peopl e; I have pol l ut ed mi nei nher i t ance, I have gi ven t hem i nt o t hi ne hand: and t houdi dst show t hem no mer cy; but upon t he anci ent ( t he el der s)t hou hast ver y heavi l y l ai d t hy yoke. And t hou sai dst , Ishal l be a pr i ncess f or ever : t hou di dst not l ay theset hi ngs t o t hy hear t , nei t her di dst r emember t hy l at t er end.Ther ef or e hear now t hi s, t hou t hat ar t del i cat e; t hat

si t t est, t hat ar t conf i dent , t hat sayest i n t hi ne hear t , Iam, and t her e i s none el se; I shal l not si t as a wi dow,nei t her shal l I know t he l oss of chi l dr en. But now t heset wo t hi ngs shal l come upon t hee i n one day, wi dowhood andt he l oss of chi l dr en: t hey shal l come upon t hee suddenl y i nt hy sorcer y, i n t he st r engt h of t hi ne enchant ment smi ght i l y, i n t he hope of t hy f or ni cat i on. For t hou hastsai d, I am, and t her e i s none el se. And t hy f or ni cat i onshal l be t hy shame, because thou hast sai d i n t hy hear t , Iam. And dest r uct i on shal l come upon t hee, and t hou shal tnot know i t . ( And t her e shal l be) a pi t , and t hou shal t

f ul l i nt o i t ; and mi ser y shal l f al l upon t hee, and t houshal t not be abl e t o be made cl ean; and dest r uct i on shal lcome upon t hee, and t hou shal t not know i t . St and now wi t ht hy enchant ment s, and wi t h t he mul t i t ude of t hy sor cer i es,whi ch t hou hast l ear ned f r om t hy yout h; i f so be t hou shal tbe abl e t o be pr of i t ed. Thou ar t wear i ed i n t hy counsel s.Let t he ast r ol oger s of t he heavens st and and save t hee; l ett he st ar - gazer s announce to thee what shal l come upon t hee.Behol d, t hey shal l al l be as sti cks f or t he f i r e; so shal lt hey be bur ned, and t hey shal l not del i ver t hei r soul f r omt he f l ame. Because thou hast coal s of f i r e, si t upon t hem;

so shal l i t be f or t hy hel p. Thou ar t wear i ed wi t h changef r om t hy yout h. Man has gone ast r ay ( each one) by hi msel f ;and t her e shal l be no sal vat i on f or t hee. " These t hi ngsdoes I sai ah pr ophesy f or t hee. Let us see now whet her J ohnhas spoken t o t he same ef f ect .

36. For he sees, when i n t he i sl e Patmos, a r evel at i on ofawf ul myst er i es, whi ch he r ecount s f r eel y, and makes known


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t o ot her s. Tel l me, bl essed J ohn, apost l e and di sci pl e oft he Lord, what di dst t hou see and hear concerni ng Babyl on?Ar i se, and speak; f or i t sent t hee al so i nt o bani shment ."And t her e came one of t he seven angel s whi ch had the sevenvi al s, and t al ked wi t h me, sayi ng unt o me, Come hi t her ; Iwi l l show unt o t hee t he j udgment of t he gr eat whore t hatsi t t et h upon many water s; wi t h whom t he ki ngs of t he eart hhave commi t t ed f orni cat i on, and t he i nhabi t ant s of t heeart h have been made dr unk wi t h t he wi ne of herf or ni cat i on. And he car r i ed me away i n t he spi r i t i nt o t hewi l der ness: and I saw a woman si t upon a scar l et - col our edbeast , f ul l of names of bl asphemy, havi ng seven heads andt en horns. And the woman was ar r ayed i n pur pl e and scar l etcol our , and decked wi t h gol d, and pr eci ous st one, andpear l s, havi ng a gol den cup i n her hand, f ul l ofabomi nat i ons and f i l t hi ness of t he f or ni cat i on of t heear t h. Upon her f orehead was a name wr i t t en, Myst ery,

Babyl on t he Gr eat , t he Mother of Har l ot s and Abomi nat i onsof t he Ear t h.

37. "And I saw t he woman drunken wi t h t he bl ood of t hesai nt s, and wi t h t he bl ood of t he mar t yr s of J esus: andwhen I saw her , I wondered wi t h gr eat admi r at i on. And t heangel sai d unt o me, Wher ef or e di dst t hou mar vel ? I wi l lt el l t hee t he myst er y of t he woman, and of t he beast t hatcarr i et h her , whi ch hath t he seven heads and t he t en horns.The beast t hat t hou sawest was, and i s not ; and shal lascend out of t he bot t oml ess pi t , and go i nt o per di t i on:

and t hey t hat dwel l on t he ear t h shal l wonder ( whose namewas not wr i t t en i n t he book of l i f e f r om t he f oundat i on oft he wor l d) when t hey behol d t he beast t hat was, and i s not ,and yet shal l be.

38. "And her e i s t he mi nd t hat has wi sdom. The seven headsare seven mount ai ns, on whi ch t he woman si t t et h. And t herear e seven ki ngs: f i ve ar e f al l en, and one i s, and t he ot heri s not ye come; and when he comet h, he must cont i nue ashor t space. And the beast t hat was and i s not , ( even he i st he ei ght h, ) and i s of t he seven, and goet h i nt o per di t i on.

And t he t en horns whi ch thou sawest are t en ki ngs, whi chhave r ecei ved no ki ngdom as yet ; but r ecei ve power as ki ngsone hour wi t h the beast . These have one mi nd, and shal lgi ve t hei r power and st r engt h unt o the beast . These shal lmake war wi t h t he Lamb, and t he Lamb shal l overcome t hem:f or he i s Lor d of l or ds, and Ki ng of ki ngs; and t hey thatar e wi t h Hi m ar e cal l ed, and chosen, and f ai t hf ul .


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39. "And he sai t h to me, The wat ers whi ch t hou sawest ,wher e the whor e si t t et h, ar e peopl es, and mul t i t udes, andnat i ons, and tongues. And the t en horns whi ch thou sawest ,and t he beast , t hese shal l hate the whore, and shal l makeher desol at e and naked, and shal l eat her f l esh, and bur nher wi t h f i r e. For God hat h put i n t hei r hear t s t o f ul f i lHi s wi l l , and t o agr ee, and gi ve t hei r ki ngdom unt o t hebeast , unt i l t he wor ds of God shal l be f ul f i l l ed. And t hewoman whi ch t hou sawest i s t hat gr eat ci t y, whi ch r ei gnet hover t he ki ngs of t he ear t h.

40. "Af t er t hese t hi ngs I saw another angel come down f r omheaven, havi ng gr eat power ; and t he ear t h was l i ghtenedwi t h hi s gl or y. And he cr i ed mi ght i l y wi t h a st r ong voi ce,sayi ng, Babyl on t he gr eat i s f al l en, i s f al l en, and i sbecome t he habi t at i on of devi l s, and t he hol d of ever y f oulspi r i t , and a cage of ever y uncl ean and hat ef ul bi r d. For

al l nat i ons have dr unk of t he wi ne of t he wr at h of herf or ni cat i on, and t he ki ngs of t he ear t h have commi t t edf or ni cat i on wi t h her , and t he mer chant s of t he ear t h arewaxed r i ch t hr ough t he abundance of her del i caci es. And Ihear d anot her voi ce f r om heaven, sayi ng, Come out of her ,my peopl e, t hat ye be not par t aker s of her si ns, and t hatye r ecei ve not of her pl agues: f or her si ns di d cl eave evenunt o heaven, and God hat h remembered her l i ni qui t i es.

41. "Rewar d her even as she r ewarded ( you) , and doubl e untoher doubl e, accor di ng t o her works: i n t he cup whi ch she

hat h f i l l ed, f i l l t o her doubl e. How much she hat hgl or i f i ed her sel f , and l i ved del i ci ousl y, so much t or mentand sor r ow gi ve her : f or she sai t h i n her hear t , I si t aqueen, and am no wi dow, and shal l see no sor r ow. Ther ef oreshal l her pl agues come i n one day, deat h, and mour ni ng, andf ami ne; and she shal l be ut t er l y bur ned wi t h f i r e: f orst r ong i s t he Lor d God who j udget h her . And the ki ngs oft he ear t h, who have commi t t ed f or ni cat i on, and l i veddel i ci ousl y wi t h her , shal l bewai l her , and l ament f or her ,when t hey shal l see t he smoke of her bur ni ng, st andi ng af arof f f or t he f ear of her t or ment , sayi ng, Al as, al as! t hat

gr eat ci t y Babyl on, t hat mi ght y ci t y! f or i n one hour i st hy j udgment come. And t he merchant s of t he ear t h shal lweep and mour n over her ; f or no man shal l buy t hei rmerchandi se any more. The merchandi se of gol d, and si l ver ,and pr eci ous st ones, and of pear l s, and f i ne l i nen, andpur pl e, and si l k, and scar l et , and al l t hyi ne wood, and al lmanner vessel s of i vor y, and al l manner vessel s of mostpr eci ous wood, and of br ass, and i r on, and marbl e, and


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ci nnamon, and spi ces, and odour s, and oi ntment s, andf r anki ncense, and wi ne, and oi l , and f i ne f l our , and wheat ,and beast s, and sheep, and goat s, and hor ses, and char i ot s,and sl aves ( bodi es) , and soul s of men. And t he f r ui t s t hatt hy soul l ust ed af t er ar e depar t ed f r om t hee, and al lt hi ngs whi ch wer e dai nt y and goodl y have per i shed f r omt hee, and t hou shal t f i nd t hem no mor e at al l . Themerchant s of t hese t hi ngs, whi ch were made r i ch by her ,shal l st and af ar of f f or t he f ear of her t or ment , weepi ngand wai l i ng, and sayi ng, Al as, al as! t hat gr eat ci t y, t hatwas cl ot hed i n f i ne l i nen, and pur pl e, and scar l et , anddecked wi t h gol d, and pr eci ous st ones, and pear l s! f or i none hour so great r i ches i s come to nought . And ever yshi pmast er , and al l t he company i n shi ps, and sai l or s, andas many as t r ade by sea, st ood af ar of f , and cr i ed, whent hey saw t he smoke of her bur ni ng, sayi ng, What ci t y i sl i ke unt o t hi s gr eat ci t y? And t hey cast dust on t hei r

heads, and cr i ed, weepi ng and wai l i ng, sayi ng, Al as, al as!t hat gr eat ci t y, wher ei n wer e made ri ch al l t hat had shi psi n t he sea by reason of her f at ness! f or i n one hour i s shemade desol at e.

42. "Rej oi ce over her , t hou heaven, and ye angel s, andapost l es, and pr ophet s; f or God hath avenged you on her .And a mi ght y angel t ook up a st one l i ke a gr eat mi l l st one,and cast i t i nt o t he sea, sayi ng, Thus wi t h vi ol ence shal lt hat gr eat ci t y Babyl on be t hr own down, and shal l be f oundno more at al l . And t he voi ce of harper s and musi ci ans, and

of pi per s and t r umpet er s, shal l be hear d no mor e at al l i nt hee; and no cr af t sman, of what soever cr af t he be, shal l bef ound any more i n t hee; and t he sound of a mi l l st one shal lbe hear d no mor e at al l i n t hee; and t he l i ght of a candl eshal l shi ne no mor e at al l i n t hee; and t he voi ce of t hebr i degr oom and of t he br i de shal l be hear d no mor e at al li n t hee: f or t hy mer chant s wer e t he gr eat men of t he eart h;f or by t hy sor cer i es wer e al l nat i ons decei ved. And i n herwas f ound t he bl ood of pr ophet s and of sai nt s, and of al lt hat wer e sl ai n upon t he ear t h. "

43. Wi t h r espect , t hen, t o t he par t i cul ar j udgment i n t het orment s t hat are t o come upon i t i n t he l ast t i mes by t hehand of t he t yr ant s who shal l ar i se t hen, t he cl ear estst at ement has been gi ven i n t hese passages. But i t becomesus f ur t her di l i gent l y t o exami ne and set f or t h t he per i odat whi ch t hese t hi ngs shal l come t o pass, and how t hel i t t l e hor n shal l spr i ng up i n t hei r mi dst . For when t hel egs of i r on have i ssued i n t he f eet and t oes, accor di ng t o


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t he si mi l i t ude of t he i mage and t hat of t he t er r i bl e beast ,as has been shown i n the above, ( t hen shal l be t he t i me)when t he i r on and t he cl ay shal l be mi ngl ed t ogether . NowDani el wi l l set f or t h t hi s subj ect t o us. For he says, "Andone week wi l l make a covenant wi t h many, and i t shal l bet hat i n t he mi dst ( hal f ) of t he week my sacr i f i ce andobl at i on shal l cease. " By one week, t her ef or e, he meant t hel ast week whi ch i s t o be at t he end of t he whol e wor l d ofwhi ch week t he t wo pr ophets Enoch and El i as wi l l t ake upt he hal f . For t hey wi l l pr each 1, 260 days cl ot hed i nsackcl ot h, pr ocl ai mi ng r epent ance t o t he peopl e and t o al lt he nat i ons.

44. For as t wo advent s of our Lord and Savi our arei ndi cat ed i n t he Scr i pt ur es, t he one bei ng Hi s f i r st adventi n t he f l esh, whi ch t ook pl ace wi t hout honour by reason ofHi s bei ng set at nought , as I sai ah spake of Hi m af or et i me,

sayi ng, "We saw Hi m, and He had no f orm nor comel i ness, butHi s f or m was despi sed ( and) r ej ected ( l i t . = def i ci ent )above al l men; a man smi t t en and f ami l i ar wi t h bear i ngi nf i r mi t y, ( f or Hi s f ace was t ur ned away) ; He was despi sed,and est eemed not . " But Hi s second advent i s announced asgl or i ous, when He shal l come f r om heaven wi t h t he host ofangel s, and t he gl or y of Hi s Fat her , as t he pr ophet sai t h,"Ye shal l see t he Ki ng i n gl or y; " and, "I saw one l i ke t heSon of man comi ng wi t h t he cl ouds of heaven; and he came t ot he Anci ent of days, and he was brought t o Hi m. And t herewer e gi ven Hi m domi ni on, and honour , and gl ory, and t he

ki ngdom; al l t r i bes and l anguages shal l serve Hi m: Hi sdomi ni on i s an ever l ast i ng domi ni on, whi ch shal l not passaway. " Thus al so t wo f or er unner s wer e i ndi cat ed. The f i r stwas J ohn t he son of Zachar i as, who appeared i n al l t hi ngs af or er unner and her al d of our Savi our , pr eachi ng of t heheavenl y l i ght t hat had appear ed i n t he wor l d. He f i r stf ul f i l l ed t he cour se of f or er unner , and t hat f r om hi smother s womb, bei ng concei ved by El i sabet h, i n order t hatt o those, t oo, who ar e chi l dr en f r om t hei r mot her s womb hemi ght decl ar e the new bi r t h t hat was t o t ake pl ace f ort hei r sakes by t he Hol y Ghost and t he Vi r gi n.

45. He, on hear i ng t he sal ut at i on addr essed t o El i sabet h,l eaped wi t h j oy i n hi s mother s womb, r ecogni si ng God t heWord concei ved i n t he womb of t he Vi r gi n. Thereaf t er hecame f orward pr eachi ng i n t he wi l der ness, pr ocl ai mi ng t hebapt i sm of r epent ance t o t he peopl e, ( and t hus) announci ngpr ophet i cal l y sal vat i on t o t he nat i ons l i vi ng i n t hewi l der ness of t he wor l d. Af t er t hi s, at t he J or dan, seei ng


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t he Savi our wi t h hi s own eye, he poi nt s Hi m out , and says,"Behol d t he Lamb of God, t hat t aket h away t he si n of t hewor l d! " He al so f i r st pr eached to t hose i n Hades, becomi nga f orerunner t here when he was put t o deat h by Herod, t hatt her e t oo he mi ght i nt i mate t hat t he Savi our woul d descendt o r ansom t he soul s of t he sai nt s f r om t he hand of deat h.

46. But si nce t he Savi our was t he begi nni ng of t her esur r ect i on of al l men, i t was meet t hat t he Lor d al oneshoul d r i se f r om t he dead, by whom t oo t he j udgment i s t oent er f or t he whol e wor l d, t hat t hey who have wr est l edwor t hi l y may be al so cr owned wor t hi l y by Hi m, by t hei l l ust r i ous Ar bi t er , t o wi t , who Hi msel f f i r st accompl i shedt he cour se, and was r ecei ved i nt o the heavens, and was setdown on t he r i ght hand of God t he Fat her , and i s t o bemani f est ed agai n at t he end of t he wor l d as J udge. I t i s amat t er of cour se t hat Hi s f or er unner s must appear f i r st , as

He says by Mal achi and t he angel , " I wi l l send t o you El i ast he Ti shbi t e bef or e t he day of t he Lor d, t he gr eat andnot abl e day, comes; and he shal l t ur n t he hear t s of t hef at her s t o t he chi l dr en, and t he di sobedi ent t o t he wi sdomof t he j ust , l est I come and smi t e t he ear t h ut t er l y. "These, t hen, shal l come and procl ai m t he mani f est at i on ofChr i st t hat i s t o be f r om heaven; and t hey shal l al soper f orm si gns and wonder s, i n order t hat men may be put t oshame and tur ned t o repent ance f or t hei r surpassi ngwi ckedness and i mpi et y.

47. For J ohn says, "And I wi l l gi ve power unt o my twowi t nesses, and t hey shal l pr ophesy a t housand t wo hundr edand t hr eescor e days, cl ot hed i n sackcl ot h. " That i s t hehal f of t he week wher eof Dani el spake. "These are t he t wool i ve t r ees and t he two candl est i cks st andi ng bef or e theLor d of t he ear t h. And i f any man wi l l hur t t hem, f i r e wi l lpr oceed out of t hei r mout h, and devour t hei r enemi es; andi f any man wi l l hur t t hem, he must i n t hi s manner beki l l ed. These have power t o shut heaven, t hat i t r ai n noti n t he days of t hei r pr ophecy; and have power over wat er s,t o t ur n t hem t o bl ood, and t o smi t e t he ear t h wi t h al l

pl agues as of t en as t hey wi l l . And when t hey shal l havef i ni shed t hei r cour se and t hei r t est i mony, " what sai t h t hepr ophet ? " t he beast t hat ascendet h out of t he bot t oml esspi t shal l make war agai nst t hem, and shal l overcome them,and ki l l t hem, " because t hey wi l l not gi ve gl or y t oAnt i chr i st . For t hi s i s meant by t he l i t t l e hor n t hat gr owsup. He, bei ng now el at ed i n hear t , begi ns t o exal t hi msel f ,and t o gl or i f y hi msel f as God, per secut i ng t he sai nt s and


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bl asphemi ng Chr i st , even as Dani el says, " I consi der ed t hehor n, and, behol d, i n t he hor n wer e eyes l i ke t he eyes ofman, and a mout h speaki ng great t hi ngs; and he opened hi smout h t o bl aspheme God. And that bor n made war agai nst t hesai nt s, and pr evai l ed agai nst t hem unt i l t he beast wassl ai n, and per i shed, and hi s body was gi ven to be bur ned. "

48. But as i t i s i ncumbent on us t o di scuss t hi s mat t er oft he beast mor e exact l y, and i n par t i cul ar t he quest i on howt he Hol y Spi r i t has al so myst i cal l y i ndi cat ed hi s name bymeans of a number , we shal l pr oceed t o st at e more cl ear l ywhat bear s upon hi m. J ohn t hen speaks t hus: "And I behel danot her beast comi ng up out of t he ear t h; and he had t wohorns, l i ke a l amb, and he spake as a dr agon. And heexer ci sed al l t he power of t he f i r st beast bef or e hi m; andhe made t he eart h and t hem whi ch dwel l t her ei n t o worshi pt he f i r st beast , whose deadl y wound was heal ed. And he di d

great wonder s, so t hat he maket h f i r e come down f r om heavenon t he ear t h i n t he si ght of men, and decei vet h t hem t hatdwel l on t he ear t h by means of t hose mi r acl es whi ch he hadpower t o do i n t he si ght of t he beast , sayi ng t o t hem t hatdwel l on t he ear t h, t hat t hey shoul d make an i mage to t hebeast whi ch had t he wound by a sword and di d l i ve. And hehad power t o gi ve l i f e unt o t he i mage of t he beast , t hatt he i mage of t he beast shoul d bot h speak, and cause t hat asmany as woul d not worshi p t he i mage of t he beast shoul d beki l l ed. And he caused al l , bot h smal l and gr eat , r i ch andpoor , f r ee and bond, t o r ecei ve a mar k i n t hei r r i ght hand

or i n t hei r f or ehead; and t hat no man mi ght buy or sel l ,save he t hat had t he mark, t he name of t he beast , or t henumber of hi s name. Her e i s wi sdom. Let hi m t hat hathunder st andi ng count t he number of t he beast ; f or i f i s t henumber of a man, and hi s number i s s i x hundred t hreescoreand si x. "

49. By the beast , t hen, comi ng up out of t he ear t h, hemeans t he ki ngdom of Ant i chr i st ; and by t he t wo horns hemeans hi m and t he f al se pr ophet af t er hi m. And i n speaki ngof " t he hor ns bei ng l i ke a l amb, " he means t hat he wi l l

make hi msel f l i ke t he Son of God, and set hi msel f f orwardas ki ng. And t he ter ms, "he spake l i ke a dr agon, " mean t hathe i s a decei ver , and not t r ut hf ul . And t he wor ds, "heexer ci sed al l t he power of t he f i r st beast bef or e hi m, andcaused t he eart h and t hem whi ch dwel l t her ei n t o wor shi pt he f i r st beast , whose deadl y wound was heal ed, " si gni f yt hat , af t er t he manner of t he l aw of August us, by whom t heempi r e of Rome was est abl i shed, he too wi l l r ul e and


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gover n, sanct i oni ng ever yt hi ng by i t , and t aki ng gr eat ergl or y t o hi msel f . For t hi s i s t he f our t h beast , whose headwas wounded and heal ed agai n, i n i t s bei ng br oken up oreven di shonour ed, and par t i t i oned i nt o f our cr owns; and het hen ( Ant i chr i st) shal l wi t h knavi sh ski l l heal i t , as i twer e, and r est or e i t . For t hi s i s what i s meant by thepr ophet when he says, "He wi l l gi ve l i f e unt o the i mage,and t he i mage of t he beast wi l l speak. " For he wi l l actwi t h vi gour agai n, and pr ove st r ong by reason of t he l awsest abl i shed by hi m; and he wi l l cause al l t hose who wi l lnot worshi p the i mage of t he beast t o be put t o death. Her et he f ai t h and t he pat i ence of t he sai nt s wi l l appear , f orhe says: "And he wi l l cause al l , bot h smal l and gr eat , r i chand poor , f r ee and bond, t o r ecei ve a mar k i n t hei r r i ghthand or i n t hei r f or ehead; t hat no man mi ght buy or sel l ,save he t hat had t he mark, t he name of t he beast , or t henumber of hi s name. " For , bei ng f ul l of gui l e, and exal t i ng

hi msel f agai nst t he servant s of God, wi t h t he wi sh t oaf f l i ct t hem and per secut e t hem out of t he wor l d, becauset hey gi ve not gl or y to hi m, he wi l l or der i ncense- pans t obe set up by al l everywher e, t hat no man among t he sai nt smay be abl e t o buy or sel l wi t hout f i r st sacri f i ci ng; f ort hi s i s what i s meant by t he mark r ecei ved upon t he r i ghthand. And the wor d" i n thei r f or ehead"i ndi cat es t hat al lar e cr owned, and put on a cr own of f i r e, and not of l i f e,but of deat h. For i n t hi s wi se, t oo, di d Ant i ochusEpi phanes t he ki ng of Syr i a, t he descendant of Al exander ofMacedon, devi se measur es agai nst t he J ews. He, t oo, i n t he

exal t at i on of hi s hear t , i ssued a decree i n t hose t i mes,t hat "al l shoul d set up shr i nes bef or e t hei r door s, andsacr i f i ce, and t hat t hey shoul d mar ch i n pr ocessi on t o thehonour of Di onysus, wavi ng chapl et s of i vy; "and t hat t hosewho r ef used obedi ence shoul d be put t o deat h byst r angul at i on and t or t ur e. But he al so met hi s duer ecompense at t he hand of t he Lord, t he r i ght eous J udge andal l - sear chi ng God; f or he di ed eaten up of wor ms. And i fone desi r es t o i nqui r e i nt o t hat mor e accur at el y, he wi l lf i nd i t r ecor ded i n t he books of t he Maccabees.

50. But now we shal l speak of what i s bef ore us. For suchmeasur es wi l l he, t oo, devi se, seeki ng t o af f l i ct t hesai nt s i n ever y way. For t he pr ophet and apost l e says:"Her e i s wi sdom, Let hi m t hat hat h under st andi ng count t henumber of t he beast ; f or i t i s t he number of a man, and hi snumber i s s i x hundr ed thr eescore and si x. " Wi t h respect t ohi s name, i t i s not i n our power t o expl ai n i t exact l y, ast he bl essed J ohn under st ood i t and was i nst r uct ed about i t ,


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but onl y t o gi ve a conj ect ur al account of i t ; f or when heappear s, t he bl essed one wi l l show us what we seek t o know.Yet as f ar as our doubt f ul appr ehensi on of t he mat t er goes,we may speak. Many names i ndeed we f i nd, t he l et t ers ofwhi ch ar e t he equi val ent of t hi s number : such as, f ori nst ance, t he word Ti t an, an anci ent and notabl e name; orEvant has, f or i t t oo makes up t he same number ; and manyother s whi ch mi ght be f ound. But , as we have al r eady sai d,t he wound of t he f i r st beast was heal ed, and he ( t he secondbeast ) was t o make t he i mage speak, t hat i s t o say, heshoul d be power f ul ; and i t i s mani f est t o al l t hat t hosewho at pr esent st i l l hol d t he power ar e Lat i ns. I f , t hen,we t ake t he name as t he name of a si ngl e man, i t becomesLat i nus. Wher ef or e we ought nei t her t o gi ve i t out as i ft hi s wer e cer t ai nl y hi s name, nor agai n i gnor e t he f actt hat he may not be ot herwi se desi gnat ed. But havi ng t hemyst er y of God i n our hear t , we ought i n f ear t o keep

f ai t hf ul l y what has been t ol d us by t he bl essed pr ophet s,i n or der t hat when t hose t hi ngs come t o pass, we may bepr epared f or t hem, and not decei ved. For when t he t i mesadvance, he t oo, of whom t hese t hi ng ar e sai d, wi l l bemani f est ed.

51. But not t o conf i ne our sel ves t o t hese words andargument s al one, f or t he pur pose of convi nci ng t hose whol ove t o st udy t he or acl es of God, we shal l demonst r at e t hemat t er by many ot her pr oof s. For Dani el says, "And t heseshal l escape out of hi s hand, even Edom, and Moab, and t he

chi ef of t he chi l dren of Ammon. " Ammon and Moab ar e t hechi l dr en bor n t o Lot by hi s daught er s, and t hei r r acesur vi ves even now. And I sai ah says: "And t hey shal l f l y i nt he boat s of st r anger s, pl under i ng t he sea t oget her , and( t hey shal l spoi l ) t hem of t he east : and t hey shal l l ayhands upon Moab f i r st ; and t he chi l dr en of Ammon shal lf i r st obey t hem. "

52. I n t hose t i mes, t hen, he shal l ar i se and meet t hem. Andwhen he has over mast ered t hr ee horns out of t he t en i n thear r ay of war , and has r oot ed t hese out , vi z. , Egypt , and

Li bya, and Et hi opi a, and has got t hei r spoi l s andt r appi ngs, and has br ought t he r emai ni ng horns whi ch suf f eri nt o subj ecti on, he wi l l begi n t o be l i f t ed up i n hear t ,and t o exal t hi msel f agai nst God as mast er of t he whol ewor l d. And hi s f i r st expedi t i on wi l l be agai nst Tyr e andBer yt us, and t he ci r cumj acent t er r i t or y. For by st or mi ngt hese ci t i es f i r st he wi l l str i ke t er r or i nt o t he ot her s,as I sai ah says, "Be t hou ashamed, O Si don; t he sea hat h


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spoken, even t he st r engt h of t he sea hat h spoken, sayi ng, It r avai l ed not , nor br ought f or t h chi l dr en; nei t her di d Inur se up young men, nor br i ng up vi r gi ns. But when t her epor t comes t o Egypt , pai n shal l sei ze t hem f or Tyr e. "

53. These t hi ngs, t hen, shal l be i n t he f ut ur e, bel oved;and when t he t hr ee horns are cut of f , he wi l l begi n t o showhi msel f as God, as Ezeki el has sai d af or et i me: "Because t hyhear t has been l i f t ed up, and t hou hast sai d, I am God. "And t o t he l i ke ef f ect I sai ah says: "For t hou hast sai d i nt hi ne hear t , I wi l l ascend i nt o heaven, I wi l l exal t myt hr one above t he st ar s of heaven: I wi l l be l i ke t he MostHi gh. Yet now t hou shal l be br ought down t o hel l ( Hades) ,t o t he f oundat i ons of t he ear t h. " I n l i ke manner al soEzeki el : "Wi l t t hou yet say t o t hose who sl ay t hee, I amGod? But t hou ( shal l be) a man, and no God. "

54. As hi s t r i be, t hen, and hi s mani f est at i on, and hi sdest r uct i on, have been set f or t h i n t hese wor ds, and as hi sname has al so been i ndi cat ed myst i cal l y, l et us l ook al soat hi s act i on. For he wi l l cal l t oget her al l t he peopl e t ohi msel f , out of ever y count r y of t he di sper si on, maki ngt hem hi s own, as t hough t hey wer e hi s own chi l dr en, andpr omi si ng t o r est or e t hei r count r y, and est abl i sh agai nt hei r ki ngdom and nat i on, i n or der t hat he may bewor shi pped by t hem as God, as t he pr ophet says: "He wi l lcol l ect hi s whol e ki ngdom, f r om t he r i si ng of t he sun event o i t s set t i ng: t hey whom he summons and t hey whom he does

not summon shal l march wi t h hi m. " And J eremi ah speaks ofhi m t hus i n a par abl e: "The par t r i dge cr i ed, ( and) gat her edwhat he di d not hatch, maki ng hi msel f r i ches wi t houtj udgment : i n t he mi dst of hi s days t hey shal l l eave hi m,and at hi s end he shal l be a f ool . "

55. I t wi l l not be det r i ment al , t her ef or e, t o t he cour se ofour pr esent ar gument , i f we expl ai n t he ar t of t hatcr eat ur e, and show t hat t he pr ophet has not spoken wi t houta pur pose i n usi ng t he par abl e ( or si mi l i t ude) of t hecreat ur e. For as t he par t r i dge i s a vai ngl or i ous cr eat ur e,

when i t sees near at hand t he nest of anot her part r i dgewi t h young i n i t , and wi t h t he parent - bi r d away on t he wi ngi n quest of f ood, i t i mi t at es t he cry of t he ot her bi r d,and cal l s t he young t o i t sel f ; and t hey, t aki ng i t t o bet hei r own par ent , r un t o i t . And i t del i ght s i t sel f pr oudl yi n t he al i en pul l et s as i n i t s own. But when t he r ealpar ent - bi r d r et ur ns, and cal l s t hem wi t h i t s own f ami l i arcr y, t he young r ecogni se i t , and f or sake t he decei ver , and


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bet ake t hemsel ves t o t he r eal par ent . Thi s t hi ng, t hen, t hepr ophet has adopt ed as a si mi l e, appl yi ng i t i n a si mi l armanner t o Ant i chr i st . For he wi l l al l ur e manki nd t ohi msel f , wi shi ng t o gai n possessi on of t hose who ar e nothi s own, and pr omi si ng del i ver ance t o al l , whi l e he i sunabl e t o save hi msel f .

56. He then, havi ng gat her ed t o hi msel f t he unbel i evi ngever ywher e thr oughout t he wor l d, comes at t hei r cal l t oper secut e t he sai nt s, t hei r enemi es and ant agoni st s, as t heapost l e and evangel i st says: "Ther e was i n a ci t y a j udge,whi ch f ear ed not God, nei t her r egarded man: and t her e was awi dow i n t hat ci t y, who came unto hi m, sayi ng, Avenge me ofmi ne adver sar y. And he woul d not f or a whi l e: but af t er wardhe sai d wi t hi n hi msel f , Though I f ear not God, nor r egar dman; yet because t hi s wi dow t r oubl et h me, I wi l l avengeher . "

57. By t he unr i ght eous j udge, who f ears not God, nei t herr egards man, he means wi t hout doubt Ant i chr i st , as he i s ason of t he devi l and a vessel of Satan. For when he has t hepower , he wi l l begi n t o exal t hi msel f agai nst God, nei t heri n t r ut h f ear i ng God, nor r egar di ng t he Son of God, who i st he J udge of al l . And i n sayi ng t hat t her e was a wi dow i nt he ci t y, he r ef er s t o J er usal em i t sel f , whi ch i s a wi dowi ndeed, f or saken of her per f ect , heavenl y spouse, God. Shecal l s Hi m her adver sar y, and not her Savi our ; f or she doesnot under st and t hat whi ch was sai d by t he pr ophet J er emi ah:

"Because t hey obeyed not t he t r ut h, a spi r i t of er r or shal lspeak t hen t o thi s peopl e and t o J er usal em. " And I sai ahal so to t he l i ke ef f ect : "For asmuch as t he peopl e r ef uset ht o dr i nk t he wat er of Si l oam t hat goet h sof t l y, butchooseth t o have Rasi n and Romel i ah s son as ki ng over you:t her ef or e, l o, t he Lor d br i nget h up upon you t he water oft he r i ver , st r ong and f ul l , even t he ki ng of Assyr i a. " Byt he ki ng he means met aphor i cal l y Ant i chr i st , as al soanother pr ophet sai t h: "And t hi s man shal l be t he peacef r om me, when t he Assyr i an shal l come up i nt o your l and,and when he shal l t r ead i n your mount ai ns. "

58. And i n l i ke manner Moses, knowi ng bef orehand t hat t hepeopl e woul d r ej ect and di sown t he t r ue Savi our of t hewor l d, and t ake par t wi t h er r or , and choose an eart hl yki ng, and set t he heavenl y Ki ng at nought , says: " I s nott hi s l ai d up i n st ore wi t h me, and seal ed up among myt r easur es? I n t he day of vengeance I wi l l r ecompense( t hem) , and i n t he t i me when t hei r f oot shal l sl i de. " They


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di d sl i de, t her ef or e, i n al l t hi ngs, as t hey wer e f ound t obe i n har mony wi t h t he t r ut h i n not hi ng: nei t her asconcerns t he l aw, because t hey became t r ansgr essor s; nor asconcer ns t he pr ophet s, because t hey cut of f even thepr ophet s t hemsel ves; nor as concer ns t he voi ce of t heGospel s, because they cr uci f i ed t he Savi our Hi msel f ; nor i nbel i evi ng t he apost l es, because t hey per secut ed them. Atal l t i mes t hey showed t hemsel ves enemi es and bet r ayers oft he t r ut h, and were f ound t o be hater s of God, and notl over s of Hi m; and such t hey shal l be t hen when t hey f i ndoppor t uni t y: f or , r ousi ng t hemsel ves agai nst t he ser vant sof God, t hey wi l l seek t o obt ai n vengeance by t he hand of amort al man. And he, bei ng puf f ed up wi t h pr i de by t hei rsubser vi ency, wi l l begi n t o despat ch mi ssi ves agai nst t hesai nt s, commandi ng t o cut t hem al l of f ever ywher e, on t hegr ound of t hei r r ef usal t o r ever ence and wor shi p hi m asGod, accor di ng t o the word of Esai as: "Woe t o t he wi ngs of

t he vessel s of t he l and, beyond t he r i ver s of Et hi opi a:( woe t o hi m) who sendeth suret i es by t he sea, and l et t er sof papyrus ( upon t he water ; f or ni mbl e messenger s wi l l go)t o a nat i on anxi ous and expect ant , and a peopl e st r ange andbi t t er agai nst t hem; a nat i on hopel ess and t r odden down. "

59. But we who hope f or t he Son of God ar e persecut ed andt r odden down by t hose unbel i ever s. For t he wi ngs of t hevessel s are the chur ches; and t he sea i s t he wor l d, i nwhi ch t he Chur ch i s set , l i ke a shi p t ossed i n t he deep,but not dest r oyed; f or she has wi t h her t he ski l l ed Pi l ot ,

Chr i st . And she bear s i n her mi dst al so t he t r ophy ( whi chi s er ect ed) over deat h; f or she car r i es wi t h her t he crossof t he Lor d. For her pr ow i s t he east , and her st er n i s t hewest , and her hol d i s t he sout h, and her t i l l er s ar e t het wo Test ament s; and t he ropes t hat st r et ch ar ound her aret he l ove of Chr i st , whi ch bi nds t he Chur ch; and t he netwhi ch she bear s wi t h her i s t he l ayer of t he r egener at i onwhi ch r enews t he bel i evi ng, whence t oo ar e these gl or i es.As t he wi nd t he Spi r i t f r om heaven i s pr esent , by whomt hose who bel i eve are seal ed: she has al so anchor s of i r onaccompanyi ng her , vi z. , t he hol y commandment s of Chr i st

Hi msel f , whi ch ar e st r ong as i r on. She has al so mar i ner s ont he r i ght and on t he l ef t , assessor s l i ke t he hol y angel s,by whom t he Chur ch i s al ways gover ned and def ended. Thel adder i n her l eadi ng up t o t he sai l yar d i s an embl em oft he passi on of Chr i st , whi ch br i ngs t he f ai t hf ul t o t heascent of heaven. And t he t op- sai l s al of t upon t he yar d ar et he company of pr ophets, mar t yr s, and apost l es, who haveent er ed i nt o t hei r r est i n t he ki ngdom of Chr i st .


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60. Now, concer ni ng t he t r i bul at i on of t he per secut i onwhi ch i s t o f al l upon t he Chur ch f r om t he adver sar y, J ohnal so speaks t hus: "And I saw a gr eat and wondr ous si gn i nheaven; a woman cl ot hed wi t h t he sun, and t he moon underher f eet , and upon her head a cr own of t wel ve st ars. Andshe, bei ng wi t h chi l d, cr i es, t r avai l i ng i n bi r t h, andpai ned t o be del i ver ed. And t he dr agon st ood bef ore thewoman whi ch was r eady t o be del i ver ed, f or t o devour herchi l d as soon as i t was born. And she br ought f or t h a man-chi l d, who i s t o r ul e al l t he nat i ons: and t he chi l d wascaught up unt o God and t o Hi s t hrone. And t he woman f l edi nt o t he wi l der ness, wher e she hat h the pl ace pr epar ed ofGod, t hat t hey shoul d f eed her t here a t housand t wo hundr edand t hreescore days. And t hen when t he dragon saw i t , heper secut ed t he woman whi ch br ought f or t h t he man- chi l d. Andt o t he woman were gi ven t wo wi ngs of t he gr eat eagl e, t hatshe mi ght f l y i nt o t he wi l der ness, wher e she i s nour i shed

f or a t i me, and t i mes, and hal f a t i me, f r om t he f ace oft he serpent . And t he ser pent cast ( out of hi s mout h wateras a f l ood af t er t he woman, t hat he mi ght cause her t o becar r i ed away of t he f l ood. And t he ear t h hel ped t he woman,and opened her mout h, and swal l owed up t he f l ood whi ch t hedr agon cast ) out of hi s mout h. And the dr agon was wr ot hwi t h the woman, and went t o make war wi t h t he sai nt s of herseed, whi ch keep t he commandments of God, and have t het est i mony of J esus. "

61. By t he woman t hen cl ot hed wi t h t he sun, " he meant most

mani f est l y t he Chur ch, endued wi t h t he Fat her s word, whosebr i ght ness i s above t he sun. And by t he "moon under herf eet " he r ef er r ed t o her bei ng ador ned, l i ke t he moon, wi t hheavenl y gl ory. And the words, "upon her head a cr own oft wel ve st ar s, " r ef er t o t he t wel ve apost l es by whom t heChur ch was f ounded. And those, "she, bei ng wi t h chi l d,cri es, t r avai l i ng i n bi r t h, and pai ned t o be del i ver ed, "mean t hat t he Chur ch wi l l not cease t o bear f r om her hear tt he Wor d that i s per secut ed by t he unbel i evi ng i n t hewor l d. "And she br ought f or t h, " he says, "a man- chi l d, whoi s t o r ul e al l t he nat i ons; "by whi ch i s meant t hat t he

Chur ch, al ways br i ngi ng f or t h Chr i st , t he per f ect man- chi l dof God, who i s decl ar ed to be God and man, becomes t hei nst r uct or of al l t he nat i ons. And t he wor ds, "her chi l dwas caught up unt o God and t o Hi s t hr one, " si gni f y t hat hewho i s al ways bor n of her i s a heavenl y ki ng, and not anear t hl y; even as Davi d al so decl ar ed of ol d when he sai d,"The Lor d sai d unt o my Lor d, Si t Thou at my r i ght hand,unt i l I make Thi ne enemi es Thy f oot st ool . " "And t he


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dragon, " he says, "saw and per secut ed t he woman whi chbr ought f or t h t he man- chi l d. And t o t he woman were gi vent wo wi ngs of t he gr eat eagl e, t hat she mi ght f l y i nt o thewi l der ness, wher e she i s nour i shed f or a t i me, and t i mes,and hal f a t i me, f r om t he f ace of t he ser pent . " That r ef er st o the one thousand t wo hundred and t hreescore days ( t hehal f of t he week) dur i ng whi ch t he tyr ant i s t o rei gn andper secut e t he Chur ch, whi ch f l ees f r om ci t y t o ci t y, andseeks conceal - meat i n t he wi l derness among t he mount ai ns,possessed of no ot her def ence t han t he t wo wi ngs of t hegr eat eagl e, t hat i s t o say, t he f ai t h of J esus Chr i st ,who, i n st r et chi ng f or t h Hi s hol y hands on t he hol y t r ee,unf ol ded t wo wi ngs, t he r i ght and t he l ef t , and cal l ed t oHi m al l who bel i eved upon Hi m, and cover ed t hem as a henher chi ckens. For by t he mout h of Mal achi al so He speakst hus: "And unt o you t hat f ear my name shal l t he Sun ofr i ght eousness ar i se wi t h heal i ng i n Hi s wi ngs. "

62. The Lor d al so says, "When ye shal l see t he abomi nat i onof desol at i on st and i n t he hol y pl ace ( whoso r eadet h, l ethi m under st and) , t hen l et t hem whi ch be i n J udea f l ee i nt ot he mount ai ns, and l et hi m whi ch i s on t he housetop notcome down t o t ake hi s cl ot hes; nei t her l et hi m whi ch i s i nt he f i el d r et ur n back t o t ake anyt hi ng out of hi s house.And woe unt o t hem t hat ar e wi t h chi l d, and t o t hem t hatgi ve suck, i n t hose days! f or t hen shal l be gr eatt r i bul at i on, such as was not si nce t he begi nni ng of t hewor l d. And except t hose days shoul d be short ened, t her e

shoul d no f l esh be saved. " And Dani el says, "And t hey shal lpl ace t he abomi nat i on of desol at i on a t housand t wo hundr edand ni net y days. Bl essed i s he t hat wai t et h, and comet h t ot he t housand two hundr ed and ni net y- f i ve days. "

63. And t he bl essed Apost l e Paul , wr i t i ng t o theThessal oni ans, says: "Now we beseech you, bret hren,concer ni ng the comi ng of our Lor d J esus Chr i st , and ourgat her i ng t oget her at i t , t hat ye be not soon shaken i nmi nd, or be t r oubl ed, nei t her by spi r i t , nor by wor d, norby l et t er s as f r om us, as t hat t he day of t he Lor d i s at

hand. Let no man decei ve you by any means; f or ( t hat dayshal l not come) except t her e come t he f al l i ng away f i r st ,and that man of si n be reveal ed, t he son of per di t i on, whoopposet h and exal t et h hi msel f above al l t hat i s cal l ed God,or t hat i s wor shi pped: so t hat he si t t et h i n t he t empl e ofGod, showi ng hi msel f t hat he i s God. Remember ye not , t hatwhen I was yet wi t h you, I t ol d you t hese t hi ngs? And nowye know what wi t hhol det h, t hat he mi ght be reveal ed i n hi s


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t i me. For t he myst er y of i ni qui t y dot h al r eady wor k; onl yhe who now l et t et h ( wi l l l et ) , unt i l he be t aken out of t heway. And t hen shal l t hat wi cked be reveal ed, whom t he Lor dJ esus shal l consume wi t h t he Spi r i t of Hi s mout h, and shal ldest r oy wi t h t he br i ght ness of Hi s comi ng: ( even hi m) whosecomi ng i s af t er t he worki ng of Sat an, wi t h al l power , andsi gns, and l yi ng wonder s, and wi t h al l decei vabl eness ofunr i ght eousness i n them t hat per i sh; because t hey r ecei vednot t he l ove of t he t r ut h. And f or t hi s cause God shal lsend t hem st r ong del usi on, t hat t hey shoul d bel i eve a l i e:t hat t hey al l mi ght be damned who bel i eved not t he t r ut h,but had pl easur e i n unr i ght eousness. " And Esai as says, "Lett he wi cked be cut of f , t hat he behol d not t he gl or y of t heLor d. "

64. These t hi ngs, t hen, bei ng t o come t o pass, bel oved, andt he one week bei ng di vi ded i nt o t wo part s, and t he

abomi nat i on of desol at i on bei ng mani f est ed t hen, and t het wo pr ophet s and f or er unner s of t he Lor d havi ng f i ni shedt hei r cour se, and t he whol e wor l d f i nal l y appr oachi ng t heconsummat i on, what r emai ns but t he comi ng of our Lor d andSavi our J esus Chr i st f r om heaven, f or whom we have l ookedi n hope? who shal l br i ng t he conf l agr at i on and j ustj udgment upon al l who have r ef used t o bel i eve on Hi m. Fort he Lor d says, "And when t hese t hi ngs begi n t o come t opass, t hen l ook up, and l i f t up your heads; f or yourr edempt i on dr awet h ni gh. " "And t her e shal l not a hai r ofyour head per i sh. " "For as t he l i ght ni ng comet h out of t he

east , and shi net h even unt o t he west , so shal l al so thecomi ng of t he Son of man be. For wher esoever t he car casei s, t her e wi l l t he eagl es be gat her ed t oget her . " Now t hef al l t ook pl ace i n par adi se; f or Adam f el l t her e. And Hesays agai n, "Then shal l t he Son of man send Hi s angel s, andt hey shal l gat her t oget her Hi s el ect f r om t he f our wi nds ofheaven. " And Davi d al so, i n announci ng pr ophet i cal l y t hej udgment and comi ng of t he Lor d, says, "Hi s goi ng f or t h i sf r om t he end of t he heaven, and Hi s ci r cui t unt o the end oft he heaven: and t her e i s no one hi d f r om t he heat t her eof . "By t he heat he means t he conf l agr at i on. And Esai as speaks

t hus: "Come, my peopl e, ent er t hou i nt o t hy chamber , ( and)shut t hy door : hi de t hysel f as i t wer e f or a l i t t l e moment ,unt i l t he i ndi gnat i on of t he Lor d be over past . " And Paul i nl i ke manner : "For t he wr at h of God i s r eveal ed f r om heavenagai nst al l ungodl i ness and unr i ght eousness of men, whohol d t he t r ut h of God i n unr i ght eousness. "


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65. Moreover , concer ni ng t he r esur r ect i on and t he ki ngdomof t he sai nt s, Dani el says, "And many of t hem t hat sl eep i nt he dust of t he ear t h shal l ar i se, some t o ever l ast i ngl i f e, ( and some to shame and ever l ast i ng cont empt ) . " Esai assays, "The dead men shal l ar i se, and t hey t hat ar e i n t hei rt ombs shal l awake; f or t he dew f r om t hee i s heal i ng t ot hem. " The Lord says, "Many i n t hat day shal l hear t hevoi ce of t he Son of God, and t hey t hat hear shal l l i ve. "And the pr ophet says, "Awake, t hou that sl eepest , and ar i sef r om t he dead, and Chr i st shal l gi ve t hee l i ght . " And J ohnsays, "Bl essed and hol y i s he t hat hat h par t i n t he f i r str esur r ect i on: on such t he second death hat h no power . " Fort he second deat h i s t he l ake of f i r e t hat bur net h. Andagai n t he Lor d says, "Then shal l t he r i ght eous shi ne f or t has t he sun shi net h i n hi s gl or y. " And t o t he sai nt s He wi l lsay, "Come, ye bl essed of my Fat her , i nher i t t he ki ngdompr epar ed f or you f r om t he f oundat i on of t he wor l d. " But

what sai t h He t o t he wi cked? " Depar t f r om me, ye cur sed,i nt o ever l ast i ng f i r e, pr epar ed f or t he devi l and hi sangel s, whi ch my Fat her hath pr epared. " And J ohn says,"Wi t hout are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremonger s, andmur derers, and i dol at ers, and whosoever maket h and l oveth al i e; f or your part i s i n t he hel l of f i re. " And i n l i kemanner al so Esai as: "And t hey shal l go f or t h and l ook upont he carcases of t he men t hat have t r ansgr essed agai nst me.And t hei r wor m shal l not di e, nei t her shal l t hei r f i r e bequenched; and t hey shal l be f or a spect acl e t o al l f l esh. "

66. Concer ni ng t he r esur r ect i on of t he r i ght eous, Paul al sospeaks t hus i n wr i t i ng to t he Thessal oni ans: "We woul d nothave you t o be i gnorant concer ni ng t hem whi ch are asl eep,t hat ye sor r ow not even as ot hers whi ch have no hope. Fori f we bel i eve t hat J esus di ed and r ose agai n, even so t hemal so whi ch sl eep i n J esus wi l l God br i ng wi t h Hi m. For t hi swe say unto you by t he word of t he Lor d, t hat we whi ch areal i ve ( and) r emai n unt o t he comi ng of t he Lor d, shal l notpr event t hem whi ch ar e asl eep. For t he Lor d Hi msel f shal ldescend f r om heaven wi t h a shout , wi t h t he voi ce and t r umpof God, and t he dead i n Chr i st shal l r i se f i r st . Then we

whi ch are al i ve ( and) r emai n shal l be caught up t oget herwi t h t hem i n t he cl ouds t o meet t he Lor d i n t he ai r ; and soshal l we ever be wi t h t he Lor d. "


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67. These t hi ngs, t hen, I have set shor t l y bef or e t hee, OTheophi l us, drawi ng t hem f r om Scr i pt ure i t sel f , i n or dert hat , mai nt ai ni ng i n f ai t h what i s wr i t t en, and

ant i ci pat i ng t he t hi ngs t hat ar e t o be, t hou mayest keept hysel f voi d of of f ence bot h t oward God and t oward men," l ooki ng f or t hat bl essed hope and appear i ng of our God andSavi our , " when, havi ng r ai sed t he sai nt s among us, He wi l lr ej oi ce wi t h t hem, gl or i f yi ng t he Fat her . To Hi m be t hegl ory unt o t he endl ess ages of t he ages. Amen.

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The Antichrist HYPOLYTUS