The Sixteen Questions
The Sixteen Questions
continued
14. How does it end?
“Whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:8). All the Fathers agree on the ending: Christ’s own return, with no intermediate rescue party and no battle that Christians have to win. They disagree on what comes next. Irenaeus, Justin, Commodian and Lactantius expect a thousand-year kingdom of the righteous on earth. Victorinus, Hippolytus (in the fragments) and Augustine read the thousand years as the present age or as one perfect day. Everyone expects resurrection, judgment and the lake of fire.
In this chapter
This question draws on 146 quotations from 45 voices. 85 of them are printed in full below, at the end of the chapter, because their main concern is this question; the other 61 belong chiefly to other questions and are listed here by number.
Slain by Christ’s coming, not by an army (Irenaeus, Chrysostom, Augustine, John of Damascus, Coptic Daniel)
Irenaeus says Paul’s wicked one is slain by the Lord’s coming. Chrysostom says Christ will destroy the lawless one by his commandment and mere presence, as a fire’s approach disables small creatures. Augustine says Jesus himself will extinguish the last persecution by his presence. John of Damascus says Christ returns visibly from heaven and destroys him with the breath of his mouth. In the Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel, Christ as the Ancient of Days revives the witnesses, comes on the clouds and kills Antichrist and his host.
Resurrection and judgment follow at once (Tertullian, Hippolytus, Augustine, Theophylact)
Tertullian says the resurrection follows the extirpation of Antichrist. Hippolytus says after the divided week, the abomination and the witnesses’ course, nothing remains but Christ’s coming from heaven with the judgment. Theophylact says Christ’s coming follows at once after the woes of Antichrist, with no interval. Augustine lists what happens at the judgment, Elias, the Jews, Antichrist, the judgment, the resurrection and the renewal of the world, and adds that human understanding cannot say in what order.
The lake of fire (Irenaeus, Commodian, Pseudo-Hippolytus, Bede, Solomon of Basra)
The fate is the lake of fire or Gehenna, with the false prophet. Irenaeus says Christ sends this man and his followers into the lake of fire; Commodian has the tyrant and the false prophet seized and cast alive into Gehenna. Bede says being cast alive into the lake of fire indicates a greater penalty for the devil and Antichrist than for the other damned. Solomon of Basra has Christ destroy Antichrist body and soul, and Satan and the devils go to Gehenna.
A thousand-year kingdom, before or after? (Justin, Irenaeus, Commodian, Lactantius; against: Victorinus, Dionysius, Hippolytus, Augustine)
The second-century and third-century Fathers who expect a literal earthly kingdom put it after Antichrist. Justin cites John’s Revelation for a thousand years in Jerusalem. Irenaeus says the earthly kingdom follows the coming of Antichrist and the resurrection of the just. Commodian and Lactantius have six thousand years of toil followed by a seventh thousand of rest. Others deny it: Dionysius of Alexandria challenges the literal earthly kingdom of Nepos; Victorinus rejects an earthly millennium as Cerinthian; Hippolytus, as Bar Salibi reports him, takes the thousand years as one perfect day.
Is Satan bound now, or not yet? (Victorinus, Augustine, Bede, Tyconius; Hippolytus)
Victorinus says the years in which Satan is bound run from Christ’s first advent to the end of the age, and that the “little season” of his release is three and a half years in which the devil works through Antichrist. Augustine says Satan will be loosed and work through Antichrist with all his power, and that he will rage for three years and six months. Bede and Tyconius agree. Hippolytus, by contrast, says the Devil is not yet bound and will be flung into the pit at the Lord’s coming.
Gog and Magog (Hippolytus, Samuel of Kalamoun, Solomon of Basra)
In several writers the final conflict includes Gog and Magog. Hippolytus, as Bar Salibi reports, reads the loosing of Satan after the thousand years as justified judgment gathering Gog and Magog. Samuel of Kalamoun has them ravage the earth five months before an angel destroys them in an hour; Solomon of Basra has them burst from Alexander’s gate in a time of deep security and be destroyed on the plain of Joppa.
The days are shortened; the Church is kept (Pseudo-Hippolytus, Lactantius, Cyprian, Neale and Littledale)
The ending is also a rescue. Pseudo-Hippolytus says God will shorten the three and a half years for the sake of the hidden remnant. Lactantius describes the righteous besieged on their mountain who cry to God, and a great king sent from heaven destroys the impious. Cyprian says that in persecution Antichrist threatens but Christ protects and paradise opens. Neale and Littledale list Antichrist’s time among the occasions on which God keeps his people as the apple of his eye.
The Scripture behind it
The Scripture on which the Fathers drew for this question is set out here in the King James text.
The man of sin (2 Thess 2:1–17)
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure … [2 Thessalonians 2:1-17]
The breath of his lips shall slay the wicked (Isa 11:4–5)
But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. [Isaiah 11:4-5]
The fourth beast explained (Dan 7:15–28)
I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and … [Daniel 7:15-28]
The beast and the false prophet taken (Rev 19:11–21)
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false … [Revelation 19:11-21]
The thousand years and Gog and Magog (Rev 20:1–10)
And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the … [Revelation 20:1-10]
The three unclean spirits (Rev 16:12–16)
And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. [Revelation 16:12-16]
Gog, of the land of Magog (Ezek 38:1–9)
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. [Ezekiel 38:1-9]
Also relevant: quotations printed under other questions
Irenaeus of Lyons, Roman empire divided into ten kings (5.5); Irenaeus of Lyons, Slays three, is the eighth king (5.6); Irenaeus of Lyons, Ten toes are ten kings (5.7); Irenaeus of Lyons, Gathers all apostasy; cast into fire (11.8); Irenaeus of Lyons, Reign, then fire, then kingdom (6.5); Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, Beliar cast into fire for ever (16.2); Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, The Lord's salvation wars against Beliar (9.2); Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, Israel's repentance ends the enemy's kingdom (4.2); Tertullian, Enoch and Elijah reserved to die (9.3); Tertullian, Elijah, Antichrist, Babylon not yet (9.4); Tertullian, Order of the last times (5.9); Hippolytus of Rome, 2 Thess 2 means Antichrist (6.9); Hippolytus of Rome, Witnesses killed and raised (9.6); Hippolytus of Rome, Little horn kills witnesses (5.12); Hippolytus of Rome, Do not admit the falling away (11.14); Hippolytus of Rome, Daniel shows kingdoms then Antichrist (5.15); Hippolytus of Rome, Three horns: Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia (5.16); Hippolytus of Rome, Ten kings burn the harlot city (5.18); Hippolytus of Rome, Lamb-horns: imitates the Son of God (3.10); Hippolytus of Rome, Programme of the treatise (8.21); Hippolytus of Rome, Antichrist kills Enoch and Elijah (9.11); Origen of Alexandria, Not every sign proves God (3.14); Victorinus of Pettau, Elijah precursor; recalls Jews (9.16); Victorinus of Pettau, After Elijah, the devil cast down (9.19); Victorinus of Pettau, Sent from Rome; three kings killed (5.26); Victorinus of Pettau, Ascetic reading of the millennium (13.10); Lactantius, Antichrist falsely calls himself Christ (3.24); Pseudo-Hippolytus, Son of perdition judged and condemned (16.12); Revelation of John (apocryphal), Three years; Enoch and Elias killed (9.27); Basil of Caesarea, Is this the falling away? (11.44); Cyril of Jerusalem, Eleventh king, three-and-a-half years (5.31); Cyril of Jerusalem, Deliverance of the elect (9.28); John Chrysostom, Elijah comes against him (9.31); Jerome, 'He that letteth' removed (4.22); Sulpicius Severus, Nero destroyed by Antichrist (5.33); Augustine of Hippo, Elijah restores those Antichrist overthrew (9.33); Augustine of Hippo, Order of last events: Elias, Jews, Antichrist (9.36); Apocalypse of Sedrach, Impenitent perish with Antichrist (11.71); Cave of Treasures, Elijah from Paradise (9.37); Cosmas Indicopleustes, Elijah leads against Antichrist (9.39); Gregory the Great, Head of the wicked, whose members are all the wicked (13.43); Coptic Texts from St. Macarius’ Monastery, Sinners sent to Antichrist's place (5.39); Coptic Texts from St. Macarius’ Monastery, Antichrist bound; Devil claims God (3.57); Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun, Michael commissions the Greek king (5.42); Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun, Hundredfold retribution (5.43); Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun, Gog and Magog five months (2.42); Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel, Roman king crushes Ishmael (5.47); Bede, Daniel: abomination in the temple, 1290 days (6.56); Bede, Cast alive into the lake of fire (11.91); Bede, Enoch and Elijah killed by Antichrist (9.48); John of Damascus, Enoch and Elijah turn synagogue (9.49); Timothy I of Baghdad, Elijah rebukes Antichrist (9.50); Theophylact, John with Elias, killed by him (9.53); Solomon of Basra, Last Greek king rises (5.56); Solomon of Basra, Greek king crushes Ishmaelites (5.57); Solomon of Basra, Last emperor yields crown at Golgotha (4.32); Solomon of Basra, Elijah convicts the deceiver (9.54); Kebra Nagast, Kingdom of Christ until False Messiah (16.51); Neale and Littledale (compilers), Slaughter of two witnesses, then end (9.59); Neale and Littledale (compilers), Two witnesses slain and raised (9.60); Neale and Littledale (compilers), 'Like the Most High' but smitten (3.67).
The quotations
The quotations that follow are in order of date, from the earliest writers to the latest. Each is word for word from the translation named after it. The short note is ours, and says only what the passage claims.
14.1. Epistle of Barnabas: The Son ends the lawless one's time
“when his Son comes and puts an end to the time of the lawless one, judges the ungodly, and changes the sun, the moon, and the stars, then he will truly rest on the seventh day.” — Epistle of Barnabas, The Epistle of Barnabas. Note: The Son's coming ends the time of the lawless one, brings judgment and a changed cosmos, and begins the true sabbath rest. [Genesis 2:2]
14.2. Ascension of Isaiah: 1,332 days, then the Lord comes
“of these few in those days will be left as His servants, while they flee from desert to desert, awaiting the coming of the Beloved. 14. And after (one thousand) three hundred and thirty-two days the Lord will come with His angels” — Ascension of Isaiah, The Ascension of Isaiah (Charles translation); scanned text. Note: Few believers remain, fleeing from desert to desert; after 1,332 days the Lord comes with his angels. [Daniel 12:11-12; Matthew 24:16]
14.3. Ascension of Isaiah: Beliar dragged into Gehenna
“and He will drag Beliar into Gehenna and also his armies.” — Ascension of Isaiah, The Ascension of Isaiah (Charles translation); scanned text. Note: At his coming the Lord drags Beliar and his armies into Gehenna. [Revelation 20:10]
14.4. Sibylline Oracles: Fire burns Beliar and his followers
“It shall burn Beliar too, and faithless men, / All, even as many as put their trust in him.” — Sibylline Oracles, The Sibylline Oracles (Terry translation); scanned text. Note: The flaming power at God's threatening burns Beliar and all who trusted him. [2 Thessalonians 2:8]
14.5. Justin Martyr: John foretold the thousand years
“among us a certain man named John, one of the apostles of Christ, prophesied in a revelation given to him that those who believed in our Christ would spend a thousand years in Jerusalem. After that, he said, the universal and, in short, eternal resurrection and judgment of all together would take place.” — Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho. Note: He cites the apostle John's Revelation for a thousand years in Jerusalem followed by universal resurrection and judgment. [Revelation 20:4-6]
14.6. Irenaeus of Lyons: The lion is antichrist
“indicating that sin, which was set up and spread out against man, and which rendered him subject to death, should be deprived of its power, along with death, which rules [over men]; and that the lion, that is, antichrist, rampant against mankind in the latter days, should be trampled down by Him” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: Irenaeus reads 'the lion' of Psalm 91 as Antichrist, rampant in the last days and trampled by Christ. [Psalm 91:13; Genesis 3:15]
14.7. Irenaeus of Lyons: Slain by the Lord's coming
“"And then shall the wicked one be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the spirit of His mouth, and destroy by the presence of His coming; whose coming [i.e., the wicked one's] is after the working of Satan, in all power, and signs, and portents of lies” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: Paul's wicked one comes by Satan's working with signs and lying portents and is slain by the Lord's coming. [2 Thessalonians 2:8-12]
14.8. Irenaeus of Lyons: Earthly kingdom follows Antichrist
“For all these and other words were unquestionably spoken in reference to the resurrection of the just, which takes place after the coming of Antichrist, and the destruction of all nations under his rule; in [the times of] which [resurrection] the righteous shall reign in the earth” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: The earthly kingdom promised by the prophets follows the coming of Antichrist, the destruction of his nations, and the resurrection of the just. [Isaiah 11; Revelation 20:4-6]
14.9. Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs: Beliar bound by the new priest
“And Beliar shall be bound by him, And he shall give power to His children to tread upon the evil spirits.” — Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs (Charles translation); scanned text. Note: In Levi's testament, the coming priest binds Beliar and gives his children power over evil spirits. [Revelation 20:2]
14.10. Tertullian: Resurrection after his destruction
“and after the extirpation of Antichrist shall be busily transacted the great process of the resurrection.” — Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh. Note: The resurrection follows the extirpation of Antichrist. [Isaiah 26:20]
14.11. Tertullian: Martyrs triumph over Antichrist
“For yet again a countless throng are revealed, clothed in white and distinguished by palms of victory, celebrating their triumph doubtless over Antichrist, since one of the elders says, "These are they who come out of that great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” — Tertullian, Scorpiace. Note: The white-robed multitude of Revelation 7 are martyrs triumphant over Antichrist, washed in the Lamb's blood. [Revelation 7:9-14]
14.12. Tertullian: Creator sends the delusion
“If therefore he be Antichrist, (as we hold), and comes according to the Creator's purpose, it must be God the Creator who sends him to fasten in their error those who did not believe the truth, that they might be saved” — Tertullian, The Five Books Against Marcion. Note: Tertullian argues that if the coming one is Antichrist, as Christians hold, then the Creator sends him as a judgement on unbelievers. [2 Thessalonians 2:9-12]
14.13. Hippolytus of Rome: Satan loosed, Gog and Magog
“But as for what he has said, that after the thousand years he shall be loosed, and shall deceive the nations [Rev. xx. 7, 8], it is this: that justly he is to be loosed, and to be cast into the burning, and to be judged [ib. 10, 12] ; with those who from old time were gathered together with him, when he gathered the strangers of the kingdom, and Gog and Magog [ib. 8].'” — Hippolytus of Rome, Commentary on Revelation (quoted by reported by Dionysius bar Salibi). Note: Hippolytus (via Bar Salibi) reads the loosing of Satan after the 'thousand years' as justified judgement, gathering Gog and Magog. [Revelation 20:2-8; Isaiah 30:26]
14.14. Hippolytus of Rome: Thousand years = one perfect day
“And the number of the years is not the number of days, but it represents the space of one day, glorious and perfect; in which, when the King comes in glory with His slain, the creation is to shine” — Hippolytus of Rome, Commentary on Revelation (quoted by reported by Dionysius bar Salibi). Note: The 'thousand years' symbolise one glorious perfect day rather than a literal span, as cited from Hippolytus. [Revelation 20:2; 2 Peter 3:8]
14.15. Hippolytus of Rome: Beast's body is the devil
“The body he speaks of is the devil, he who worketh [2 Thess. ii. 7, 9] in the false Christ : and the city he speaks of is Jerusalem, where these things are to come to pass. For Paul said concerning him who is Antichrist, He sitteth in the temple of God as God” — Hippolytus of Rome, Commentary on Revelation (quoted by reported by Dionysius bar Salibi). Note: The beast's 'body' destroyed in Daniel 7:11 is the devil working in the false Christ; Jerusalem is the scene, and Antichrist sits in God's temple. [Isaiah 27:1; Daniel 7:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-9]
14.16. Hippolytus of Rome: A man claiming 'I am God'
“Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the sea; yet art thou a man, and not God” — Hippolytus of Rome, On Christ and Antichrist. Note: Ezekiel's prince of Tyre who says 'I am God' yet is only a man is cited as speaking of Antichrist. [Ezekiel 28:2]
14.17. Hippolytus of Rome: Then Christ's coming and judgment
“These things, then, being to come to pass, beloved, and the one week being divided into two parts, and the abomination of desolation being manifested then, and the two prophets and forerunners of the Lord having finished their course, and the whole world finally approaching the consummation, what remains but the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ from heaven, for whom we have looked in hope? who shall bring the conflagration and just judgment upon all who have refused to believe on Him.” — Hippolytus of Rome, On Christ and Antichrist. Note: After the divided week, the abomination and the witnesses' course, nothing remains but Christ's coming from heaven with the conflagration and judgment. [Matthew 24:30-31]
14.18. Hippolytus of Rome: Satan bound at the Lord's coming
“Accordingly, in the end of times, the Devil is to be bound and to be flung into the bottomless pit, when the Lord comes ; even as Esaias hath said, that the wicked shall be taken away in order that he see not the glory of the Lord” — Hippolytus of Rome, Quotes on Revelation recorded by Dionysius Syrus. Note: The Devil is not yet bound; he will be bound and cast into the abyss at the Lord's coming at the end of times. [Revelation 20:2-3; Isaiah 26:10]
14.19. Hippolytus of Rome: Thousand years as one perfect day
“And the number of the years is not the number of days, but it represents the space of one day … glorious and perfect; in which, when the King comes in glory with His slain, the creation is to shine” — Hippolytus of Rome, Quotes on Revelation recorded by Dionysius Syrus. Note: The thousand years of Revelation 20 stand for one perfect, glorious day of Christ's reign, not a literal count. [Revelation 20:2-8; Psalm 118:24]
14.20. Commodian: Seized and cast alive into Gehenna
“Moreover, when the tyrant shall dash himself against the army of God, his soldiery are overthrown by the celestial terror; the false prophet himself is seized with the wicked one, by the decree of the Lord; they are handed over alive to Gehenna.” — Commodian, On Christian Discipline. Note: The tyrant attacks God's army, is overthrown, and he and the false prophet are seized and cast alive into Gehenna. [Revelation 19:19-20; Daniel 7:11]
14.21. Commodian: Martyrs reign in a fleshly millennium
“They shall come also who overcame cruel martydom under Antichrist, and they themselves live for the whole time, and receive blessings because they have suffered evil things; and they themselves marrying, beget for a thousand years.” — Commodian, On Christian Discipline. Note: Martyrs under Antichrist share in a thousand-year renewed earth in which the saints even marry and beget. [Revelation 20:4-6; Revelation 21]
14.22. Commodian: Six thousand years; Antichrist conquered
“when six thousand years are completed, and the world has come to an end. … Those who are more worthy, and who are begotten of an illustrious stem, and the men of nobility under the conquered Antichrist, according to God's command living again in the world for a thousand years, indeed, that they may serve the saints” — Commodian, On Christian Discipline. Note: At the end of six thousand years the dead rise; after Antichrist's defeat the noble among his subjects live a thousand years serving the saints before being judged again. [Revelation 20]
14.23. Commodian: Tyrant and false prophet to Gehenna
“Moreover, when the tyrant shall dash himself against the army of God, his soldiery are overthrown by the celestial terror; the false prophet himself is seized with the wicked one, by the decree of the Lord; they are handed over alive to Gehenna.” — Commodian, The Instructions of Commodianus in Favour of Christian Discipline. Note: The tyrant attacks God's army, is overthrown, and he and the false prophet are handed alive to Gehenna. [Revelation 19:19-20]
14.24. Commodian: Martyrs under Antichrist share the thousand years
“They shall come also who overcame cruel martydom under Antichrist, and they themselves live for the whole time, and receive blessings because they have suffered evil things” — Commodian, The Instructions of Commodianus in Favour of Christian Discipline. Note: Those who endured martyrdom under Antichrist rise in the first resurrection and share the thousand years. [Revelation 20:4]
14.25. Commodian: Antichrist's nobles serve the saints
“Those who are more worthy, and who are begotten of an illustrious stem, and the men of nobility under the conquered Antichrist, according to God's command living again in the world for a thousand years, indeed, that they may serve the saints, and the High One, under a servile yoke” — Commodian, The Instructions of Commodianus in Favour of Christian Discipline. Note: Nobles of the conquered Antichrist live again for a thousand years to serve the saints under a yoke. [Revelation 20:4]
14.26. Cyprian of Carthage: Antichrist threatens, Christ protects
“In persecutions, earth is shut up, but heaven is opened; Antichrist is threatening, but Christ is protecting; death is brought in, but immortality follows” — Cyprian of Carthage, Treatise 11. Exhortation to Martyrdom, Addressed to Fortunatus. Note: In persecution Antichrist threatens but Christ protects and paradise opens.
14.27. Dionysius of Alexandria: Dionysius contests an earthly kingdom
“Seeing that they bring forward a composition of Nepos, on which they rely too much as showing irrefutably that the Kingdom of Christ will be on earth, though I accept and love Nepos for many other things” — Dionysius of Alexandria, Letters and Treatises (Feltoe translation). Note: Dionysius challenges Nepos's literal earthly-kingdom reading of Revelation while honouring him. [Revelation 20:1-6]
14.28. Victorinus of Pettau: Angels extinguish his kingdom
“we read in the Gospel that the prayers of the Church are sent from heaven by an angel, and that they are received against wrath, and that the kingdom of Antichrist is cast out and extinguished by holy angels” — Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John. Note: Church prayers are received against wrath and holy angels will cast out and extinguish Antichrist's kingdom. [Revelation 8:2; Matthew 24:21-22,31]
14.29. Victorinus of Pettau: Slain by His mouth's breath
“And Paul, speaking of Antichrist to the Thessalonians, says: "Whom the Lord Jesus will slay by the breath of His mouth.” — Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John. Note: Victorinus reads the two-edged sword from Christ's mouth in Revelation 1 as the breath by which Paul says Antichrist is slain. [2 Thessalonians 2:8; Isaiah 11:4; Revelation 1:16]
14.30. Victorinus of Pettau: Satan bound from the first advent
“Those years wherein Satan is bound are in the first advent of Christ, even to the end of the age; and they are called a thousand, according to that mode of speaking, wherein a part is signified by the whole” — Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John. Note: The thousand years of Satan's binding are the present age from Christ's first coming, 'a thousand' being a figurative round number. [Revelation 20:1-3]
14.31. Victorinus of Pettau: Little season = 3.5 years
“The little season signifies three years and six months, in which with all his power the devil will avenge himself trader Antichrist against the Church. Finally, he says, after that the devil shall be loosed, and will seduce the nations in the whole world, and will entice war against the Church” — Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John. Note: The 'little season' of Satan's release is 3.5 years in which the devil works through Antichrist against the Church. [Revelation 20:3,7-8]
14.32. Victorinus of Pettau: Seventh millennium: Christ reigns
“Wherefore to those seven days the Lord attributed to each a thousand years … Wherefore, as I have narrated, that true Sabbath will be in the seventh millenary of years, when Christ with His elect shall reign.” — Victorinus of Pettau, On the Creation of the World. Note: Victorinus equates each day of creation with a thousand years; the true Sabbath is the seventh millennium, when Christ reigns with His elect. [Psalm 90:4; Revelation 20:6]
14.33. Lactantius: Six ages, then a thousand-year Sabbath
“the world must continue in its present state through six ages, that is, six thousand years. … at the end of the six thousandth year all wickedness must be abolished from the earth, and righteousness reign for a thousand years; and there must be tranquillity and rest” — Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Book 7. Note: The six days of creation signify six thousand years of toil, followed by a seventh millennium of righteousness and rest. [Genesis 2:2; Psalm 90:4; Revelation 20]
14.34. Lactantius: Righteous besieged, rescued by heavenly king
“And when he hears of this, the impious king, inflamed with anger, will come with a great army, and bringing up all his forces, will surround all the mountain in which the righteous shall be situated, that he may seize them. … and God shall hear them, and send from heaven a great king to rescue and free them, and destroy all the wicked with fire and sword.” — Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Book 7. Note: The impious king besieges the righteous on their mountain; they cry to God and He sends a great king from heaven to destroy the wicked. [Revelation 19:11-21]
14.35. Pseudo-Hippolytus: Reigns 3.5 years
“the one half of the week is for the preaching of the prophets, and for the other half of the week-that is to say, for three years and a half-Antichrist will reign upon the earth. And after this his kingdom and his glory shall be taken away.” — Pseudo-Hippolytus, Dubious and Spurious Pieces Attributed to Hippolytus. Note: Of Daniel's week of seven years, half is for the prophets' preaching and the other three and a half years Antichrist reigns before his kingdom is taken away. [Daniel 9:27; Revelation 11:2]
14.36. Pseudo-Hippolytus: Days shortened for the remnant
“but He will shorten even those days and the period of three years and a half, and He will curtail those times on account of the remnant of those who hide themselves in the mountains and caves … and the kingdom of the deceiver and Antichrist shall be speedily removed. And then, in fine, in the glance of an eye shall the fashion of this world pass away” — Pseudo-Hippolytus, Dubious and Spurious Pieces Attributed to Hippolytus. Note: God will shorten the three and a half years for the sake of the hidden remnant, quickly remove Antichrist's kingdom, and the present world will pass. [Matthew 24:22]
14.37. Pseudo-Hippolytus: Cross-sign heralds the Judge
“For the sign of the cross shall arise from the east even unto the west, in brightness exceeding that of the sun, and shall announce the advent and manifestation of the Judge, to give to every one according to his works.” — Pseudo-Hippolytus, Dubious and Spurious Pieces Attributed to Hippolytus. Note: The sign of the cross will shine from east to west, announcing Christ's coming as Judge. [Matthew 24:27-28]
14.38. Athanasius of Alexandria: What more could Antichrist do?
“Now what is yet wanting to make him Antichrist? or what more could Antichrist do at his coming than this man has done? Will he not find when he comes that the way has been already prepared for him by this man easily to deceive the people? … Again , he claims to himself the right of deciding causes, which he refers to the Court instead of the Church, and presides at them in person.” — Athanasius of Alexandria, History of the Arians. Note: Athanasius asks what more Antichrist could do than Constantius, who prepared his way by judging ecclesiastical causes himself and presiding over them.
14.39. Apostolic Constitutions: The deceiver of the world, prince of lies
“And then shall appear the deceiver of the world, the enemy of the truth, the prince of lies, whom the Lord Jesus "shall destroy with the spirit of His mouth, who takes away the wicked with His lips; and many shall be offended at Him. But they that endure to the end, the same shall be saved.” — Apostolic Constitutions, Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book 7. Note: After the cooling of love and betrayal, the deceiver of the world appears and is destroyed by the Lord's mouth. [2 Thessalonians 2:8; Matthew 24:13]
14.40. Apostolic Constitutions: The Lord comes to condemn the deceiver
“And then shall the Lord come, and all His saints with Him, with a great concussion above the clouds, with the angels of His power, in the throne of His kingdom, to condemn the devil, the deceiver of the world” — Apostolic Constitutions, Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book 7. Note: The Lord comes with his saints to condemn the devil, the deceiver of the world. [Matthew 24:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:16]
14.41. Cyril of Jerusalem: The horn wars on the saints
“For he says, I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints” — Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures. Note: Daniel's horn makes war with the saints in a time of unparalleled trouble; Cyril calls the beast a mighty dragon unconquerable by man. [Daniel 7:21; Daniel 12:1]
14.42. Tyconius: Tyconius: the beast as the whole body of the devil
“at the end of the world, he is released from the prison of his confinement and will perish forever by the spirit of the Lord's mouth (2 Thess. 2). Tyconius refers the beast to the entire body of the devil, which is replenished by the succession of departing and following generations.” — Tyconius, Commentary on Revelation (quoted by The Venerable Bede). Note: Bede says the devil, cast out at the cross, is released at the end and perishes by the Lord's breath, and reports Tyconius reading the beast as the devil's whole body across generations. [Revelation 17:7; 2 Thessalonians 2:8]
14.43. Ambrose of Milan: Slain by the Spirit
“neither would He punish Antichrist, whom, as we read, "the Lord Jesus shall slay with the Spirit of His mouth," unless He had before judged of his deserts” — Ambrose of Milan, On the Holy Spirit. Note: Ambrose uses 2 Thessalonians 2:8 to show Christ judges and punishes in the Spirit: Antichrist is slain with the Spirit of His mouth. [2 Thessalonians 2:8]
14.44. John Chrysostom: Short tribulation of Antichrist's times
“By the tribulation, He means the times of Antichrist and the false Prophets; for when there are so many deceivers, the tribulation will be great. But it shall not extend through any great length of time.” — John Chrysostom, Catena Aurea: Commentary on St. Matthew, part 3 (chapters 22–28) (quoted by Thomas Aquinas); scanned text. Note: Chrysostom takes the tribulation of Matthew 24:29 as the times of Antichrist and the false prophets, great but short, with Christ following immediately. [Matthew 24:29]
14.45. John Chrysostom: Christ consumes Antichrist
“Christ too herein also doth discover His own majesty when He "shall consume" Antichrist "with the breath of His mouth, and bring him to nought with the manifestation of His coming."” — John Chrysostom, Homilies on 2 Corinthians. Note: Christ displays His majesty by consuming Antichrist with the breath of His mouth, as fire shows its power by burning thorns. [2 Thessalonians 2:8]
14.46. John Chrysostom: Christ's mere appearing ends him
“For as fire merry coming on even before its arrival makes torpid and consumes the little animals that are afar off; so also Christ, by His commandment only, and Coming. It is enough for Him to be present, and all these things are destroyed. He will put a stop to the deceit, by only appearing” — John Chrysostom, Homilies on 2 Thessalonians. Note: Christ will destroy the lawless one by His commandment and mere presence, as a fire's approach disables small creatures; his display of power is deceit. [2 Thessalonians 2:8-9]
14.47. John Chrysostom: Antichrist's tribulation is short
“Of the tribulation of what days doth He speak? Of those of Antichrist and of the false prophets? For there shall be great tribulation, there being so many deceivers. But it is not protracted to a length of time. For if the Jewish war was shortened for the elect's sake, much more shall this temptation be limited for these same's sake … For the false prophets and false Christs shall come and cause confusion, and immediately He Himself will be here” — John Chrysostom, Homilies on Matthew (part 3 of 3). Note: Chrysostom takes the tribulation after which the sun darkens as that of Antichrist and false prophets, brief for the elect's sake; Christ comes immediately after. [Matthew 24:29]
14.48. John Chrysostom: Revelry in the days of Antichrist
“Whereby He shows, that when Antichrist is come, the pursuit of unlawful pleasures shall be more eager among the transgressors, and those that have learnt to despair of their own salvation. Then shall be gluttony, then revellings, and drunkenness … so also now, Antichrist indeed shall appear, after whom is the end, and the punishments at the end, and vengeance intolerable” — John Chrysostom, Homilies on Matthew (part 3 of 3). Note: As in Noah's days, when Antichrist appears the wicked will pursue pleasures and revel, unperceiving, though the end and judgment follow him. [Matthew 24:37-39]
14.49. John Chrysostom: Nero the mystery of Antichrist
“Dost thou not hear what Nero's character was, whom Paul even calls the Mystery of Antichrist? For "the mystery of iniquity," he says, "already worketh. (ib. ii. 7. … Is Antichrist to suffer nothing? or the Devil nothing? Then he will always be Antichrist, and so the Devil.” — John Chrysostom, Homilies on Romans (part 2 of 2). Note: In arguing for hell, Chrysostom calls Nero the 'Mystery of Antichrist' and asks whether Nero, Antichrist or the Devil could escape punishment. [2 Thessalonians 2:7]
14.50. Rufinus of Aquileia: Foretold lest he be mistaken
“For this reason, therefore, is this "delusion" foretold unto us by the words of Prophets, Evangelists, and Apostles, lest any one should mistake the coming of Antichrist for the coming of Christ. But as the Lord Himself says, "When they shall say unto you, lo, here is Christ, or lo, He is there, believe it not.” — Rufinus of Aquileia, A Commentary on the Apostles' Creed. Note: Rufinus says the delusion is foretold so that no one mistakes Antichrist's coming for Christ's; the true Christ comes visibly like lightning and sits in judgment. [2 Thessalonians 2:8-11; Matthew 24:23-27]
14.51. Sulpicius Severus: Last persecution: Antichrist's
“nor do I believe that there will be any further persecutions, except that which Antichrist will carry on just before the end of the world” — Sulpicius Severus, The Sacred History. Note: Sulpicius expects no more persecutions after Constantine except Antichrist's, just before the world's end, as the tenth of ten afflictions.
14.52. Augustine of Hippo: Satan unchained works through him
“For then shall Satan be unchained, and work through Antichrist in all his power, wonderfully indeed, but falsely.” — Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea: Commentary on St. Mark (quoted by Thomas Aquinas); scanned text. Note: Augustine says that Satan will be loosed and will work through Antichrist with all his power, producing wonders that are in truth false. [Mark 13:22; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 20:7]
14.53. Augustine of Hippo: Only the unwritten consent to him
“what saith the Spirit of God, when the same Scripture was speaking of the oppressions that should be from Antichrist? "There shall give consent to him all they that have not been written in the book of life.” — Augustine of Hippo, On the Psalms (part 2 of 4). Note: Augustine says that, in the Apocalypse's account of Antichrist's oppressions, only those not written in the book of life will consent to him; those written in it will not. [Psalm 69:28; Revelation 13:8]
14.54. Augustine of Hippo: Christ slays him; no date-setting
“Truly Jesus Himself shall extinguish by His presence that last persecution which is to be made by Antichrist. For so it is written, that "He shall slay him with the breath of His mouth, and empty him with the brightness of His presence. … In vain, then, do we attempt to compute definitely the years that may remain to this world” — Augustine of Hippo, The City of God (part 2 of 3). Note: Augustine says Christ will end Antichrist's persecution by His presence, and rebukes attempts to compute the years remaining, since Christ said it is not for us to know times. [2 Thessalonians 2:8; Acts 1:6-7]
14.55. Augustine of Hippo: Fire from heaven: the saints' firmness
“for they shall be impotent to draw away the saints to the party of Antichrist … Or if by this fire coming down out of heaven and consuming them, John meant that blow wherewith Christ in His coming is to strike those persecutors” — Augustine of Hippo, The City of God (part 2 of 3). Note: Augustine reads the fire that devours the attackers as the firmness of the saints, or alternatively as Christ's blow when He kills Antichrist with the breath of His mouth. [Revelation 20:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:8]
14.56. Augustine of Hippo: Beast is a wicked city; false prophet
“We have already said that by the beast is well understood the wicked city. His false prophet is either Antichrist or that image or figment of which we have spoken in the same place.” — Augustine of Hippo, The City of God (part 2 of 3). Note: Augustine takes the beast of Revelation to be the wicked city, and the false prophet to be either Antichrist or the 'image' spoken of in the same passage. [Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10]
14.57. Augustine of Hippo: Certain only: Antichrist comes first
“Thus various, then, are the conjectural explanations of the obscure words of the apostle. That which there is no doubt he said is this, that Christ will not come to judge quick and dead unless Antichrist, His adversary, first come to seduce those who are dead in soul; although their seduction is a result of God's secret judgment already passed. For, as it is said "his presence shall be after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all seduction of unrighteousness in them that perish. For then shall Satan be loosed, and by means of that Antichrist shall work with all power in a lying though a wonderful manner.” — Augustine of Hippo, The City of God (part 3 of 3). Note: Augustine calls the explanations of Paul's obscure words conjectural and holds as certain that Christ will not come to judge unless Antichrist first comes, working lying wonders when Satan is loosed. [2 Thessalonians 2:8-10]
14.58. Augustine of Hippo: Seduced, then judged
“Therefore, being judged, they shall be seduced, and, being seduced, they shall be judged. But, being judged, they shall be seduced by those secretly just and justly secret judgments of God, with which He has never ceased to judge since the first sin of the rational creatures; and, being seduced, they shall be judged in that last and manifest judgment administered by Jesus Christ, who was Himself most unjustly judged and shall most justly judge.” — Augustine of Hippo, The City of God (part 3 of 3). Note: Augustine says that God permits the devil's work as a just judgment: those who are seduced will in turn be judged at the last judgment by Christ. [2 Thessalonians 2:11-12]
14.59. Augustine of Hippo: Utterly perishes
“S. Augustine takes it in a more terrible sense: He shall not be found, because he shall so utterly perish: as Pharaoh and his host were not found” — Augustine of Hippo, A Commentary on the Psalms from Primitive and Mediaeval Writers, volume 1 (Psalms 1–38) (part 1 of 2) (quoted by Neale and Littledale (Commentary on the Psalms)); scanned text. Note: Augustine, as cited, reads the verse as Antichrist perishing so utterly that he is not found, like Pharaoh and his host. [Psalm 10:17]
14.60. Theodoret of Cyrus: Paul predicts Antichrist's destruction
“And a little further on when predicting the destruction of antichrist he adds, "Whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. … believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east” — Theodoret of Cyrus, Letters of the Blessed Theodoret. Note: Theodoret, in a letter, cites Paul's prediction that Antichrist will be consumed by the Lord's coming, together with Christ's warning to disbelieve those who say 'Here is Christ'. [2 Thessalonians 2:8; Matthew 24:23-27]
14.61. Gregory the Great: Antichrist passes himself off as 'day'
“it is clearly shewn, that the destruction of Antichrist, to be at the end of the world, is foreseen by the holy man. For the evil spirit, who by rights is night, at the end of the world passes himself for the day, in that he shews himself to men as God, while he takes to himself deceitfully the brightness of the Deity, and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped.” — Gregory the Great, Morals on the Book of Job (part 1 of 5). Note: Gregory finds Antichrist's destruction at the world's end foreseen in Job 3: the evil spirit will pass himself off as day by showing himself as God. [Job 3:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:4]
14.62. Gregory the Great: Consumed with his people at Christ's coming
“it is written, that the Lord Jesus shall consume him, with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy him with the brightness of His coming. [2 Thess. 2, 8] And so, then, whereas his wickedness is ended together with the settled constitution of the world, there shall be 'no offspring of him left in his people,' in that both he himself and his people along with him are equally forced to punishment” — Gregory the Great, Morals on the Book of Job (part 2 of 5). Note: Gregory says that at the brightness of Christ's coming Antichrist and his people are destroyed together, and his iniquity ends with the end of the world. [Job 18:18-19; 2 Thessalonians 2:8]
14.63. Gregory the Great: Lifted up, then undone by the true Judge
“For he in truth will he lifted up on high when he will feign that he is God. But he will appear a fool when lifted up on high, because he will fail in his very loftiness through the coming of the true Judge.” — Gregory the Great, Morals on the Book of Job (part 4 of 5). Note: Gregory applies Proverbs 30 to Antichrist, who will be lifted up when he feigns to be God, but will fail in that loftiness at the coming of the true Judge. [Proverbs 30:32; 2 Thessalonians 2:4]
14.64. Coptic Martyrdoms and Lives: Judgement: Antichrist in the lake of fire
“And forthwith I shall utter curses upon Satan that day, and I will make them to seize him, and to fetter him in the bonds which cannot be broken, and I will curse that lying prophet who hath led astray all the nations, and Antichrist, the son of perdition, and they shall cast them into the Lake of Fire which burneth with fire and sulphur” — Coptic Martyrdoms and Lives, Coptic Martyrdoms and Lives in the Dialect of Upper Egypt (Budge translation); scanned text. Note: In Timothy's Discourse on Abbaton, Christ at the judgement curses Satan, the lying prophet and Antichrist, binding them and casting them into the Lake of Fire. [Revelation 20:10; Revelation 19:20]
14.65. Coptic Texts from St. Macarius’ Monastery: Sinners numbered with Antichrist
“They shall behold Me with them as I come down from the gates of the Heavens—even the sinners who were numbered with the anti-Christ: these are they who shall be upon the earth in the days of My Appearing.” — Coptic Texts from St. Macarius’ Monastery, New Coptic Texts from the Monastery of Saint Macarius (Evelyn White translation); scanned text. Note: In an Egyptian apocalyptic Gospel fragment, the sinners following Antichrist are left on earth when Christ appears with his risen martyrs. [Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:4]
14.66. Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun: Blessed who overcomes him
“Blessed is he who will fight against him and will overcome him, because he will reign eternally with Christ in the future age.” — Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun, The Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun. Note: Those who resist and overcome the false Messiah will reign with Christ eternally. [Revelation 2:26-27]
14.67. Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel: Christ slays Antichrist
“Then the Ancient of Days will bring them back to life. It is He whom I see coming with the clouds from Heaven, similar to a son of man. His power is an eternal power and His reign will have no end. It is he which will put Antichrist to death and all the multitude which is with him.” — Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel, The Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel. Note: Christ as Ancient of Days revives the witnesses, comes on the clouds and kills Antichrist and his host. [Daniel 7:13-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:8]
14.68. Bede: Doeg as Antichrist
“Some say that Doeg is Antichrist, of whom Judas was a member; because, as the same Doeg slew eighty priests, so will Antichrist destroy all those who hold the faith of CHRIST.” — Bede, A Commentary on the Psalms from Primitive and Mediaeval Writers, volume 2 (Psalms 39–80) (part 1 of 2) (quoted by Neale and Littledale (Commentary on the Psalms)); scanned text. Note: Bede notes an opinion that Doeg the Edomite stands for Antichrist, of whom Judas was a member, as Doeg slew the priests. [Psalm 52:1; 1 Samuel 22:18]
14.69. Bede: Sabbath rest after Antichrist's destruction
“This Sabbath of holy souls will continue until the end of the world, and when the last age of the world, after its evening, which we have spoken of before, reaches its end, with the Antichrist destroyed by the Lord Jesus” — Bede, Commentary on Genesis. Note: Bede says the Sabbath of the holy souls continues until the world's last age ends with Antichrist destroyed by Jesus, when it is blessed further by bodily resurrection. [Genesis 2:2-3]
14.70. Bede: The beast: devil, Antichrist or impious city
“For the beast should be understood according to the context: sometimes it means the devil, sometimes the Antichrist, sometimes the very impious city. The name of the fire descending from heaven can also signify the sudden destruction of the wicked when the Lord comes and will slay the Antichrist with the breath of His mouth” — Bede, Commentary on Revelation. Note: Bede says the 'beast' can mean the devil, Antichrist or the impious city depending on context, and that the fire from heaven can signify the Lord slaying Antichrist with the breath of His mouth. [Revelation 20:9-10; 2 Thessalonians 2:8]
14.71. Bede: 45 days after Antichrist's death (Jerome)
“After the destruction of the Antichrist, a brief rest is believed to come in the Church, about which Daniel predicted thus: "Blessed is he who waits and comes to the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days" (Daniel XII). Which blessed Jerome explains thus: "Blessed," he says, "is he who, after the Antichrist is killed, awaits beyond the one thousand two hundred and ninety days, that is, three and a half years, forty-five days, during which the Lord and Savior is to come in his majesty.” — Bede, Commentary on Revelation. Note: Bede cites Jerome that after Antichrist is killed there is a delay of forty-five days beyond the 1290 days before the Lord comes in majesty, and says the reason is known only to God. [Daniel 12:11-12; Revelation 8:1]
14.72. John of Damascus: Christ destroys the lawless one
“And the Lord shall come out of heaven, just as the holy apostles beheld Him going into heaven perfect God and perfect man, with glory and power, and will destroy the man of lawlessness, the son of destruction, with the breath of His mouth .” — John of Damascus, An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith. Note: Christ returns visibly from heaven and destroys the man of lawlessness with the breath of His mouth; no one should expect Him from earth. [2 Thessalonians 2:8; Acts 1:11]
14.73. Theophylact: Christ comes right after
“so also after the woes of Antichrist, at once, without an interval, shall be the coming of Christ” — Theophylact, Catena Aurea: Commentary on St. Mark (quoted by Thomas Aquinas); scanned text. Note: Theophylact says that Christ's coming follows at once, with no interval, after the woes of Antichrist. [Mark 13:28-29]
14.74. Bruno: Impenitent see their king overthrown
“We have in these words set before us the doom of the finally impenitent, who will see the overthrow of their king Antichrist, and the dominion of the Son of Man established over all creation, and who will then pass from His judgment-seat to their place of punishment.” — Bruno, A Commentary on the Psalms from Primitive and Mediaeval Writers, volume 3 (Psalms 81–118) (part 1 of 2) (quoted by Neale and Littledale (Commentary on the Psalms)); scanned text. Note: Neale and Littledale, in a passage attributed to Bruno the Carthusian, read the verse as the doom of the impenitent, who see Antichrist overthrown and the Son of Man's dominion established. [Psalm 83:17-18]
14.75. Solomon of Basra: Arabia and Hebron laid waste
“Egypt shall be ravaged, Arabia shall be burnt with fire, the land of Hebron shall be laid waste, and the tongue of the sea shall be at peace.” — Solomon of Basra, The Book of the Bee (Budge translation); scanned text. Note: Egypt, Arabia and the land of Hebron are devastated in the Greek king's victory.
14.76. Solomon of Basra: The 'last peace'
“And there shall be great peace on earth, the like of which has not been from the creation of the world until its end; for it is the last peace.” — Solomon of Basra, The Book of the Bee (Budge translation); scanned text. Note: A unique, final peace follows the Greek king's victory, before the northern nations are released.
14.77. Solomon of Basra: Alexander's nations released
“Then shall the gates of the north be opened, and the nations shall go forth that were imprisoned there by Alexander the king.” — Solomon of Basra, The Book of the Bee (Budge translation); scanned text. Note: After the last peace the nations shut in by Alexander are released. [Revelation 20:8]
14.78. Solomon of Basra: Gog destroyed at Joppa
“After one week of that sore affliction, they will all be destroyed in the plain of Joppa, for thither will all those (people) be gathered together, with their wives and their sons and their daughters; and by the command of God one of the hosts of the angels will descend and will destroy them in one moment.” — Solomon of Basra, The Book of the Bee (Budge translation); scanned text. Note: After one week of affliction the nations are destroyed by an angel on the plain of Joppa. [Revelation 20:9]
14.79. Solomon of Basra: Cross appears after Elijah
“After Elijah comes and conquers the son of destruction, and encourages the believers, for a space and a time which is known to God alone, there will appear the living sign of our Lord's Cross, honoured and borne aloft in the hands of the Archangel Gabriel.” — Solomon of Basra, The Book of the Bee (Budge translation); scanned text. Note: Elijah overcomes Antichrist, and after an interval known only to God the Cross appears carried by Gabriel. [Matthew 24:30]
14.80. Solomon of Basra: Christ destroys him body and soul
“He will then make an end of the son of perdition, and destroy him body and soul, and He will hurl Satan and the devils into Gehenna.” — Solomon of Basra, The Book of the Bee (Budge translation); scanned text. Note: At Christ's second appearing at the second trumpet he destroys Antichrist body and soul, and Satan with the devils goes to Gehenna. [2 Thessalonians 2:8]
14.81. Thomas Aquinas: Christ's Advent crushes Antichrist
“That CHRIST, by His holy Advent, will crush Antichrist.” — Thomas Aquinas, A Commentary on the Psalms from Primitive and Mediaeval Writers, volume 1 (Psalms 1–38) (part 1 of 2) (quoted by Neale and Littledale (Commentary on the Psalms)); scanned text. Note: The argument ascribed to Thomas Aquinas for Psalm 9 states that Christ, by His holy Advent, will crush Antichrist. [Psalm 9:1]
14.82. Neale and Littledale (compilers): Satan crushed, righteousness begins
“Thou shalt take away his ungodliness, and it shall not be found; because then, when he is destroyed, all iniquity will have come to an end; Satan will be crushed for ever; the kingdom of righteousness will begin” — Neale and Littledale (compilers), A Commentary on the Psalms from Primitive and Mediaeval Writers, volume 1 (Psalms 1–38) (part 1 of 2); scanned text. Note: The compilers read the verse of Antichrist's destruction ending all iniquity, Satan crushed for ever, and the kingdom of righteousness beginning. [Psalm 10:17]
14.83. Neale and Littledale (compilers): Slain by the breath of His lips
“Every tyrant, every persecutor of the righteous, every tempter of the Church, shall partake of the punishment of Antichrist, according to that saying, "He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked.” — Neale and Littledale (compilers), A Commentary on the Psalms from Primitive and Mediaeval Writers, volume 2 (Psalms 39–80) (part 2 of 2); scanned text. Note: The compilers read the breaking of the oppressor as the punishment of Antichrist, shared by every tyrant and persecutor, citing Isaiah 11:4. [Psalm 72:4; Isaiah 11:4]
14.84. Neale and Littledale (compilers): Spiritual Assyrians under Antichrist
“The spiritual Assyrians, under their king Antichrist, riding on the black horses of lying and the pale ones of envy, shall be cast into the deep sleep of the second death at the last day.” — Neale and Littledale (compilers), A Commentary on the Psalms from Primitive and Mediaeval Writers, volume 2 (Psalms 39–80) (part 2 of 2); scanned text. Note: A sermonic comment on Psalm 76 pictures spiritual Assyrians under their king Antichrist, riding horses of lying and envy, cast into the second death at the last day. [Psalm 76:5; Revelation 19:11]
14.85. Neale and Littledale (compilers): Judgment must come before he ravages
“Asaph, inasmuch as he had already foretold many things touching the LORD'S Incarnation, is now in the first portion about to speak of His second Advent; beseeching Him, that as His enemies are to be greatly uplifted by means of Antichrist at the end of the world, His judgment ought to come quickly, lest the prolonged licence of that most grievous foe should avail to lay the whole Church waste.” — Neale and Littledale (compilers), A Commentary on the Psalms from Primitive and Mediaeval Writers, volume 3 (Psalms 81–118) (part 1 of 2); scanned text. Note: An unnamed ancient argument for Psalm 83 says that, as God's enemies will be greatly uplifted through Antichrist at the end, Christ's judgment ought to come quickly lest his prolonged licence lay the Church waste. [Psalm 83:1]