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The Sixteen Questions

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The Sixteen Questions

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7. How long will he reign, and when does it start?

“A time, times and half a time” (Daniel 7:25), forty-two months, 1,260 days: nearly every Father who writes on Antichrist takes these as roughly three and a half years. On when it will happen, they split. Many said the end was near, from Barnabas to Cyprian to Gregory the Great; most of those who said so were exhorting people to be ready, and some did publish chronologies. But from Hippolytus’s own advice not to anticipate God’s counsel, to Jerome and Augustine laughing at the calculators, the weight of the tradition is against date-setting. Several of the early chronologies were falsified by the passing of the date, and later writers say so.

In this chapter

This question draws on 204 quotations from 54 voices. 39 of them are printed in full below, at the end of the chapter, because their main concern is this question; the other 165 belong chiefly to other questions and are listed here by number.

Three and a half years, with variations (Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Cyril of Jerusalem, Augustine, Bede)

Irenaeus reads the time, times and half a time as three years and six months, during which he reigns over the earth and wears out the saints. Hippolytus gives the same, equal to Daniel’s 1,290 days. Cyril, Augustine and Bede repeat it, and Bede says the days are shortened for the elect’s sake. Smaller variations survive: the apocryphal Revelation of John has three years, and Solomon of Basra says two and a half by one tradition and three and a half by others.

A final week of seven years, in two halves (Hippolytus, Victorinus, Pseudo-Hippolytus, Commodian)

A group of writers set the three and a half years inside a last “week” of seven. Hippolytus puts Daniel’s final week at the end of the world, with Enoch and Elijah preaching in its first half and Antichrist reigning in the second. Victorinus has the witnesses preach three and a half years and Antichrist’s kingdom last another three and a half, a total of seven. Pseudo-Hippolytus agrees. Commodian divides the seven years between Elijah and Nero.

Six thousand years of history (Barnabas, Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Lactantius, Commodian, Victorinus)

From the Epistle of Barnabas onward, creation’s six days are read as six thousand years of history to be followed by a seventh thousand of rest. Irenaeus says the present age ends at the sixth millennium. Hippolytus dates Christ’s birth to the year 5500 and counts 500 years more, which would place the end about the year AD 500. Lactantius says the six-thousandth year is not yet complete. A Syriac letter of about AD 500 still defends the view that the world ends at 6,000 years.

Calculations rebuked (Hippolytus, Cyril, Jerome, Augustine, Bede, Gennadius)

The rebuke appears early and often. Hippolytus tells believers not to anticipate God’s counsel but to be patient and pray. Cyril forbids curiosity about the time while telling believers not to slumber. Jerome records that the chronographer Judas wrongly predicted Antichrist’s advent about AD 202 and was proved wrong. Augustine rebukes a correspondent who allows that the year cannot be known but supposes the decade might be, and the “six-thousand-year computations” as well. Bede rejects those who calculate the year, day and hour, and Gennadius notes that a Syriac chronicle silenced idle guessing about Antichrist’s advent.

“The time is near”: pastoral warning in every age (Tertullian, Cyprian, Basil, Jerome, Gregory the Great)

Many generations of Fathers said Antichrist was near. Tertullian says he is now close at hand and hungry for Christians’ blood. Cyprian says the hateful time of Antichrist is beginning, and writes to prepare his people for martyrdom. Basil allows that the troubles may be the approach of the apostasy. Jerome says the one who letteth is taken out of the way. Gregory the Great says many of the predicted signs are already fulfilled. Neale and Littledale note, with some candour, that each age from Augustine’s onward has thought it was near the end.

Disasters are not the end (Joshua the Stylite, Samuel of Kalamoun, Augustine)

During the plague, war and Persian invasion of AD 502–503, Joshua the Stylite argued from 2 Thessalonians that the end cannot come before the false Christ, and concluded that the calamities were God’s chastisement for sin and not a proof that the last time had come. Samuel of Kalamoun says no one knows the dates and that repentance and keeping the canons could spare Christians the Ishmaelite oppression. Augustine says John’s “last hour” is a long one.

The thousand years and the 1,260 days read as the Church age (Victorinus, Methodius, Hippolytus, Bede)

A reading that starts early and grows treats Revelation’s numbers as stages of the Church’s life. Victorinus takes the thousand years of Satan’s binding as the present age from Christ’s first coming and rejects an earthly millennium as Cerinthian. Hippolytus, as Bar Salibi reports him, reads the thousand years as one perfect day. Methodius spiritualises the 1,260 days as perfect knowledge of the Trinity; Bede reads them as the whole Christian era.

The Scripture behind it

The Scripture on which the Fathers drew for this question is set out here in the King James text.

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 seventy weeks (Dan 9:24–27)

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. [Daniel 9:24-27]

The time of trouble and the days (Dan 12:1–13)

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. And I heard, but I understood … [Daniel 12:1-13]

The two witnesses and the beast from the pit (Rev 11:1–13)

And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in … [Revelation 11:1-13]

The woman, the dragon and the wilderness (Rev 12:1–17)

And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser … [Revelation 12:1-17]

The beast and his number (Rev 13:1–18)

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the … [Revelation 13:1-18]

Take heed that no man deceive you (Matt 24:4–14)

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. [Matthew 24:4-14]

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]

Scoffers in the last days (2 Pet 3:3–10)

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. [2 Peter 3:3-10]

Also relevant: quotations printed under other questions

Epistle of Barnabas, The Son ends the lawless one's time (14.1); Epistle of Barnabas, The final stumbling block is near (15.2); Ascension of Isaiah, 1,332 days, then the Lord comes (14.2); Justin Martyr, John foretold the thousand years (14.5); Tatian, Unclean sign of desolation in the pure place (6.2); Irenaeus of Lyons, Little horn among ten kings (5.4); Irenaeus of Lyons, Sacrifice taken away in half-week (6.4); Irenaeus of Lyons, Beast like leopard, bear, lion (5.8); Irenaeus of Lyons, 666 sums up the apostasy (8.1); Irenaeus of Lyons, Reign, then fire, then kingdom (6.5); Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, In last times they cleave to Beliar (11.9); Irenaeus of Lyons, Irenaeus: the name is not declared now (8.14); Clement of Alexandria, Daniel's week fulfilled under Nero (6.6); Tertullian, 'Antichrist now close at hand' (15.8); Tertullian, Hasten the kingdom, not delay it (15.10); Hippolytus of Rome, Satan loosed, Gog and Magog (14.13); Hippolytus of Rome, Thousand years = one perfect day (14.14); Hippolytus of Rome, Not fulfilled by AD 70 (5.10); Hippolytus of Rome, Preach 1260 days (9.7); Hippolytus of Rome, Sixty-nine weeks done; final week (6.10); Hippolytus of Rome, Two abominations: Antiochus and Antichrist (6.12); Hippolytus of Rome, Proclaimed king; 1290 and 1335 days (2.8); Hippolytus of Rome, Time, times, half-time: 3.5 years (11.13); Hippolytus of Rome, End about 500 years after Christ (15.11); Hippolytus of Rome, Fourth beast reigns 500 years (5.13); Hippolytus of Rome, Do not anticipate; patience and prayer (5.14); Hippolytus of Rome, Last week: Enoch and Elijah preach (6.13); Hippolytus of Rome, Beast kills the two witnesses (9.9); Hippolytus of Rome, Church flees 1260 days (11.15); Hippolytus of Rome, 1290 days; blessed who waits (6.15); Hippolytus of Rome, Then Christ's coming and judgment (14.17); Hippolytus of Rome, Programme of the treatise (8.21); Hippolytus of Rome, Thousand years as one perfect day (14.19); Hippolytus of Rome, Sacrifice that ceases is prayer (6.17); Hippolytus of Rome, Enoch and Elijah against Antichrist (9.10); Commodian, Nero raised; Elijah half, Nero half (9.12); Commodian, Six thousand years; Antichrist conquered (14.22); Commodian, Nero raised from hell, Elias first (9.14); Commodian, Seven years: Elias half, Nero half (9.15); Commodian, Antichrist's nobles serve the saints (14.25); Origen of Alexandria, Store up manna before the famine (15.13); Origen of Alexandria, Paul speaks of Antichrist with reserve (4.10); Cyprian of Carthage, The time of Antichrist draws near (15.15); Cyprian of Carthage, Antichrist is near: prepare for martyrdom (15.19); Cyprian of Carthage, World failing, Antichrist drawing near (11.20); Cyprian of Carthage, Heresies grow as the world declines (11.25); Cyprian of Carthage, Hateful time of Antichrist beginning (15.20); Dionysius of Alexandria, Dionysius contests an earthly kingdom (14.27); Victorinus of Pettau, Apocalypse recapitulates; Babylon is Rome (5.23); Victorinus of Pettau, Preaching 3.5 years, his reign 3.5 (6.25); Victorinus of Pettau, 144,000 believe through Elijah (9.18); Victorinus of Pettau, Seven kings counted to Domitian (5.25); Victorinus of Pettau, Satan bound from the first advent (14.30); Victorinus of Pettau, Little season = 3.5 years (14.31); Victorinus of Pettau, Rejects an earthly millennium (11.27); Victorinus of Pettau, Seventh millennium: Christ reigns (14.32); Methodius of Olympus, Midnight is the kingdom of Antichrist (15.22); Methodius of Olympus, The woman in the wilderness is the Church (13.12); Methodius of Olympus, 1,260 days as knowledge of the Trinity (13.13); Pseudo-Clement, The false precedes the true (3.21); Lactantius, Six ages, then a thousand-year Sabbath (14.33); Lactantius, Mark; burning; 42 months (8.25); Lactantius, The end is drawing near (15.23); Lactantius, While Rome stands, pray for delay (4.15); Eusebius of Caesarea, Abomination of desolation began at the Passion (6.29); Eusebius of Caesarea, Abomination remains until the end (6.30); Aphrahat, Little horn is Antiochus, already past (5.28); Aphrahat, Little horn read as Antiochus (5.29); Descent into Hell (Latin, first version), Enoch and Elias reserved to oppose him (9.20); Pseudo-Hippolytus, Enoch, Elijah and John the Divine (9.23); Pseudo-Hippolytus, Week of seven years; prophets first (9.24); Pseudo-Hippolytus, Builds the temple, then blasphemes (6.32); Pseudo-Hippolytus, Reigns 3.5 years (14.35); Pseudo-Hippolytus, Days shortened for the remnant (14.36); Pseudo-Hippolytus, Take heed: end not yet (15.30); Revelation of John (apocryphal), Three years; Enoch and Elias killed (9.27); Athanasius of Alexandria, Ignorance of the day protects (3.37); Basil of Caesarea, Perhaps the approach of Antichrist (11.45); Apostolic Constitutions, Heretics multiply as the end nears (11.47); Ambrosiaster, Final persecution from Antichrist (15.33); Cyril of Jerusalem, Eleventh king, three-and-a-half years (5.31); Cyril of Jerusalem, Three and a half years (15.34); Cyril of Jerusalem, No curiosity about the time (15.36); Cyril of Jerusalem, Gospel preached to all the world (4.18); Tyconius, Tyconius: plagues as power to persecute (11.51); Ambrose of Milan, Man of sin as synagogue's leaves (16.17); John Chrysostom, Short tribulation of Antichrist's times (14.44); John Chrysostom, Abomination as a Roman statue (6.39); John Chrysostom, Antichrist is the sign (15.37); John Chrysostom, Antichrist's tribulation is short (14.47); Jerome, Descendants may fall to Antichrist (15.40); Jerome, 'He that letteth' removed (4.22); Jerome, Rome fights for bare life (4.23); Jerome, Judas's date-setting convicted of error (15.41); Palladius of Galatia, Antichrist's day overtakes (15.42); Palladius of Galatia, Is the falling away beginning? (11.63); Palladius of Galatia, Antichrist's days may surprise (15.43); Sulpicius Severus, Last persecution: Antichrist's (14.51); Augustine of Hippo, Jews first to receive him (16.26); Augustine of Hippo, Rebukes date-setting (15.44); Augustine of Hippo, Three persecutions; the third by Antichrist (12.44); Augustine of Hippo, Six-thousand-year computations rebuked (15.45); Augustine of Hippo, The 'last hour' is long (15.46); Augustine of Hippo, Antichrist's persecution as the eleventh (12.45); Augustine of Hippo, Christ slays him; no date-setting (14.54); Augustine of Hippo, Daniel's fourth beast's king; 3.5 years (5.34); Augustine of Hippo, Ten kings may be symbolic (5.36); John Cassian, Abomination in the Church (6.47); Gennadius of Massilia, Chronicle silences guesses about Antichrist's advent (15.50); Joshua the Stylite, End not before the false Christ (15.51); Joshua the Stylite, Disasters are chastisement, not the end (11.79); Cave of Treasures, Elijah from Paradise (9.37); Gregory of Tours, Circumcision, then his statue in the Jerusalem temple (6.49); Gregory the Great, Signs fulfilled; the end near (11.81); Gregory the Great, Converted Jews persecuted in his time (9.40); Gregory the Great, Jewish believers persecuted by unbelieving Jews (16.34); Gregory the Great, Flatterer first, then persecutor (2.39); Gregory the Great, Antichrist near: let him find nothing of his in titles (15.56); Coptic Martyrdoms and Lives, Roman Empire's end, then Antichrist (4.28); Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun, Dates unknown; repentance spares (15.57); Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun, 40 years' peace, Ethiopian union (5.44); Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun, Greek king ends; false Messiah (6.51); Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel, Roman king crushes Ishmael (5.47); Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel, Gog and Magog arise (2.43); Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel, Nineteen Ishmaelite kings (5.49); Bede, Heretics announce 'the time is near' (12.51); Bede, The eleventh hour is the last age (12.53); Bede, Heretics and bad Catholics as antichrists (11.89); Bede, Enoch and Elijah convert many Jews (9.44); Bede, Two great persecutions: Rome, then Antichrist (5.50); Bede, Sabbath rest after Antichrist's destruction (14.69); Bede, Enoch returns with Elijah (9.45); Bede, Date-setters and false Christs rejected (15.58); Bede, Restrained until released at the end (4.29); Bede, Court outside the temple; body of the wicked already at work (6.54); Bede, The two witnesses as Enoch and Elijah (6.55); Bede, Daniel: abomination in the temple, 1290 days (6.56); Bede, 1260 days = the whole Christian era (4.30); Bede, Two phases: hidden, then open (3.59); Bede, Seventh king: kingdom of Antichrist (5.51); Bede, The 'thousand years' as the remainder of the sixth day (4.31); Bede, Jews humbled; some convert through Elijah (9.47); Bede, Four kingdoms precede Antichrist's kingdom (5.52); Bede, 45 days after Antichrist's death (Jerome) (14.71); Severus of al-Ashmunein, Judas computes Antichrist's date (15.61); Theophylact, Christ comes right after (14.73); Dionysius bar Salibi, Editor: public prayer suppressed (15.64); Solomon of Basra, Ishmaelites come in last millennium (5.54); Solomon of Basra, Arabia and Hebron laid waste (14.75); Solomon of Basra, The 'last peace' (14.76); Solomon of Basra, Alexander's nations released (14.77); Solomon of Basra, Gog and Magog burst out (2.52); Solomon of Basra, Born where Christ's woes fell (2.53); Solomon of Basra, Rule ends, providence withdrawn (4.33); Durandus, Gentiles and Jews one before him (9.56); Kebra Nagast, Ethiopia orthodox till the end (15.67); Kebra Nagast, Kingdom of Christ until False Messiah (16.51); Neale and Littledale (compilers), Elect kept in Antichrist's time (15.68); Neale and Littledale (compilers), Every age thinks it near the end (11.103); Neale and Littledale (compilers), Church's seven ages to Antichrist (11.104); Neale and Littledale (compilers), Four stages until Antichrist (5.58); Neale and Littledale (compilers), Judgment must come before he ravages (14.85); Neale and Littledale (compilers), Enoch and Elijah die in his days (9.61); Neale and Littledale (compilers), Church reduced to few in his days (11.105); Neale and Littledale (compilers), Great destroying of God's law (11.106).

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.

7.1. Epistle of Barnabas: Six thousand years of history

“the Lord will bring everything to completion in six thousand years, for a day with him means a thousand years.” — Epistle of Barnabas, The Epistle of Barnabas. Note: Creation's six days signify six thousand years of history before the end. [Psalm 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8]

7.2. Justin Martyr: Daniel's blasphemer already at the door

“The times are being fulfilled, and the one who will speak blasphemous and daring things against the Most High is already at the doors. Daniel announces that he will hold sway for a time, and times, and half a time.” — Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho. Note: Justin says the Danielic blasphemer is already at the door and will rule for a time, times and half a time. [Daniel 7:25; Psalm 110:1]

7.3. Justin Martyr: Man of lawlessness reigns 'a time, times, half'

“For you explain “a time” as meaning a hundred years. But if that is so, the man of lawlessness must reign at the very least three hundred and fifty years, so that we can count the words of the holy Daniel, “and times,” as meaning only two times.” — Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho. Note: Justin criticises a Jewish reading of 'a time' as a hundred years, noting it would make the man of lawlessness reign at least 350 years. [Daniel 7:25; 2 Thessalonians 2:3]

7.4. Irenaeus of Lyons: Reigns three years six months

“and he shall speak words against the most high God, and wear out the saints of the most high God, and shall purpose to change times and laws; and [everything] shall be given into his hand until a time of times and a half time," that is, for three years and six months, during which time, when he comes, he shall reign over the earth.” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: A time, times and half a time means three years and six months, during which he reigns over the earth and wears out the saints. [Daniel 7:25]

7.5. Irenaeus of Lyons: Six days, six thousand years

“For in as many days as this world was made, in so many thousand years shall it be concluded. … For the day of the Lord is as a thousand years; and in six days created things were completed: it is evident, therefore, that they will come to an end at the sixth thousand year.” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: Creation's six days correspond to six thousand years, so the present age ends at the sixth millennium. [Genesis 2:1-3; Psalm 90:4]

7.6. Hippolytus of Rome: 42 months: Church persecuted

“The city is the Church ; and these months they are to persecute her and kill, when the false Christ [St. Matth. xxiv. 24] shall come, because she worships him not. Now of this said Daniel, He shall approve the covenant for many, one week; in the half of the week shall cease the sacrifice [Dan, ix. 27]. The half of the week: that is, three years and a-half; and these make the forty and two months which are mentioned.” — Hippolytus of Rome, Commentary on Revelation (quoted by reported by Dionysius bar Salibi). Note: Citing Hippolytus, Bar Salibi says the 42 months are Daniel's half-week, in which the false Christ persecutes the Church that refuses to worship him. [Revelation 11:2; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 7:8]

7.7. Hippolytus of Rome: Abomination of desolation = Antichrist

“Hence the pollution of devastations He speaks of is Antichrist. And Daniel said, [In] the half of the week standeth the abomination in the sanctuary” — Hippolytus of Rome, Commentary on Revelation (quoted by reported by Dionysius bar Salibi). Note: The abomination of desolation in Matthew 24 is Antichrist himself and not the siege of Jerusalem under Vespasian, according to Hippolytus as cited. [Matthew 24:15; Daniel 9:27; Luke 21:20]

7.8. Hippolytus of Rome: Christ born 5500; 6000 total

“For the first appearance of our Lord in the flesh took place in Bethlehem, under Augustus, in the year 5500; and He suffered in the thirty-third year. And 6, 000 years must needs be accomplished, in order that the Sabbath may come, the rest, the holy day "on which God rested from all His works." For the Sabbath is the type and emblem of the future kingdom of the saints” — Hippolytus of Rome, Fragments - Exegetical. Fragments from Commentaries on Various Books of Scripture. Note: Hippolytus dates Christ's birth to the year 5500 of the world and says 6,000 years must be completed before the Sabbath rest of the saints' kingdom. [Genesis 2:2; Psalm 90:4; Revelation 17:10]

7.9. Commodian: Immortal after six thousand years

“We shall be immortal when six thousand years are accomplished.” — Commodian, The Instructions of Commodianus in Favour of Christian Discipline. Note: Commodianus holds that immortality comes when six thousand years are complete.

7.10. Dionysius of Alexandria: Some said Cerinthus wrote the Revelation

“it is Cerinthus, the founder of the heresy that was called Cerinthian from him, and he desired to attribute his own composition to a name that would carry weight.” — Dionysius of Alexandria, Letters and Treatises (Feltoe translation). Note: Dionysius reports that some rejected the Revelation as Cerinthus's forgery to teach an earthly kingdom. [Revelation 1:1]

7.11. Dionysius of Alexandria: Inspired, but not the apostle John's

“That he was called John, therefore, and that the writing is John’s I will not dispute. For I agree that it is the work of some holy and inspired person but I should not readily assent to his being the Apostle, the son of Zebedee” — Dionysius of Alexandria, Letters and Treatises (Feltoe translation). Note: Dionysius accepts the Revelation as inspired but doubts it is by the apostle John. [Revelation 22:7]

7.12. Methodius of Olympus: Seventh thousand year: true tabernacles

“which at length, in the seventh thousand of years, resuming again immortal, we shall celebrate the great feast of true tabernacles in the new and indissoluble creation” — Methodius of Olympus, Discourse 9.-Tusiane. Note: Methodius places the resurrection feast of tabernacles in the seventh thousand of years.

7.13. Eusebius of Caesarea: Judas dated Antichrist under Severus

“another writer, Judas, discoursing about the seventy weeks in Daniel, brings down the chronology to the tenth year of the reign of Severus. He thought that the coming of Antichrist, which was much talked about, was then near.” — Eusebius of Caesarea, Church History. Note: Eusebius records Judas dating Daniel's seventy weeks to Severus's tenth year and expecting Antichrist soon, during persecution. [Daniel 9:24-27]

7.14. Lactantius: Six thousandth year not yet complete

“know that the six thousandth year is not yet completed, and that when this number is completed the consummation must take place, and the condition of human affairs be remodelled for the better” — Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Book 7. Note: Lactantius holds that the six-thousandth year of the world is not yet complete, and the consummation will come when it is. [Genesis 2:2; Psalm 90:4]

7.15. Aphrahat: The horn's war fulfilled under Antiochus

“At that time the horn made war with the saints, and their power prevailed. And the wicked Antiochus spake wards against the Most High” — Aphrahat, The Demonstrations. Note: Aphrahat says Daniel's horn making war on the saints was fulfilled in the days of the Maccabees, when Antiochus spoke words against the Most High. [Daniel 7:21]

7.16. Cyril of Jerusalem: 1290 and 1335 days

“And again in another place Daniel says the same thing, And he swear by Him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, and times, and half a time . And some peradventure have referred what follows also to this; namely, a thousand two hundred and ninety days ; and this, Blessed is he that endureth and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days” — Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures. Note: Daniel's 'time, times and half a time' and the 1290 and 1335 days are mentioned as perhaps referring to the same period, for which believers must hide and flee. [Daniel 12:7; Daniel 12:11-12]

7.17. Apocalypse of Thomas: Great signs when Antichrist draws near

“There shall be great signs and wonders in those days when Antichrist draweth near.” — Apocalypse of Thomas, The Apocalypse of Thomas, the Apocalypse of the Virgin and the Revelation of Stephen (James translation); scanned text. Note: The Apocalypse of Thomas places great cosmic signs when Antichrist draws near. [Matthew 24:29]

7.18. John Chrysostom: 1290 days applied to Antiochus

“From the time of the changing of the continuity" (that is, from the time the sacrifice was abolished) "there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days," that is, three and a half years and a little more.” — John Chrysostom, Against the Jews. Note: Chrysostom applies Daniel's 1290 days to Antiochus's abolition of the sacrifice, three and a half years and a little more; he does not mention Antichrist here. [Daniel 12:11-12]

7.19. Jerome: Conception, not birth, of Antichrist

“These all are the beginnings of sorrows, is better understood of pains of labour, as it were the conception of the coming of Antichrist, and not of the birth.” — Jerome, Catena Aurea: Commentary on St. Matthew, part 3 (chapters 22–28) (quoted by Thomas Aquinas); scanned text. Note: Jerome reads the wars and famines as labour pains marking the conception, not yet the birth, of Antichrist's coming. [Matthew 24:8]

7.20. Sulpicius Severus: Daniel foretold Antichrist's coming

“clearly set forth the future coming of Antichrist” — Sulpicius Severus, The Sacred History. Note: Sulpicius says Daniel's visions revealed the order of coming ages, the years until Christ's descent, and clearly the future coming of Antichrist, and refers readers to the book of Daniel. [Daniel 9:24-27]

7.21. Augustine of Hippo: Abraham's darkness: affliction under Antichrist

“For just as the affliction of the city of God, such as never was before, which is expected to take place under Antichrist, was signified by Abraham's horror of great darkness about the going down of the sun, that is, when the end of the world draws nigh” — Augustine of Hippo, The City of God (part 2 of 3). Note: Augustine reads Abraham's great horror of darkness at sunset as signifying the unparalleled affliction of the city of God expected under Antichrist near the end of the world. [Genesis 15:12-17]

7.22. Augustine of Hippo: Satan loosed three years six months

“But when the short time comes he shall be loosed. For he shall rage with the whole force of himself and his angels for three years and six months” — Augustine of Hippo, The City of God (part 2 of 3). Note: Augustine says that when the devil is loosed he will rage with all his force for three years and six months, and the saints will have power to withstand him. [Revelation 20:3,7]

7.23. Augustine of Hippo: Persecution of 3 years 6 months

“This last persecution by Antichrist shall last for three years and six months, as we have already said, and as is affirmed both in the book of Revelation and by Daniel the prophet.” — Augustine of Hippo, The City of God (part 2 of 3). Note: Augustine states that the last persecution by Antichrist will last three years and six months, citing Revelation and Daniel, and discusses how this fits the thousand years. [Revelation 20:3; Daniel 7:25]

7.24. Testament of Our Lord: Son of Perdition, the Adversary, foretold

“Wherefore I make known unto you exactly [what are] the things which are about to be, and when he shall arise, that Son of Perdition, the Enemy, the Adversary, and what he is like.” — Testament of Our Lord, The Testament of Our Lord (Cooper and Maclean translation); scanned text. Note: The risen Lord promises to show the apostles when the Son of Perdition, the Enemy and Adversary will arise and what he is like. [2 Thessalonians 2:3]

7.25. Syriac Miscellanies: End at 6000 years

“As to what thy fraternity wrote, that the Persian writer says, that when 6000 years are fulfilled the end of the world will take place, I wish thee to know that many other Christians since the coming of Christ have held this opinion, as their language shows.” — Syriac Miscellanies, Syriac Miscellanies. Note: A Syriac letter defends the 'Persian writer' view that the world ends at 6000 years by noting that Bardesan, Hippolytus and Mar Jacob held it too. [2 Peter 3:8]

7.26. Cave of Treasures: Gog and Magog break out

“At the end of the world and at the final consummation, when men are eating and drinking and marrying wives; and women are given to husbands; when they are planting vineyards and building buildings, and there is neither wicked man nor adversary, on account of the assured tranquillity and certain peace; suddenly the gates of the north shall be opened” — Cave of Treasures, The Book of the Cave of Treasures (Budge translation); scanned text. Note: The peoples including Gog and Magog break out suddenly at the end, in a time of security. [Revelation 20:8; Matthew 24:38]

7.27. Gregory the Great: Prosperous for a short time (Daniel 8)

“because Antichrist will go on in his craft, but his craft will be prosperous for a short space of this present life, as was said of him under the person of Antiochus by Daniel” — Gregory the Great, Morals on the Book of Job (part 4 of 5). Note: Gregory says Antichrist's craft will prosper for a short space, citing Daniel 8 on Antiochus as a figure of him. [Daniel 8:12]

7.28. Gregory the Great: Words and swords together

“What a season of persecution will that appear, then, when some rage with words, and others with swords, to pervert the piety of the faithful?” — Gregory the Great, Morals on the Book of Job (part 4 of 5). Note: Gregory describes the coming persecution as one in which some seduce with words while others, backed by worldly powers, enforce them with swords. [Job 41:14]

7.29. Gregory the Great: Persecutors will think they serve Christ

“in the time of the last persecution he studies to excite the minds of the reprobate against the life of the Elect by the flame of cruelty. Then does the deep sea boil as a pot, when he inflames with strong heat the hearts of the lovers of this world, and when those who in this time of peace kept their malice close within itself, then boil over with the heat of most savage persecutions, and with the headlong liberty of open cruelty breathe forth that hatred of ancient envy, which they had long suppressed. But because, when persuaded by deadly error they so serve Antichrist in these doings, as to imagine that they are the more truly doing service to Christ” — Gregory the Great, Morals on the Book of Job (part 4 of 5). Note: Gregory says that in the last persecution the reprobate will be inflamed against the elect, some imagining they serve Christ. [Job 41:31]

7.30. Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun: Signs before Gog and Magog

“After the forty years, here are the signs which concern the wicked king: The sources of water and the rivers will be transformed into blood … because after that, the race contained beyond the sea on the coast of the Arabs will appear, they are Hagog and Magog.” — Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun, The Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun. Note: After forty years signs of water turned to blood, speaking infants and bleeding fields precede Gog and Magog's arrival. [Revelation 16:4; Revelation 20:8]

7.31. Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel: Eleventh king: 42 months

“The eleventh of their kings will practise iniquity over all the land; he will ruin the old works. He will persecute those which are on the land, so that nobody is found who lives there or remains there. All men will groan for forty-two months.” — Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel, The Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel. Note: The eleventh Ishmaelite king persecutes everyone for forty-two months; a historical tyrant is cast in end-time colours. [Revelation 11:2; Revelation 13:5]

7.32. Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel: 18th king: 1260 days

“The eighteenth of their kings, at the beginning of his reign, will work great evils, for one thousand, two hundred and sixty days.” — Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel, The Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel. Note: The eighteenth Ishmaelite king afflicts the world for 1260 days. [Revelation 11:3]

7.33. Bede: Torments joined to miracles

“these words, In those days shall be affliction, properly agree with the times of Antichrist, when not only tortures more frequent, and more painful than before are to be heaped on the faithful, but also, what is more terrible, the working of miracles shall accompany those who inflict torments.” — Bede, Catena Aurea: Commentary on St. Mark (quoted by Thomas Aquinas); scanned text. Note: Bede applies the unequalled affliction properly to the time of Antichrist, when torments will be joined to miracle-working by the persecutors. [Mark 13:19; Daniel 12:7; Revelation 12:14]

7.34. Bede: Three and a half years

“But in proportion as this tribulation shall be greater than those which preceded, by so much shall it be shorter. For it is believed, that during three years and a half, as far as may be conjectured from the prophecy of Daniel and the Revelations of John, the Church is to be attacked.” — Bede, Catena Aurea: Commentary on St. Mark (quoted by Thomas Aquinas); scanned text. Note: Bede says it is believed, from Daniel and Revelation, that the Church will be assailed for three and a half years, and that the severity is matched by brevity. [Daniel 12:7; Revelation 11:2; Revelation 12:6]

7.35. Bede: Torments accompanied by miracles

“These words properly fit the times of the Antichrist, when not only will there be torments more frequent than they used to be, inflicted upon the faithful, but (what is worse) the operation of signs will also accompany those who inflict the torments” — Bede, Commentary on Mark. Note: Bede says the unmatched tribulation fits Antichrist's time, when torments will be joined by working of signs, so that the persecutor both rages and provokes belief in Antichrist by miracles. [Mark 13:19; 2 Thessalonians 2:9]

7.36. Bede: Days shortened to about 3.5 years

“For it is believed that for three and a half years, as can be conjectured from the prophecy of Daniel and the Revelation of St. John, it will wage war against the Church throughout the world.” — Bede, Commentary on Mark. Note: Bede says the days are shortened for the elect's sake, and that the tribulation is believed to last three and a half years, as can be conjectured from Daniel and Revelation. [Mark 13:20-22]

7.37. Bede: Sixth seal: final persecution

“With the opening of the sixth seal, the final persecution is announced, and just as the world was shaken with darkness and fear when the Lord was crucified on the sixth day, it will be so again.” — Bede, Commentary on Revelation. Note: Bede says the opening of the sixth seal announces the final persecution, shaking the world as at the Lord's crucifixion on the sixth day. [Revelation 6:11-12]

7.38. Theophylact: 'Then' means Antichrist's time

“So also here, then may be taken to mean not when Jerusalem shall be made desolate, but about the time of the coming of Antichrist.” — Theophylact, Catena Aurea: Commentary on St. Mark (quoted by Thomas Aquinas); scanned text. Note: Theophylact says the Lord's 'then' is indefinite and leaps from Jerusalem's fall to the later time of Antichrist's coming. [Mark 13:21-22; Matthew 24:23]

7.39. Solomon of Basra: 2.5 or 3.5 years

“The time of the error of the Antichrist will last two years and a half, but others say three years and six months.” — Solomon of Basra, The Book of the Bee (Budge translation); scanned text. Note: His deception lasts two and a half years by one tradition, three and a half by others. [Daniel 7:25; Revelation 12:14]

8. What is the number of the beast, and what is his name?

The most striking thing about the early Fathers on 666 is their restraint. Irenaeus, who studied under men who had known John’s own disciples, knows the reading 666, defends it against the variant 616, and offers solutions he calls probable. But he refuses to assert a name, says that if the name had needed to be known John would have given it, and warns that the person who fixes on a wrong name will be an easy prey for the real one. Hippolytus and Victorinus do the same: they list names that add up and decline to claim any. The Fathers read 666 as a sum, a test of worship and a warning, not as a puzzle to be solved by a date.

In this chapter

This question draws on 32 quotations from 9 voices. 32 of them are printed in full below, at the end of the chapter, because their main concern is this question; the other 0 belong chiefly to other questions and are listed here by number.

Do not guess; wait (Irenaeus, Hippolytus)

Irenaeus says it is safer to wait for the prophecy to be fulfilled than to guess, since many names fit the number. He adds that anyone who fixes on a wrong name risks accepting the real Antichrist, because he will not match the expectation. He refuses to name him, and says the number is given so believers may avoid him when he appears, while the name is withheld as unworthy of the Spirit’s proclamation. Hippolytus says the name is only conjectural now and will be clear when Antichrist appears; believers must be prepared rather than deceived.

The guesses they did make (Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Victorinus, Bede)

Irenaeus finds Lateinos “very probable” because the Latins now rule, and Teitan credible. Hippolytus offers Titan, Evanthas and Latinus, and will not assert any. Victorinus offers Teitan (the sun) and Diclux as an antiphrase, with Antemos and a Gothic-sounding name in a Greek manuscript; Bede repeats Titan and mentions Primasius’s alternatives. None of them stakes anything on a choice.

A number that sums up the apostasy (Irenaeus, Neale and Littledale)

Irenaeus reads 666 as the summing-up of the whole apostasy of six thousand years and says the beast recapitulates all iniquity. He finds a foreshadowing in Nebuchadnezzar’s image, sixty cubits by six. The compilers Neale and Littledale, later, call 666 the culmination of temptation, since six is the number of temptation.

666 or 616? the manuscripts (Irenaeus)

Irenaeus knows the variant 616, which modern editions have found in early manuscripts, and blames copyists’ error. He defends 666 as the reading found in the best ancient copies and confirmed by those who had seen John face to face. Eusebius preserves the argument.

The mark: a test of worship (Hippolytus, Lactantius, Pseudo-Hippolytus)

In the Fathers the mark is a test of loyalty, not a technology. Hippolytus: Antichrist will require incense-altars everywhere so that no saint can buy or sell without sacrificing. Lactantius: those who refuse flee to the mountains or are tortured, even burned wrapped in the books of the prophets. The pseudo-Hippolytan sermon has the mark prevent making the sign of the cross and tentatively reads 666 as the word “I deny”, given in the formula of apostasy.

Later applications (Samuel of Kalamoun, Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel, Bede)

Medieval Copts applied the number to the rulers they knew: Samuel of Kalamoun says the last Arab ruler has a name that totals 666, and the Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel gives it to its seventeenth and nineteenth Ishmaelite kings. Bede, by contrast, says the number is a man’s number, so that Antichrist is not the devil or a demon but a man in whom Satan will dwell bodily.

The Scripture behind it

The Scripture on which the Fathers drew for this question is set out here in the King James text.

The beast and his number (Rev 13:1–18)

The woman on the scarlet beast (Rev 17:1–18)

And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the … [Revelation 17:1-18]

The image and the four kingdoms (Dan 2:31–45)

Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all … [Daniel 2:31-45]

The sealed tribes (Rev 7:4–8)

And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. [Revelation 7:4-8]

The quotations

8.1. Irenaeus of Lyons: 666 sums up the apostasy

“and the number is six hundred and sixty-six," that is, six times a hundred, six times ten, and six units. [He gives this] as a summing up of the whole of that apostasy which has taken place during six thousand years.” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: 666 is the summing-up of the entire apostasy of six thousand years. [Revelation 13:16-18]

8.2. Irenaeus of Lyons: Recapitulation of all wickedness

“And there is therefore in this beast, when he comes, a recapitulation made of all sorts of iniquity and of every deceit, in order that all apostate power, flowing into and being shut up in him, may be sent into the furnace of fire. Fittingly, therefore, shall his name possess the number six hundred and sixty-six, since he sums up in his own person all the commixture of wickedness which took place previous to the deluge” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: The beast recapitulates all iniquity so that apostate power can be consigned to fire together; his number 666 reflects the wickedness gathered since before the deluge. [Revelation 13:18; Genesis 7:6; Daniel 3:1]

8.3. Irenaeus of Lyons: Nebuchadnezzar's image foreshadows him

“For that image, taken as a whole, was a prefiguring of this man's coming, decreeing that he should undoubtedly himself alone be worshipped by all men. Thus, then, the six hundred years of Noah … and the number of the cubits of the image for which these just men were sent into the fiery furnace, do indicate the number of the name of that man in whom is concentrated the whole apostasy of six thousand years” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: Nebuchadnezzar's image (60 by 6 cubits) and Noah's 600 years foreshadow the number of Antichrist, who demands to be the only one worshipped. [Daniel 3:1-23; Genesis 7:6]

8.4. Irenaeus of Lyons: 666 attested by eyewitnesses

“this number being found in all the most approved and ancient copies [of the Apocalypse], and those men who saw John face to face bearing their testimony [to it]” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: Irenaeus defends 666 as the reading found in the best ancient copies and attested by those who had seen John face to face. [Revelation 13:18]

8.5. Irenaeus of Lyons: Rejects 616 as copyist error

“I do not know how it is that some have erred following the ordinary mode of speech, and have vitiated the middle number in the name, deducting the amount of fifty from it, so that instead of six decads they will have it that there is but one. [I am inclined to think that this occurred through the fault of the copyists” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: Irenaeus knows the variant 616 and blames copyists' error for it. [Revelation 13:18]

8.6. Irenaeus of Lyons: Warning against vain name-guessing

“But as for those who, for the sake of vainglory, lay it down for certain that names containing the spurious number are to be accepted, and affirm that this name, hit upon by themselves, is that of him who is to come; such persons shall not come forth without loss, because they have led into error both themselves and those who confided in them.” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: Those who confidently assert a name for Antichrist from the wrong number mislead themselves and others. [Revelation 22:18-19]

8.7. Irenaeus of Lyons: Wrong guess makes one easy prey

“Moreover, another danger, by no means trifling, shall overtake those who falsely presume that they know the name of Antichrist. For if these men assume one [number], when this [Antichrist] shall come having another, they will be easily led away by him, as supposing him not to be the expected one, who must be guarded against.” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: Whoever fixes on a wrong name risks accepting the real Antichrist, because he will not match the expectation. [Revelation 13:18]

8.8. Irenaeus of Lyons: Wait for the ten kings first

“let them await, in the first place, the division of the kingdom into ten; then, in the next place, when these kings are reigning, and beginning to set their affairs in order, and advance their kingdom, [let them learn] to acknowledge that he who shall come claiming the kingdom for himself, and shall terrify those men of whom we have been speaking, having a name containing the aforesaid number, is truly the abomination of desolation.” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: Believers should wait for the ten-fold division of the kingdom; the one then claiming the kingdom with a name of that number is the abomination of desolation. [Revelation 13:18; Daniel 7:24]

8.9. Irenaeus of Lyons: Wait rather than guess

“It is therefore more certain, and less hazardous, to await the fulfilment of the prophecy, than to be making surmises, and casting about for any names that may present themselves, inasmuch as many names can be found possessing the number mentioned; and the same question will, after all, remain unsolved.” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: Waiting for the prophecy's fulfilment is safer than guessing, since many names fit the number. [Revelation 13:18]

8.10. Irenaeus of Lyons: Lateinos: probable but not certain

“Then also Lateinos (Lateinos) has the number six hundred and sixty-six; and it is a very probable [solution], this being the name of the last kingdom [of the four seen by Daniel]. For the Latins are they who at present bear rule: I will not, however, make any boast over this [coincidence]. Teitan too” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: Irenaeus calls Lateinos a very probable solution since the Latins now rule, but declines to boast of it; he also considers Teitan. [Revelation 13:18]

8.11. Irenaeus of Lyons: Teitan fits the number

“Teitan too, (Teitan, the first syllable being written with the two Greek vowels e and i), among all the names which are found among us, is rather worthy of credit. For it has in itself the predicted number, and is composed of six letters, each syllable containing three letters” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: Teitan is another name equal to 666, six letters in two three-letter syllables, which Irenaeus finds credible. [Revelation 13:18]

8.12. Irenaeus of Lyons: Declines to name him

“We will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision. For that was seen no very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of Domitian's reign.” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: Irenaeus refuses to state the name positively; had it needed to be known now, John would have revealed it, since the vision was seen near the end of Domitian's reign. [Revelation 13:18]

8.13. Irenaeus of Lyons: Number given, name withheld

“But he indicates the number of the name now, that when this man comes we may avoid him, being aware who he is: the name, however, is suppressed, because it is not worthy of being proclaimed by the Holy Spirit.” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: The number is given so believers may avoid him when he appears, while his name is withheld as unworthy of the Spirit's proclamation. [Revelation 13:18; Revelation 17:8]

8.14. Irenaeus of Lyons: Irenaeus: the name is not declared now

“Irenaeus, in the fifth book of his work Against Heresies, where he discusses the number of the name of Antichrist which is given in the so-called Apocalypse of John, speaks as follows concerning him: "If it were necessary for his name to be proclaimed openly at the present time, it would have been declared by him who saw the revelation.” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Church History (quoted by Eusebius of Caesarea). Note: Eusebius reports Irenaeus: Antichrist's name is not openly declared, since the Revelation was seen near the end of Domitian's reign. [Revelation 13:18]

8.15. Irenaeus of Lyons: Irenaeus defends the number 666

“As these things are so, and this number is found in all the approved and ancient copies, and those who saw John face to face confirm it, and reason teaches us that the number of the name of the beast, according to the mode of calculation among the Greeks, appears in its letters.” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Church History (quoted by Eusebius of Caesarea). Note: Eusebius quotes Irenaeus defending the number of the beast as found in the ancient copies and confirmed by eyewitnesses of John. [Revelation 13:18]

8.16. Irenaeus of Lyons: Irenaeus refuses to name him

“We are not bold enough to speak confidently of the name of Antichrist. For if it were necessary that his name should be declared clearly at the present time, it would have been announced by him who saw the revelation.” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Church History (quoted by Eusebius of Caesarea). Note: Irenaeus, quoted by Eusebius, declines to speak confidently of Antichrist's name. [Revelation 13:18]

8.17. Hippolytus of Rome: Mark = compulsory sacrifice

“For, being full of guile, and exalting himself against the servants of God, with the wish to afflict them and persecute them out of the world, because they give not glory to him, he will order incense-pans to be set up by all everywhere, that no man among the saints may be able to buy or sell without first sacrificing; for this is what is meant by the mark received upon the right hand.” — Hippolytus of Rome, On Christ and Antichrist. Note: Antichrist will require incense-altars everywhere so that no saint can buy or sell without sacrificing; this is the mark on the right hand. [Revelation 13:16-17]

8.18. Hippolytus of Rome: Name only conjectural

“With respect to his name, it is not in our power to explain it exactly, as the blessed John understood it and was instructed about it, but only to give a conjectural account of it; for when he appears, the blessed one will show us what we seek to know.” — Hippolytus of Rome, On Christ and Antichrist. Note: Hippolytus admits the name cannot be explained exactly now; it will become clear when Antichrist appears. [Revelation 13:18]

8.19. Hippolytus of Rome: Titan, Evanthas or Latinus

“Many names indeed we find, the letters of which are the equivalent of this number: such as, for instance, the word Titan, an ancient and notable name; or Evanthas, for it too makes up the same number; and many others which might be found. … it is manifest to all that those who at present still hold the power are Latins. If, then, we take the name as the name of a single man, it becomes Latinus.” — Hippolytus of Rome, On Christ and Antichrist. Note: Titan and Evanthas also total 666, but since the Latins hold power the name of a single man would be Latinus; Hippolytus will not assert it as certain. [Revelation 13:18]

8.20. Hippolytus of Rome: Be prepared, not deceived

“Wherefore we ought neither to give it out as if this were certainly his name, nor again ignore the fact that he may not be otherwise designated. But having the mystery of God in our heart, we ought in fear to keep faithfully what has been told us by the blessed prophets, in order that when those things come to pass, we may be prepared for them, and not deceived.” — Hippolytus of Rome, On Christ and Antichrist. Note: Believers should not assert a certain name, but guard the prophets' teaching in fear so as to be prepared and not deceived. [Revelation 13:18]

8.21. Hippolytus of Rome: Programme of the treatise

“find out from them what, and of what manner, the coming of Antichrist is; on what occasion and at what time that impious one shall be revealed; and whence and from what tribe (he shall come); and what his name is, which is indicated by the number in the Scripture; and how he shall work error among the people, gathering them from the ends of the earth; and (how) he shall stir up tribulation and persecution against the saints; and how he shall glorify himself as God; and what his end shall be” — Hippolytus of Rome, On Christ and Antichrist. Note: Hippolytus states his programme: Antichrist's coming, time, tribe, name and number, deception, persecution, self-deification and end are to be drawn from Scripture.

8.22. Victorinus of Pettau: Teitan and Diclux (by antiphrase)

“For teitanhas this number, which the Gentiles call Sol and Phoebus … which name if you wish to turn into Latin, it is understood by the antiphrase Diclux … by which name, expressed by anti-phrases, we understand Antichrist, who, although he be cut off from the supernal light, and deprived thereof, yet transforms himself into an angel of light, daring to call himself light.” — Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John. Note: Victorinus finds Teitan (the sun) for 666 and reads the Latin Diclux as an antiphrase for one cut off from light yet posing as an angel of light. [Revelation 13:18]

8.23. Victorinus of Pettau: Antemos and Genserikos

“Moreover, we find in a certain Greek codex antemoj, which letters being reckoned up, you will find to give the number as above … Moreover, there is another name in Gothic of him, which will be evident of itself, that is, genshrikoj” — Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John. Note: He also offers Antemos from a Greek manuscript and a Gothic-sounding name Genserikos as other 666-names. [Revelation 13:18]

8.24. Victorinus of Pettau: Golden image in the Jerusalem temple

“Magicians do these things, by the aid of the apostate angels, even to this day. He shall cause also that a golden image of Antichrist shall be placed in the temple at Jerusalem, and that the apostate angel should enter, and thence utter voices and oracles. Moreover, he himself shall contrive that his servants and children should receive as a mark on their foreheads, or on their right hands, the number of his name” — Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John. Note: A golden image of Antichrist will be placed in the Jerusalem temple, indwelt by an apostate angel that speaks oracles, and his servants receive the mark of his name's number. [Revelation 13:13-17; Daniel 11:45]

8.25. Lactantius: Mark; burning; 42 months

“As many as shall believe him and unite themselves to him, shall be marked by him as sheep; but they who shall refuse his mark will either flee to the mountains, or, being seized, will be slain with studied tortures. He will also enwrap righteous men with the books of the prophets, and thus burn them; and power will be given him to desolate the whole earth for forty-two months.” — Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Book 7. Note: Followers receive his mark; refusers flee to the mountains or are tortured, even burned wrapped in prophetic books; he rules 42 months. [Revelation 13:16-17; Revelation 13:5]

8.26. Pseudo-Hippolytus: 666 read as 'I deny'

“he will put his mark on their right hand and on their forehead, that no one may put the sign of the honourable cross upon his forehead with his right hand; but his hand is bound. … And I have an opinion as to this number, though I do not know the matter for certain; for many names have been found in this number when it is expressed in writing. Still we say that perhaps the scription of this same seal will give us the word I deny.” — Pseudo-Hippolytus, Dubious and Spurious Pieces Attributed to Hippolytus. Note: His mark prevents making the cross-sign; the author tentatively reads 666 as the word 'I deny', given in the formula of apostasy, while admitting uncertainty. [Revelation 13:16-18]

8.27. Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun: Last Arab king numbered 666

“The last of the kings of the hegira will bear the name of LASMARINI [or LASMARISU]; his name in numbers gives six hundred and sixty six; let him understand who is able to understand [lit. he who has a heart]. He will issue from two nations.” — Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun, The Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun. Note: The last Muslim ('hegira') ruler has a name that totals 666 and comes from two nations. [Revelation 13:18]

8.28. Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel: 19th king, mixed race, 666

“He will be the child of a double race, because his father is an Israelite, his mother is Roman . There will be war in Egypt and Syria for twenty one months. Their swords will fall on themselves in this war. This is the king whose name makes the number 666; he will be called by these three names: Mametios, Khalle and Sarapidos.” — Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel, The Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel. Note: The nineteenth king, of mixed Israelite and Roman parentage, bears the number 666 and three names (Mametios, Khalle, Sarapidos). [Revelation 13:18]

8.29. Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel: 17th king numbered 666

“As regards the seventeenth of their kings, a war will break out between him and his nation; it is him whose name makes the number 666.” — Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel, The Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel. Note: The seventeenth Ishmaelite king is said to bear the number 666. [Revelation 13:18]

8.30. Bede: A man in whom Satan dwells bodily

“For it is the number of a man, so that we do not think, according to some opinions, that it is either the devil or a demon, but one of the men in whom Satan will dwell bodily. For he is the man of sin, the son of perdition.” — Bede, Commentary on Revelation. Note: Bede says the number of the beast is a man's number, so that Antichrist is not the devil or a demon but a man in whom Satan will dwell bodily, the man of sin. [Revelation 13:17-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:3]

8.31. Bede: 666 as Titan; Solomon's 666 talents

“This number is said to be found among the Greeks in the name Titan, that is, giant, as follows: Τ equals 300, Ε equals 5, Ι equals 10, Τ equals 300, Α equals 1, Ν equals 50. It is thought that the Antichrist will assume this name as if he surpasses all in power, boasting that he is the one of whom it is written: He rejoiced as a giant to run his course, from one end of the heaven is his going forth, etc. (Psalm XVIII). Primasius also mentions another name that completes the same number … Moreover, the weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was six hundred sixty-six talents.” — Bede, Commentary on Revelation. Note: Bede gives Titan as a name totalling 666, mentions Primasius's alternative names, and notes that Solomon's yearly 666 talents of gold is a tribute the tyrant will presume to demand. [Revelation 13:18]

8.32. Neale and Littledale (compilers): 666 culminates temptation

“and the whole culminates in the 666, the mark of the Beast, the most fearful of the many tempters that shall ever rise up against the Church.” — 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 treat six as the number of temptation, culminating in 666, the mark of the Beast, the most fearful of the Church's tempters. [Psalm 19:7; Revelation 13:18]

The Early Church Fathers Writings - Volume 112

Volume 112 of the Early Church Fathers Writings, AD 50 – 1200: the Fathers on the Antichrist, with sixteen questions, 861 quotations and ninety-four writers, in English.

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