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| Chapter XXX.—Although certain as to the number of the name of Antichrist, yet we should come to no rash conclusions as to the name itself, because this number is capable of being fitted to many names. Reasons for this point being reserved by the Holy Spirit. Antichrist’s reign and death.
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Chapter XXX.—Although certain as to
the number of the name of Antichrist, yet we should come to no rash conclusions
as to the name itself, because this number is capable of being fitted to many
names. Reasons for this point being reserved by the Holy Spirit. Antichrist’s
reign and death.
1. Such, then, being the state of the
case, and this number being found in all the most approved and ancient
copies4700
| 4700 ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς σπουδαίοις καὶ ἀρχαίοις ἀντιγράφοις
This passage is interesting, as showing how very soon the autographs of
the New Testament must have perished, and various readings crept into the
mss. of the canonical
books. | [of the Apocalypse], and those men who saw John face
to face bearing their testimony [to it]; while reason also leads us to
conclude that the number of the name of the beast, [if reckoned]
according to the Greek mode of calculation by the [value of] the letters
contained in it, will amount to six hundred and sixty and six; that is,
the number of tens shall be equal to that of the hundreds, and the number
of hundreds equal to that of the units (for that number which [expresses]
the digit six being adhered to throughout, indicates the recapitulations
of that apostasy, taken in its full extent, which occurred at the
beginning, during the intermediate periods, and which shall take place at
the end),—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, as is wont to
happen, since numbers also are expressed by letters; so that the Greek
letter which expresses the number sixty was easily expanded into the
letter Iota of the Greeks.]4701
| 4701 That is, Ξ into ΕΙ, according to
Harvey, who considers the whole of this clause as an evident
interpolation. It does not occur in the Greek here preserved by Eusebius
(Hist. Eccl., v. 8). | Others then received this reading
without examination; some in their simplicity, and upon
their own responsibility, making use of this number expressing one decad;
while some, in their inexperience, have ventured to seek out a name which
should contain the erroneous and spurious number. Now, as regards those
who have done this in simplicity, and without evil intent, we are at
liberty to assume that pardon will be granted them by God. 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. Now, in the first place, it is
loss to wander from the truth, and to imagine that as being the case
which is not; then again, as there shall be no light punishment
[inflicted] upon him who either adds or subtracts anything from the
Scripture,4702
under that such a person
must necessarily fall. 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.
2. These men, therefore, ought to learn [what really is
the state of the case], and go back to the true number of the name, that
they be not reckoned among false prophets. But, knowing the sure number
declared by Scripture, that is, six hundred sixty and six, 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.
This, too, the apostle affirms: “When they shall say, Peace and
safety, then sudden destruction shall come upon them.”4703
And Jeremiah does not merely point out his
sudden coming, but he even indicates the tribe from which he shall come,
where he says, “We shall hear the voice of his swift horses from
Dan; the whole earth shall be moved by the voice of the neighing of his
galloping horses: he shall also come and devour the earth, and the
fulness thereof, the city also, and they that dwell therein.”4704
This, too, is the reason that this tribe is
not reckoned in the Apocalypse along with those which are saved.4705
3. 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. For if there are many names found
possessing this number, it will be asked which among them shall the
coming man bear. It is not through a want of
names containing the number of that name that I say this, but on account
of the fear of God, and zeal for the truth: for the name Evanthas
(ΕΥΑΝΘΑΣ) contains the
required number, but I make no allegation regarding it. Then also Lateinos (ΛΑΤΕΙΝΟΣ)
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:4706
| 4706 [A very pregnant passage, as
has often been noted. But let us imitate the pious reticence with which
this section concludes.] | I will not, however, make any boast
over this [coincidence]. Teitan too,
(ΤΕΙΤΑΝ, the first
syllable being written with the two Greek vowels ε and
ι, 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; and [the word itself] is ancient, and
removed from ordinary use; for among our kings we find none bearing this
name Titan, nor have any of the idols which are worshipped in public
among the Greeks and barbarians this appellation. Among many persons,
too, this name is accounted divine, so that even the sun is termed
“Titan” by those who do now possess [the rule]. This word,
too, contains a certain outward appearance of vengeance, and of one
inflicting merited punishment because he (Antichrist) pretends that he
vindicates the oppressed.4707
| 4707 Massuet here quotes Cicero and Ovid in proof of the sun
being termed Titan. The Titans waged war against the gods, to
avenge themselves upon Saturn. | And besides this, it is an
ancient name, one worthy of credit, of royal dignity, and still further,
a name belonging to a tyrant. Inasmuch, then, as this name
“Titan” has so much to recommend it, there is a strong degree
of probability, that from among the many [names suggested], we infer,
that perchance he who is to come shall be called “Titan.” 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.
4. 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. For if it had been declared by Him, he (Antichrist)
might perhaps continue for a long period. But now as “he was, and
is not, and shall ascend out of the abyss, and goes into
perdition,”4708
as one who has no
existence; so neither has his name been declared, for the name of that
which does not exist is not proclaimed. But when this Antichrist shall
have devastated all things in this world, he will reign for three years
and six months, and sit in the temple at Jerusalem; and then the Lord
will come from heaven in the clouds, in the glory of the Father, sending
this man and those who follow him into the lake of fire; but bringing in
for the righteous the times of the kingdom, that is, the rest, the
hallowed seventh day; and restoring to Abraham the promised inheritance,
in which kingdom the Lord declared, that “many coming from the east
and from the west should sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob.”4709
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