I. History of
Interpretation (see Appendix I)
A. Early Church
Fathers (See Weinrich; Aune, 753)
1. Irenaeus, Against
Heresies, 5.28.1-2; 5.29.30; 5.30.4. [2nd century]
a. The number
of the beast points to either Evanthas (EUANQAS) or Lateinos (LATEINOS), the
Latins or Romans, the fourth beast of Daniel, or τειταν.
b. The second
beast is the “armour-bearer” of the first beast, the false prophet.
c. He performs
signs by magic not divine power.
2. Hippolytus, On
the Antichrist, 49. [3rd century]
a. The beast
from the earth is the Antichrist, and the two horns are the False Prophet.
b. Like a lamb
means he makes himself like the Son of God.
c. Like a
dragon points to his deception.
3. Victorinus
of Petrovium, Commentary on the Apocalypse, 13.4-18. [3rd to 4th century]
a. The first
beast is the kingdom of the Antichrist.
b. The beast
from the land is the false prophet.
c. He sets up a
golden image in the Jerusalem temple and an apostate angel enters it and utters
oracles through it.
d. His number
is the name of a man: τειταν (Sol or Phoebus), DICLUX (cut off from light yet
makes himself appear as an angel of light), αντεμος, or γενσηρικος.
4. Tyconius, Commentary
on the Apocalypse, 13.11. [4th century]
a. The two
horns are the two testaments that belong to the true lamb.
b. He pretends
to be the Lamb in order to attack the Lamb, the body of Christ.
5. Oecumenuius,
Commentary on the Apocalypse, 13.11-13. [6th century]
a. The earth is
the source of all humankind for the Antichrist is a man.
b. He pretends
to be a lamb and a dragon, but he is neither Christ nor the Devil.
6. Andrew of
Caesarea, Commentary on the Apocalypse, 13.11-18. [6th century]
a. The dragon
is the devil, the beast from the sea is the Antichrist, and the beast from the
land is the false prophet.
b. Coming from
the land indicates his groveling manner of life.
c. He uses
sorcery to make mankind believe the first beast is God.
d. The mark on
the right hand brings an end to good works, and the mark on the forehead makes
them bold in their deception and darkness.
7. Primasius, Commentary
on the Apocalypse, 13.16. [6th century]
a. The hand
indicates works, the right hand signifies the truth.
b. The forehead
symbolizes the confession of faith.
c. Since they
are defrauded of both they are said to be marked on both.
B. Middle Ages
to Reformation
1. Middle Ages
a. St. Anselm: “Towards
the end of the world Antichrist will draw the hearts of the Jews to him by his
great generosity and sympathetic attitude so much so that they will praise him
as a demi-god;... For, the Temple which Solomon built having been destroyed, in
its place he shall restore it, he shall circumcise himself, and he shall give
forth the lie that he is the son of the omnipotent God…. Antichrist will rule
the world from Jerusalem, which he will make into a magnificent city.” (Details
Concerning the Antichrist)
b. Thomas
Aquinas: “As in Christ dwells the fullness of the Godhead so in Antichrist the
fullness of all wickedness. Not indeed in the sense that his humanity
is to be
assumed by the devil into unity of person..., but that the devil by suggestion
infuses his wickedness more copiously into him than
into all others.” (Summa
III.8.8)
2. Reformation
a. Martin Luther:
“This teaching shows forcefully that the Pope is the very Antichrist, who has
exalted himself above, and opposed himself against Christ, because he will not
permit Christians to be saved without his power, which, nevertheless, is
nothing, and is neither ordained nor commanded by God. This is, properly
speaking, to exalt himself above all that is called God…. The Pope, however,
prohibits this faith, saying that to be saved a person must obey him.” (Smalcald
Articles, II, IV, 10-12)
b. John Calvin:
“We regard the Roman Pontiff as the leader and standard-bearer of that wicked
and abominable kingdom.” (Institutes, 4.2.12)
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