FOR FAIR USE EDUCATION AND DISCUSSION PURPOSES

Link of article or video :
http://www.textexcavation.com/irenaeusah.html


Hello all,

In my last post about Abraham’s seed, I quoted from the 5th book in a series of 5 books entitled “Against Heresies”. These books were written in the 2nd century AD by a man named Irenaeus. He lived from 130-200 AD. He was a disciple of Polycarp, who himself was a disciple of John the Evangelist.

In this portion of book 5, Irenaeus speaks about the Antichrist, and the number of his name. I find it very interesting how the early church viewed the son of perdition that was to come. What is most fascinating is how the number 666 is tied in with Noah’s age right before the Flood, and the measurements of the image which was set up by Nebuchadnezzar.

Also, it is pointed out that the Antichrist must come from the tribe of Dan. I will look more into the tribe of Dan, as this is new information to me, and there may be some inferences to be drawn and gained from this.

################################

Book 5
Chapter 29: 2

2. 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, due to the apostasy of the angels.

For Noah was six hundred years old when the deluge came upon the earth, sweeping away the rebellious world, for the sake of that most infamous generation which lived in the times of Noah. And [Antichrist] also sums up every error of devised idols since the flood, together with the slaying of the prophets and the cutting off of the just.

For that image which was set up by Nebuchadnezzar had indeed a height of sixty cubits, while the breadth was six cubits; on account of which Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, when they did not worship it, were cast into a furnace of fire, pointing out prophetically, by what happened to them, the wrath against the righteous which shall arise towards the [time of the] end.

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, in whose time the deluge occurred because of the apostasy, 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, and unrighteousness, and wickedness, and false prophecy, and deception; for which things' sake a cataclysm of fire shall also come [upon the earth].

Chapter 30: 1,2,4

1.[406-407] Such, then, being the state of the case, and 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]; 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 recapitulation 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).

2. 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 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." 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." This, too, is the reason that this tribe is not reckoned in the Apocalypse along with those which are saved.


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," 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."

############################

Please note in the last paragraph about the Antichrist devastating all things, will end with the Lord coming from heaven, and sending the Antichrist and his followers right to the Lake of Fire!! This tells me a great deal as there seems to be no future millennium where Satan is bound, and then the judgment. On the contrary, the judgment happens right at the Second Coming! Thus the New Heaven and the New Earth.

Also, there is no mention of a pretribulation rapture before the Antichrist devastates the earth. If either of these things were true, don’t you think they would be mentioned? Just a thought.

I encourage anyone who is interested to read any or all of the books written by this early church father, and glean for yourself some very interesting and enlightening facts about our true heritage as Christians, and see how many aspects of what we have been taught have been changed or not mentioned at all. We live in age where knowledge is available, and we should take advantage of that.

May the Lord bless us all with His Truth,

JESUS IS ALL AND EVERYTHING!!

Patti C.