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The Sixteen Questions

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The Sixteen Questions

Quotations from the early Fathers, arranged by SermonIndex

c. AD 50 – 1200

Sixteen questions that Christians asked about the Antichrist, with how the Fathers answered them and 861 of their own sentences, each word for word from a translation in this series or on the SermonIndex site.

1. Who, or what, is the Antichrist?

The word antichrist appears only in John’s letters (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7), and there it names people who deny the Son and are already in the world. The Fathers join it to Paul’s “man of sin” (2 Thessalonians 2), Daniel’s little horn and the beast of Revelation, and out of those four texts they build one figure. Most of them expect a single man near the end of the age. But from the start they also say that the type, the spirit and the forerunners are already here, and they do not agree on how much of the portrait is a person, how much a kingdom, and how much a power working inside the Church.

In this chapter

This question draws on 215 quotations from 51 voices. 20 of them are printed in full below, at the end of the chapter, because their main concern is this question; the other 195 belong chiefly to other questions and are listed here by number.

A single man, at the end (The majority answer: Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Cyril of Jerusalem, Lactantius, Chrysostom)

Five writers from five different centuries expect one man. For Irenaeus he is an apostate and robber who takes the devil’s whole power to himself. Hippolytus draws a full biography from Scripture, and Lactantius a military career. Cyril describes a sorcerer who seizes Roman power. Chrysostom says outright that the man of sin is a man and not Satan.

The devil’s instrument, not the devil (Cyril, Hippolytus, Origen, John of Damascus, Gregory the Great)

The writers who say he is human say with equal force that a greater power works in him. Cyril calls him Satan’s instrument; Hippolytus says the devil works in the false Christ; Origen calls him the son of the devil. John of Damascus is careful: his coming is not an incarnation of the devil like Christ’s, but a man who receives Satan’s energy. Gregory the Great says the devil enters a vessel of perdition who will be called Antichrist.

A pattern already seen in history (Cyprian, Aphrahat, Victorinus, Sulpicius Severus, Athanasius)

Several of the Fathers read the portrait through rulers they had lived under. Cyprian takes Antiochus as a type in which Antichrist was set forth; Aphrahat reads Daniel’s little horn as Antiochus, already past. Victorinus and the story reported by Sulpicius expect Nero to return, a belief Lactantius and Augustine reject. Athanasius, facing the Arian emperor Constantius, says the emperor fits Daniel’s description of the enemy of the saints.

Many antichrists, and one still to come (Polycarp, Origen, Jerome, Cyril of Jerusalem, Hilary)

John’s own sentence, that many antichrists have come, is taken seriously. Polycarp uses the word for anyone who denies that Christ has come in the flesh. Origen calls Antichrist one kind with many species; Jerome counts every heresiarch; Cyril says many already say they are the Christ and that the abomination of desolation is still to come. Hilary calls the Arians forerunners of the one who will speak their denial himself.

A body as well as a head (Tyconius (through Bede), Augustine, Irenaeus)

The African tradition saw more than a ruler. Tyconius, as Bede reports him, reads the beast as the devil’s whole body across the ages; Augustine takes the beast of Revelation to be the wicked city. Irenaeus’s Antichrist “recapitulates” all earlier wickedness, that is, sums it up in himself. On this view the man at the end is the full flower of something that has been growing all along.

The opposite of Christ (Origen, Chrysostom, Hippolytus)

Many describe him by contrast. Origen: as Jesus is the extreme of virtue, Antichrist is the opposite extreme of wickedness. Chrysostom: the devil’s tares follow the true sowing, false prophets after prophets, false apostles after apostles, Antichrist after Christ. The next question after this one, “How does he copy Christ?”, takes up that thought.

The Scripture behind it

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

Even now are there many antichrists (1 John 2:18–23)

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. [1 John 2:18-23]

He is antichrist that denieth (2 John 1:7–11)

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. [2 John 1:7-11]

The man of sin (2 Thess 2:1–17)

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure … [2 Thessalonians 2:1-17]

The four beasts and the little horn (Dan 7:2–8)

Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. [Daniel 7:2-8]

The fourth beast explained (Dan 7:15–28)

I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and … [Daniel 7:15-28]

The beast and 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]

Also relevant: quotations printed under other questions

Didache, The world-deceiver as a 'son of God' (3.1); Epistle of Barnabas, Ten kingdoms and a little king (5.1); Polycarp of Smyrna, Antichrist as denier of the incarnation (11.3); Ascension of Isaiah, Beliar, the angel of lawlessness (2.1); Ascension of Isaiah, Beliar descends as a lawless matricide king (2.2); Ascension of Isaiah, He persecutes the apostles' plant (15.6); Justin Martyr, The man of apostasy persecutes Christians (11.4); Justin Martyr, Daniel's fourth beast and the horn (5.3); Justin Martyr, Daniel's blasphemer already at the door (7.2); Justin Martyr, Man of lawlessness reigns 'a time, times, half' (7.3); Irenaeus of Lyons, The lion is antichrist (14.6); Irenaeus of Lyons, Exalted above idols (3.5); Irenaeus of Lyons, Apostate robber who wants worship (3.6); Irenaeus of Lyons, Becomes the one idol (3.7); Irenaeus of Lyons, 'Another' in his own name (3.8); Irenaeus of Lyons, Gathers all apostasy; cast into fire (11.8); Irenaeus of Lyons, Beast like leopard, bear, lion (5.8); Irenaeus of Lyons, Recapitulation of all wickedness (8.2); Irenaeus of Lyons, Lion = Antichrist (Irenaeus) (2.7); Clement of Alexandria, Antichrist denies Jesus is the Christ (12.2); Tertullian, Falling away: empire falls (4.3); Tertullian, Man of sin is Antichrist (6.7); Tertullian, False prophets are forerunners (12.5); Hippolytus of Rome, 42 months: Church persecuted (7.6); Hippolytus of Rome, Sacrifice = prayers of the upright (6.8); Hippolytus of Rome, Abomination of desolation = Antichrist (7.7); Hippolytus of Rome, 2 Thess 2 means Antichrist (6.9); Hippolytus of Rome, Little horn kills witnesses (5.12); Hippolytus of Rome, Beast's body is the devil (14.15); Hippolytus of Rome, Little horn restores Judah's kingdom (16.3); Hippolytus of Rome, Dan, the lion's whelp (2.9); Hippolytus of Rome, Dan the serpent is Antichrist (2.10); Hippolytus of Rome, Samson partial, Antichrist full (2.11); Hippolytus of Rome, A man claiming 'I am God' (14.16); Hippolytus of Rome, Rome's beast; Jewish kingdom raised (2.12); Hippolytus of Rome, Four kingdoms, ten horns summarised (5.17); Hippolytus of Rome, Restores the wounded Roman empire (5.19); Hippolytus of Rome, Unjust judge and widow Jerusalem (6.14); Hippolytus of Rome, Programme of the treatise (8.21); Hippolytus of Rome, Christ a lion, Antichrist a lion (3.12); Hippolytus of Rome, Matthew 24: Antichrist, not AD 70 (6.18); Hippolytus of Rome, Vespasian not the Man of Sin (6.20); Hippolytus of Rome, Antichrist kills Enoch and Elijah (9.11); Hippolytus of Rome, Devil works in him; Jerusalem (6.22); Origen of Alexandria, The last lion is the man of sin (2.14); Commodian, Nero raised; Elijah half, Nero half (9.12); Commodian, Nero raised from hell, Elias first (9.14); Gospel of Bartholomew, Satan: 'I will be as he is' (2.15); Origen of Alexandria, One genus, many Antichrists (13.3); Origen of Alexandria, Pharaohs, Sennacheribs, Herods: types (5.21); Origen of Alexandria, The man of sin permitted by God's judgment (4.9); Origen of Alexandria, Antichrist as the opposite extreme to Christ (13.5); Origen of Alexandria, Evil peaks by simulating the good (2.16); Origen of Alexandria, The son of the devil (2.17); Origen of Alexandria, Even the man of sin is permitted by God (4.11); Origen of Alexandria, The wicked one's 'son' opposed to Christ (2.18); Cyprian of Carthage, Pride is the spirit of Antichrist (13.7); Cyprian of Carthage, Antiochus is a type of Antichrist (2.19); Cyprian of Carthage, Isaiah: the man who disturbs kings (5.22); Victorinus of Pettau, Beast arises among the Caesars (4.12); Victorinus of Pettau, Secretly at work in the prince (4.13); Victorinus of Pettau, Antichrist among the seven Roman kings (5.24); Victorinus of Pettau, Seven kings counted to Domitian (5.25); Victorinus of Pettau, Nero raised up, received as Christ (2.20); Victorinus of Pettau, Sent from Rome; three kings killed (5.26); Lactantius, Rejects Nero redivivus (12.13); Lactantius, Ten kings; northern enemy kills three (2.21); Lactantius, Syrian king, evil spirit's offspring (2.22); Lactantius, Claims to be God's Son (3.23); Lactantius, Antichrist falsely calls himself Christ (3.24); Eusebius of Caesarea, Other deceivers came before the final one (12.15); Aphrahat, Little horn is Antiochus, already past (5.28); Aphrahat, Little horn read as Antiochus (5.29); Aphrahat, The horn's war fulfilled under Antiochus (7.15); Pseudo-Hippolytus, Roman fourth beast; Antichrist restores Judah (16.9); Pseudo-Hippolytus, Dan the serpent (2.23); Pseudo-Hippolytus, Born of Dan, not Judah (2.24); Pseudo-Hippolytus, Pseudo-virgin birth; phantom flesh (2.25); Revelation of Esdras (apocryphal), Claimed to be the Son of God (3.29); Revelation of Esdras (apocryphal), Inscribed 'Antichrist'; child or old man (3.30); Revelation of John (apocryphal), The denier called Antichrist (3.31); Hilary of Poitiers, Abomination = Antichrist in the holy place (6.34); Hilary of Poitiers, Antichrist the Synagogue's branch (16.14); Hilary of Poitiers, Barabbas prefigures Antichrist (16.15); Hilary of Poitiers, Arians, forerunners of Antichrist (2.26); Hilary of Poitiers, Feigns the Father's name (3.34); Athanasius of Alexandria, Constantius fits Daniel's portrait (5.30); Athanasius of Alexandria, Constantius, forerunner of the lawless one (6.35); Athanasius of Alexandria, Constantius 'as it were Antichrist himself' (12.28); Apostolic Constitutions, The deceiver of the world, prince of lies (14.39); Cyril of Jerusalem, Division prepares his way (4.17); Cyril of Jerusalem, A magician seizes Rome (2.27); Cyril of Jerusalem, Eleventh king, three-and-a-half years (5.31); Cyril of Jerusalem, Daniel's fourth kingdom is Rome (5.32); Cyril of Jerusalem, Heretics already say 'I am Christ' (12.32); Cyril of Jerusalem, Many Antichrists; one still to come (12.33); Gregory of Nazianzus, Julian's own book titled 'Antichrist' (12.35); Tyconius, Tyconius: the beast as the whole body of the devil (14.42); Ambrose of Milan, Abomination: Antichrist in the temple (6.37); Ambrose of Milan, Man of sin as synagogue's leaves (16.17); Ambrose of Milan, The hour of darkness (3.41); Macarius Magnes, The Slanderer is that Antichrist (2.28); John Chrysostom, Thief and robber alludes to him (3.42); John Chrysostom, Proclaims himself God (16.18); John Chrysostom, Antichrist follows Christ as imitation (2.29); John Chrysostom, Antichrist and his ministers (12.39); John Chrysostom, Antichrist's guise versus lightning (3.44); John Chrysostom, 1290 days applied to Antiochus (7.18); John Chrysostom, Rejects nursery tales about him (15.38); John Chrysostom, A man, not Satan (6.40); John Chrysostom, Nero his type; Rome removed (4.21); John Chrysostom, He comes in his own name (16.20); John Chrysostom, Matt 24 deceivers include him (3.49); John Chrysostom, Nero the mystery of Antichrist (14.49); Jerome, Conception, not birth, of Antichrist (7.19); Jerome, Abomination: Hadrian's statue (6.43); Jerome, All heresiarchs are Antichrists (12.40); Jerome, Jews will support Antichrist (16.22); Jerome, A new apostle of Antichrist (12.42); Sulpicius Severus, Nero destroyed by Antichrist (2.30); Sulpicius Severus, Nero destroyed by Antichrist (5.33); Sulpicius Severus, Daniel foretold Antichrist's coming (7.20); Sulpicius Severus, Nero expected to return before Antichrist (2.31); Augustine of Hippo, Jews expect an Antichrist (16.24); Augustine of Hippo, Abomination fulfilled at Jerusalem (6.44); Augustine of Hippo, Augustine doubts that reading (16.25); Augustine of Hippo, Man of sin completes all false prophets (2.32); Augustine of Hippo, The Jews will receive 'another' in his own name (16.27); Augustine of Hippo, Antichrist honours his own name (13.29); Augustine of Hippo, Fire from heaven: the saints' firmness (14.55); Augustine of Hippo, Beast is a wicked city; false prophet (14.56); Augustine of Hippo, Apostate, the day of the Lord (6.45); Augustine of Hippo, Daniel's fourth beast's king; 3.5 years (5.34); Augustine of Hippo, Seeks his own glory; the Jews receive him (16.28); Augustine of Hippo, Not sent, only permitted; seek not own glory (13.41); Augustine of Hippo, Legislator = Antichrist's tyranny (11.68); Cyril of Alexandria, Another in his own name: the son of transgression (16.29); Cyril of Alexandria, Jews attach themselves to Antichrist (16.30); Cyril of Alexandria, The worthless shepherd is Antichrist (16.31); Testament of Our Lord, Son of Perdition boasts and works signs (15.49); Testament of Our Lord, Son of Perdition, the Adversary, foretold (7.24); Testament of Our Lord, A godless king arises in the West (5.37); Philoxenus of Mabbug, Jews await the lying Christ (16.32); Cave of Treasures, Danite in Jerusalem temple (2.35); Gregory the Great, Antichrist proven not to be God (16.33); Gregory the Great, Antichrist passes himself off as 'day' (14.61); Gregory the Great, Head of the wicked, whose members are all the wicked (13.43); Gregory the Great, The devil enters a man called Antichrist (2.36); Gregory the Great, Elijah and Enoch rebuke him (9.41); Gregory the Great, Engrafted into the body of Antichrist (13.44); Gregory the Great, Chief of all hypocrites (16.35); Gregory the Great, Antichrist: the devil's vessel (13.45); Gregory the Great, Pretends to be God above men (6.50); Gregory the Great, Satan enters Antichrist (2.37); Gregory the Great, Lifted up, then undone by the true Judge (14.63); Gregory the Great, Jews believe the man of lies to be God (16.38); Gregory the Great, Some say he comes from the tribe of Dan (2.38); Gregory the Great, Judaea awaits Antichrist instead of Christ (16.39); Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun, Last Arab king numbered 666 (8.27); Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel, Godless last king (11.87); Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel, Fourth beast is Ishmael's kingdom (2.44); Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel, Eleventh king: 42 months (7.31); Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel, 17th king numbered 666 (8.29); Bede, Jews wait for Antichrist (16.42); Bede, Abomination: Antichrist or a statue (6.52); Bede, Heretics, last and greatest Antichrist (12.52); Bede, Doeg as Antichrist (14.68); Bede, A man born more wicked than all; already in minds (13.51); Bede, Comes in his own name, calls himself Son of God (16.44); Bede, Abomination: Antichrist, Caesar's image or Hadrian's statue (6.53); Bede, A man in whom Satan dwells bodily (8.30); Bede, Mimics Christ's death and resurrection (3.58); Bede, Eighth king; ten kings; born from Babylon (2.47); Bede, The beast: devil, Antichrist or impious city (14.70); John of Damascus, General and special Antichrist (12.54); John of Damascus, Offspring of fornication, not incarnation (2.50); Paulician Church of Armenia, Satan as 'son of perdition' (13.53); Alcuin, Comes in his own name (16.48); Rabanus, Enoch and Elijah versus Antichrist's spirit (9.51); Theophylact, Dwelling-place of every sin (11.96); Bruno, Impenitent see their king overthrown (14.74); Dionysius bar Salibi, Editor: public prayer suppressed (15.64); Solomon of Basra, Born where Christ's woes fell (2.53); Solomon of Basra, Sits in temple as Christ (6.58); Kebra Nagast, Ethiopia holds faith against False Christ (15.66); Neale and Littledale (compilers), Pharaoh earliest type (2.57); Neale and Littledale (compilers), Boasting ungodly: Antichrist in the temple (6.59); Neale and Littledale (compilers), Types: Pharaoh, Antiochus, fourth empire (2.58); Neale and Littledale (compilers), Satan and Antichrist: same pride (13.54); Neale and Littledale (compilers), 666 culminates temptation (8.32); Neale and Littledale (compilers), Proud = the Lawless One (3.66); Neale and Littledale (compilers), Singular beast = Antichrist (2.59); Neale and Littledale (compilers), Spiritual Assyrians under Antichrist (14.84); Neale and Littledale (compilers), 'Like the Most High' but smitten (3.67); Neale and Littledale (compilers), Awaiting 'another Messiah' = Antichrist (16.52).

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.

1.1. Shepherd of Hermas: The sea-monster with fiery locusts

“The sun shone out a little, and look, I saw an enormous beast, like some sea monster, with fiery locusts coming out of its mouth. The beast was about a hundred feet long, and its head looked like pottery.” — Shepherd of Hermas, The Shepherd of Hermas. Note: Hermas sees a huge sea monster with fiery locusts issuing from its mouth. [Revelation 13:1]

1.2. Irenaeus of Lyons: 'Wicked one' is Antichrist

“For he does not mean that the coming of the Lord is after the working of Satan; but the coming of the wicked one, whom we also call Antichrist.” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: Irenaeus identifies Paul's 'wicked one' with Antichrist and explains the phrase 'after the working of Satan' applies to his coming, not the Lord's. [2 Thessalonians 2:8-9]

1.3. Irenaeus of Lyons: Wonders by magic and demons

“After this he likewise describes his armour-bearer, whom he also terms a false prophet … Let no one imagine that he performs these wonders by divine power, but by the working of magic. And we must not be surprised if, since the demons and apostate spirits are at his service, he through their means performs wonders” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: The false prophet, Antichrist's armour-bearer, works wonders by magic through demons, not by divine power. [Revelation 13:11-14]

1.4. Origen of Alexandria: A bold king who destroys the saints

“there shall arise a king, bold in countenance, and understanding riddles. And his power shall be great, and he shall destroy wonderfully, and prosper, and practise; and shall destroy mighty men, and the holy people.” — Origen of Alexandria, Against Celsus (part 2 of 2). Note: He quotes Daniel's king bold of countenance, powerful and destroying the holy people, as the Antichrist. [Daniel 8:23-25]

1.5. Cyprian of Carthage: The serpent as Antichrist's pioneer

“you, by God's will, when you confessed, not only frightened back the great serpent himself, the pioneer of Antichrist, (but) have conquered him” — Cyprian of Carthage, Letters. Note: A confessor's testimony before magistrates is said to have repelled the great serpent, the pioneer of Antichrist.

1.6. Cyprian of Carthage: Antichrist will come as a man

“118. Also of Antichrist, that he will come as a man.” — Cyprian of Carthage, Treatise 12. Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews. Note: Cyprian's Testimonia heading says Antichrist will come as a man, citing Isaiah. [Isaiah 14:16-17]

1.7. Victorinus of Pettau: Raised up by God's command

“but he is not raised up by his own power, nor by that of his father, but by command of God, of which thing Paul says in the same passage: "For this cause, because they have not received the love of God, He will send upon them a spirit of error” — Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John. Note: Antichrist rises not by his own power but by God's command, who sends a spirit of error on those who rejected the love of truth. [2 Thessalonians 2:11]

1.8. Eusebius of Caesarea: Ecclesiastes' second young man

“The “second young man” who is said to rise up in his place, I take to be the antichrist.” — Eusebius of Caesarea, Prophetic Extracts. Note: Eusebius reads Ecclesiastes's second young man rising in the wise king's place as the antichrist. [Ecclesiastes 4:15]

1.9. Pseudo-Hippolytus: Wonders over the elements

“Under the eye of the spectators he will remove mountains from their places, he will walk on the sea with dry feet, he will bring down fire from heaven, he will turn the day into darkness and the night into day, he will turn the sun about wheresoever he pleases” — Pseudo-Hippolytus, Dubious and Spurious Pieces Attributed to Hippolytus. Note: A catalogue of Antichrist's displayed wonders: moving mountains, walking on the sea, fire from heaven, darkening day and night, turning the sun. [2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:13]

1.10. Pseudo-Hippolytus: 'What god is there but I?'

“"Ye peoples, and tribes, and nations, acquaint yourselves with my mighty authority and power, and the strength of my kingdom. What prince is there so great as I am? What great God is there but I? Who will stand up against my authority? "” — Pseudo-Hippolytus, Dubious and Spurious Pieces Attributed to Hippolytus. Note: Antichrist, revealed in his true character, proclaims himself greater than any god. [2 Thessalonians 2:4]

1.11. Cyril of Jerusalem: Satan's instrument; illusory miracles

“Whose coming, he says, is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders ; implying, that Satan has used him as an instrument, working in his own person through him; for knowing that his judgment shall now no longer have respite, he wages war no more by his ministers … the father of falsehood will make a show of the works of falsehood, that the multitudes may think that they see a dead man raised, who is not raised, and lame men walking, and blind men seeing, when the cure has not been wrought” — Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures. Note: Satan uses him as an instrument, fighting openly in person; the wonders are illusions, such as seeming resurrections and cures that never happened. [2 Thessalonians 2:9]

1.12. Jerome: Hippolytus wrote On the Antichrist

“On the Antichrist” — Jerome, Lives of Illustrious Men. Note: Jerome's catalogue of Hippolytus's writings includes a work 'On the Antichrist' among commentaries on Daniel and the Apocalypse.

1.13. Augustine of Hippo: Prosperous, thought to be God

“which will especially be the case in that Antichrist, who will seem to man blessed to that degree, that he will even be thought God.” — Augustine of Hippo, On the Psalms (part 1 of 4). Note: Augustine reads Psalm 10 as saying that the sinner's prosperity under God's anger will be most true of Antichrist, who will seem so blessed that he will be thought God. [Psalm 10:3-4]

1.14. Testament of Our Lord: His power is to blaspheme

“for his way is in error and his power is to blaspheme, and his hand for deception, his right hand in misery, and his left hand in darkness.” — Testament of Our Lord, The Testament of Our Lord (Cooper and Maclean translation); scanned text. Note: The Adversary's way is error, his power blasphemy and his hands deception, misery and darkness.

1.15. Gregory the Great: Gifts, honours and marvels draw followers

“whereas our old enemy, having entered into his vessel, that son of perdition, whilst he bestows gifts on the wicked, whilst he exalts them with honours in this world, whilst he exhibits marvels to their eyes, has all drifting souls admiring and following him in his marvels” — Gregory the Great, Morals on the Book of Job (part 2 of 5). Note: Gregory says that the 'son of perdition' will bestow gifts, honours and marvels on the wicked, so that drifting souls admire and follow him. [Job 21:33]

1.16. Gregory the Great: Honour of the world and power of miracles

“that latter end of the ancient enemy, when he enters, doubtless, that ruined man, his peculiar vessel, who is specially called Antichrist … as a cedar leaves behind other trees by increasing in height, in like manner will Antichrist, possessing in temporal things the glory of the world, surpass at this time the standard of man both in the height of his honour, and in the power of his miracles.” — Gregory the Great, Morals on the Book of Job (part 4 of 5). Note: Gregory says the devil's end is to enter the man specially called Antichrist, who will surpass mankind in worldly honour and in the power of his miracles. [Job 40:17]

1.17. Gregory the Great: First beast = Antichrist; second = his preachers

“He had spoken indeed of the first beast, that is, Antichrist, in a former description; after whom this other beast is said to have also come up, because the multitude of his preachers after him boasts in his earthly power.” — Gregory the Great, Morals on the Book of Job (part 4 of 5). Note: Gregory takes the first beast of Revelation 13 to be Antichrist and the beast from the earth to be the multitude of his hypocritical preachers. [Revelation 13:11; Job 41:10]

1.18. Bede: Armageddon: the devil in a man with usurped divinity

“the place of the wicked can be understood as the devil, who in a lost man, inflated with the pride of usurped divinity, will rejoice in recovering former deceptions” — Bede, Commentary on Revelation. Note: Bede reads Armageddon as the devil, who in a lost man inflated by the pride of usurped divinity will rejoice to recover his former deceptions, rather than only as a place. [Revelation 16:16; Revelation 20:8-9]

1.19. Theophylact: Deceives for a time; followers lost

“He alludes to Antichrist, who shall deceive for a time, but Aug. lose all his followers when he dies.” — Theophylact, Catena Aurea: Commentary on St. John, part 1 (chapters 1–10) (quoted by Thomas Aquinas); scanned text. Note: Theophylact says the stranger the sheep will not follow alludes to Antichrist, who will deceive for a time but lose his followers at his death. [John 10:5]

1.20. Neale and Littledale (compilers): Only the unwritten worship him

“Lastly, in the Apocalypse, what saith the Spirit of GOD, when the Scripture is speaking of Antichrist's oppressions? "All shall worship him whose names are not written in the Book of Life.” — Neale and Littledale (compilers), A Commentary on the Psalms from Primitive and Mediaeval Writers, volume 2 (Psalms 39–80) (part 2 of 2); scanned text. Note: A sermonic comment on Psalm 69 cites the Apocalypse on Antichrist's oppressions: all whose names are not in the Book of Life will worship him, so the written elect will not. [Psalm 69:28; Revelation 13:8]

2. Where does he come from?

Four answers recur. He comes from the tribe of Dan; from Rome and its emperors; from the East, a Syrian or later an Ishmaelite; or from the devil, in a parody of Christ’s birth. The Danite tradition rests on a short chain of texts (Genesis 49:17, Jeremiah 8:16, and the tribe missing from the sealed list in Revelation 7) that Irenaeus began and many repeated. The Roman and Nero traditions come from reading Revelation 13 and 17 beside the history the writers knew. As empires changed, the portrait was repainted: the late Coptic and Syriac apocalypses place him among the Arabs and the Ethiopians, and Solomon of Basra’s Book of the Bee keeps the Danite and adds Gog and Magog.

In this chapter

This question draws on 65 quotations from 26 voices. 59 of them are printed in full below, at the end of the chapter, because their main concern is this question; the other 6 belong chiefly to other questions and are listed here by number.

From the tribe of Dan (Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Gregory the Great, Bede, Solomon of Basra)

Irenaeus (about AD 180) notes that Jeremiah’s horses come from Dan and that Revelation leaves Dan out of the sealed tribes. Hippolytus sets the two tribes against each other: Christ the lion of Judah, Antichrist the lion’s whelp of Dan. Gregory the Great reports it as what some say; Bede repeats the omission of Dan; Solomon of Basra treats it as settled.

From Rome and its emperors (Ascension of Isaiah, Sibylline Oracles, Victorinus, Hippolytus)

The earliest sources make Beliar come in the likeness of a Roman emperor, a lawless king who is a matricide (an allusion to Nero). Victorinus finds the beast among the Caesars. Hippolytus has Antichrist rise as the little horn among the ten kingdoms into which the Roman empire is divided, and then raise up a Jewish kingdom.

Nero returned (Victorinus, Commodian, Sulpicius Severus; doubted by Augustine)

A tradition that Nero would be raised from the dead or hell appears in Victorinus and Commodian and in the report of Martin of Tours that Sulpicius gives. Lactantius and Augustine do not accept it; Augustine says he is astonished that anyone could believe it.

From the East: a Syrian, an Ishmaelite, an Ethiopian (Lactantius, Samuel of Kalamoun, Coptic Daniel, Solomon of Basra)

Lactantius, in the time of Constantine, has a powerful enemy from the far north and a Syrian king born of an evil spirit. Seven centuries later, under Muslim rule, the Copts place him among the Ishmaelites: Samuel of Kalamoun’s last king has an Ishmaelite father and a Frankish mother, and the Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel gives a nineteenth king of mixed parentage with the number 666. In Solomon of Basra the last emperor is of Ethiopian descent.

Born of a counterfeit virgin, or of fornication (Pseudo-Hippolytus, John of Damascus, Solomon of Basra)

A separate strand asks how he is born. Pseudo-Hippolytus has him born of an impure woman posing as a virgin. John of Damascus rules out a true incarnation of the devil: he is a man born of fornication who receives Satan’s energy. Solomon of Basra calls him a man of a married Danite woman, made a dwelling for devils, an inverted incarnation.

Pharaoh, Antiochus, the fourth empire: types before the man (Cyprian, Neale and Littledale)

Cyprian reads the persecution under Antiochus as a type of Antichrist. Neale and Littledale, summing up the older readings in 1869, list Pharaoh as the earliest type, Antiochus Epiphanes as the second, and Daniel’s fourth iron empire as the third.

The Scripture behind it

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

Dan, a serpent by the way (Gen 49:16–18)

Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD. [Genesis 49:16-18]

Dan’s snorting heard (Jer 8:16–17)

The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein. For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD. [Jeremiah 8:16-17]

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 four beasts and the little horn (Dan 7:2–8)

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]

Also relevant: quotations printed under other questions

Hippolytus of Rome, Programme of the treatise (8.21); Origen of Alexandria, Antichrist can father the sinner (13.1); Victorinus of Pettau, Beast arises among the Caesars (4.12); Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun, Last Arab king numbered 666 (8.27); Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel, 19th king, mixed race, 666 (8.28); Bede, A man born more wicked than all; already in minds (13.51).

The quotations

2.1. Ascension of Isaiah: Beliar, the angel of lawlessness

“for the angel of lawlessness, who is the ruler of this world, is Beliar, whose name is Matanbûchûs.” — Ascension of Isaiah, The Ascension of Isaiah (Charles translation); scanned text. Note: Beliar is named as the angel of lawlessness who rules this world. [2 Thessalonians 2:7]

2.2. Ascension of Isaiah: Beliar descends as a lawless matricide king

“After it is consummated, Beliar the great ruler, the king of this world, will descend, who hath ruled it since it came into being; yea, he will descend from his firmament in the likeness of a man, a lawless king, the slayer of his mother” — Ascension of Isaiah, The Ascension of Isaiah (Charles translation); scanned text. Note: Beliar, ruler of this world, descends in the likeness of a lawless king who is a matricide. [2 Thessalonians 2:3]

2.3. Sibylline Oracles: Beliar from the Caesars

“From the great Cæsars Beliar shall come / Hereafter, and shall stand on mountain height, / And stay the sea, and the great fiery sun, / And shining moon, and make the dead stand up, / And perform many miracles with men.” — Sibylline Oracles, The Sibylline Oracles (Terry translation); scanned text. Note: Beliar will arise from the Roman emperors, halting sea, sun and moon, raising the dead and working miracles. [Revelation 13:13]

2.4. Irenaeus of Lyons: Unjust judge; kingdom moved to Jerusalem

“This is also the unjust judge, whom the Lord mentioned as one "who feared not God, neither regarded man," to whom the widow fled in her forgetfulness of God,-that is, the earthly Jerusalem,-to be avenged of her adversary. Which also he shall do in the time of his kingdom: he shall remove his kingdom into that [city], and shall sit in the temple of God, leading astray those who worship him, as if he were Christ.” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: The unjust judge of Luke 18 is Antichrist, who moves his kingdom to earthly Jerusalem and sits in the temple deceiving his worshippers as if he were Christ. [Luke 18:2-8; 2 Thessalonians 2:4]

2.5. Irenaeus of Lyons: From the tribe of Dan

“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.” — Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies. Note: Jeremiah's 'horses from Dan' indicate Antichrist's tribe; Irenaeus adds that Dan is omitted from the sealed tribes in Revelation. [Jeremiah 8:16; Genesis 49:17; Revelation 7:5-8]

2.6. Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs: Dan's prince is Satan

“For I have read in the book of Enoch, the righteous, that your prince is Satan, and that all the spirits of wickedness and pride will conspire to attend constantly on the sons of Levi, to cause them to sin before the Lord.” — Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs (Charles translation); scanned text. Note: In Dan's testament, citing Enoch, the tribe of Dan has Satan as its prince. [Genesis 49:17]

2.7. Irenaeus of Lyons: Lion = Antichrist (Irenaeus)

“There is much variety of explanation, beginning with that of S. Irenæus, which is that the asp, erecting and swelling itself, and making men cold with its bite, is sin; the basilisk, or king-serpent, is death, once sovereign over the world; the lion is Antichrist, and the dragon Satan himself.” — Irenaeus of Lyons, A Commentary on the Psalms from Primitive and Mediaeval Writers, volume 3 (Psalms 81–118) (part 1 of 2) (quoted by Neale and Littledale (Commentary on the Psalms)); scanned text. Note: Neale and Littledale give Irenaeus's reading of Psalm 91's four beasts: asp is sin, basilisk is death, lion is Antichrist, dragon is Satan. [Psalm 91:13]

2.8. Hippolytus of Rome: Proclaimed king; 1290 and 1335 days

“He shall be proclaimed king by them, and shall be magnified by all, and shall prove himself an abomination of desolation to the world, and shall reign for a thousand two hundred and ninety days. "Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days; " for when the abomination cometh and makes war upon the saints, whosoever shall survive his days, and reach the forty-five days” — Hippolytus of Rome, Fragments - Exegetical. Fragments from Commentaries on Various Books of Scripture. Note: Antichrist, hailed as king first by Edom, Moab and Ammon, reigns 1,290 days; those who survive and reach the further 45 days are blessed. [Daniel 11:41; Isaiah 11:14; Daniel 12:12]

2.9. Hippolytus of Rome: Dan, the lion's whelp

“For Moses speaks thus: "Dan is a lion's whelp, and he shall leap from Bashan." But that no one may err by supposing that this is said of the Saviour, let him attend carefully to the matter. "Dan," he says, "is a lion's whelp;" and in naming the tribe of Dan, he declared clearly the tribe from which Antichrist is destined to spring. For as Christ springs from the tribe of Judah, so Antichrist is to spring from the tribe of Dan.” — Hippolytus of Rome, On Christ and Antichrist. Note: Moses' 'Dan is a lion's whelp' names the tribe of Antichrist, set in parallel with Christ from Judah. [Genesis 49:16-17; Deuteronomy 33:22]

2.10. Hippolytus of Rome: Dan the serpent is Antichrist

“And that the case stands thus, we see also from the words of Jacob: "Let Dan be a serpent, lying upon the ground, biting the horse's heel." What, then, is meant by the serpent but Antichrist, that deceiver who is mentioned in Genesis, who deceived Eve and supplanted Adam” — Hippolytus of Rome, On Christ and Antichrist. Note: The serpent of Jacob's blessing on Dan is Antichrist, the same deceiver who tempted Eve in Genesis. [Genesis 49:17; Genesis 3:1-15]

2.11. Hippolytus of Rome: Samson partial, Antichrist full

“That it is in reality out of the tribe of Dan, then, that that tyrant and king, that dread judge, that son of the devil, is destined to spring and arise, the prophet testifies when he says, "Dan shall judge his people, as (he is) also one tribe in Israel." But some one may say that this refers to Samson … Well, the prophecy had its partial fulfilment in Samson, but its complete fulfilment is reserved for Antichrist.” — Hippolytus of Rome, On Christ and Antichrist. Note: Dan's judging of his people was partly fulfilled in Samson but completely in Antichrist, the tyrant and son of the devil. [Genesis 49:16; Jeremiah 8:16]

2.12. Hippolytus of Rome: Rome's beast; Jewish kingdom raised

“A fourth beast, dreadful and terrible; it had iron teeth and claws of brass." And who are these but the Romans? which (kingdom) is meant by the iron—the kingdom which is now established … And under this was signified none other than Antichrist, who is also himself to raise the kingdom of the Jews.” — Hippolytus of Rome, On Christ and Antichrist. Note: The fourth beast is Rome; the little horn that rises among its ten horns is Antichrist, who will raise up a kingdom of the Jews. [Daniel 7:7-8; Daniel 2:41-43]

2.13. Hippolytus of Rome: Gathers the dispersion of Israel

“For he will call together all the people to himself, out of every country of the dispersion, making them his own, as though they were his own children, and promising to restore their country, and establish again their kingdom and nation, in order that he may be worshipped by them as God” — Hippolytus of Rome, On Christ and Antichrist. Note: Antichrist will gather the Jewish dispersion, promising to restore their land and kingdom, so as to be worshipped by them as God. [Jeremiah 17:11; Isaiah 14:13-14]

2.14. Origen of Alexandria: The last lion is the man of sin

“For the first lion is the opposing devil, “the murderer” himself. The last, at the end of the age, is “the man of sin, the son of destruction, who exalts himself above everything called god or object of worship.”” — Origen of Alexandria, Fragments on Jeremiah. Note: Origen reads Jeremiah's two lions as the devil first and, at the age's end, the man of sin. [2 Thessalonians 2:3; Jeremiah 27]

2.15. Gospel of Bartholomew: Satan: 'I will be as he is'

“I am fire of fire, I was the first angel formed, and shall I worship clay and matter? … I will set my throne over against his throne, and I will be as he is.” — Gospel of Bartholomew, The Questions of Bartholomew (James translation); scanned text. Note: The devil recounts refusing to worship Adam and aiming to set his throne against God's and be as he is. [Isaiah 14:13-14]

2.16. Origen of Alexandria: Evil peaks by simulating the good

“evil is specially characterized by its diffusion, and attains its greatest height when it simulates the appearance of the good, for that reason are signs, and marvels, and lying miracles found to accompany evil, through the co-operation of its father the devil.” — Origen of Alexandria, Against Celsus (part 2 of 2). Note: Evil reaches its peak by imitating the good, so lying wonders accompany it with the devil as its father. [2 Thessalonians 2:9]

2.17. Origen of Alexandria: The son of the devil

“the other, who is diametrically opposite, be termed the son of the wicked demon, and of Satan, and of the devil.” — Origen of Alexandria, Against Celsus (part 2 of 2). Note: The opposite extreme to the Son of God is called the son of the wicked demon, of Satan and the devil.

2.18. Origen of Alexandria: The wicked one's 'son' opposed to Christ

“in order that having delivered them from the wicked one, and his son, in whom was falsehood and unrighteousness and war and everything opposed to that which Christ is, and also from the profane spirit who transforms himself into the Holy Spirit” — Origen of Alexandria, Commentary on Matthew. Note: Origen describes Christ delivering from the wicked one and his son, the opposite of Christ, and from a spirit mimicking the Holy Spirit.

2.19. Cyprian of Carthage: Antiochus is a type of Antichrist

“The king Antiochus, their enemy-yea, in Antiochus Antichrist was set forth-sought to pollute the mouths of martyrs, glorious and unconquered in the spirit of confession, with the contagion of swine's flesh” — Cyprian of Carthage, Treatise 11. Exhortation to Martyrdom, Addressed to Fortunatus. Note: Cyprian treats Antiochus persecuting the Maccabean martyrs as a type in which Antichrist was set forth. [2 Maccabees 7; Daniel 11:31]

2.20. Victorinus of Pettau: Nero raised up, received as Christ

“Now that one of the heads was, as it were, slain to death, and that the stroke of his death was directed, he speaks of Nero. … Him therefore, when raised up, God will send as a worthy king, but worthy in such a way as the Jews merited. And since he is to have another name, He shall also appoint another name, that so the Jews may receive him as if he were the Christ.” — Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John. Note: Victorinus identifies the wounded head as Nero, who will be raised up and sent under another name so the Jews receive him as Christ. [Revelation 13:3; Revelation 17:11,16]

2.21. Lactantius: Ten kings; northern enemy kills three

“until ten kings arise at the same time, who will divide the world, not to govern, but to consume it. … Then a most powerful enemy will suddenly arise against him from the extreme boundaries of the northern region, who, having destroyed three of that number who shall then be in possession of Asia, shall be admitted into alliance by the others, and shall be constituted prince of all.” — Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Book 7. Note: Ten kings divide the world; then a powerful enemy from the far north destroys three of them, is allied with the rest and becomes prince of all. [Daniel 7:7-8,24]

2.22. Lactantius: Syrian king, evil spirit's offspring

“a great prophet shall be sent from God to turn men to the knowledge of God, and he shall receive the power of doing wonderful things. … another king shall arise out of Syria, born from an evil spirit, the overthrower and destroyer of the human race … He shall fight against the prophet of God, and shall overcome, and slay him, and shall suffer him to lie unburied; but after the third day he shall come to life again; and while all look on and wonder, he shall be caught up into heaven.” — Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Book 7. Note: A great prophet turns many to God; a Syrian king, born of an evil spirit, kills him, but the prophet rises on the third day and is caught up. [Revelation 11:3-12; 2 Thessalonians 2:4]

2.23. Pseudo-Hippolytus: Dan the serpent

“Wherefore, as he prophesied with respect to Judah, so did he also with respect to his son Dan. … "Let Dan be a serpent sitting by the way, that biteth the horse's heel? " And what serpent was there but the deceiver from the beginning, he who is named in Genesis, he who deceived Eve, and bruised Adam in the heel?” — Pseudo-Hippolytus, Dubious and Spurious Pieces Attributed to Hippolytus. Note: Jacob's blessing on Dan the serpent refers to Antichrist as the same deceiver who beguiled Eve. [Genesis 49:17]

2.24. Pseudo-Hippolytus: Born of Dan, not Judah

“For it is certain that he is destined to spring from the tribe of Dan, and to range himself in opposition like a princely tyrant, a terrible judge and accuser … For as Christ is born of the tribe of Judah, so Antichrist shall be born of the tribe of Dan. And as our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was spoken of in prophecy as a lion on account or His royalty and glory, in the same manner also has the Scripture prophetically described the accuser as a lion” — Pseudo-Hippolytus, Dubious and Spurious Pieces Attributed to Hippolytus. Note: Antichrist will be born of the tribe of Dan, matched against Christ of Judah, and is called a lion for his tyranny. [Jeremiah 8:16; Deuteronomy 33:22; Judges 13-16]

2.25. Pseudo-Hippolytus: Pseudo-virgin birth; phantom flesh

“in the same manner also will the accuser come forth from an impure woman upon the earth, but shall be born of a virgin spuriously. … But the accuser, though he take up the flesh, will do it only in appearance; for how should we wear that flesh which he did not make himself, but against which he warreth daily?” — Pseudo-Hippolytus, Dubious and Spurious Pieces Attributed to Hippolytus. Note: Antichrist will be born spuriously of an impure woman posing as a virgin, taking flesh only in appearance. [Matthew 1:23; Genesis 3:15]

2.26. Hilary of Poitiers: Arians, forerunners of Antichrist

“It is the suggestion of that Evil One, uttered now through these prophets and forerunners of his coming; he will utter it himself hereafter when he comes as Antichrist … For they who hold that Christ is but a creature, must regard Christ as Antichrist” — Hilary of Poitiers, On the Trinity (part 1 of 2). Note: Hilary says the Arian denial is the Evil One's suggestion through prophets and forerunners; he will utter it himself hereafter as Antichrist. [1 John 2:18]

2.27. Cyril of Jerusalem: A magician seizes Rome

“so now, since the true Christ is to come a second time, the adversary, taking occasion by the expectation of the simple, and especially of them of the circumcision, brings in a certain man who is a magician , and most expert in sorceries and enchantments of beguiling craftiness; who shall seize for himself the power of the Roman empire, and shall falsely style himself Christ; by this name of Christ deceiving the Jews, who are looking for the Anointed , and seducing those of the Gentiles by his magical illusions” — Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures. Note: As the devil prepared false pagan births before Christ's incarnation, so before the second coming he brings a sorcerer who seizes Roman power and falsely styles himself Christ. [2 Thessalonians 2:9]

2.28. Macarius Magnes: The Slanderer is that Antichrist

“As those who believe the Son are brought to the Father as His heirs, so those who believe the Slanderer are dragged from their true Father by that Antichrist, and brought to his father who is the opposite of God.” — Macarius Magnes, Apocriticus. Note: Macarius calls the Slanderer, the devil, 'that Antichrist', parallel to the Son and Father. [John 8:44]

2.29. John Chrysostom: Antichrist follows Christ as imitation

“He here shews that error arose after truth, as indeed the course of events testifies; for the false prophets came after the Prophets, the false apostles after the Apostles, and Antichrist after Christ. For unless the Devil sees somewhat to imitate, and some to lay in wait against, he does not attempt any thing.” — John Chrysostom, Catena Aurea: Commentary on St. Matthew, part 2 (chapters 11–21) (quoted by Thomas Aquinas); scanned text. Note: Chrysostom says the devil's tares always follow the true sowing: false prophets after prophets, false apostles after apostles, and Antichrist after Christ, since he must have something to imitate. [Matthew 13:25]

2.30. Sulpicius Severus: Nero destroyed by Antichrist

“Nero and Antichrist have first to come ; that Nero will rule in the Western portion of the world, after having subdued ten kings; and that a persecution will be carried on by him, with the view of compelling men to worship the idols of the Gentiles … Antichrist, on the other hand, would first seize upon the empire of the East, having his seat and the capital of his kingdom at Jerusalem; while both the city and the temple would be restored by him. He added that his persecution would have for its object to compel men to deny Christ as God, while he maintained rather that he himself was Christ, and ordered all men to be circumcised, according to the law. … Antichrist, having been conceived by an evil spirit, was already born, and had, by this time, reached the years of boyhood” — Sulpicius Severus, Dialogues. Note: Reporting Martin of Tours: Nero rules the West, Antichrist seizes the East, restores Jerusalem and the temple, claims to be Christ and commands circumcision, and was conceived by an evil spirit and already born. [Daniel 7:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:4]

2.31. Sulpicius Severus: Nero expected to return before Antichrist

“It was he who first began a persecution; and I am not sure but hew will be the last also to carry it on, if, indeed, we admit, as many are inclined to believe, that he will yet appear immediately before the coming of Antichrist.” — Sulpicius Severus, The Sacred History. Note: Sulpicius says Nero began persecution and may carry it on last, since many believe he will appear again just before Antichrist's coming. [2 Thessalonians 2:7]

2.32. Augustine of Hippo: Man of sin completes all false prophets

“Where then is the wonder, if that man of sin too, who is to fill up all the wickedness and ungodliness, which all false prophets have begun, and to do such "great signs; that, if it were possible, he should deceive the very elect," shall say in his heart” — Augustine of Hippo, On the Psalms (part 1 of 4). Note: Augustine says the man of sin will fill up all the wickedness begun by false prophets and do great signs to deceive the elect, as Simon sought heaven by magic. [Psalm 10:6; Matthew 24:24]

2.33. Augustine of Hippo: Nero redivivus rejected as rash

“he alluded to Nero, whose deeds already seemed to be as the deeds of Antichrist. And hence some suppose that he shall rise again and be Antichrist. Others, again, suppose that he is not even dead, but that he was concealed that he might be supposed to have been killed, and that he now lives in concealment in the vigor of that same age which he had reached when he was believed to have perished, and will live until he is revealed in his own time and restored to his kingdom. But I wonder that men can be so audacious in their conjectures.” — Augustine of Hippo, The City of God (part 3 of 3). Note: Augustine mentions the belief that Nero would rise again, or never died, and return as Antichrist, and expresses astonishment at such audacious conjectures. [2 Thessalonians 2:7]

2.34. Cave of Treasures: Greek king's crown on the Cross

“As soon as the son of perdition is revealed the king of the Greeks will go up and stand upon Golgotha, where our Lord was crucified; and he will set the royal crown upon the top of the holy Cross” — Cave of Treasures, The Book of the Cave of Treasures (Budge translation); scanned text. Note: The Greek king gives up his crown on Golgotha when Antichrist appears (Budge's summary of the Bee). [Matthew 11:21; Psalm 68:31]

2.35. Cave of Treasures: Danite in Jerusalem temple

“Then will the son of perdition appear, of the seed and of the tribe of Dan; and he will show deluding phantasms, and lead astray the world … He will go into Jerusalem and will sit upon a throne in the Temple, saying, "I am the Christ,"” — Cave of Treasures, The Book of the Cave of Treasures (Budge translation); scanned text. Note: Antichrist is Danite, works illusions and enthrones himself in the Jerusalem temple claiming to be Christ. [2 Thessalonians 2:4; Genesis 49:17]

2.36. Gregory the Great: The devil enters a man called Antichrist

“the head of the wicked is the devil. And he in his own person having in the last times entered into that vessel of perdition, shall be called 'Antichrist,' who will endeavour to spread his name far and wide” — Gregory the Great, Morals on the Book of Job (part 2 of 5). Note: Gregory says the devil, the head of the wicked, will in the last times enter a vessel of perdition who will be called Antichrist, seeking to spread his name far and wide. [Job 18:17]

2.37. Gregory the Great: Satan enters Antichrist

“entering into Antichrist, he scorned to seem like God, and, when condemned, counts Him as his inferior” — Gregory the Great, Morals on the Book of Job (part 4 of 5). Note: Gregory says the devil, who fell by wishing to be like God, will enter into Antichrist and scorn even to seem like God. [2 Thessalonians 2:4; Isaiah 14:14]

2.38. Gregory the Great: Some say he comes from the tribe of Dan

“For some say, that Antichrist is coming out of the tribe of Dan, because in this place Dan is asserted to be a serpent, and a biting one. Whence also, when the people of Israel were choosing their position, in the partition of the camp, Dan most rightly first pitched his camp to the north; signifying him in truth, who had said in his heart; I will sit upon the mount of the testament, in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the height of the clouds. I will be like the Most High. [Is. 14, 13. 14. Of whom also it is said by the Prophet; The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan.” — Gregory the Great, Morals on the Book of Job (part 4 of 5). Note: Gregory reports the view that Antichrist will come from the tribe of Dan, based on Jacob's blessing of Dan as a serpent and Jeremiah's reference to horses snorting from Dan. [Genesis 49:17; Jeremiah 8:16; Isaiah 14:13-14]

2.39. Gregory the Great: Flatterer first, then persecutor

“Dan therefore becomes a serpent in the way, because he compels those, whom he flatters by seeming to spare them, to walk in the broad way of the present life: but he bites them in the way, because he destroys with the poison of his error those on whom he confers liberty. He becomes a horned serpent in the path, because those whom he finds to be faithful, and to be confining themselves to the narrow paths of the heavenly precept, he not only assails with the wickedness of crafty persuasion, but also oppresses with the terror of his power. And, after the kindness of pretended sweetness, he employs the horns of his power in the torture of persecution. … And, because Antichrist strives to seize the latter end of the world, this horned serpent is said to bite the horses' hoofs.” — Gregory the Great, Morals on the Book of Job (part 4 of 5). Note: Gregory describes the horned serpent as one who first flatters and spares, then assails the faithful with crafty persuasion and the horns of power; he strives to seize the end of the world. [Genesis 49:17]

2.40. Coptic Texts from St. Macarius’ Monastery: Enoch exposes the Son of Iniquity

“He shall go up unto the cities, wherein I did My mighty works and they believed not on Me, Chorazin and Bethsaida: he shall lead forth a multitude following after him and crying out: 'Thou art God, our Christ and our King.' Then Enoch shall say unto them in that day: 'This is not God: believe not on him! But this is the Son of Iniquity: this is the Devil, who from the beginning hath led men astray from life.” — Coptic Texts from St. Macarius’ Monastery, New Coptic Texts from the Monastery of Saint Macarius (Evelyn White translation); scanned text. Note: The Devil goes up to Chorazin and Bethsaida; crowds acclaim him as God and Christ, but Enoch denounces him as the Son of Iniquity. [Matthew 11:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:3]

2.41. Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun: Ishmaelite father, Frankish mother

“He will not follow the ordinances of his father, because he will be an Ishmaelite, nor the profession of his mother, because she will be a Frank : he will love drunkenness, he will be bloodthirsty” — Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun, The Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun. Note: The last Ishmaelite king has an Ishmaelite father and Frankish mother, forsakes both, and is a drunken, bloodthirsty ruler.

2.42. Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun: Gog and Magog five months

“This race will soil the ground for five months; and after that the Lord will send his angel who will exterminate them in one hour.” — Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun, The Apocalypse of Samuel of Kalamoun. Note: Gog and Magog ravage the earth for five months before an angel destroys them in an hour. [Revelation 20:9]

2.43. Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel: Gog and Magog arise

“Then two nations will rise, by the name of Gog and Magog; they will shake the ground for several days; their number is as great as the grains of sand.” — Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel, The Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel. Note: After the Roman victory Gog and Magog arise in countless numbers. [Revelation 20:8; Ezekiel 38]

2.44. Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel: Fourth beast is Ishmael's kingdom

“The fourth animal which you saw, who resembles a lion, is the king of the sons of Ishmael. He will reign for a long time over the land and will be very powerful during many days.” — Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel, The Coptic Apocalypse of Daniel. Note: In this Coptic reworking the fourth beast of Daniel 7 is the Ishmaelite (Arab) kingdom, not Rome. [Daniel 7:7; Genesis 16:11-12]

2.45. Bede: Simon Magus first Antichrist

“many Antichrists came in the name of Christ, the first of whom was Simon Magus, to whom the Samaritans, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles, listened” — Bede, Catena Aurea: Commentary on St. Mark (quoted by Thomas Aquinas); scanned text. Note: Bede says many Antichrists have already come in Christ's name, and names Simon Magus as the first. [Mark 13:6; 1 John 2:18]

2.46. Bede: Barabbas as a type of Antichrist

“Since Barabbas means son of the father or son of the master, he can carry the type of the Antichrist, whom those of whom it is said: "You are of your father the devil" (John VIII), will prefer to the true Son of God.” — Bede, Commentary on Luke (part 2 of 2). Note: Bede says Barabbas, 'son of the father', can be a type of Antichrist, whom the Jews will prefer to the true Son of God, called the devil's son by imitation, not birth. [Luke 23:24; John 8:44]

2.47. Bede: Eighth king; ten kings; born from Babylon

“The Antichrist, who is to rule at the end of the world, because of the unity of the same body of the wicked, of which he is the head, belongs to the number of the kingdoms of the world … and that the Antichrist, born from Babylon, will overcome the king of Egypt and of Africa and Ethiopia” — Bede, Commentary on Revelation. Note: Bede calls Antichrist, head of the wicked, the beast that 'is the eighth', and reports views that ten kings divide the world and Antichrist, born from Babylon, defeats the kings of Egypt, Africa and Ethiopia. [Revelation 17:11-12; Daniel 7:8]

2.48. Bede: Dan omitted from the sealed tribes

“he omits Dan, from whom it is said the Antichrist is to be born, as it is written: Let Dan be a serpent by the way” — Bede, Commentary on Revelation. Note: Bede notes that Revelation omits Dan from the sealed tribes because Antichrist is said to be born from Dan, citing Jacob's blessing of Dan as a serpent. [Revelation 7:5; Genesis 49:17]

2.49. Bede: Jews await Antichrist as their savior

“taught them to believe rather in the Antichrist, whom they await as their savior at the end, indeed the son of the devil” — Bede, Commentary on Samuel. Note: Bede says the Jewish leaders, seeing Gentiles believe, taught the people to believe rather in Antichrist, whom they await as savior, the son of the devil. [1 Samuel 25:44; 1 Peter 5:8]

2.50. John of Damascus: Offspring of fornication, not incarnation

“The devil himself , therefore does not become man in the way that the Lord was made man. God forbid! but he becomes man as the offspring of fornication and receiveth all the energy of Satan.” — John of Damascus, An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith. Note: Antichrist is not an incarnation of the devil like Christ's; he is a man born of fornication who receives Satan's energy. [2 Thessalonians 2:9]

2.51. John of Damascus: Hidden upbringing, feigned sanctity

“He is, therefore, as we said, the offspring of fornication and is nurtured in secret, and on a sudden he rises up and rebels and assumes rule. And in the beginning of his rule, or rather tyranny, he assumes the role of sanctity .” — John of Damascus, An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith. Note: He is raised in secret, suddenly seizes power and at first feigns holiness before persecuting the Church.

2.52. Solomon of Basra: Gog and Magog burst 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” — Solomon of Basra, The Book of the Bee (Budge translation); scanned text. Note: Gog, Magog and twenty other peoples burst from Alexander's northern gate at a time of deep security, as in the days of Noah. [Ezekiel 38:2; Revelation 20:8; Matthew 24:38]

2.53. Solomon of Basra: Born where Christ's woes fell

“In a week and half a week after the destruction of these wretches shall the son of destruction appear. He shall be conceived in Chorazin, born in Bethsaida, and reared in Capernaum.” — Solomon of Basra, The Book of the Bee (Budge translation); scanned text. Note: Antichrist appears three and a half years after Gog and Magog's destruction; the Gospel woes upon three Galilean towns mark his conception, birth and upbringing. [Matthew 11:21]

2.54. Solomon of Basra: Last emperor of Ethiopian seed

“The holy Cross will be taken up to heaven, and the royal crown with it; and the king will die immediately. The king who shall deliver over the kingdom to God will be descended from the seed of Kûshath the daughter of Pil, the king of the Ethiopians” — Solomon of Basra, The Book of the Bee (Budge translation); scanned text. Note: The last emperor, who dies after handing over the kingdom, is of Ethiopian descent through Kushath, a Roman king's wife. [Psalm 68:31]

2.55. Solomon of Basra: Of Dan; deluding phantasms

“Then will the son of perdition appear, of the seed and of the tribe of Dan; and he will shew deluding phantasms, and lead astray the world” — Solomon of Basra, The Book of the Bee (Budge translation); scanned text. Note: Antichrist is of the tribe of Dan and misleads the world by illusory wonders. [Genesis 49:17]

2.56. Solomon of Basra: Devil-indwelt man of Dan

“He becomes a man incarnate by a married woman of the tribe of Dan. When this son of destruction becomes a man, he will be made a dwelling-place for devils, and all Satanic workings will be perfected in him.” — Solomon of Basra, The Book of the Bee (Budge translation); scanned text. Note: He is born as a man of a married Danite woman and is made a dwelling-place of devils, an inverted incarnation. [Genesis 49:17]

2.57. Neale and Littledale (compilers): Pharaoh earliest type

“Blaspheme God; as Pharaoh, the earliest type of Antichrist, when he said, "Who is the LORD, that I should let Israel go?” — 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 call Pharaoh the earliest type of Antichrist, citing his blasphemous question about the LORD. [Psalm 10:14; Exodus 5:2]

2.58. Neale and Littledale (compilers): Types: Pharaoh, Antiochus, fourth empire

“just so awful are the symbols, whether in history or in prophecy, of that Antichrist who must be revealed before the end of all things: types, such as those of Pharaoh, Antiochus Epiphanes, and that fourth empire of iron which Daniel beheld” — 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 list Pharaoh, Antiochus Epiphanes and Daniel's fourth iron empire as types of the Antichrist who must be revealed before the end. [Psalm 10:3; Daniel 7:7]

2.59. Neale and Littledale (compilers): Singular beast = Antichrist

“Next, they take the words of the Church, vexed by the devil, typified by the boar, as the emblem of brutal passions, and by Antichrist, the singular beast.” — Neale and Littledale (compilers), A Commentary on the Psalms from Primitive and Mediaeval Writers, volume 2 (Psalms 39–80) (part 2 of 2); scanned text. Note: The compilers report a reading of Psalm 80's boar as the devil and the 'singular beast' of the Vulgate as Antichrist. [Psalm 80:13]

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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