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Against Heresies
Irenaeus of Lyons
Book 5 · Chapter 30 About this work A five-book account and refutation of competing Christian movements that also develops Irenaeus’s positive theology of creation, Scripture, apostolic tradition, incarnation, salvation, and recapitulation in Christ.
Author Irenaeus of Lyons
Date c. AD 175–185
Origin Lyons, Gaul
Genre Heresiology 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. Section 1 1 . Such , then , being the state
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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
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
.
]
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
,
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
.
Section 2 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 . ” 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 .
Section 3 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 : 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 . 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 .
Section 4 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 . ”
Notes 252 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.
253 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).
254 Rev. xxii. 19.
255 1 Thess. v. 3.
256 Jer. viii. 16.
257 Rev. vii. 5–7. [The Danites (though not all) corrupted the Hebrew church and the Levitical priesthood, by image-worship, (Judg. xviii.), and forfeited the blessings of the old covenant.]
258 [A very pregnant passage, as has often been noted. But let us imitate the pious reticence with which this section concludes.]
259 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.
260 Rev. xvii. 8.
261 Matt. viii. 11.
