Page 15 - BV16

The Antichrist Most Definitely Is Not a Person! 15

Irenaeus. Irenaeus was born around 135 and lived into the next century. He wrote a commentary on
parts of Daniel and Revelation -- especially of the 13th chapter of Revelation and the 7th chapter of
Daniel. The epitome of his chapter (XXI) on the Antichrist in his commentary begins as follows –

John and Daniel have predicted the dissolution and desolation of the Roman Empire,
which shall precede the end of the world,...(Irenaeus, Against Heresies, XXI).

Irenaeus clearly had no difficulty interpreting Daniel: “concerning the ten kings who shall
then arise, among whom the empire that now rules earth shall be partitioned” (Irenaeus, Against
Heresies XXVI, 1).

He believed the Roman Empire would pass away and be divided into ten kingdoms -- which
happened a number of centuries in his future. There was simply no way for Irenaeus to know that
except through the prophecies. The opinion of Roman citizens of the day was that the empire would
last forever -- they even called it “eternal Rome”! But understanding that both John and Daniel had
predicted the decline and fall of the Roman Empire into ten kingdoms is not all that Irenaeus saw.
He said, “It is manifest that he shall come” -- meaning the little horn -- and “shall slay three” of the
ten horns, “and subject the remainder to his power.” He clearly believed that the coming entity
would overcome three and then dominate the other seven states left to a divided Roman Empire.

He refers to the power that would rise in the place of the Roman Empire as an “apostasy” --
and warns that YEHOVAH God “has prepared eternal fire for every kind of apostasy.” In quoting
Justin Martyr, who lived before Irenaeus, he considers that Satan is the author of “apostasy” and
eternal fire is “reserved for all apostasy.” This is a truly remarkable passage because Irenaeus fore-
sees the division of the Roman Empire yet to come in the future and sees the Antichrist power rising
out of the church, for that is the meaning of apostasy. It refers to an enemy -- not from without but
one who rises up from within.

In a few paragraphs later Irenaeus makes the first known attempt to interpret the number
666. Remember, this is only a few short years after the Book of Revelation was written by the apos-
tle John. It was also at a time when the Roman Empire was at its zenith -- the most peaceful, suc-
cessful time of the empire. It was the time of the Five Good Emperors or the Pax Romana, when
there was no war within the bounds of the empire, and no unsuccessful military action outside the
empire for a hundred years.

Irenaeus cautions that since 666 -- the name -- had not yet been fulfilled in a coming world
power, then it is wise to be careful in looking around for the right name. These interpreters, who
lived before the fall of the Roman Empire, obviously did not see the great anti-Christian power that
would rise up on the European scene and persecute true believers for centuries. They understood
everything except the time frame. However, they did know that the Antichrist would rise up from a
shattered Roman Empire. They did not have the hindsight we have today to recognize that an
anti-Christian kingdom did in fact rise up out of the Church of God and usurp the authority of
YEHOVAH God and man; and with the falsely assumed authority of YEHOVAH and the sword of
man, dominate European and world politics for almost 1300 years.

The Berean Voice July-August 2002