Triumphant RETURN and the Kingdom #2
What is "old" is not automatically "correct"!
What Did the Early Church Believe about the Second Coming? Some who reject the futurist, literal interpretation of Bible prophecy as taught by those of us who hold to the apostolic and premillennial doctrine of Christ's Second Coming often claim that our beliefs were basically unknown to the early Church. In this chapter I hope to demonstrate to any fair-minded inquirer that the historical evidence is overwhelming that the apostolic Church generally adopted a literal and futurist interpretation of the prophecies, especially regarding the Second Advent and the premillennial return of Christ to set up His kingdom. We will examine the specific prophetic beliefs that are commonly held by modern prophecy teachers such as Hal Lindsey, Tim LaHaye, John Walvoord, and myself. Examples of these particular prophetic beliefs include acceptance of a literal and future Antichrist, False Prophet, Second Coming, the resumption of sacrifice in the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem, and the establishment of the millennial kingdom of God by Christ at His coming. (They have the coming of the anti-christ false prophet [which are the same man - but they have it wrong on that point], Second Coming, millennium Kingdom, correct. The REST they have WRONG! - Keith Hunt) We will compare these modern prophetic views with quotations of the early Church theologians and teachers as documented by the authoritative collection of ancient manuscripts called the Ante-Nicene Fathers. (Ya, remember those "fathers" were in the large main, those who founded the Roman Catholic church - Keith Hunt) Years ago, I embarked on a systematic study of the writings of the early Christian theologians who taught prior to the Council of Nicea in 325. These informative writings were translated from Greek and Latin into English and assembled in a ten-volume set called the Ante-Nicene Fathers in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the 1890s. There is ample evidence that our modern views regarding the fulfillment of the prophecies are remarkably similar to those held by the Christians during the first three centuries following Christ. A later chapter in this book will examine the specific millennial kingdom beliefs of the early Church and will demonstrate conclusively that these early Church teachers almost universally taught the premillennial return of Christ. An examination of several key prophetic teachings of the apostolic church will provide powerful evidence that current prophecy beliefs are consistent with the earliest teachings of the apostles and the early Church. Should Prophecy Be Interpreted as Literal or Allegorical? One of the most fundamental issues facing those who consider the prophecies of the Bible is the question of the correct method of interpretation - literally or allegorically - as indicated in the previous chapter. However, one of the most significant considerations is to examine the question of the method of interpretation used by the Church Fathers, some of whom personally knew the disciples of Jesus. The quotations listed in this chapter provide compelling evidence that the primitive Church writers interpreted the prophecies in a quite literal manner. Several writers from the first few centuries specifically addressed the issue of how we should interpret the prophecies. As noted the second-century writer Irenaeus declared that the literal method was correct: "If, however, any shall endeavor to allegorize (prophecies) of this kind, they shall not be found consistent with themselves in all points, and shall be confuted by the teaching of the very expressions." Another second-century writer, Justin Martyr, also confirmed that we should expect those prophecies about the events in the last days to be fulfilled in the same manner as those predictions fulfilled in the past. Justin wrote, "Since, then, we prove that all things which have already happened had been predicted by the prophets before they came to pass, we must necessarily believe also that those things which are in like manner predicted, but are yet to come to pass, shall certainly happen. For as the things which have already taken place came to pass when foretold, and even though unknown, so shall the things that remain, even though they be unknown and disbelieved, yet come to pass." The Early Church's Prophetic Beliefs Virtually all serious scholars of Church history, regardless of their personal views regarding the Millennium, acknowledge that the early apostolic Church believed in an imminent Second Coming. For example: Professor Richard Rothe states: "The apostles unanimously expected the return of Christ, to enter upon this Kingdom (Chiliastic) on earth." Professor James Donaldson, the respected editor of the Ante-Nicene Library, in his "History of Catholic Doctrine and Literature," wrote about the belief of Justin Martyr in support of the premillennial doctrine: "The opinion just adduced is one in which the whole Church shared. All expected Christ to appear on earth, to raise His saints, to grant them the possession of the earth, and to bless them with uninterrupted happiness." Philip Schaff declared in his "History of the Apostolic Church": "The expectation of the speedy return of Christ in glory, as probably one of Paul's favorite themes; that he exhorts the Thessalonians 'to be always ready to meet the Lord, who shall come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, and warns them, for this very reason, among other errors, against presuming to calculate the day and hour of His appearing." The French historian Professor Joseph Renan (1823-1892) stated, "The two Syriac words Maran-atha (the Lord is about to come) became the watchword of the Christians among themselves; the short, animated expression, which they passed from one to another to encourage themselves in their hoping." After surveying the overwhelming evidence that the premillennial doctrine was strongly held by all of the key leaders of the early Church, Karl A. Auberlen wrote that in his view, Jesus, the Prophets, and the Apostles were all "Chiliasts" [premillennial]. The anti-millennial scholar JohannA.W.Neander (1789-1850) admitted in his history of the primitive Church that the apostles were not looking for the immediate conversion of the world but for the speedy return of Christ. He wrote, "Every unprejudiced reader of the New Testament cannot fail to perceive that such an expectation filled the souls of the apostles." Neander wrote about how this expectation influenced their concept regarding the purpose of the church. "It was not the idea of a renovated time that Christianity first attempted to realize, but everything appeared only as a point of transition to a new, heavenly, eternal order of things which would commence at the Second Advent." The Last Days The first issue is the question regarding the time when the prophecies will be fulfilled - immediately in A.D.70 or in the final "last days" that include Armageddon and the ushering in of the promised millennial rule. Irenaeus (A.D.120-202), who died as a martyr to his faith, wrote "Against Heresies," one of the most important prophetic writings of the primitive Church. Irenaeus was a disciple of Polycarp (A.D.69-155), who was personally taught by the apostle John. Therefore, he knew that John's prophecies in Revelation were not fulfilled decades earlier during the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D.70. Irenaeus writes: "In a still clearer light has John, in the Apocalypse, indicated to the Lord's disciples what shall happen in the last times, and concerning the ten kings who shall then arise, among whom the empire [Rome] which now rules (the earth) shall be partitioned. ... It is manifest, therefore that of these (potentates), he who is to come shall slay three, and subject the remainder to his power, and that he shall be himself the eighth among them. And they shall lay Babylon waste, and burn her with fire, and shall give their kingdom to the beast, and put the Church to flight. After that, they shall be destroyed by the coming of the Lord." Irenaeus obviously expected the fulfillment of this prophecy to occur at some point in the future, although he knew the Roman army had destroyed the city of Jerusalem eighty-five years before he wrote his book " Against Heresies." He also understood that the apostle John taught about a final future apostasy of the Church that would lead to its prophetic and symbolic designation as "Mystery Babylon" and the ultimate destruction of this false church by the Antichrist's tenfold kingdom at the midpoint of the seven-year Tribulation (Revelation 17:16-18). (Oh, did you notice that HUGE leap Jeffrey did? There is NOTHING in the quote from Irenaeus as to what Jeffrey claims he is saying. Irenaeus sticks with no more than what John wrote on Revelation. The beast man will lead in ruling people and subjecting them to his power. But finally he and his, will turn on Babylon and destroy Babylon Mystery Religion. The church will be put to flight; but he and his, will be destroyed by the coming of Christ. All of THAT is in the book of Revelation, as Irenaeus knew, but all of THAT is vastly DIFFERENT than what Jeffrey tells you in his last paragraph. Read his last paragraph again, and read what he quoted from Irenaeus. The two do NOT say the same at all. This is the clever manipulating of your mind, by Jeffrey, IF you are not reading carefully. He's planting ideas in your mind, and making them out to be from way back people like Irenaeus. Very deceptively clever - Keith Hunt) Toward the end of the second century, the theologian Hippolytus (A.D.170-236) wrote about the fact that the prophecies all pointed to a final fulfillment during the "last days" during the final generation of this age: "These words then being thus presented, let us observe somewhat in detail what Daniel says in his visions. For in distinguishing the kingdoms that are to rise after these things, he showed also the coming of Antichrist in the last times, and the consummation of the whole world." It is significant that every one of the early Christian writers taught that the prophecies of Daniel, Revelation, and Matthew 24 would be fulfilled in the last days at the end of this age until the publications of Origen (A.D.185-254). The respected Church historian John Mosheim wrote, "The prevailing opinion that Christ was to come and reign a thousand years among men before the final dissolution of the world, had met with no opposition previous to the time of Origen." (I have no problem with those before Origen understanding the prophectic word of the Lord would be fulfilled literally and did include the coming of Christ in glory to set up the Kingdom of God on earth; the Bible teaches that fact very clearly - Keith Hunt) The Hope of the Imminent Second Coming The "Didache" (also known as the Testimony of the Twelve Apostles) is an important Church document from the first few years of the second century (approximately A.D.110) that gives us vital insights into beliefs that were dominant in the primitive Church. The following statement in an early Christian document, Didache 16:17, indicates the strongly held belief in the Second Coming: "Then shall the world see the Lord coming upon the clouds of heaven." A primitive Christian manuscript known as "The Reliques of the Elders" was fortunately copied and preserved in the writings of Irenaeus. This valuable document preserves powerful evidence of the widespread popularity of the doctrine of the return of Christ in the primitive Church. The manuscript declares, "Afterwards he chanted the psalm of confession, waiting for the coming of the Lord, who washes and cleanses the man who had been bound in sin ... and was speaking his three thousand parables on the coming of the Lord, and his five thousand songs, by way of hymn to God." This remarkable statement indicates that there were thousands of statements or parables related to "the coming of the Lord" that were known during the time of the post-apostolic Church. Another document from the primitive Church encourages all Christians to imitate those who sacrificed everything to their faith in Christ and went about "preaching the coming of Christ." Clement of Rome, an important Church leader who is reported to have become an early bishop of Rome, wrote an epistle to the Church at Corinth in which he encouraged the believers to follow the example of those who first taught the coming of Christ. Clement wrote: "Let us be imitators also of them which went about in goat skins and sheepskins, preaching the coming of Christ." The brilliant Church historian Hippolytus (A.D.200) wrote about the Christian belief in the two advents of Christ: For through the Scriptures we are instructed in two advents of the Christ and Saviour. And the first after the flesh was in humiliation, because He was manifested in lowly estate. So then His second advent is declared to be in glory; for He comes from heaven with power, and angels, and the glory of His Father. His first advent had John the Baptist as its forerunner; and His second, in which He is to come in glory, will exhibit Enoch, and Elias, and John the Divine. (Well old Hippolytus had the coming of Christ, in advent one and advent two, correct, but the fellows he says will be with Him, is correct, if you understand the truth of the saints being resurrected at the coming of Christ in glory - Keith Hunt) The British historian Edward Gibbon wrote in his book "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" about the universal belief of the early Church in the doctrine of the literal and imminent return of Christ. It was universally believed that the end of the world, and the kingdom of heaven, were at hand. The near approach of this wonderful event had been predicted by the apostles; the tradition of it was preserved by their earliest disciples, and those who understood in their literal sense the discourses of Christ himself were obliged to expect the second and glorious coming of the Son of Man in the clouds, before that generation was totally extinguished which had beheld his humble condition upon earth. OF COURSE THEY WERE WRONG; JESUS DID NOT COME IN THAT GENERATION AT ALL, NOR THE NEXT, NOR THE NEXT. MANY GENERATION HAVE COME AND GONE AND JUSUS HAS NOT YET RETURNED; BUT HE WILL COME IN THE GENERATION THAT IS LIVING WHEN HE CONES— Keith Hunt While Gibbon acknowledged the historical truth that the first Christians longed for the speedy return of Christ, he is quite wrong in his conclusion that the primitive Church believed, or was obligated to believe, that the Bible's prophecies demanded that Christ would return in the generation that first heard His prophecies. We will examine the subject of the imminent Second Coming in depth in Chapter 10. However, in brief, the prophecies taught that Christ could come at any moment but they did not place any time limit on how long the Lord would tarry until He returned. In fact, many prophecies warned that some critics in the last days would deny His Second Advent because of the long delay in time. The apostle Peter warned about the danger of losing faith but instructed us that the reason for the apparent delay was God's compassion to sinners. "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night" (2 Peter 3:8-10). (The idea and teaching that Christ could come at any second is FASLE! There are specific prophecies that MUST be fulfilled BEFORE Christ returns; we have the whole book of Revelation to state that fact. As the nations of the world will NOT repent and freely turn to God and His way of life, then the prophecies MUST come as God has stated. Hence Jesus cannot come at any second - Keith Hunt) The French theologian Jean Baptiste Massillon (1663-1742) acknowledged that "in the days of primitive Christianity it would have been deemed a kind of apostasy not to sigh for the return of the Lord." However, the abandonment of the foundational doctrines of the Word of God together with the continued growth of apostasy within the ranks of Christian pastors has produced the lamentable situation where those "who love His appearing" and powerfully teach the scriptural doctrine of the soon return of Christ and His millennial kingdom are often criticized as "prophecy speculators" and considered to be eccentric in their teaching. Tragically, many who lead in the Church today consider those who state "Even so, come Lord Jesus" to be on the theological fringe and unbalanced when they teach the historic doctrine of the return of Christ. This rejection of the biblical prophecies regarding the Second Coming and the kingdom of God is clearly a fulfillment of the New Testament prophecies of the last days, in which the apostle Peter warned "there shall come ... scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (2 Peter 3:3-4). SHOWING INDEED THERE WOULD BE MUCH MORE TIME BEFORE JESUS WOULD RETURN; PETER HAD NO IDEA HOW MUCH TIME, AND WOULD PROBABLY BE QUITE SHOCKED AT HOW MUCH TIME HAS TRANSPIRED SINCE HE WROTE THOSE WORDS— Keith Hunt The Antichrist The primitive Church was fascinated by the prophecies about the future world dictator known as the Antichrist and his horrific and bloody rule over Israel and the nations during the last days. One of the most interesting of the early Christian writers, Hippolytus (A.D.160-236), wrote that the Antichrist would arise from among the Jews to deceive them: "For in every respect that deceiver seeks to make himself appear like the Son of God. Christ is a lion, and Antichrist is a lion.... The Saviour was circumcised, and he in like manner will appear in circumcision ... he in like manner will gather together the dispersed people of the Hebrews.... Christ arose from among the Hebrews, and he will spring from among the Jews." (Hippolytus only got right that the anti-christ will make himself appear as if he is Christ. For the anti-christ is the false prophet of Revelation, the man of sin of 2 Thes. who will declare himself "God" on earth. In fact we have had MANY anti-christs over the centuries, for the leader of the largest "Christian" church does even now declare God is on earth through him. His members of his organization do indeed believe God is on earth through the leader of their church. What did Hippo boy think, that this anti-christ would expose his "penis" on world-wide TV to expose to the Jews he is circumcised? He will NOT gather together the dispersed Hebrews - he will kill and DISPERSE them! He will NOT come from the Jews. Hippo guy was out in the mud with the Hippos when he dreamed this theology up - very wrong! Keith Hunt) Another key writer, Lactantius, wrote in A.D.313 that the Antichrist will imitate and seek to replace God in the worship of humanity in the last days. "Now this is he who is called Antichrist; but he shall falsely call himself Christ, and shall fight against the truth, and being overcome shall flee." Lactantius also wrote that Satan will attempt to set himself up as God in this final conflict. "But that king will not only be most disgraceful in himself, but he will also be a prophet of lies; and he will constitute and call himself God, and will order himself to be worshipped as the Son of God." (Now Lactantius stuck with the NT Scriptures and so he got it CORTRECT!! - but over correct; he will not say he is Christ. He will be worshipped as God on earth. Years ago the Pope at the time went to a South American country [forgot which] and a reporter asked a young lady what she thought about his visit, her reply was "He is God on earth." Keith Hunt Irenaeus wrote about the career of the Antichrist in relation to Christ's return. "For he [Antichrist] being endued [empowered] with all the power of the devil, shall come, not as a righteous king, nor as a legitimate king, [one] in subjection to God, but an impious, unjust, and lawless one; as an apostate, iniquitous and murderous; as a robber, concentrating in himself (all) satanic apostasy, and setting aside idols to persuade (men) that he himself is God, raising up himself as the only idol, having in himself the multifarious errors of the other idols." (Ah, yes Irenaeus knew the Scriptures also. Anti-christ will come as appearing as God, he will appear to be "Christian" but he will really be the false prophet of Revelation. He will have the power of Satan; he will really be against the way and laws of God, yet he will say he is from God, that God is in him - Keith Hunt) The False Prophet The Scriptures indicate that the False Prophet, the partner of the Antichrist, will perform supernatural acts to deceive people. (This is again where people like Jeffrey fall off the beam. The False Prophet IS the anti-christ, IS the man of sin of 2 Thessalonians. They are one and the same. It is the false prophet that has a "man beast" with him, a secular leader of the resurrected Roman/Babylon Empire - Keith Hunt) Possibly he will falsely claim to be the prophet Elijah as foretold by Malachi 4:5. It is fascinating to note that Lactantius (A.D.260-330) confirmed this interpretation regarding the False Prophet in his book "Divine Institutes" in the third century: He will also be a prophet of lies; and he will constitute and call himself God, and will order himself to be worshipped as the Son of God; and power will be given him to do signs and wonders, by the sight of which he may entice men to adore him. He will command fire to come down from heaven, and the sun to stand and leave his course, and an image to speak; and these things shall be done at his word-by which miracles many even of the wise shall be enticed by him. Then he will attempt to destroy the temple of God, and persecute the righteous people; and there will be distress and tribulation such as there never has been from the beginning of the world . (Lactantius again stuck with the Scriptures and is correct only in part, but he is speaking of the False Prophet, the Man of Sin, for THE anti-christ and false prophet are one the same - he will not be worshipped as the Son of God, but as God on earth. There will be no physical emple, but he will be responsible for the destruction of the people of God— Israel and Judah, and the true Christians, who will have to flee [Revelation 12] but some will face persecution— those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Christ Jesus [the Jews do not have] [Rev. 12]. Keith Hunt) Another Christian writer, Victorinus, wrote a fascinating commentary on the Apocalypse in A.D.280. In it, he declared that the False Prophet will set up an image of the Antichrist in the rebuilt Temple in the Holy City. Victorinus wrote: "He shall cause also that a golden image of Antichrist shall be placed in the temple at Jerusalem." He also noted that the False Prophet will counterfeit the supernatural signs of the genuine prophet Elijah, who will minister as one of the two witnesses during the Tribulation. "And he shall make fire come down from heaven in the sight of men." Victorinus' reference to the satanic miracle of bringing fire down from heaven (Revelation 13:13-14) is virtually identical to the interpretation found in the writings of modern prophecy teachers. (Victorinus had missed the boat leaving the hot desert and was under sun-stoke in writing those words. He had just about nothing correct, except the false prophet could bring fire down from heaven, and that part is written for all to read in the book of Revelation. Everything else is Vic boy's fancy ideas - and wrong. Keith Hunt) The Revival of the Roman Empire - A Ten-Nation Superstate Irenaeus clearly identifies the kingdom of the future Antichrist with the final revival of the Roman Empire, symbolized by the fourth beast of Daniel 7. He taught that the Antichrist will violently overthrow three of the ten kingdoms that will form a ten-nation superstate in the territory of the original Roman Empire during the last days. "In a still clearer light has John, in the Apocalypse, indicated to the Lord's disciples what shall happen in the last times, and concerning the ten kings who shall then arise, among whom the empire [Rome] which now rules (the earth) shall be partitioned.... It is manifest, therefore that of these (potentates), he who is to come shall slay three, and subject the remainder to his power, and that he shall be himself the eighth among them." (Irenaeus was getting some of the prophecy of Daniel out of order, and mixed up. He could not be expected to understand Daniel in any full way, because it was said to Daniel himself that his prophecy was closed and sealed up till the time of the end, when people would run to and fro and knowledge would be increased. Irenaeus was NOT living in that time. That time has only been here about 100 years —— No ten nations are going to rule the word; even the revival of the Holy Roman Empire will never rule the whole world, only the western world. No 3 leaders are going to die, that took place when the Roman Empire fell 3 following tribes came and went, after which the Holy Roman Empire stated Keith Hunt) Lactantius also confirmed that the prophets foretold that ten nations would join a superstate confederacy in the last days. "Then civil discords will perpetually be sown; nor will there be any rest from deadly wars, until ten kings arise at the same time, who will divide the world, not to govern, but to consume it." (Well once more not hard to figure that much as Revelation tells us about ten kings who give their power to one king beast, and they obviously think they are mighty powerful, as they will try to fight Christ at his coming —— and they think by joining forces they can fight and defeat Christ Jesus. Keith Hunt) In his commentary on Revelation, Victorinus also wrote about the seven kings of the revived Roman Empire who survive after the first three of the original ten kings are destroyed by the Antichrist. "His seven heads were the seven kings of the Romans, of whom also is Antichrist, as we have said above. 'And ten horns.' He says that the ten kings in the latest times are the same as these, as we shall more fully set forth there." (Again, Vic boy was getting things mixed up from Daniel and Revelation, but he was right in putting it all within a Roman- Empire context. My in-depth study "The Beasts of Daniel and Revelation" makes all this plain. It will dovetail Daniel and Revelation correctly for you - Vic boy was out to lunch and way to early in history to understand Daniel and Revelation. those two books can only be understood now that history has been fulfilled and we are in the time of the end. Keith Hunt) Daniel's Seventieth Week - The Seven Years of Tribulation and the Gap of Years (Now we come to probably the BIGGEST MISTAKE our fundamental Christian prophets make - Keith Hunt) Some critical writers have stated that the teaching about a gap, or "parenthesis," of many years occurring between the end of Daniel's sixty-ninth week (at the time of Israel's rejection of the Messiah) and the commencement of the final seventieth week, the last seven years of this age (the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation), is a new theory that was unknown before modern times. However, a careful examination of the prophetic writings during the first few centuries of the Church era reveals that a number of writers also understood that the critical events of the last days will be fulfilled during Daniel's seventieth week of seven years. (And that just means that others before today GOT IT ALL WRONG! - Keith Hunt) In his commentary on Daniel 9:24-27, Irenaeus refers to the prophesied seventieth "week" of seven years as the duration of the future Antichrist's tyranny: "And in the midst of the week, he says, the sacrifice and the libation shall be taken away, and the abomination of desolation (shall be brought) into the temple: even unto the consummation of the time shall the desolation be complete. Now three years and six months constitute the half-week." (Read that quote again friends! Does Irenaeus say anything about 7 or 3 years and 6 months, being at the very end of this age? If he did believe it, this quote sure does not state it - Keith Hunt) In another early Church commentary, Lactantius confirmed that Satan would supernaturally empower the Antichrist with evil power during the last half (three and one-half years) of Daniel's seventieth week: "Power will be given him to desolate the whole earth for forty-two months." (Just a minute now, where in this quote did Lac boy tell us this was the last half of Daniel's 70th week. Old Lacy boy is telling us exactly what is written in Revelation - 42 months. There is NOTHING in Revelation about 7 years or 84 months - Keith Hunt) The writer Hippolytus wrote a detailed commentary about the prophecies and noted the clear prophecy of Daniel about the final seven-year Tribulation: He intimated also of old in this Daniel. For he says, "I shall make a covenant of one week, and in the midst of the week my sacrifice and libation will be removed." For by one week he indicates the showing forth of the seven years which shall be in the last times. And the half of the week the two prophets, along with John, will take for the purpose of proclaiming to all the world the advent of Antichrist, that is to say, for a "thousand two hundred and sixty days clothed in sackcloth;" and they will work signs and wonders. (So old Hippo guy believed what most fundamenatl prophets teach. All that proves is that the false teaching of Daniel 9 has been around the block a number of times before, before it grew into a huge following like it has today - Keith Hunt) In another manuscript, Hippolytus wrote about Daniel's vision of the seventy weeks and clearly revealed his understanding that the final "week" of seven years (the Tribulation) will occur after a long gap of time from the ending of the sixty-ninth week, when Christ had first come. Hippolytus commented on Daniel's prophecy that the time between "the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks" (Daniel 9:25). Hippolytus wrote: "For when the threescore and two weeks are fulfilled, and Christ is come, and the Gospel is preached in every place, the times being then accomplished, there will remain only one week, the last, in which Elias will appear, and Enoch, and in the midst of it the abomination of desolation will be manifested, viz., Antichrist, announcing desolation to the world. And when he comes, the sacrifice and oblation will be removed, which now are offered to God in every place by the nations." (Again just becuase old Hippy boy had some strange idea about Elijah coming back to life with Enoch and the last 7 years of Daniel's 70 week prophecy being at the time of the end with the anti-christ, DOES NOT MAKE IT CORRECT! - Keith Hunt) In this same manuscript, Hippolytus identified the last half of Daniel's seventieth week (Daniel 9:27) with the Antichrist's persecution of the saints after the ministry of the two witnesses. "As also it was announced to Daniel: 'And one week shall confirm a covenant with many; and in the midst of the week it shall be that the sacrifice and oblation shall be removed' - that the one week might be shown to be divided into two. The two witnesses, then, shall preach three years and a half; and Antichrist shall make war upon the saints during the rest of the week, and desolate the world, that what is written may be fulfilled." (Yep, I guess Hippy boy realy did teach this popular present day fundamental teaching of the last week of Daniel's 70 week prophecy. On the other hand MANY of the fundamental Bible scholars of the 17th, 18th, 19th centuries in their popular Bible Commentaries TAUGHT NO SUCH TEACHING as Hippy boy and the present prophets like Jeffrey teach. See the Bible Commentaries of Albert Barnes; Adam Clarke; Matthew Henry, etc. - Keith Hunt) It is intriguing to note that the ancient Jewish sages also interpreted the prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27 to teach that the Messiah, "the son of David," will literally appear at the end of a seven-year period of great troubles, suffering, and distress. For example, the Babylonian Talmud contains the following statement regarding the return of the Messiah: "Our rabbis taught: In the seven-year cycle at the end of which the son of David will come ... at the conclusion of the septennate [7 year period] the son of David will come." In another passage, the Babylonian Talmud reported, "The advent of the Messiah was pictured as being preceded by years of great distress." (Hummmm, interesting, but Jewish ... whatever proves nothing. If you take a look at what Jesus thought about MUCH of "Jewish" theology in the Four Gospels, it is hardly flattering to try and quote from them just about anything that has to do with Jesus the Messiah —— yes there will be years of great tribulation but not 7, and the false teaching of Daniel 9 still prevails by some Protestant fundamentals which their late peers did not teach. This false teaching came through Darby and Scofield, end of the 19th century into the 20th century. See the Bible Commentaries by Adam Clarke, Mathew Henry and Albert Barnes— Keith Hunt) The Mark of the Beast Irenaeus also commented on the mark of the Beast and 666: "The number is 666, that is, six times a hundred, six times ten, and six units. (He gives this) as a summing up of the whole of that apostasy which has taken place during six thousand years. For in as many days as this world was made, in so many thousand years shall it be concluded. And for this reason the Scripture says: Thus the heaven and the earth were finished, and all their adornment. And God brought to a conclusion upon the sixth day the works that He had made; and God rested upon the seventh day from all His works. This is an account of the things formerly created; as it is a prophecy of what is to come. For the day of the Lord is as a thousand years; and in six days created things were completed: it is evident, therefore, that they will come to an end at the year sixth thousand." (Wellll nowwww .... according to the chronology of Usher [Adam being created in 4004 B.C.] we have sailed right by the bay of 6,000 years, and the 7th thousand millennium reign of the Kingdom of God on earth ain't come YET! The plain truth is God is NOT working on a 7,000 year plan. Oh it may have been nice for Ireny fellow to try and look at creation and figure out some 7,000 year time span, IN HIS DAY, he had a few thousand years where he could not be proved wrong. BUT HE SURE IS PROVED WRONG TODAY! It's all clever dreaming folks, just wild speculation, which has NO bearing of FACT in any of it. There is not ONE WORD in Scripture to uphold the idea that God is working on some 7 THOUSAND YEAR time span for mankind on this earth - Keith Hunt) Irenaeus indicates in this passage his belief that Christ would establish His rule approximately two thousand years after His first coming. (Welllll, as Jesus was born 5 B.C. [there's a study on this Website proving that fact] we are getting kinda well over 2,000 years from our Savior's first coming, and He has not been sent back yet. Nice to figure things when you are 2,000 years away from it - Keith Hunt) Irenaeus wrote that some writers had speculated that the number 666 (Revelation 13:-18) may refer to the name Lateinos (the Latin) or Teitan (Titan) but he wisely refused to speculate about the name of the Antichrist. "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." (Actually, Ireny guy could have figured it out, the fellow that started the Roman Empire - Romulus - his name adds up to 666 - and the Roman Empire was to have TEN resurrections, the last 7 ruled over by a woman whore church. The 7th and last Holy Roman Empire is yet to arise in Europe, it is rising. It will be the last Romulus 666 empire to be on this earth - Keith Hunt) Victorinus wrote in his commentary that both John and Daniel prophesied about the satanic system of population control that the Antichrist will employ involving the mark. "Moreover, he himself shall contrive that his servants and children should receive as a mark on their foreheads, or on their right hands, the number of his name, lest any one should buy or sell them. Daniel had previously predicted his [the Antichrist's] contempt and provocation of God." (Not hard for Vic boy to do this, it is written in the book of Revelation as plain as day for all to read - Keith Hunt) Lactantius wrote in his "Divine Institutes" about the last three and a half years of terror during the Great Tribulation under the Antichrist's mark of the Beast system: "As many as shall believe him and unite themselves to him, shall be marked by him as sheep; but they who shall refuse his mark will either flee to the mountains, or, being seized, will be slain with studied tortures. He will also enwrap righteous men with the books of the prophets, and thus burn them; and power will be given him to desolate the whole earth for forty-two months." (Now isn't that some revelation on Lactantius' part. My oh my, he could read the Bible. I speak with tongue in cheek. He is not saying anything new, he's just restating what John wrote down in the book of Revelation. And by the way he was correct in keeping it all to the last 42 months you will note - Keith Hunt) THE MARK OF THE BEAST HAS BEEN MADE INTO MOVIES. LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. WHEN THE WORLD or PROTESTANT CHURCHES MAKE MOVIES ON THEOLOGY, YOU CAN BE SURE SUCH TEACHINGS ARE FALSE. IT JUST ABOUT NEVER FAILS— Keith Hunt The Temple will be Rebuilt in Jerusalem (Here we go again, with one of the fundamentalist folly of all time, the idea that prophecy cannot be fulfilled until we have a literal stone/wood Temple in Jerusalem - Keith Hunt) Lactantius wrote in "Divine Institutes" that there will be a rebuilt Temple in the last days that will be defiled by the Antichrist during the Tribulation when he will persecute the Jewish people. "Then he will attempt to destroy the temple of God, and persecute the righteous people; and there will be distress and tribulation such as there never has been from the beginning of the world." (The question no one seems to want to ask is what did old Lactantius mean by "destroy the temple of God"? This quote does not elaberate - it just is not there as to what is the "temple of God" - Keith Hunt) Irenaeus also refers to the Antichrist sitting in a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem: "In which (Temple) the enemy shall sit, endeavoring to show himself as Christ, as the Lord." He quotes Jesus' words in Matthew 24 that refer to Daniel 9:24-27: "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand)." (Irenaeus really did not study the subject in its FULL DEPTH. Most have followed him, they haven't studied it either in full detailed depth. I HAVE! And my findings are all in the study called "The Abomination of Desolation" on this Website. All prophecy can be fully fulfilled without there having to be a literal physical Temple in Jerusalem where Jews will offer animal sacrifices - Keith Hunt) The Rebirth of Israel It is interesting to note that several of the early Christian writers correctly interpreted the ancient prophecies that Israel would once again become a nation when the Jewish exiles returned to the Promised Land. Irenaeus acknowledged that Israel would become a nation again in his book "Against Heresies": "And again the same speaks thus: 'These things saith the Lord, I will gather Israel from all nations whither they have been driven ... and they shall dwell in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob." (How nice of Irenaeus to remind us of what is stated OVER AND OVER again in the prophets of old. But the modern fundamental prophets think the Jews in the Holy Land is the fulfilment of all those prophecies; they are once more very mistaken - Keith Hunt) Hippolytus wrote the following statement in his book "Treatise on Christ and Antichrist": "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." (All true, for Hippy man was just telling us what all the prophets of old have written for us centuries ago. Now if you think the Jews in the Holy Land have fulfilled this prophecy, ask yourself this question: How many Jews over there are "religious"? And if a few are, next question: Do they accept Christ as their Savior? Next question: If they do not, do you really believe under the New Covenant, God accepts their worship towards Him? I THINK NOT!!! So as Hippy boy wrote it they ain't really worshipping God yet. Jesus said the time was that God wanted people who would worship Him in spirit and in truth. The Jews (who reject Jesus) .... their worship is not in spirit and in truth, therefore they worship God in vain, as Jesus told them they did, when they would not acknowledge Him as the Son of God, the Messiah, and kept their own traditions and made the commandments of God as no effect. The prophecy has not yet come to pass, but it will; you can read about as I expound all the prophet. Just scroll back a ways and you will find them. The Fig Tree Represents Israel For many years the critics of modern prophecy teachers have denied that the prophetic passage of Christ's message in Matthew 24 regarding the "fig tree" actually referred to the rebirth of the nation Israel. Many critics suggest that there was no persuasive evidence that the "fig tree" actually refers to Israel and its restoration to the Promised Land in the last days. The Bible used the "fig tree," "fig," and "figs" numerous times as an obvious symbol of the nation Israel. For example, the book of Jeremiah used the "fig tree" as a symbol of the Jewish people. "Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good" (Jeremiah 24:5). Another significant use of the fig symbolically occurs in the repeated prophetic image of the Messianic dominion through the phrase, "But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree" (Micah 4:4). Jesus alluded to the same well-known messianic image of Israel at peace when He chose Nathanael to be His disciple, "When thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee" (John 1:48). However, a careful examination reveals there is clear and unequivocal evidence from the teachings of the primitive Church that they understood Christ's prophecy to definitely refer to Israel as the "fig tree." One of the Church writings that appeared in the first century following Jesus Christ clearly identifies the fig tree as a prophetic symbol of Israel. The ancient book known as the "Apocalypse of Peter," which is an early second century (A.D.110-140) commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, was discovered for the first time in 1887 in a Greek text, and an Ethiopian version was found in 1910. The Apocalypse of Peter comments on Christ's specific words used in the Matthew 24 Mount of Olives passage, when Jesus gave one of His most detailed messages regarding the Second Coming. Of particular note are the prophetic symbols used by Christ in this passage, especially His use of the "fig tree" symbol. This early Christian document states the following: And ye, receive ye the Parable of the fig-tree thereon: as soon as its shoots have gone forth and its boughs have sprouted, the end of the world will come. And I, Peter, answered and said unto him, "Explain to me concerning the fig-tree, [and] how we shall perceive it, for throughout all its days does the fig-tree sprout and every year it brings forth its fruit [and] for its master. What (then) meaneth the parable of the fig-tree? We know it not. And the Master answered and said unto me, "Dost thou not understand that the fig-tree is the house of Israel?" Hast thou not grasped that the fig-tree is the house of Israel? Verily, I say to you that when its boughs have sprouted at the end, then shall deceiving Christs come, and awaken hope (with the words): "I am the Christ, who am (now) come into the world." (The fundamental prophets today will not admit WHO the very peoples of the House of Israel are! If they knew they would see indeed that the House of Israel has sprouted, and we are in the days of many false prophets, many deceiving Christs have come and are here - Keith Hunt) A later comment in the Apocalypse of Peter on Christ's vital prophecy reveals that early Christian commentators understood that Jesus' plan was to restore the nation of Israel before the final "last days" crisis when the Antichrist will appear. (And so they probably had in mind the Jews from various lands, coming back to Palestine. By reading the prophets of old, and by getting their time frame mixed up, they no doubt thought the Jews needed to come again as a nation to the Holy Land before Jesus would return. In actual correct time setting of those prophecies, the people of Israel are to return to the Holy Land AFTER the Great Tribulation of the last 42 months of this age, and at the coming again of the Messiah to earth, who will take command in leading them back from the lands of their enemies, where they will have been scattered during the last 42 months or 1260 days of this age - Keith Hunt) Another interesting comment is found in the statement in The Apocalypse of Peter that the two witnesses, "Enoch and Elias [Elijah]," will play key roles in the last days: "Then shall the boughs of the fig-tree, i.e. the house of Israel, sprout, and there shall be many martyrs by His hand: they shall be killed and become martyrs. Enoch and Elias will be sent to instruct them that this is the deceiver who must come into the world and do signs and wonders in order to deceive." (Again, all this shows is that the writers of this Apocalypse of Peter, were "out to lunch" - "way out in left field" - "fallen off the beam" - for they obviously did not have correct, the subject of "death" as taught in the Holy Scriptures. Elijah and Enoch are dead, and will not come back to life again until the resurrection at the coming of the Messiah, AFTER the deceiver has come, after the Tribulation and Day of the Lord has all been fulfilled - Keith Hunt) A small note of correction: Despite the statement, the evidence is compelling that Enoch will not be one of the two witnesses because he was not a Jew and his rapture to heaven did not uniquely qualify him for the role as one of the two witnesses. (What human reasoning of theology we have here. I shake my head in disbelief at the ideas men can come up with to supposedly explain Scripture - Keith Hunt) Elijah and Moses appeared together with Jesus Christ revealing the glory of His coming kingdom on the Mount of Transfiguration. This fact strongly suggests that Elijah and Moses, who previously caused drought and plagues, will be the Two Witnesses of the last days described in Revelation 11:3-13. Malachi's prophecy about Elijah also mentions the role of Moses (Malachi 4:4-5). (I should not be so surprised at the ideas of fundamental theology. The two witnesses, who they are, is not told to us. We await to see. But I can tell you for sure, they will not be Moses, Elijah, Enoch, or anyone that ever lived before. All that ever lived are NOW DEAD, all except Christ. No one will be resurrected back to life, UNTIL the resurrection at the coming of the Lord Jesus. And that coming and resurrection is AFTER the last 42 months of this age - Keith Hunt) This statement of Christ about the parable of the figs from the earliest days of the apostolic Church provides compelling evidence that believers who lived closest to the apostles understood the words of Christ in Matthew 24:30 to prophetically foretell the rebirth of Israel in the last days. (Nope ... Jesus was simply saying that when you see the signs He told us about to watch for in the world, then His coming would not be far away. In this context the fig tree had nothing to do with Israel - Keith Hunt) The prophetic teachings of the great theologians of the primitive Church provide compelling evidence that they understood the prophecies about the return of Christ and the future millennial dominion as we do today. Therefore, we can have confidence that our own prophetic interpretation about the coming Antichrist, the seven-year Tribulation, the mark of the Beast, and Christ's triumphant victory over Satan to establish His millennial kingdom are biblically valid and consistent with the Word of God as understood and taught by the first Christians. The Bible certainly gives instruction on the COMING of the Lord; the 1,000 year millennium rule of Christ on earth; the False Prophet anti-christ; the Greast Tribulation; the Mark of the Beast; the victory of Christ over Satan. BUT THE TEACHING OF A 7 YEAR GREAT TRIBULATION IS TOTALLY FALSE AND IS NOWHERE TAUGHT IN THE SCRIPTURES. DANIEL 9 IS VERY MISUNDERSTOOD BY MANY FUNDAMENTAL PROPHETS, AS IS THE NEED FOR A PHYSICAL TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM IN WHICH JEWS WILL AGAIN PERFORM ANIMAL SACRIFICES. THE TRUTH OF THESE LAST TOPICS, AS WELL AS THE TRUTH ON THE "RAPTURE" TEACHING, CAN ALL BE FOUND IN VARIOUS STUDIES ON THIS BLOG, IF YOU SCROLL BACK FAR ENOUGH - Keith Hunt) |
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