Revelation 13

Some have interpreted this beast to be a certain power, a leader of the other demons, who is second to Satan, and that after this beast the antichrist arises from the earth. However, according to holy Methodius and holy Hippolytus and others this beast is to be interpreted as the antichrist who comes from the tumultuous and rough sea of this life. The ten horns with the diadems and the seven heads signify the unity that the devil has with him—for these characteristics were interpreted above as also belonging to him. The ten horns and seven heads also signify the division of the earthly government at the end of time into ten, and the earthly government corresponds to this world, which is calculated as consisting of seven days and is divided into seven successive kingdoms. For this reason, Satan, who operates in him, is called "the ruler of this age." "A blasphemous name is upon its heads" clearly refers to his supporters. For from the beginning these never ceased from blaspheming Christ until the accession of Constantine. But after him, [the emperors] Julian and Valens again slandered against Christ.

And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. The beast has various interpretations according to the locations. Here, it signifies the body of the devil arising from the people of the impious. This sea is understood to be the abyss mentioned above. Hence, the dragon is called the king of all that are in the waters, and whose heads are broken in the sea, according to David.

Having seven heads and ten horns, etc. He shows that the seven heads are the same as the ten horns. For he had said that the dragon carried seven diadems on its seven heads; now he says the beast carries ten diadems on its ten horns. For seven and ten are the same as receiving a sevenfold in this age. And another evangelist says a hundredfold (Matthew XIX).

And on its heads names of blasphemy. For they call their kings gods, both dead and supposedly translated to heaven among the gods, and also on earth as Augusti, which is a name of divinity as they will it. Elsewhere, he says the whole beast is full of names of blasphemy.

And he stood upon the sand of the sea.

By the sand of the sea is signified the multitude of the wicked who will exist at that time.

And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon its horns ten crowns.

This beast signifies the Antichrist; those, however, who are indicated by the sand, and likewise by the sea, are the multitude of the wicked. Therefore the beast was seen to come up from the sea, because out of the company of the wicked the Antichrist will arise; and this beast is described as having seven heads and ten horns. Likewise, the dragon above was said to have had seven heads, and on the heads seven crowns, by which we said all the wicked were signified, those whom the Devil has used to deceive humanity. But this beast is described as having ten crowns not on the heads, but on the ten horns; and therefore by the ten horns are signified the nations that the Antichrist will conquer to himself; while the seven heads signify the seven principal vices. And so that we may better understand what follows, it has pleased me, in the listing of the vices, to follow Prudentius, who spoke excellently in verse about the conflict of vices and virtues. For he placed idolatry as the first vice, lust as the second, anger as the third, pride as the fourth, luxury as the fifth. For although lust is so joined to luxury as a limb is to a body, on account of which the Fathers often used “luxury” in place of “lust”, yet there is a difference between lust and luxury. He set greed as the sixth, blasphemy or discord as the seventh. And because those who will be subject to these vices the Antichrist will easily deceive and join to himself, it is rightly through the seven heads that the seven vices are signified.

Concerning these seven vices the Lord speaks in the Gospel, saying: When an unclean spirit has gone out of a man, it walks through waterless places, seeking rest; and not finding it, it says: I will return to my house from which I came out. And when it comes, it finds it swept and decorated. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they enter in and dwell there (Matt. 12:43). The unclean spirit went out of the man when the Devil went out from the Jews when they received the Law. It walked through waterless places, that is, through the nations of the Gentiles, which were waterless because they did not have the greenness of faith. It did not find rest there, because when Christ came in the flesh, it lost the Gentiles whom it had long held. It returned to its house from which it had come out, because it went back to possess the Jews, in that they were unwilling to believe in Christ. It found the house of the Jews empty, because they did not have Christ as a guest. Yet we must ask why he said that those minds which did not have God as an inhabitant were swept and decorated. But they were swept for the Devil, not for God; for what is clean in the sight of God appears unclean to the Devil, and what is unclean to God is clean to the Devil. For just as to a beetle the dung of any living creature seems cleaner than any clean and delightful food, so too the Devil loves more those hearts that are filled with every vice than those that excel in all virtues. Now, brooms are what sweep a house free of garbage. Therefore God has his own brooms, and the Devil has his. The brooms of God are those which sweep his house, so that he himself may be able to dwell in it: namely, confession of sins, repentance, tears, and almsgiving. The brooms of the Devil are those which, according to him, sweep his house: that is, love of the world, frivolousness of mind, contempt for the commandments of God, and many others. Now the seven spirits that the Devil took with him are the seven principal vices. With these seven attendants, then, the Devil possesses the Jews even to this day. But it can be asked why these seven principal vices are said to be worse than the Devil. In truth, the vices are worse for us than the demons; for the latter attack us from outside, but the vices from within wage war on us continually. For just as enemies who attack a city from outside are more easily endured, since there are walls set between, than those who, being inside, are already ravaging the city itself, so demons, who assault from without, are more easily endured than the vices which ceaselessly lay waste to us within.

And upon his heads names of blasphemy.

The blasphemy of Antichrist will have many names, because in many ways he will blaspheme Christ.

"I saw a beast rising out of the sea," that is, out of an evil people. That he was "rising out" means that he was coming into existence, even as the blooming flower comes forth from the root of Jesse. In the beast coming forth from the sea he signifies all impious who are the body of the devil.

Inasmuch, then, as in this world some persons betake themselves to the light, and by faith unite themselves with God, but others shun the light, and separate themselves from God, the Word of God comes preparing a fit habitation for both. For those indeed who are in the light, that they may derive enjoyment from it, and from the good things contained in it; but for those in darkness, that they may partake in its calamities. And on this account He says, that those upon the right hand are called into the kingdom of heaven, but that those on the left He will send into eternal fire for they have deprived themselves of all good.

And for this reason the apostle says: "Because they received not the love of God, that they might be saved, therefore God shall also send them the operation of error, that they may believe a lie, that they all may be judged who have not believed the truth, but consented to unrighteousness." For when he (Antichrist) is come, and of his own accord concentrates in his own person the apostasy, and accomplishes whatever he shall do according to his own will and choice, sitting also in the temple of God, so that his dupes may adore him as the Christ; wherefore also shall he deservedly "be cast into the lake of fire:" [this will happen according to divine appointment], God by His prescience foreseeing all this, and at the proper time sending such a man, "that they may believe a lie, that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but consented to unrighteousness;" whose coming John has thus described in the Apocalypse: "And the beast which I had seen was like unto a leopard, and his feet as of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion; and the dragon conferred his own power upon him, and his throne, and great might. And one of his heads was as it were slain unto death; and his deadly wound was healed, and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon because he gave power to the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto this beast, and who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things, and blasphemy and power was given to him during forty and two months. And he opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. And power was given him over every tribe, and people, and tongue, and nation. And all who dwell upon the earth worshipped him, [every one] whose name was not written in the book of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any one have ears, let him hear. If any one shall lead into captivity, he shall go into captivity. If any shall slay with the sword, he must be slain with the sword. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints."

In the vision before this, the prophetic evangelist saw a sign in heaven, and behold he says a red Dragon (Rev. 12:3). Now he tells us he saw coming up out of the sea a beast like a leopard. Then in the vision that follows he again sees another beast rising out of the earth (Rev. 13:11), having two horns like a lamb. So, therefore, he saw three beasts in all: the first in heaven, the second out of the sea, and the third out of the earth. But the first and the third are apparent to all; for the first is the ancient evil Dragon, the apostate and adversary of God the Almighty, Satan, and the third is the Antichrist. This middle beast, which now lies before us for observation, what is it? I think it comes after the apostate Dragon, Satan, and it holds the leading position among the rest of the demons; for many fell together. And it is clear from that passage that the divine Scripture declares the ruler of all the demons has been bound to the sea and to Tartarus, as was shown above (Rev. 9:14); perhaps metaphorically thus naming the commotion and disturbance that accompany them, indicating from what things and to where they have fallen, and that they are reserved for the judgment of the great day according to what is written (Jude 6).

For if this were not so, but it was perceptible in the sea and in Tartarus, how is it that before this it is recorded in the account that, having devised many schemes, he acted against the Lord and against his mother? Except that according to the literal historical sense, which must not be disregarded even itself, he has been assigned to Tartarus and the abyss.

This beast, then, is the second one. The one now before us has been introduced in the book of Job, engaging in dialogue with God, accusing Job, subjecting him to countless trials, yet saying that he has "walked before the face of heaven." (Job 1:7) And not only does the book of Job record him, but the Lord has made mention of him to John when addressing the Jews: "You are of your father the Devil, and you desire to do the desires of your father." (Jn. 8:44) That one was a murderer from the beginning, and in the truth he did not stand, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own, for he is a liar and the father of it, the one who is now presented to us for viewing, the apostate Dragon, become their leader and ringleader of the revolt; just as the holy Abraham is proclaimed father of nations, having been made beforehand the source of their faith according to what was said to him, "I have made you the father of many nations." (Gen. 17:5) With these matters therefore clarified according to my view, let us return to the passage in question.

He says, I saw a beast rising out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns ten crowns. He sees him coming up from the sea; for his rise and, as it were, his elevation are from the disturbed and unstable life of men, who have chosen him as their tyrant; and the ten horns plainly indicate to him a great dominion, just as the seven heads signify certain ploys and principles of deceit and constructions; for the numbers ten and seven are perfect numbers.

And there were crowns about his horns, showing him as ruler risen up against mankind, because we through deceit had voluntarily delivered ourselves to him.

And upon his head he says names of blasphemy. Properly said, upon his head; for he raves to himself and, as his own head, mocking God, stealing reverence from God and assigning it to himself.

Here a "sea" is mentioned, which above was called a "bottomless pit" from which this beast would ascend. In both instances a people is indicated. Indeed, he sees a people arising from a people, namely, a beast coming forth from a people. Normally "beast" is a designation of that which is hostile to the Lamb, but in a narrative one must determine from passage to passage what aspect of the beast is signified. For sometimes the devil is the beast, elsewhere the beast is his body or one of the heads of that beast such as the one which rises up although he seemed wounded unto death, which is a false imitation of the true faith. In other passages the beast might signify only the leaders. In this present passage the beast that rises from the sea refers to the body of the devil, which has ten horns and seven heads and diadems upon its horns and a blasphemous name upon its heads. And rightly is he said to be named with a name of blasphemy, since he desires to be regarded as God.

"And I saw a beast rising up from the sea, like unto a leopard." This signifies the kingdom of that time of Antichrist, and the people mingled with the variety of nations.

The kingdom of the Greeks is signified by the leopard; the Persians are signified by the bear; the Babylonians are signified by the lion. The antichrist, who will come as a king of the Romans, will rule over them and destroy their empires, when he beholds the clay toes of their feet, by which is indicated the destruction of a weak and brittle kingdom. Satan, that spiritual dragon, will give all of his authority to the antichrist, who through false signs and wonders will work for the ruination of those who are weak and unstable.

And the beast I saw was like a leopard, etc. It is compared to a leopard because of the diversity of nations; to a bear, because of its malice and ferocity; to a lion, because of its physical strength and the arrogance of its tongue. In Daniel, we read that the kingdom of the Chaldeans is compared to a lioness, that of the Persians to a bear, and that of the Macedonians to a leopard.

And the dragon gave him his power. Thus the Apostle, speaking of the body of the devil, says: His coming is according to the working of Satan with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish (2 Thessalonians II).

And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, and its feet were like a bear’s feet, and its mouth was like the mouth of a lion.

By the leopard, which is said to have various colors, the hypocrisy of the Antichrist is signified: for although he will be a most wicked man, he will vary himself with different virtues, so that he may more easily deceive all foolish people. By the bear, moreover, which is a very calculating animal, his slyness for deceiving men can be shown. By the lion, likewise, his cruelty for tearing apart the people of God is signified.

And the dragon gave him his power and great authority.

The Devil will give the Antichrist his power, which is wholly evil; for he will dwell in him, and through him he will carry out whatever the wickedness of the Devil can devise. But since Scripture says: “There is no power except from God” (Rom. 13:1), how will the Devil give great authority to the Antichrist? God will give power to the Antichrist, but he will so far transform that very power into evil that it may be believed, and truly be, entirely demonic.

The beast is like a leopard because of the variety of nations; he is like a bear because of his maliciousness and madness; he is like a lion because of the strength of his body and the haughtiness of his mouth. At the time of the antichrist his kingdom will be [as a leopard], for it will contain a commixture of various nations and people; it will have feet as a bear in its leaders, and its commanding authority will be as the mouth [of a lion]. "And the dragon gave him his power," for we see how the heretics, who have the power of the devil, are powerful in this world. For just as formerly it was the pagans who devastated the church, so now it is the heretics.

And for this reason the apostle says: "Because they received not the love of God, that they might be saved, therefore God shall also send them the operation of error, that they may believe a lie, that they all may be judged who have not believed the truth, but consented to unrighteousness." For when he (Antichrist) is come, and of his own accord concentrates in his own person the apostasy, and accomplishes whatever he shall do according to his own will and choice, sitting also in the temple of God, so that his dupes may adore him as the Christ; wherefore also shall he deservedly "be cast into the lake of fire:" [this will happen according to divine appointment], God by His prescience foreseeing all this, and at the proper time sending such a man, "that they may believe a lie, that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but consented to unrighteousness;" whose coming John has thus described in the Apocalypse: "And the beast which I had seen was like unto a leopard, and his feet as of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion; and the dragon conferred his own power upon him, and his throne, and great might. And one of his heads was as it were slain unto death; and his deadly wound was healed, and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon because he gave power to the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto this beast, and who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things, and blasphemy and power was given to him during forty and two months. And he opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. And power was given him over every tribe, and people, and tongue, and nation. And all who dwell upon the earth worshipped him, [every one] whose name was not written in the book of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any one have ears, let him hear. If any one shall lead into captivity, he shall go into captivity. If any shall slay with the sword, he must be slain with the sword. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints."

And the beast, he says, which I saw was like a leopard, and because of its swift-moving feet, I think, and quick for deceits.

And his feet, he says, are like those of a bear, somewhat weak and patient so as even to walk under heaven to plot against men.

And his mouth, he says, is like the mouth of a lion; "Your adversary the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour," according to what is written. (1 Peter 5:8)

And the Dragon is said to have given him his power. Now the power of that apostate Dragon lies in these deceits and guiles, and he himself became their author and teacher.

"His feet were as the feet of a bear." A strong and most unclean beast, the feet are to be understood as his leaders.

"And his mouth as the mouth of a lion." That is, his mouth armed for blood is his bidding, and a tongue which will proceed to nothing else than to the shedding of blood.

That he had a head that was wounded indicates that one of his lieutenants, having been put to death, deceptively seems to be raised again by him through his sorcery, in a way similar to Simon the magician, who, in light of his magic tricks, was unmasked by the chief of the apostles. Or the phrase could indicate that the Roman Empire, having suffered a kind of wound through division, seems to be healed by a unified rule, as occurred at the time of Augustus Caesar.… The wonder directed at the antichrist will be transferred to the devil, who is working through him. For through him the devil will be worshiped, and through him he will seem, to those blinded in the eyes of the mind, to raise the dead and perform signs.

And I saw one of its heads as if it had been mortally wounded, etc. The Antichrist, pertaining to the heads of the earthly kingdom, in imitation of our true head, dares to present himself as if he were mortally wounded and had resurrected, to be accepted in place of Christ, who truly accomplished this. It is said that the deception in Simon Magus prefigured this deceit.

And the whole earth marveled and followed the beast. He uses the genus for the species, saying that the beast is worshiped, when it is the false head, under the name of the truly slain and living head, that earthly men are to worship.

And I saw one of its heads as if slain unto death, and its mortal wound was healed.

We said above that by the seven heads of Antichrist the seven principal vices are signified. Therefore, by the head which was seen not slain, but as if slain, blasphemy is signified. We must therefore ask how blasphemy is said to be as if slain. For in the earliest times of the Gospel there were many heretics who tried to undermine the faith of the Church by their errors; but almighty God chose as defenders of the Church the orthodox Fathers from among the children of that same Church, and, filling them with the river of his wisdom, through their teaching he rooted out every heresy from his Church. Such were Ambrose, Hilary, Jerome, Augustine, Gregory, and many others who also published a very great number of books, by which all heresies that existed and that could exist were destroyed. Therefore blasphemy is now as if slain, because although there are many who conceive many blasphemies in their minds, they do not dare to utter the evil they have conceived, lest they be shamefully refuted by the teaching of these men. Therefore this head, that is, blasphemy, will seem to be dead in the times of Antichrist; but it will be raised up again by the Devil in Antichrist, whom he will inflame to blaspheme Christ to such an extent that he will surpass all blasphemers in their blasphemies.

And the whole earth marveled after the beast.

By the earth sinful men are signified.

That which "seemed wounded" are the heretics who hypocritically seem to confess Christ and blaspheme since they do not believe as the catholic faith has it. They prophesy that he who was wounded is also raised again, for even Satan himself transfigures himself into an angel of light. Another interpretation might be that heresies are wounded by the catholics, for they are suppressed by the testimonies of the Scriptures. Yet, as though a wound of Satan they are revived and accomplish the works of Satan and do not cease from blaspheming and attracting whomever they can to his teachings.… [The dragon gave his power to the beast], for indeed the heretics possess power, especially the Arians. … "And they adored the beast, saying, 'Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?' " To be sure, the heretics flatter themselves that no one believes better than they and that no one can conquer their people who are marked by the name of the beast. And it will be given to him by the devil himself, although with God's permission, that he should speak haughty things and blasphemies, as the apostle says, "There must be heresies in order that those who are genuine among you may be manifested."

And I see, he says, one of his heads as if it were wounded unto death; and his deadly wound was healed. This meaning might have been known to the Spirit-bearing evangelist himself; but as it appears to me, he indicates something of this sort: for the deadly blow which was inflicted upon the Devil that was struck against one of the heads through the devotion of Israel, was healed through their subsequent idolatry.

One of its heads refers to the antichrist, because there are seven heads not in regard to number but as a sign of the universality of that earthly kingdom that is hostile to the Lamb. It is evident that the dragon, that is, the devil, will give his authority and his throne to [the antichrist]. As in a good sense the soul of a righteous person is the seat of wisdom, so in an evil sense the enemy is said to give his throne to those whom he especially possesses and whom he uses for the seduction of others. Moreover, with God's permission he frequently does amazing things through them, and he proceeds to so great a rashness that in imitation of the true Head and in order to delude the souls of [God's] children, he claims that one of the seven heads resurrected as if it had died before and that he should be accepted instead of Christ, who actually accomplished this deed. "And the nations which inhabit the earth wondered at the beast." … By "earth" he refers to those who are earthly and who desire to follow and to worship him, that is, those who in the antichrist are said to worship the dragon as in an image.

And they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast. They claim to worship God, who gave authority to Christ.

And they worshiped the beast, saying: Who is like the beast? They say: Who is like Christ? Or who can defeat him?

And they worshiped the dragon, because he gave power to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying: Who is like the beast, and who will be able to fight with it?

How will they worship the dragon, that is, the Devil, whom they will not see? But those who are signified by the earth will worship the Antichrist, and in the Antichrist they will worship the Devil, saying that no one is like the Antichrist, nor is there anyone who can be matched to his strength.

And the whole earth, he says, was astonished at the beast. For how could not even the God-fearing nation of Israel have bowed down to it? And this is what was spoken by Isaiah before God concerning Israel: "for your sake my name is continually blasphemed among the nations," (Isa. 52:5) yet they also worshipped together with the prime evil one the Dragon, the cause of so great deceit and treacherous devices, in homage to the beast.

From whom Israel's fame was routed; those who were seized by him weave praises to him, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who can make war against him?" He says that all have been defeated and fallen under his feet.

With the allowance of God, it says, he will have authority for three and a half years to blaspheme against God and to harm the saints. The "dwelling of God" is the dwelling of the Word in the flesh, that is, his incarnation, as well as his repose among the saints, against whom, as also against the holy angels, he will fully direct his blasphemy.

And there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies. He exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped (2 Thessalonians II).

And he was given authority to act for forty-two months, etc. For the first three and a half years, he does not openly blaspheme but acts in the mystery of iniquity, which, after the dissension and the revelation of the man of sin, will be exposed. Then he will say: I am Christ (Matthew XXIV); now, however: Behold, here is Christ, and there (Ibid.). By against God, it signifies against God.

And it was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies.

“It was given” means “it was permitted by God,” so that he might speak great things about himself, saying that he is the Son of God, and that he might speak blasphemies against God.

And power was given to him to act for forty-two months.

It seems difficult that in so very short a time, that is, in three and a half years, he could subject all nations to himself and draw humanity, apart from a few of the elect, to his worship; for there will indeed be many elect, but in comparison with the unbelievers, very few. Yet it can come about that at first he subjects all nations to his dominion, but afterwards, lifted up in pride, he decrees that he be worshiped as God. For as it seems to me, in the three and a half years only the time of persecution is included, in which, both by himself and by his disciples and by the display of wondrous signs, he will work with all his strength so that all men may devote to him the worship due to divinity. But those who will have wished to resist, he will afflict with many torments that have never been heard of, so that, compelled, they do what they will refuse to do of their own free will.

The forty-two months are to be interpreted as the time of the last persecution. "It opened its mouth to blaspheme against God." It is clear that this refers to those who have left the catholic church, for while earlier they seemed to be within the church as though they held the right faith, in time of persecution they openly blaspheme God with the mouth. [The dwelling of God] is the saints who are contained within the church, which is called "heaven," for they are the habitation of God.

And in like manner it is revealed to John; "For there was given to him," he says, "a mouth speaking great things and blasphemy; and there was given unto him authority and forty and two months." It is wonderful that both of these things occurred under Valerian; and it is the more remarkable in this case when we consider his previous conduct, for he had been mild and friendly toward the men of God, for none of the emperors before him had treated them so kindly and favorably.

He says that all have been defeated and fallen under his feet, and there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemy. Was it given by someone? It was given by those deceived and having worshiped him; for to boast arrogantly is pride. For what is greater than this? To say, "I will ascend into heaven; I will set my throne above the stars of heaven." (Isa. 14:13) And just a little after that, he says, "I will be like the Most High," (Isa. 14:14) as Isaiah mocks him, for these are indeed blasphemies against God.

And it is said that power was given unto him to continue for forty-two months. In previous comments, the forty-two months we understood it as a brief time. For all time is brief, even if it seems to be very long, when compared to the unending ages.

With these months there is completed the three years and six months, which above were understood to refer to the quality of the present age. However, here the severity of the final persecution is especially foretold. For were one to consider the four familiar directions of the earth and multiply four times the ten sayings of the law, which is the symbol of perfection, one would have forty. Were the performance of the two commandments of love added to this, the number forty-two would be completed. That which is commanded in words achieves no favor if it is not perfected by works. And the church is said to be protected by these [commandments] as though by the wings of an eagle, and she flees from the treachery of the dragon into the wilderness to be nourished there for 1, days, which is equal to the forty-two months, so that the calculation of the same number may not render a useless meaning.… [The beast blasphemed] against God and the church, which dwells in heaven, because "our citizenship is in heaven," and "now you are not in the flesh." I think that here the temple might also signify the glorified trophy of the body of Christ against whom the antichrist is said then to blaspheme, when he has dared assign to himself that honor which is especially due to [Christ]. Concerning this the Lord said in the Gospel, "That they might lead astray, if possible, even the elect," and just earlier, "But for the elect those days will be shortened."

To blaspheme His name and His tabernacle. The wicked one, usurping for himself the dignity of God's name, will also presume to call his own church by that name.

And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.

For he will indeed open his mouth to blaspheme God the Father, that is to say, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He will also blaspheme the name of God by saying that Christ is not God; he will likewise blaspheme the tabernacle of God, that is, the Church of God, saying that the Christian religion is of no benefit to the faithful, but rather brings destruction than salvation. And he will blaspheme those who dwell in heaven, that is, the martyrs and the other saints, saying that they can be of no help to anyone, and that whatever is stated about them by the faithful is false.

He says, and he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. It is said that the blasphemies against God are of the apostate. By the tabernacle of God he means the holy angels because God dwells in them. For if it has been said concerning men, "I will dwell in them and walk among them," (2 Cor 6:16; see Lev. 26:11) what would one say about the heavenly powers, that God has them as a dwelling?

And it was granted to him to make war with the saints, etc. By the part, he means the whole. Those who can be conquered, with the violence of the time, if possible, even the elect will be shaken. That the Jews may be condemned, who, not believing the truth, accepted the lie.

And it was given to him to wage war against the saints and to overcome them.

He will wage war against the saints, winning over some by flattery, others by terror, and in the end by inflicting the worst torments on them, so that he may lead them into his errors; but it is impossible for the elect to be led into error. He will overcome them not by conquering, but by killing.

And power was given to him over every tribe and people and tongue and nation; and all who dwell on the earth adored him.

This will be fulfilled according to the literal sense. Many will say, why does God allow such things to happen, that Antichrist should so wickedly deceive humanity? In truth, since there are two reasons, he will permit such things; for as he himself says in the Gospel: In those days the love of many will grow cold, and iniquity will abound (Matt. 24:12); indeed the wickedness of men will grow so greatly, and they will so provoke God to anger by their crimes, that they will be worthy to be subjected to so wicked a man and to be deceived by him, as Scripture bears witness: He causes a hypocritical man to reign because of the stubbornness of the people (Job 34:30). For God will hand them over, as the Apostle says, to a wicked mind (Rom. 1:28), so that they do what is not fitting; and they will have no concern for anything, provided only that they carry out whatever evil they have perceived. By the most just permission of God it will come to pass that, deceived by Antichrist, they perish more grievously. God will also allow this to happen for the testing of his elect, so that, just as gold is tested by fire, so they too may be tested and examined in the persecutions of Antichrist, as it is written about them in Daniel: Many shall be chosen and made white, and shall be tested like gold. (Dan. 12:10) It continues:

And power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him. As I said earlier that he has taken the authority from the men who willingly bend themselves to his destructive power. Rightly did he say that all those that dwell upon the earth shall worship him; for apart from the God-fearing Israel, which did not bear this, every remaining race of men and tribe has been found worshipping the destroyer.

By saying that he opened his mouth, it shows that he spoke with that damnable bravado that while before he blasphemed secretly, he will at that time do so publicly. For he will have dared to attribute to himself that honor that especially belongs to [Christ]. And he speaks his inquities arrogantly, for he is hostile to Christ and wishes to be accepted instead of Christ, either by the use of force or by supplanting him with fraudulent means. For a time he will attain power, which he will use in an evil way to harm the body of Christ, so that as Christ suffers, the persecutors praise [the beast] all the more since [Christ] is crucified more cruelly with his [saints]. Of this power the Lord said, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above." If, therefore, at the time of his passion Christ had temporarily given power to his persecutors, although the prince of this world could find in him nothing worthy of death, why is it surprising that in his church he allows evil persons to attack, so that one might say that [the beast] has defeated them? Even we must understand the part from the whole, namely, that part which he is able to conquer.

And all who dwell on the earth will worship him. He said all, but he meant those who dwell on the earth. For those who depart from you, he says, will be written in the earth (Jeremiah XVII).

Whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb. It is just that those who serve the author of death should not be written in the book of life, and those who are deceived by the simulated death of the beast should lack the fellowship of the Lamb who took away the sins of the world...

The Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world. The Lamb, as Peter says, without blemish, foreordained indeed before the foundation of the world, but manifest in these last times (1 Peter I). Another edition translates it as the Lamb marked from the foundation of the world. It can also be understood through hyperbaton that the names of the saints have been written in the book of life from the beginning.

Whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world.

The book of life is the predestination of almighty God: the wicked are not written in the book of life, because they are not predestined to eternal life. But we must ask how the Lamb, that is, Christ, is said to have been slain from the foundation of the world. For that phrase which follows,

If anyone has ears, let him hear,

Wherever it is set down in the divine Scriptures, shows that what has gone before is obscure; for it calls for the ears of the heart and of understanding. Therefore the Lamb was slain from the beginning of the world, because his death was prefigured from the dawn of humanity in the holy fathers. For it was prefigured in the first man, when, as he slept, Eve was made from his rib; likewise it was prefigured in Abel, who was killed by his brother Cain; it was also prefigured in Isaac, whom his father offered to the Lord as a burnt offering; likewise in Joseph, whom his brothers sold; his death was also prefigured in the numerous rites of sacrifices. As often, then, as the death of Christ was either prefigured or foretold by the holy fathers, so often, as it were, was the Lamb slain. Yet this can also be understood simply, so that it does not say that the Lamb was slain from the beginning of the world, but that the names of the saints have been written from the beginning of the world in the book of the Lamb, who was slain for their salvation.

Of whom it says whose names are not written in the book of life of heaven of the sealed from the foundation of the world; the vision very securely predetermined this; for since it has been said that all the inhabitants of the inhabited world have worshiped the apostate Devil, there were nevertheless a few who were pure from this worship, both from the Gentiles and from Israel, such as Job, his four friends, Melchizedek, and the holy prophets of Israel, and those who are testified to in the Old Testament for godliness.

He says all have worshipped him, except these who, because of their godliness, and the precision and purity of their citizenship, are written in heaven, and are guarded by God; for this is signified by the sealing of the book. Concerning this book the Lord says to his holy disciples according to the divinely inspired Luke: "nevertheless in this do not rejoice, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names were written in heaven." (Luke 10:20)

Every one will receive a recompense worthy of his deeds. Those who are willing to harm their neighbor will be captured by the devil and will undergo the death of his soul by the satanic sword. For, as the great James says, they are made slaves of that one by whom they have been conquered through their works. But those who have a pure faith and unshakeable endurance in trials will be indelibly written in the book of life. With such may the all-merciful God also find us partakers who consider "that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed" to the saints and who walk valiantly the narrow way, so that, finding at the end of it glory in the coming age and rest and paradise, we might reign with Christ, with whom to the Father be all thanksgiving and worship with the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.

If anyone has an ear, let him hear. Whenever Scripture interposes this saying, it seeks an attentive listener due to the obscurity of the matter. So that the momentary kingdom of the devil is not regarded highly, it meets human thoughts by saying: He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity, that is, the devil and the beast, who now seem to capture the nations with their snares, will themselves soon be captives.

If anyone, he says, has a mind able to comprehend the things said, let him hear the things said and know that the one ready to take others captive will be taken captive by the beast and will voluntarily defect to it; for receiving no assistance from God, he will be carried off to utter evil.

But, to come now to Moses, why, I wonder, did he merely at the time when Joshua was battling against Amalek, pray sitting with hands expanded, when, in circumstances so critical, he ought rather, surely, to have commended his prayer by knees bended, and hands beating his breast, and a face prostrate on the ground; except it was that there, where the name of the Lord Jesus was the theme of speech-destined as He was to enter the lists one day singly against the devil-the figure of the cross was also necessary, (that figure) through which Jesus was to win the victory? Why, again, did the same Moses, after the prohibition of any "likeness of anything," set forth a brazen serpent, placed on a "tree," in a hanging posture, for a spectacle of healing to Israel, at the time when, after their idolatry, they were suffering extermination by serpents, except that in this case he was exhibiting the Lord's cross on which the "serpent" the devil was "made a show of," and, for every one hurt by such snakes-that is, his angels -on turning intently from the peccancy of sins to the sacraments of Christ's cross, salvation was outwrought? For he who then gazed upon that (cross) was freed from the bite of the serpents.

He who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. He who now persecutes the Church with either carnal or even spiritual death, the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of His mouth, and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. He had promised that the murderer would be killed, but because no one is crowned unless he competes lawfully, now he says there is a need for strong spirits and firm hearts. Having first described the beast generally in hypocrisy, then with an open mouth blaspheming, he now describes it among the rulers alone, similarly in hypocrisy, then revealed.

Whoever leads into captivity goes into captivity; whoever kills with the sword must be killed with the sword.

Antichrist, who will take the Christian people captive from their Creator, will himself be taken captive from this present life and thrust down into hell [infernum]; and because by the sword of his malice he is going to destroy the souls of many, and with the bodily sword he will kill the bodies of the righteous, he himself will be condemned by the sword of everlasting death.

This is the patience and the faith of the saints.

That is, the patience and the faith of the saints will be demonstrated in the persecutions of Antichrist.

If anyone prepared for murders, he will die the spiritual death in the worship of the Devil. Therefore, he says, is the endurance and the faith of the saints. Therefore one becomes innocent of the slavery to the evil one, from which slavery may we all be shown to be free by the grace of the God who called us to the knowledge of Him. To Him be glory to the ages, amen.

Some say that this beast is the antichrist, while to others its two horns signify the antichrist and the false prophet. But since also the false prophet is thought to come in his own person, it is proper to think that the dragon is to be interpreted as Satan, the beast that arises from the sea as the antichrist, and this beast that comes up from the earth as the false prophet, which is the opinion of the blessed Irenaeus. That he comes up from the earth symbolizes that he arises from an earthly and groveling manner of life. That he has two horns like a lamb indicates that in the skin of a lamb he cloaks the murderousness of the wolf hiding within and that at the beginning he will have the form of piety. Concerning him Irenaeus says, "Concerning his armorbearer, whom he also calls the false prophet, he says, 'he spoke like a dragon.' " The authority of signs and wonders was given to him, so that going before the antichrist, he might prepare the way of destruction for him. We say that the healing of the wound of the beast is either the apparent, short-lived unity of the divided empire, or the temporary restoration by the antichrist of the tyranny of Satan that had been destroyed, or the fraudulent resurrection of one of his associates who had died. It says that he speaks like a dragon, because he will do and say the things of the devil, who is the author of evil.

And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He said another in office, yet it is one. What is the sea is also the earth, according to Daniel. To whom, seeing the four beasts rise from the sea, the angel says: These four great beasts are four kingdoms that will arise from the earth (Daniel VII).

And he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. He presents the horns of a lamb to secretly insert the poison of the dragon. Because, through the hypocrisy of holiness, he falsely claims to have the unique wisdom and life that the Lord truly possessed. Concerning this beast, the Lord says: Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves (Matthew VII).

And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, having two horns like a Lamb, and it spoke like a dragon.

This beast either signifies one of the disciples of Antichrist, worse than the others, or many who will preach him. It was seen to have come up out of the earth because it will arise from the company of the wicked; and it was seen to have two horns like the Lamb. Above we said that by the seven horns of the Lamb all the elect are signified, whom we divided into seven parts: by the fifth horn, we said the Jews who believed in Christ were signified; and by the sixth, the Gentiles who likewise believed in Christ. Therefore the beast will have two horns like the Lamb, because by deceiving the Jews and the Gentiles it will gain possession of them. For although many from among the Jews will believe in Christ through the preaching of Elijah, yet the greatest part of them will follow Antichrist, as the Lord says in the Gospel: “I have come in the name of my Father, and you did not receive me; another will come in his own name, and you will receive him” (Jn. 5:43). Therefore this beast spoke like a dragon, because its words were demonic; for the Devil who will speak through Antichrist will himself also speak through his disciples.

And I saw another beast ascending from the earth, and it had two horns, like those of a lamb; and he spoke like a dragon—The beast that ascends from the earth declares the future kingdom of the Antichrist; the two horns, however: himself and the false prophet who is with him. That his horns were like those of a lamb—He wants to become like the Son of God and to set himself forward as king. That he spoke like a dragon, because he is a seducer and not truthful.

But as it is incumbent on us to discuss this matter of the beast more exactly, and in particular the question how the Holy Spirit has also mystically indicated his name by means of a number, we shall proceed to state more clearly what bears upon him. John then speaks thus: "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns, like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exercised all the power of the first beast before him; and he made the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he did great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast, saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he caused all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead; and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast; for if is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred threescore and six."

By the beast, then, coming up out of the earth, he means the kingdom of Antichrist; and by the two horns he means him and the false prophet after him. And in speaking of "the horns being like a lamb," he means that he will make himself like the Son of God, and set himself forward as king. And the terms, "he spake like a dragon," mean that he is a deceiver, and not truthful.

After this he likewise describes his armour-bearer, whom he also terms a false prophet: "He spake as a dragon, and exercised all the power of the first beast in his sight, and caused the earth, and those that dwell therein, to adore the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he shall perform great wonders, so that he can even cause fire to descend from heaven upon the earth in the sight of men, and he shall lead the inhabitants of the earth astray." 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, by which he leads the inhabitants of the earth astray. John says further: "And he shall order an image of the beast to be made, and he shall give breath to the image, so that the image shall speak; and he shall cause those to be slain who will not adore it." He says also: "And he will cause a mark [to be put] in the forehead and in the right hand, that no one may be able to buy or sell, unless he who has the mark of the name of the beast or the number of his name; and the number is six hundred and sixty-six," 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.

Having made many digressions and having returned from the later principles to the earlier principles, he arrived at the matter under discussion. And that was to narrate to us the things concerning the wicked and God-hated Antichrist. This one therefore is now set forth in the midst, and see what he says about him.

And I saw, he says, another beast coming up out of the earth, from where also is the beginning of origin for all men. For the Antichrist is a man, "whose presence is according to the working of the Devil," (2 Thess. 2:9) as it seems to the most wise Paul.

And it had two horns like a lamb, and it spoke like a Dragon. He said reasonably that he does not have the horns of a lamb, but that he is like a lamb, and that he is not a Dragon, but speaks like a Dragon. For since the true one is thought to be Christ, it is not that he was given horns like a lamb. And since through every sort of wickedness he contends equally with the Devil, yet he is not the Devil, he did not say that he is a Dragon, but that he speaks as a dragon. Since therefore these things are so, the Word preserved for him the image also in the vision, and gives him a form not of a lamb, but like a lamb, neither of a dragon, but like a dragon. For Christ has been called a lamb, the Devil a Dragon, but it was neither this nor that.

It has two horns that are like those of a lamb. These are the two Testaments that belong to the true Lamb but that the beast tried to usurp for himself by feigning to be a lamb. Nevertheless, it is said to speak like a dragon, because by the hypocrisy of a false truth it beguiles those whom it can lead astray. For it would not be like a lamb were it to speak openly as a dragon. It now pretends to be the Lamb so that it might assail the Lamb, that is, the body of Christ. It speaks against God, since it drives away from the way of truth those whom he has deluded and who now seek after him.

"And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth." He is speaking of the great and false prophet who is to do signs, and portents, and falsehoods before him in the presence of men.

"And he had two horns like a lamb-that is, the appearance within of a man-and he spoke like a dragon." But the devil speaks full of malice; for he shall do these things in the presence of men, so that even the dead appear to rise again.

The forerunner of the apostate false christ will do all things through sorcery for the deception of humankind, so that the antichrist will be regarded as God. And, since [the antichrist] receives the witness of the worker of such marvels, he receives undisputed honor, in imitation of the Baptist, who led those who believed to the Savior. For falsehood is zealous to imitate the truth for the deception of humankind. Therefore, it is not remarkable that to the eyes of those deceived, fire is seen coming down from heaven. For somewhere in the story of Job we are taught that, with the permission of God and by the activity of Satan, fire came down and consumed his flock.

And he exercised all the authority of the first beast. Miserable disciples follow their master in all things.

And he caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast. He shows the power of seduction, having claimed both the body and the soul which inhabits it.

Whose deadly wound was healed. That is, it feigned to have overcome death by rising. For Scripture said he was as if slain, just as it was said of the Jews: They did not enter the praetorium, lest they should be defiled. The evangelist did not assert that the most impure could be defiled if they entered the praetorium; nor did the Jews, conscious of such great crimes, truly fear being defiled, but he reported what they pretended as if affirming it.

And it exercised all the power of the former beast in its presence.

When he says “in its presence,” he means “in its name”; for Antichrist will not be able to be personally present in all the places where he will have been preached by his own followers. For Antichrist will indeed work miracles by demonic craft [arte], and his disciples will also perform them; but their miracles will be false and not true, as the Apostle says: “Whose coming is according to the working of Satan, in all powers and signs and lying wonders” (2 Thess. 2:9). For it is not believable that they could restore to health those whom God has blinded or weakened; but only those whom they themselves have harmed, injuring them in secret and healing them openly. And Antichrist himself will display himself to people with such splendor that he will be believed to be God by the foolish, as the Apostle says: “So that he sits in the temple, showing himself as though he were God” (2 Thess. 2:4).

Since the church is "heaven," what is this fire that falls from heaven other than heresies that fall from the church? As it is written, "They went out from us, but they were not of us." For fire falls from the church whenever heretics leave the church as though fire and persecute the church. Therefore, the beast with the two horns causes the people to worship the image of the beast, that is, the devices of the devil.

And all power preceded him to that first beast, and he made the earth and those who lived in it worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed—That signifies: after the image of the law of Augustus, by whom the Roman Empire was established, thus he also established and imposed the law of all, since he was strong, and through that obtained for himself great praise. However, this was the fourth beast, whose head was wounded and healed again, for he was destroyed and made an affront, and he wore ten diadems, because when he was eager for malice he was like him who cared for and renewed him.

And the words, "he exercised all the power of the first beast before him, and caused the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed," signify that, after the manner of the law of Augustus, by whom the empire of Rome was established, he too will rule and govern, sanctioning everything by it, and taking greater glory to himself. For this is the fourth beast, whose head was wounded and healed again, in its being broken up or even dishonoured, and partitioned into four crowns; and he then (Antichrist) shall with knavish skill heal it, as it were, and restore it.

And it says that he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. That is, he becomes the successor of the power of the Devil, and prepares all to worship him, whose deadly wound was healed. This has been said among the preceding. Now it must only be marked. For since he said that he has all the authority of the first beast before him, and first of all he named the Dragon the fiery one, whom the vision shown in heaven revealed, so that no one might think to say now that he received the authority as that of the first beast, I am not speaking about that first of all of all, but of him who comes after that one, yet before the Antichrist, whom the vision showed rising from the sea like a leopard (Rev. 13:1-2). For the wound of this one's death was healed, as stated above.

"And he did great signs, even making fire come down from heaven in the sight of people." Although it says that he would do many signs, he mentions only this remarkable sign. This translation speaks as though of the past, while it announces the future, although indicating that the future will also be different. And so it says, "so that he also makes fire come down from heaven." That he causes fire to descend from heaven to the earth, that is, from the church to those who are earthly, indicates that whether from a variety of peoples or by the wiles of a falling enemy he causes his servants to speak in new and multiple tongues. In this manner they prattle as though they had received the gift of the Holy Spirit who in the form of fiery tongues had once truly shined upon the individual disciples of Christ. And, indeed, the Lord especially commended this sign of those who believe, saying, "These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons, they will speak in new tongues," and the like. It is not surprising, therefore, if that beast which by imitation usurped the name of the Lamb who had been killed and now is living should also fraudulently lay claim by mimicry to that great gift of the Holy Spirit and feign that gift also for his servants, even as we recall what once Simon boasted but was unable to do. For when the very ministers of Satan listed their expulsions of demons and their various wonders and said, "Did we not cast out demons in your name?" and the like, the Lord did not approve of their boasting but reproved them as arrogant and worthy of damnation. And therefore, perhaps by emphasizing this sign [of fire], which represents the Holy Spirit, he wished to indicate especially that which is superior to all else. For although heresies seem to have some things in common with us, only the church of Christ can boast that she especially is possessed of this gift. Although the magicians of Pharaoh performed wonders similar to those of Moses, we are told that they were frustrated by the Holy Spirit. When they gave up on their own claims and were defeated, they spoke a true confession and said, "This is the finger of God." The Gospel testifies that the Holy Spirit is called "the finger of God" when one Gospel says, "By the Spirit of God I cast out demons," while another says, "By the finger of God I cast out demons." And so the sheer force of the seduction is indicated, that the beast is thought to possess that Spirit that resisted the magicians and brought their deceptions to nothing.

It exercised all the power of the first beast on the earth. He spoke of that earlier beast that he had seen rising from the sea and to which the dragon had given his own great power. He said that the beast exercised this power before the beast. For all the power of the people is in their leaders, which he described, just as the power of the locusts and the horses is in their tails. In front of the people, the leaders do what is useful to the will of the devil under the cover of an imitation of the church. Clearly, in both beasts there is one body, and they practice the worship of one iniquity, so that the mimicry of the latter beast may be said to work to the advantage of that earlier beast.… "So that those who dwell on the earth worship the first beast." … Or as another translation renders, "so that the earth and those who inhabit it." … And he mentioned the earth and those who inhabit the earth with good reason. For it might have sufficed to mention either the earth or those who inhabit the earth. However, he shows the force of [the beast's] seduction which has given both body and soul to him as property. For whoever falls by force without being enticed away is made captive in the body alone. However, whoever falls to seduction is made captive both in the body and in the mind, and for this reason he said, "He caused the earth and those who inhabit it to worship the beast whose mortal wound was healed."

And he performed great signs, so that he even made fire come down from heaven to earth. He presented the miracle of fire as the greatest among others, so that, just as the Lord Christ gave His disciples the grace of virtues with the coming of the Holy Spirit in fire, so he, with deceptive cunning, might also deceive his followers with a similar charisma.

And he made the earth and those who dwell in it worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. And he performed great signs, so that he even made fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of men.

We read in the book of Job that the Devil, with God’s permission, made fire come down from heaven and consumed the sheep and children of Job (Job 1:16). What he did there by himself, this he will do in the final time through the Antichrist and his followers.

And it performed great signs, so that it even made fire come down from heaven to the earth in the sight of men. And the doing of signs and wonders by the power of the Devil is attested by the apostle; for after saying where "the presence is by the operation of Satan, he brings upon all power and signs and lying wonders." (2 Thess. 2:9)

"And he shall make fire come down from heaven in the sight of men." Yes (as I also have said), in the sight of men. Magicians do these things, by the aid of the apostate angels, even to this day. He shall cause also that a golden image of Antichrist shall be placed in the temple at Jerusalem, and that the apostate angel should enter, and thence utter voices and oracles. 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 contempt and provocation of God. "And he shall place," says he, "his temple within Samaria, upon the illustrious and holy mountain that is at Jerusalem, an image such as Nebuchadnezzar had made." Thence here he places, and by and by here he renews, that of which the Lord, admonishing His churches concerning the last times and their dangers, says: "But when ye shall see the contempt which is spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place, let him who readeth understand." It is called a contempt when God is provoked, because idols are worshipped instead of God, or when the dogma of heretics is introduced in the churches. But it is a turning away because stedfast men, seduced by false signs and portents, are turned away from their salvation.

[The beast] deceives those who continually dwell upon the earth in their hearts. For those who possess their citizenship in heaven are not deceived by fake appearances, since they have been sufficiently fortified by the prediction of his coming.… It is reported that demons often speak by sorcery through images and statues and trees and streams, also through Apollonius and others, and I think, even through dead bodies. For example, in the presence of Peter, Simon the Magician showed the Romans a dead body that he was moving. However, the apostle unmasked his deception by showing through those whom he himself raised how the dead were raised [by Simon]. And so there is nothing strange in the fact that working through demons, this standardbearer of the antichrist should make an image for the beast and contrive to show it speaking and see to it that those who did not worship it were killed.

And he deceives those who dwell on the earth, etc. For his coming will be, as it is said, according to the working of Satan with all power, and signs, and lying wonders (2 Thessalonians II). It is often debated whether these are called signs and lying wonders because he will deceive mortal senses through phantasms so that what he does not actually do, he will appear to do; or because even if they are true wonders, they will lead those who believe them into falsehood, thinking they could not be done except by divine power, not knowing the power of the devil, who consumed such a great household of holy Job with such large herds by not phantasmal but real fire and whirlwind. Whether they are called signs of falsehood in this or that manner, it is without doubt in this that the temptation will appear greatest to all when the pious martyr both subjects his body to torments and yet performs so many miracles before his eyes.

Saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, etc. That is, to be like him and thus to make an image to him, as another version says: As it has the wound of the sword and lived. That is, they should say they have died and risen with the Antichrist by that falsehood, just as he claims to constitute himself as God and mediator between himself and his followers, unlike our Lord Jesus Christ, who has no other mediator between himself and his followers.

And he deceived the inhabitants of the earth because of the signs that were given to him to perform in the sight of the beast.

There is nothing that so deceives simple people as the display of signs. And therefore the ministers of Antichrist, by reason of the working of signs, will easily deceive the multitude of fools.

Saying to the inhabitants of the earth that they should make an image of the beast which has the wound of the sword and lived.

That is, that in images Antichrist may be worshiped. But when he said that the beast had the wound of the sword and lived, it may come to pass that by demonic art Antichrist pretends to die and to rise again, so that by this deed he may more easily deceive men; which Simon Magus is said to have done.

After this he likewise describes his armour-bearer, whom he also terms a false prophet: "He spake as a dragon, and exercised all the power of the first beast in his sight, and caused the earth, and those that dwell therein, to adore the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he shall perform great wonders, so that he can even cause fire to descend from heaven upon the earth in the sight of men, and he shall lead the inhabitants of the earth astray." 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, by which he leads the inhabitants of the earth astray. John says further: "And he shall order an image of the beast to be made, and he shall give breath to the image, so that the image shall speak; and he shall cause those to be slain who will not adore it." He says also: "And he will cause a mark [to be put] in the forehead and in the right hand, that no one may be able to buy or sell, unless he who has the mark of the name of the beast or the number of his name; and the number is six hundred and sixty-six," 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.

And deceives, it says, those who dwell upon the earth by the signs. For he makes signs indeed, but by charming the eyes of those who see, just as the magicians also did before Pharaoh; for they were directed by one and the same deceiving demon, both those and this one. And it says well that he makes the signs in the presence of the beast. For since he will erect an image for it, which he will also force all to worship, he will perform the signs supposedly by it, as deifying the image, because indeed from it he has the power to do these things.

It is as though he had said that the deception had succeeded to such an extent that the earthly, led astray by the wonders of the beast, gave their full miserable assent to the beast and by a mutual devotion encouraged each other to make an image of the beast in the fraudulence of their hearts. And so they believe that there is no room for doubt but are convinced by the evidence of the fire that [the beast] is indeed the Christ, although the devil is in the antichrist and the same malignant spirit has taken the form of the Spirit and, with divine permission, lays down such seductive snares.

And it was granted to him to give spirit to the image of the beast. That is, to the people who fulfill this falsehood by constituting themselves as the image of the beast, he pretends to give the spirit of truth.

And that the image of the beast should speak. He will not only deceive the miserable populace with a simulated spirit through fire, but he will also make them capable of teaching others.

And cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. Not that image which they say they are making, but that image to which they make the people similar. He thus makes the image of the beast worship the image of the beast, that is, makes the people worship the invention of the devil.

And it was given to him to give spirit to the image of the beast, and for the image of the beast to speak.

But we have also heard that certain magicians have done this; for by necromantic craft, they used to make statues seem to move and to speak. We can understand this in another way. An image has the appearance of a man, but is not a man; likewise the Antichrist, on account of the working of powers and signs, will be thought to be God, but this will be utterly false; for it cannot be that a most ungodly man should have anything of divinity in himself. They will therefore make an image of the Antichrist, those who will think him to be God; and the ministers of the Antichrist will give spirit to the image of the beast when they compel those who will have believed in the Antichrist to blaspheme Christ.

And he will cause that whoever will not have worshiped the image of the beast will be killed.

The faithful who will not have been willing to worship the Antichrist will be put to death, worn down by many torments; for there will be such a tribulation, as the Lord said in the Gospel, as has not been from the beginning, nor will be, so that even the elect would be led into error, if that were possible. (Matt. 24:21)

"That he give them a mark on the right hand or on the forehead." He speaks of the mystery of deception. For the saints who are in the church receive Christ in the hand and on the forehead. The hypocrites, however, receive the beast under the name of Christ. "Those who do not worship the beast … will be slain." It is not inconsistent with the faith that the beast be understood as the city of the impious itself, that is, as the congregation or conspiracy of all those who are impious or filled with hubris. This city is called "Babylon," which is interpreted as "Confusion," and to it belong all who desire to work that which is worthy of confusion. He himself is the citizenry of unfaithful persons who are the opposite of the faithful people, that is, the city of God. His image is an imitation, that is, among those people who confess the catholic faith but live the life of infidelity. For they feign to be what they are not, and they are called Christians, not by way of the true image but by way of a false image. Of such persons the apostle wrote, "holding the form of religion but denying the power of it." Not a small number of these persons are within the catholic church. However, the righteous do not worship the beast, that is, they do not assent to him, nor do they submit to him, nor do they receive his mark, the mark of sin, on their forehead, on account of the confession, and on their hand, on account of works.

This is what is said by the prophet: He will give breath to the image, and the image of the beast will speak—He will make those who are designated by him strengthened through the law. And he will make all who do not worship the beast be killed: then the faith and patience of the saints will appear.

He will give breath to the image of the beast—the image of the beast shows a figure of this present kingdom and what the Antichrist is to do then. For all that the present kingdom does by the operation of Satan against the saints, likewise then, when the Antichrist comes, he will establish and confirm that they are against the righteous. Of what must thus be fulfilled, the Apocalypse justly says: He will give breath to the image of the beast, and the image will speak—He will strengthen those who are established by the image of the kingdom as if by the name, and he will do thus.

For this is what is meant by the prophet when he says, "He will give life unto the image, and the image of the beast will speak." For he will act with vigour again, and prove strong by reason of the laws established by him; and he will cause all those who will not worship the image of the beast to be put to death.

And it says it was given to him to give breath to the image. For they say that many of the idols both sweat and seem to speak by diabolical power.

Therefore, he is said "to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast should even speak." This may be interpreted in two ways. Either the whole body of evil persons are persuaded by the demonstrations of power, since the devil is working and the leaders are urging the people, so that there is for everyone the same confession and that all are to proclaim it by a uniform formula, so that should anyone not speak this through the image of the beast, that is, through a mutual imitation, he should be killed.… Or, just as through conversation with a woman the first man was led astray by the mouth of a serpent, so then he deludes many by a similar fraud, when he causes his followers to receive messages by consulting an image, that is, the antichrist, to whom they believe honor is due, as to a god, although he is "the man of sin and the son of perdition."

And he will eagerly strive to place the mark of the ruinous name of the apostate upon everyone. He will make the mark upon their right hands to bring to an end the doing of good works, and upon their foreheads in order to teach those deceived to be bold in their deception and darkness. But those who have had their faces sealed with the divine light will not receive the mark.

And he causes all, small and great, etc. Not all without exception, such as the Gentiles, but those who pertain to this mystery.

To receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads. The mark is the mystery of iniquity, which hypocrites receive in work and profession under the name of Christ.

And he will cause all, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to have a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads.

It can be that, just as we have the mark of Christ, that is, the cross with which we are signed, so Antichrist may have his own mark, with which those who will have believed in him are signed. We can also understand this in another way. The disciples of Antichrist will be praisers of vices, for they will teach that wine and the other riches were created precisely so that people might use them abundantly and sufficiently; and that God therefore made the reproductive members so that men might have intercourse with women, and that it is wrong for anyone to abstain from sexual relations; that all carnal desires must be fulfilled. And when they have strengthened that unspeakable teaching by mighty works [virtutibus], they will easily deceive earthly people who are inclined to evil rather than to good. Very often, indeed, works are understood by “hands”; therefore they will have the mark of Antichrist on their right hand, because they will carry out works of wickedness in harmony with the teaching of Antichrist; and they will have it also on the forehead, through which the mind is often discerned, because from their depraved deeds it will be recognized what utterly wicked minds they bear.

And he will make all these, small and great and rich, etc., and he will give them a sign upon their hands—For he is shrewd and eager to be exalted over the servants of God. And he wants to harass and drive them out of the world, because they do not give him praise. That a sign be given to them—by this the Antichrist wants to imitate the Lord, and he gives the seal of his name to those who are gathered in his house, so that even in this he oppressed the saints, and he will order everyone everywhere to build up a sanctuary, so that none of the saints can buy, but such a one who has the sign, which is given upon the right hand. However, that says to be imposed upon the seat of the eyes, or the forehead: because they will crown with a foreign crown, not of life but of death, all whom they deceive with themselves. Thus did Antiochus Epiphanes, the Antiochene, from the family of Alexander; for when he boasted in his heart, he ordered altars to be built; and indeed that all celebrate the feast of Dionysius crowned in wood: but they killed those who did not sacrifice. And the Lord struck him with worms, and he died, as it is written in Maccabees.

Here the faith and the patience of the saints will appear, for he says: "And he will cause all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their forehead; that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, the name of the beast, or the number of his name." For, being full of guile, and exalting himself against the servants of God, with the wish to afflict them and persecute them out of the world, because they give not glory to him, he will order incense-pans to be set up by all everywhere, that no man among the saints may be able to buy or sell without first sacrificing; for this is what is meant by the mark received upon the right hand. And the word-"in their forehead"-indicates that all are crowned, and put on a crown of fire, and not of life, but of death. For in this wise, too, did Antiochus Epiphanes the king of Syria, the descendant of Alexander of Macedon, devise measures against the Jews. He, too, in the exaltation of his heart, issued a decree in those times, that "all should set up shrines before their doors, and sacrifice, and that they should march in procession to the honour of Dionysus, waving chaplets of ivy; "and that those who refused obedience should be put to death by strangulation and torture. But he also met his due recompense at the hand of the Lord, the righteous Judge and all-searching God; for he died eaten up of worms. And if one desires to inquire into that more accurately, he will find it recorded in the books of the Maccabees.

And it says that the Antichrist also gives a mark and seal of his own name, without which no one will either buy or indeed sell.

"And he causes all … to be marked on the right hand or the forehead." He here distinguishes the individual members, although more often he includes them as a whole in the body or the person of the beast. The "hand" indicates works, and it is the right hand to simulate the truth. The "forehead" symbolizes the confession of faith. Since they are defrauded in regard to both of these good things, they are said to be marked on both.

He will undertake to spread the mark of the beast everywhere through buying and selling, so that a violent death might come to all who do have the mark from the lack of necessities.

And that no one may buy or sell. By mentioning buying and selling, he taught that just as the Church, in a good way, has given a symbol for our salvation, so they in an evil way confine themselves to such a definition, so that neither buying nor selling is allowed, just like merchants who travel on one ship are held by a uniform sign.

Except one who has the mark, etc. That is, who shares in that deceit. For the mark, that is, the sign, and the name of the beast, and the number of his name are one. For it is the number of a man, so that we do not think, according to some opinions, that it is either the devil or a demon, but one of the men in whom Satan will dwell bodily. For he is the man of sin, the son of perdition.

And that no one may be able to sell or to buy, except one who has the mark of the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

We know that human life cannot continue unless people at some time either sell or buy; therefore the persecution of Antichrist against the faithful will rage more cruelly, in proportion as this is forbidden to them, without which they will not be able to live. But the ministers of Antichrist will do this in order that, in a time of necessity, they may catch those who will have wished covertly to preserve the faith of Christianity.

For the sober-minded, time and experience will reveal the actual significance of the number and the truth of whatever has been written about it. For, were it necessary, as some of the teachers say, that such a name be clearly known, the seer would have revealed it. But the divine grace did not consent that the name of the destroyer be noted in the divine book.

Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding, etc. This number is said to be found among the Greeks in the name Titan, that is, giant, as follows: Τ equals 300, Ε equals 5, Ι equals 10, Τ equals 300, Α equals 1, Ν equals 50. It is thought that the Antichrist will assume this name as if he surpasses all in power, boasting that he is the one of whom it is written: He rejoiced as a giant to run his course, from one end of the heaven is his going forth, etc. (Psalm XVIII). Primasius also mentions another name that completes the same number: Α equals 1, Ν equals 50, Τ equals 300, Ε equals 5, Μ equals 40, Ο equals 70, Σ equals 200, which signifies "contrary to honor." Also, the word Α equals 1, Ρ equals 100, Ν equals 50, Ο equals 70, Υ equals 400, Μ equals 40, Ε equals 5, meaning "I deny." Through these, the quality of the person and the harshness of the Antichrist's work are indicated. However, a complex exposition is needed to explain how such an aspirant to praise would want to be marked with such a character. Otherwise, who does not know that the number six, by which the world was made, signifies the perfection of the work? Whether simple, or multiplied by ten or a hundred, it demonstrates the perfection of the sixtieth and the hundredfold fruit. Moreover, the weight of gold that came to Solomon each year was six hundred sixty-six talents. Therefore, what is rightly owed and paid as tribute to the true king, that same tribute the deceiving tyrant will presume to demand.

Here is wisdom. Whoever has understanding, let him calculate the number of the beast; for it is a human number, and its number is six hundred sixty-six.

Many have said numerous things about this number, and have discovered several names in whose letters this number is found. Yet they have not been able to foresee whether Antichrist will possess any of these names; and concerning a matter so uncertain I dare to define nothing. For who knows whether the name that will be provided to him by his parents will have this number?

Three errors are to be guarded against in the sciences, which destroy sacred Scripture and the Christian faith and all wisdom: one against the cause of being, another against the reason of understanding, and the third against the order of living. These errors are signified in the Apocalypse in the number of the name of the beast. It is said there that it had a name whose number is six hundred sixty-six, which is a cyclical number. The first group base themselves upon the circle of motion and time; the second, upon the motion of the stars; the third, upon one Intelligence, saying that it enters into and exits from the body. The first error concerns the eternity of the world; the second concerns fatal necessity; the third concerns the unity of the human intellect. All of this is heretical.

And his number is: six hundred sixty-six—it is not permitted to be equally definite about his name: for we see that many names arrive at this reckoning, for example Titin or Auntos, and others such. This computation occurs in the alphabet of the Greeks, and not in the alphabet of the Syrians. Taw in the Greek language is three hundred, and in ours teth is nine. But because, as we said before: The beast's wound was healed, and he made the image speak—that he be strengthened, the manifestation is of those who now dominate, i.e., of the Romans. The Romans, before they had this name, were called Latins, and one of them is called a Latin. However, from this name the number of one man is collected. Latin is the name ΛΕΑΤΙΝΟΣ (Leatinos). According to the numeration of the Greeks, those signs are applied: as we said, taw is three hundred among the Greeks, seventy... such is the name of the beast and the number of his name.

The politician for whom the voter had voted got in by five hundred and fifty-five votes. The voter read this next morning at breakfast, being in a more cheery and expansive mood, and found something very fascinating not merely in the fact of the majority, but even in the form of it. There was something symbolic about the three exact figures; one felt it might be a sort of motto or cipher. In the great book of seals and cloudy symbols there is just such a thundering repetition. Six hundred and sixty-six was the Mark of the Beast. Five hundred and fifty-five is the Mark of the Man; the triumphant tribune and citizen. A number so symmetrical as that really rises out of the region of science into the region of art. It is a pattern, like the egg-and-dart ornament or the Greek key. One might edge a wall-paper or fringe a robe with a recurring decimal. And while the voter luxuriated in this light exactitude of the numbers, a thought crossed his mind and he almost leapt to his feet. "Why, good heavens!" he cried. "I won that election; and it was won by one vote! But for me it would have been the despicable, broken-backed, disjointed, inharmonious figure five hundred and fifty-four. The whole artistic point would have vanished. The Mark of the Man would have disappeared from history. It was I who with a masterful hand seized the chisel and carved the hieroglyph--complete and perfect. I clutched the trembling hand of Destiny when it was about to make a dull square four and forced it to make a nice curly five. Why, but for me the Cosmos would have lost a coincidence!" After this outburst the voter sat down and finished his breakfast.

Then that abominable one will send his commands throughout every government by the hand at once of demons and of visible men, who shall say, "A mighty king has arisen upon the earth; come ye all to worship him; come ye all to see the strength of his kingdom: for, behold, he will give you corn; and he will bestow upon you wine, and great riches, and lofty honours. For the whole earth and sea obeys his command. Come ye all to him." And by reason of the scarcity of food, all will go to him and worship him; and he will put his mark on their right hand and on their forehead, that no one may put the sign of the honourable cross upon his forehead with his right hand; but his hand is bound. And from that time he shall not have power to seal any one of his members, but he shall be attached to the deceiver, and shall serve him; and in him there is no repentance. But such an one is lost at once to God and to men, and the deceiver will give them scanty food by reason of his abominable seal. And his seal upon the forehead and upon the right hand is the number, "Six hundred threescore and six." And I have an opinion as to this number, though I do not know the matter for certain; for many names have been found in this number when it is expressed in writing. Still we say that perhaps the scription of this same seal will give us the word I deny. For even in recent days, by means of his ministers-that is to say, the idolaters-that bitter adversary took up the word deny, when the lawless pressed upon the witnesses of Christ, with the adjuration, "Deny thy God, the crucified One."

Of such kind, in the time of that hater of all good, will be the seal, the tenor of which will be this: I deny the Maker of heaven and earth, I deny the baptism, I deny my (former) service, and attach myself to thee, and I believe in thee. For this is what the prophets Enoch and Elias will preach: Believe not the enemy who is to come and be seen; for he is an adversary and corrupter and son of perdition, and deceives you; and for this reason he will kill you, and smite them with the sword. Behold the deceit of the enemy, know the machinations of the beguiler, how he seeks to darken the mind of men utterly. For he will show forth his demons brilliant like angels, and he will bring in hosts of the incorporeal without number. And in the presence of all he exhibits himself as taken up into heaven with trumpets and sounds, and the mighty shouting of those who hail him with indescribable hymns; the heir of darkness himself shining like light, and at one time soaring to the heavens, and at another descending to the earth with great glory, and again charging the demons, like angels, to execute his behests with much fear and trembling. Then will he send the cohorts of the demons among mountains and caves and dens of the earth, to track out those who have been concealed from his eyes, and to bring them forward to worship him. And those who yield to him he will seal with his seal; but those who refuse to submit to him he will consume with incomparable pains and bitterest torments and machinations, such as never have been, nor have reached the ear of man, nor have been seen by the eye of mortals.

And there is therefore in this beast, when he comes, a recapitulation made of all sorts of iniquity and of every deceit, in order that all apostate power, flowing into and being shut up in him, may be sent into the furnace of fire. Fittingly, therefore, shall his name possess the number six hundred and sixty-six, since he sums up in his own person all the commixture of wickedness which took place previous to the deluge, due to the apostasy of the angels. For Noah was six hundred years old when the deluge came upon the earth, sweeping away the rebellious world, for the sake of that most infamous generation which lived in the times of Noah. And [Antichrist] also sums up every error of devised idols since the flood, together with the slaying of the prophets and the cutting off of the just. For that image which was set up by Nebuchadnezzar had indeed a height of sixty cubits, while the breadth was six cubits; on account of which Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, when they did not worship it, were cast into a furnace of fire, pointing out prophetically, by what happened to them, the wrath against the righteous which shall arise towards the [time of the] end. For that image, taken as a whole, was a prefiguring of this man's coming, decreeing that he should undoubtedly himself alone be worshipped by all men. Thus, then, the six hundred years of Noah, in whose time the deluge occurred because of the apostasy, and the number of the cubits of the image for which these just men were sent into the fiery furnace, do indicate the number of the name of that man in whom is concentrated the whole apostasy of six thousand years, and unrighteousness, and wickedness, and false prophecy, and deception; for which things' sake a cataclysm of fire shall also come [upon the earth].

Such, then, being the state of the case, and this number being found in all the most approved and ancient copies [of the Apocalypse], and those men who saw John face to face bearing their testimony [to it]; while reason also leads us to conclude that the number of the name of the beast, [if reckoned] according to the Greek mode of calculation by the [value of] the letters contained in it, will amount to six hundred and sixty and six; that is, the number of tens shall be equal to that of the hundreds, and the number of hundreds equal to that of the units (for that number which [expresses] the digit six being adhered to throughout, indicates the 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, [Revelation 22:19] 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.

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." [1 Thessalonians 5:3] 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 fullness thereof, the city also, and they that dwell therein." [Jeremiah 8:16] This, too, is the reason that this tribe is not reckoned in the Apocalypse along with those which are saved.

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.

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," [Revelation 17:8] 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." [Matthew 8:11]

Here it says is wisdom: let him calculate the number of the beast and through the calculation let him find it. For I will not say, it says, a foreign and unusual calculation, nor one named with concealment and doubling, but a calculation well-worn and known to men, which sums to the number six hundred sixty-six. This number also signifies many other proper and common names, and it also signifies these: as principal names Lampetis [Λαμπέτις], Benedictus [Βενέδικτος], Titan [Τιτάν]. For Titan is written with the letter iota, and in some cases it is written as a diphthong.

For if Teitan [Τειτάν] is from teísis [τείσεως - tension], and the verb is teinō [τείνω], and the future tense will be tenô [τενῶ], it is reasonable to write it with a diphthong, as phteírō [φθείρω] from phthérō [φθερῶ], and speírō [σπείρω] from sperō [σπερῶ]. By form of address, however, the Victor [ὁ νικητής], for perhaps he so named himself, from whom the three horns, that is, having waged war against the kings, he will uproot. See what Daniel says about these things in his eighth vision: "He says that attention was paid to its horns, that is, of the fourth beast; and behold, another little horn came up among them, and three of the horns that were before it were uprooted from its presence; and behold, eyes like the eyes of a man were in that horn, and a mouth speaking great things." (Dan. 7:8)

Then the unstable one [ὁ ἐπίσαλος], a wicked guide [κακὸς ὁδηγός], truly harmful [ἀληθὴς βλαβερός], ancient slanderer [πάλαι βάσκανος], an unjust lamb [ἀμνὸς ἄδικος]; for perhaps by these names he would be called by those opposing him. But he will not only not be ashamed to be called these things, he will also take pleasure in such labels, so as not to be embarrassed to call himself accordingly. Stitching such wicked and God-hating choices together, the wise apostle says: "whose glory is in their shame." (Philip. 3:19) Therefore, with many names having been found, the authority to attach the more fitting one rests with the one who wills it to the accursed one.

This calls for wisdom. Whoever has understanding, let him reckon the number of the beast, for the number of the beast, it says, is that of a man. Let us reckon the number that is to be received, so that in the number we might also learn the name and the mark. And the number, it says, is 666, which we will reckon according to the Greek, especially since he was writing to Asia and said according to the manner of their own language, "I am the alpha and the omega." Having already described as much as he could the fraudulence of the adversarial party by which the devil attempts to usurp for himself the honor of deity that he does not merit, so that he might exhibit the antichrist who is the opposite to divine honor, he instructs us to investigate the character of the beast, whether by the mark or by the number of his name, that is, of the will and the work of that most wicked beast. The name is ΑΝΤΕΜΟΣ, which, if you compute the numbers that correspond to these Greek letters, fulfills the number 666 (I + L + CCC + V + XL + LXX + CC). This name is interpreted as "contrary to honor," and so he is said to be contrary to that honor that belongs to God alone, and for this reason he is said to be inept, insolent and inconstant, for no honor pertains to him, but only anathema. And so through the number a name is found and from the name a number is computed, and from the interpretation of this name the character of his works is learned. There is another name that gives the sum of the same number and that might rightfully be advanced, and that is ΑΡΝΟΥΜΕ, which also renders 666 (I + C + L + LXX + CCCC + XL + V). The interpretation of this is "I deny." And it is not surprising that the antichrist is worthy of this name, that is, of denial, since the name of belief is proper to Christ, as he himself indicated, saying, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent," and also, "You believe in God, believe also in me." And so, whether one would speak of ΑΝΤΕΜΟΣ, that is, "contrary to honor," or ΑΡΝΟΥΜΕ, that is, "I deny," either can aptly refer to the antichrist, so that as through two parts of speech, that of the name and that of the word itself, both the character of his person and the severity of his work is suggested.

"His number is the name of a man, and his number is Six hundred threescore and six." As they have it reckoned from the Greek characters, they thus find it among many to be teitan, for teitanhas this number, which the Gentiles call Sol and Phoebus; and it is reckoned in Greek thus: t three hundred, e five, i ten, t three hundred, a one, n fifty,-which taken together become six hundred and sixty-six. For as far as belongs to the Greek letters, they fill up this number and name; which name if you wish to turn into Latin, it is understood by the antiphrase Diclux, which letters are reckoned in this manner: since D figures five hundred, I one, C a hundred, L fifty, V five, X ten,-which by the reckoning up of the letters makes similarly six hundred and sixty-six, that is, what in Greek gives teitan, to wit, what in Latin is called Diclux; by which name, expressed by anti-phrases, we understand Antichrist, who, although he be cut off from the supernal light, and deprived thereof, yet transforms himself into an angel of light, daring to call himself light. Moreover, we find in a certain Greek codex antemoj, which letters being reckoned up, you will find to give the number as above: a one, n fifty, t three hundred, e five, m forty, o seventy, j two hundred,-which together makes six hundred and sixty-six, according to the Greeks. Moreover, there is another name in Gothic of him, which will be evident of itself, that is, genshrikoj, which in the same way you will reckon in Greek letters: g three, e five, n fifty, j two hundred, h eight, r a hundred, i ten, k twenty, o seventy, j also two hundred, which, as has been said above, make six hundred and sixty-six.