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IRENAEUS INTERPRETS DANIEL 2
’Daniel also says particularly, that the end of the fourth kingdom
consists in the toes of the image seen by Nebuchadnezzar, upon
which came the stone cut out without hands; and as he does himself
say:
"The feet were indeed the one part iron, the other part clay, until the
stone was cut out without hands, and struck the image upon the iron
and clay feet, and dashed them into pieces, even to the end."
…
The ten toes, therefore, are these ten kings, among whom the
kingdom shall be partitioned, of whom some indeed shall be strong
and active, or energetic; others, again, shall be sluggish and useless,
and shall not agree; as also Daniel says: "Some part of the kingdom
shall be strong, and part shall be broken from it.”’
Irenaeus, ‘Against Heresies', Book V, chapter 26, section 1, 185 AD
IRENAEUS INTERPRETS DANIEL 7
'Daniel too, looking forward to the end of the last kingdom, i.e., the ten
last kings, amongst whom the kingdom of those men shall be
partitioned, and upon whom the son of perdition shall come,
declares that ten horns shall spring from the beast, and that
another little horn shall arise in the midst of them, and that three of
the former shall be rooted up before his face.
He says: "And, behold, eyes were in this horn as the eyes of a man,
and a mouth speaking great things, and his look was more stout than
his fellows. I was looking, and this horn made war against the saints,
and prevailed against them, until the Ancient of days came and gave
judgment to the saints of the most high God, and the time came, and
the saints obtained the kingdom.“’
Irenaeus, ‘Against Heresies', Book V, chapter 25, section 3, 185 AD
IRENAEUS INTERPRETS REVELATION 13
'In a still clearer light, John, in the Apocalypse, indicated to the Lord's
Disciples what shall happen in the last times - and concerning the
ten kings who shall then arise, among whom the Empire which
now rules, shall be partitioned.
He teaches us what the ten horns shall be which were seen by
Daniel - telling us that thus it had been said to him:
“And the ten horns which you saw, are ten kings who have received
no kingdom as yet. But they shall receive power, as if kings, one hour
with the beast”…’
Irenaeus, ‘Against Heresies', Book V, chapter 26, section 1, 185 AD
HIPPOLYTUS INTERPRETS DANIEL 2
'In those times, the Babylonians were sovereign over all; and
these were the golden head of the image.
And then, after them, the Persians held the supremacy for 345
years; and they were represented by the silver.
Then the Greeks had the supremacy, beginning with Alexander of
Macedon, for 300 years - so that they were the brass.
After them came the Romans, who were the iron legs of the
image. For they were strong as iron.
Then the toes of clay and iron, to signify the democracies that
were subsequently to rise - partitioned among the ten toes of the
image, in which iron shall be mixed with clay...’
Hippolytus, 'Scholia on Daniel' Book III, chapter 2 section 31, 200 AD
HIPPOLYTUS INTERPRETS DANIEL 7
'Then he says: "A fourth beast, dreadful and terrible; it had iron teeth
and claws of brass." And who are these but the Romans? which is
meant by the iron - the kingdom which is now established; for the
legs of that [image] were of iron.
And after this, what remains, beloved, but the toes of the feet of
the image, in which part is iron and part clay, mixed together?
And mystically by the toes of the feet he meant the kings who are to
arise from among them; as Daniel also says, "I considered the beast,
and lo there were ten horns behind it, among which shall rise another,
an offshoot, and shall pluck up by the roots the three before it.“’
Hippolytus, ‘Treatise on Christ and Antichrist’, paragraph 25, 200 AD
HIPPOLYTUS INTERPRETS REVELATION 13
'John then speaks thus:
'And I beheld another Beast coming up out of the Earth. And he had
two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon'...
The words 'he exercised all the power of the First Beast before him'...
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...
'Then he [Antichrist] shall with knavish skill heal... and restore it.’
Hippolytus, ‘Treatise on Christ and AntiChrist’, sections 48-49,
200 AD
SEVERUS INTERPRETS DANIEL 2
‘The golden head is the empire of the Chaldaeans; for we have
understood that it was the first and wealthiest.
The breast and the arms of silver represent the second kingdom;
for Cyrus, after the Chaldaeans and the Medes were conquered,
conferred the empire on the Persians.
In the brazen belly it is said that the third sovereignty was indicated;
and we see that this was fulfilled, for Alexander took the empire
from the Persians, and won the sovereignty for the Macedonians.
The iron legs point to a fourth power, and that is understood of
the Roman empire, which is more powerful than all the kingdoms
which were before it. But the fact that the feet were partly of iron and
partly clay, indicates that the Roman empire is to be divided, so as
never to be united.’
Sulpicius Severus, ‘Sacred History’ Book 2, chapter 3, 401 AD
JEROME INTERPRETS DANIEL 2
‘The fourth [kingdom] which holds the city of the World, is the
empire of the Romans…’
Jerome, ‘Commentary on Daniel’, chapter 2 section 38, 320 - 420 AD
‘My mind is refreshed, and for the present forgets the woeful
calamities that this last age labours with, groaning and travailing in
pain, till he who hinders, be taken out of the way, and the feet of the
iron statue be broken to pieces by reason of the brittleness of
the clayey toes.’
Jerome, ‘Commentary on Ezekiel’, book 8, preface, 340 - 420 AD
JEROME INTERPRETS DANIEL 7
‘Let us therefore affirm, agreeably to the concurrent judgment of all
ecclesiastical writers, that in the consummation of the world, when
the Roman Empire is to be destroyed, there shall arise ten kings,
who shall share the Roman world among themselves, and that
an eleventh king (the little horn in Dan. vii.) shall arise, who shall
subdue three of those ten kings…’
Jerome, ‘Commentary on Daniel’, chapter 7 section 20, 340 - 420 AD
‘”that which restrains” - is the Roman empire.
For unless it shall have been destroyed and taken out of the midst according to the Prophet Daniel, Anti-Christ will not come before
that.’
Jerome, ‘Commentary on Jeremiah’, chapter 5 section 25,
340 - 420 AD
SUMMARY OF PREDICTIONS MADE 185 - 401 AD
• Irenaeus and Hippolytus predicted accurately the disintegration of
the Roman empire into the iron and clay fragments almost 300 years
before the destruction of 476 AD concluded that fragmentation
• Irenaeus and Hippolytus predicted accurately that the AntiChrist
would emerge from within the Roman system as an apostate
individual promoting an apostate religious system
• Hippolytus predicted accurately that imperial Rome would suffer a
‘deadly wound’, from which it would then recover, after which
AntiChrist would come to power
• Severus supported the same interpretation some 200 years
afterwards, and Jerome insisted that it was coming to pass at the
time of his writing, shortly after Severus
IRENAEUS – THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST
‘…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, 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…
Then also Lateinos has the number six hundred and sixty-six;
and it is very probable, this being the name of the last kingdom.
For the Latins are they who at present bear rule: I will not,
however, make any boast over this.‘
Irenaeus, 'Against Heresies' Book III, Chapter 30, Sections 2-3,
185 AD
HIPPOLYTUS – THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST
'His number is 666. With respect to his name, it is not in our power to
explain it exactly, as the blessed John understood it and was
instructed about it, but only to give a conjectural account of it; for
when he appears, the blessed one will show us what we seek to
know. Yet as far as our doubtful apprehension of the matter goes, we
may speak...
But, as we have already said, the wound of the first beast was
healed, and he (the second beast) was to make the image speak, that
is to say, he should be powerful; and it is manifest to all that those
who at present still hold the power are Latins.
If, then, we take the name as the name of a single man, it
becomes Latinus.'
Hippolytus, ‘Treatise on Christ and Antichrist’, section 50, 200 AD
SCHAFF – THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST
’This interpretation is the oldest we know of, and is already
mentioned by Irenaeus, the first among the Fathers who investigated
the problem…
He mentions three interpretations, all based on the Greek alphabet…
The interpretation Latinus is the only sensible one among the
three, and adopted by Hippolytus, Bellarmin, Eichhorn, Bleek,
DeWette, Ebrard, Düsterdieck, Alford, Wordsworth, Lee, and
others.
Latinus was the name of a king of Latium, but not of any Roman
emperor. Hence it must here be taken in a generic sense, and
applied to the whole heathen Roman empire.’
Philip Schaff, ‘History of the Christian Church’, Chapter XII, section
101, 1910
THE DEFINITION OF ANTICHRIST
1 John 4:
1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are
of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2Hereby
know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3And
every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the
flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of AntiChrist, whereof ye
have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the
world.
2 John:
7For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an
AntiChrist.
JESUS CHRIST CAME IN OUR FLESH
Romans 8:
3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh,
God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for
sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Hebrews 2:
14Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood,
he also, himself, likewise, took part of the same…
17Wherefore in all things it was necessary for him to be made like
unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest
in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the
people.
Hebrews 3:
15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we
are, yet without sin.
THE COMING OF ANTICHRIST TO POWER
Description of AntiChrist - 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8
• An apostate (verse 3)
• A man of sin (verse 3)
• Will oppose and exalt himself above God (verse 4)
• Will lay claim to Divine authority (verse 4)
• Part of a lawless apostasy which already exists (verses 4-6)
• Restrained from being revealed in power until a later time (verse 5)
• Not in power until that which restrains is taken away (verses 6-7)
• Will be destroyed by Christ at his Second Advent (verse 8)
IRENAEUS PREDICTS ANTICHRIST
‘And again, in the Second to the Thessalonians, speaking of
Antichrist, he says, "And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom
the Lord Jesus Christ shall slay with the Spirit of His mouth…”’
Irenaeus, 'Against Heresies' Book III, chapter 7, section 2, 185 AD
‘And not only by the particulars already mentioned, but also by means
of the events which shall occur in the time of Antichrist is it shown that
he, being an apostate and a robber, is anxious to be adored as
God; and that, although a mere slave, he wishes himself to be
proclaimed as a king.
For he being endued with all the power of the devil, shall come, not
as a righteous king, nor as a legitimate king, in subjection to God, but
an impious, unjust, and lawless one; as an apostate, iniquitous
and murderous; as a robber…’
Irenaeus, 'Against Heresies' Book V, chapter 25, section 1, 185 AD
TERTULLIAN PREDICTS ANTICHRIST
’”For that day shall not come, unless indeed there first come a falling
away," he means indeed of this present empire, "and that man of
sin be revealed," that is to say, Antichrist, "the son of perdition, who
opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or religion;
so that he sitteth in the temple of God, affirming that he is God…”
…
Only let him hold fast who now rules, until he is out of the way, who
can only be the Roman State, whose breaking apart and
dispersal among ten kings will produce the Antichrist, and then
will the evil one be revealed…’
Tertullian, ‘On the Resurrection of the Flesh’, chapter 34, 190 AD
HIPPOLYTUS PREDICTS ANTICHRIST
‘…the other little horn that grows up among them meant the
Antichrist in their midst; the stone that smites the earth and brings
judgment upon the world was Christ.’
Hippolytus, ‘Treatise on Christ and Antichrist’, paragraph 28, 200 AD
‘It is to the fourth kingdom, of which we have already spoken,
that he here refers: that kingdom, than which no greater kingdom of
like nature has arisen upon the earth; from which also ten horns
are to spring, and to be apportioned among ten crowns.
And amid these another little horn shall rise, which is that of
Antichrist.’
Hippolytus, ‘Scholia on Daniel’, chapter 7, section 19, 200 AD
CYRIL PREDICTS ANTICHRIST
’Moreover, the Antichrist was prophesied to come when the times of
the Roman empire have been completed…
But this aforesaid Antichrist is to come when the times of the
Roman empire shall have been fulfilled, and the end of the world is
now drawing near.
There shall rise up together ten kings of the Romans, reigning in
different parts perhaps, but all about the same time; and after these
an eleventh, the Antichrist, who by his magical craft shall seize
upon the Roman power...’
Cyril of Jerusalem, ‘Lecture 15’, paragraphs 9,12, 315-386 AD
JOHN CHRYSOTOM PREDICTS ANTICHRIST
‘One may first naturally inquire what is that which withholdeth, and
after that would know why Paul expresses this so obscurely… ‘he
who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.’
That is, when the Roman empire is taken out of the way, then he
shall come; and naturally, for as long as the fear of this empire lasts,
no one will readily exalt himself; but when that is dissolved, he will
attack the anarchy, and endeavor to seize upon the government both
of men and of God.’
John Chrysotom, ‘Homilies on Second Thessalonians II 6-9’, 389 AD
JEROME PREDICTS ANTICHRIST
’I shudder when I think of the catastrophes of our time.
The Roman world is falling: yet we hold up our heads instead of
bowing them.
…Rome's army, once victor and Lord of the world, now trembles with
terror at the sight of the foe;’
Jerome, ‘Letter to Heliodorus’, paragraphs 16,17, 340-420 AD
’But what am I doing? Whilst I talk about the cargo, the vessel itself
founders. He that letteth is taken out of the way, and yet we do
not realize that Antichrist is near.
Yes, Antichrist is near whom the Lord Jesus Christ 'shall
consume with the spirit of his mouth'.’
Jerome, ‘Letter to Ageruchia’, paragraphs 16, 17, 340-420 AD
OTHER EARLY EXPOSITORS PREDICT ANTICHRIST
‘Ambrose, on II Thess. 2, said, "And then the evil one will be
revealed; the Apostle says that Antichrist would appear after the
fading of the Roman empire."
Hiero to Algasi (Argument 111) so expresses it: "Only when the
Roman empire leaves, which now exercises dominion over all
peoples, when it is out of the way, indeed then Antichrist will
come," which he confirms in Jeremiah, chapter 25.
And to Gaudentius, as he himself said, when Rome was seized and
what is more - consumed by fire, he understood that the western
empire was approaching its end. "He who held sway is out of the
way," he said, "and do we not understand the Antichrist nears?"
Francis Turretin, ‘The 7th Disputation - Whether It Can Be Proven The
Pope of Rome is AntiChrist’, chapter 12, 1664
OTHER EARLY EXPOSITORS PREDICT ANTICHRIST
‘Augustine (City of God, book 20, chapter 19), although he confesses
he does not know what it is which has held sway, yet those words, He
who holds sway, let him hold sway, he believes can be rightly
interpreted as signifying the Roman empire, "as if it were said, he
who rules, let him rule until he is out of the way, that is, taken out of
the way, and then will be revealed the evil one whom no one
doubts signifies Antichrist.“
Sedulius on II Thess. 2, "He who as king of the Romans holds the
rule, let him hold his own rule until he is out of the way, that is, until
the kingdom which he now holds is taken out of the way.
This will occur before the Antichrist is revealed.”
Anselm, Glossa Interlinearis, Lyranus, Thomas, and not a few of
our other adversaries acknowledge the same thing.’
Francis Turretin, ‘The 7th Disputation - Whether It Can Be Proven The
Pope of Rome is AntiChrist’, chapter 12, 1664
DESCRIPTION OF THE ANTICHRISTIAN POWER
• A religious power with temporal authority
(Daniel 7:25, Revelation 13:5-6)
• Blasphemes against God and demands worship
(Revelation 13:4-6, 15)
• Has power to persecute the people of God for a certain time
(Daniel 7:25, Revelation 13:7)
• Has power over nations and peoples all through the world
(Revelation 13:7)
• Kills all those who oppose it or who refuse to submit to it
(Revelation 13:15)
• Prevents those who do not obey it from buying or selling
(Revelation 13:17)
GREGORY I ON THE TITLE ‘UNIVERSAL BISHOP’
'The king of pride is near, and (awful to be said!) there is an army
of priests in course of preparation for him, inasmuch as they who
had been appointed to be leaders in humility enlist themselves under
the neck of pride.‘
What then, dearest brother, wilt thou say in that terrible scrutiny of the
coming judgment, if thou covetest to be called in the world not only
father, but even general father?‘
For to assent to that atrocious title is nothing else than to lose
the faith.'
Gregory the Great, Epistle XVIII, to John, Bishop of Constantinople,
540-604
GREGORY I ON THE TITLE ‘UNIVERSAL BISHOP’
‘Is it not the case that, when Antichrist comes and calls himself
God, it will be very frivolous, and yet exceedingly pernicious?
If we regard the quantity of the language used, there are but a few
syllables; but if the weight of the wrong, there is universal disaster.
Now I confidently say that whosoever calls himself, or desires to
be called, Universal Priest, is in his elation the precursor of
Antichrist, because he proudly puts himself above all others.’
Gregory the Great, Epistle XXXIII, to Mauricius Augustus, 540-604
‘But in this pride of his what else is denoted than that the times of
Antichrist are already near at hand?’
Gregory the Great, Epistle XXI, to Constantina Augusta, 540-604
GREGORY I ON THE TITLE ‘UNIVERSAL BISHOP’
'Certainly Peter, the first of the apostles, himself a member of the holy
and universal Church, Paul, Andrew, John - what were they but heads
of particular communities? And yet all were members under one
Head.
And (to bind all together in a short girth of speech) the saints before
the law, the saints under the law, the saints under grace, all these
making up the Lord's Body, were constituted as members of the
Church, and not one of them has wished himself to be called
universal.‘
Gregory the Great, Epistle XVIII, to John, Bishop of Constantinople,
540-604
GREGORY I ON THE ANTICHRIST AND BEAST
'John narrated that the First Beast is Antichrist...
After him, also the other Beast (from the Earth) is said to arise because after him, his multitude of preachers are glorified by power.'
Gregory the Great, 540-604
ARNULF OF ORLEANS ON THE PAPACY
‘Looking at the actual state of the papacy, what do we behold?
John [XII] called Octavian, wallowing in the sty of filthy
concupiscence, conspiring against the sovereign whom he had
himself recently crowned; then Leo [VIII] the neophyte, chased from
the city by this Octavian; and that monster himself, after the
commission of many murders and cruelties, dying by the hand of
an assassin.
…
‘If, holy fathers, we be bound to weigh in the balance the lives, the
morals, and the attainments of the meanest candidate for the
sacerdotal office, how much more ought we to look to the fitness
of him who aspires to be the lord and master of all priests!’
Arnulf, Bishop of Orleans, speech at the Gallican Synod, Council of
Rheims, 991
ARNULF OF ORLEANS ON THE PAPACY
‘Yet how would it fare with us, if it should happen that the man the
most deficient in all these virtues, one so abject as not to be worthy of
the lowest place among the priesthood, should be chosen to fill the
highest place of all?
What would you say of such a one, when you behold him sitting
upon the throne glittering in purple and gold?
Must he not be the “Antichrist, sitting in the temple of God, and
showing himself as God?’’
Verily such a one lacketh both wisdom and charity; he standeth in the
temple as an image, as an idol, from which as from dead marble you
would seek counsel.’
Arnulf, Bishop of Orleans, speech at the Gallican Synod, Council of
Rheims, 991
ARNULF OF ORLEANS ON THE PAPACY
‘O Rome, you are to be mourned, who once brought the bright glories
of the Fathers to our ancestors, yet in our day have poured forth
monstrous smoking darkness into future ages.’
Arnulf, Bishop of Orleans, speech at the Gallican Synod, Council of
Rheims, 991
'The shocking immoralities of the popes called forth strong protests,
though they did not shake the faith in the institution itself.
A Gallican Synod deposed archbishop Arnulf of Rheims as a traitor to
king Hugo Capet, without waiting for an answer from the pope, and
without caring for the Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals (991).’
Philip Schaff, ‘History of the Christian Church’, Chapter IV, section 64,
1910
JOACHIM OF FLORIS ON THE PAPACY
‘The Church of Rome is the fleshly Synagogue of Satan.
The Church of Rome shall be destroyed...
A spiritual Church shall from thenceforth succeed, till the end of the
World.
…
The Church is Babylon. The Papal Church of Rome!’
Joachim, Abbot of Floris, ‘Concordia Novi et Veteris Testamenti’, 1190
EBERHARD ON THE PAPACY
‘With the greatest effort, Jesus also admonished that we avoid false
Christs, false prophets who, clothed in sheep skin with the name
of Christian and a Pontifical title, desire to rule and deceive us.
It is fitting they be recognized by their thorny works, especially
avarice, debauchery, strife, hatred, envy, wars, the desire to have
dominion, and blind ambition.
Can there be a more obvious meaning to these words which our
heavenly Emperor prophesies? He can only be pointing to the
Pharisees and Scribes of Babylon who, under the title of
Supreme Pontiff, we discern, unless we are blind, a most savage
wolf whose skin feels as the skin of a Shepherd.’
Eberhard II, Archbishop of Salzburg, speech at Council of Ratisbon,
1240
EBERHARD ON THE PAPACY
‘One hundred and seventy years earlier, Hildebrand [Pope from 10731086] first laid the foundations of the rule of Antichrist, under the
peaceful appearance of religion, but, in reality, was the first to
inaugurate this nefarious war which has been faithfully continued by
his successors…
He who is the servant of servants desires to be Lord of Lords, as if
he were God; he despises holy assemblies and the councils of the
brethren, nay, rather of his own Lords…’
Eberhard II, Archbishop of Salzburg, speech at Council of Ratisbon,
1240
EBERHARD ON THE PAPACY
‘ ….He speaks great things as if he were God and is ever
scheming and plotting in his heart how to strengthen his rule.
To this end he changes laws, he enacts his own, he corrupts, he
plunders, he defrauds, he kills; that morally depraved man whom
they are accustomed to call the Antichrist, upon whose forehead is
written the name of contempt, I am God, I cannot err; he sits in the
temple of God and his domain is far and wide.’
Eberhard II, Archbishop of Salzburg, speech at Council of Ratisbon,
1240
POPE ADRIAN ON THE PAPACY
‘We know that in this holy seat for some years past there have been
many abominations, abuses in spiritual matters, excesses in
commands, and that all things have been changed to evil.
Nor is it wonderful that the sickness has passed from the head to the
members, from Pope to inferior prelates.
Wherefore we promise to do all in our power to reform the Curia,
whence perchance all this evil has proceeded : that as corruption
flowed from thence, so health and reformation should in time be
derived.’
Confession of Pope Adrian VI, 1522
BARONIUS ON THE PAPACY
‘For many being bribed, he [the Emperor] brought it to pass, that
contrary to custom, a certain Bishop should be elected, a Roman,
named Laurentius.
For the sake of these persons, murders, robberies and numberless
other evils were perpetrated at Rome…’
‘For nearly 150 years, about fifty Pontiffs, from John VIII. until Leo IX.,
were found gravely wanting in sharing the virtuous nature of their
ancestors, themselves Apostles of apostasy rather than Apostles
of the apostolic succession.’
Baronius, Catholic historian, ‘Annales Ecclesiastici’, 1600
THE IDENTITY OF THE BEAST
‘Where-ever was there an Empire since the writing of the Prophecy,
but that of the Roman Church, that was so Universal for 1260 years
together, as to have all that dwell upon the Earth, Peoples, and
Multitudes, and Nations, and Tongues, to worship it?
What Ruling Power, but that, so Ancient, as to have the Blood of the
Prophets, and Saints, and of all that were slain upon Earth, of
that kind for that space of time, to be found in it?
What Rule but that, had ever so long a duration in the World, as to
continue set upon an Hill, much less upon seven Hills, for so
great a space of time... ?’
Drue Cressener, ‘A Demonstration of the First Principles of the
Protestant Applications of the Apocalypse’, preface, pages viii, ix,
1690
THE IDENTITY OF THE BEAST
‘Rome, not idolatrous but Christian, not the head of an imaginary
Roman empire but the head of Christendom and centre of unity of
the true church of the living God, may very well, without ceasing from
this dignity, at some time or other incur the guilt and before God be
held guilty of fornication with the kings of the earth...
…and this same Rome, in this same respect may receive upon
itself the horrifying retribution that the prophecy declares.’
Lacunza, Jesuit expositor, ‘The Coming Of Messiah In Glory And
Majesty’,chapter 2, page 65, 1790
THE IDENTITY OF THE BEAST
'The Roman Empire, the fourth division, dispersed and decayed into
Germany, England, Spain, France et cetera, shall be mixt together
but yet they shall not cleave.
They shall be confederate to make a new and all-one monarchy,
but all in vain.
The little horn was and is the Antichrist's kingdom of the popes
of Rome with all their unclean clergy.
The ten horned beast ascending out of the sea is the spiritual
Antichrist of Rome with all his laws, rites, traditions, decrees,
and doctrine.'
George Joye, ‘Exposition of Daniel’, c. 1553
THE MODERN MANIFESTATION OF THE BEAST
‘The beast is to be identical with the eighth head, "he is the eighth,"
(Rev 17:11) which seems to require either a Republic or a Democratic
Empire.
The Church of Rome would accommodate itself with equal ease
to a Holy Roman Empire or the United States of Europe.’
Samuel Garratt, ‘A Commentary on the Revelation of St. John,
Considered As The Divine Book of History’, pages 250-251, 1897
‘The European Union Treaty introduces a new and decisive stage in
the process of European union, which within a few years will lead to
the creation of what the founding fathers dreamed of after the last
war: the United States of Europe.’
German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, April, 1992
THE MODERN MANIFESTATION OF THE BEAST
‘…it is the Graeco-Roman civilisation which characterised them
all, and, even more so, the same Christian culture.
Yes, a common culture animated this great ensemble: it was faith.
Can it not be said that it is faith, the Christian faith, the Catholic
faith, that made Europe, to the extent of being like its soul?
We are also persuaded that the solution of the question [of unity] calls
for the creation of a unified mentality, and for the diffusion of a
common culture.
Without this, European unity cannot be reached.’
Pope Paul VI, ‘The Reformer’, January/February, 1976
THE MODERN MANIFESTATION OF THE BEAST
‘This woman is not only herself a Harlot, but is expressly 'the Mother
of Harlots and abominations of the Earth' an abomination being an
idol, or anything that is worshipped and trusted.
This 'Mother Church' will no doubt gather her Daughters to her
ample bosom ere the end comes...
Everything not of God, will be consolidated into one opposing
system.’
Philip Mauro, 'Of Things Which Soon Must Come To Pass', 1933
THE MODERN MANIFESTATION OF THE BEAST
‘It is in the movement towards federalism of the Common Market,
with the coming members of Eastern European countries, as well as
in the turmoil in the Soviet Union that the Pope may see the
greatest possibility for an increase in Catholic political power
since the fall of Napoleon, or since the Counter-Reformation.
The Common Market itself started under the inspiration of
Catholic politicians…
The European Commission Social Charter and the socialism of
Jacques Delores are imbued with Catholic social doctrine.
If European federalism triumphs, the European Commission will
indeed be an empire. It will lack an emperor, but it will have the
Pope.’
Adrian Hilton, ‘The Principality and Power of Europe: Britain and the
emerging Holy European Empire’, page 18, 1997
THE MODERN MANIFESTATION OF THE BEAST
‘There is no example in history of a lasting monetary union that was
not linked to one State.'
Otmar Issing, Chief Economist, German Bundesbank, 1991
'A European army, and a European police force lie at the end of
the road to Europe...
The Maastrict Treaty introduces a new and decisive stage in the
progress of European union, which within a few years will lead to the
creation of the United States of Europe…
We want the political unification of Europe.
If there is no monetary union, then there cannot be political union,
and vice-versa.’
German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, 1992
THE MODERN MANIFESTATION OF THE BEAST
‘The introduction of the euro is probably the most important
integrating step since the beginning of the unification process.
It is certain that the times of individual national efforts regarding
employment policies, social and tax policies are definitely over.
This will require us to finally bury some erroneous ideas of
national sovereignty…
I am convinced our standing in the world regarding foreign trade and
international finance policies will sooner or later force a Common
Foreign and Security Policy worthy of its name…
National sovereignty in foreign and security policy will soon
prove itself to be a product of the imagination.’
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, 19 January, 1999
THE MODERN MANIFESTATION OF THE BEAST
‘The euro is far more than a medium of exchange…
It is part of the identity of a people. It reflects what they have in
common now and in the future.'
European Central Bank Governor Wim Duisenberg, December 31,
1998
‘The euro was not just a bankers' decision or a technical decision.
It was a decision which completely changed the nature of the
nation states. The pillars of the nation state are the sword and
the currency, and we changed that. The euro decision changed
the concept of the nation state and we have to go beyond that…’
Romano Prodi, EU Commission President, EU Parliament, Financial
Times, 9 April, 1999
THE MODERN MANIFESTATION OF THE BEAST
‘It is only natural that the eastern part of the continent will become our
preoccupation for years to come, because Germans see this as a
matter of historical destiny.
The most fundamental priority we have is trying to integrate all
of Europe. But for France the underlying issue is all about coming to
terms with its loss of influence in the world.’
Immo Stabreit, former German Ambassador to France, International
Herald Tribune, 11 September, 1999
‘Transforming the European Union into a single State with one
army, one constitution and one foreign policy is the critical
challenge of the age, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said
yesterday.’
The Guardian, London, 26 November 1999
THE MODERN MANIFESTATION OF THE BEAST
‘Time and again men have dreamed of rearing on these dominions
one mighty kingdom. Charlemagne tried it. Charles V tried it. Louis
XIV tried it. Napoleon tried it. But neither succeeded.
A single verse of prophecy was stronger than all their host.
…'Partly strong, and partly broken,' was the prophetic description.
And such, too, has been the historic fact concerning them.
…It is 'partly strong'--i.e., it retains, even in its broken state, enough of
its iron strength to resist all attempts to mold its part together.
'This shall not be,' says the word of God.
'This has not been,' replies the book of history.’
William Newton, ‘Lectures on the First Two Visions of the Book of
Daniel’, page 34, 1859
THE MODERN MANIFESTATION OF THE BEAST
‘But then, men may say, 'Another plan remains. If force cannot avail,
diplomacy and reasons of state may--we will try them.
And so the prophecy foreshadows this when it says, 'They shall
mingle themselves with the seed of men'--i.e., marriages shall be
formed, in hope thus to consolidate their power, and, in the end, to
unite these divided kingdoms into one.’
William Newton, ‘Lectures on the First Two Visions of the Book of
Daniel’, page 35, 1859
'For the first time since the fall of the Roman Empire we have the
opportunity to unite Europe, not by force of arms, but on the basis
of shared ideals and agreed common rules.’
Romano Prodi, EU Commission President, EU Parliament,
13 October 1999
THE MODERN MANIFESTATION OF THE BEAST
‘And shall this device succeed?--No. The prophet answers: 'They
shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.'
And the history of Europe, is but a running commentary on the
exact fulfilment of these words.
From the time of Canute until the present age, it has been the policy
of the reigning monarchs, the beaten path which they have trodden,
in order to reach a mightier scepter and a wider sway.
…Napoleon… sought to reach by alliance, what he could not
gain by force, i.e., to build up one mighty, consolidated empire.
And did he succeed?--Nay. The very power with which he was
allied, proved his destruction, in the troops of Blucher, on the field of
Waterloo!’
William Newton, ‘Lectures on the First Two Visions of the Book of
Daniel’, page 35, 1859
THE MODERN MANIFESTATION OF THE BEAST
‘The last step will then be the completion of integration in a
European Federation, such a group of States could conclude a new
European framework treaty, the nucleus of a constitution of the
Federation.
On the basis of this treaty, the Federation would develop its own
institutions, establish a government which, within the EU,
should speak with one voice… a strong parliament and a
directly elected president.
Such a driving force would have to be the avant-garde, the driving
force for the completion of political integration….
This latest stage of European Union - namely eastern enlargement
and the completion of political integration - will depend decisively
on France and Germany.’
Joschka Fischer, Geman Foreign Minister, Berlin, 12 May, 2000
THE MODERN MANIFESTATION OF THE BEAST
‘We must build a kind of United States of Europe.
…
I am now going to say something that will astonish you.
The first step in the re-creation of the European family must be a
partnership between France and Germany.
In this way only can France recover the moral leadership of Europe.
There can be no revival of Europe without a spiritually great
France and a spiritually great Germany.
The structure of the United States of Europe, if well and truly built,
will be such as to make the material strength of a single state
less important. Small nations will count as much as large ones and
gain their honour by their contribution to the common cause.’
Winston Churchill, speech published in ‘The Sinews of Peace’, 1948
THE MODERN MANIFESTATION OF THE BEAST
‘The ancient states and principalities of Germany, freely joined
together for mutual convenience in a federal system, might each
take their individual place among the United States of Europe.
…
Our constant aim must be to build and fortify the strength of U.N.O.
Under and within that world concept we must re-create the
European family in a regional structure called, it may be, the
United States of Europe.
The first step is to form a Council of Europe. If at first all the
States of Europe are not willing or able to join the Union, we must
nevertheless proceed to assemble and combine those who will and
those who can.’
Winston Churchill, speech published in ‘The Sinews of Peace’, 1948
THE MODERN MANIFESTATION OF THE BEAST
‘...God's hand will be the active agent in it; that He will 'put in their
hearts to fulfil His will and to agree, and give their Kingdom to the
Beast' (the League of Nations or something similar), until the
words of God shall be fulfilled!’
Philip Mauro, 'Of Things Which Soon Must Come To Pass', page 491,
1933
‘Are we all clear that we want to build something that can aspire
to be a world power? In other words, not just a trading bloc but
a political entity. Do we realise that our nation states, taken
individually, would find it far more difficult to assert their existence
and their identity in the world stage?’
Romano Prodi, EU Commission President, EU Parliament, 13
February, 2001
THE MODERN MANIFESTATION OF THE BEAST
‘”We do not want another committee. We have too many already.
What we want is a man of sufficient stature to hold the
allegiance of all people, and to lift us out of the economic morass in
which we are now sinking.
Send us such a man and, be he god or the devil, we will receive
him.“’
Paul-Henri Spaak, former Belgian Prime Minister, president of the
Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe from 1949 to 1951
As quoted by Adrian Hilton, ‘The Principality and Power of Europe:
Britain and the emerging Holy European Empire’, page 19, 1997