ACC ~ Revelation 11 v7 - 8

THE ANTICHRIST WILL MAKE WAR. PSEUDO-HIPPOLYTUS: When they have proclaimed all these things, they will fall on the sword, cut off by the accuser. And they will fulfill their testimony, as Daniel also says; for he foresaw that the beast that came up out of the abyss would make war with them, namely with Enoch, Elijah and John, and would overcome them and kill them, because of their refusal to give glory to the accuser, that is, the little horn that sprang up. And he, being lifted up in heart, begins in the end to exalt himself and glorify himself as God, persecuting the saints and blaspheming Christ. ON THE END OF THE WORLD, THE ANTICHRIST AND THE SECOND COMING 21.

ATTESTED BY MANY WITNESSES. VICTORINUS OF PETOVIUM: “These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand in the presence of the Lord of the earth,”that is, in paradise. It is necessary that after many plagues have come to the world these be killed by the antichrist, who, it says, is “the beast that ascends from the bottomless pit.” That he will ascend from the pit is attested by many witnesses. For Isaiah says, “Behold, Assyria is a cypress on Mount Lebanon.” “Assyria” is a deeply rooted “cypress,” high and full of branches, that is, [Assyria possesses] a numerous people. It is “on Mount Lebanon,” that is, a kingdom among kingdoms. It is “beautiful in its offshoots,” that is, it is strong in its armies. “Water nourishes it,” it says; that is, there are many thousands of persons who will be submitted to it. “The abyss increased him,” that is, it vomited him forth. Ezekiel often speaks in such words. Paul also gives witness that antichrist is in a kingdom among kingdoms and was among the Caesars. He writes to the Thessalonians, “If only he restrains, who is seen [to be restraining], until he be taken from the way. And then he will appear whose coming is like the activity of Satan with signs and deceptive works.” And that they might know that he who was to come was then emperor, he adds, “he is already working the mystery of wickedness.”That is, he is working in a mysterious way that wickedness which he will do. But he will not be aroused [to this work] by his own strength or by that of his father but by the command of God. And for this reason Paul said, “Therefore, since they did not receive the love of God, God sends upon them a spirit of error, that all of them might be persuaded by delusion, who were not persuaded by the truth.” Isaiah says, “Darkness arose upon them who were awaiting the light.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 11.4.

ANTICHRIST COMES BEFORE THE LAST PERSECUTION. TYCONIUS: When he says, “when they have finished their witness,” he clearly explains that these things will take place before the last persecution, at least that which they relate until the revelation of the beast who will ascend from the abyss, that is, from the depths of the iniquity of the hearts of the Jews. For, according to tradition, the antichrist will arise from the tribe of Dan. And “he will conquer them,” namely, in those who will have succumbed. However, “he will kill them,” indicating those who for the name of Christ will have been killed by a praiseworthy suffering. “And he will lay their bodies in the middle of that great city which is spiritually called Sodom, where also their Lord was crucified.” Another translation renders it [in the singular] “body.” And so it speaks of one body of the two, while elsewhere in subsequent verses it speaks of the “bodies.” In this way, he preserves the number of the Testaments, while the two witnesses demonstrate the one body of the church. This body—he speaks not only of those killed but also of those who are living—is thrown down, that is, it is despised, as [the psalmist says], “You have cast my words behind you.”[He casts them down] “in the middle,” that is, openly and visibly. This is, to be sure, that “Jerusalem which killed the prophets,” according to the words of the Lord who reproached it, saying, “and stoned those who were sent to you.” Rightly was [Jerusalem] reproved, nor did it deserve to be restored. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 11.7-8.

SAVAGE AND BLOODTHIRSTY. OECUMENIUS: [The prophets] will testify that the one who is present is not the Christ but a certain rogue, a deceiver and a destroyer. He will in no way come as the Son of God in whom one must believe as Savior and as God and who came for the benefit of humankind both in his appearance long ago and in his present appearing. It speaks of “the beast that ascends from the bottomless pit.” He calls the antichrist a “beast” because of his savagery, his inhumanity and his thirst for blood. He calls the life of people a “bottomless pit,” for it is bitter and distasteful on account of sins and unstable because it is buffeted about by evil spirits. For the sinful one will not arise out of any other substance but out of our own human nature, for he will be a man “whose coming is in the activity of Satan,” as was just now said. This beast, it says, will kill the two witnesses and will cast their dead bodies unburied in the streets of Jerusalem. For in it he will rule as king of the Jews whom he will deceive, and he will come to those who assist and trust him in every thing. As the Lord said in [the Gospel of] John: “I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.” He calls Jerusalem “Sodom,” not in a literal sense but in a spiritual sense on account of the licentiousness and ill-repute it possessed at that time. And he calls it “Egypt” because it had enslaved and abused the servants of Christ, just as the actual Egypt did to Israel. And it was there “where also their Lord,” that is, [the Lord] of the two witnesses, “was crucified.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 11.7-10.

ANTICHRIST WILL ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM IN JERUSALEM. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: After [the two witnesses] have witnessed and urged escape from this deceit, the beast, that is, the antichrist, comes forth from the dark and deep recesses of the earth to which the devil had been condemned. And, with God’s allowance, he will kill them and leave their unburied bodies in Jerusalem itself, no doubt the ancient one which is now in ruins and in which the Lord also suffered. As it seems, he will establish his kingdom in Jerusalem in imitation of David, whose son is Christ, our true God, who is come in the flesh. In this way [the antichrist] intends to prove that he is the Christ who is fulfilling the prophetic word that says, “I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and rebuild its ruins.” And having been deceived at his coming, the Jews will accept this. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 11.7-8.

THE CITY OF ANTICHRIST. BEDE: He clearly shows that all this will happen before the final persecution, for he says, “when they have finished their testimony.” At least that will happen which they show until the revelation of the beast who will emerge from the hearts of the wicked. They will strive at that time valiantly to resist the enemy with the same testimony; however, it is believed that at that time the church will be made destitute of the gift of miracles, while the adversary will be openly active with deceptive signs. As the Lord says, “Want will go before his face.” “And he will conquer and kill them.” He will conquer in those who will have succumbed, and he will kill those who by a praiseworthy suffering for the name of Christ will be slain. Or, should he conquer and kill in a spiritual manner, we understand this to refer to a portion of the witnesses, as it says in the Gospel, “They will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death.”And the Evangelist Luke indicates that this was spoken of a part, saying, “Some of you they will put to death.” “And they will throw their bodies onto the streets of the great city.” “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you,” it says. Therefore, it is not surprising if the city of the wicked, which did not fear to crucify the Lord, should also hold his servants in derision, even if they are dead. The history of the church relates that such things often occurred. “Which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt.” “Sodom” and “Egypt” mean “silent” and “dark,” for this city possesses neither the light of faith nor the sound of confession. For “man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved.” As a sign of spiritual punishment, these regions were oppressed with these plagues, that is, [Sodom] by a ravaging fire and [Egypt] by water turned into blood. EXPLANATION OF THE APOCALYPSE 11.7-8.

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