ACC ~ Revelation 13 v3 - 4

ANTICHRIST WILL POSE AS A DEFENDER OF THE LAW. VICTORINUS OF PETOVIUM: “One of its heads was mortally wounded, but its mortal wound was healed.”He is referring here to Nero. For it is a well-known fact that when the army sent by the Senate was following him, he cut his own throat. And he is the one whom, when he has been brought to life again, God will send as a king worthy of those who are worthy of him, namely, the Jews and those who persecute Christ, and he will send him as a christ such as the persecutors and the Jews deserve. And since he will bear another name, he will also undertake another life, so that they [the Jews] might receive him as the Christ. For Daniel said, “he will not know the desire of women”—he who himself is the most impure!—“and he will know no god of his fathers.” To be sure, he would not be able to seduce the people of the circumcision were he not to pose as a defender of the law. Finally, he will urge the saints, if he proves able to seduce them, to accept nothing other than circumcision. And so at last he will create a trust in himself, so that he will be called “Christ” by them. That he will come forth from hades, we have already mentioned through the words of Isaiah, “water nourished him and the deep set him on high.” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 13.3.

THE DEVIL’S THRONE. TYCONIUS: 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. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 13.3.

ISRAEL HEALED THE WOUND OF THE TEMPTER. OECUMENIUS: The inspired Evangelist himself would know the meaning of this. But, as it seems to me, the meaning is something like this. The death-bearing wound which the devil received on one of its heads was because of the reverent worship of Israel. But this was healed through their subsequent idolatry. “And the whole earth followed the beast with wonder.” How would this not be the case, since even the pious people of Israel came to worship him? And this is indicated in Isaiah, who in the person of God speaks to Israel: “Because of you, my name is forever blasphemed among the nations.” But with the beast they worshiped also the dragon who is the instigator and cause of such deception and deleterious wiles. … Those from Israel whom he conquered devise for him songs of praise, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 13.1-4.

HERETICS WOUNDED BY THE SOUND TESTIMONIES OF SCRIPTURE. CAESARIUS OF ARLES: 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.” EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 13.3-4, HOMILY 10.

THE DEVIL WILL DECEIVE THROUGH FALSE RESURRECTIONS. ANDREW OF CAESAREA: 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. COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 13.3-4.

Rev