The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1

III. Growing Apprehension Over Imminent Antichrist

In this tracement of the advent hope, as governed by changing beliefs concerning the five key factors-the resurrection, millennium, outline prophecies, Antichrist, and the kingdom of God—we have observed how, in the field of prophecy, Hippolytus and others clearly interpreted the fourth beast of Daniel 7 as Rome. Even Jews recognized and declared this. Graetz thus mentions Jochanan bar Napacha (A.D. 199-279): PFF1 406.5

“He regarded as symbolical of the Roman Empire, the fourth beast in Daniel’s vision of the four empires of the world, which was a perennial mine of discovery for the Biblical exegete, and was even more diligently explored by the Christians than by the Jews. The small horn which grew out of the fourth beast represents, according to his explanation, wicked Rome, which annihilated all previous empires.” ¹⁷ PFF1 406.6

Irenaeus and others likewise interpreted the ten-horned beast of Daniel 7 and that of Revelation 13 as picturing the same power. Rome, they understood, was destined to division, and then Antichrist was to appear within the approaching divisions of the empire. Rome was definitely understood by Tertullian and others to be the restraining power-the “let,” or hindrance—holding back the coming of the dread Antichrist. Hence the prayers of Tertullian and others for Rome’s continuance. ¹⁸ PFF1 407.1

The threefold portraiture of Antichrist, presented by Daniel, Paul, and John, was understood to apply to one and the same power—Daniel evidently stressing the political, or horn, character, Paul the ecclesiastical aspect, and John the fatal combination of the two. Heretofore, men had written of Antichrist as a future character, whose coming would be consequent upon the breakup of Rome. Now expositors appear who stress his imminence, and attempt to identify his precursor—and this before Rome’s division. By the fourth and fifth centuries a growing apprehension of apostasy led some to project the view that Antichrist would appear in the professing church, yet placing him within the confines of the empire. PFF1 407.2

Such men as Athanasius of Alexandria and Hilary of Poitiers, in France, taught with persistent emphasis that Constantius, the new anti-Trinitarian ruler of the Roman Empire, was Antichrist’s forerunner. Hilary, in referring to heretical leaders, even spoke of Antichrist’s being transformed, like Satan, into an angel of light. ¹⁹ Hence, they looked for Antichrist himself soon. Indeed, the coming Antichrist—who, when, and where—became the focal point of growing concern in both East and West. His coming was dreaded and feared because of what they anticipated he would do. PFF1 407.3