Chapter 30. The Antichrist’s Number Is Certain, Though Its Meaning Is Uncertain.
Chapter 30
1. That is the state of the case. This number is found in all the trustworthy and ancient writings. Those who saw John face-to-face testify to it. Reason teaches us that the number of the beast according to a calculation of the Greeks, by means of the letters that are in it, will amount to six hundred and sixty-six. That means that the decade is the same as the hundred, and the hundred is the same as the unit; for the number that is called six is kept the same throughout. So this [number] shows the recapitulation of the entire rebellion, which was in the beginning, and in the intermediate periods, and which will be at the end. I do not know how some have erred by following the common mode of speech and have set aside the middle number of the name, subtracting fifty, and wish it to be one decade instead of six decades. This I think was the mistake of a scribe, as is wont to happen, and since numbers are expressed by letters, the Greek letter that expresses the number sixty was easily expanded into the letter iota of the Greeks. After that, some without any examination accepted this reading. Some in their simplicity and lack of education used the number ten; while others through ignorance dared to look for names that would have the false number of the erroneous reading. Now we think that God will grant pardon to those who have done this in their simplicity and without malice. But whoever through vainglory establishes names that contain the false number, and who decree that the name invented by them is the name of him who will come, will not depart without harm since they have deceived both themselves and those who believed them. First, it is harmful to fall away from the truth, and to believe that a thing which does not exist, does exist. Then, whoever adds or subtracts from Scripture will endure not a light punishment; such a person must necessarily fall into such [a punishment]. Moreover, another danger, and not a small one, will follow those who falsely presume to know his name. For if these men think up a name, but if when the Antichrist comes, he will have another name, they will easily be deceived by him, as if he were not yet present, against whom they ought to be on guard.
2. These men, then, ought to learn the true number of the name and return to it, so they will not be classed with the false prophets. But knowing the secure number that is announced in the Scripture, that is, 666, they ought first to hold fast the division of the kingdom into ten. Then, when they [the kings] are ruling and beginning to straighten out their affairs and to strengthen their kingdom, they ought to know that he who will come unexpectedly to vindicate for himself the kingdom and will terrify the kings mentioned, since he has the name contained in the number mentioned, is the desolating sacrilege. This too is what the Apostle says, When people say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them. Jeremiah revealed not only that his coming will be sudden but also the tribe from which he will come. He says, The snorting of his horses is heard from Dan; at the sound of the neighing of his stallions the whole land quakes. He shall come and devour the land and all that fills it, the city and those who dwell in it. And for this reason this tribe is not enumerated in the Apocalypse with those who are saved.
3. It is, therefore, safer and without danger to await the outcome of the prophecy than to guess and divine any names when many names can be found to express the number mentioned and when the difficulty would remain the same. For if many names can be found which express this number, which name, may we ask, will he have who will come?
It is not for want of names expressing this number that we say this, but on account of reverence for God and zeal for the truth. For example, Evanthus has the number in question, but we do not affirm anything in regard to it. Also Latins express the number 666; and it is very probable that the last kingdom has this name, for the Latins are the ones who hold sway at present. But we will not boast of this. And Teitan is of all the numbers found among us the most worthy of credence. For it contains the number mentioned, and consists of six letters, with three letters to each syllable. The word itself is ancient and unusual. In fact, we called none of our kings Titan. Neither does any of the idols that are worshipped publicly among the Greeks or barbarians have this number. Likewise many consider this name divine, so that those who now hold sway call even the sun Titan. Again, it manifests, in a sense, the revenge, and the one who will carry out the vengeance, since he [the Antichrist] pretends to vindicate those who had been mistreated. Besides, this name is ancient, worthy of credence, kingly, and above all a tyrant’s name. Since, therefore, this name Titan has so much to recommend it, it has so much probability, that, of the many names, we can gather that the one who will come will be called Titan. Nevertheless, we will not take any risk with it, neither will we give out as certain that he will have this name, since we know that if his name ought to be preached clearly at the present time, it would have been proclaimed by the one [John] who saw [its] revelation. For it is not such a long time ago since it was seen, but almost in our own age, namely, at the end of the reign of Domitian.
4. But as the case is, he gives the number of the name, so that when he comes, if we know who he is, we might be on guard against him. In regard to his name, however, he was silent, because it was not deserving to be announced by the Holy Spirit. For if it had been announced by him, he [Antichrist] would perhaps have remained a long time. As the case is, however, since he was, and is not, and is to ascend from the bottomless pit, and go to perdition, just as if one does not exist, his name is not announced; for the name is not announced of one who has no name.
But when the Antichrist will have laid waste everything in this world, he will reign for three years and six months, and will sit in the temple at Jerusalem. Then the Lord will come from the heavens upon clouds, in the glory of the Father, to throw him and those who obey him into the pool of fire. On the other hand, he will inaugurate the times of the kingdom for the just, that is, the period of rest, the seventh day that was sanctified; and he will restore the promise of the inheritance to Abraham. In this kingdom, according to the Lord, many will come from east and west, and will sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.