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This is where we come to delve into the biblical text. Theology is not our foremost thought, but we realize it is something that will be dealt with in nearly every conversation. Feel free to use the original languages to make your point (meaning Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic). This is an exegetical discussion area, so please limit topics to purely biblical ones.

This is not the section for debates between theists and atheists. While a theistic viewpoint is not required for discussion in this area, discussion does presuppose a respect for the integrity of the Biblical text (or the willingness to accept such a presupposition for discussion purposes) and a respect for the integrity of the faith of others and a lack of an agenda to undermine the faith of others.

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The Antichrist Legend

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  • The Antichrist Legend

    Continued from prior post↑

    From The Antichrist Legend: A Chapter in Christian and Jewish Folklore (1895), by Wilhelm Bousset (page 125):
    And Cyril, xv. 11: "The man magician ... seizing for himself the power of the kingdom of the Romans, ... and this predicted Antichrist cometh when are fulfilled the seasons of the kingdom of the Romans."

    To be continued...

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    • The Antichrist Legend

      Continued from prior post↑

      From The Antichrist Legend: A Chapter in Christian and Jewish Folklore (1895), by Wilhelm Bousset (page 125):
      In the works of Ephrem (I. 192) we find under the name of Jacob of Edessa an exposition of the prophecy in Genesis xlix. 18 on Dan, where the words "that biteth the horse heels so that his rider shall fall backward" are referred to the Antichrist: "That that empire belongeth to those that are called Latins, the Spirit hath already ... declared and taught through Hippolytus in that book in which he interpreted the Revelation of John the Theologian.

      To be continued...

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      • The Antichrist Legend

        Continued from prior post↑

        From The Antichrist Legend: A Chapter in Christian and Jewish Folklore (1895), by Wilhelm Bousset (pages 125-126):
        This widespread accordance acquires extraordinary significance from the following consideration. In the Johannine Apocalypse the Roman empire is plainly enough indicated as the last anti-Christian power, and it might be supposed that those vivid pictures of fierce hatred and sublime imagery would for ever have branded imperial Rome as the anti-Christian power that rises against God. The legend of Nero redivivus survived long enough in association with the prophesies of Revelation; the whole of the Sibylline literature is overshadowed by this weird demoniac personality; even Victorinus was still familiar with the relations of the Johannine Apocalypse to Nero.

        To be continued...

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        • The Antichrist Legend

          Continued from prior post↑

          From The Antichrist Legend: A Chapter in Christian and Jewish Folklore (1895), by Wilhelm Bousset (pages 126-127):
          How then, it may once more be asked (see above, p. 26), was it possible that such an Antichrist hostile to Rome could have arisen in the very teeth of Revelation and in direct opposition to its teachings? Surely the Roman empire gave the Christians reason enough to regard it as the last anti-Christian power, and in one of its rulers to see the Antichrist himself, the devil incarnate. How did it come about that the very opposite notion acquired such unlimited prevalence? For now the Roman empire so far from being the Antichrist stands in the way of his coming, while he is declared to be a non-Roman ruler. How was it possible that, even where the Neronic saga still survived, as with Lactantius, Commodian, and S. Martin of Tours, Nero redivivus came to be looked upon as the last Roman emperor, precursor of the Antichrist? Hippolytus fully understands that in the first half of Revelation xiii. the allusion is to the Roman empire. Yet for him (chap. xiix.) the second beast "coming out of the earth" is the Antichrist rule which is to come after the Roman empire. Hence he has to refer the two horns of the beast to the false prophet who, according to the Apocalypse itself, was to accompany the Antichrist. Then the description of the second beast as minister of the first he explains in such a way as to represent the second beast as ruling the world "according to the law of Augustus" (the first). Whence originates this persistent and violent distortion of the clear sense of Revelation?

          To be continued...

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          • The Antichrist Legend

            Continued from prior post↑

            From The Antichrist Legend: A Chapter in Christian and Jewish Folklore (1895), by Wilhelm Bousset (pages 127-128):
            It might be pointed out that 2 Thessalonians ii. reacted on the eschatology of the Fathers of the Church. Still it is à priori improbable that this short Pauline allusion could have had a more potent influence than the whole of Revelation, which at least in the first age (Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Tertullian, Victorinus) enjoyed unquestioned authority. But then fresh problems present themselves. Whence did Paul himself, or whoever was the author of 2 Thessalonians, derive this notion? And how does it happen that the extremely enigmatical allusions of this epistle were expounded with such confidence, definiteness, and unanimity by the whole body of patristic writers? Austin alone seems to hesitate, remarking (City of God, XX. 19) that "some think this was said of the Roman Empire." Chrysostom also mentions another interpretation. But with this general unanimity compare the wild gropings of modern expositors, some of whom suppose that in the passage of Thessalonians Paul expresses himself in this mysterious manner in order to avoid openly speaking of the fall of the Roman empire.

            To be continued...

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            • Discontinue...

              My posts as composed for this forum are done while standing in front of an iMac. This process is very hard on my severe stasis dermatitis, which is forcing me to reduce the amount of time I spend working at the iMac. So, I must discontinue this tread as well as the The Jewish War by Josephus. These books can be borrowed from a library or purchased from third party book sellers via Amazon.com. Henceforth I must limit myself to three threads in BL301, one clause of.Hebrew, one clause of Greek, and one paragraph of exegetical scholarship.

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