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Irenaeus believed that the number of the beast (i.e. 666) "represents a summing

up of the whole of that apostasy that has taken place during 6000 years." He seems to be

saying that the "summing up" or fulfillment of apostasy are climactic events of rebellion

against God. The idea is that Antichrist is the very epitome and embodiment of human

and demonic rebellion against the living God. He continued saying that "Once this

antichrist has devastated everything in this world, he will reign for 3 years and 6 months,

and sit in the temple at Jerusalem. And then the Lord will come from heaven in the

clouds." So Irenaeus expected Christ to intervene in the midst of the exploits of antichrist

to establish his kingdom. Cyprian also wrote of the end predicted by the Lord and the

apostles. Antichrist draws ever nearer, with evil and adversity on the increase.

Hippolytus wrote a lengthy section dealing with the rise, rule and worship of the

antichrist. He mentions "the Dispersion", an apparent reference to Jews, to whom the

Antichrist grants favors in order to ingratiate their worship.

In another and unrelated

portion of his writing, Hippolytus paraphrases Daniel 9:26-27, and describes the

circumstances of the 70

week of Daniel where the two witnesses appear. These

witnesses, Elijah and Enoch, appear in the midst of a time during which the abomination

of desolation will be set up by the antichrist.

The cessation of antichrists reign of terror

shall be, according to Hyppolytus "the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from

heaven, for whom we have looked in hope..."

David W. Bercott, Ed. A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs. (Peabody:

Hendrickson Publishers, 1998), 392.

Ante-Nicene Fathers, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist. Vol.5, 215.

Ibid., Fragments from Commentaries. Vol.5, 182.

Ibid., Treatise on Christ and Antichrist. Vol.5, 218.