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connection between literal days of the creation week and "days of history" comes from
equating the creation day to one thousand years of earth history. This belief is evident in
the writings of Barnabas, Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Commodianus and Lactantius. The
following section will consider some of the details of what these men believed about the
length of earths history.
The second tendency that emerges as a basis for faith in chiliasm is that of literal
interpretation of scripture. This aspect of the fathers chiliastic beliefs will be more
evident in the "Description of Chiliasm" section later.
In speaking of the ultimate fulfillment of the Sabbath, Barnabas (c.70-130)
writes in the Epistle that bears his name
Attend, my children, to the meaning of this expression, ,,He finished it in six days.
This implieth that the Lord will finish all things in six thousand years, for a day is
with him a thousand years...in six days, that is, in six thousand years, all things will
be finished.
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Following these statements, Barnabas seems to be saying that the seventh and final "day"
or one thousand year period will be a time of rest to be accomplished "when His Son
coming [again] , shall destroy the time of the wicked man...then shall he truly rest on the
seventh day." It is possibly implied that this seventh day was a day of rest on earth,
although he does mention cosmic changes (renovation?) to precede this time of rest.
Irenaeus, writing about 180, believed that
In as many days as the world was made, in so many thousand years will it be
concluded...For the day of the Lord is as a thousand years; and in six days created
things were completed: it is evident, therefore, that they will come to an end at the
six thousand year.
8
7
Ante-Nicene Fathers, Epistle of Barnabas. Vol.1, 146.
8
Ibid., Irenaeus Against Heresies. Vol.1, 557.