Early Christian Beliefs About the Apocalypse

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Direct teaching

...essary for his name to be clearly revealed now, it would have been disclosed by the one who saw the apocalyptic vision. For that was seen not very long ago, but almost in our day, toward the end of Domitian's reign.

Caius, Fragments Direct teaching

...tles. Also, the book of Wisdom, written by the friends of Solomon in his honor. We also receive the Apocalypse of John, and that of Peter, though some among us do not allow this latter one to be read in the Church. Moreover, Hermas wrote The Pastor very recently, in our own times, in the city of Rome, while his brother, bishop Plus, sat in the chair of the Church of Rome. Therefore it also ought to be read. But it cannot be made public in the Church to the people. Nor can it be placed among the prophets, since their number is complete, nor among the apostles to the end of time. Of the writings of Arsinous, also called Valentinus, or of Miltiades, we receive nothing at all. Those too are rejected who wrote the new Book of Psalms for Marcion, together with Basilides and the founder of the Asian Cataphrygians.

Caius, Fragments Direct teaching

...sevenfold writing, that there is one Church spread throughout the whole world. And John too, in the Apocalypse, although he writes only to seven churches, still speaks to all. Besides these, Paul also wrote one letter to Philemon, one to Titus, and two to Timothy, out of simple personal affection and love indeed. Yet these are held in honor by the Catholic Church, and are used in the ordering of church discipline. There is also a letter to the Laodiceans in circulation, and another to the Alexandrians, forged under Paul's name and written against the heresy of Marcion. There are also several others that cannot be received into the Catholic Church, for it is not fitting for gall to be mixed with honey.

Caius, Fragments Direct teaching

And John too, indeed, in the Apocalypse, although he writes only to seven churches, yet addresses all.

Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments Direct teaching

After this, he examines the whole book of Revelation. After proving that it cannot possibly be understood in a bare, literal sense, he goes on like this: “When the prophet has now completed, so to speak, the whole prophecy, he declares those blessed who keep it, and he also includes himself among them. For he says, ‘Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book; and I, John, am the one who saw and heard these things,’ Revelation 22:7-8. Therefore, I do not deny that this person was called John, or that this was the writing of a John. I also admit that it was the work of some holy and inspired man. But I cannot easily admit that this was the apostle, the son of Zebedee, the brother of James, and the same man who wrote the Gospel that bears the title According to John, and the catholic epistle. Instead, from the character of both works, their forms of expression, and the whole arrangement and execution of the book, I conclude that the authorship is not his. For the evangelist nowhere else adds his name, and he never identifies himself either in the Gospel or in the epistle.”

Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments Direct teaching

...on, he speaks about the Revelation of John as follows: "Now some before our time have rejected this book and completely denied it. They criticize it chapter by chapter and try to show that it has neither sense nor reason. They also claim that its title is false, because they deny that John is the author. More than that, they say it cannot be any kind of revelation, because it is covered with such a thick and dark veil of ignorance. Therefore they declare that none of the apostles, nor even any of the saints, nor anyone belonging to the Church, could have written it. Instead, they say that Cerinthus, and the heretical sect founded by him and named after him, the Cerinthian sect, wanted to attach the authority of a great name to the fiction he put forward, and so placed that title on the book. For the teaching promoted by Cerinthus is this: that there will be an earthly reign of Christ. And since he himself was a man devoted to bodily pleasures, and completely carnal in his character, he imagined that this kingdom would consist of the kinds of enjoyments his own heart desired, namely, the pleasures of the belly, and what comes beneath the belly, that is, eating and drinking and ma

Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments Supporting witness

...it is clear that the Gospel and the Epistle are marked by one and the same kind of writing. But the Revelation is totally different, and completely distinct from this. I might almost say that it does not even come near it or touch it. Nor does it contain a single syllable in common with these other books. More than that, the Epistle—for I say nothing of the Gospel—does not mention the Revelation or show any awareness of it. And the Revelation, in the same way, gives no sign of the Epistle. Paul, however, does give some indication of his revelations in his epistles, although he did not record those revelations in separate writings.

Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments Supporting witness

But the writer of the Revelation puts himself forward at once in the very beginning, for he says: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which He gave to him to show to His servants quickly;

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

...vengeance. He also speaks in the Apocalypse, saying, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. Let the one who persists in doing wrong still do wrong, and the one who is filthy still be filthy; but let the one who is righteous still do what is righteous, and likewise let the one who is holy still be holy. Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give to every man according to his deeds." Revelation 22:10-12 From there also the martyrs, crying out and hurrying toward revenge in their grief, are told still to wait, and to be patient until the times are fulfilled and the number of the martyrs is completed. "And when He had opened," he says, "the fifth seal, I saw under the altar of God the souls of those who were slain for the word of God and for their testimony. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, do You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?' And a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told that they should rest yet for a little while, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers is fulfilled, who afterward will be slain after their example." Re

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

Jeremiah 7:6 In the Apocalypse too: If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or in his hand, he shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in the cup of His wrath, and shall be punished with fire and brimstone before the eyes of the holy angels, and before the eyes of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torments shall ascend for ever and ever: and they shall have no rest day or night, whosoever worship the beast and his image. Revelation 14:9-11

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Direct teaching

And if any one will devote a close attention to those things which are stated by the prophets with regard to the [time of the] end, and those which John the disciple of the Lord saw in the Apocalypse, he will find that the nations [are to] receive the same plagues universally, as Egypt then did particularly.

Anonymous, Treatise Against the Heretic Novatian Direct teaching

... thousands ministered to Him, and thousand thousands stood before Him. He sat for judgment, and the books were opened.” Daniel 7:9-10 And John declares even more plainly, both about the day of judgment and the end of the world, saying: “And when,” he said, “He had opened the sixth seal, look, there was a great earthquake. And the sun became black like sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became like blood. And the stars fell to the earth, just as a fig tree, shaken by a mighty wind, casts its unripe figs. And the heaven departed like a book when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved from their places. And the kings of the earth, and all the great men, and the tribunes, and the rich men, and the strong men, and every slave, and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the caverns of the mountains. They said to the mountains and to the rocks, ‘Fall upon us, and hide us from the sight of the Father who sits upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. Because the day of destruction comes, and who shall be able to stand?’” Revelation 6:12-17 Also in the same Apocalypse John says that this too was revealed to him: “I saw a great throne, and one in w

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

... farthest bounds.” Matthew 24:4-31 And these are not new or sudden things that are now happening to Christians. Since the good and righteous, and those devoted to God in a life of innocence and the fear of true religion, always advance through afflictions, wrongs, and the harsh and many kinds of penalties of troubles, along the hardship of a narrow path. Thus, at the very beginning of the world, righteous Abel was the first to be slain by his brother. Jacob was driven into exile, Joseph was sold, and King Saul persecuted the merciful David. King Ahab tried to oppress Elijah, who firmly and bravely upheld the majesty of God. Zechariah the priest was killed between the temple and the altar, so that he himself might become a sacrifice there, where he was accustomed to offer sacrifices to God. In fact, so many martyrdoms of the righteous have often been celebrated. So many examples of faith and virtue have been set before future generations. The three young men, Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, equal in age, united in love, steadfast in faith, constant in virtue, and stronger than the flames and punishments pressing on them, proclaim that they obey God alone, that they know Him alone,

Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh Direct teaching

In the Revelation of John, again, the order of these times is spread out to view, which the souls of the martyrs are taught to wait for beneath the altar, while they earnestly pray to be avenged and judged: Revelation 6:9-10 (taught, I say, to wait), in order that the world may first drink to the dregs the plagues that await it out of the vials of the angels, Revelation xvi and that the city of fornication may receive from the ten kings its deserved doom, Revelation xviii and that the beast Antichrist with his false prophet may wage war on the Church of God;

Revelation 11:18 Direct teaching

And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Matthew 24:29 Direct teaching

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Revelation 6:17 Direct teaching

For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Revelation 6:14 Direct teaching

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

Revelation 20:11 Direct teaching

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

... when the abundance of virtue and faith overflowed, the Christian martyrs cannot be counted, as the Apocalypse testifies and says: "After these things I saw a great multitude, which no man could number, of every nation, and tribe, and people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb; and they were clothed in white robes, and palms were in their hands; and they cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! And one of the elders answered and said to me, Who are these who are clothed in white robes, and from where have they come? And I said to him, My lord, you know. And he said to me, These are they who have come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple." But if the assembly of the Christian martyrs is shown and proved to be so great, let no one think it hard or difficult to become a martyr, when he sees that the crowd of martyrs cannot be counted.

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

...ssed are those who are undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who search His testimonies and seek Him with their whole heart.” Moreover, the Lord in the Gospel, Himself the avenger of our persecution and the rewarder of our suffering, says: “Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” And again: “Blessed will you be when men hate you, and separate you, and cast you out, and revile your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy; for behold, your reward is great in heaven.” And once more: “Whoever loses his life for My sake, that one will save it.” Nor do the rewards of the divine promise belong only to those who are reproached and killed. Even if the suffering itself is lacking for the faithful, if their faith has remained sound and unconquered, and if, having forsaken and despised all his possessions, the Christian has shown that he is following Christ, he also is honored by Christ among the martyrs, as He Himself promises and says: “There is no man who leaves house, or land, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

In the Apocalypse also He says the same thing: And I saw, says he, the souls of them that were slain for the name of Jesus and the word of God.

Revelation 5:8 Direct teaching

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Direct teaching

And in the Apocalypse John saw this new [Jerusalem] descending upon the new earth.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Direct teaching

...at left the Pleroma, or to Prunicus, but to the Jerusalem that has been depicted on God's hands. In Revelation, John saw this new Jerusalem coming down upon the new earth. After the times of the kingdom, he says, "I saw a great white throne, and the One sitting on it, from whose presence the earth and heaven fled, and there was found no place for them." He also describes the events of the general resurrection and the judgment, mentioning "the dead, great and small." "The sea," he says, "gave up the dead it held, and death and hell delivered up the dead they contained; and the books were opened. Moreover," he says, "the book of life was opened, and the dead were judged based on what was written in the books, according to their deeds; and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire, the second death." This is what is called Gehenna, which the Lord referred to as eternal fire. "And if anyone," it is said, "was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire." After this, he says, "I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away; there was also no more sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven,

Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching

Revelation 21:10-23 And the word of the new prophecy which is a part of our belief, attests how it foretold that there would be for a sign a picture of this very city exhibited to view previous to its manifestation.

Revelation 20:9 Direct teaching

And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them,

Origen, Commentary on John Direct teaching

... of using the form of the statement, “In the beginning the Word was with God.” The same John in the Apocalypse gives Him His name with the added words “of God,” where he says, Revelation 19:11-16, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it was called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems, and He has a name written that no one knows but He Himself. He is clothed in a garment sprinkled with blood, and His name is called the Word of God. And the armies in heaven followed Him on white horses, clothed in pure fine linen. Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He should strike the nations, and He shall rule them with a rod of iron, and He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His garment and on His thigh a name written: King of kings, and Lord of lords.” In this passage, “Word” is necessarily spoken of both absolutely and also with the added words “of God.” If the first had not been so, that is, if it had been given with the article, we might have been led into a wrong meaning and so wandered from the

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Direct teaching

This most profound and recondite mystery, destined before the worlds for the salvation of the human race, is found to be fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ, both God and man, that the human race might be placed within the reach of the enjoyment of eternal salvation.

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Direct teaching

For this Jesus Christ, I will once more say, the Son of this God, we read of as having been promised in the Old Testament, and we observe to be manifested in the New, fulfilling the shadows and figures of all the sacraments, with the presence of the truth embodied.

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Direct teaching

Further, that the Same Rule of Truth Teaches Us to Believe, After the Father, Also in the Son of God, Jesus Christ Our Lord God, Being the Same that Was Promised in the Old Testament, and Manifested in the New.

Revelation 1:5 Direct teaching

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,