Against Heresies: Book V
Chapter 28: The Difference Between the Righteous and the Wicked. The Future Defection during the Time of Antichrist, and the End of the World
Since in this world some people turn to the light and unite with God through faith, while others avoid the light and separate from God, the Word of God comes to prepare a suitable place for both. For those who are in the light, it provides the enjoyment of it and the good things within; but for those in darkness, they will share in its calamities. For this reason, He says that those on the right hand are invited into the kingdom of heaven, while those on the left will be sent into eternal fire because they have deprived themselves of all good.
2. And for this reason the apostle says: “Because they did not receive the love of God, to be saved, God will also send them the effects of error, so they may believe a lie, and be judged for not believing the truth, but approving unrighteousness.” When he (Antichrist) comes, he willingly embodies the rebellion and does all he wants according to his will and choice, sitting in the temple of God, so his followers may worship him as the Christ; he will deservedly “be cast into the lake of fire” [this will happen by divine appointment], as God, by His foresight, knew all this would occur and, at the right time, sends such a man, “so they may believe a lie, and be judged for not believing the truth, but approving unrighteousness;” whose arrival John describes in the Apocalypse: “And the beast I saw was like a leopard, his feet like a bear's, and his mouth like a lion's; and the dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
One of his heads seemed mortally wounded, but his deadly wound was healed, and the whole world was in awe of the beast. They worshipped the dragon for giving power to the beast; and worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like this beast, and who can fight against him? And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemy, and authority was given to him for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, His name, His tabernacle, and those who live in heaven.
And he was given power over every tribe, people, language, and nation. All who live on earth worshipped him, [everyone] whose name was not in the Lamb's book of life, slain from the world's foundation. If anyone has ears, let them hear. If anyone is to be taken captive, they will go into captivity. If anyone kills with the sword, they must be killed with the sword. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints.” After this, he similarly describes his armor-bearer, called a false prophet: “He spoke like a dragon, exercised all the power of the first beast in his sight, and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
He will perform great wonders, even bringing fire down from heaven to earth in the sight of people, leading the earth's inhabitants astray.” Let no one think he performs these wonders by divine power, but by magic. We shouldn’t be surprised, for with demons and apostate spirits serving him, he uses them to perform wonders, misleading the earth's inhabitants. John adds: “And he will order an image of the beast to be made, and will give breath to the image so it will speak; and he will cause death to those who will not worship it.” He also says: “And he will cause a mark to be put on the forehead and right hand, so no one can buy or sell unless they have the mark of the beast’s name or number; and the number is six hundred and sixty-six,” that is, six times a hundred, six times ten, and six units. [He gives this] as a summary of the entire apostasy over six thousand years.
For in as many days as this world was made, in so many thousand years shall it be concluded. And for this reason, Scripture says: “Thus the heaven and the earth were finished, and all their adornment. And God brought to a conclusion on the sixth day the works that He had made; and God rested on the seventh day from all His works.” This is an account of things formerly created, as it is also a prophecy of what is to come. 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 thousandth year.
And therefore, throughout all time, humanity, having been shaped at the beginning by the hands of God, that is, the Son and the Spirit, is made in the image and likeness of God: the chaff, which is the apostasy, being cast away; but the wheat, meaning those who bear fruit for God in faith, being gathered into the barn. For this reason, tribulation is necessary for those who are saved, so that, having been broken down, refined, and seasoned by the patience of the Word of God, and set on fire for purification, they may be prepared for the royal banquet. As one of our people said when he was condemned to the wild beasts because of his testimony regarding God: “I am the wheat of Christ, and am ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of God.”