Against Heresies: Book V

GIVEN THE STATE OF THE MATTER: and this number being found in all the most respected and ancient copies of the Apocalypse, with testimony from those who saw John directly, reason suggests that the beast's name, calculated according to the Greek system by the value of the letters, amounts to six hundred and sixty-six. The number of tens matches the hundreds, and the hundreds match the units. The digit six throughout represents the complete recurrence of apostasy from the beginning, through intermediary periods, to the end.

Some have mistakenly altered the middle number in the name, subtracting fifty, so instead of six tens, they claim there is but one. This likely happened due to copying errors, common when numbers are expressed by letters, as the Greek letter for sixty could easily be mistaken for iota. Some accepted this reading without examining it, and in their simplicity used this number representing one ten; others, lacking experience, tried to find a name that matched the incorrect number. Those who did this innocently and without ill intent can be assumed to receive God's pardon.

However, those who seek vainglory by asserting that names with the false number should be accepted, and who claim their discovered name is that of the future figure, will not avoid loss, for they mislead themselves and others. It is a loss to stray from the truth and believe what is not, and a punishment awaits those who add or remove anything from Scripture, to which such a person is subject.

Additionally, a significant danger looms for those who wrongly claim to know the Antichrist's name.

If they propose one number and the Antichrist arrives with another, they could easily be deceived, thinking him not to be the awaited one to guard against.

THESE MEN: therefore, ought to learn what the situation actually is and return to the true number of the name, so they are not counted among false prophets. By knowing the certain number declared by Scripture, which is six hundred sixty-six, let them first wait for the division of the kingdom into ten. Then, when these kings are reigning and beginning to organize their affairs and advance their kingdom, let them learn to recognize that the one who will come claiming the kingdom for himself, and will terrify the men we have spoken of, having a name containing the mentioned number, is truly the abomination of desolation. The apostle also confirms this: “When they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction shall come upon them.” Jeremiah not only points out his sudden coming but also indicates the tribe from which he shall come, where he says, “We shall hear the voice of his swift horses from Dan; the whole earth shall be moved by the voice of the neighing of his galloping horses: he shall also come and devour the earth, and all its abundance, the city also, and those who dwell therein.” This is also why this tribe is not counted in the Apocalypse with those who are saved.

IT IS THEREFORE MORE CERTAIN AND LESS RISKY TO WAIT FOR THE PROPHECY TO BE FULFILLED THAN TO MAKE GUESSES AND SEARCH FOR ANY NAMES THAT MIGHT COME UP: since many names can be found with the mentioned number; and the question will still remain unanswered. For if many names are found with this number, it will be asked which name the coming man will have. I don't say this because there is a lack of names containing that number, but out of fear of God and zeal for the truth.

The name Evanthas contains the required number, but I do not make any claims about it.

Also, Lateinos has the number six hundred and sixty-six and is a very probable solution because it is the name of the last kingdom seen by Daniel. The Latins are the ones currently in power; however, I will not boast about this coincidence. Teitan, with the first syllable written with the two Greek vowels e and i, among all the names found among us, is rather credible.

It has the predicted number, is composed of six letters, each syllable containing three letters, and the word itself is ancient and not commonly used; for among our kings we find none with the name Titan, nor do any of the idols worshipped publicly among the Greeks and barbarians have this name. Among many people, this name is considered divine, so that even the sun is called "Titan" by those who currently rule. This word also conveys a sense of vengeance and deserved punishment because Antichrist claims to vindicate the oppressed.

Besides this, it is an ancient name, credible, of royal dignity, and further, a name belonging to a tyrant. Since this name "Titan" has so much to recommend it, there is a strong probability that, from among the many suggested names, we might infer that he who is to come could be called "Titan." However, we will not take the risk of stating positively the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary 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.

BUT HE REVEALS THE NUMBER OF THE NAME NOW: so that when this man comes we may avoid him, knowing who he is: the name, however, is withheld, because it is not worthy of being announced by the Holy Spirit. For if it had been revealed by Him, he (Antichrist) might possibly continue for a long time. But now as “he was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the abyss, and goes into perdition,” as one who has no existence; thus his name has not been revealed, for the name of that which does not exist is not announced. But when this Antichrist has devastated everything in this world, he will rule for three years and six months, and sit in the temple at Jerusalem; and then the Lord will come from heaven in the clouds, in the glory of the Father, sending this man and those who follow him into the lake of fire; but bringing for the righteous the times of the kingdom, that is, the rest, the sacred seventh day; and restoring to Abraham the promised inheritance, in which kingdom the Lord declared that “many coming from the east and from the west will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”