Dialogue with Trypho
Chapter 32: Trypho Argues that Daniel Describes Christ as Glorious, Justin Differentiates Two Arrivals
When I stopped, Trypho said, "These and similar Scriptures, sir, compel us to wait for Him who, as the Son of man, receives the everlasting kingdom from the Ancient of days. But this so-called Christ of yours was dishonorable and inglorious, so much so that the final curse contained in the law of God fell on him, for he was crucified."
Then I replied to him, “If it weren't already stated by the Scriptures I have quoted that His appearance was humble, that His lineage was not revealed, that the rich would suffer death for Him, that by His wounds we are healed, and that He would be led like a sheep; and if I hadn't explained there would be two comings of His—one when He was pierced by you, and a second when you will recognize Him whom you pierced, and your tribes will mourn alone—then I might have been speaking vaguely and obscurely.
But now, using the content of the Scriptures considered holy and prophetic among you, I try to prove all of this, hoping that some of you may be part of the remnant saved by the grace of the Lord of Sabaoth for eternal salvation.
Therefore, to make this clearer to you, I will mention other words spoken by the blessed David, where you will see that the Lord is called the Christ by the Holy Spirit of prophecy; and that the Lord, the Father of all, has brought Him from the earth, placing Him at His right hand, until He makes His enemies His footstool; this has been occurring since our Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven after rising from the dead, as time moves toward its culmination; and the one Daniel foretold would rule for a time, times, and half a time, is already at hand, about to speak blasphemous things against the Most High.
But you, not knowing how long he will rule, have a different view. You interpret the ‘time’ as a hundred years.
But if this is true, the man of sin must at least reign three hundred fifty years for us to count the term ‘and times’ as only two times. I have said all this to you as a digression, so you may finally understand what has been declared against you by God: that you are foolish children; and of this, ‘Therefore, look, I will proceed to remove this people, and I will remove them; and I will strip the wise of their wisdom, and hide the understanding of their prudent men;’ and may stop deceiving yourselves and your listeners, and learn from us, who have been taught wisdom by the grace of Christ.
The words spoken by David are: ‘The Lord said to My Lord, Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool. The Lord will send the rod of Your strength out of Zion: rule in the middle of Your enemies. With You on the day of Your power, in the beauties of Your saints. From the womb, before the morning star, I have begotten You. The Lord has sworn, and will not change His mind: You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
The Lord is at Your right hand: He has crushed kings on the day of His wrath: He will judge among the nations, He will fill with dead bodies. He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore He will lift up the head.’