iii. The Third Person is spoken of as an angel, the angel of the Spirit (4^1 g^a- ^o 10^ 11*) or the angel of the Holy Spirit (3'" 7-=* 9^6 IP^). In com- munion with Him, Isaiaii endures his martyrdom, and also is carried in spirit to the third heaven. The Holy Spirit stands (9^^), and after the Ascen- sion sits (IP*) on the left hand of the Great Glory. The angel of the Holy Spirit in 3'* must be regarded as Gabriel, and in IP He performs the part of Gabriel in the Annunciation.
(b) The Resurrection is apparently a spiritual one. The 'garments,' i.e. spiritual bodies, are reserved for the righteous, with the robes and crowns in the seventh heaven (4'* 7" 8'''- -^). These garments are received at once after death (S'* 9"). the thrones and crowns not till after the Ascension of Christ (9'2- '*). The living wiioni the Lord finds on His return will be ' strengthened in the gar- ments of tlie saints.' There is a temporary Messianic Kingdom, and (?) a feast (4'®), followed by a spiritual consummation in heaven (cf. Pii 3-', 1 Co 15^-- ^•'). The righteous from Adam downwards are already in the seventh heaven, stript of the garments of the flesh, though not yet seated on their thrones and crowned (^J^). The Final Judg- ment is referred to in 4'^ and 10'-.
(c) Beliar. — The idea of demonic possession is very prominent in the Blartyrdom of Isaiah. Beliar is regarded as served by Manasseh and ruling in liis heart (P- "• " 2'- *■ ' 3" 5'- '»), and as aiding Belcliira (5*). The name ' Beliar' is absent from the Vision, and in the Test. Hcz. it has quite another meaning, the Beliar Antichrist appearing in the form of a man — Nero (4-- '"*• '®- '*). In the Testaments uf the Ttvelve Patriarchs Beliar api>ears in both meanings, at times as the source of immoral deeds, and at times as the Antichrist (see Charles, Asc. Is. Pn. ). In the SibyUine Oracles, ii. 167 he is to come as the Antichrist, working signs ; in iii. 63-73 to proceed from the Roman Emperors, deceive the elect, and finally be burnt up. He is also called Matanbuchus (2'') and Mechembechus (5*). His relation to Sainniael is puzzling. In part the two seem identical ; both dwell and rule in the firmament (7^ 4-), take possession of Manasseh ("2' P 3" 5'), are wroth with Isaiah for his visions (5" 3'* 5'), and cause Isaiah to be sawn asunder (IP' 5'^). But in part Sanimael seems to be sub- ordinate. He exerts him.self to win Manasseh as the subject of Beliar (P). Beliar has kings undei him (4-*'), and is tlie prince of this world (P 4-: cf. 4"*). He will finally be cast into Gehenna with his armies (4'*). In 2 Co 6'^ St. Paul asks ' What
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concord hath Christ with Beliar ? ' Here either meaning of Beliar is possible. In 2 Th 2'''- the two ideas appear to be fused with yet a third — that of a human sovereign with miraculous powers. The ' man of lawlessness ' is possibly a translation of 'Beliar' (cf. LXX : avdpes Trapdvo/xoi. in Dt 13^^ etc.). In Asa. Is. 2'' Beliar is the angel of lawless- ness, and makes 3Ianasseh strong in apostatizing and lawlessness (cf. 2'). The sins specified are witchcraft, magic, divination and augiii-ation, fornication, and the persecution of the righteous. The ' falling away ' of 2 Th 2* is referred to in Asc. Is. 3^1 : 'on the eve of His approach, His disciples will forsake . . . their faith and their love and their purity.' Cf. ' few in those days will be left as His servants' {4^^ ; cf. Lk 18»).
(d) The Antichrist and Nero Redivivus. — In 4^ we are told :
' Beliar the great niler, the king of this world [cf. Jn 12-*i 1430 1611] will descend, who hath ruled it since it came into being ; jea he will descend from his firmament [cf. Eph 2'- &^ in the likeness of a man, a lawless king, the slayer of his mother [i.e. Nero; cf. Sib. Or. iv. 141, v. 145. 303, viii. 71] . . . will persecute the plant which the Twelve Apostles . . . have planted [i.e. the Church]. Of the Twelve, one [i.e. Peter] will be delivered into his hands. . . . There will come with him all the powers of this world [cf. Rev 161^ iO'-Sj. ... At his word the sun will rise at night [cf. Rev 131-1 1920, 2 Th 29]. ... He will say " I am God " [cf. 2 Th 2^] . . . and all the people in the world will believe in him, and they will sacrifice to him [cf. Rev 13'4- *• 12]. . . _ And the greater number of those who shall have been associated together to receive the Beloved, he will turn aside after him [cf. Mt 242J, Mk 132:2 ; contrast 2 Th 2io i-']. . . . And he wUl set up his image ... in every city [cf. Rev 131-1].'
The time of his sway will be 3 years, 7 months, and 27 days (4^^). This period points back to Dn 7^ 127 (cf. Rev 121^) ; but in 4" the time is given as (one thousand) three hundred and thirt^y-two days. During this period the few Ijelievers left tlee from desert to desert (4'* ; cf. Rev 12*'- "). Beliar is finally destroyed, not by Michael but by the Lord Him- self (41*).