service. Therefore also in this, nay, even especially in this, he will show to those who have understanding, and who are strong in rea- son, that he is in truth Antichrist, that he is in truth not Christ; hut that, in accordance with his name, he is opposed to Christ. It is Christ who shed His own blood. It is Antichrist who shed the blood of others.” After the Reformation, illustrious interpreters from time to time laid it down that a most violent persecution was even then impending from the beast : as Phil. Nicolai , Book ii. con- cerning the kingdom of Christ, p. 305 ; Hoe on Ap. XI., num. 78; Doelingius de Antichr. p. 298, and everywhere. Add Matthew Hof- mann! s Chronology Apoc. p. 116.
17. "iva) Others, xa/ ha. Wolf approves of this, remarking, how- ever, that xai is omitted even by the Coptic Version. In truth the shorter reading is supported by the most ancient authorities. Add to the Latins, Apringius , Ansheri , Etherius.1 See above, on ch. vi. 4. The construction is this, dZnn yapay^a, ha , x.r.X. We have shown, on ver. 1, that there are three Periods of duration. In the last part of the first period arises the most grievous calamity, the length of which can scarcely be defined, unless it be the number of days agreeing by analogy with the number of the beast, of which we shall speak presently.
18. ' O syuv voZv, ^pr]<p/ffdrco, Let him, that hath understanding , count ) It is not said, He who readeth , vosiru, let him consider , understand , as Matt. xxiv. 15, but voZ$, mind, understanding, is presupposed ; and he who has mind already, is aroused also to computing the number of the beast, and to make a calculation. Noos, the understanding , is contradistinguished from the spirit , 1 Cor. xiv. 14 ; but here it is con- tradistinguished from wisdom. We must calculate: therefore it is befitting that the numbers should be precisely taken which enter into the calculation, and those which answer to the numbers enter- ing into the calculation. He who has voZv , understanding , is ordered to calculate ; he ought therefore to bear with calmness another who does not comprehend calculations : only let him not despise and trample upon calculations, especially wfo here , where such a remedy [against the delusions of the beast] is necessary for us. Look to the passage, Dan. xii. 4, 10. What kind of persons are they to whom, in this business, either diligence and understanding, or negligence, is attributed? — a ptd,u'o$ yap, x.r.X., for the number, etc.) Each noun is without an article, in this sense, 6 apifabc roZ dripiov strriv dpi&ihbc &v6pu><rrov. ’ Api6/j,og, without the article, is the predicate: and avQpdrrov denotes a
1 AB Vulg. support kx! . C h Iren. 316, Memph. Syr. omit it. — E.