THEOSISHippolytus of Rome
Daniel says: "And he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week. In the midst of the week My sacrifice and libation shall be taken away" (Dan 9:27).
By these words he signified one week of years, the last one, which is to be in the last times, at the end of the whole world.
Half of this week the prophets Enoch and Elijah will take. Clothed in sackcloth, they will preach for one thousand two hundred and sixty days (Rev 11:3), proclaiming repentance to men and to all nations.
For two comings of our Lord and Savior are indicated in Holy Scripture. The first, in the flesh, was without glory because of His abasement.
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Isaiah prophesied of old, saying: "We saw Him, and He had no form or beauty. His appearance was without honor, diminished beyond all the sons of men. He was a man in suffering, knowing how to endure sickness. His face was turned away. He was dishonored and not esteemed" (Is 53:2-3).
His second coming will be glorious, for He will come from heaven with a multitude of angels and in the glory of the Father.
As the prophet says: "You shall see the King in glory" (Is 33:17). And another prophet says: "I saw, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like the Son of Man was coming. He came even to the Ancient of Days, and was brought before Him. To Him were given dominion, honor, and a kingdom. All peoples, tribes, and tongues shall serve Him. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, which shall not be destroyed" (Dan 7:13-14).
So also two forerunners are foretold. The first was John, the son of Zechariah.
He appeared in every respect as the forerunner and preacher of our Savior. While proclaiming the heavenly Light manifested in the world, he first fulfilled the ministry of forerunner while still in his mother's womb, having been conceived by Elizabeth.
This was so that he might show even to infants in the maternal womb the new birth that was to be for them from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary.
When he heard Mary's greeting to Elizabeth, he leaped joyfully in his mother's womb, seeing God the Word conceived in the Virgin's womb.
Then he came preaching in the wilderness, to proclaim to men the baptism of repentance. That is, he foreshadowed salvation for the Gentiles living in the wilderness of the world.
After this, at the Jordan, he personally points out the Savior and says: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world" (Jn 1:29).
He also preached beforehand to those in Hades. When he was killed by Herod, he became a forerunner there also, proclaiming there the coming of the Savior, who would free the souls of the saints from the hand of death.
But since the Savior was the firstfruits of the resurrection of all men, He, the Lord, had to rise from the dead alone, by Himself.
Through Him judgment will come to the world. Thus those who have contended worthily may worthily be crowned by Him, the most glorious Master of the contest.
He first fulfilled the service appointed beforehand, ascended into heaven, sat at the right hand of God and the Father, and at the end of the world will again appear as Judge of the world.
It was necessary for His forerunners to appear first. God said through the mouth of Malachi, who is called an angel: "I will send you Elijah the Tishbite before the coming of the great and radiant day of the Lord. He shall turn the heart of the father to the son and the heart of a man to his neighbor, lest I come and strike the earth utterly" (Mal 4:5-6).
Therefore these forerunners will preach the coming manifestation of Christ from heaven. They will work signs and wonders, in order to instruct men and turn them to repentance from their excessive lawlessness and impiety.
John says: "And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth" (Rev 11:3). This means half the week of which Daniel spoke.
"These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. And if anyone does them wrong, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone wishes to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls on the earth in the days of their prophecy. They have power over waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague as often as they desire" (Rev 11:4-6).
And when they have finished their course and witness, what does the prophet say next?
"The beast that ascends from the abyss will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them" (Rev 11:7).
This will be because they refused to give glory to the Antichrist. For he is the little horn that grows up. Having already been exalted in heart, he begins to raise himself up and glorify himself as God.
He persecutes the saints and blasphemes Christ, as Daniel says: "And I saw the horn, and behold, eyes like the eyes of a man were in that horn, and a mouth speaking great things. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God. And that horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them, until the beast was slain and perished, and his body was given to be burned with fire" (Dan 7:8, 11).
From the Scriptures we have been taught that there are two comings of Christ and the Savior. The first, according to the flesh, was without glory, so that He might show Himself humbled.
But His second coming is proclaimed in glory, for He will appear from heaven with power, angels, and the glory of the Father.
His first coming had John the Baptist as forerunner. The second, when He comes in glory, will show Enoch, Elijah, and John the Theologian.
On the basis of Jesus' words in Jn 21:23, John was identified with Elijah and Enoch as one who did not die and will come at the end of the times to fight the Antichrist. See above, Rev 10:11.
Notice the love for mankind of the Lord. Even in the last times He will care for and have compassion on the race of mortals.
Even then He will not leave us without prophets. He will send them for our instruction and assurance, and also so that we may heed the coming of the adversary, as Daniel also foretold in this case.
For he says: I will establish a covenant for one week, and in the middle of the week My sacrifice and libation will be taken away.
By one week, which will be in the latter times, he indicates a period of seven years (cf. Dan 10-12).
And half of the week will be occupied by the two prophets together with John, so that they may preach throughout the whole world concerning the coming of the Antichrist. They will occupy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.