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End Time Prophecy
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Commodianus
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This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened (Luke 21:32)
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The Kingdom of Israel
John Shepard
April 8, 2002
Commodianus
Read it now | Early Church Fathers | Table of Contents | North Forest
The purpose of this article is to show the end-time viewpoint in the writing of Commodianus who wrote around 305 A.D.
A Christian poet, the date of whose birth is uncertain, but generally placed at about the middle of the third century, or between the end of Diocletian's persecution and the issuing of the edict of Maxentius (305-11).
North-African bishop writing about A.D. 240
Clearly believed in a 1,000 year millennium. Refers to 6,000 years of human history which is wrong. His view is inconsistent with modern premillennialism and his ideas about the conditions in the millennium would horrify modern premillennialists.
Early Church Fathers | Table of Contents | End Time Prophecy | North Forest | Top of page
Commodianus
The Instructions of Commodianus In Favour of Christian Discipline.
Against The Gods Of The Heathens
XXXV -- Of the Tree of Life and Death
We shall be immortal when six thousand years are accomplished.
- Immortality begins after the 6,000 years of human history.
- This passage assumes that human history will last exactly 6,000 years. This is false for two reasons:
(1) 6,000 years from 4,004 B.C. (Bishop Ussher's date and the earliest date anyone has ever proposed for the creation of Adam) plus 6,000 years results in the date 1997 A.D (using the solar year) or the early 1900's (using the lunar year of 360 days which is the year usually used for prophetic analysis). Most young-earth proponents usually allow for a date of 10,000 to 15,000 B.C. for the creation of Adam which makes the problem even worse.
(2) The scientific evidence testifies that the earth and the universe are very old. In this case Adam was created somewhere between 30,000 ands 60,000 B.C
Early Church Fathers | Table of Contents | End Time Prophecy | North Forest | Top of page
XLIII -- Of the End of This Age
The trumpet gives the sign in heaven, the lion being taken away, and suddenly there is darkness with the din of heaven. The Lord casts down His eyes, so that the earth trembles. He cries out, so that all may hear throughout the world: Behold, long have I been silent while I bore your doings in such a time. They cry out together, complaining and groaning too late.
They howl, they bewail; nor is there room found for the wicked. What shall the mother do for the sucking child, when she herself is burnt up? In the flame of fire the Lord will judge the wicked. But the fire shall not touch the just, but shall by all means lick them up. In one place they delay, but a part has wept at the judgment. Such will be the heat, that the stones themselves shall melt.
The winds assemble into lightnings, the heavenly wrath rages; and wherever the wicked man fleeth, he is seized upon by this fire. There will be no succour nor ship of he sea. Amen flames on the nations, and the Medes and Parthians burn for a thousand years, as the hidden words of John declare. For then after a thousand years they are delivered over to Gehenna; and he whose work they were, with them are burnt up.
- That the judgment of the wicked occurs when the earth is burned up.
- The righteous will not be touched by this fire of judgment.
- This fire of judgment lasts 1,000 years. Then they are thrown into the Lake of Fire.
Early Church Fathers | Table of Contents | End Time Prophecy | North Forest | Top of page
XLIV -- Of the First Resurrection
From heaven will descend the city in the first resurrection; this is what we may tell of such a celestial fabric. We shall arise again to Him, who have been devoted to Him. And they shall be incorruptible, even already living without death. And neither will there be any grief nor any groaning in that city.
They shall come also who overcame
cruel martydom under Antichrist, and they themselves live for the whole time, and receive blessings because they have suffered evil things; and they themselves
marrying, beget for a thousand years. There are prepared all the revenues of the earth, because the earth renewed without end pours forth abundantly.
Therein are no rains; no cold comes into the golden camp. No sieges as now, nor rapines, nor does that city crave the light of a lamp. It shines from its Founder. Moreover, Him it obeys; in breadth 12,000 furlongs and length and depth. It levels its foundation in the earth, but it raises its head to heaven. In the city before the doors, moreover, sun and moon shall shine; he who is evil is hedged up in torment, for the sake of the nourishment of the righteous. But from the thousand years God will destroy all those evils.
- That there is a city in heaven which will descend to earth after the first resurrection (this implies that there is a second resurrection).
- There will be an Antichrist who persecutes Christians.
- There will be marriage and children born by the resurrected believers in the millennium.
Early Church Fathers | Table of Contents | End Time Prophecy | North Forest | Top of page
XLV -- Of the Day of Judgment
I add something, on account of unbelievers, of the day of judgment. Again, the fire of the Lord sent forth shall be appointed. The earth gives a true groan; then those who are making their journey in the last end, and then all unbelievers, groan. The whole of nature is converted in flame, which yet avoids the camp of His saints. The earth is burned up from its foundations, and the mountains melt. Of the sea nothing remains: it is overcome by the powerful fire. This sky perishes, and the stars and these things are changed. Another newness of sky and of everlasting earth is arranged. Thence they who deserve it are sent away in a second death, but the righteous are placed in inner dwelling-places.
- The earth is burned up but avoids the believers.
Early Church Fathers | Table of Contents | End Time Prophecy | North Forest | Top of page
LXXX -- The Name of the Man of Gaza
Ye who are to be inhabitants of the heavens with God-Christ, hold fast the beginning, look at all things from heaven. Let simplicity, let meekness dwell in your body. Be not angry with thy devout brother without a cause, for ye shall receive whatever ye may have done from him.
This has pleased Christ, that the dead should rise again, yea, with their bodies; and those, too, whom in this world the fire has burned, when six thousand years are completed, and the world has come to an end. The heaven in the meantime is changed with an altered course, for then the wicked are burnt up with divine fire. The creature with groaning burns with the anger of the highest God.
Those who are more worthy, and who are begotten of an illustrious stem, and the men of nobility under the conquered
Antichrist, according to God's command
living again in the world for a thousand years, indeed, that they may serve the saints, and the High One, under a servile yoke, that they may bear victuals on their neck. Moreover, that they may be
judged again when the reign is finished.
They who make God of no account when the thousandth year is finished shall perish by fire, when they themselves shall speak to the mountains. All flesh in the monuments and tombs is restored according to its deed: they are plunged in hell; they bear their punishments in the world; they are shown to them, and they read the things transacted from heaven; the reward according to one's deeds in a perpetual tyranny. I cannot comprehend all things in a little treatise; the curiosity of the learned men shall find my name in this.
- That there are two judgments on the wicked.
- That the wicked will serve the resurrected righteous in the millennium.
Early Church Fathers | Table of Contents | End Time Prophecy | North Forest | Top of page
Conclusions
- That the world lasts 6,000 years
- Antichrist martyrs believers
- At the end of the world unbelievers are burnt up for 1,000 years, then they are bodily resurrected and cast into the Lake of Fire.
- Those who are more worthy burn for 1,000 years but are judged some are discarded, some are saved.
- But believers are bodily resurrected and occupy the New Jerusalem (the heavenly city that descends to earth and rests on the earth for 1,000 years, presumably unharmed by the earthly fires of judgment).
- Martyrs occupy the New Jerusalem upon death and marry and have children.
Early Church Fathers | Table of Contents | End Time Prophecy | North Forest | Top of page
© Copyright 2007 by John Shepard
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Please feel free to email:
js16@northforest.org
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http://www.northforest.org/Eschatology/ecfCommodianus.html
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Revised:
May 14, 2001
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