This brief extract from St. Isidore refers to one of the absolute worst persecutors of the Church that there ever was, Diocletian was a fulfillment of the Beast from the Sea in the Apocalypse. The final fulfillment of the head of the Beast from the Sea is the Antichrist which is in the future. The beginning of the final Beast from the Sea is the seaborne invasion of Palestine by the antichrist Jews in the World War I & II period and extending into the post World War II period. The 1948 Nakba and 1967 Israeli aggression and 1973 Israeli aggression are the beginning of the wars of the Antichrist. 911 appears to be the beginning of the final period of that.
97.
Diocletian and Maximian ruled for twenty years. Diocletian, having
burned holy books, persecuted Christians throughout the world. He was
the first to order gems put on clothes and shoes. At that time princes
were to wear only purple on their backs. These emperors waged various
wars and, having conquered Persia, took Mesopotamia. After awhile, when
both had left the rank of emperor, they lived as private citizens.
Parousia
of Jesus Christ Our Lord: Wisdom is Justified by Her Children: St.
Isidore -- The Sixth age of the World until St. Ambrose
Wisdom
is Justified by Her Children: St. Isidore -- The Sixth age of the World
until St. Ambrose
75.
Trajan ruled for
nineteen years. He extended the empire of the Romans with wondrous power
far and wide to the east. Tranquil and liberal in all things, he took
Babylonia and Arabia and reached all the way to the territory of India,
like Alexander. Among all of the things he said, the most extraordinary
is reported to have been his response when asked why he was so
approachable by everyone around him: (to wit), that he would rather
deprive himself of being emperor than be a private emperor. Simon
Cleophas, bishop of Jerusalem, was crucified at this time and John the
Apostle passed away.
76.
Hadrian ruled for
twenty-one years. Envying the glory of Trajan, he surrendered the
provinces of the east to the Persians and established the boundary of
the Roman empire at the river Euphrates. He also subjugated the Jews
who, for a second time, had become rebels, and he restored the city of
Jerusalem and called it by his own name, Aelia. At the same time, Aquila
Ponticus, the second translator after the Septuagint, arose. And
Basilides was acknowledged to be a heresiarch.
77.
Antoninus Pius ruled for twenty-two years. He received this cognomen on
account of his clemency, because throughout the entire Roman kingdom he
relaxed the debts of everyone, burning the notes. For which reason he is
also called the "Father of the Country." He was the first to divide the
imperium of the Roman world, which he did with Antoninus the Younger,
making him equal in power. With Antoninus Pius ruling, Valentius and
Marcion were shown to be heresiarchs and the doctor Galen, born in
Pergamum, was regarded as illustrious in Rome.
78.
Antoninus Minor ruled for eighteen years. Having advanced to Parthia, he
took Seleucia, the city of Assyria, with 400,000 men. He triumphed over
the Parthians and the Persians. With him ruling, Montanus, the author
of the Cataphrygites and Tatian, from whom came the heresy of the
Encratitarites, appeared.
79.
Commodus ruled for
thirteen years. He was a man of great lust. Under his imperial rule,
Theodotian of Ephesus, the third translator, appeared. And Irenaeus,
Bishop of Lyons, was regarded as illustrious in his teaching.
80.
Aelius Pertinax ruled for one year. With the senate entreating him to
make his wife "Augustus" and his son "Caesar," he refused, saying that
he ought to be replaced because he ruled unwillingly.
81.
Severus Pertinax ruled for eighteen years. He successfully waged many
wars. He conquered Parthia, acquired Arabia, and took Britain by force.
He had a knowledge of literature and philosophy. In his time Symmachus,
the fourth translator, was acknowledged. Narcissus, bishop of Jerusalem,
was celebrated with many virtues. Tertullian of Africa was regarded as
illustrious in the church. Origen of Alexandria was erudite in his
studies.
82.
Antoninus Caracalla, the son of Severus,
ruled for seven years. He was impatient in his desires. He took his
stepmother as his wife. He did nothing memorable. In his time, in
Jericho, a fifth edition of the holy scriptures was found, the author of
which was not known.
83.
Macrinus ruled for
one year. Ruling with his own son, he undertook nothing memorable during
his brief time as emperor. For after only one year, both were killed as
a result of a military uprising.
84.
Aurelius Antoninus
ruled for four years. He lived most obscenely and was himself killed by a
military revolt. In his time, a sixth edition was found in Nicopolis.
The heresiarch Sabellius appeared.
85.
Alexander ruled for thirteen years. He most gloriously conquered the
Persians. He was favorable to the citizens. In his time, Origen of
Alexandria excelled and in Rome, the legal expert Ulpian was
illustrious.
86.
Maximinus ruled for three years. He was
the first to be made emperor by the body of the military without a
senate decree. He persecuted Christians.
87.
Gordian ruled for six years. He afflicted the rebelling Parthians and
Persians. Returning victorious from Persia, he died as a result of the
treachery of his own men. In his time, Zephyrinus, with the witness of
the holy spirit descending in the form of a dove over his head, was
ordained bishop of Rome.
88.
Philip ruled for
seven years. He was thefirst among the emperors to believe in Christ. In
his first year, the one thousandthyear of the city of Rome was reported
to have passed.
89.
Decius ruled for one year. In his
time, St. Anthony the monk, by whom monasteries were first founded, is
reported to have appeared.
90.
Gallus and his son
Volusianus ruled for two years. Novatus, a priest under bishop Cyprian,
came to Rome and founded the Novatian hersesy.
91.
Valerian, with Gallienus, ruled for fifteen years. Cyprian, first rhetor
and them bishop, was crowned with martyrdom. Also the Goths depopulated
Greece, Macedonia, and Pontus in Asia. Valerian, orchestrating a
persecution of the Christians, was captured by Sapor, king of the
Persians, and there he grew old with the disgrace of his life.
92.
Claudius ruled for two years. He conquered and devastated the Goths (in)
Illyricum and Macedonia. Paul of Samostenus was acknowledged to be a
heresiarch.
93.
Aurelian ruled for six years. He
extended the empire of the Romans by force almost to its previous
boundaries. Carrying out the persecution against the Christians, he was
seized with a sudden calamity and died without delay.
94.
Tacitus ruled for one year. His brief life left no deed worthy of
record.
95.
Probus ruled for six years. Vigorous in war
and illustrious in civilian life, he restored to the Romans, by force,
Gaul, which had been occupied by the barbarians. In his time the heresy
of the Manicheans arose. (5,481)
96.
Carus ruled with his
sons Carinus and Numerianus for two years. (134) Carus, after he
triumphed over the Persians and, victorious, placed fortifications along
the Tigris, was killed by a stroke of misfortune.
97.
Diocletian and Maximian ruled for twenty years. Diocletian, having
burned holy books, persecuted Christians throughout the world. He was
the first to order gems put on clothes and shoes. At that time princes
were to wear only purple on their backs. These emperors waged various
wars and, having conquered Persia, took Mesopotamia. After awhile, when
both had left the rank of emperor, they lived as private citizens.
98.
Galerius ruled for two years. His brief imperium saw nothing worthy of
historical record.
99.
Constantine ruled for thirty years.
He prepared for war with the Persians and they feared his arrival, so
that supplicants came forth promising to carry out his orders. He also
became a Christian, giving permission to Christians to congregate
freely, and built basilicas in honor of Christ. In these times, the
Arian heresy appeared. Also the Nicene Council was convoked by
Constantine for the condemnation of Arius. Also at that time the schism
of the Donatists arose. At the same time the cross of Christ was
discovered in Jerusalem by Helen, the mother of Constantine. But
Constantine, baptised by Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia at the very end of
his life, was converted to the Arian dogma. O the pain! Such a good
beginning, such a bad end.
100.
Constantius and
Constans ruled for twenty-four years. Constantius, terrible in the
cruelty of his ways, endured many things from the Persians. From that
time on he became an Arian and persecuted Catholics all over the world.
Relying on his favor, Arius proceeded to the church in Constantinople,
about to fight against those of our faith. Diverted through the forum of
Constantine for the sake of some necessity, suddenly his viscera and
his life simultaneously poured out. At the same time, Athanasius and
Hilary were celebrated for their doctrine and confession of the faith.
The heresy of the Anthropomorphites arose in Syria, Macedonia, and
Constantinople. Donatus, an author of the art of grammar and instructor
of Jerome, was regarded as illustrious in Rome. Anthony the monk died.
The bones of the apostles Andrew and Luke were translated to
Constantinople.
101.
Julian ruled for two years. He went
from being a cleric to being an emperor and a pagan. He was converted
to the cult of the idols and instituted martyrdom for the Christians. He
forbade Christians to teach or learn the liberal arts. At that time he
also, out of his hatred for Christ, permitted the Jews to repair the
Temple of Jerusalem. Jews gathered from all the provinces and laid new
foundations for the Temple. Suddenly at night an earthquake struck and
the stones from the deepest parts of the foundation were shaken and
scattered far and wide. In addition a fiery ball came out from the
interior of the building of the Temple and prostrated many with its
fire. Those remaining were frightened by this terror and involuntarily
confessed Christ. And lest they thought it was over with this
destruction, the sign of the cross appeared the following night on
everyone's clothing. Julian, proceeding against the Persians, died,
having been hit with a javelin as the attack was being launched.
102.
Jovian ruled for one year. When he realized that he was being chosen
emperor by the army, he confirmed that he was a Christian and decided
that it was no longer permissable for pagans to hold office. "And we,"
he said to all of the army, "who through Julianus rejected the name of
Christ, wish to be Christians again." He then received the sceptre of
the imperium from those who had heard him and returned after having made
peace with the Persians. He gave the priveleges back to the Christians
with a law granted in perpetuity and ordered the temples of the idols
closed.
103.
Valentinian and his brother Valens ruled
for fourteen years. The Goths, in Istrus, were divided into two kingdoms
under kings Fridigern and Athalaric. But Fridigern overcame Athalaric
with the help of Valens, the Arian emperor, having been persuaded, in
exchange for the aid, to convert form being a catholic to being an Arian
along with all of the people of the Goths, thus following Valens'
error. Also at that time Ulfilas, bishop of the Goths, invented letters
for the Goths like the letters of the Greeks and then translated both
(the New and Old) Testaments into their own tongue. Also Photinus,
Eunomius, and Apollonaris were acknowledged to be heresiarchs at this
same time.
104.
Gratian with his brother Valentinian ruled
for six years. Ambrose, bishop of Milan, excelled in the dogma of the
Catholics. Priscillian introduced into Spain the evil heresy bearing his
name. Martin, bishop of Tours, the city of Gaul, was resplendent with
the signs of many miracles.
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