Christian religion

What do you further gather of that the Apostle saith, that he that letteth shall let?

That the Antichrist is not one particular man, as the Papists do fancy: for then by the like phrase he that letteth must be one particular man; where it cannot be that one man should live so many hundred years; as from Pauls time, to the time of the translation of the Empire from Rome; much less until within two years and a half of the latter day, as they imagine the time of Antichrist. And therefore as by him that letteth, is understood a succession of Emperors, not one man alone; so by Antichrist the man of sin, is understood, a succession of men, and not one only man. So in Daniel 7.3.17. the four beasts, and the four Kings, do not signify four particular men, but four governments; in every one whereof there were sundry men that ruled. So that of the Papists, who upon the words, the man of sin, would prove, that the Antichrist the Apostle speaketh of, is one singular man, is but vain.

That the Antichrist is not one particular man, as the Papists doe phansie: for then by the like phrase he that letteth must be one particular man; where it cannot bee that one man should liue so many hundred yeeres; as from Pauls time, to the time of the translation of the Empire from Rome; much lesse vntill within two yeeres and a halfe of the latter day, as they imagine the time of Antichrist. And therefore as by him that letteth, is vnderstood a succession of Emperors, not one man alone; so by Antichrist the man of sin, is vnderstood, a succession of men, and not one onely man. So in Daniel 7.3.17. the foure beasts, and the foure Kings, doe not signifie foure particular men, but foure gouernments; in euery one whereof there were sundrie men that ruled. So that of the Papists, who vpon the words, the man of sinne, would proue, that the Antichrist the Apostle speaketh of, is one singuler man, is but vaine.