The Influence of Francisco Ribera
Introduction
The period following the Protestant Reformation was marked by intense theological conflict, particularly concerning eschatological interpretations. A significant shift in the interpretation of biblical prophecy can be traced back to the works of Catholic scholars such as Francisco Ribera, Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, and Luis de Alcazar. These scholars sought to counter Protestant claims that identified the Roman Catholic Church as the Antichrist. This essay examines the contributions of these figures and the subsequent adoption of futurist eschatology by Protestant scholars in the 19th century.
Francisco Ribera and Futurist Eschatology
Francisco Ribera (1537-1591), a Jesuit priest, proposed a futurist interpretation of the Book of Revelation, arguing that the Antichrist would be a single individual who would appear at the end of time. His seminal work, In Sacrum Beati Ioannis Apostoli, & Evangelistiae Apocalypsin Commentarij (1585), laid the groundwork for this interpretation. Ribera’s views were a direct response to the Protestant historicist interpretation, which identified the Papacy as the Antichrist.
Key Aspects of Ribera’s Theology
- Futurism: Ribera’s approach suggested that the prophecies of Revelation were to be fulfilled in a future period, specifically during a three and a half year reign of the Antichrist.
- Single Personal Antichrist: He posited that the Antichrist would be a singular, malevolent figure who would arise in the future, rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and deceive many (Revelation 13:5-8, KJV).
This interpretation was further supported by Cardinal Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621), who argued vigorously against the Protestant view in his work, Disputationes de Controversiis Christianae Fidei.
Luis de Alcazar and Preterism
Luis de Alcazar (1554-1613), another Jesuit scholar, contributed to the eschatological debate with his preterist interpretation, which posited that the prophecies of Revelation had already been fulfilled in the early centuries of Christianity, particularly during the Roman Empire. Alcazar’s work, Investigation of the Hidden Sense of the Apocalypse, presented a counter-narrative to both futurism and historicism by suggesting that the Antichrist had already come in the form of Roman emperors.
Influence on 19th Century Protestant Thought
The 19th century saw a resurgence of futurist eschatology among Protestant scholars, significantly influenced by the earlier works of Ribera and his contemporaries.
Dr. Samuel Roffey Maitland
Dr. Samuel Roffey Maitland (1792-1866), librarian to the Archbishop of Canterbury, was a key figure in promoting futurist ideas within Protestantism. In 1826, Maitland published a book attacking the Reformation’s historicist eschatology and supporting Ribera’s futurist interpretation of a future single Antichrist. His tracts over the next decade continued to challenge the Protestant association of the Papacy with the Antichrist.
James H. Todd
James Henthorn Todd (1805-1869), a professor of Hebrew at the University of Dublin, embraced Maitland’s futurist views. Todd published several works supporting the idea of a future Antichrist, further spreading the futurist interpretation among scholars and theologians.
Edward Irving
Edward Irving (1792-1834), a Scottish Presbyterian minister, was influential in both the Charismatic and Pentecostal movements. He adopted futurist eschatology and helped popularize it within broader Protestant circles, contributing to the growing acceptance of these ideas.
John Nelson Darby and the Plymouth Brethren
In this climate of evolving eschatological thought, John Nelson Darby (1800-1882) emerged as a prominent leader of the Plymouth Brethren. Darby’s dispensationalist framework, which included a futurist view of the Antichrist, became a cornerstone of modern evangelical eschatology. His teachings emphasized a literal interpretation of prophecy, including a future period of tribulation and a personal Antichrist (Daniel 9:27, KJV).
Scriptural Basis for Futurism
Ribera and subsequent proponents of futurism drew heavily on specific biblical passages to support their views:
- Revelation 13:5-8 (KJV): “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.”
- Daniel 9:27 (KJV): “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
These verses were interpreted as pointing to a future Antichrist who would emerge during a period of intense tribulation.
Conclusion
The shift from historicist to futurist interpretations of biblical prophecy in the post-Reformation period was significantly influenced by Catholic scholars such as Francisco Ribera, Robert Bellarmine, and Luis de Alcazar. Their works aimed to refute Protestant claims against the Catholic Church by proposing alternative eschatological frameworks. In the 19th century, Protestant scholars like Samuel Roffey Maitland, James H. Todd, and Edward Irving adopted and propagated these ideas, leading to the widespread acceptance of futurist eschatology within evangelical Christianity. John Nelson Darby’s dispensationalism further cemented these interpretations, shaping modern evangelical thought on prophecy and the Antichrist.
References
- Ribera, Francisco. In Sacrum Beati Ioannis Apostoli, & Evangelistiae Apocalypsin Commentarij. 1585.
- Bellarmine, Robert. Disputationes de Controversiis Christianae Fidei. Apud Ioannem Pulmannum, 1581.
- Alcazar, Luis de. Investigation of the Hidden Sense of the Apocalypse. 1614.
- Maitland, Samuel Roffey. An Inquiry into the Grounds on which the Prophetic Period of Daniel and St. John Has Been Supposed to Consist of 1260 Years. 1826.
- Todd, James Henthorn. Discourses on the Prophecies Relating to Antichrist in the Writings of Daniel and St. Paul. 1840.
- Irving, Edward. The Last Days: A Discourse on the Evil Character of These Our Times. 1828.
- Darby, John Nelson. Collected Writings of J.N. Darby. Bible Truth Publishers, various years.
- Scofield, C. I. Scofield Reference Bible. 1909.
