In six days, that is, in six thousand years, all things will be completed. Barnabas (c. 70–130, E), 1.146.
Solomon the king built the temple in Judea 566 years after the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. . . . The temple was built in the twelfth year of the reign of Hiram. So the entire time from the building of the temple to the founding of Carthage was 143 years and 8 months. Theophilus (c. 180, E), 2.117, 118.
The flood came during Noah’s life, in his 600th year. Theophilus (c. 180, E), 2.118.
All the years from the creation of the world amount to a total of 5698 years, plus the odd months and days. . . . Perhaps our knowledge of the whole number of the years is not quite accurate, because the odd months and days are not set down in the sacred books. Theophilus (c. 180, E), 2.120.
In as many days as this world was made, in so many thousand years will it be concluded. . . . For the day of the Lord is as a thousand years; and in six days created things were completed. It is evident, therefore, that they will come to an end at the sixth thousand year. Irenaeus (c. 180, E/W), 1.557.
In a similar work, Eupolemus says that all the years from Adam to the fifth year of Ptolemy Demetrius (who reigned twelve years in Egypt) come to 5149 years, when they are all added together. From the time that Moses brought the Jews out of Egypt up to the above-mentioned date (i.e., the fifth year of Ptolemy Demetrius), there were a total of 2580 years. Finally, from that date until the consulship in Rome of Caius Domitian and Casian, there were 120 years. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.332.
From Adam to the death of Commodus, there were 5784 years, 2 months, and 12 days. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.333.
The first appearance of our Lord in the flesh took place in Bethlehem, under Augustus, in the year 5500. And He suffered in the thirtythird year. And 6000 years has to be accomplished, in order that the Sabbath may come—the rest, the holy day “on which God rested from all His works.” For the Sabbath is the type and emblem of the future kingdom of the saints, when they will reign with Christ, when He comes from heaven, as John says in his Apocalypse. For “a day with the Lord is as a thousand years.” Since, then, in six days God made all things, it follows that 6000 years must be fulfilled. Hippolytus (c. 205, W), 5.179.
From the birth of Christ, then, we must include the 500 years that remain to make up the 6000, and then the end will come. Hippolytus (c. 205, W), 5.179.
These things Bardesanes computed when he desired to show that this world would stand only six thousand years. Fragment concerning Bardesanes (c. 222, E), 8.734.
According to Daniel, seventy weeks were fulfilled until Christ the Ruler. Origen (c. 225, E), 4.353.
I believe that the destruction of Jerusalem took place forty-two years after the date of the crucifixion of Jesus. Origen (c. 248, E), 4.506.
We will be immortal when six thousand years are completed. Commodianus (c. 240, W), 4.209.
The most famous exile that befell the Hebrews—when they were led captive by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon—lasted seventy years, as Jeremiah had prophesied. Julius Africanus (c. 245, E), 6.133.
It is by calculating from Artaxerxes, therefore, up to the time of Christ that the seventy weeks are made up, according to the calendar of the Jews. Julius Africanus (c. 245, E), 6.135.
Six thousand years are now nearly completed since the devil first attacked man. Cyprian (c. 250, W), 5.496.
[Satan is bound] until the thousand years are completed—that is, what is left of the sixth day. Victorinus (c. 280, W), 7.358.
In the seventh thousand of years, we will resume immortality again and will celebrate the great feast of true tabernacles. Methodius (c. 290, E), 6.344.
This world will be terminated at the seventh thousand years. At that time, God will have completed the world and will rejoice in us. Methodius (c. 290, E), 6.344.
A thousand years are considered as one day in the sight of God. Now, since from the creation of the world to His rest is six days, so also to our time, six days are defined. . . . Therefore, they say that an age of six thousand years extends from Adam to our time. They also say that the Judgment will come on the seventh day, that is, in the seventh thousand years. Methodius (c. 290, E), 6.381, as quoted by Photius.
[The Jews] had tetrachs until the time of Herod, who ruled during the reign of Tiberius Caesar. In his fifteenth year, during the consulship of the two Gemini, on the 23rd day of March, the Jews crucified Christ. Lactantius (c. 304–313, W), 7.109.
In the latter days of the Emperor Tiberius, in the consulship of Ruberius Geminus and Rufius Geminus, on the seventh day before the first day of April [i.e., March 23], as I find it written, Jesus Christ was crucified by the Jews. Lactantius (c. 304–313, W“)
Let the philosophers—who enumerate thousands of ages from the beginning of the world—know that the six thousandth year is not yet completed. When this number is completed, the consummation must take place. And the condition of human affairs will be remodelled for the better. Lactantius (c. 304–313, W), 7.211.
Since all the works of God were completed in six days, the world must continue in its present state through six ages—that is, six thousand years. For the great day of God is limited by a circle of a thousand years. . . . As God labored during those six days in creating such great works, so His religion and truth must labor during these six thousand years (during which wickedness prevails and rules). And, again, since God rested on the seventh day and blessed it (having finished His works), so at the end of the six thousandth year all wickedness must be abolished from the earth. And righteousness will reign for a thousand years. And there must be tranquility and rest from the labors that the world now has long endured. Lactantius (c. 304–313)
Since all the works of God were completed in six days, the world must continue in its present state through six ages—that is, six thousand years. For the great day of God is limited by a circle of a thousand years. . . . As God labored during those six days in creating such great works, so His religion and truth must labor during these six thousand years (during which wickedness prevails and rules). And, again, since God rested on the seventh day and blessed it (having finished His works), so at the end of the six thousandth year all wickedness must be abolished from the earth. And righteousness will reign for a thousand years. And there must be tranquility and rest from the labors that the world now has long endured. Lactantius (c. 304–313, W)
One Response
Thank you so much for putting all those quotes together! That’s really helpful!
I wish the sources would be more clear, so I can check those quotes. Maybe they are clear and I just don’t understand what the letter and the number stands for.
Do you know of even more ante-nicene writers that believed the world would enter it’s Shabbat rest 6000 years after creation?