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Historical Interpretations of the âFifth Empireâ
The Dynamics of Periodization from Daniel to António Vieira, S.J.
Series: - Studies in the History of Christian Traditions, Volume: 149
Author:
How may a 17th century theory about the Fifth Empire and the succession of empires be so similar to the 2nd century BCE theory introduced by the Book of Daniel? How was this possible in the works of António Vieira, S.J., (1608-1697), and particularly in his famous manuscript, the Clavis Prophetarum - De Regno Christi In Terris Consummato?
This book analyzes the history of the interpretation of concepts such as Fifth Empire and succession of ages from as early as the 2nd century B.C. until the 17th century.
Influenced by the main intellectual and religious tendencies of the 17th century, Vieiraâs interpretation has revealed itself to be original in the way that it introduces a new reading/interpretation of the succession of historical periods. The Jesuit also identifies the antichrist and the Last Emperor with historical characters of his time.
This book analyzes the history of the interpretation of concepts such as Fifth Empire and succession of ages from as early as the 2nd century B.C. until the 17th century.
Influenced by the main intellectual and religious tendencies of the 17th century, Vieiraâs interpretation has revealed itself to be original in the way that it introduces a new reading/interpretation of the succession of historical periods. The Jesuit also identifies the antichrist and the Last Emperor with historical characters of his time.
Ana Valdez, Ph.D. (2008) in History, University of Lisbon, Portugal, is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale University. She has published widely on António Vieira and on religious tolerance between Portuguese Jesuits and Sephardic Jews in the late 17th century.
"António Vieira (1608-1697) is one of the most fascinating Portuguese Jesuits of the seventeenth century. [...] The book provides an important contribution in understanding early-modern Iberian eschatological streams and a fascinating excursus through the different interpretations of eschatological expectations from the second century BC to the seventeenth century."
Emanuele Colombo, DePaul University. In: Religious Studies Review, Vol. 38, No. 1 (March 2012).
âValdez has rendered an important service to the scholarly community interested in history of biblical interpretation concerning apocalyptic texts. This work brings our attention to another example of the excitement in Europe around the year 1666 and its aftermath. The complex personality of Father Vieira, theologian and missionary, is presented by Valdez so that his speculations on Portuguese history become available in flawless English. May she continue to explore these little-known veins if Christian thought!â
Lawrence E. Frizzell, Seton Hall University. In: Sixteenth Century Journal, Vol. 43, No. 3 (2012), pp. 955-956.
Emanuele Colombo, DePaul University. In: Religious Studies Review, Vol. 38, No. 1 (March 2012).
âValdez has rendered an important service to the scholarly community interested in history of biblical interpretation concerning apocalyptic texts. This work brings our attention to another example of the excitement in Europe around the year 1666 and its aftermath. The complex personality of Father Vieira, theologian and missionary, is presented by Valdez so that his speculations on Portuguese history become available in flawless English. May she continue to explore these little-known veins if Christian thought!â
Lawrence E. Frizzell, Seton Hall University. In: Sixteenth Century Journal, Vol. 43, No. 3 (2012), pp. 955-956.
Table of Illustrations
List of Abbreviations
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
A. The Role of History in Christian Thought
1. The âEnd of Timeâ
2. Historical Periodization: The Concepts
B. The Present Study
1. The Purpose
2. The Sources
2.1. The Historical Context
2.2. António Vieira and the Clavis prophetarum
3. The Problem
4. The Approach
C. The History of the Research
Part I â The Biblical Sources
Chapter One â The Four Empires
A. Daniel
B. Hesiodâs Influence in Daniel
Chapter Two â The Seventy Weeks
A. Enoch, One of the Sources Behind Daniel
1. The Apocalypse of Weeks
B. Daniel and Jeremiahâs Prophecy of the 70 Years
Chapter Three â The Millennium
A. Paul and the Two âAeonsâ
1. 1 Corinthians 15:20-28
B. The Book of Revelation
1. Revelation 20-22
2. The Millennium
3. The Eschatological Opponent
4. Final Judgement (20:11-15)
5. The New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-22:5)
C. Ages and/or Periods of History in Revelation?
Part II â The Exegetical Tradition
Chapter Four â Flavius Josephus
Chapter Five â Hippolytus and the 6000-Year Chronology
Chapter Six â St Jeromeâs Commentary on Daniel
A. The Four Empires
B. The Seventy Weeks
Chapter Seven â St Augustineâs Two Cities
A. Rome, or the New Babylon
B. Jerusalem: The City of God
Chapter Eight â Joachim of Fiore: From the âtatus to the âLast Emperorâ
A. Joachimâs Aetates and Status
B. The Last Emperor Myth
Part III â António Vieira, S.J., and the Clavis prophetarum
Chapter Nine â Eschatology in António Vieiraâs Previous Works
A. Esperanças de Portugal â âHopes of Portugalâ (1659)
B. História do futuro â âHistory of the Futureâ
Chapter Ten â Clavis prophetarum or De regno Christii in terris consummato
A. The Content and the Background of this Work
B. The Edited Book III of the Clavis prophetarum
Chapter Eleven â The Fifth Empire
A. The Nature of the Kingdom
B. When and Where?
Chapter Twelve â Universal Evangelization, Toleration, and Ecumenism?
Conclusion
Bibliography
indexâ
Table of Figures
Figure 1 â Comparative Chronologies
Figure 2 â The Three Status, CCC Ms. 255A, f. 7 v.
Figure 3 â The Alpha and the Omega, CCC Ms. 255A, f. 8 r.
Figure 4 â The Tree and the Three Ages, CCC Ms. 255A, f. 12 v.
Figure 5 â Identification of the antichrist
Figure 6 â The year of the antichrist
All those interested in religious history, the history of the apocalyptic literature, the history of Portugal and of the Iberian world, and in the history of the Portuguese Jesuits.
