The Oracle of Hystaspes is first attested to, as far as I can tell, in the 2nd century, but several sources seem confident instating that this is a 2nd century BCE oracle. I find it interesting, but perhaps not really important. It comes from the Persian community, though I'm not sure who exactly.
Quote:
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When the close of the times draws nigh, a great prophet shall be sent from God to turn men to the knowledge of God, and he shall receive the power of doing wonderful things. Wherever men shall not hear him, he will shut up the heaven, and cause it to withhold its rains; he will turn their water into blood, and torment them with thirst and hunger; and if any one shall endeavour to injure him, fire shall come forth out of his mouth, and shall burn that man. By these prodigies and powers he shall turn many to the worship of God; and when his works shall be accomplished, another king shall arise out of Syria, born from an evil spirit, the overthrower and destroyer of the human race, who shall destroy that which is left by the former evil, together with himself. He shall fight against the prophet of God, and shall overcome, and slay him, and shall suffer him to lie unburied; but after the third day he shall come to life again; and while all look on and wonder, he shall be caught up into heaven. But that king will not only be most disgraceful in himself, but he will also be a prophet of lies; and he will constitute and call himself God, and will order himself to be worshipped as the Son of God; and power will be given him to do signs and wonders, by the sight of which he may entice men to adore him. He will command fire to come down from heaven, and the sun to stand and leave his course, and an image to speak; and these things shall be done at his word,—by which miracles many even of the wise shall be enticed by him. Then he will attempt to destroy the temple of God, and persecute the righteous people; and there will be distress and tribulation, such as there never has been from the beginning of the world.
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Basically, from what I can see and read about this, the "Son of God" in this instance in the emperor of Rome, who plays the role of the bad guy in this oracle. Emperors were called son's of God, so this is talking about a divine prophet of God being overtaken and killed by someone like an "anti-Christ" figure.
This seems to encompass the idea of battle between good and evil, and the killing of the prophet of God, the good guy, by someone akin to "the anti-Christ". Clearly the anti-Christ type theme is very similar to what we see in Revelations as well.
More info:
http://books.google.com/books?vid=IS...JZiQ8peCC02g_o
03-13-2007, 09:04 AM
The Oracle of Hystaspes, relevent or not?
