The Ancient Witnesses

276 • The Ancient Witnesses: A Journey to Discover Our Sacred Roots

“The days are coming,” announced Papias in a shrill voice, “when vines shall grow, each having ten thousand branches, and in each branch ten thousand twigs, and in each true twig ten thousand shoots, and in each one of the shoots ten thousand clusters, and on every one of the clusters ten thousand grapes!” Two young men on either side of Papias steadied the witness as he spoke. “And every grape when pressed will give five and twenty gallons of wine. And when any one of the saints shall lay hold of a cluster, another shall cry out, ‘I am a better cluster, take me! Bless the Lord through me!’” 21 “Dang,” said Preacher, “that’s a lot of wine!” While this was taking place, the Alexandrians were loudly voicing their opposition to the Chiliasts’ view. In the midst of this group stood Origen, condemning the view expressed by Papias in very harsh words. Some wanted to appoint him as spokesman, but other witnesses called Augustine, who was standing apart from the mob. “I don’t get it,” I said to my friends. “What?” asked Cesar. “What’s all the fuss about?” “Millennialism,” he replied, “Christ’s thousand-year reign on earth.” “You remember the three views, don’t you?” asked Joseph. “Premillennial, postmillennial, and amillennial,” I answered, recalling the terms of endless debates in our theology class.

21 Papias, Fragments (ANF 1,153) quoted in Irenaeus, Against Heresies 5.33.3 (ANF 1, 563).