(UPDATE: SEE MY FOLLOW UP MESSAGES. I think that the answer is No and that they are the four kingdoms of Daniel 2.)
In Book VIII of the Christian Sibylline Oracles, the author sees the 4 wounds on Christ's limbs as representing the world, and writes that "so many royal powers" consummate Christ's killing, and I am not sure if this means that specifically four powers/kingdoms killed Christ or that the powers/kingdoms of the world were responsible for His killing. M. Terry translates the passage in the Oracles as:
"For so many kingdoms of the world will accomplish the unlawful blameworthy action as our archetype."
When I read the passage, I took it to mean that "so many", ie. the same number of (four), royal powers as the four cardinal directions were responsible for killing Christ. And this raised for me the question of what the fourth power was, the three being Rome/Pilate, Herod, and the Sanhedrin.
In Christ in Christian Tradition, Aloys Grillmeier comments on this passage: "In short, the suffering Christ as the Son of God who embraces the whole world, the creator, redeemer and judge of men, will make even the Roman authorities tremble."
Rev. William Deane comments: "In Christ's hands extended on the cross the writer recognises the comprehension of the whole world in the benefits of the Passion; in the wounds in His hands and feet he finds a representation of the four quarters of the globe as being concerned in His death."
It sounds like Deane would interpret the "royal powers" or "kingdoms" to be the royal powers of the world, since he interprets the passage to mean that the four quarters are "concerned in" Christ's killing. The fact that the passage refers to "of the world royal powers" or "kingdoms of the world" stands in favor of this interpretation.
This passage about four directions and "so many royal powers" in the Oracles reminded me of Zechariah 11's prediction of three shepherds who reject the Good Shepherd, which Christians traditionally interpret as three leaders (eg. Pilate, the Judean King Herod Antipas, and the High Priest Caiaphas) rejecting the Messiah. The passage in Zechariah 11 goes:
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find more on this topic.
In Book VIII of the Christian Sibylline Oracles, the author sees the 4 wounds on Christ's limbs as representing the world, and writes that "so many royal powers" consummate Christ's killing, and I am not sure if this means that specifically four powers/kingdoms killed Christ or that the powers/kingdoms of the world were responsible for His killing. M. Terry translates the passage in the Oracles as:
Charlesworth translates the last sentence as:And first then openly unto his own
Shall he as Lord in flesh be visible,
As he before was, and in hands and feet
Exhibit four marks fixed in his own limbs,
Denoting east and west and south and north;
For of the world so many royal powers
Shall against our Exemplar consummate
The deed so lawless and condemnable.
"For so many kingdoms of the world will accomplish the unlawful blameworthy action as our archetype."
When I read the passage, I took it to mean that "so many", ie. the same number of (four), royal powers as the four cardinal directions were responsible for killing Christ. And this raised for me the question of what the fourth power was, the three being Rome/Pilate, Herod, and the Sanhedrin.
In Christ in Christian Tradition, Aloys Grillmeier comments on this passage: "In short, the suffering Christ as the Son of God who embraces the whole world, the creator, redeemer and judge of men, will make even the Roman authorities tremble."
Rev. William Deane comments: "In Christ's hands extended on the cross the writer recognises the comprehension of the whole world in the benefits of the Passion; in the wounds in His hands and feet he finds a representation of the four quarters of the globe as being concerned in His death."
It sounds like Deane would interpret the "royal powers" or "kingdoms" to be the royal powers of the world, since he interprets the passage to mean that the four quarters are "concerned in" Christ's killing. The fact that the passage refers to "of the world royal powers" or "kingdoms of the world" stands in favor of this interpretation.
This passage about four directions and "so many royal powers" in the Oracles reminded me of Zechariah 11's prediction of three shepherds who reject the Good Shepherd, which Christians traditionally interpret as three leaders (eg. Pilate, the Judean King Herod Antipas, and the High Priest Caiaphas) rejecting the Messiah. The passage in Zechariah 11 goes:
The theme of four powers or kingdoms (Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome) that led up to the time of the Messiah was a major feature in Daniel, but it doesn't sound like those four kingdoms were responsible for his death.3. There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.
4. Thus saith the Lord my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;
5. Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the Lord; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.
...
8. Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find more on this topic.
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