Antichrist

For the Friedrich Nietzsche book, see The Antichrist. For the Gorgoroth album, see Antichrist (album).

In Christian eschatology, the Antichrist or anti-Christ, has come to mean a person, an other entity, or an image of a person, that is an embodiment of evil.

The word 'Antichrist' is translated from the combination of two ancient Greek words αντί + χριστος ('anti + khristos), which can mean anti "opposite" (of) khristos "anointed" therefore "opposite of Christ" (the meaning of christ as the 'anointed one', having become secondary to its meaning as the honorific of Jesus of Nazareth) or anti "as" (if) khristos "messiah" thus "in place of Christ" or a substitute for Christ. An antichrist can be opposed to Christ by striving to be in the place of Christ.

The term itself appears 5 times in 1 John and 2 John of the New Testament — once in plural form and 4 times in the singular, and is popularly associated with the belief of a competing and assumed evil entity opposed to Jesus of Nazareth. The term is also often applied to prophecies regarding a "Little horn" power in Daniel 7, and is used in conjunction with many end times teachings.

New Testament references

The words antichrist and antichrists appear in these Bible scriptures: in the epistles of John the Apostle:

The Bible does not point to only one person as being the antichrist but speaks of a class of persons. John, in scripture references, speaks of "many anti-Christs" who embody the spirit of the anti-Christ 1 John 4:3). John wrote that, such anti-Christs (or opponents of Christ) would deny: "that Jesus is the Christ"; "the Father and the Son"; and would "not confess Jesus came in the flesh."

Some identify a particular Antichrist as a "man of sin" or "son of perdition" mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Others identify as being, or in league with several figures in the Book of Revelation including the Dragon, the Beast, the False Prophet, and the Whore of Babylon.

Matthew 24 warns of false Christs, and of deceivers who would appear claiming falsely to be the returned Christ. (Matt. 24:5,24:24)

In the writing of Paul, in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, a "man of sin", "the son of perdition" is to take over the temple of God, on the false pretense that he is God himself. Interestingly Antiochus Epiphanes, around 170 BC, commanded Jews to sacrifice pigs on the altar, four times a year on the Shabbat, in tribute to him as the supreme god of the Seleucids.

Martin Luther believed and wrote of the Papacy as anti-Christ. Many Protestant reformers and founders following in Luther's wake believed and taught this teaching as well. The Catholic church, however, has defended itself, by claiming that since its founder and first Pope was St. Peter, such claims by Luther would inherently mean that Peter himself would have to be the first anti-Christ -a fallacy as the Church that Peter championed can be found in the New Testament and is indeed opposite(anti) the strange form, particularly governmental hierarchy of Roman Catholicism. Roman Catholicism also cites scripture(when scripture can be used to promote her best interests), such as (Matt. 16:18)where Jesus explicitly tells Peter "upon this rock [Peter] I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it [the Church]." Yet, it is historical fiction to suggest that verse applies to Popery. Roman Catholicism is the counterfeit of the church that Jesus promised to build and is building.

Dispensational (Christian) beliefs

Dispensationalists believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible, except where the text is obviously discussing an alegory, or is using the parabolic method of Jesus, which the Lord prefereces in all cases with these words: "Now hear the parable" or "Now learn the parable".

Discussion of the word 'Antichrist' versus the word 'Beast'

J. Dwight Pentecost has a discussion in his book, "Things to Come". He writes, quoting other sources:

VII.THE RELATION OF ANTICHRIST TO THE TWO BEASTS

The word antichrist appears only in the Epistles of John. It is used in 1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3 and 2 John 7. A study of these references will reveal that John is principally concerned with an immediate doctrinal error--the denial of the person of Christ. The emphasis is not on a future revelation of an individual, but rather on the present manifestation of false doctrine. To John antichrist was already present. The question arises then as to the relation between the ““antichrist”” of John’’s epistles and the beasts of Revelation.

The prefix anti may be used either in the sense of ““instead of”” or ““against.”” Aldrich correctly observes:

The solution of the problem of the identification of Anti-christ would seem to depend upon whether light can be thrown on the question of whether he is primarily the great enemy of Christ or whether he is a false Christ.34.

That these possibilities exist is substantiated by Thayer, who says that the preposition has two primary usages: first, over against or opposite to; and second indicating an exchange, in-stead of or in place of.35

A study of the five usages of antichrist in John’’s epistles seems clearly to indicate the idea of opposition rather than exchange. Trench observes:

To me St. John’’s words seem decisive that resistance to Christ, and defiance of Him, this, and not any treacherous assumption of his character and offices, is the essential mark of the Anti-Christ; is that which, therefore, we should expect to find embodied in his name . . . and in this sense, if not all, yet many of the Fathers have understood the word.36

The word antichrist seems to be contrasted with ““false Christ”” in Scripture. This word is used in Matthew 24:24 and Mark 13:22. On the contrast between the words the same author says:

The [Pseudochristos, false Christ] does not deny the being of a Christ; on the contrary, he builds on the world’’s expectations of such a person; only he appropriates these to himself, blasphemously affirms that he is the foretold One, in whom God’’s promises and men’’s expectations are fulfilled. . . .

The distinction, then, is plain . . . [antichristos, antichrist] denies that there is a Christ; . . . [Pseudochristos, false Christ) affirms himself to be Christ.37

It would seem that John has the idea of opposition in mind rather than the idea of exchange.

This idea of direct opposition to Christ seems to be the particular characterization of the first Beast, for he sets his kingdom against the kingdom of the Son of God. If antichrist must be identified with one of the two Beasts it would seem to be identified with the first.38

It may be, however, that John is not referring to either of the two Beasts, but rather to the lawless system that will characterize them (2 Thess. 2:7). Since he is emphasizing the danger of a present doctrinal defection, he is reminding them that such teaching is the teaching of the antichrist philosophy of Satan that Paul held was already working (2 Thess. 2:7). Without doubt this antichrist philosophy of Satan, referred to by John, will culminate in the Beasts in their corporate ministries, where the first Beast will be in direct opposition to Christ as one who falsely fulfills the covenant to give Israel their land and the second Beast will assume the place of leadership in the religious realm which rightly belongs to Christ. But John is not trying to identify either of these Beasts as antichrist, but to warn any who would deny the person of Christ that they are walking in that system which eventually would culminate in the manifestation of the lawless system in the activities of both Beasts. They, in their corporate unity, culminate lawlessness.

Footnotes for Pentecost text above:

1 Cf. Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, VII, 170. 2 Ibid., IV, 379-81. 3 C. I. Scofield, Reference Bible, p. 1345. 4 Edward Dennett, Daniel the Prophet, p. 9. 5 Chafer, op. cit., IV, 333. 6 Arno C. Gaebelein, The Prophet Daniel, pp. 73-76. 7 Cf. Robert Anderson, The Coming Prince. 8 S. P. Tregelles, The Book of Daniel, p. 19. 9 William Kelly, Notes on Daniel, p. 50. 10 Harry A. Ironside, Lectures on Daniel, The Prophet, pp. 37-38. 11 G. H. N. Peters, Theocratic Kingdom, II, 643. 12 Kelly, op. cit., pp. 125-26. 13 Edward J. Young, The Prophecy of Daniel, p. 160. While exception is taken to this author’’s interpretation of the book, his observation is justified here. 14 Scofield, op cit., p. 1342. 15 Walter Scott, Exposition of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, pp. 351-52. 16 William R. Newell, The Revelation, p. 271. 17 Roy L. Aldrich, ““Facts and Theories of Prophecy,”” pp. 120-21. 18 F. C. Jennings, ““The Boundaries of the Revived Roman Empire,”” Our Hope, xlvii: 387-89, December, 1940. 19 William Kelly, Notes on Ezekiel, pp. 192-93. 20 Arno C. Gaebelein, The Prophet Ezekiel, pp. 257-58. 21 Louis Bauman, Russian Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy, pp. 23-25. 22 Samuel Macauley Jackson, ed., New Schaff-Hertzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, III, 328. 23 Bauman, op. cit., p. 31. 24 Ibid., p. 32. 25 Gaebelein, op. cit., p. 259. 26 Cf. Bauman, op. cit., pp. 34-36. 27 Harry Rimmer, The Coming War and the Rise of Russia, p. 62. 28 Bauman, op. cit., p. 38. 29 Scott, op. cit., pp. 331-32. 30 Arthur W. Pink, The Antichrist, pp. 59-75. 31 Pink, op. cit., pp. 50-55. 32 Newell, op. cit., p. 186 ; Joseph Seiss, The Apocalypse, II, 397-400. 33 Pink, op. cit., pp. 119-20. 34 Aldrich, op. cit., p. 39. 35 Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 49. 36 Richard C. Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament, p. 107. 37 Ibid., p. 108. 38 Cf. Newell, op. cit., pp. 195-201 for arguments to support this view.

Resurrected Individual discussion

In contrast to the discussion below about Seventh-day Adventist beliefs concerning the deadly wound, dispensationalists have come to some similar and some different theories. Henry Morris, in his book, has this to say:

"Will the Beast be a resurrected individual? On the basis of Revelation 13:3 and 17:8 many expositors have held that the Beast who will rule will gain a tremendous following because he has experienced death and resurrection at the hands of Satan. Some have held that the Beast will be a reincarnation of Nero. Others have insisted that he will be Judas restored to life Some have insisted that this will be a resurrected individual without attempting to identify him. The question arises then as to whether this is a resurrected individual in whom the miracle of Christ's death and resurrection is imitated. Even though it is said that this one comes to power by satanic activity (Rev. 13:2), and is said to have a deadly wound that was healed (Rev. 13:3), and comes out of the abyss (Rev. 17:8) it seems best not to understand this as death and resurrection for several reasons. (1) In Revelation 13:3 and 17:8 the beast is explained as the composite kingdom. The reference to the healing seems to be the resurgence of power in the Gentile kingdom that had been dead for so long. (2) Satan is called the "angel of the bottomless pit" or the "abyss" in Revelation 9:11, so that Revelation 17:8 does not teach that the head of the empire arose out of the abyss, but rather that the empire itself was brought about "from the abyss" or by Satan. (3) The Scriptures reveal that men are brought out of the grave by the voice of the Son of God. Satan does not have the power to give life. Since Christ alone has the power of resurrection, Satan could not bring one back to life. (4) The wicked are not resurrected until the Great White Throne (Rev. 20:11-15). If a wicked one were resurrected at this point it would set aside God's divinely ordained program of resurrection. (5) Since all the references to this individual present him as a man, not as a supernatural being, it seems impossible to hold that he is a resurrected individual. It would be concluded that the Beast will not be a resurrected individual.

Titles for the beast

For this section, Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost is being quoted from his thorough research on biblical prophecy in which an extensive list of titles for the Antichrist appears:

Scripture has a great deal to say concerning the individual who will appear in the end time as the head of the Gentile powers in their ten kingdom federation. His person and work are presented in Ezekiel 28:1-10; Daniel 7:7-8, 20-26; 8:23-25; 9:26-27; 11:36-45; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10; Revelation 13:1-10; 17:8-14. A synthesis of the truths in these passages will reveal the following facts concerning his activities: (1) He will appear on the scene in the ““latter times”” of Israel’’s history (Dan. 8:23). (2) He will not appear until the Day of the Lord has begun (2 Thess. 2:2). (3) His manifestation is being hindered by the Restrainer (2 Thess. 2:6-7). (4) This appearance will be preceded by a departure (2 Thess. 2:3), which may be interpreted either as a departure from the faith or a departure of the saints to be with the Lord (2 Thess. 2:1). (5) He is a Gentile. Since he arises from the sea (Rev. 13:1) and since the sea depicts the Gentile nations (Rev. 17:15), he must be of Gentile origin. (6) He rises from the Roman empire, since he is a ruler of the people who destroyed Jerusalem (Dan. 9:26). (7) He is the head of the last form of Gentile world dominion, for he is like a leopard, a bear, and a lion (Rev. 13:1). (Cf. Dan. 7:7-8, 20, 24; Rev. 17:9-11.) As such he is a political leader. The seven heads and ten horns (Rev. 13:1; 17:12) are federated under his authority. (8) His influence is world wide, for he rules over all nations (Rev. 13:8). This influence comes through the alliance which he makes with other nations (Dan. 8:24; Rev. 17:12). (9) He has eliminated three rulers in his rise to power (Dan 7:8, 24). One of the kingdoms over which he has authority has been revived, for one of the heads, representing a kingdom or king (Rev. 17:10), has been healed (Rev. 13:3). (10) His rise comes through his peace program (Dan. 8:25). (11) He personally is marked by his intelligence and persuasiveness (Dan. 7:8, 20; 8:23) and also by his subtlety and craft (Ezek. 28:6), so that his position over the nations is by their own consent (Rev. 17:13). (12) He rules over the nations in his federation with absolute authority (Dan. 11:36), where he is depicted as doing his own will. This authority is manifested through the change in laws and customs (Dan. 7:25). (13) His chief interest is in might and power (Dan. 11:38). (14) As the head of the federated empire he makes a seven year covenant with Israel (Dan. 9:27), which is broken after three and one-half years (Dan. 9:27). (15) He introduces an idolatrous worship (Dan. 9:27) in which he sets himself up as god (Dan. 11:36-37; 2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 13:5). (16) He bears the characterization of a blasphemer because of the assumption of deity (Ezek. 28:2; Dan. 7:25; Rev. 13:1, 5-6). (17) This one is energized by Satan (Ezek. 28:9-12; Rev. 13:4), receives his authority from him, and is controlled by the pride of the devil (Ezek. 28:2; Dan. 8:25). (18) He is the head of Satan’’s lawless system (2 Thess. 2:3) and his claim to power and to deity is proved by signs wrought through satanic power (2 Thess. 2:9-19). (19) He is received as God and as ruler because of the blindness of the people (2 Thess. 2:11). (20) This ruler becomes the great adversary of Israel (Dan. 7:21, 25; 8:24; Rev. 13:7). (21) There will come an alliance against him (Ezek. 28:7; Dan. 11:40, 42) which will contest his authority. (22) In the ensuing conflict he will gain control over Palestine and adjacent territory (Dan. 11:42) and will make his headquarters in Jerusalem (Dan. 11:45). (23) This ruler, at the time of his rise to power, is elevated through the instrumentality of the harlot, the corrupt religious system, which consequently seeks to dominate him (Rev 17:3). (24) This system is destroyed by the ruler so that he may rule unhindered (Rev. 17:16-17). (25) He becomes the special adversary of the Prince of Princes (Dan. 8:25), His program (2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 17:14), and His people (Dan. 7:21, 25; 8:24; Rev. 13:7). (26) While he continues in power for seven years (Dan. 9:27), his satanic activity is confined to the last half of the tribulation period (Dan. 7:25; 9:27; 11:36; Rev. 13:5). (27) His rule will be terminated by a direct judgment from God (Ezek. 28:6; Dan. 7:22, 26; 8:25; 9:27; 11:45; Rev. 19:19-20). This judgment will take place as he is engaged in a military campaign in Palestine (Ezek. 28:8-9; Rev. 19:19), and he will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20; Ezek. 28:10). (28) This judgment will take place at the second advent of Christ (2 Thess. 2:8; Dan. 7:22) and will constitute a manifestation of His Messianic authority (Rev. 11:15). (29) The kingdom over which he ruled will pass to the authority of the Messiah and will become the kingdom of the saints (Dan. 7:27).

Many names and titles are given to this individual in the Scriptures. Arthur W. Pink gives a list of names that are applicable to him:

The Bloody and Deceitful Man (Ps. 5:6), the Wicked One (Ps. 10:2-4), the Man of the Earth (Ps. 10:18), the Mighty Man (Ps. 52:1), the Enemy (Ps. 55:3), the Adversary (Ps. 74:8-10), the Head of Many Countries (Ps. 111:6), the Violent Man (Ps. 140:1), the Assyrian (Isa. 10:5-12), the King of Babylon (Isa. 14:2), the Sun of the Morning (Isa. 14:12), the Spoiler (Isa. 16:4-5; Jer. 6:26), the Nail (Isa. 22:25), the Branch of the Terrible Ones (Isa. 25:5), the Profane Wicked Prince of Israel (Ezek. 21:25-27), the Little Horn (Dan. 7:8), the Prince that shall come (Dan. 9:26), the Vile Person (Dan. 11:21), the Wilful King (Dan. 11:36), the Idol Shepherd (Zech. 11:16-17), the Man of Sin (2 Thess. 2:3), the Son of Perdition (2 Thess. 2:3), the Lawless one (2 Thess. 2:8), the Antichrist (1 John 2:22), the Angel of the Bottomless Pit (Rev. 9:11), the Beast (Rev. 11:7; 13:1). To these could be added: the One Coming in His Own Name (John 5:43), the King of Fierce Countenance (Dan. 8:23), the Abomination of Desolation (Matt. 24:15), the Desolator (Dan. 9:27). It is thus possible to see how extensive the revelation concerning this individual is. It is not surprising, since this one is Satan’’s great masterpiece in the imitation of the program of God."

The Beast's final doom

Again, in quoting Pentecost, the doom of this individual is clear from a number of scriptures:

B. The doom of the Beast. It is strange that almost every passage that makes reference to the activities of the Beast also includes a notice of his final doom. It must occupy a large place in the program of God. His end is seen in Ezekiel 21:25-27; 28:7-10; Daniel 7:11, 27; 8:25; 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 17:11; 19:20; 20:10. While the movements leading to his overthrow will be seen later, it is to be observed at this point that God is going to overthrow this satanic masterpiece of delusion and imitation violently. Pink writes:

Scripture has solemnly recorded the end of various august evil personages. Some were overwhelmed by waters; some devoured by flames; some engulfed in the jaws of the earth; some stricken by a loathsome disease; some ignominiously slaughtered; some hanged; some eaten up of dogs; some consumed by worms. But to no sinful dweller on earth, save the Man of Sin, ““the Wicked One,”” has been appointed the terrible distinction of being consumed by the brightness of the personal appearing of the Lord Jesus Himself. Such shall be his unprecedented doom, an end that shall fittingly climax his ignoble origin, his amazing career, and his unparalleled wickedness.33.

Seventh Day Adventist Beliefs

The Seventh-day Adventist faith teaches and believes that the anti-Christ is the office of the Papacy. In 1798, the French General Berthier exiled the Pope and took away all his authority, which was later restored in 1929. This is taken as a fulfillment of the prophecy that the Beast of Revelation would receive a deadly wound but that the wound would be healed.

Later texts and apocrypha

Related ideas and references appear in various apocrypha, and a more complete portrait of the Antichrist has been built up gradually by Christian theologians and folk-religionists.

One such apocryphal text is the apocalyptic pseudo-prophecy falsely attributed to the Tiburtine Sibyl. It purports to prophesy (although written after the fact—see postdiction) the arrival of the Christian emperor, Constantine, beginning:

"Then will arise a king of the Greeks whose name is Constans. He will be king of the Romans and the Greeks. He will be tall of stature, of handsome appearance with shining face, and well put together in all parts of his body..."

Millennialists and anti-Semites have relished the document's suggestion that the Antichrist will be an Israelite: "At that time the Prince of Iniquity will arise from 'the Tribe of Dan'."

This position is supported by several Biblical sources: 1) Genesis 49:17, which reads: "Dan shall be a serpent by the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider shall fall backward." However, it is also probable that this prophecy pertains to the fact that the Tribe of Dan had historically fallen into a state of idolatry during Biblical times, thus leading members of other Jewish tribes into idolatry, as well; and 2) Revelation 7:1–8 , which appears to show that none of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists will come from the tribe of Dan. There are other Biblical examples of tribes being absent from similar lists, without any iniquity being implied. It is probable that such is the case here.

Possible 'jewish descent' and other views

One author who believed that the Antichrist would be of Jewish descent was Jerry Falwell, basing his theory on the claims on Daniel 11:37. This verse reads: "Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all".

This was contrary to another writer, J. Dwight Pentecost, a dispensationalist who provided a differing view from Falwell's, which was mentioned above. Morris then went on in his list to 29 facts.

Some other theorists hold to the theory that disregarding "... the desire of women ..." may indicate that the Antichrist will be a celibate or a homosexual. However, in Jewish tradition, "... the desire of women ..." is to bear children, so that the Book of Daniel may describe the Antichrist's hatred, either towards his own children or his refusal to have children of his own. Some have read Jesus statement in John 5:43 as a prophetic indicator that the Antichrist would be of Jewish descent by his statement: "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him ...".

Islamic Beliefs and observations

Antichrist is similar to the description of dajjal, who will appear as a powerful and corrupt leader and Isa (Arabic name for Jesus) will kill him in an epic war near Jerusalem. Muslims also have expectations of the antichrist; they call him al-Masih al-Dajjal ("Messiah-Liar"). He will defy Christ and pervert the words of the true Messiah. He will appear towards the end of this civilization. Quite a few Muslims believe the dajjal or anti-christ will deceive people, perform "miracles" (in reality sorcery) allowed by the permission of God as a test for people and whether they believe, get people to join his false religion and eventually claim to be a Prophet and then God. He will speak beautifully and fool people. Among the signs of the Hour will be the emergence of a beast from the earth. It will be very strange in appearance, and be extremely huge; one cannot even imagine what "it/he" will look like. Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said, "The Hour will not come until you see ten signs: the smoke for 40 days; the Dajjal; the Beast; the sun rising from the West; the descent of Jesus son of Mary; Gog and Magog; and three landslides - one in the East, one in the West, and one in Arabia, at the end of which fire will burst forth from the direction of Aden (Yemen) and drive people to the place of their final assembly."

Expected role

Christian denominations disagree on what will happen in the end times, and the role that Satan and the Antichrist will play. Among them are those who believe that the antichrists of whom John wrote are instead a single individual and expect this one person to rise in the future. There is a consensus that sometime prior to the expected return of Jesus, there will be a period of "great tribulation" during which the Antichrist, indwelt and controlled by Satan, will attempt to win supporters with false peace, supernatural signs, and will silence all that defy him by refusing to "receive his mark" on their right hands or forehead. This "mark" will be required to legally partake in the end-time economic system. Some Christians believe that the Antichrist will be assassinated half way through the Tribulation, being revived and indwelt by Satan. The Antichrist will continue on for three and a half years following "deadly wound".

The "Dragon" (interpreted as Satan), the "Beast" (often interpreted as the Antichrist) and the "false prophet" (interpreted in many ways) who compels the world to worship the Beast, and all who received his mark (cast their lot with him) will be the first occupants thrown into the Lake of Fire, and then commences the millennium. These views are based on controversial passages in the Apocalypse of John, more commonly known as the Book of Revelation.

After the above-mentioned destructions, the rule by Christ and the Saints for a literal 1,000 year reign, and the losing of Satan "for a season", termed in scripture as the "Great White Throne Judgment" will take place, at which time both the living and the unsaved dead will be resurrected, some for everlasting life, and some for everlasting death. All those who worship God through Jesus will be admitted to the presence of God. Those individuals who would not accept the free pardon of grace will be thrown into the "lake of Fire".

The Bible verse from chapter 8 of the Book of Daniel is seen as a prophecy of the Antichrist: "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand."

In other views, the role is far less dramatic — the Antichrist is simply believed to be a group of individuals as well as organizations, who, for their history of trying to deceive and stifle the faithful, are finally destroyed for all time by God on the day of Armageddon. Gog and Magog are identified as the nations in the four corners of the earth, and their attack is represented as an eschatological crisis after the Millennium, to be vanquished by divine intervention.

Identifying the Beast

The numbers 666 or 616 are associated with the Antichrist, according to Revelation 13:18. Gematria and other numerology techniques are used to calculate the numeric value of a name in attempts to confirm the identity of the Antichrist.

1st Millennium

According to Bernard McGinn, in Christianity's early days the Antichrist was identified variously as spirit of heresy (by Polycarp), the Roman empire (by Irenaeus), or the resurrected Nero (by John Chrysostom).

Arnulf of Rheims wrote in A.D. 991, "What do you estimate this to be, reverend fathers? When you see him sitting on a lofty throne glittering in purple and gold, what do you estimate this to be, I say? Without a doubt, if he lacks love, and is only swelled up and lifted up, must he not be the Antichrist, 'sitting in the temple of God, and also showing himself as God'”?

2nd Millennium

Similarly, another idea that began appearing early in the history of the Christian church is that the Antichrist will be an apostate priest or Christian secular ruler, perhaps a Pope or other high leader of the Christian church, or a pretender to the Papacy.

The Antichrist, by Lucas Cranach the Elder — 1521, commissioned by Martin Luther. Cranach was a Lutheran and therefore portrayed the Antichrist as the Pope, complete with the papal tiara.

Some of the Spiritual Franciscans considered the Emperor Frederick II a positive Antichrist who would clean the Church from riches and clergy.

Some Protestant Churches have made it an issue of faith to identify the Bishop of Rome and the papal system as the Antichrist. See, for example, the Smalcald Articles, Westminster Confession and the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith; early Protestant Reformers, including Martin Luther, John Calvin, Thomas Cranmer, John Knox, Cotton Mather, and John Wesley, identified the Roman Papacy as the Antichrist [1]. Headed by Matthias Flacius, several Lutheran scholars in Magdeburg, known as the Centuriators of Magdeburg, wrote the 12-volume "Magdeburg Centuries" to discredit the papacy, including identifying the pope as the Antichrist. Virtually all popes have been called the Antichrist by their enemies, and many popes have applied this title of "Antichrist", "son of perdition", or "man of sin", to their enemies as well. Some Catholics expected a son of Martin Luther to be the Antichrist, as his scion would be the son of an ex-priest and ex-nun.

The Lutheran Churches of the Reformation [2], the Concordia Lutheran Conference [3], the Church of the Lutheran Confession [4], and the Illinois Lutheran Conference [5] all hold to Brief Statement. In 1959 the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) formally issued its "Statement on the Antichrist", a doctrinal statement that declared, "we reaffirm the statement of the Lutheran Confessions, that 'the Pope is the very Antichrist'". "WELS Statement on the Antichrist".

After the reforms of Patriarch Nikon to the Russian Orthodox Church of 1652 a large number of Old Believers held that czar Peter the Great was the Antichrist [6], because of his treatment of the Orthodox Church, namely separating church from state, requiring clergyman to conform to the standards of all Russian civilians (shaved beards, being fluent in French), and requiring them to pay state taxes. In 1914 , a woman believing the faith healer Rasputin was the Antichrist, for his supposedly evil influences over the czar and czarina, stabbed him, cutting a large wound in his chest. He fully recovered.

Preterists look to an early antichrist. The Roman emperor beginning with Nero, sometimes together with the four emperors who succeeded him in the year following his suicide, until the elevation of Nero's general Vespasian to emperor, have been interpreted from very early times, either alone or collectively as the Beast of the Apocalypse. This is supported by some numerological interpretations.

In this tumultuous period, superstitious fear and mob violence grew against Christians, and the Roman wars against the Jews intensified (AD 66–70), ending with the destruction of the Temple in AD 70 under the command of general Titus (later emperor), and the slaughter of the Jews who were living at Jerusalem. According to tradition, Nero ordered the crucifixion of St. Peter and the beheading of Saint Paul. Both Jewish and Christian literature survives, referring to Emperor Nero as the Antichrist. A more detailed description of this Preterist interpretation can be found in the entry on the Book of Revelation.

Paul of Tarsus has been theorized by some Muslims and others (notably English political radical Jeremy Bentham) to have fulfilled the role of the Antichrist within the chronicles of the New Testament of the Bible itself . This theory is premised on an idea that the original teachings of Christ were distorted by Paul, rather than elaborated upon or revealed to Paul by Christ.

Widespread Protestant identification of the Papacy as the Antichrist persisted until the early-1900s when the Scofield Reference Bible was published by Cyrus Scofield. Prior to the Scofield Bible, with few exceptions, the Protestant confessions of faith declared the Papacy as the Antichrist. Westminster Confession of Faith:

25.6. There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ: nor can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof; but is that Antichrist, that man of sin and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called God; whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.

(Col. 1:18; Matt. 28:18–20; Eph. 4:11–12; 2 Thess. 2:2–9)

In response to the identification of the Papacy as Antichrist, the modern view of Futurism (Christian eschatology), a product of the Counter-Reformation, was advanced beginning in the 16th century. This theory was developed by a Jesuit priest named Francisco Ribera in his 1585 treatise on the Apocalypse of John entitled In Sacrum Beati Ioannis Apostoli, & Evangelistiae Apocalypsin Commentarij. This view was then codified by St. Bellarmine, who gives in full the Catholic theory set forth by the Greek and Latin Fathers, of a personal Antichrist to come just before the end of the world and to be accepted by the Jews and enthroned in the temple at Jerusalem—thus endeavoring to dispose of the exposition which saw Antichrist in the pope. Bellarmine's interpretation, in modified form, is now accepted by most premillennial dispensationalists. [7]. The Leader of the Free Presbyterian Church, Ian Paisley, loudly denounced the then Pope, Pope John Paul II as the Antichrist when the pontiff was giving a speech at a sitting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg in 1988, when Paisley was an MEP

Titles in Scripture

In his thoroughly researched book, Things to Come, Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost cites a listing of names from another author, Arthur Pink:

"Many names and titles are given to this individual in the Scriptures. Arthur W. Pink gives a list of names that are applicable to him: The Bloody and Deceitful Man (Psalm 5:6), the Wicked One (Psalm 10:2-4), the Man of the Earth (Psalm 10:18), the Mighty Man (Psalm 52:1), the Enemy (Psalm 55:3), the Adversary (Psalm 74:8-10), the Head of Many Countries (Psalm 111:6), the Violent Man (Psalm 140:1, the Assyrian (Isaiah 10:5-12), the King of Babylon (Isaiah 14:2), the Sun of the Morning (Isaiah 14:12), the Spoiler (Isaiah 16:4-5; Jeremiah 6:26), the Nail (Isaiah 22:25), the Branch of the Terrible Ones (Isaiah 25:5), the Profane Wicked Prince of Israel (Ezekiel 21:25-27), the Little Horn (Daniel 7:8), the Prince that shall come (Daniel 9:26), the Vile Person (Daniel 11:21), the Wil(l)ful King (Daniel 11:36), the Idol Shepherd (Zechariah 11:16-17), the Man of Sin (2 Thessalonians 2:3), the Son of Perdition (2 Thessalonians 2:3), the Lawless One (2 Thessalonians 2:8), the Antichrist (1 John 2:22), the Angel of the Bottomless Pit (Revelation 9:11), the Beast (Revelation 11:7; 13:1)."

"To these could be added: The One Coming in His Own Name (John 5:43), the King of Fierce Countenance (Daniel 8:23), the Abomination of Desolation (Matthew 24:15), the Desolator (Daniel 9:27). It is thus possible to see how extensive the revelation concerning this individual is. It is not surprising, since this one is Satan's great masterpiece in the imitation of the program of God."

Contemporary Identification

Contemporary, conservative, Confessional Lutherans still hold that the pope is the Antichrist, insisting that this article of faith is part of a quia rather than quatenus subscription to the Book of Concord. In 1932, the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) adopted A Brief Statement of the Doctrinal Position of the Missouri Synod. Statement 43, Of the Antichrist:

43. As to the Antichrist we teach that the prophecies of the Holy Scriptures concerning the Antichrist, 2 Thess. 2:3-12; 1 John 2:18, have been fulfilled in the Pope of Rome and his dominion. All the features of the Antichrist as drawn in these prophecies, including the most abominable and horrible ones, for example, that the Antichrist "as God sitteth in the temple of God," 2 Thess. 2:4; that he anathematizes the very heart of the Gospel of Christ, that is, the doctrine of the forgiveness of sins by grace alone, for Christ's sake alone, through faith alone, without any merit or worthiness in man (Rom. 3:20-28; Gal. 2:16); that he recognizes only those as members of the Christian Church who bow to his authority; and that, like a deluge, he had inundated the whole Church with his antichristian doctrines till God revealed him through the Reformation -- these very features are the outstanding characteristics of the Papacy. (Cf. Smalcald Articles, Triglot, p. 515, Paragraphs 39-41; p. 401, Paragraph 45; M. pp. 336, 258.) Hence we subscribe to the statement of our Confessions that the Pope is "the very Antichrist." (Smalcald Articles, Triglot, p. 475, Paragraph 10; M., p. 308.) [8]

Revelation 13 contains a description of the Antichrist:

1. "And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy."

2. "And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority."

3. "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast."

4. "And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"

5. "And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months."

6. "And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven."

7. "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations."

8 ."And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (as per the King James Bible)

Some theorists attribute the wounding and resurgence in the third verse to the papacy, referring to General Louis Berthier's capture of Pope Pius VI in 1798 , and the pope's subsequent death in 1799 . Instead of reducing the power of the papacy, however, it grew and became the most influential political and religious power in the world. As another example, Gerard Bodson claims in his book "Cracking the Apocalypse Code" that this line refers to the defeat of Germany in World War I and its recovery under the Nazis. Germany is named as one of the heads of the beast (the other heads representing the other members of the Axis Powers: Italy, Japan, Finland, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary).

Unidentified sources near Pope John Paul II reported in 2003 that he considered that George W. Bush might be the Antichrist, and wished that he were younger and in better health to confront him..

Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, put forward the idea that the Antichrist may be the Secretary-General of the United Nations. LaHaye and Thomas Ice, have also suggested that the rise of militant Islam in the 21st century is a possible sign of the End Times. Islam in their view is the false religion and of the Antichrist, otherwise known as the False Prophet, although Muslims also believe in the false Messiah, known as Messiah Dajjal.

Some Philippine Protestant Churches and/or groups (example of which is the Kahayag Mission Group) consider the Mary of the various apparitions (e.g. Our Lady of Fatima) as the Antichrist.

While the Antichrist is not mentioned by any name or title in the Qur'an, Muslims believe that the false messiah or "Maseeh Dajjal" in Arabic (also called) " Awar Dajjal" and "The One Eyed Liar") will come to Earth with great power and that Muslims will stand up against him and will be the false messiah's sole enemy, until the return of Jesus Christ (which is the last sign mentioned in the Qur'an.

Jerry Falwell addressed a pastors' conference in January 1999 in a sermon on the Second Coming that the Antichrist was probably alive on earth, and certainly a Jewish male . He subsequently clarified that "[t]his is simply historic and prophetic Orthodox Christian doctrine" and had no anti-Semitic roots.

Conspiracy theorists have claimed that the immortal Count of Saint Germain is the Antichrist or somehow analogous to Lucifer.

The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, called himself the Antichrist. He even went as far as to write a book called The Antichrist. In his famous first book, The Birth of Tragedy, he wrote: "As a philologist and man of words, I baptized it, taking some liberties (for who knew the correct name for the Antichrist?), after the name of a Greek god: I called it the Dionysian."

José Luis de Jesús Miranda, a minister with a large Latin American following, claims not only to be God, but at the same time, the Antichrist. He claims that the Bible is mistranslated and that it really states that the Antichrist is Jesus Christ's replacement on Earth. De Jesus also preaches that sin and the devil do not exist and heaven can be found on Earth. He also has 666 tattooed on multiple places on his body.

In addition, certain occultists have proclaimed themselves to be the Antichrist, including John Whiteside Parsons. The Antichrist is a popular archetype for villainous behavior.

Bibliography

• Of Antichrist and His Ruin, John Bunyan, Diggory Press; Published in 1692, ISBN 978-1846857294 (http://acacia.pair.com/Acacia.John.Bunyan/Sermons.Allegories/Antichrist.Ruin/index.html)
• The Antichrist, Martin Luther, Diggory Press; 1535 (approximate), ISBN 978-1846858048

External links

• Encyclopaedia Britannica: Antichrist — full article
• Encyclopedia Britannica (1911): Antichrist
• Catholic Encyclopedia: Antichrist
• Jewish Encyclopedia: Antichrist
• Concordia Cyclopedia: Antichrist (page 1) (page 2)
• Lutheran Scholarly Works on the Antichrist
• Antichrist Network: featuring Apostles to the Antichrist
• The Insignificance of the Antichrist: Ignore the hype. In the Bible itself, the Antichrist is barely mentioned by Gregg Easterbrook
• Antichrist Revealed: Learn the identity of the Antichrist using both Biblical and Occult prophecy by Clinton Ortiz
• The Spirit of the Antichrist: A wolf in sheep's clothing