Antichrist

an adversary to Christ

Against Christ, or an opposition Christ, a rival Christ. The word is used only by the apostle John. Referring to false teachers, he says (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7), "Even now are there many antichrists."

(1.) This name has been applied to the "little horn" of the "king of fierce countenance" (Dan. 7:24, 25; 8:23-25).

(2.) It has been applied also to the "false Christs" spoken of by our Lord (Matthew 24:5, 23, 24).

(3.) To the "man of sin" described by Paul (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 8-10).

(4.) And to the "beast from the sea" (Revelation 13:1; 17:1-18).

(n.) An enemy or opponent of Christ. Specif.: A great antagonist, person or power, expected to precede Christ's second coming.ANTICHRIST

an'-ti-krist (antichristos):

I. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

II. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

1. The Gospels

2. Pauline Epistles

3. Johannine Epistles

4. Book of Revelation

III. IN APOCALYPTIC WRITINGS

IV. IN PATRISTIC WRITINGS

V. MEDIAEVAL VIEWS

1. Christian

2. Jewish VI. POST-REFORMATION VIEWS

LITERATURE

The word "antichrist" occurs only in 1 John 2:18, 22; 1 John 4:3 2 John 1:7, but the idea which the word conveys appears frequently in Scripture.

I. In the Old Testament.

Antichrist in the Old Testament:

As in the Old Testament the doctrine concerning Christ was only suggested, not developed, so is it with the doctrine of the Antichrist. That the Messiah should be the divine Logos, the only adequate expression of God, was merely hinted at, not stated: so Antichrist was exhibited as the opponent of God rather than of His anointed. In the historical books of the Old Testament we find "Belial" used as if a personal opponent of Yahweh; thus the scandalously wicked are called in the King James Version "sons of Belial" (Judges 19:22; Judges 20:13), "daughter of Belial" (1 Samuel 1:16), etc. The the Revised Version (British and American) translates the expression in an abstract sense, "base fellows," "wicked woman." In Daniel 7:7, 8 there is the description of a great heathen empire, represented by a beast with ten horns: its full antagonism to God is expressed in a little eleventh horn which had "a mouth speaking great things" and "made war with the saints" (Daniel 7:8, 21). Him the `Ancient of Days' was to destroy, and his kingdom was to be given to a `Son of Man' (Daniel 7:9-14). Similar but yet differing in many points is the description of Antiochus Epiphanes in Daniel 8:9-12, 23-25.

II. In the New Testament.

1. The Gospels:

In the Gospels the activity of Satan is regarded as specially directed against Christ. In the Temptation (Matthew 4:1-10 Luke 4:1-13) the Devil claims the right to dispose of "all the kingdoms of the world," and has his claim admitted. The temptation is a struggle between the Christ and the Antichrist. In the parable of the Tares and the Wheat, while He that sowed the good seed is the Son of Man, he that sowed the tares is the Devil, who is thus Antichrist (Matthew 13:37-39). our Lord felt it the keenest of insults that His miracles should be attributed to Satanic assistance (Matthew 12:24-32). In John 14:30 there is reference to the "Prince of the World" who "hath nothing" in Christ.

2. Pauline Epistles:

The Pauline epistles present a more developed form of the doctrine. In the spiritual sphere Paul identifies Antichrist with Belial. "What concord hath Christ with Belial?" (2 Corinthians 6:15). 2 Thessalonians, written early, affords evidence of a considerably developed doctrine being commonly accepted among believers. The exposition of 2 Thessalonians 2:3-9, in which Paul exhibits his teaching on the `Man of Sin,' is very difficult, as may be seen from the number of conflicting attempts at its interpretation. See MAN OF SIN. Here we would only indicate what seems to us the most plausible view of the Pauline doctrine. It had been revealed to the apostle by the Spirit that the church was to be exposed to a more tremendous assault than any it had yet witnessed. Some twelve years before the epistle was penned, the Roman world had seen in Caligula the portent of a mad emperor. Caligula had claimed to be worshipped as a god, and had a temple erected to him in Rome. He went farther, and demanded that his own statue should be set up in the temple at Jerusalem to be worshipped. As similar causes might be expected to produce similar effects, Paul, interpreting "what the Spirit that was in him did signify," may have thought of a youth, one reared in the purple, who, raised to the awful, isolating dignity of emperor, might, like Caligula, be struck with madness, might, like him, demand Divine honors, and might be possessed with a thirst for blood as insatiable as his. The fury of such an enthroned maniac would, with too great probability, be directed against those who, like the Christians, would refuse as obstinately as the Jews to give him Divine honor, but were not numerous enough to make Roman officials pause before proceeding to extremities. So long as Claudius lived, the Antichrist manifestation of this "lawless one" was restrained; when, however, the aged emperor should pass away, or God's time should appoint, that "lawless one" would be revealed, whom the Lord would "slay with the breath of his mouth" (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

3. Johannine Epistles:

Although many of the features of the "Man of Sin" were exhibited by Nero, yet the Messianic kingdom did not come, nor did Christ return to His people at Nero's death. Writing after Nero had fallen, the apostle John, who, as above remarked, alone of the New Testament writers uses the term, presents us with another view of Antichrist (1 John 2:18, 22; 1 John 4:3 2 John 1:7). From the first of these passages ("as ye have heard that antichrist cometh"), it is evident that the coming of Antichrist was an event generally anticipated by the Christian community, but it is also clear that the apostle shared to but a limited extent in this popular expectation. He thought the attention of believers needed rather to be directed to the antichristian forces that were at work among and around them ("even now have. arisen many antichrists"). From 1 John 2:22; 1 John 4:3 2 John 1:7 we see that the apostle regards erroneous views of the person of Christ as the real Antichrist. To him the Docetism (i.e. the doctrine that Christ's body was only a seeming one) which portended Gnosticism, and the elements of Ebionism (Christ was only a man), were more seriously to be dreaded than persecution.

4. Book of Revelation:

In the Book of Revelation the doctrine of Antichrist receives a further development. If the traditional date of the Apocalypse is to be accepted, it was written when the lull which followed the Neronian persecution had given place to that under Domitian-"the bald Nero." The apostle now feels the whole imperial system to be an incarnation of the spirit of Satan; indeed from the identity of the symbols, seven heads and ten horns, applied both to the dragon (Revelation 12:3) and to the Beast (Revelation 13:1), he appears to have regarded the raison d`etre of the Roman Empire to be found in its incarnation of Satan. The ten horns are borrowed from Daniel 7, but the seven heads point, as seen from Revelation 17:9, to the "seven hills" on which Rome sat. There is, however, not only the Beast, but also the "image of the beast" to be considered (Revelation 13:14, 15). Possibly this symbolizes the cult of Rome, the city being regarded as a goddess, and worshipped with temples and statues all over the empire.

From the fact that the seer endows the Beast that comes out of the earth with "two horns like unto a lamb" (Revelation 13:11), the apostle must have had in his mind some system of teaching that resembled Christianity; its relationship to Satan is shown by its speaking "as a dragon" (Revelation 13:11). The number 666 given to the Beast (Revelation 13:18), though presumably readily understood by the writer's immediate public, has proved a riddle capable of too many solutions to be now readily soluble at all. The favorite explanation Neron Qecar (Nero Caesar), which suits numerically, becomes absurd when it implies the attribution of seven heads and ten horns. There is no necessity to make the calculation in Hebrew; the corresponding arithmogram in the Sib Or, 1 32830, in which 888 stands for Iesous, is interpreted in Greek. On this hypothesis Lateinos, a suggestion preserved by Irenaeus (V, 30) would suit. If we follow the analogy of Daniel, which has influenced the Apocalyptist so much, the Johannine Antichrist must be regarded as not a person but a kingdom. In this case it must be the Roman Empire that is meant.

III. In Apocalyptic Writings.

Antichrist in the Apocalyptic Writings:

Although from their eschatological bias one would expect that the Jewish Apocalyptic Writings would be full of the subject, mention of the Antichrist occurs only in a few of the apocalypses. The earliest certain notice is found in the Sibylline books (1 167). We are there told that "Beliar shall come and work wonders," and "that he shall spring from the Sebasteni (Augusti)" a statement which, taken with other indications, inclines one to the belief that the mad demands of Caligula, were, when this was written, threatening the Jews. There are references to Beliar in the XII the Priestly Code (P), which, if the date ascribed to them by Dr. Charles, i.e. the reign of John Hyrcanus I, be assumed as correct, are earlier. Personally we doubt the accuracy of this conclusion. Further, as Dr. Charles admits the presence of many interpolations, even though one might assent to his opinions as to the nucleus of the XII the Priestly Code (P), yet these Beliar passages might be due to the interpolator. Only in one passage is "Beliar" antichristos as distinguished from antitheos; Daniel 5:10, 11 (Charles' translation), "And there shall rise unto you from the tribe of Judah and of Levi the salvation of the Lord, and he shall make war against Beliar, and execute everlasting vengeance on our enemies, and the captivity shall he take from Beliar and turn disobedient hearts unto the Lord." Dr. Charles thinks he finds an echo of this last clause in Luke 1:17; but may the case not be the converse?

The fullest exposition of the ideas associated with the antichrist in the early decades of Christian history is to be found in the Ascension of Isaiah. In this we are told that "Beliar" (Belial) would enter into "the matricide king" (Nero), who would work great wonders, and do much evil. After the termination of 1,332 days during which he has persecuted the plant which the twelve apostles of the Beloved have planted, "the Lord will come with his angels and with armies of his holy ones from the seventh heaven, with the glory of the seventh heaven, and he will drag Beliar into Gehenna and also his armies" (Daniel 4:3, 13, Charles' translation). If the date at which Beliar was supposed to enter into Nero was the night on which the great fire in Rome began, then the space of power given to him is too short by 89 days. From the burning of Rome till Nero's death was 1,421 days. It is to be noted that there are no signs of the writer having been influenced either by Paul or the Apocalypse. As he expected the coming of the Lord to be the immediate cause of the death of Nero, we date the writing some months before that event. It seems thus to afford contemporary and independent evidence of the views entertained by the Christian community as to Antichrist.

IV. In Patristic Writings.

Patristic References to Antichrist:

Of the patristic writers, Polycarp is the only one of the Apostolic Fathers who refers directly to Antichrist. He quotes John's words, "Whosoever doth not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is Antichrist" (7), and regards Docetism as Antichrist in the only practical sense. Barnabas, although not using the term, implies that the fourth empire of Daniel is Antichrist; this he seems to identify with the Roman Empire (4:5). Irenaeus is the first-known writer to occupy himself with the number of the Beast. While looking with some favor on Lateinos, he himself prefers Teitan as the name intended (5:30). His view is interesting as showing the belief that the arithmogram was to be interpreted by the Greek values of the letters. More particulars as to the views prevailing can be gleaned from Hippolytus, who has a special work on the subject, in which he exhibits the points of resemblance between Christ and Antichrist (On Christ and Antichrist, 40.140.15. 19.25). In this work we find the assertion that Antichrist springs from the terms of Jacob's blessing to Dan. Among other references, the idea of Commodian (250 A.D.) that Nero risen from the dead was to be Antichrist has to be noticed. In the commentary on Revelation attributed to Victorinus of Petau there is, inserted by a later hand, an identification of Genseric with the "Beast" of that book. It is evident that little light is to be gained on the subject from patristic sources.

V. Medieval Views.

Much time need not be spent on the medieval views of Antichrist in either of the two streams in which it flowed, Christian and Jewish.

1. Christian:

The Christian was mainly occupied in finding methods of transforming the names of those whom monkish writers abhorred into a shape that would admit of their being reckoned 666. The favorite name for this species of torture was naturally Maometis (Mohammed). Gregory IX found no difficulty in accommodating the name of Frederic II so as to enable him to identify his great antagonist with "the beast coming up out of the sea": this identification the emperor retorted on the pope. Rabanus Maurus gives a full account of what Antichrist was to do, but without any attempt to label any contemporary with the title. He was to work miracles and to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem. The view afterward so generally held by Protestants that the papacy was Antichrist had its representatives among the sects denounced by the hierarchy as heretical, as the Kathari. In various periods the rumor was spread that Antichrist had been already born. Sometimes his birthplace was said to be Babylon, sometimes this distinction was accorded to the mystical Babylon, Rome.

2. Jewish:

The Jewish views had little effect on Christian speculation. With the Talmudists Antichrist was named Armilus, a variation of Romulus. Rome is evidently primarily intended, but Antichrist became endowed with personal attributes. He makes war on Messiah, son of Joseph, and slays him, but is in turn destroyed by Messiah, Son of David.

VI. Post-Reformation Views.

Post-Reformation Theories of Antichrist:

In immediately post-Reformation times the divines of the Romish church saw in Luther and the Reformed churches the Antichrist and Beast of Revelation. On the other hand the Protestants identified the papacy and the Roman church with these, and with the Pauline Man of Sin. The latter view had a certain plausibility, not only from the many undeniably antichristian features in the developed Roman system, but from the relation in which the Romish church stood to the city of Rome and to the imperial idea. The fact that the Beast which came out of the earth (Revelation 13:11) had the horns of a lamb points to some relation to the lamb which had been slain (Revelation 5:6). Futurist interpreters have sought the Antichrist in historical persons, as Napoleon III. These persons, however, did not live to realize the expectations formed of them. The consensus of critical opinion is that Nero is intended by the Beast of the Apocalypse, but this, on many grounds, as seen before, is not satisfactory. Some future development of evil may more exactly fulfill the conditions of the problem.

LITERATURE.

Bousset, Der Antichrist; "The Antichrist Legend," The Expositor T, contains an admirable vidimus of ancient authorities in the subject. See articles on subject in Schenkel's Biblical Lex. (Hausrath); Herzog's RE, 2nd edition (Kahler), 3rd edition (Sieffert); Encyclopedia Biblica (Bousset); with Commentaries on 2Th and Revelation. A full account of the interpretations of the "Man of Sin" may be seen in Dr. John Eadie's essay on that subject in his Commentary on Thessalonians.

J. E. H. Thomson

500. antichristos -- antichrist, (one who opposes Christ)
... antichrist, (one who opposes Christ). Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
antichristos Phonetic Spelling: (an-tee'-khris-tos) Short Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/500.htm - 7k

1136. Gog -- Gog, associated with Magog
... Gog. Of Hebrew origin (Gowg); Gog, a symbolic name for some future Antichrist --
Gog. see HEBREW Gowg. (gog) -- 1 Occurrence. 1135, 1136. Gog. 1137 . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1136.htm - 6k

1238. diadema -- a diadem, a crown
... used three times in the NT -- referring to: a) the pagan empires of ancient history
which God (Rev 12:3); b) the end-times coalition led by Antichrist (Rev 13:1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1238.htm - 7k

4932. suntemno -- to cut in pieces
... This refers to God accomplishing His plan for the nation (land) of Israel
and its people -- for Antichrist has to ravage the Jews. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4932.htm - 7k

2 John 1:7
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
Topicalbible.org

1 John 4:3
And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Topicalbible.org

1 John 2:22
Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son.
Topicalbible.org

1 John 2:18
Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Topicalbible.org

2 Thessalonians 2:4
Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Topicalbible.org

Revelation 19:20
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that worked miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Topicalbible.org

Luke 21:8
And he said, Take heed that you be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draws near: go you not therefore after them.
Topicalbible.org

Mark 13:22
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Topicalbible.org

Matthew 24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Topicalbible.org

Matthew 24:5
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Topicalbible.org

The Antichrist
The Antichrist. <. The Antichrist Arthur W. Pink. Table of Contents. Title
Page. Foreword. Introduction. The Papacy Not the Antichrist. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/

The Antichrist
The Antichrist. <. ... Names And Titles of the Antichrist 1. The Antichrist.
"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/1 the antichrist.htm

Antichrist in Jeremiah
The Antichrist. <. ... The Antichrist in the Prophets 2. Antichrist
in Jeremiah. In the 4th chapter of this prophet there ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/2 antichrist in jeremiah.htm

Antichrist in Isaiah
The Antichrist. <. ... The Antichrist in the Prophets 1. Antichrist in Isaiah.
A brief notice is taken of the Man of Sin in chapter 16. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/1 antichrist in isaiah.htm

The Antichrist Will be a Jew
The Antichrist. <. ... The Person of the Antichrist I. The Antichrist
Will Be a Jew. The Antichrist will be a Jew, though ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/i the antichrist will be.htm

The Antichrist in the Prophets
The Antichrist. <. ... The Antichrist in the Prophets. The references to the
Antichrist in the Prophets are numerous; nor is this to be wondered at. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/the antichrist in the prophets.htm

The Person of the Antichrist
The Antichrist. <. ... The Person of the Antichrist. In our last chapter
we pointed out how that the Antichrist is not a system ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/the person of the antichrist.htm

Antichrist in Ezekiel
The Antichrist. <. ... The Antichrist in the Prophets 3. Antichrist in Ezekiel.
We shall notice here but two passages in this prophet. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/3 antichrist in ezekiel.htm

Antichrist in Daniel
The Antichrist. <. ... The Antichrist in the Prophets 4. Antichrist in Daniel.
It is here that we find the fullest description of the Man of Sin. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/4 antichrist in daniel.htm

Antichrist in the Psalms
The Antichrist. <. ... Antichrist in the Psalms. The references to
the Man of Sin in the book of Psalms are, for the most ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/antichrist in the psalms .htm

Antichrist (4 Occurrences)
... Christ's second coming. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ANTICHRIST.
an'-ti-krist (antichristos): I. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT II. IN THE NEW ...
/a/antichrist.htm - 26k

Man (26072 Occurrences)
... A designation of Antichrist given in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10, usually regarded as
descriptive of the Papal power; but "in whomsoever these distinctive features ...
/m/man.htm - 56k

Parousia
... Above all there is to be an outburst of diabolic malevolence in the antichrist
(1 John 2:18, 22; John 4:3 2 John 1:7 2 Thessalonians 2:8-10; Revelation 19:19 ...
/p/parousia.htm - 36k

Sin (782 Occurrences)
... not know" the future), but represents a speculation of the apostle's own, based
on Daniel 8:23;; 11:36;, and on current ideas of Antichrist (see ANTICHRIST...
/s/sin.htm - 82k

Perdition (14 Occurrences)
... The Son of Perdition is a name given to Judas (John 17:12) and to the Antichrist
(2 Thessalonians 2:3). This is the well-known Hebrew idiom by which a person ...
/p/perdition.htm - 14k

Belial (23 Occurrences)
... Afterward, however, "Belial" became a proper name for Satan, or for Antichrist
(thus frequently in the Jewish Apocalyptic writings, eg in XII the Priestly Code ...
/b/belial.htm - 16k

Confess (65 Occurrences)
... 1 John 4:3 and every spirit who doesn't confess that Jesus Christ has come in the
flesh is not of God, and this is the spirit of the Antichrist, of whom you ...
/c/confess.htm - 26k

Lying (203 Occurrences)
... It is the Antichrist who denies that there is a Christ; the false Christ
affirms himself to be the Christ. Of course there is a ...
/l/lying.htm - 44k

Gnosticism
... 2. 1 Corinthians: "Knowledge" at Corinth 3. Pastoral Epistles 4. 1 John (1) Gnostic
Claims (2) Its Loveless Nature (3) Docetism (4) The Antichrist (5) Its ...
/g/gnosticism.htm - 38k

Lie (291 Occurrences)
... It is the Antichrist who denies that there is a Christ; the false Christ
affirms himself to be the Christ. Of course there is a ...
/l/lie.htm - 48k

Antichrist (4 Occurrences)

1 John 2:18 Little children, these are the end times, and as you heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen. By this we know that it is the final hour.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 John 2:22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 John 4:3 and every spirit who doesn't confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God, and this is the spirit of the Antichrist, of whom you have heard that it comes. Now it is in the world already.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 John 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don't confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Antichrist

Antichrist: Deceit, a Characteristic of

Antichrist: Denies the Father and the Son

Antichrist: Denies the Incarnation of Christ

Antichrist: General Scriptures Concerning

Antichrist: Spirit of, Prevalent in Apostolic Times

Antichrist: To be Destroyed

Man (26072 Occurrences)

Parousia

Sin (782 Occurrences)

Perdition (14 Occurrences)

Belial (23 Occurrences)

Confess (65 Occurrences)

Lying (203 Occurrences)

Gnosticism

Lie (291 Occurrences)

Johannine

Nero

Youths (28 Occurrences)

Liar (18 Occurrences)

Lod (4 Occurrences)

Lawless (16 Occurrences)

Lydda (3 Occurrences)

Whereby (46 Occurrences)

Final (16 Occurrences)

Deceivers (5 Occurrences)

Deceiver (9 Occurrences)

Denies (6 Occurrences)

Denieth (5 Occurrences)

Denying (11 Occurrences)

Mauzzim

Confesseth (4 Occurrences)

Confessing (15 Occurrences)

Antichrists (1 Occurrence)

Armageddon (1 Occurrence)

Arisen (24 Occurrences)

Anti-christ (4 Occurrences)

Eschatology

Zoroastrianism

Anthropomorphism

Whereof (94 Occurrences)

Tabeel (2 Occurrences)

Mouth (534 Occurrences)

Astray (116 Occurrences)

Whence (84 Occurrences)

Belief (61 Occurrences)

Leading (101 Occurrences)

Theology

Mark (182 Occurrences)

Premillennial

Teachers (87 Occurrences)

Mystery (31 Occurrences)

Millennium

Revelation (52 Occurrences)

Subapostolic

Sub-apostolic

Teacher (103 Occurrences)

Epistles (2 Occurrences)

John (154 Occurrences)

View (86 Occurrences)

Literature (2 Occurrences)

Hour (124 Occurrences)

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