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I pretty much agree with Fruchtenbaum that the AntiChrist may probably be known by most dispensationalists prior to the rapture — assuming a short gap between the Rapture and the Treaty.
I have seen some comments attributed to some of the 1st Protestant Reformers that stated the papacy was the ‘seat of Antichrist’ and the Pope(s), Antichrist.
They said that before the world had ever heard of the Roman Pope Gregory (Gregorian) Calendar.
Daniel 7:25
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Rome’s papacy and pope(s) have changed times and laws.
And the 1st Reformers didn’t really know about the ‘times’ part yet when they made their comments because the calendar wasn’t created until some of the Reformers had already died.
Not an ecumenical positon at all!
The Reformers were pretty much lost when it came to eschatology. Luther wanted to dismiss athe Book of Revelation. And for someone to call the Pope the AntiChrist is akin to conservatives calling Obama the AntiChrist. There was really no support for that viewpoint.
Today, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and Reformed theology have strayed quite a bit. Most don’t believe in a literal return of Christ. Instead, they will minimize the Second Coming with an argument that Jesus already reigns in our hearts.
They will then add that we need to institute His kingdom on Earth and make it a better place through being tolerant, instituting liberal social justice policies, ecumenism, etc.
Pastor Bill and most of the posters on this thread are fortunately dispensationalists who expect a literal return of Christ and a literal millenium.