Who or What Is the Antichrist? A Reflection on the Biblical Teaching

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 10-24-19 | Msgr. Charles Pope

[Salvation]

Posted on October 24, 2019October 24, 2019 by Msgr. Charles Pope

Who or What Is the Antichrist? A Reflection on the Biblical Teaching

There is much lore about the antichrist (especially among certain Evangelicals) that is out of proportion to the attention Scripture pays to the concept, and more importantly is at possible variance from what is certainly taught. It easily becomes fodder for movies and novels: the antichrist figure steps on the scene, deceiving many, and mesmerizing the whole world with apparent miracles and a message of false peace.

But is this really what or whom the Scriptures call the antichrist? I would argue not, for in order to create such a picture one would have to splice in images from the Book of Revelation and the Letter to the Thessalonians that do not likely apply to antichrists.

In fact, the use of the term antichrist occurs only in the Johannine epistles. It does not occur in the Book of Revelation at all, though many have the mistaken idea that it does. There are plenty of beasts, dragons, harlots, demons, and satanic legions in Revelation, but no mention of antichrists.

Many also stitch the teaching about antichrists together with St. Paul’s teaching on the “man of lawlessness” (also called “the lawless one”) who is to appear just before the end. The lawless one may well be the stuff of movies, but calling him the antichrist may be to borrow too much from a concept that is more specific. While it is not inauthentic to make a connection between them (some of the Church Fathers seem to), it is not necessarily correct to do so.

In this reflection I take the position that it is improbable that the antichrist and the man of lawlessness are one and the same. In order to explain why, let’s first look at the occurrences of the term antichrist in St. John’s Epistles.

• • Little children, it is the last hour: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time (1 John 2:18).
  • Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son (1 John 2:22).
  • By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world (1 John 4:2–3).
  • Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist! (2 John 1:7)

Note two things about antichrists. First, St. John (writing in the first century) teaches that he has already appeared. In calling this the “last hour,” St. John and the Holy Spirit do not mean that the Second Coming will take place in the next sixty minutes or even in the next few years. Rather, the teaching is that we are in the Last Age, the Age of the Messiah (also called the Age of the Church), when God is sending out His angels to the four winds to gather all the elect from the ends of the earth (cf Mark 4:21). Sadly, St. John also teaches that the antichrist has already come as well.

Second, after saying that the antichrist has come, St. John immediately clarifies by saying that actually many antichrists have appeared.

Thus St. John does not seem to present the antichrist as a single figure who has come. Rather, he says that there are many antichrists.

And what do these antichrists do? They perpetrate heresy, error, and false teaching. St. John notes in particular that heretics who deny that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah) are antichrists. He also calls antichrists those who deny Christ having come in the flesh.

What does it mean to deny Christ having come in the flesh? It means reducing the saving work of God to mere appearances by claiming that Jesus did not actually take up a human nature but only appeared to do so. By extension, these same antichrists reduce the Christian moral and spiritual life to mere gnostic ideas rather than a true flesh-and-blood, body-and-soul change in our lives.

Many today extend these denials of the incarnation by undermining the historic authenticity of the Gospels, doubting or outright denying what Jesus actually said and did. Some of them say that Jesus’ resurrection was not a bodily one, but rather that His “ideas live on.” There can be no more fundamental heresy that to deny the bodily resurrection of Christ. As St. Paul says, And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain … if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins … [and] we are of all people most to be pitied (1 Cor 15:14-17).

Thus St. John, along with all the early Church, emphatically upholds an incarnational faith. We could actually touch our God and He touched us by taking up our human nature. He suffered on the cross and died. And though His suffering was tied to His human nature (for His divine nature is impassible), Jesus, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, hypostatically united to His human nature, suffered and died for us. It was this same human nature that God raised from the dead, gloriously transformed.

John takes up this theme elsewhere when he says that Christ came in water and in blood, not in water alone (cf 1 John 5:6). A certain heretic of that time, Cerinthus, held that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity departed just before Jesus’ passion. John refutes this, insisting that just as at His baptism Jesus’ divine nature was affirmed (This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased), so also was it affirmed during the shedding of His blood on Calvary (the inspired word of God records the centurion, on seeing the manner of Jesus’ death, saying, Surely this was the Son of God (Mat 27:54)). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, though of two natures, is one person, and He did in fact die suffer and die for us.

Thus to St. John, the essence of the antichrist is denial that Jesus came in the flesh. An antichrist is one who would relegate Jesus’ presence among us to mere appearances or His teachings to mere abstractions or ideals rather than transformative realities.

By extension, it can be argued that the term antichrist refers to all deceivers, though only logically, not specifically in the text. St. John does not indicate that he means the term antichrist this broadly, but in a wider sense all heresy pertains to the antichrist because Jesus Christ is the truth. Jesus teaches through His apostles that to deny the truth is to deny Christ Himself; it is to deny truth itself and thus to be an antichrist.

So perhaps this is not fodder for movies and novels after all; sorry! And that’s a shame because the term antichrist is so catchy! This brings us to a discussion of the man of lawlessness (or the lawless one).

What or who is the man of lawlessness whom St. Paul mentions and how is he related to the antichrist? As I stated above, I do not think there is a connection. To see why, let’s consider what St. Paul teaches:

• • As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the Man of lawlessness is revealed, the one destined for destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:1–4).
  • For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who now restrains it is removed. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved (2 Thessalonians 2:7–10).

Note the following crucial differences between antichrists and the lawless one:

1. John speaks of antichrists in the plural whereas St. Paul speaks in the singular: the man of lawlessness or the lawless one.
2. The lawless one’s deceptions are rather general (every kind of wicked deception), whereas deceptions of antichrists are more specifically related to denying the incarnation of the Son of God.

Jesus also speaks of those who will lead many astray, though He speaks of them in the plural and is likely referring to occurrences in the first century during the time leading up to the war with the Romans in 70 A.D: For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect (Matthew 24:24).

As you can see, there are a lot of moving parts here as well as a lot of singulars and plurals to sort out and time frames to consider. Permit me the following conclusions:

1. Antichrist is a more restrictive term than most people today think. While the antichrist is not a single person but rather any number of persons, the concept of antichrists seems limited to those who deny that Jesus is the Christ, come in the flesh. However, the term can possibly be applied to heretics in general.
2. Jesus warns of false prophets and messiahs, but the context of His warning seems to be the first century and the looming destruction of Jerusalem not the end times per se. Further, He speak of many false prophets, not a single one.
3. It is the man of lawlessness spoken of by St. Paul that most fits the charismatic figure of our “movie script,” a person able to unite the world in a false peace by mesmerizing and deceiving the nations. This lawless one will signal the end times. While I am not saying that these are the end times, I will note that the advent of instant, worldwide communication has made things easier than ever before for the lawless one. One individual actually could mesmerize and deceive all the nations—right on the worldwide web!

All that said, I believe that equating this lawless one with one of the beasts of Revelation or with the antichrist may be too speculative, and possibly inaccurate.

I hope I haven’t toyed with your “movie script” too much, but Scripture is nuanced in these matters and we do well to avoid reducing its teachings to popular concepts and catchy notions.

Scripture does speak to us of the end times and of difficult times preceding them, but the information is often given in general, even cryptic, terms. It is as if Scripture wants to tell us to be ready and to let us know that we don’t need to (and shouldn’t want to) know all the details. Just be ready, and when those times set in remember that Christ has already won the battle. Viva Christo Rey!

[Religion Moderator]

Do NOT call other posteers names in the Religion Forum.

And for that matter, do not do it on Free Republic ever.

[Religion Moderator]

Discuss the issues, do not make it personal.

[MHGinTN]

Read the 15th chpter f Acts, read what ‘ seemed good to the Holy Spirit’ to avoid. Two of the namef things to avoid are central to Catholic sacramental worship. One of the hallmarks of your Eucharist is a direct disobedience to a command from The God.

[fproy2222]

Sorry, I took this personal and did not control my anger::::

your Mormon religion as from God. Well, maybe you ... Moronic Mormonic godhood.

16 posted on 10/25/2019, 2:17:37 PM by MHGinTN (A dispensation perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)

:::::I will work to do better next time.

Fred

[cloudmountain]

Read the 15th chpter f Acts, read what ‘ seemed good to the Holy Spirit’ to avoid. Two of the namef things to avoid are central to Catholic sacramental worship. One of the hallmarks of your Eucharist is a direct disobedience to a command from The God.

IMHO and with respect you are 100% incorrect. But, that's okay. The Blessed Eucharist is CENTRAL to the Mass, which is the celebration of the Last Supper performed in the MASS for the last 2000 (minus 33) years. How could anyone NOT understand Jesus' command to His Apostles at the Last Supper: "Do this in remembrance of me"?
The Catholic Church has been around 2000 years and, if Jesus keeps His promise, will be around forever.

However, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. I do find it difficult to understand how you can possibly imagine that the Church Jesus' began was so erroneous. He wouldn't have made mistakes.
You wouldn't even HAVE a Bible unless it weren't for those ancient Catholics.
It took an excommunicated Catholic priest to begin the Protestant movement. And, if that movement were so true why are there 30,000+ DIFFERENT Protestant denominations? I kind of doubt that Father Martin Luther intended that. He HAD been a most brilliant theologian for the Church and was a good, holy man and priest.
Water under the bridge.

There is a program on T.V. called EWTN, [Started by the nun Mother Angelica.] the Eternal Word Television Network. They have a program called THE JOURNEY HOME. It's about people who have returned to the Catholic Church. It has all kinds of people on it and it's most interesting...for anyone.

Pax tibi. [Peace be with you.]

[MHGinTN]

"The Blessed Eucharist is CENTRAL to the Mass, which is the celebration of the Last Supper performed in the MASS for the last 2000 (minus 33) years." You are mistaken, by conflating the Remembrance with the man-made false religion eating of the body, blood, soul and DIVINITY of Jesus at the Catholic altars. God forbade the eating of blood, in several places in the OT and even in the fifteenth chapter of Acts letter to the new Gentile believers. Have you missed the portion where James states and the letter confirms that it seemed Good to the HOLY SPIRIT to abstain form foods sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from sexcual immorality? The Catholic Eucharist is blasphemous and was not practiced by the Apostles.

[cloudmountain]

The Church interprets the Bible, NOT you.
So sorry.

[MHGinTN]

The Word of God 'interprets' itself. The Bible is its own best commentary. I am a part of the church, the One True Ekklesia of believers since Pentecost. You conflate the word church mixing meanings to cofuse the Truth which The word of God declares.

I have sent to you an freepmail, but it is clear it should be made public following your dodge.

[MHGinTN]

To cloudmountain | 10/28/2019 11:25:35 AM PDT sent
Until the Day of Pentecost preaching by Peter and the Holy Spirit coming into the spirit of believers there, all you read of regarding Jesus is part of the Old Testament agenda. Until the stoning of Stephen, the Kingdom Age was possible, but with the rejection of The Messiah finalized in the leaders of the Jews rejecting the reality of Messiah STANDING at the throne of God when Stephen was given sight into the Throne Room of The Almighty.

The commandments from God to the Jewish peoples were ALL in force on the night before Jesus went to the cross. IF Jesus had fed ANY blood to those Jewish men during the Passover meal and sanctification He would violate the commands of God and be unfit for the sacrifice on the Cross. Jesus Himself calls the contents of the cup wine, and said to them that He would not drink it again until He drinks it with them in the Kingdom. JESUS as God with us would never contradict His nature of righteousness.

[ealgeone]

+1

[caww]

You state...”The Church interprets the Bible”....

No it does not...As Christians the indwelling Spirit this His work...and is the same Spirit of Truth who was promised by Jesus to teach His disciples all things, bring to their remembrance all that he had said, guide them into all truth, and declare the things to come (John 14:26; 16:13).

So believers are presumed to be taught the truth by Him and therefore know the truth, understand it well enough to believe it, and understand the significance of it so that they can follow it.

Additionally as a person grows and is sanctified by the Spirit, as He uses the word, the Spirit guides him to understand and apply truth... While the believer is not promised infallible interpretive abilities, the Spirit does work in his life to have the capacity for the proper presuppositions needed to rightly interpret, embrace, understand, and apply Scripture.

[MHGinTN]

Rev20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and Him who is sitting upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven did flee away, and place was not found for them; 12 and I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and scrolls were opened, and another scroll was opened, which is that of the life, and the dead were judged out of the things written in the scrolls — according to their works; 13 and the sea did give up those dead in it, and the death and the hades did give up the dead in them, and they were judged, each one according to their works; 14 and the death and the hades were cast to the lake of the fire — this [is] the second death; 15 and if any one was not found written in the scroll of the life, he was cast to the lake of the fire.

From the previous passages we know the lake of fire is an eternal torment those cast into it are conscious of. Here in Rev 20:11-15 we see that those not written in the Lambs Book of Life are cast into this eternal torment. THIS IS WHY the Gospel of God's Grace is so Great a Gift, for it removes the stain and power of sin and gives to each believer the gift of eternal life never to be cast into the lake of fire.

[Iscool]

How could anyone NOT understand Jesus' command to His Apostles at the Last Supper: "Do this in remembrance of me"?

Do what in remembrance of me?

Luk 22:16  For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 
Luk 22:17  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 
Luk 22:18  For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
  Luk 22:19  And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 

Do what in remembrance of me?

1Co 11:23  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 
1Co 11:24  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 

Do what in remembrance of me?

1Co_11:25  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

Do what in remembrance of me?

Break bread and eat it which represents Jesus' broken body on the Cross...And then,
pass around some 'fruit of the vine' and drink it in remembrance of Jesus' shed blood on the Cross...

Any thing beyond that is a fantasy made up by your religion to keep you under bondage to your religion...There is no priest calling Jesus down from heaven...Jesus does not turn into your Eucharist...There is no sacrifice made or offered up...

You wouldn't even HAVE a Bible unless it weren't for those ancient Catholics.

That's pure ignorance...Was Moses a Catholic, Isaiah???

The Catholic Church has been around 2000 years and, if Jesus keeps His promise, will be around forever.

It will be around til the end of the Tribulation when Jesus will obliterate it...

[MHGinTN]

Amen and amen

[boatbums]

Here's some information you really ought to read:

Unsound Sticks, or, Arguments Catholics Shouldn't Use

[Religion Moderator]

Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.

[Religion Moderator]

Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.

[fproy2222]

Sorry, I lost my tempet after ‘being made person on’

“When a self-made-wiseman needs”

[Religion Moderator]

Do not take a generalization personally.

If you lose your temper while posting in the RF of FR, step away from the keyboard; do NOT post.