ANTICHRIST (2)

THE NAMES OF ANTICHRIST IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

As far as it is possible to determine, eight designations are given to this adversary of the end time. In Matthew he is referred to as "the abomination of desolation" (Matt. 24:15), though more specifically this probably denotes his image, and as a "false Christ" (Matt. 24:24). In John's gospel he is probably referred to as "the one coming in his own name" (John 5:43). Paul refers to him as "that man of sin," or perhaps better as "the lawless one" (2 Thess. 2:3), and as "the son of perdition" (2 Thess. 2:3). The name "Antichrist" appears in the epistles of John (1 John 2:18; 2 John 7), and the name "beast" in the Revelation (11:7; 13:2). According to Pink at least 22 names appear in the Old Testament. Others still supply additional names from the Scripture.

THE PERSONALITY AND GENIUS OF THIS MAN

The greatest person ever to appear in the earth, save one, the Lord Jesus Christ, is yet to come. The great saints of the world such as Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Elijah, Daniel, and Paul fall in the class of holy men, and their greatness belongs to an entirely different sphere. This man will rise head and shoulders above men in general, calculated to earn him the designation of superman, in fact the worship that belongs to deity. His appearance on the scene, his rise to power, his genius as a military leader, and his exploits will be nothing short of spectacular, colossal, supernatural.

1.                  He will be different from all other men, so different that the peoples will be saying, "Who is like unto the beast" (Rev. 13:4). In his qualities for kingship he exhibits ability to suffer a death stroke and experience some sort of miraculous healing, producing wonder in the multitudes of earth and eliciting their worship (Rev. 13:3-4). With this sort of leader at the head, his kingdom differs from all other kingdoms.

2.                  This man will possess an amazingly high degree of intelligence. His number is the nearest approach to perfection that man can reach, which is 666 (Rev. 13:18). For the trinity of holiness the number is 777. For the trinity of evil it is 666. He rises up out of the sea of nations (Rev. 13:1). He demonstrates his ability among ten kings, so that they decide to give their power into his hands (Rev. 17:13). Satan recognizes his qualifications for leadership and gives to him "his power and his seat, and his authority" (Rev. 13:2). He is able to attract the services of an able man to serve as his premier and publicity agent, the false prophet (Rev. 13:11-17).

3.  Antichrist turns out to be a great orator and demagogue. He is described as having a "mouth as the mouth of a lion" (Rev. 13:2), suggesting the regal authority with which he speaks. The content of his speaking is "great things" (Rev. 13:5), which may describe the amazing ability he has to handle a wide range of subjects with facility. It seems evident that blasphemy against God, Christ, the saints, and the church will characterize most of his speech. "Upon his heads the name of blasphemy" appear (Rev. 13:1). "There was given unto him a mouth speaking . . . blasphemies" (Rev. 13:5). "And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven" (Rev. 13:6). Inasmuch as he comes in his own name (John 5:43), the claims for himself will constitute a large part of his public utterance.

4.  It seems to be a valid conclusion that this man is a philosopher of some distinction. The "great things" uttered by his mouth surely point in this direction (Rev. 13:5). He appears on the scene in the wake of a great religious rebellion (2 Thess. 2:3). The motivating force of this rebellion is the philosophy of pantheism which prepares the way for the rejection of all thought of the supernatural as in anyway transcendent to this world and inculcates the doctrine of the unity of human and divine. Upon this background he is able to promote his own prominence and make his claims to being divine (2 Thess. 2:4). He traffics with the demonic world (Rev. 16:12), who promulgate doctrines contrary to the sound and wholesome words of Scripture (1 Tim. 4:1). Vast throngs of humanity are thus led astray with his clever rationalizing away of the truth (1 John 4:1-6).

5.  This man is also a clever and persistent politician. He recognizes the value and force of religion. So he does not hesitate to submit outwardly to the domination of the false religious system of the end time (Rev. 17:3, 7). Once he has gained his end, he will turn and destroy the whore who is sitting upon him (Rev. 17:16-17). With craftiness, he gradually rises to power among the ten kings in whose midst he first appears. At last he convinces them that they should form a confederation of which he becomes the head (Rev. 17:12-13). They place their countries and resources at his disposal, hoping for protection and prolongation of power, little realizing that it will last only for "one hour" (Rev. 17:12). They carry out his will in destroying the whore (Rev. 17:16-17), and march at last with the Beast to the battle of Armageddon and their own destruction (Rev. 19:19-21). With ruthless intent Antichrist climbs to one height after another on the fallen forms of his accomplices until at last he reaches his goal, sovereign ruler ship of the entire world (Rev. 13:3, 7).

6.  The Scriptures suggest that he will present a strong, attractive, physical appearance. The words "shewing himself” of 2 Thess. 2:4 mean quite literally to show off or to make a public exhibition or display. The people shall see something in him, and it is what they see that impresses them. As a result the whole world of unregenerate men shall marvel at him, shall follow him, and shall worship him (Rev. 13:3, 4; 17:8). These facts lead the Bible student to conclude that he will be an exceptional physical specimen, possessing not only a large, well-proportioned body, but also an attractive countenance, and an impressive appearance.

7.  The foregoing qualities combine to make him the world's great military genius. He will demonstrate this in his rising military career. Astride a white charger, he goes forth conquering and to conquer, and equipped with a bow, he rides into one victory after another to capture and hold the crown he wears (Rev. 6:1-2). Red war, black famine, pale death, and religious persecution follow him, but his career is ever one of ascension. Even the wound unto death does not hinder his progress upward. For at last it is healed in such an amazing way that the peoples of earth cry out "Who is able to make war with him?" (Rev. 13:4).

8.  This man then becomes the astonishment and wonder of the world. Differing from all others who have preceded him, possessing an amazing degree of high intelligence, demonstrating himself among men as no other demagogue before him, displaying an insight into the abstruse areas of human thought, cleverly manipulating the political strings of society, winning a following by his massive frame and attractive face, and in his military campaigns across the world, even defying death, he becomes the latest wonder of the world (Rev. 13:3-4). Yet beneath this glittering exterior is the nature of a beast, a wild beast who knows no law but the law of his own desire (Rev. 13:1; 2 Thess. 2:3-4).