THE CASE FOR A JEWISH ANTICHRIST

 This is just another one of those topics in the study of eschatology in which the views are varied.  I have personally always adhered to the view that the Antichrist will be Jewish, primarily based on the words of Jesus in John 5:43—“I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.”   I believe the statement He made was in reference to His identity as the Jewish Messiah.

In his book, “The Antichrist,” Arthur Pink provides scriptural and logical support for the Jewish heritage of the Antichrist and the understanding that he will present himself as the Jewish Messiah in the quotes below.

• “In John 5:43 we have a further word which helps us to fix the nationality of this coming One. In speaking of the false messiah, the Lord Jesus referred to him as follows, ‘Another shall come in his own name.’ In the Greek there are four different words all translated ‘Another’ in our English versions. One of them is employed but once, and a second but five times, so these need not detain us now. The remaining two are used frequently, and with a clear distinction between them. The first ‘allos’ signifies ‘another’ of the same kind or genus - see Matt. 10:23; 13:24; 26:71, etc. The second, ‘heteros,’ means ‘another’ of a totally different kind….the striking thing is that the word used by our Lord in John 5:43 is ‘allos,’ another of the same genus, not ‘heteros,’ another of a different order. Christ, the Son of Abraham, the Son of David, had presented Himself to Israel, and they rejected Him; but ‘another’ of the same Abrahamic stock should come to them, and him they would ‘receive.’ If the coming Antichrist were to be a Gentile, the Lord would have employed the word “heteros,’ the fact that He used ‘allos’ shows that he will be a Jew. 

• The very name “Antichrist” argues strongly his Jewish nationality. This title “Antichrist” has a double significance. It means that he will be one who shall be “opposed” to Christ, one who will be His enemy. But it also purports that he will be a mock Christ, an imitation Christ, a pro-Christ, a pseudo Christ. It intimates that he will ape Christ. He will pose as the real Messiah of Israel. In such case he must be a Jew. This mock Christ will be “received” by Israel. The Jews will be deceived by Him. They will believe that he is indeed their long-expected Messiah.  

• At every point he is the antithesis of Christ. The word “Antichrist” has a double significance. Its primary meaning is one who is opposed to Christ; but its secondary meaning is one who is instead of Christ. Let not this be thought strange, for it accords with the two stages in his career. At first he will pose as the true Christ, masquerading in the livery of religion. But, later, he will throw off his disguise, stand forth in his true character, and set himself up as one who is against God and His Christ. Not only does anti-christ denote the antagonist of Christ, but it tells of one who is instead of Christ. The word signifies another Christ, a pro-Christ, an alter christus, a pretender to the name of Christ. He will seem to be and will set himself up as the true Christ. He will be the Devil’s counterfeit. Just as the Devil is an Anti-theos - not only the adversary of God, but the usurper of the place and prerogatives of God, demanding worship….

In contrast, many of the prophecy teachers that I listen to and for whom I have great respect hold the view that the Antichrist will be a Gentile.  These arguments are rooted primarily in the reference that Daniel makes in chapter nine.  

Daniel 9:26-27 “…and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate….”

Just as they, I believe “the prince that is to come” is a reference to the Antichrist, but I do not believe that means the man can’t be Jewish.  He may be a Jewish man that is a citizen of another country that is located in what was part of the area that conprised the Roman Empire.

It’s interesting that they like to quote the early church fathers to support their positions in other areas of study, but seem to ignore the views of these same men regarding this subject.  My research revealed that most of the early church fathers believed that the Antichrist would be Jewish and many believed he would be a descendant of the tribe of Dan. 

The earliest church father for which I could find documentation that he held the belief that Antichrist would be Jewish was Irenaeus, who was taught by Polycarp, a disciple of the Apostle John (who wrote the book of Revelation).  He posited that Antichrist would be a Jew and claim to be fulfilling prophecy in “Against Heresies.”  Irenaeus mentored Hippolytus, who stated that the Antichrist would be a counterfeit of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.  In his “Treatise on Christ and Antichrist” he states the following.

“For the deceiver seeks to liken himself in all things to the Son of God. Christ is a lion, so Antichrist is also a lion; Christ is a king, so Antichrist is also a king. The Saviour was manifested as a lamb; so he too, in like manner, will appear as a lamb, though within he is a wolf. The Saviour came into the World in the circumcision, and he will come in the same manner. The Lord sent apostles among all the nations, and he in like manner will send false apostles. The Saviour gathered together the sheep that were scattered abroad, and he in like manner will bring together a people that is scattered abroad. The Lord gave a seal to those who believed on Him, and he will give one like manner. The Saviour appeared in the form of man, and he too will come in the form of a man.”  (Note:  “the circumcision” is a reference to the Jews.)

At truecatholicfaith.com in an article labeled 8.127.12 regarding the Antichrist, I found the following statement:  “The consistent testimony of the Fathers, Saints, and theologians of the Church teaches that the Antichrist will likely be of Jewish origin, and that he will be initially welcomed and aided by many Jews, especially as a false messianic figure.  This belief is not based on racial prejudice or antisemitism, but rather on Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and centuries of Catholic theological commentary. It reflects the tragic fact that, as a people, the Jews rejected Christ and continue to await a messiah of their own — one who fits their worldly expectations.”

Not that it matters to true believers who will be raptured before Antichrist is revealed, but it is food for thought in trying to put together the prophetic puzzle.

JESUS, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

My thoughts are all over the place as we once again commemorate the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus to provide for our salvation.  I am so thankful that He loves us so unconditionally! 

Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

I am so looking forward to His soon return to take us home to the Father’s house! 

John 14:1–3 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

I am so looking forward to getting an immortal body with no taint of sin! 

1 Corinthians 15:51–54 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Yet…I am so sad that so many refuse to accept Jesus as LORD and Savior as I think of the horrific future before them—suffering God’s vengeance and an eternity outside the presence of God.

2 Thessalonians 1:7–10 “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” 

Jesus came to shine the light of salvation so that no person would have to live eternally in the darkness outside His presence.  He doesn’t want one person to perish and suffer eternal judgment. 

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

My prayer is that you will accept Jesus as your LORD and Savior before it is too late!

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

 Click on pics for larger view

RETHINKING...JEREMIAH 49 & GOG'S ATTACK

“The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come. For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them: And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD. But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.”   Jeremiah 49:34-39

Since the previous post, I have listened to several teachers with differing points of view, and I think the best thing I know to do is to list the facts as I see them.

• This prophecy is future to the time that Jeremiah declared it—at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah (597 BC according to most sources I found).

• God is going to destroy the might of Elam (“break the bow”), a known world power from ancient times, mentioned as far back as Genesis 14.  Isaiah mentions Elam as a distinct nation in the company of other nations such as Assyria, Egypt, Cush, Shinar and Media (cf Isaiah 11:11 & 21:2).  Jeremiah also mentions it in association with the Medes (25:25).  Ezekiel (chapter 32) mentions it among the nations that will greet the multitudes of Egypt in hell.  And Daniel mentions it as a province of the Babylonian empire—no longer a separate nation.

• Persia first appears in scripture as a powerful nation under the reign of Cyrus (2Chronicles 36 & Ezra 1).  It is noted that Persia ruled as a joint power with Media as stated in Esther (1:3) and Daniel (8:20).  Daniel goes on to reference Persia as the reigning dominant power until it was conquered by Alexander the Great and the armies of Greece (10:20, 11:2).  Ezekiel identifies it as part of Gog’s coalition (38:5), an attack yet future since such a coalition has never existed in the past. 

• Research indicates that Elam was eventually absorbed by Persia.

• At some point future to Jeremiah’s prophecy, the people of Elam will be scattered by the four winds to the four quarters of heaven.  The assumption is that this references the four cardinal directions—north, south, east and west.  (Note:  Assumptions can be misleading.). Point is made that this is a reference to all the nations to which the outcasts of Elam will be scattered.  The Hebrew for outcasts references expulsion, banished and thrust away; in other words, they are forced or driven out of their land.

• Point is made that it is God that brings evil upon them that results in their being consumed.

• God will set His throne in Elam, destroying its king and military and civil leaders (from the Hebrew).  In other words, God will determine the ruling authority in that land.

• “In the latter days” God will bring the exiled Elamites back to their land.

Questions:  When were the people of Elam scattered among the nations?  Was Elam destroyed as a nation and the people scattered as a result of Nebuchadnezzar’s actions?  Doesn’t it seem likely that this would have occurred prior to the land being absorbed as a part of Persia?  

Because Elam was reduced to being a province of Babylon and eventually absorbed as part of Persia, I tend to place this prophecy as having been fulfilled in the past, except for the part about bringing the exiled Elamites back to their land.  “In the latter days,” is a reference to the days associated with the return of Jesus as King of kings.  Knowing that the Elamites have not yet been reestablished as a nation, I believe it most likely that this will be fulfilled as Jesus establishes His kingdom.

To associate this prophecy with events in Iran today, one would have to assume that Elam represents the whole of Persia/Iran.  Scripture seems to deal with them as separate entities, so I think that is a pretty big assumption. 

I do believe this current war is setting the stage for the attack of Gog and his hordes (Ezekiel 38) by bringing about the conditions for Israel to be at rest and dwelling safely as described by Ezekiel when this attack occurs.  

Ezekiel also identifies Persia as part of Gog’s coalition (38:5), so we know that it will still exist as an enemy nation of Israel when that occurs.  Because of that, I don’t see the type of regime change that many are hoping for as a result of this war.  

But God.  Powerful words that remind me that His ways and thoughts are far beyond what we can understand.  

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:8-9

All I know is that when we look back, we will see that God’s word has been fulfilled to the nth degree.

THINKING...JEREMIAH 49 & GOG'S ATTACK

I am a student of bible prophecy, and only recently (2025) have I heard prophecy teachers referencing this section of scripture as yet unfulfilled.  As I was listening to Jack Hibbs (2/26), he noted that never had the people of Iran been scattered throughout the world until the revolution in 1979 that put the Muslim religious authorities in power.  An internet search to verify this statement produced the following search assist summary:  “In 1979, many Iranians fled the country due to the political upheaval surrounding the Iranian Revolution. The revolution led to the overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy and the establishment of an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini….Those who left included intellectuals, political activists, and members of the middle and upper classes who opposed the new regime.”

Hibbs noted that the prophecy references breaking the “bow,” (a launcher) of Elam.  He is, of course, making a connection to the missile launchers of today’s Iran.  His explanation is that God is going to “break the bow of Elam” before establishing Himself as their ruling authority, which will occur when Jesus returns as Kings of kings to establish His kingdom.  At that time, He will then bring back the dispersed people to their land just as He will facilitate the worldwide return of the Jews to Israel.  As with many bible prophecies, time is condensed regarding the events being referenced.

Thinking…. I know that the LORD is going to supernaturally intervene to decimate the armies of Gog’s coalition, including Iran.  This tells me that Iran must still be a credible threat to Israel when that happens.  We also know that Ezekiel notes that Israel will be dwelling with a false sense of security when Gog attacks.

Ezekiel 38:11 “…I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates….”

It seems as though the setup for such a scenario is unfolding before our very eyes, except that the neutralization of the threats of Iran and her proxies must occur without taking Iran out of the picture as a primary part of Gog’s coalition.  That seems to negate the possibility of regime change as a part of current events.

I also know that the United States is not mentioned as a primary player in the biblical narrative of end time prophecy.  Hibbs notes that Iran’s primary target currently is the United States, recognized ally of Israel that stands in the way of their desire to destroy Israel.  He also points out that the United States is currently deserving of God’s judgment by positioning itself as a whole in rebellion against Him.  I do not disagree.  Only God knows in what way He will remove the United States as the dominant power on the world stage.  I have always hoped it would be through the rapture.  But could current events result in the United States being humiliated and defeated and no longer able to serve as an effective deterrent to aggression against Israel?  Hibbs noted that China had provided Iran with hypersonic missiles that can destroy the huge American naval aircraft carriers and against which we have no defense.  Could it be that in the process of trying to neutralize Iran (her missile launching abilities broken) that the United States will be neutralized?

Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel is establishing a “hexagon of alliances,” hoping to establish an effective deterrent to radical Islam.  It does not include the United States.

An article at aljazeera.com on 2/23/26 states:  “Netanyahu described a proposed ‘hexagon of alliances’ which he says would include Israel, India, Greece and Cyprus, along with other unnamed Arab, African and Asian states. He said together, they would unite to collectively stand against what he called ‘radical’ adversaries.  In the vision I see before me, we will create an entire system, essentially a ‘hexagon’ of alliances around or within the Middle East.…The intention here is to create an axis of nations that see eye to eye on the reality, challenges, and goals against the radical axes, both the radical Shia axis, which we have struck very hard, and the emerging radical Sunni axis.”

Could this be a part of feeding that false sense of security?

I don’t know how the future will unfold, but I do know that God’s plan will be fulfilled in exact accordance with biblical prophecy.   I continue to pray for God’s will to be done and that Jesus will return soon to bring His family home!

Are you ready?  Have you placed your trust in Jesus?  Time is running out!

ANOTHER LOOK AT THE 4TH KINGDOM IN DANIEL 2

Dan. 2:40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. 

Dan. 2:41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 

Dan. 2:42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 

Dan. 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. 

Though the metals decrease in value, they seem to increase in strength.  Maybe this is because they are increasing in size and encompassing more land and people.  Brief mention is made of the second and third kingdoms, but more is revealed about the fourth.  Its influence will be very dominating on the earth, but it will eventually be divided.  The resulting divisions of this kingdom will still be quite strong; they just won’t be as stable as the original kingdom.

The CJB translates verse 43 with another possibility and the ESV supports it:  “You saw the iron mixed with clay; that means that they will cement their alliances by intermarriages; but they won’t stick together any more than iron blends with clay.”  

Tanya Koenig at watch.org (2/4/26) had some good insight I think:  The final phase is iron mixed with clay—strength outward, fragility inward….Iron can dominate, deter, sanction, strike, and reorganize the map. Clay cannot bind. Clay fractures under stress and resists cohesion.”

The interpretation of Daniel’s dream in chapter 8 aligns with world history in identifying the kingdoms being referenced as:

• the breast and arms of silver = the combined kingdom of the Medes and the Persians
• the belly and thighs of brass = the kingdom of Greece
• the legs of iron = the Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was eventually divided into Eastern and Western seats of power before losing world influence altogether.  The question arises as to why no reference is made to other great empires such as the Ottoman Turks.  I think the key is that the scripture is a revelation of God’s purposes for man and planet earth through His dealings with the nation of Israel.  When the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD, Israel ceased to be a nation; and its people were dispersed throughout the empire.  Biblical reference to events on planet earth basically resumes at a time when Israel is once again established as a nation.  Much is revealed regarding God’s dealing with the “church,” “the body of Christ,” spiritual Israel (as explained in Romans 9-11).  But the rest of human history is basically ignored until the time that God again resumes His dealings with the nation of Israel and the nations/kingdoms that have direct impact upon her. 

It is clear that each kingdom represented in this dream includes much of the territory of the preceding kingdom.  Since the Spirit only referenced four kingdoms in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, we can assume that the Kingdom represented by the ten toes is considered part of the fourth kingdom—the Roman Empire.  Just as Israel was reborn, the Roman Empire in some form will be reborn to fulfill her destiny as the kingdom of Antichrist.  If that were not the case, the Spirit would have referenced a fifth kingdom.  The two legs of iron representing the Roman Empire were strong and powerful.  History shows that the influence of the Roman Empire remained powerful for about 500 years.  The fact that the toes were part iron and part clay indicates a change in the makeup of the kingdom and its ability to endure as an influential world power.  It would seem to indicate that its influence on the world will eventually be exercised through ten entities (nations, kings/kingdoms, etc.) whose origins are rooted in that fractured empire.  The Antichrist will emerge from one of those entities and his kingdom will enjoy its greatest influence for only 3.5 years, as we will learn in later chapters of this book as well as through the study of the book of Revelation.

“they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men” - I’ve heard much speculation regarding this phrase.  I am reminded that Paul clearly states that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12).  I think it possible that this phrase is a reference to the spiritual forces and beings that will be exercising their influence through the ten human entities represented by the toes—possibly through demonic possession.  Still thinking…