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.
