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Contents 1 Dispensational (Christian) beliefs 1.1 Discussion of the word 'Antichrist' versus the word 'Beast' 1.2 Resurrected Individual discussion 1.3 Titles for the beast 1.4 The Beast's final doom 2 Notes

[edit] Dispensational (Christian) beliefs

Dispensationalists believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible scriptures, properly translated, except where the text is obviously discussing an allegory, or is using the parabolic method of Jesus, which the Lord preferences in all cases with these words: "Now hear the parable" or "Now learn the parable".

[edit] Discussion of the word 'Antichrist' versus the word 'Beast'

J. Dwight Pentecost has a discussion in his book, "Things to Come".^[1] He writes, quoting other sources that the word 'antichrist' only appears in the Epistles of John the Apostle, specifically these passages of scripture which read:

1 John 2:18 (King James Version)

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.^[2]

and:

1 John 2:22 (King James Version)

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.^[3]

and:

1 John 4:3 (King James Version)

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.^[4]

and finally:

2 John 1:7 (King James Version)

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.^[5]

Pentecost wrote that the apostle was primarily concerned with doctrinal error in these writings.^[1] He then discusses the meaning of the prefix 'anti' quoting author Roy Aldrich.^[6]

VII.THE RELATION OF ANTICHRIST TO THE TWO BEASTS

The word antichrist appears only in the Epistles of John. It is used in 1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3 and 2 John 7. A study of these references will reveal that John is principally concerned with an immediate doctrinal error--the denial of the person of Christ. The emphasis is not on a future revelation of an individual, but rather on the present manifestation of false doctrine. To John antichrist was already present. The question arises then as to the relation between the ““antichrist”” of John’’s epistles and the beasts of Revelation.

The prefix anti may be used either in the sense of ““instead of”” or ““against.”” Aldrich correctly observes:

The solution of the problem of the identification of Anti-christ would seem to depend upon whether light can be thrown on the question of whether he is primarily the great enemy of Christ or whether he is a false Christ.34.

That these possibilities exist is substantiated by Thayer, who says that the preposition has two primary usages: first, over against or opposite to; and second indicating an exchange, in-stead of or in place of.35

A study of the five usages of antichrist in John’’s epistles seems clearly to indicate the idea of opposition rather than exchange. Trench observes:

To me St. John’’s words seem decisive that resistance to Christ, and defiance of Him, this, and not any treacherous assumption of his character and offices, is the essential mark of the Anti-Christ; is that which, therefore, we should expect to find embodied in his name . . . and in this sense, if not all, yet many of the Fathers have understood the word.36

The word antichrist seems to be contrasted with ““false Christ”” in Scripture. This word is used in Matthew 24:24 and Mark 13:22. On the contrast between the words the same author says:

The [Pseudochristos, false Christ] does not deny the being of a Christ; on the contrary, he builds on the world’’s expectations of such a person; only he appropriates these to himself, blasphemously affirms that he is the foretold One, in whom God’’s promises and men’’s expectations are fulfilled. . . .

The distinction, then, is plain . . . [antichristos, antichrist] denies that there is a Christ; . . . [Pseudochristos, false Christ) affirms himself to be Christ.37

It would seem that John has the idea of opposition in mind rather than the idea of exchange.

This idea of direct opposition to Christ seems to be the particular characterization of the first Beast, for he sets his kingdom against the kingdom of the Son of God. If antichrist must be identified with one of the two Beasts it would seem to be identified with the first.38

It may be, however, that John is not referring to either of the two Beasts, but rather to the lawless system that will characterize them (2 Thess. 2:7). Since he is emphasizing the danger of a present doctrinal defection, he is reminding them that such teaching is the teaching of the antichrist philosophy of Satan that Paul held was already working (2 Thess. 2:7). Without doubt this antichrist philosophy of Satan, referred to by John, will culminate in the Beasts in their corporate ministries, where the first Beast will be in direct opposition to Christ as one who falsely fulfills the covenant to give Israel their land and the second Beast will assume the place of leadership in the religious realm which rightly belongs to Christ. But John is not trying to identify either of these Beasts as antichrist, but to warn any who would deny the person of Christ that they are walking in that system which eventually would culminate in the manifestation of the lawless system in the activities of both Beasts. They, in their corporate unity, culminate lawlessness.

Footnotes for Pentecost text above:

1 Cf. Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, VII, 170. 2 Ibid., IV, 379-81. 3 C. I. Scofield, Reference Bible, p. 1345. 4 Edward Dennett, Daniel the Prophet, p. 9. 5 Chafer, op. cit., IV, 333. 6 Arno C. Gaebelein, The Prophet Daniel, pp. 73-76. 7 Cf. Robert Anderson, The Coming Prince. 8 S. P. Tregelles, The Book of Daniel, p. 19. 9 William Kelly, Notes on Daniel, p. 50. 10 Harry A. Ironside, Lectures on Daniel, The Prophet, pp. 37-38. 11 G. H. N. Peters, Theocratic Kingdom, II, 643. 12 Kelly, op. cit., pp. 125-26. 13 Edward J. Young, The Prophecy of Daniel, p. 160. While exception is taken to this author’’s interpretation of the book, his observation is justified here. 14 Scofield, op cit., p. 1342. 15 Walter Scott, Exposition of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, pp. 351-52. 16 William R. Newell, The Revelation, p. 271. 17 Roy L. Aldrich, ““Facts and Theories of Prophecy,”” pp. 120-21. 18 F. C. Jennings, ““The Boundaries of the Revived Roman Empire,”” Our Hope, xlvii: 387-89, December, 1940. 19 William Kelly, Notes on Ezekiel, pp. 192-93. 20 Arno C. Gaebelein, The Prophet Ezekiel, pp. 257-58. 21 Louis Bauman, Russian Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy, pp. 23-25. 22 Samuel Macauley Jackson, ed., New Schaff-Hertzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, III, 328. 23 Bauman, op. cit., p. 31. 24 Ibid., p. 32. 25 Gaebelein, op. cit., p. 259. 26 Cf. Bauman, op. cit., pp. 34-36. 27 Harry Rimmer, The Coming War and the Rise of Russia, p. 62. 28 Bauman, op. cit., p. 38. 29 Scott, op. cit., pp. 331-32. 30 Arthur W. Pink, The Antichrist, pp. 59-75. 31 Pink, op. cit., pp. 50-55. 32 Newell, op. cit., p. 186 ; Joseph Seiss, The Apocalypse, II, 397-400. 33 Pink, op. cit., pp. 119-20. 34 Aldrich, op. cit., p. 39. 35 Joseph Henry Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 49. 36 Richard C. Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament, p. 107. 37 Ibid., p. 108. 38 Cf. Newell, op. cit., pp. 195-201 for arguments to support this view. ^[7]

[edit] Resurrected Individual discussion

In contrast to the discussion below about Seventh-day Adventist beliefs concerning the deadly wound, dispensationalists have come to some similar and some different theories. Henry Morris, in his book, has this to say:

"Will the Beast be a resurrected individual? On the basis of Revelation 13:3 and 17:8 many expositors have held that the Beast who will rule will gain a tremendous following because he has experienced death and resurrection at the hands of Satan. Some have held that the Beast will be a reincarnation of Nero. Others have insisted that he will be Judas restored to life ^[8] Some have insisted that this will be a resurrected individual without attempting to identify him.^[9] The question arises then as to whether this is a resurrected individual in whom the miracle of Christ's death and resurrection is imitated. Even though it is said that this one comes to power by satanic activity (Rev. 13:2), and is said to have a deadly wound that was healed (Rev. 13:3), and comes out of the abyss (Rev. 17:8) it seems best not to understand this as death and resurrection for several reasons. (1) In Revelation 13:3 and 17:8 the beast is explained as the composite kingdom. The reference to the healing seems to be the resurgence of power in the Gentile kingdom that had been dead for so long. (2) Satan is called the "angel of the bottomless pit" or the "abyss" in Revelation 9:11, so that Revelation 17:8 does not teach that the head of the empire arose out of the abyss, but rather that the empire itself was brought about "from the abyss" or by Satan. (3) The Scriptures reveal that men are brought out of the grave by the voice of the Son of God. ^[10] Satan does not have the power to give life. Since Christ alone has the power of resurrection, Satan could not bring one back to life. (4) The wicked are not resurrected until the Great White Throne (Rev. 20:11-15). If a wicked one were resurrected at this point it would set aside God's divinely ordained program of resurrection. (5) Since all the references to this individual present him as a man, not as a supernatural being, it seems impossible to hold that he is a resurrected individual. It would be concluded that the Beast will not be a resurrected individual.^[11]

[edit] Titles for the beast

For this section, Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost is being quoted from his thorough research on biblical prophecy in which an extensive list of titles for the Antichrist appears:^[12]

Scripture has a great deal to say concerning the individual who will appear in the end time as the head of the Gentile powers in their ten kingdom federation. His person and work are presented in Ezekiel 28:1-10; Daniel 7:7-8, 20-26; 8:23-25; 9:26-27; 11:36-45; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10; Revelation 13:1-10; 17:8-14. A synthesis of the truths in these passages will reveal the following facts concerning his activities: (1) He will appear on the scene in the ““latter times”” of Israel’’s history (Dan. 8:23). (2) He will not appear until the Day of the Lord has begun (2 Thess. 2:2). (3) His manifestation is being hindered by the Restrainer (2 Thess. 2:6-7). (4) This appearance will be preceded by a departure (2 Thess. 2:3), which may be interpreted either as a departure from the faith or a departure of the saints to be with the Lord (2 Thess. 2:1). (5) He is a Gentile. Since he arises from the sea (Rev. 13:1) and since the sea depicts the Gentile nations (Rev. 17:15), he must be of Gentile origin. (6) He rises from the Roman empire, since he is a ruler of the people who destroyed Jerusalem (Dan. 9:26). (7) He is the head of the last form of Gentile world dominion, for he is like a leopard, a bear, and a lion (Rev. 13:1). (Cf. Dan. 7:7-8, 20, 24; Rev. 17:9-11.) As such he is a political leader. The seven heads and ten horns (Rev. 13:1; 17:12) are federated under his authority. (8) His influence is world wide, for he rules over all nations (Rev. 13:8). This influence comes through the alliance which he makes with other nations (Dan. 8:24; Rev. 17:12). (9) He has eliminated three rulers in his rise to power (Dan 7:8, 24). One of the kingdoms over which he has authority has been revived, for one of the heads, representing a kingdom or king (Rev. 17:10), has been healed (Rev. 13:3). (10) His rise comes through his peace program (Dan. 8:25). (11) He personally is marked by his intelligence and persuasiveness (Dan. 7:8, 20; 8:23) and also by his subtlety and craft (Ezek. 28:6), so that his position over the nations is by their own consent (Rev. 17:13). (12) He rules over the nations in his federation with absolute authority (Dan. 11:36), where he is depicted as doing his own will. This authority is manifested through the change in laws and customs (Dan. 7:25). (13) His chief interest is in might and power (Dan. 11:38). (14) As the head of the federated empire he makes a seven year covenant with Israel (Dan. 9:27), which is broken after three and one-half years (Dan. 9:27). (15) He introduces an idolatrous worship (Dan. 9:27) in which he sets himself up as god (Dan. 11:36-37; 2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 13:5). (16) He bears the characterization of a blasphemer because of the assumption of deity (Ezek. 28:2; Dan. 7:25; Rev. 13:1, 5-6). (17) This one is energized by Satan (Ezek. 28:9-12; Rev. 13:4), receives his authority from him, and is controlled by the pride of the devil (Ezek. 28:2; Dan. 8:25). (18) He is the head of Satan’’s lawless system (2 Thess. 2:3) and his claim to power and to deity is proved by signs wrought through satanic power (2 Thess. 2:9-19). (19) He is received as God and as ruler because of the blindness of the people (2 Thess. 2:11). (20) This ruler becomes the great adversary of Israel (Dan. 7:21, 25; 8:24; Rev. 13:7). (21) There will come an alliance against him (Ezek. 28:7; Dan. 11:40, 42) which will contest his authority. (22) In the ensuing conflict he will gain control over Palestine and adjacent territory (Dan. 11:42) and will make his headquarters in Jerusalem (Dan. 11:45). (23) This ruler, at the time of his rise to power, is elevated through the instrumentality of the harlot, the corrupt religious system, which consequently seeks to dominate him (Rev 17:3). (24) This system is destroyed by the ruler so that he may rule unhindered (Rev. 17:16-17). (25) He becomes the special adversary of the Prince of Princes (Dan. 8:25), His program (2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 17:14), and His people (Dan. 7:21, 25; 8:24; Rev. 13:7). (26) While he continues in power for seven years (Dan. 9:27), his satanic activity is confined to the last half of the tribulation period (Dan. 7:25; 9:27; 11:36; Rev. 13:5). (27) His rule will be terminated by a direct judgment from God (Ezek. 28:6; Dan. 7:22, 26; 8:25; 9:27; 11:45; Rev. 19:19-20). This judgment will take place as he is engaged in a military campaign in Palestine (Ezek. 28:8-9; Rev. 19:19), and he will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20; Ezek. 28:10). (28) This judgment will take place at the second advent of Christ (2 Thess. 2:8; Dan. 7:22) and will constitute a manifestation of His Messianic authority (Rev. 11:15). (29) The kingdom over which he ruled will pass to the authority of the Messiah and will become the kingdom of the saints (Dan. 7:27).

Many names and titles are given to this individual in the Scriptures. Arthur W. Pink gives a list of names that are applicable to him:

The Bloody and Deceitful Man (Ps. 5:6), the Wicked One (Ps. 10:2-4), the Man of the Earth (Ps. 10:18), the Mighty Man (Ps. 52:1), the Enemy (Ps. 55:3), the Adversary (Ps. 74:8-10), the Head of Many Countries (Ps. 111:6), the Violent Man (Ps. 140:1), the Assyrian (Isa. 10:5-12), the King of Babylon (Isa. 14:2), the Sun of the Morning (Isa. 14:12), the Spoiler (Isa. 16:4-5; Jer. 6:26), the Nail (Isa. 22:25), the Branch of the Terrible Ones (Isa. 25:5), the Profane Wicked Prince of Israel (Ezek. 21:25-27), the Little Horn (Dan. 7:8), the Prince that shall come (Dan. 9:26), the Vile Person (Dan. 11:21), the Wilful King (Dan. 11:36), the Idol Shepherd (Zech. 11:16-17), the Man of Sin (2 Thess. 2:3), the Son of Perdition (2 Thess. 2:3), the Lawless one (2 Thess. 2:8), the Antichrist (1 John 2:22), the Angel of the Bottomless Pit (Rev. 9:11), the Beast (Rev. 11:7; 13:1). To these could be added: the One Coming in His Own Name (John 5:43), the King of Fierce Countenance (Dan. 8:23), the Abomination of Desolation (Matt. 24:15), the Desolator (Dan. 9:27). It is thus possible to see how extensive the revelation concerning this individual is. It is not surprising, since this one is Satan’’s great masterpiece in the imitation of the program of God." ^[13]

[edit] The Beast's final doom

Again, in quoting Pentecost, the doom of this individual is clear from a number of scriptures:

B. The doom of the Beast. It is strange that almost every passage that makes reference to the activities of the Beast also includes a notice of his final doom. It must occupy a large place in the program of God. His end is seen in Ezekiel 21:25-27; 28:7-10; Daniel 7:11, 27; 8:25; 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 17:11; 19:20; 20:10. While the movements leading to his overthrow will be seen later, it is to be observed at this point that God is going to overthrow this satanic masterpiece of delusion and imitation violently.^[14] Pink writes:

Scripture has solemnly recorded the end of various august evil personages. Some were overwhelmed by waters; some devoured by flames; some engulfed in the jaws of the earth; some stricken by a loathsome disease; some ignominiously slaughtered; some hanged; some eaten up of dogs; some consumed by worms. But to no sinful dweller on earth, save the Man of Sin, ““the Wicked One,”” has been appointed the terrible distinction of being consumed by the brightness of the personal appearing of the Lord Jesus Himself. Such shall be his unprecedented doom, an end that shall fittingly climax his ignoble origin, his amazing career, and his unparalleled wickedness.33.^[15]

[edit] Notes