The Antichrist and the Second Advent

The end of the year

The end of the year of Martyrs AM., is an occasion during which the Holy Church transports the believer to the end of times. In preparation and warning about the human, social and religious conditions of mankind leading up to the glorious Second Coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we read in the Epistle to the Thessalonians: "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." 2 Thess. ii:3

The Church uses the end of each time interval each day, each year as a reminder of the end of the world in general, and of the particular end of each person; both of which, but in particular the latter, is at every moment nigh at hand. The end of each day, the Church teaches, is an image, an icon of both particular and general ends. During the Office of the Twelveth Hour, the Church prays: "Behold I am about to stand before the just Judge, trembling and excedingly afraid on account of my many sins, for a life spent in pleasures deserves condemnation.", and therefore transforms this time of the day to an occasion for remembrance of sins and repentance: "...But repent, O my soul, while "you are dwelling on earth, for the dust in the grave offers no praise." The Office of the Twelveth Hour.

Likewise, the closing two week period of the Year of Martyrs, is an icon of the final consummation. The Church during this time warns us of the signs of the end of the world, announced by our Saviour and recorded in the Gospels according to St. Mark and St. Matthew. The fourth Sunday of Mes~ore (around the end of August), the passage from Mk xiii:3-37 is read, and the following Sunday, the same theme is read from Mtt. xxiv:3-35. In both of which, the destruction of Jerusalem as a prototype of the end of times is prophesied in answer to two questions from the apostles: "Tell us, when shall these things be ? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world ?" Mtt. xxiv:3. For as the destruction of the city of Jerusalem overshadows the end of the world, so also shall false prophets, which have arisen before the destruction of that city, overshadow the general apostasy from the New Jerusalem (the Church).

Inasmuch as this season in the life of the Church is marked by a solemn preparation for the Second Coming, and by sorrowful watchfulness for the period preceding this Advent, that is, the coming of Antichrist; the following week, during the Feast of Nairouz (commemorating the Christian martyrs and the New Year during the Roman reign), is marked by joyful celebration. While in the one instance the Church participates in grieving over those who have, and will fall away; in the other instance, she rejoices in those martyrs who have become members in the Church Triumphant.

When our Saviour spoke concerning the signs of the end of times saying: "Take heed that no man "deceive you. For many, shall come in my Name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear wars and rumors of wars." Mtt. xxiv:5,6, He was referring to the wars in Jerusalem, and not everywhere else in the world. Surely there were wars in the neighbouring countries in the ancient world; about these He was not concerned, rather about the chosen people, the royal nation, was He prophesing. Likewise, the prophecy concerning His Second Advent: "For there shall rise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch as if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Mtt xxiv:24, refers to the general apostasy from the New Jerusalem, the Orthodox Church, and does not bear upon others outside this "chosen generation, this royal priesthood, this holy nation, this peculiar people.", for indeed others have fallen away from times immemorial; about those the prophecy does not touch.

In participating in advance in these final events, we are constantly reminded of the Christian prospective of history as an unfolding chain of events, having a "beginning" and running its course as it unveils God's plans in history, and finally reaching its culmination in the last days, in the glorious Advent of Christ. St. Jerome commenting on the Macedonian Empire observes: "...The Empire did not result from Alexander's bravery but from the will of God". As opposed to secular view of history as a rotation, a blind repetition of events: "history repeats itself"; the Christian faith has a beginning: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth", says the Book of Genesis, and also has an end: "...Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the "BEGINNING OF THE WORLD TO THIS TIME".

Christianity does not trade in ideas, nor even in ideologies, but is rather rooted in events, for so did the Holy Fathers choose, when formulating the Creed, to state their belief in the one Lord Jesus Christ, as One who was crucified at a point in time, namely, "under Pontius Pilate".

Finally, the theme of the "last days" is also relived in the liturgical prayers of the Church in two other occasions.

First, and of cardinal importance, on the eve of Bright Saturday, when the entire Books of Revelation and Susana are read. On this occasion however, the emphasis is different. The Church, after taking part in the redemptive events of Passion Week culminating in the Crucifixion, after looking into history and seeing the mighty work of God and His redemptive victory being unfolded, is now directing her gaze towards the eschatological events affecting her before His Second Coming. This is the intent of reading these two prophetic Books at this junction of time.

Second, the Ninth Hour of Tuesday of Passion Week, when Daniel vii:9-15 is read, followed by a homily of St. Shenoute: "Brethren it is high time that we should perform the will of God and remember that death tarries not; for we are certain to depart this world. Where are those who preceded us? Behold! They are all asleep in the graves. Let us bring forth fruits worthy of the grace of God which we have received, following after the example of Jesus Christ, the True Light."