The Antichrist and the Second Advent

The Person of Antichrist

In the following pages, we will quote some early Christian Fathers' commentaries concerning the person of Antichrist and his coming.

In general, "Everyone, who confesses not that the Son of God came in the flesh and is perfect God is Antichrist." 1 John ii:22 

"But in a peculiar and special sense at the consummation of the age, is called Antichrist." Greg.Naz.,Orat.47

"The Saviour appeared in the form of man, and he [Antichrist] too will come in the form of a man." St. Hippolytus.

"Since the Saviour of the world, with the purpose of saving the race of men was born of the Evervirgin Mary; in the same manner also will the accuser come forth from an impure woman upon the earth, but shall be born of a virgin spuriously." St. Hippolytus.

"But the accuser, though he take up the flesh, will do it only in appearance; for how should he wear that flesh which he did not make himself, but against which he warreth daily? And it is my opinion, beloved, that he will assume this phenomenal kind of flesh as an instrument." St. Hippolytus, he also adds "As to the virgin bearing, this we have known only in the case of the all-holy Virgin who bore the Saviour. Moses says: "every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy unto the Lord" Ex. xxxiv:19. This is not the case with him, but as the adversary will not open the womb, so neither will he take to himself real flesh, and be circumcised as Christ was circumcised. And even as Christ chose His apostles, so will he too assume a whole people of disciples in wickedness."

"Whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders" 2 Thess. ii:9, implies that Satan has used him as an instrument, working through him, for knowing that his power will soon come to an end, he wages war no more by his ministers but himself more openly" St. Cyril of Jerusalem.

That Antichrist will come from the tribe of Dan is evident from the following:

1. Dan's name is excepted from the tribes listed in Rev:7 as being the tribes sealed in their foreheads as the servants of God.

2. The tribe of Dan also introduced imageworship in the Old Testament Church

3. Another prophetic Scripture which had its partial fulfillments in Samson who sprang from Dan and judged the people for twenty years, but will find its complete fulfillment in the Antichrist, is that which Jacob said in Genesis xlix:16: "Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel."

4. "Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward." Gen xlix:17

5. From Dan we are to hear the sound of the swiftness of his horses: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing, of the driving of his horses." Jer viii:16