The Antichrist and the Second Advent

His Rule

We have mentioned that the beginning of Antichrist will be obscure, having been born from a defiled woman, we now move to examine his'ministry', as it were, on earth.

The beginning of his rule

In the beginning of his rule he will assume the role of sanctity, but when he becomes master he will persecute the Church of Christ and displays all his wickedness.

"At first indeed he shall put on a show of mildness, as though he were a learned and discreet person, and of soberness and benevolence. And by the lying signs and wonders of his magical deceit having beguiled the Jews, as though he were the expected Christ, he shall afterwards be characterized by all kinds of crimes of inhumanity and lawlessness, so as to outdo all unrighteous and ungodly men who have gone before him; displaying against all men, but especially against Christians, a spirit murderous and most cruel, merciless and crafty.

"Since the demons and apostate spirits are at his service, he through their means performs wonders, by which he leads the inhabitants of the earth astray.

"He shall remove his kingdom into the city of Jerusalem, and shall sit in the Temple of God, leading astray those who worship him as if he were Christ." St. Irenaeus.

"Antichrist is to restore the kingdom of the Jews, to collect them out of every country of the Dispersion, making them his own, as though they were his own children, and promising to restore their country, and establish again their kingdom and nation, in order that he may be worshipped by them as God, and he will lead them on to persecute the saints i.e. the Christians." St. Hippolytus.

"The adversary taking occasion of the second coming of Christ and the expectation of the Jews (i.e. concerning the first coming of the Messiah), brings a certain man who is a magician,* and most expert in sorceries and enchantments of beguiling craftiness; who shall seize for himself the power of the Roman Empire, and shall falsely style himself Christ, by this deceiving the Jews, who are looking for the Anointed and seducing those of the Gentiles by his magical illusions." St. Cyril of Jerusalem.

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* Note: To understand the intent of the description of Antichrist as a "magician" compare what St. Hippolytus says in this regard: "[He is] a son of the devil and a vessel of Satan" llippolytus, Christ and antichrist #57