THE ANTI-CHRIST

In our study of prophecy we lay much stress on the "Second Corning of Christ," forgetting that there are two other comings of "individuals" that are just as momentous as Christ's coming. The first is that of the Antichrist, and the other is that of Satan.

In both the Old and New Testament we are told of a "Mysterious and Terrible Personage" that shall be revealed in the "Last Times." He is described under different names and aliases, and it is only by a careful examination and comparison of these names, and the Person they describe that we see that they refer to one and the same individual. These names are-

In the Old Testament.
Ezekiel 28

"Prince of Tyrus" and "King of Tyrus"

Daniel 7,8,9,11

"The Little Horn.", "A King of Fierce Countenance.", "The Prince that Shall Come.", "The Wilful King."

In the New Testament.
2 Thessalonians 2,

"The Man of Sin.", "Son of Perdition.", "That Wicked."

1 John 2:18,

"Antichrist"

Revelation 13

"The Beast."

Jesus also made a prophetic reference to him. John 5: 43 when the Jews rejected Jesus is their Messiah, when the Antichrist comes they will accept him.

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.

His Personality.

The Apostolic Church believed that Antichrist was to be a "person," the embodiment of human blasphemy and wickedness, but toward the close of the Twelfth Century many began to look upon the Pope as Antichrist, and this view has been largely advocated by Protestant commentators. The arguments in favour of this view are ingenious and plausible, but they are hard to reconcile with the Word of God. This view makes Antichrist a "System" rather than a Person, and would see in the "Papal System" the Antichrist. But this is disproved by the Word of God. The Papal System although it plays a major part in bringing the Anti-Christ to power, is NOT the Anti-Christ.

The Apostle John says in 1 John 2:22 and 1 John 4:3;

22. Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is Antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
3. Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in THE FLESH (His Deity) is not of God; and this is that spirit of Antichrist.

Judaism has denied that "Jesus is the Christ," and Unitarianism that He has "come in the flesh," but the Papacy never. The Church of Rome has always confessed "I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord."

All Protestant commentators insist that the "Papal System" is described in Revelation 17: 4, 5.

4. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
5. And upon her forehead was a name written, mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.

This is undoubtedly true, but this "Woman," the "Mother of Harlots," is represented as riding upon a "Beast," universally admitted to be the Antichrist. If the "Beast" is the Antichrist, the "Woman" cannot be, and that they are separate and do not signify the same thing is clear.

Again the Antichrist, as the "Man of Sin" is described in Daniel 11:36,37 and 2 Thessalonians 2:4 as follows;

36. And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
37. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

However false and impious the claims of the Papacy, it always recognises its subordination to God, and the Pope's highest claim is that he is the "Vicar of Christ." Following on we must also look at Revelation 13:3-4.

3. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

The Papal System worships the Virgin and the Saints, but it is not true that it worships the Devil. Now look at Revelation 14:9-11.

5. If any man worship the Beast and His Image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall; drink of the wine of the Wrath of God.....and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone;......and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever…and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the Beast and His Image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

If the Papal System is the Antichrist, it follows from the above that all its worshippers, instead of being saved, are doomed to eternal torment. Again, the Lord, who destroys Antichrist at His Coming, comes to Jerusalem, not to Rome, the seat of the Papal System.

While there are many things in the history of the Church of Rome, and in the conduct of her Popes that foreshadow the Antichrist, yet it is clear from the preceding scriptures that the Papal System is not the Antichrist, and that these scriptures can only be fulfilled in the person of some Individual yet to appear.

The Antichrist is not a Rival or Counterfeit Christ, he is an Opposing Christ. This is clearly seen when we compare him with Christ in a series of Contrasts.

Christ came from Above. John 6: 38
Antichrist comes from the earth. Revelation 13: 1.

Christ came in His Father's name. John 5: 43
Antichrist comes in his own name. John 5: 43.

Christ Humbled Himself. Phil. 2: 8
Antichrist Exalts himself. 2 Thessalonians 2: 4.

Christ Despised. Isaiah 53: 3; Luke 23: 18
Antichrist Admired. Revelation 13: 3, 4.

Christ Exalted. Philippians 2: 9
Antichrist cast Down to Hell. Isaiah 14: 14, 15; Rev. 19: 20.

Christ to do His Father's will. John 6: 38
Antichrist to do his Own will. Daniel 11: 36.

Christ came to save. Luke 19: 10
Antichrist comes to Destroy. Daniel 8: 24.

Christ is the Good Shepherd. John 10: 4-15
Antichrist is the Idol (evil) Shepherd. Zechariah 11: 16,17.

Christ is the "True Vine." John 15:1
Antichrist is the "Vine of the Earth." Revelation 14:18.

Christ is the "Truth." John 14: 6
Antichrist is the "Lie." 2 Thessalonians 2:11.

Christ is the "Holy One." Mark 1: 24
Antichrist is the "Wicked One." 2 Thessalonians 2: 8, (R.V. says Lawless)

Christ is the "Man of Sorrows." Isaiah 53: 3
Antichrist is the "Man of Sin." 2 Thessalonians 2: 3.

Christ is the "Son of God." Luke 1: 35
Antichrist is the "Son of Perdition." 2 Thessalonians 2: 3.

Christ, "The Mystery of Godliness," is God manifest in the flesh. 1 Timothy 3: 16
Antichrist, "The Mystery of Iniquity," will be Satan manifest in the flesh. 2 Thessalonians 2:7.

His Origin.

Isaiah's Fore view.

In Isaiah 11: 4, a chapter which is evidently Messianic, we read that among other things which the Messiah will do-

4. .and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

The word translated "The Wicked," is in the singular number, and cannot refer to wicked persons in general, but to some ONE person who is conspicuously wicked. The expression is strikingly like that of Paul's in 2 Thessalonians 2: 8

8. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

It is evident that Isaiah and Paul refer to the same individual, who can be no other than the Antichrist. In Isaiah 14: 4-17 there is a description of a "King of Babylon" who shall smite the people in his wrath, and rule the nations in anger, and shall in his pride say-

13. For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

This king is called LUCIFER, SATAN or the DEVIL, "Son of the morning," and his "fall" is described.

12. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

He is cast down to the ground (earth), where his coming creates a great stir among the kings of the earth that have preceded him, and who exclaim when they see him-

10. All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?
16. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
17. That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

There has never as Yet been such a king of Babylon as is here described. It must therefore refer to some "future ruler" of Babylon when Babylon shall be rebuilt, is it is to be.
Verses 12 to 14 evidently, refer to Satan, and are descriptive of him before his fall, but as he is to incarnate himself in the Antichrist, who is to be a future King of Babylon, it explains the source of the pride and presumption of Antichrist, which will lead to his downfall, as it did to Satan's.

Daniel's Fore view.

In the study on the Beasts we described how Daniel saw come up among the "Ten Horns" on the head of the Fourth Wild Beast a "Little Horn, " and that this "Little Horn" had "eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things." Daniel 7: 7, 8.

7. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
8. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Daniel was told that this "Little Horn" was a king that should arise, and that he would be a "person" of remarkable intelligence and great oratorical powers, having a "mouth speaking great things." That he would be audacious, arrogant, imperious and persecuting, and change "times and laws" and that the "Saints of the Most High" (Daniel's own people, the Jews) would be given into his hands for a "Time" and "Times" and the "dividing of Time," or 3.5 years. Daniel 7: 23-26. (This is the second half of the 7 years of tribulation)

Later Daniel had a vision of a Ram and a He-Goat contesting for supremacy. Daniel 8: 1-27.
The He-Goat had a "notable horn" between his eyes. This "Great Horn" was broken, and in its place "four notable horns" sprang up, and out of one of them sprang forth a "Little Horn" which waxed exceedingly great toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the 'Pleasant Land' (Palestine). And it waxed great, even to the 'Host of Heaven,' and it cast down some of the 'Host' and of the 'Stars' (angels) to the ground, and stamped upon them. Yea, He (the Little Horn) magnified himself even to the 'Prince of the Host' (the Lord God, Joshua 5: 13-15, 1 Samuel 17: 45), and by Him (the 'Little Horn'-Antichrist) the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary (the Temple) was cast down." Daniel 8: 9-11.

When Daniel asked for the meaning of the vision he was told that the Ram stood for the Medo-Persian Kingdom, and the He-Goat for the Grecian, and that the "Four Horns" that came up in the place of the "Great Horn" stood for "Four Kings" and that the "Little Horn" that came up on one of the "Four Horns" stood for a King of "Fierce Countenance," who in the "latter time" of their kingdom (the Four World wide Kingdoms and not the four Kingdoms into which the Grecian Empire was divided, for the "time" will be that when the "transgressors are come to the full"), shall stand up.

This King shall understand dark sentences, and His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power (Satan shall incarnate himself in him), and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice and shall destroy the mighty and the Holy People (the Jews). And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand (no one shall be able to buy without the 'mark of the Beast.' Revelation 13:17), and he shall magnify himself in his heart (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4), and by peace shall destroy many; he shall also stand up against the 'Prince of Princes,' (Christ) but he shall be broken without hand (By the Word of God). Daniel 8:23-25.

This clearly identifies the "little Horn" or "King of Fierce Countenance" which came out of one of the "Four Horns" that took the place of the "Notable Horn" on the head of the He-Goat as the Antichrist. It was not Antiochus Epiphaines or any other ruler of the past, who have never stood up against JESUS CHRIST, the "Prince of Princes."

Neither was Antiochus Epiphaines "broken without hand;" he died a natural death at Tabae in BC 165. But the Antichrist is to be "broken without hand." His Kingdom is to be destroyed by a "stone cut out of the mountain without hands," the "Stone Kingdom" of the Lord Jesus Christ, Daniel 2:34, 35, 44, 45, and he himself shall be "paralysed" by the "brightness of the Lord's Coming" (2 Thessalonians 2: 8), and be cast "alive" into the Lake of Fire. Revelation 19: 20,

20. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Two "good" men, Enoch and Elijah, were translated to Heaven without dying," and two "bad" men, spoken of officially as the Beast (Anti-Chris)and the False Prophet, shall be cast into the Lake of Fire "without dying."

Those who claim that the "Little Horn" of Daniel 7, and the "Little Horn" of Daniel 8, are not the same, because the "Little Horn" of Daniel 7 arises amid the "Ten Horns," of the Fourth Beast, which represents the ROMAN EMPIRE, and the "Little Horn" of Daniel 8, arises on one of the Four Horns (SYRIA)," that take the place of the "Great Horn" on the head of the He-Goat, which represents the Third Beast, the Grecian Empire, forget that the vision that the Apostle John had was of the revived Roman Empire (The Roman Empire in its last stage), reveals the fact that the "last stage" of the Roman Empire will include "all the characteristics" of the whole Four Empires, Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian and old Roman. Revelation 13:1-2

2. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

This is seen in the character of the "Beast" which John saw come up out of the sea (The World). It was like unto a Leopard (Greece), with the "feet" of a Bear (Medo-Persian), and the "mouth" of a Lion (Babylon). The fact that the "body" of the Beast was like a Leopard (Greece) reveals the fact that the preponderating feature of the revived Roman Empire will be Grecian, and that therefore the "Ten Federated Kingdoms" will in include the Four Kingdoms into which the Grecian Empire was divided; Egypt, Macedon, Thrace and Syria.

It follows therefore that the "Little Horn" that arises on the "Fourth Horn" of the He-Goat (SYRIA- Which was annexed into the Roman empire) is identical with the "Little Horn" of the Fourth Beast (The Complete Roman Empire).

Those who claim that the "Little Horn" that came up on one of the "Four Horns" of the He-Goat was fulfilled in Antiochus Epiphaines (who was a king of Syria) overlook the fact that while Antiochus Epiphaines devastated Palestine and caused an "idol altar" to be erected on the altar of the Temple, on which he offered swine's flesh, which was an abomination to the Jews, he does not fulfil the description of the "Little Horn" of the He-Goat. Daniel 8:9-13. He does not compare with him for Satanic malice.

The "Abomination of Desolation" that Daniel refers to (Daniel 9: 27) is to occur in the "last half" of Daniel's Seventieth "week," and as Jesus spoke of it as still unfulfilled in His day (Matthew 24: 15),

15. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

It is clear that Antiochus Epiphaines was not the fulfilment of the "Little Horn" of Daniel 8: 9-13 but can be viewed as a TYPE or Simile of the Anti-Christ. While it was revealed to Daniel that the "Little Horn," or Antichrist, should come out of one of the "Four Horns" that took the place of the "Great Horn" on the head of the He-Goat, he needed further light as to which one.

His Country of Origin.

We now know from history that the "Great Horn" represented Alexander the Great, and that the "Four Notable Horns" that took the place of the "Great Horn" at the death of Alexander the Great represented the Four Kingdoms into which his Kingdom was divided; Egypt, Macedon, Thrace and Syria, which included Assyria. These Four Kingdoms were in time all absorbed into the "Fourth World Kingdom," the Roman Empire, the last to lose its identity being Egypt, which succumbed in BC 30.

That Daniel might know in which one of these Four Kingdoms the "Little Horn," or Antichrist, should arise, 15 years after his vision of the "Ram and He-Goat" the Lord gave him a third vision, that of two kings, the "King of the North" and the "King of the South." Daniel 11: 1-45.

The "King of the North" was the King of Syria, and as his character and conduct is described (Daniel 11: 36-38) as similar to that of the "Little Horn" that came out of one of the "Four Horns" it is clear that the Antichrist is to come from Syria.

That the "King of the North" spoken of in Daniel 11: 21-31 was Antiochus Epiphaines there can be no question, but that he was not the "Little Horn," or the Antichrist, who is to come out of Syria in the "latter days" is clear from the remainder of the chapter from the 35th verse, which describes the conduct of the future Antichrist.

The intervening verses, the 32nd to the 35th inclusive, fill in the gap between the time of Antiochus Epiphaines and the appearance of the Antichrist. Although we can say Antiochus was a pre-Anti-Christ as John the Baptist was a pre-Christ, there the similarities stop. Antiochus was a man endowed with no powers other than his own human wishes. The Anti-Christ will be GIVEN powers, which will enable him to do more than Antiochus ever dreamed. John the Baptist WAS given powers by God to fulfil his role before Jesus arrived.

The terms "North" and "South" are applied to Syria and Egypt because of their geographic relation to Palestine (the Pleasant or Glorious Land. Daniel 8:9; 11:16, 41). In spiritual terms, Jerusalem is the geographic and moral centre or the earth. We are to understand therefore by the "King of the North" the King of Syria, which also included Assyria, fixes the locality from which the Antichrist shall come, for we read in Isaiah 10:12 and Isaiah 14:25;

12. Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, (which will not be until Christ's return) I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria (the Anti-Christ), and the glory of his high looks.
25. That I will break the Assyrian (the Anti-Christ) in my land (Palestine), and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them (Israel), and his burden depart from off their shoulders.

The context shows that this prophecy is connected with the restoration of Israel to their own land and the time of the downfall of Antichrist.
To re-cap, we see from the three visions of Daniel that-

1. He learned from the "Little Horn" of the Fourth wild Beast, that a Mysterious and Terrible Personage was to arise in the "Latter Days."

2. He learned from the "Little Horn" that came up on one of the "Four Notable Horns" that took the place of the "Great Horn" on the He-Goat, that that "Terrible Personage" was to come out of one of the Kingdoms into which the Grecian Empire was divided at the death of Alexander the Great.

3. We learned from the vision of the "King of the North" that that "Terrible Personage" would come out of the Syrian division of Alexander's kingdom.

The Antichrist, therefore, in all probability will be a SYRIAN JEW, for it is not likely that the Jews will accept as their Messiah one who is not a Jew, unless the claimant by false pretence makes them believe he is one. This, however, does not prevent the Antichrist being a Roman citizen, and a king of the revived Roman Empire, for Saul of Tarsus was both a Jew and a Roman citizen.

Paul's Fore view.

Writing to the Thessalonians, Paul says 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10;

3. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (Rapture) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Verse 4 is a description of the Anti-Christ, not a continuation of the events to happen before that day.
4. Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6. And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: (In Paul's day) only he who now letteth (The presence of the church, the body of Christ) will let, until he be taken out of the way (At the rapture).
8. And then shall that Wicked ,(the Anti-Christ) be revealed, (Rest of verse is a description, not continuation) whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming (Second Coming):
9. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

In the American Standard Edition of the Bible the Antichrist is called the MYSTERY OF LAWLESSNESS or the LAWLESS ONE. As such he is not the cause of Lawlessness, he is the result or fruit of it, for he will arise out of the seething cauldron of Lawlessness that is now becoming pronounced and manifest in the world.

The name that the Apostle Paul gives the Antichrist, the SON OF PERDITION is not without significance. The name is used but twice in the Scripture. It is first used by Christ of JUDAS (John 17:12),

12. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the SON OF PERDITION; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Then here as we have just discussed of the ANTICHRIST. The Apostle also calls the Antichrist in this passage the MYSTERY OF INIQUITY. What does that mean ?

In 1 Timothy 3:16, Christ is spoken of as the MYSTERY OF GODLINESS. That is, that He was GOD MANIFEST IN THE FLESH. How did He become manifest in the flesh. By being born of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit. Thus it was that Jesus became the SON OF GOD. Luke 1:35.

35. And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshdow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the SON OF GOD.

Now as iniquity is the opposite of Godliness, then the MYSTERY OF INIQUITY must be the opposite of the MYSTERY OF GODLINESS. That is, if Christ is the MYSTERY OF GODLINESS, the Anti-Christ must be the MYSTERY OF INIQUITY, and as Christ was the SON OF GOD, then the Anti-Christ must be the SON OF PERDITION, that is of SATAN.

And as Christ was born of a virgin by the Holy Spirit, so Antichrist will be born of a WOMAN (not necessarily a virgin) by Satan. This is no new view for it has been held by many of God's spiritually minded children since the days of the Apostle John, and there is some warrant for it in the Scriptures.

In Genesis 3:15, God said to the Serpent,

15. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Now if the woman's SEED was CHRIST, then the Serpent's SEED must be ANTICHRIST. In John 8: 44 Jesus said to the Jews.

44. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

In the Greek there is the definite article before lie, and it should read THE LIE, so when the Devil speaks of THE LIE, he is speaking of his own (child), for he is a liar, and the FATHER OF IT-THE LIE. And it is worthy, of note that in the verse (2 Thessalonians 2:11) that follows the passage we are considering that the Apostle says

11. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

Here again the definite article is found in the Greek, and it should read The LIE, the SON OF PERDITION, the ANTICHRIST.

But why was Judas called the SON OF PERDITION? Was he a child of Satan by some woman, or was he simply indwelt by Satan? Here we must let the Scriptures speak for themselves. In John 6: 70-71 we read that Jesus said

70. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
71. He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

He spoke of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon; for he it was that should betray Him, being one of the Twelve. In no other passage than this is the word Devil applied to anyone but to Satan himself. Here the word is diabolus, the definite article is employed, and it should read and one of you is THE DEVIL. This would make Judas the Devil incarnate (possessed), or the MYSTERY OF INIQUITY, and explains why Jesus in John 17:12, calls him the SON OF PERDITION. In John 13: 27 we see when Satan took control of Judas, not by force though, but with his understanding and will.

27. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

This is the only place in the Scriptures where the word diabolus is applied to a human being, and it implies an incarnation. While Perdition is a PLACE Revelation 17:8,11;

8. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into PERDITION: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
11. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into PERDITION.

It is also a condition into which men may fall 1 Timothy 6:9 & Hebrews 10:39.

9. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and PERDITION.
39. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

While men who have committed the Unpardonable Sin are sons of perdition because they are destined to the place of the irrevocably lost, Judas and the Anti-Christ are the SONS OF PERDITION in a special sense, for they are the sons of the AUTHOR of Perdition, THE DEVIL.

That is they are not merely obsessed or controlled by the Devil, the Devil has incarnated himself in them, and for the time being, to all practical purposes, they are the very Devil himself.

The next question that arises is, If Judas and the Antichrist are both called the SON OF PERDITION, are they one and the same? NO Judas and the Anti-Christ are not one but Judas and the false prophet could be!. The Anti-Christ is definitely MAN, flesh and blood, who is possessed by Satan at a later stage, It would also mean that Judas would have to die twice, and we know from Hebrews 9:27

27. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

The False Prophet can not be man as he comes from the Abyss. Turning to Revelation 11:7, we read

7. And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

The Beast that slays the Two Witnesses ascended out of the Bottomless Pit (ABYSS), and we know that Beast is the FALSE PROPPHET. - Now how did he get into the ABYSS? Well, he got in the ABYSS when Judas went to his Own Place (the ABYSS). Acts 1: 25.

25. That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

Of no other person is it said anywhere in the Scriptures that he went to his own place. To confirm this theory we must now look to Revelation 17:8 where it is said,

8. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

On the surface this is a very confusing verse and is often overlooked as one of those verses which God will reveal in the end. However if we examine it, it becomes all to clear. There are four things said of him. First, he WAS. Second, he IS NOT. Third, he shall ASCEND OUT OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT. Fourth, he shall GO INTO PERDITION.

From this we learn that in John's day the Beast Was Not, but that he had been before on the earth and was to come again, that he was to ASCEND FROM THE BOTTOMLESS PIT. This is positive proof that the FALSE PROPHET has been on the earth before, and that when he comes in the future he will come from the ABYSS.

The question then arises, when was False Prophet on the earth before? If Judas and the False Prophet are one and the same the enigma is solved. When Judas was on the earth, he WAS; when Judas went to his Own Place he WAS NOT; when Judas comes back from the Abyss he will be-THE FALSE PROPHET. Obviously I can not say without doubt that this theory is correct, but with an open mind it seems to be a logical solution.

John's Fore view.

On the Isle of Patmos the Apostle John had his vision of the Antichrist. Revelation 13:1-8.

1. And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea (Mediterranean Sea), having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5. And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints (not the saints of the Church; they were already in glory), and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

When we compare these Foreviews, and note the similarity of conduct of Daniel's LITTLE HORN, Paul's MAN OF SIN, and John's BEAST. Also that Daniel's LITTLE HORN and John's BEAST are to continue for the same length of time-Forty and Two Months, or 3.5 years, and that Daniel's LITTLE HORN, Paul's MAN OF SIN, and John's BEAST, are all to be destroyed in the same manner at Christ's Second Coming. We see that they all prefigure the same Evil Power which is after the Working of Satan, and which John in 1 John 2:18, calls THE ANTICHRIST.

In other words when we find in prophecy three Symbolic Personages that come upon the stage of action at the same time, occupy the same territory, exhibit the same character, do the same work, exist the same length of time, and meet the same fate, they MUST symbolise the SAME THING.