Smith's Bible Dictionary
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Antichrist
This term is employed by the apostle John alone, and is defined by him in a manner which leaves no doubt as to its intrinsic meaning. With regard to its application there is less certainty. In the first passage-- 1Jo 2:18 --in which it occurs, the apostle makes direct reference to the false Christs whose coming, it had been fore-told, should mark the last days. In v. 22 we find, "he is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son;" and still more positively, "every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of antichrist." Comp. 2Jo 1:7 From these emphatic and repeated definitions it has been supposed that the object of the apostle in his first epistle was to combat the errors of Cerinthus, the Docetae and the Gnostics on the subject of the Incarnation. (They denied the union of the divine and human in Christ.) The coming of Antichrist was (believed to be foretold in the "vile person" of Daniel's prophecy, Da 11:21 which received its first accomplishment in Antiochus Epiphanes but of which the complete fulfillment was reserved for the last times. He is identified with "the man of sin, the son of perdition." 2Th 2:3 This interpretation brings Antichrist into close connection with the gigantic power of evil, symbolized by the "beast," Re 13:1 ... who received his power from the dragon (i.e. the devil, the serpent of Genesis), continued for forty and two months, and was invested with the kingdom of the ten kings who destroyed the harlot Babylon, Re 17:12,17 the city of seven hills. The destruction of Babylon is to be followed by the rule of Antichrist for a short period, Re 17:10 to be in his turn overthrown in "the battle of that great day of God Almighty," Re 16:14 with the false prophet and all his followers. Rev. 19. The personality of Antichrist is to be inferred as well from the personality of his historical precursor as from that of him to whom he stands opposed. Such an interpretation is to be preferred to that which regards Antichrist as the embodiment and personification of all powers and agencies inimical to Christ, or of the Antichristian might of the world.
Bibliography InformationSmith, William, Dr "Meaning and Definition for 'antichrist' in Smiths Bible Dictionary".
bible-history.com - Smith's; 1901.
Copyright Information© Smith's Bible Dictionary
Smith's Bible Dictionary Home
Bible History Online Home
Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
Online Bible (KJV)
Naves Topical Bible
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Schaff's Bible Dictionary
Fausset's Bible Dictionary
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
Hitchcock's Bible Dictionary
Popular and Trending:
Meaning and
Definition of Pharaoh, Who Was the Pharaoh of the Exodus, Did God Harden
Pharaoh's Heart, Which Pharaoh Reigned during the Time of Joseph and Moses
,
How Many
Watches of the Night, What were the Jewish Watches of the Night, What Is the
Meaning of the Fourth Watch, Midnight and the Cock Crowing
,
What Were
Thorns and Thistles in the Bible, What were the Different Thorns and Thistles,
How Many Different Plants And Trees Had Thorns In the Time of Jesus
,
Where Was Nineveh,
Definition and Meaning of Nineveh, Who Were the Assyrians, Which the Syrian King
Made Nineveh Their Capital, Which Palaces Were Nineveh, Did Archaeologists
Discovered Nineveh
,
What is
the meaning of Edom and Idumea, Where the Edomites Descendents of Esau, Was
Herod and Edomite, When was Petra A City of Edom, Why Did the Edomites Fail When
They Attacked Israel After Jerusalem Fell
,
Why did Noah send a
Raven? Was The Biblical Raven A Crow, Why Are Raven's Black, What Was the Raven
in the Mosaic Law, Do Raven's Attack the Eyes
,
What was a
Crown of Thorns, Which Thorny Shrub or Plant Was the Crown of Thorns Made from,
What Color Was the Crown of Thorns, in Matthew 27:29 Why did the Roman soldiers
mock Jesus using a Crown of Thorns
,
What was a Gergesenes, Where Was Gadara And What Is the Modern Name, Where Was
the Place That Jesus Healed the Two Demon Possessed Man, What Is the Meaning of
Gadarenes, What Is a Demoniac
,
What were the
10 Plagues, What Does the Bible Say about Each of the 10 Plagues, Did God Use
the 10 Plagues to Mock the Gods of Egypt, in Exodus 3-12 How Are the Plagues
Described, Was the Passover Part of the 10th Plague
,
Where was Zoar, What Is
the Biblical Meaning of okaythe Land of Zoar, Has Zoar Been Discovered, Where
Was Zoar in Relation to Sodom and Gomorrah