ANTICHRIST (an'tf-krist), (Cr. dvr(xplaros, an tee'khris-tos, against Christ ; some, instead of Christ), a word used only by the apostle John (Epistles t and 2).
(1) Meaning. The meaning attached to this word has been greatly modified by the controver sies of various churches and sects. In Scripture, however, and the early Christian writers, it has an application sufficiently distinct from partial in terpretations. Antichrist, according to St. John, is the ruling spirit of error, the enemy of the truth of the Gospel as it is displayed in the divinity and holiness of Christ (1 John ii:18, 22; iv:3; 2 John 7). This is the primary meaning of the term, and we are led at once to consider it as the proper title of Satan.
(2) Many Antichrists. But the same apostle speaks of the existence of many antichrists: whence we learn that it is applicable to any being who opposes Christ in the 11102 places of spiritual wickedness. St. Paul speaks of 'the man of sin' as not yet revealed (I Tim. iv :i ), and it is sup posed by most interpreters that Antichrist is to be understood as the object alluded to by the apostle; but if we attend strictly to his words, the anti christ of whom he spoke must have been then, and at the time when he was writing, 'opposing and exalting himself above all that is called God,' al though awaiting some distant season for the open display of his power and wickedness.
St. Paul's picture (2 Thess. ii :3, 4) seemed so
like Nero that many of the ancients thought that prince was antichrist.
(3) Views of Early Writers. Justin Martyr, in his Dialogue with Trypho, describes him as ex ercising his wrath against Christians with espe cial fury in the period immediately preceding the Second Advent. Cyril of Jerusalem represents him as reigning three years and six months pre paratory to the entire destruction of his dominion at the second coming of Christ. The same father says that he will deceive bath Jews and Gentiles ; the former by representing himself as the Mes siah; the latter, by his magical arts and incanta tions. St. Chrysostom observes, on the passage in the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians, that antichrist will not lead men to idolatry,. but will rather abolish the worship of false gods, as well as that of the true God, commanding the world to worship himself alone as the only Deity.
These views of the early writers, as well as the expressions of Scripture, have been perverted by many men of warm imaginations to the worst purposes of controversy. The effects of general corruption have often been charged upon offices and individuals ; and the appellation of anti christ as readily applied to them as if it had actually been coupled in Scripture with their names and titles. H. S.