ANTICHRIST is a word derived from the Greek Avrimis-65, and signifies "one who assumes the place of Christ, or acts in opposition to him." In this general sense, every person who is hostile to his authority or his religion may be called Antichrist. But the term is usually employed by ecclesiastical writers, to denominate a great power that was to arise at some period of the Christian church, and in an extraordinary degree to corrupt the doctrine, blaspheme the name, and persecute the followers of Christ.
That a power of this kind is predicted in various pas sages of scripture, is thought to be abundantly evident. But it is certainly far from being equally clear to what particular power the prophecies may be justly applied. And, accordingly, on this point a great diversity of opinion has always prevailed. Many different systems have been proposed. Some of them are very extrava gant. Others are extremely plausible, and well support ed. There is not one, however, to which strong objec tions may not be urged :—objections, indeed, that are quite insuperable, unless we are disposed to admit con jecture instead of facts, and to dispense with the ordinary rules of criticism and interpretation. Of the truth of this assertion, we do not think it necessary to offer any proof. It will be readily acknowledged, by every one who has attended to the progress, and is acquainted with the present state of the controversy. After all that has been said and written, almost nobody of any reflection is satisfied, excepting those who have committed them selves, by taking a decided part previously to examina tion, and publishing their opinion to the world ; and, even in their case, it is too obvious, that affected conviction is mingled with many doubts Among all unprejudiced and dispassionate people, it is still asked, " Who-is Anti christ ?" Now, since men of the greatest learning and ability, have been unsuccessful in their attempts to determine this question in a satisfactory manner, might not be altogether unreasonable to conclude, that Antichrist has not yet appeared ; for, if he has, he could not fail possess ing those marked and striking characters ascribed to him in prophecy, to be immediately and universally re cognised. And, truly, this conclusion we should most
probably adopt, or else despair of ever seeing the myste ry unfolded, if we agreed with the generality of divines in that insulated view of Antichrist which they have primarily embraced, and in conformity to which all their investigations and reasonings have been conducted. But we are inclined to think, with some others, that in this. respect they have committed a fundamental error; that they have mistaken a generic for a specific term, and expected a single adversary, under a name which was i originally and really intended to express, in one com prehensive word, all the open adversaries of the Chris tian faith, that should ever appear in the world. Aware that nothing can be more foolish, though nothing has been more indulged in, than dogmatism on this obscure point, we offer our opinion with the greatest diffidence ; and, without stopping to skew how much it is countenanc ed by the language of scripture, and how much it is supported by the circumstance already mentioned, we would only recommend it to the serious consideration of all who may hereafter study or discuss this apparently difficult and hitherto unresolved question concerning Antichrist.
We shall now lay before the reader a concise enume ration of the different theories of Antichrist that have been offered, and refer him to the authors from whom lie may derive more accurate and extended information.
1. It has been thought by some, that, from the names given, and the qualities ascribed to Antichrist by pro phecy, he can be no other than the devil himself ; and that as Christ was incarnate, and proved his deity by miracles, so this arch-fiend will appear in human form, and endeavour to persuade men that he is God, by signs and lying wonders. This opinion, which was held by Hilary the Deacon, St Hippolitus, and others, is not quite so ridiculous as may at first sight he imagined ; for it is generally allowed by the soberest writers on this subject, that the devil personally, though not visibly, acts a real and important part in the antichristian war fare against the gospel.