Facts of Faith

The Antichrist

Defining The Name Antichrist

THE name “antichrist” is found in only three chapters of the Bible, and in every instance it was emphatically stated that he was already in the world. We read: FAFA 196.1

“Ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists.... Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” 1 John 2:18, 22. “This is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” 1 John 4:3. “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” 2 John 7. How can anyone, in the light of these plain texts, say that the antichrist here spoken of is not yet come, when the very texts declare that he is here already? FAFA 196.2

These texts also reveal the fact that the apostle did not believe antichrist to be only one individual, but rather an antichristian tendency in the church: an organization dominated by “the spirit of antichrist,” having a man at its head, so that when he died another would take his place, and the antichristian system would continue. Thus there would be “many antichrists,” as the apostle says, but only one system; and this system had already made such progress before the apostle died, that it was about to capture the church. Its leader would not accept the Apostle John, one leader “forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.” 3 John 9, 10. This accounts for the warnings in John’s epistles against these “many antichrists.” 1 John 2:18. FAFA 196.3

The Apostle Paul, during his last journey among the churches, gathered “the elders,” or bishops, and warned them against the coming apostasy of the church, which was to be brought about by its leaders. He says: “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” Acts 20:29, 30. Later the apostle reminded the believers, that the day of Christ’s return was not then at hand: “For that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God [the church, 1 Corinthians 3:10, 16], showing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? ... For the mystery of iniquity doth already work.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-7. FAFA 196.4

These prophecies point out clearly that the “elders” (later called bishops) would “draw away” the people from the truth of the Bible, to follow men, and that this “falling away,” which had “already” begun in Paul’s day, would develop, until a “man” would exalt himself to take the place of Christ in the church. Every thoughtful student of prophecy can see that this points unmistakably to the Papacy, and it accords exactly with the significance of the name “antichrist.” FAFA 197.1

Dr. James Strong says that “antichrist” comes from two Greek words, antee and khristos, and gives the following definition of antee: “Opposite, i.e. instead or because of .... for, in the room of. Often used in composition to denote ... substitution.” — Exhaustive Concordance, Greek Dictionary, entries Nos. 500, 473. Thomas Sheldon Green says: “Anti, prep, over against; hence, in correspondence to; in place of ...” — Greek-English Lexicon, p. 14. Boston: 1896. The meaning, therefore, of “antichrist,” as it is used in the New Testament, is a rival to Christ, or one who attempts to take the place of Christ as His “vicar.” This significance of the prefix “anti” is also seen in the word “anti-pope.” (For further information on this point see “The Papacy Is Antichrist,” by J. A. Wylie, pp. 2-18. Edinburgh: George M’Gibbon.) We shall now see that this is exactly the position which Catholics claim for the pope, that he holds the place of Christ on earth. Rev. T. L. Kinkead says: FAFA 197.2

“Our Holy Father the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, is the vicar of Christ on earth and the visible head of the Church.” FAFA 198.1

“‘Vicar’ - that is, one who holds another’s place and acts in his name” — “Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism,” p. 130. Benziger Brothers. (Sanctioned by Cardinal Gibbons, five archbishops, nineteen bishops, and other dignitaries.) FAFA 198.2

Rev. William Humphrey, S. J., says: FAFA 198.3

“A vicar is put in the place of him whom he represents. He is invested with his power, he is furnished with his authority.... He personates his principal.... The master, by his appointment of a vicar, binds himself to ratify his vicar’s acts, and to recognize them as his own.” — “The Vicar of Christ,” p. 4. New York: Benziger Brothers, 1892.

Thomas Morell, D. D., and Prof. John Carey, LL.D., says: FAFA 198.4

“Vicarius, a, um. adj. That is in stead, or place of another; that supplies another’s room; a deputy.... One who performs the office, or duty, of another; a deputy, a substitute.” — An Abridgement of Ainsworth’s Latin Dictionary, Designed for the Use of Schools, p. 604. London: 1826.

When the force of this similarity between the antichrist of prophecy and the pope of Rome dawned upon the mind of Cardinal Newman, he declared: FAFA 198.5

“The gibe, ‘If the Pope is not Antichrist, he has had bad luck to be so like him,’ is really another argument in favor of the claims of the Pope; since Antichrist simulates Christ, and the Pope is an image of Christ, Antichrist must have some similarity to the Pope, if the latter be the true Vicar of Christ.” — Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. I, p. 561, art. “Antichrist.” FAFA 198.6

Thus it is claimed that the pope is the vicar of Christ on earth. But Christ left an altogether different Vicar, or Representative, in His place; namely, the Holy Spirit. (John 14:15-18; 16:7.) Of this Representative Christ says: “He shall teach you all things.” “He will guide you into all truth!’ John 14:26; 16:13. (Compare 1 John 2:20, 27.) The Holy Spirit, being the author of the Bible (2 Peter 1:21), certainly should be the proper interpreter of it. To this the Roman church answers: FAFA 198.7

“Nor can it be said that being a divinely inspired book, its prime Author, the Holy Spirit, will guide the reader to the right meaning. FAFA 199.1

“The Church which made the Bible, likewise interprets the Bible.” — “Things Catholics Are Asked About,” Martin J. Scott, S. J., Litt. D., pp. 119, 120. N. Y.: Kenedy, 1927. FAFA 199.2

Pope Leo XIII says: FAFA 199.3

“But the supreme teacher in the Church is the Roman Pontiff. Union of minds, therefore, requires, together with a perfect accord in the one faith, complete submission and obedience of will to the Church and to the Roman Pontiff, as to God Himself.” — “The Great Encyclical Letters of Pope Leo XIII,” p. 193. New York: Benziger Bros., 1903. He further says:

“We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty.” — Id., p. 304. FAFA 199.4

We have now seen from authentic Catholic sources, that the pope arrogates to himself the “place of God Almighty,” the office of Christ on earth, and the prerogative of the Holy Spirit, as sole teacher of the faithful, and the interpreter of the Holy Scriptures. What more is needed to fulfill the prediction of 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4, and the prophecies of the Antichrist? FAFA 199.5