A N T I C H R I S T
This brief study of The Antichrist will not be the last
word on this subject. It is intended to give Christians a view of this teaching of
Scripture on this subject and then to share what the Lutheran Confessions and some of our
church fathers have said about this topic.
FUNDAMENTAL & NON-FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES & DOGMA
Every word of Holy Scripture is God’s Word. As such it must be received with faith
and reverence. Christians should never willingly deny or despise any word of God in Holy
Writ. Every word of Holy Scripture is truth and totally reliable. Thus in a sense every
word or statement or teaching of the Bible is a "doctrine," that is, something
that Christians must accept and believe.
At the same time, we divide the teachings or doctrines of the Bible into three
categories as noted in the heading. First, we have "fundamental doctrines" which
refers to basic truths of God and the sinner’s salvation. These must be known and
believed by Christians. Fundamental doctrines are then divided into "primary
fundamental doctrines" which deal with those teachings essential to salvation, such
as the Triune God, justification by grace alone through faith alone, sin and its
consequences, the person of Christ and His vicarious atonement, the Word of God, and the
resurrection). The second division of the fundamental doctrines are the "secondary
fundamental doctrines," which are not absolutely necessary for salvation although
they also serve as a foundation of faith (e.g., the Sacraments). "Non-fundamental
Doctrine" does not deal with the foundation of saving faith, but some teaching of
Scripture which serves one’s faith. It may deal with historical, geographic or
archeological matters. The Antichrist fits the description of a non-fundamental doctrine.
Then we come to "dogma," which means any doctrine formulated in the
confessions of a church. A dogma may be erroneous if it is not a clear teaching of
Scripture. Dogma, creeds, and confessions have a proper place in the Church ONLY in the
measure in which they teach the doctrines of God from Holy Writ. (Matt. 15:9)
What the Bible says about The Antichrist as reflected in our Lutheran Confessions and
the fathers is a dogma, that is, it is a teaching of Scripture which is found in our
Confessions.
ANTICHRISTS & THE ANTICHRIST
The Bible uses various terms for those that misuse God’s words in Holy Writ or do
not contend for the truth of His Word. Such terms include: false prophets, false apostles,
false teachers, and antichrists (plural). But Scripture also speaks of "The
Antichrist", who embodies antichristian teaching and propaganda. This one is called
"the man of sin" and the "son of perdition." (2 Thess. 2:3)
THE ANTICHRIST IN JOHN’S EPISTLES
I John 2:18a – Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that
antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the
last time. I John 2:22 – Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?
He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
I John 4:1,3 – Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they
are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. … And every
spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this
is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now
already is it in the world.
2 John 7,8 – 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. Look to
yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a
full reward.
A. There are many minor antichrists and The Antichrist. The many
antichrists include every movement of false doctrine in the history of the Church. That
Apostolic Age had its Judaizing teachers. The Gnostics preceded the Council of Nicea in
325 A.D.. The Arians followed Nicea, etc. Today we have denials of the Holy Scriptures as
God’s inerrant Word, the social Gospel, church growth, etc. All who deny truths of
Scriptures are antichrists (plural). The Antichrist is described as coming, but as also
already at work in the world secretly. He represents a power in existence, but also in the
process of coming.
B. The Antichrist does not confess Christ Jesus, He denies the Father
and the Son.
C. He is a deceiver and a liar.
THE ANTICHRIST IN PAUL’S EPISTLE
2 Thess. 2:3ff - King James Version
An American Translation – Beck in parentheses
[v. 3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day
shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed,
the son of perdition;
(Don’t let anybody deceive you in any way. First there must be a revolt, and the man
of sin be revealed, who is doomed to destruction,)
D. The apostasy-revolt-falling away is a denial of such large
proportions that it is specified with a definite article "the falling away."
E. "Revealed" – This coming precedes the Last Day and
The Antichrist will be revealed as a "man of sin or lawlessness" and "the
son of perdition- doomed to destruction."
[v. 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,
showing himself that he is God.
(who opposes and sets himself above anyone who is called God or anything we worship, so
that he sits in God’s temple and proclaims he is God,)
F. The Antichrist opposes God, His truths and will.
G. The Antichrist exalts himself as God, setting himself above
everything that is called God.
H. The antichrist is in God’s temple, within the Church and
exercising the prerogatives of God. He will keep doing this as revealed by the use of
present participles.
[v. 5] Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with
you, I told you these things?
(Don’t you remember I told you this when I was still with you?)
[v. 6] And now ye know what withholdeth that he
might be revealed in his time.
(And now you know what’s holding him back so that he will be revealed when his time
comes.)
I. When St. Paul is writing there is some power or hindrance which was
restraining the Antichrist from being revealed before his appointed time. The movement of
the Antichrist was still hidden and covered; it had not yet come out into the open. It was
at work and active, but another force or power kept it in check. The full face and force
of the Antichrist would not be seen until this other force or power was removed or
"taken out of the way" (v.7) The power that kept the Antichrist in check was the
Roman Empire.
[v. 7] For the mystery of iniquity doth already
work; only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
(This wicked thing is already working secretly, but only till he who is now holding it
back gets out of the way.)
[v. 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:
(Then the wicked one will be revealed, and the Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath
of His mouth and wipe him out by coming and showing Himself.)
J. The revelation of the Antichrist as well as his final disposition
is noted here. "Be revealed" here is speaking of the revelation of the
Antichrist before the world in all his lawlessness, without any covering. He will then be
active in that unmasked role until the Last Day and the Judgment.
[v. 9] Even him, whose coming is after the working
of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
(The coming of this wicked one is the work of the devil who uses every kind of false
power, miracle, and wonder,)
K. The Antichrist receives his power from Satan for miracles and
wonders to perform on earth.
[v. 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.
(and every wicked way to deceive those who are perishing because they refused to love the
truth and be saved.)
L. The power and wonders of the Antichrist will deceive those who
refuse to love the truth and be saved. The power, signs and wonders are deceptive lies, a
strong delusion (v.10) of glitter and glory, or righteousness and holiness, with good
works and pomp before the eyes of the world.
[v. 11] And for this cause God shall send them
strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
(That is why God sends them a power to deceive them so they will believe the lie)
M. God will give those who follow the glitter and lies and delusions
and support the Antichrist to their own delusions which thereby forfeit any claim to
salvation.
[v. 12] That they all might be damned who believed
not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
(and all will be condemned who did not believe the truth but delighted in wrong.)
N. God punishes all who believe the lies of the Antichrist rather than
the divine truth of Scriptures. Such did not believe the truth but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.
INDENTIFYING THE ANTICHRIST
From St. John and St. Paul we have the following points of identification for the
Antichrist.
{1} The Antichrist is not any particular individual, but a movement or
power represented by an office or a person or as seen in a person in an office. (I John
4:3c, 2 Thess. 2:7)
The papacy is a system personified in its head, the Pope. Every new Pope inherits the
system and is the head of the system, the papacy. The papacy is the power of rule and
glory in The Roman Catholic Church.
{2} The Antichrist was active at the time of John and Paul, in the
process of development or coming. (I John 2:18; I John 4:3)
The movement which culminated in the papal system had its origin about the year 50
A.D., when the first indications of a hierarchy with more or less evident powers began to
appear. Passages like Acts 20:30 are both prophetical as well as descriptive. "Also
of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after
them."
{3} The Antichrist arises in the midst of the Church, in the temple of
God. He is not an outside person or power. (2 Thess. 2:4)
The papacy arose in the very midst of the Church of Jesus Christ, its very bishops
being the ones who fostered the idea of their hierarchical aspirations and their gradual
assumption of more and more power.
{4} The revelation of the Antichrist’s lawlessness was hindered
by a power headed by a restraining person. (2 Thess. 2:7) As long as the Roman Empire,
with the emperor at its head, was in power, the Christian Church was an illegal religion.
The aspirations of the hierarchy could not come to fruition.
{5} After the removal of this hindering influence the Antichrist came
out openly with his claims and was also revealed in his true nature. (2 Thess. 2:8)
When the Christian religion, at the time of Constantine, became the state religion, the
outward organization of the Church could be built up without hindrance, and this factor
became still more prominent with the energetic efforts of Leo I to establish the throne of
the Papacy. The end of the Western Empire (476 A.D.) was merely an additional factor in
the rise of the Papacy. From the end of the 5th century onward the true character of the
Papacy was revealed more and more.
{6} The Antichrist is exposed before the world, but continued its
activity as the son of perdition. (2 Thess. 2:8) The Antichrist was exposed by Luther and
was so recognized at the time of the Reformation as noted in the Lutheran Confessions. But
the Antichrist recovered, due chiefly to the divisions in the Protestant ranks and the
Jesuit Counter-Reformation, so that he has continued his activities to this day.
{7} The Antichrist claims divine prerogatives for himself, vaunting
himself and raising himself above constituted authorities or even any human or spiritual
authority. (2 Thess. 2:4)
As early as 445 A.D. nothing new could be made without the sanction of the Bishop of
Rome (the Pope). Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085) declared that the papal power was superior
to that of the emperor. King Henry IV was forced to do penance in 1077 because he
challenged that power. Since that time, the Popes have never given up their claims to
earthly power and dominion.
{8} The doctrine of the Antichrist is a denial of the Father and of
the Son as revealed in their Persons and work in the Holy Scriptures. (I John 2:22)
The Papacy and Popes confess the three Ecumenical Creeds. But a confession of the lips
must be followed with the Bible’s teachings. God the Father can be approached,
understood, only in and through the Son. Every organization or person that takes from the
Son of God any part of the honor demanded by the Bible, is antichristian in character. The
Son is the only Way of access to the Father, the only Source and Giver of life to
perishing sinners, and hence the only Savior. But the Papacy and Popes present Jesus
Christ not as the Son of God but as the Son of Mary. In its doctrine, ceremonies, liturgy,
books of devotion, pictures and images, Mary is exalted, making her the compassionate one,
the efficacious intercessor on behalf of sinners, the real mediator between God and man,
and exhibits Christ in a position of subordination. Millions are so deluded and blinded,
led to put their trust in Mary instead of Jesus Christ. The use of Scriptures by Papacy
and Popes only make the delusion and lying wonders more deceptive.
{9} The Antichrist presumes to direct every object and every form of
worship. (2 Thess. 2:9)
The abomination of the Mass, that Jesus Christ is making an unbloody sacrifice for
sinners, as well as the adoration of the host or bread, and similar idolatrous customs are
found wherever the Roman Church has been established under the power of the Papacy and
Popes. Consider also the prohibition of food, the prohibition of meat, the forbidding to
marry of priests, the adoration of the saints, etc.
{10} The Antichrist operates with lying wonders, that is, such as are
based upon lies and intended to spread lies. (2 Thess. 2:9,10)
The Church of Antichrist alleges the miracle of the Mass, where the blessing of the
priest is supposed to effect the transubstantiation of the bread into the physical body
and of the wine into the physical blood of Christ, a delusion believed by millions.
Consider the alleged visions of the Virgin Mary, as at Lourdes in France, the relics of
saints, the Shroud of Turin, etc. as part of the delusion and lies, wonders and signs.
{11} Antichrist is constantly deceiving people who give credence to
his false claims. (2 John 7b)
Deceptions in doctrine include the Mass, the primacy of Peter, and the denial in fact
of the Son and the Father by the worship and adoration of the Virgin Mary. There is hardly
a fundamental doctrine of Christianity left which has not been contaminated, especially
since the Council of Trent. See the section following page 9 in this paper for the errant
teachings.
{12} The Antichrist will not be destroyed until the Lord’s return
at Judgment Day. (2 Thess. 2:8)
While this is still in the future, it is difficult to think that the Roman Church under
the Papacy and Popes will change. Only a small number of Christian churches have the
courage to point to the collective person of the Roman Pope as the Antichrist, and even
among Lutheran Churches there is a lukewarm attitude to this teaching.
THREE ERRONEOUS INTERPRETATIONS
- The Antichrist is an individual person. (So Jerry Falwell: a male Jew probably alive
today)
- The Antichrist is some present antichristian movement.
- The Antichrist must be expected at some time in the future.
HATE THE ANTICHRIST
Luther: The hatred against the Antichrist is not directed against the Pope as an
individual, but against the Pope as the representative of the system of Romanism (Papacy),
as the collective head of an organization of such a pernicious nature that the Pope, and
he alone, is rightly called the Antichrist. This is not "papaphobia" or fear of
the pope but faithfulness to Holy Scriptures.
MORE SIGNS OF THE ANTICHRIST
Rev. 17:5 – And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Rev. 17:9 – The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
Rev. 17:18 – And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth
over the kings of the earth.
2 Thess. 2:4 – So that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself
that he is God.
{13} These descriptions properly fit the city of Rome. Rome ruled at
the time of the Apostolic Age and is built on seven hills.
A SUMMARY
Remembering that Scripture warns us about the Antichrist, let us consider carefully
that all the signs of the Antichrist are fulfilled in the Pope of Rome.
LUTHERAN CONFESSIONS
This is a powerful demonstration that the pope is the real Antichrist (Endechrsit order
Widerchrist) who has raised himself over and set himself against Christ, for the pope will
not permit Christians to be saved except by his own power, which amounts to nothing since
it is neither established nor commanded by God. This is actually what St. Paul calls
exalting oneself over and against God. (2 Thess. 2:4)
Smalcald Articles, Tappert, page 300, paragraph 10.
Accordingly, just as we cannot adore the devil himself as
our lord or God, so we cannot suffer his apostle, the pope or Antichrist, to govern us as
our head or lord, for deception, murder, and the eternal destruction of body and soul are
characteristic of his papal government (Roman law), as I have demonstrated in many books
(Decisions of the popes in the form of letters).
Smaldcald Articles, Tappert, page 301, paragraph 14b
But it is manifest that the Roman pontiffs, and their
adherents defend godless doctrines and godless forms of worship, and it is plain that the
marks of the Antichrist coincide with those of the pope’s kingdom and his followers.
For in describing the Antichrist in his letter to the Thessalonians Paul calls him
"an adversary of Christ who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or
object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to
be God" (2 Thess. 2:3,4). He speaks therefore of one who rules in the church and not
of the kings of nations, and he calls that man "an adversary of Christ" because
he will devise doctrines which conflict with the Gospel and will arrogate to himself
divine authority.
Smalcald Articles, Tappert, page 327, paragraph 39
Since this is the situation, all Christians ought to beware
of becoming participants in the impious doctrines, blasphemies, and unjust cruelties of
the pope. They ought rather to abandon and execrate the pope and his adherents as the
kingdom of the Antichrist. Christ commanded, "Beware of false prophets" (Matt.
7:15). Paul also commanded that ungodly teachers should be shunned and execrated as
accursed, (Titus 3:10), and he wrote in 2 Cor. 6:14, "Do not be mismated with
unbelievers, for what fellowship has light with darkness."
Smalcald Articles, Tappert, pages 327-28, paragraph 41
And as other Christians ought to censure the rest of the
pope’s errors, so they ought also to rebuke the pope when he evades and obstructs
true understanding and true judgment on the part of the church.
Accordingly, even if the bishop of Rome did possess the primacy by divine right, he should
not be obeyed, inasmuch as he defends impious forms of worship and doctrines which are in
conflict with the Gospel. On the contrary, it is necessary to resist him as Antichrist.
The errors of the pope are manifest, and they are not trifling.
Smalcald Articles, Tappert, page 330, paragraphs 56b, 57, 58a
OTHER REFERENCES IN THE LUTHERAN CONFESSIONS
Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Articles VII & VIII, The Church, Tappert, page
169, paragraph 4
Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Articles VII & VIII, The Church, Tappert, page
177, paragraph 47
Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article XV, Human Traditions, Tappert, page 217,
paragraph 18
Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article XXIII, Sacerdotal Marriage, Tappert, page 243,
paragraph 25
Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article XXVII, Monastic Vows, Tappert, page 268,
paragraph 98b
Smalcald Articles, Part II, Article III, Chapters, Tappert, page 297, paragraph 25
Smalcald Articles, Part III, Article XII, The Church, Tappert, pages 314,315, paragraphs
1-3
C.F.W. WALTHER ON THE ANTICHRIST
True, quite a number, in fact, the majority, of those who claim to be Lutherans refuse
to believe that the Pope is the Antichrist and the Papacy the antichristian power. With
the entire Church of the Reformation and in accord with the confessions of this Church the
orthodox American Lutheran Church of our time still in full earnest maintains the position
that the Pope is the Antichrist. But that is, at best, regarded as an odd fancy of
narrow-minded men, who refuse to keep step with the times. If you ask why this is so, I
answer that it is chiefly because people no longer know what constitutes the Antichrist,
and the antichristian dominion. People say: "We admit that, especially in the Middle
Ages, there were many Popes who were veritable abominations and, even in the view of
Romish writers, were swallowed up by hell." It is admitted that many shocking
abominations are still practiced by the Papacy, but this is offset by the reminder that
there is not a Church free from errors and even from Judases. It is furthermore admitted
that the Papacy is propagating the most horrible heresies, but over against this the fact
is stressed that even the Papacy holds strictly to the three Ecumenical Creeds. For at the
opening session and solemn organization of the Council of Trent, in 1545, those three
creeds were recited. Our attention is also called to the fact that the Popes believe the
Bible of the Old and the New Testament to be the revealed Word of God, God to be triune,
and Christ to be God and man in one person and the Savior of the world. We are told:
"The papists confess, just as we do, their faith in a future resurrection of the
dead, a last Judgment, before which all men will be cited, and a heaven and a hell. Far,
then, from being the dominion of Antichrist," these people say, "the Papacy is
rather a powerful dam shutting out the fearful deluge of unbelief that has come down on
the Christian Church." People see the rule of Antichrist in pantheism, materialism,
atheism, socialism, nihilism, anarchism, and other horrible isms to which the modern age
has fallen heir. But why is it that from the aforementioned premises men will draw the
conclusion that the Papacy is not the rule of Antichrist and the Pope not the veritable
Antichrist? The chief reason is that people fail to consider what it means when the Pope
claims to be the vicegerent of Christ on earth and the visible head of the entire
Christian Church. In order to be this, he must, of course, profess many Christian
doctrines. He has to put on a mask, otherwise Antichrist could not possibly exist in the
midst of the Christian Church. Moreover, he has to declare war against the enemies of all
religions and against the enemies of the Christian religion to support his claim of being
the vicegerent of Christ. He knows that, when Christ falls, Antichrist, too, must fall.
For when He falls whose vicegerent the Pope claims to be, there is an end of the
vicegerency. When the Pope apparently fights for Christ and the Christian Church, he
fights for himself and his dominion.
But the point of supreme importance is this: Passing by those societies which deny the
Triune God and which are outside of the pale of the Christian Church, I find that the Pope
is the only one in the entire Christian Church who is an outspoken enemy of the free grace
of God in Christ, an enemy of the Gospel under the guise of the Christian religion and
aping its institutions.
C.F.W. Walther, Law and Gospel, Ninth Evening Lecture, pages
67-69
We note that "anti" in the Greek means
"in place of", not "against."