IN THEORY:Who, what the Antichrist might be
Cardinal Giacomo Biffi has reportedly warned a group of Vatican officials that the Antichrist will be a pacifist, ecologist, and ecumenist, and will reach out to seek consensus among various Christian faiths. Biffi argues that this Antichrist will water down Christianity to a set of shared values such as truth, beauty and justice. Their lack of emphasis on salvation and on Christ will render Christ out of the picture, Biffi says. Most will follow, with the exception of a small group of Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants, he added.
What do you think of this theory? Do you even believe in the idea of Antichrist?
Worth reading is Cardinal Biffi’s essay, “Soloviev and Our Time.” In it, he cites the works of Russian philosopher Vladimir Sergeevic Soloviev, who died at the dawn of the 20th century. As this promising new era of history began, the general belief was that the world would flourish in peace and prosperity.
With secular thought and practice becoming more prevalent, Soloviev predicted with chilling accuracy not only the demise of spiritual truths and values but the destruction that would follow.
The human family excelled in technology in the last century unlike any before it. Tragically, we also witnessed wars, weaponry and the extermination of human life unlike any other time. I believe the Antichrist, as the word connotes, is any individual or group who calls evil good. As the epistle of John suggests, anyone who denies Christ is the Antichrist. When religious truth is considered no longer relevant or is paid only lip service, the path is paved for the Evil One to enter personal lives, as well as institutional entities.
Much of culture has idolized information and technology, as if these alone direct our collective thought and movement to enlightenment. What is lacking is wisdom that comes from reflecting upon universal truths taught to us by Christ. When this transformation takes place, the power of the Antichrist will be diminished.
THE REV. PAUL J. HRUBY
Pastor
Church of the Incarnation
Glendale
The Antichrist is mentioned only four times in the Bible. All references are in either I or II John. John makes it very clear that anyone who opposes Jesus Christ is an Antichrist. If we take John at face value, there are billions of Antichrists. Certainly a huge number of people on the planet reject Jesus Christ and/or his teachings.
Tradition has it that a specific wicked antagonist will arise someday and do battle with Jesus Christ after a second coming takes place. This individual is often labeled “The Anti-Christ,” although there is little if any Bible justification for the title.
I can understand the concept of the “Antichrist” label for anyone opposing Jesus Christ. I do not for a minute believe that a powerful, evil individual “Antichrist” will ever do battle with a “returned” Jesus Christ.
I put the latter idea right there with belief in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.
There will be no second coming of Jesus Christ, in my opinion. There will be no great future battle at Armageddon.
When Jesus was crucified, it was said that he would make his second coming before many in that generation died. It didn’t happen then and I don’t think it will happen now, 2,000 years later, or ever.
He came, he taught, and it is up to us to live out his teachings — not watch and wait for his return.
THE REV. THOMAS E. WITHERSPOON
Unity Church Of The Valley
La Crescenta
I agree with the essentials of Cardinal Biffi’s statement. “Anti” means “against” or “instead of.” So an “Antichrist” is “one who denies the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22) either through refutation or impersonation.
John the Apostle warned that there will be an individual Antichrist, but also that this spirit now works in some people as well. “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that Antichrist is coming, even now many Antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour … “ (1 John 2:18).
My understanding of Scripture is that the church will be taken to be with Christ in Heaven before the Antichrist comes to power as a world-wide dictator. Then “all who dwell on the earth will worship him” (Revelation 13:8).
Friend, if you live to see this time (and I think that’s quite possible) and you still reject Jesus Christ, you will worship this Satan-empowered man to your eternal destruction. But even during this dark time, some people will be saved, refusing to worship the Antichrist, and turning to Jesus. If you turn to Jesus, either before or after the Antichrist is revealed, you will receive eternal life, and you will, with Him, “overcome the world.”
PASTOR JON BARTA
Valley Baptist Church
Burbank
Every year at this time, my wife and I celebrate a convergence of events. We were both born on March 6, so we also chose the date to get married.
This convergence of 666 has provided our friends with enough fodder for humorous warnings of a possible divine omen. I assure them that I have checked the scalps of my children and have found no tattoos or birthmarks for which the world should be worried. But Christians are especially divided on this issue of Antichrist. The Reformers thought that the Pope was the Antichrist. I’m fairly convinced that the 666 designation referred to Caesar Nero, since it is the number of his name, a clue given in Revelation 13:18. Many elements of Scripture are often brought together and blended to provide quite the fantastic scenario of end-time events leading up to Christ’s Second Coming, and certainly the average Christian doesn’t wants to be left behind.
Will there be an ultimate world dictator that leads the world astray?
Good question. The Bible specifically uses the term “Antichrist,” but it’s only found in one place; the letters of John. There, it says something very interesting; “ … you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many Antichrists have come” (1John 2:18).
Note that there are “many” Antichrists. Hitler, Stalin and Nero were all Antichrists. Will there be others? Likely. Will there be a last one that eclipses them all? Who knows? What we do know is that anyone that denies Christ is an incarnation of Antichrist. I don’t. Do you? Scripture reads, “Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the Antichrist - he denies the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22).
THE REV. BRYAN GRIEM
Senior Pastor
MontroseCommunityChurch.org
Evil is a human failing, an absence or a turning away from good, as darkness is an absence of light.
God’s creation is good and innocent, but He has granted freedom of choice to human beings, and asks us to make the choice of turning toward His goodness and light. There is no personification of evil.
The concept of Satan is symbolic and allegorical, a way of helping people to understand how temptation works in life, and how evil actions cannot bring ultimate reward. The idea of the Antichrist represents the human denial of God’s Messenger in each age, i.e., Christ, Founder of the Christian Faith, Muhammad, Founder of the Islamic Faith, and Bahá’u’lláh Founder of the Bahá’í Faith.
As for Cardinal Biffi’s rather surprising statements, they appear to represent his personal and political leanings. They also tell of a mistrust of the unity of religions. To vocally criticize people for their opinions is one thing, to condemn them is another.
Anyone of a high-ranking position in a church or organization has a strong influence upon a great many people.
One hopes that a sense of that grave responsibility may guide him to respect the reasonable differences among people.
BARBARA CRAMER
Secretary
Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís
Glendale
The term Antichrist comes from the Book of Revelation, the last book in the New Testament. Revelation, by the way, almost didn’t make it into the New Testament canon, but that’s another story.
The term was used to symbolize the Roman Empire, because many Christians were being persecuted, and the author of Revelation was trying to encourage members of the young faith to hang on through all the pain that the Empire was throwing at them.
As far as the idea of the Antichrist is concerned, I don’t believe there is only one evil thing or person to be feared. Hitler certainly could have been one form of the Antichrist; how about Idi Amin? In fact, any monster who has brought pain and suffering to a large part of the globe could be dubbed the Antichrist.
As for Cardinal Biffi’s idea that Christ will somehow get pushed out of the picture, I find it highly unlikely. Besides, if the will of God is being done, who cares under what label God’s will is being done?
One place in the Gospels Jesus declares that “whoever is not against us is for us.” I think his point was that the label is not important. What is important is the loving of one another, the caring for the sick, the feeding of the hungry, the clothing of the naked, the visiting of those in hospitals and prisons. I know a woman who is a Jewish psychologist.
I tell her that she is doing the Lord’s work by helping and healing those who are afflicted with mental illness. I think Cardinal Biffi is too provincial in his thinking.
The point is not who gets the credit; the point is that God’s healing work gets done.
THE REV. C.L. “SKIP” LINDEMAN
Congregational Church of the Lighted Window
United Church of Christ
La Cañada Flintridge