Author Topic: Is the rise of the Antichrist approaching? (Read 2036 times)

awkwardcustomer · « **on:** September 30, 2014, 11:21:32 AM »

What is the scriptural basis for the much prophesied and discussed chastisement, 3 days of darkness and massive world-wide destruction, to be followed by a period of peace and restoration? Could these prophecies by mystics and visionaries really be a carefully planned demonic distraction from what is really going on - the rise of the time of the Antichrist?

I know this will not sit well with a lot of Traditionalists who have been warning of a chastisement for years. Because the conclusion from these warnings is that we are definitely not near the time of the Antichrist. But could it be possible that the time of the Antichrist is upon us, and that should he come sooner rather than later, many Trads will be saying - no, it can't be him, we haven't had the chastisement yet, nor the promised period of peace that is supposed to follow?

Many of the Church Fathers wrote extensively on the time of the Antichrist and the characteristics he would exhibit, for example, St Irenaeus, St Ephraim, St Cyril of Jerusalem, St Hippolytus etc. They describe wars, chaos and much tribulation throughout the world. Then a highly charismatic individual from the tribe of Dan, born of a false virgin, would appear on the world stage at the same age Christ did. Just as the devil is the ape of God, so the Antichrist is the ape of Christ.

At first he will appear to be a peacemaker and will be very ecuмenical, apparently seeking to unite all peoples under his banner of peace. He will be embraced by the Jєωs as their Messiah, but will initially refuse all honours so as to appear humble, a true man of God, seeking neither riches nor honour. He will perform all kinds of miraculous seeming wonders, but these will be tricks, deceits, and not real miracles.

Reluctantly the Antichrist will agree to be installed in the newly rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. And then he will reveal his true colours, unleashing death and destruction on a massive scale. The Church will be destroyed, physically, the Mass will disappear from the ruins and the few faithful who survive will flee to hiding places in the mountains and caves.

awkwardcustomer · « **Reply #1 on:** September 30, 2014, 11:52:42 AM »

At present, the Middle East is sinking further and further into chaos. The Zionist plan to destabilise the region by overthrowing strong regimes proceeds, with the aim of creating a greater Israel stretching from the Nile to the Euphrates.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/greater-israel-the-zionist-plan-for-the-middle-east/5324815

Plans to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, the capital of a Greater Israel, are also being developed.
http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/19539/ready-rebuild-temple/#ufP6qqdBHYiru6X1.97

Meanwhile, here are the words of St Irenaeus, 'Against Heresies', Book V, ch 30, para 4:

"But when this Antichrist shall have devastated all things in this world, he will reign for three years and six months, and sit in the temple at Jerusalem...."
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103530.htm

And St Cyril of Jerusalem, 'Catechetical Lecture 15', para 15:

"And again he says, Who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God, or that is worshipped; (against every God; Antichrist forsooth will abhor the idols,) so that he seats himself in the temple of God ..... What temple then? He means, the Temple of the Jєωs which has been destroyed. .... For if he comes to the Jєωs as Christ, and desires to be worshipped by the Jєωs, he will make great account of the Temple, that he may more completely beguile them; making it supposed that he is the man of the race of David, who shall build up the Temple which was erected by Solomon. And Antichrist will come at the time when there shall not be left one stone upon another in the Temple of the Jєωs, according to the doom pronounced by our Saviour; for when, either decay of time, or demolition ensuing on pretence of new buildings, or from any other causes, shall have overthrown all the stones ..... then shall he come with all signs and lying wonders, exalting himself against all idols; at first indeed making a pretence of benevolence, but afterwards displaying his relentless temper, and that chiefly against the Saints of God...."
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/310115.htm

And St Hippolytus, 'Discourse on the End of the World, para 25:

"And at first, indeed, that deceitful and lawless one, with crafty deceitfulness, will refuse such glory; but the men persisting, and holding by him, will declare him king.... Then, when he is elevated to his kingdom ..... he will build the temple in Jerusalem, and will restore it again speedily, and give it over to the Jєωs. And then he will be lifted up in heart against every man; yea, he will speak blasphemy also against God, thinking in his deceit that he shall be king upon the earth hereafter for ever; not knowing, miserable wretch, that his kingdom is to be quickly brought to nought, and that he will quickly have to meet the fire which is prepared for him, along with all who trust him and serve him......"
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0504.htm

(my emphasis)

Brennus · « **Reply #2 on:** September 30, 2014, 03:03:13 PM »

I think you draw your inspiration from Protty websites.

For something so obvious as the Antichrist to come on the scene, and rise to power, he would have to come at at time in which the Christian faith was so far declined that the world wouldn't know about the Antichrist, wouldn't recognize the phenomenon. Only a few mumbling cultists (as our successors would appear to the world under such circuмstances) will see it for what it is. So, I doubt the Antichrist is at the door. It will get a lot worse for a long time yet, regardless of whether there is a respite through a chastisement and an era of peace.

awkwardcustomer · « **Reply #3 on:** September 30, 2014, 03:26:24 PM »

Brennus said,

Quote

I think you draw your inspiration from Protty websites.

I most certainly do not.

Did you follow any of the links I provided and read the writings of St Irenaeus, St Cyril of Jerusalem, St Hippolytus?

Francisco · « **Reply #4 on:** October 01, 2014, 03:44:17 AM »

According to the Dimond Brothers, OSB, of America, JPII was the Antichrist. According to Francis Pannakal of India, it was PVI. The former have put out articles and videos to prove their point. Pannakal produced some years ago, a booklet of a few pages.

awkwardcustomer · « **Reply #5 on:** October 01, 2014, 06:11:23 AM »

Francisco, John Paul II cannot possibly have been the Antichrist. According to the Church Fathers, the Antichrist will be from the tribe of Dan.

St Irenaeus, 'Against Heresies' Book V, para 2:

"And Jeremiah does not merely point out his sudden coming, but he even indicates the tribe from which he shall come, where he says, We shall hear the voice of his swift horses from Dan; the whole earth shall be moved by the voice of the neighing of his galloping horses: he shall also come and devour the earth, and the fullness thereof, the city also, and they that dwell therein. This, too, is the reason that this tribe is not reckoned in the Apocalypse along with those which are saved."
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103530.htm

St Hippolytus, 'Discourse on the End of the World', para 19:

".... it is certain that he is destined to spring from the tribe of Dan .... For as Christ is born of the tribe of Judah, so Antichrist shall be born of the tribe of Dan."
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0504.htm

(my emphases)

awkwardcustomer · « **Reply #6 on:** October 01, 2014, 07:06:42 AM »

Lepanto Again said,

Quote

It would be a shocker if we were to pass right into the days of Antichrist without the promised time of peace (Our Lady of La Salette). But then again, there has been so much deception & rewriting of history, especially of Catholic history and Catholic belief, we would get over the shock quite quickly!

I hope you are right. But surely there is the possibility that because the Antichrist will first appear as a peacemaker, according to the Church Fathers, some Traditionalists might actually fall for his claims, believing that the 'time of peace' is upon us.

Thank you, though, for your considered reply. I had not thought of drawing parallels between the stages of Christ's Passion and the passion that the Church is now going through. I am aware of the Siri thesis but have not given it much attention to be honest.

Why, though, would God "crush the apostasy in Rome", then grant the world a 'time of peace', and then allow the Antichrist to rise? Isn't the apostasy in Rome the final stage of the revolt that St Paul talks about in 2Corinthians, 2:3, the revolt against the Faith which began with entire nations turning away from the Church and ending up within the very walls of the Church? Could it be that Vatican II is one of the means by which Scripture is being fulfilled, because it represents the final stage of the 'revolt', the falling away from the Faith. Certainly the entire ecuмenical, peace and justice nature of VII seems to coincide with the characteristics of the Antichrist as described by the Church Fathers, characteristics which will change as soon as the Antichrist is installed in the rebuilt temple.

I could be wrong about all this, of course. At the very least, it would do no harm to study the writings of the Church Fathers on the subject of the Antichrist, lest Traditionalists, and all Catholics, be caught unawares.

Nishant · « **Reply #7 on:** October 02, 2014, 10:03:04 AM »

Dear Awkward Customer, what you write on the AntiChrist is correct, but the time of the final AntiChrist is not just yet, because there are other Scriptural events that need to be fulfilled first. As we discussed on the other thread, St. Paul says that Israel will convert and be saved, and that this will mean riches for the Gentiles. St. Jerome, St. John Chrysostom, St. Thomas, St. Gregory the Great, St. John Damascene and many others read this passage to mean what it plainly says, that the Jєωs as a nation, currently faithless, must convert and embrace Christ and the Catholic Faith before the end of the world, which will cause a great blessing to come upon all of us. Fr. Arminjon, writing in the 19th century (St. Therese called this book the most helpful she had ever read) states after a detailed study of the Scriptural and patristic evidence,

Quote

Now, it is written that, at the end of time, the gospel will have been given as a witness to all the nations. David cries out, "All peoples, to the ends of the earth, will remember the Lord and re-turn to Him, because dominion belongs to Him and He governs the nations" (Ps 22:28-29).

...

These texts are explicit and precise. It is clear from their testimony that there will come a time when all heresies and schisms will be overcome, and when the true religion will be known and practiced in all places illuminated by the sun.

This is what will indeed happen and no one ever knew or knows Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition better than Our Lady, and His Excellency Bishop Williamson and all the Catholic faithful are certainly justified in taking Her at Her word when She assures us Her Reign will infallibly come.

awkwardcustomer · « **Reply #8 on:** October 02, 2014, 03:47:30 PM »

Lepanto Again said,

Quote

For those who are looking it up: It is 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 (Not Corinthians).

Thank you for making that correction.

Nishant said,

Quote

Dear Awkward Customer, what you write on the AntiChrist is correct, but the time of the final AntiChrist is not just yet, because there are other Scriptural events that need to be fulfilled first. As we discussed on the other thread, St. Paul says that Israel will convert and be saved, and that this will mean riches for the Gentiles. St. Jerome, St. John Chrysostom, St. Thomas, St. Gregory the Great, St. John Damascene and many others read this passage to mean what it plainly says, that the Jєωs as a nation, currently faithless, must convert and embrace Christ and the Catholic Faith before the end of the world, which will cause a great blessing to come upon all of us. Fr. Arminjon, writing in the 19th century (St. Therese called this book the most helpful she had ever read) states after a detailed study of the Scriptural and patristic evidence,

Does this mean that the Jєωs will convert before the Antichrist comes or after? Can you provide more specific references for this?

Because St Irenaeus, St Cyril of Jerusalem and St Hippolytus all state that the Jєωs will welcome the Antichrist as their Messiah and crown him in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. Presumably they would not have yet converted, which suggests that it is not until after the coming of the Antichrist that they convert.