The Life and Times of the Antichrist Part 3

Current Jewish eschatology has a similar thread to that of Christian eschatology but with some notable differences.  If you have read Parts 1 and 2 then you may have grasped that both religions refer to the same Old Testament messianic scriptures but the application is applied differently for each group.

 

The Old Testament prophets painted a picture of two aspects of the prophesied Messiah.  The first is the “suffering servant” described as coming in meekness and humility.  After being rejected and despised by the majority of the people he came to serve, he would be put to death or “cut off” and would ultimately be miraculously resurrected by God at some later point.

 

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.   (Isaiah 53:1-5 KJV)

 

The second picture is the “conquering king”, who eventually would come to defeat Israel’s enemies.  Afterwards, he would set up His throne in Jerusalem to reign as King and Priest, ushering in a golden era of prosperity and peace for Israel and for the world.

 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.  (Isaiah 9:6-7 KJV)

 

It was apparently inconceivable to the Jewish mindset that the Messiah could be a conquering eternal ruler of the world and at the same time show evidence of weakness and failure.  To resolve this contradiction, the concept of two messiahs was developed, with the names of “Messiah ben Joseph” for the first and later would  appear “Messiah ben David.”

 

Jesus Christ first appeared as the suffering servant, preaching meekness and the coming of the Kingdom of God.  He was despised by the majority of Jewish leaders, was put to death by crucifixion, rose from the dead after three days, and prophesied to  return (hopefully soon), as the ruler of the world.  As stated in a previous post, “Jewish Expectations of a Messiah” /prophecy/2014/10/jewish-expectations-of-a-messiah-2464752.html  the Jewish eschatologists do not promote an installment plan messiah.  If Jesus had started the Kingdom of God immediately after His resurrection and drove out the Romans, He may have been immediately accepted by the religious leaders, but after 2000 years, the Judeans are attempting to be their own messiah until the antichrist appears and changes their thinking.

 

It is my understanding that medieval Jewish eschatology has named a person called Armilus (or Armilius), who is comparable to the Christian antichrist.  Armilus will apparently kill Messiah ben Joseph, the first appearance of the Jewish messiah.  Ben Joseph will then be replaced by Messiah ben David, or, ben Joseph will be resurrected and become ben David.  In his book False Christ (available for Kindle), Chris White states the following:

 

Armilus (Hebrew: ארמילוס‎) (also spelled Armilos and Armilius)^[1] is an anti-Messiah figure in medieval Jewish eschatology, comparable to medieval interpretations of the Christian Antichrist and Islamic Dajjal, who will conquer Jerusalem and persecute the Jews until his final defeat at the hands of God or the true Messiah. His inevitable destruction symbolizes the ultimate victory of good over evil in the Messianic age.

According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, Armilus is “a king who will arise at the end of time against the Messiah, and will be conquered by him after having brought much distress upon Israel”, similar to Gog. He is spoken of in both Midrash Vayosha and Sefer Zerubbabel, in which he defeats the Messiah ben Joseph.

 

The eminent scholar Raphael Patai, who “taught Hebrew at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem” and served as Professor of Anthropology at Dropsie University, said this of the two-messiah theory:

 

“When the death of the Messiah became an established tenet in Talmudic times, this was felt to be irreconcilable with the belief in the Messiah as Redeemer who would usher in the blissful millennium of the Messianic Age. The dilemma was solved by splitting the person of the Messiah in two: one of them, called Messiah ben Joseph, was to raise the armies of Israel against their enemies, and, after many victories and miracles, would fall victim Gog and Magog. The other, Messiah ben David, will come after him (in some legends will bring him back to life, which psychologically hints at the identity of the two), and will lead Israel to the ultimate victory, the triumph, and the Messianic era of bliss.”

 

Based on Christian theology, the antichrist (and/or Satan) will exploit this theological scenario to the fullest extent.  The antichrist will appear on the scene, conquer several Arab countries around Israel, setup his camp around the Mount of Olives, and appear as the Messiah ben Joseph to the Israelites.  An Arab, performing the function of Armilus, will appear to kill him, the false prophet will appear to resurrect ben Joseph, and he will then become messiah ben David.  Ben David will have the temple (or a reasonable facsimile) rebuilt, Jews from around the world will return to Israel, the sacrificial system will be restarted, and Mystery Babylon will become active.

 

The two-messiahs of Jewish eschatology is supported and prophesied in Revelation chapter 13.

 

And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. (Revelation 13:3 KJV)

And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.   (Revelation 13:14 KJV)

 

The Messiah ben Joseph will be killed with a sword by a person referred to as Armilus, the Jewish version of the antichrist.  Ben Joseph will somehow be resurrected, or appear to be resurrected, probably by the false prophet, and messiah ben David will appear on the scene.  Ben David, the actual antichrist, will have an image or statue built that speaks, placed in or around the temple and will begin purifying Judaism by killing anyone who will not worship the statue.

 

And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.  (Revelation 13:15 KJV)

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)  (Matthew 24:15 KJV)

And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.  (Daniel 12:11 KJV)

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.   (Daniel 9:27 KJV)

 

As a note – it is uncertain if the antichrist dies or appears to be dead.  If he actually dies who will resurrect him?  Does Satan have the power to raise the dead?  Most commentators believe he does not have that authority.  Only God has the power to resurrect the dead, and why would God do that?  2 Thessalonians 2: 9-12 may supply the answer:  to separate the wheat from the tares.

 

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 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 for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.      (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 KJV)

 

The individuals who worship the beast of its image will be given a mark that will allow them the privilege of buying or selling merchandise.  It is my opinion the mark will be visible in the form of either a brand or a tattoo.  Conservative types will have it placed on their right hand and liberal nut-jobs will elect to place it on their forehead. 

 

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:   (Revelation 13:16 KJV)

 

In my opinion this will not be some secret, esoteric microchip or DNA alteration.  It will not sneak up on you.  It will be by choice and those receiving it will be aware of the mark because they will voluntarily worship the image of the beast.

 

 

SEE ALSO:  

Jewish Expectations of a Messiah

/prophecy/2014/10/jewish-expectations-of-a-messiah-2464752.html

The Life and Times of the Antichrist Part 1

/prophecy/2014/10/the-life-and-times-of-the-antichrist-part-1-2464780.html

 

The Life and Times of the Antichrist Part 2

/prophecy/2014/10/the-life-and-times-of-the-antichrist-part-2-2464790.html

 

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