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The Interpretation of Prophecy Part Two Chapter 3 Section 2

In the second section of four in his final chapter on the prophetical future of the Church and the Kingdom of God, Fairbairn examines prophetic Scripture as it portrays the Church in conflict with the antichristian apostasy. Through a full comparative study of both Old and New Testament texts, he shows what is the essential nature of antichrist, and what was, is and will be the nature of the struggle between the Church and antichrist. Finally he shows us how and by what means the will Church triumph.

In Daniel’s vision of the beasts and the Son of Man in Daniel 7, we observe a marked alteration in the figure of antichrist who appears after the fourth kingdom and the ten kings, as compared with those who preceded him. In Daniel 7.24-25 we read that “he shall be different,” “he shall speak pompous words,” “he shall persecute the saints,” “he shall intend to change times…” etc. The imagery changes from the bestial to the human, showing that this antichrist, though still a beast at heart, appears in a form more in accord with those whom he seeks to subvert.

History shows a typical fulfillment of Daniel’s vision of this antichrist in the Syrian monarch Antiochus Epiphanes, during the times of the Maccabean revolt. His attack against the people of God was not a direct violent assault attempting to utterly destroy them. Rather, during this time of worldliness and apostasy among the Jews, he connected himself with the party which was actively seeking to become more acceptable in the Greek world by introducing and integrating Greek customs and worldview into Jewish culture. This spirit of defection infected even the priesthood itself, as priests adopted Greek names and manners. It was by this penetration into the very heart of the life and faith of Israel, that this antichrist, being on the inside, sought to work his devastation. By subverting and corrupting the truth among the people of God, he was enabled and emboldened to proceed to such extreme blasphemies as to erect a statue of Zeus in the Temple of Yahweh, and then proclaim himself to be the deity.

Coming to the New Testament, we discover how our Lord and His apostles portray antichrist. Our Lord warns His people against “false prophets” and “false christs” in Matthew 7.15, Matthew 24.11, 24 et al. In these we are advised against the enemies of truth who seek to subvert by infiltration, the “wolf in sheep’s clothing,” rather than those who openly attack the Church. The apostles speak in the same way. Paul warns the Ephesian elders of those “who will arise among themselves, speaking perverse things…” in Acts 20.29-30. In 2 Peter 2, Peter speaks of “false teachers,” i.e. those within the Church seeking to corrupt the truth. John says that antichrist is coming, and many have already come, of whom he says “they went out from us” (1 John 2.18-19). These “who deny that Jesus is the Christ” do so not with defiant opposition from without, but subtly and deceptively from within the doors of the Church. They remain as tares in God’s field – they have not renounced the name of Christian, but they have twisted the simplicity of faith in Him into a lie. In this we discern the malice and cunning of Satan, who if he cannot utterly destroy God’s work will seek to mar and corrupt it.

It is the nature of antichrist to replace Christ, to stand in his stead (?? + ?????) , and thus it is that Paul warns the elders that those who come “will draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20.30). The great apostasy described in 2 Thessalonians 2 portrays the one called “the man of sin” and the “son of perdition” as proclaiming himself to be god and claiming all worship to himself. All antichristian apostasy shown in Scripture has as its essential element self-promotion at the expense of devotion to the Lord. This is precisely what is finally revealed in the book of Revelation, which thus maintains the consistent pattern of all previous scripture concerning antichrist.

At the outset of the final prophetical book we read in the letters to the seven churches of the corrupting influence of those who would seduce the saints from pure love to Christ their Lord, and seek to win for themselves that devotion which belongs to Him alone. The admonishments of the seven letters paint this graphically as fornication, i.e. the Bride being tempted to commit adultery against her Lord and Husband, just as the prophets of old portrayed it (Isaiah 57.3-5, Jeremiah 2-3, Ezekiel 16, Hosea 1-2, etc.). The picture of harlotry takes full expression in the visions as the great whore who stands as the debauched and faithless woman in contradistinction to the true Bride, the “woman clothed with the sun.” Her name “Mystery, Babylon the Great, mother of harlots,” indicates her true nature as being hidden, and needing divinely given sight to discern. She is the corrupt and worldly church, who appears gorgeous to the worldly eye, but is inwardly debased and detestable.

The Bride at the last utterly prevails over her 3 enemies: the beast, the false prophet and the whore, i.e. the worldly political power, the world’s wisdom, and the worldly church, respectively. This she does not by arms, nor by diplomacy, nor by craft or cunning, nor even by the direct mighty intervention of her Lord, but rather by the Spirit and the Word. They overcome “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Just as the “lawless one” of 2 Thessalonians 2 is “consumed by the breath of His mouth,” so in Revelation 14.6-8 it is immediately after the everlasting gospel in preached to all the world that the fall of Babylon the great whore is proclaimed. The victorious conqueror in Revelation 19 is called the Word of God. It is by faithfulness to the Lord and His Truth, and by the power of His gospel that the Church conquers her adversaries.