CHAPTER THIRTEEN. TYPES OF THE ANTICHRIST.
"In the volume of the book it is written of Me"
(Heb. 10:7), said the Lord Jesus. Christ is the key to the Scriptures - "Search
the Scriptures...they are they which testify of Me", are His words; and the
Scriptures to which He had reference were not the four Gospels, for they were
not then written, but the writings of Moses and the prophets. The Old Testament
Scriptures, then, are something more than a compilation of historical
narratives, something more than the record of a system of social and religious
legislation, or a code of ethics. The Old Testament Scriptures are,
fundamentally, a stage on which is shown forth, in vivid symbolry, stupendous
events then future. The events recorded in the Old Testament were actual
occurrences, yet were they also typical prefigurations. Throughout the Old
Testament dispensations God caused to be shadowed forth things which must yet
come to pass. This is in full accord with a basic law in the economy of God.
Nothing is brought to maturity at once. As it is in the natural world, so it is
in the spiritual: there is first the blade, then the ear, and then the full
corn in the ear. So there is first the shadow, and then the substance; the
type, and then the antitype.
"Whatsoever things were written aforetime were
written for our learning" (Rom. 15:4). Israel's tabernacle was "a figure for
the time then present" (Heb. 9:8,9), as well as the example and "shadow of
heavenly things" (Heb. 8:5). Concerning the history of Abraham, his wives and
his children, the apostle was inspired to write "which things are an allegory"
(Gal. 4:24). These and other passages which might be quoted witness plainly to
the typical meaning of portions of the Old Testament. But there are some
brethren who will own the typical significance of these things, who refuse to
acknowledge that anything else in the Old Testament has a typical meaning save
those which are expressly interpreted or mentioned in the New. But surely this
is a mistake. Ought we not to regard those Old Testament types which are
expounded in the New Testament as samples of others which are not explained?
Are there no more prophecies in the Old Testament than those which in the New
Testament are expressly said to be "fulfilled"? Assuredly there are. Then why
not admit the same in connection with the types? Nothing is said in the New
Testament that the history of Joseph has a profound and wonderful typical
significance, yet who with anointed eyes can fail to see in the experiences of
Jacob's favorite son a remarkable foreshadowing of the person and work of
Christ!
There will probably be few who read this chapter
that will dispute what we have said above. No doubt the majority of our readers
have already been instructed in much of the typology of the Old Testament. Many
of God's servants have written at length upon the Passover, the brazen serpent,
the Tabernacle, etc., as well as upon the many ways in which such men as Abel,
Noah, Isaac, Moses, David, etc. prefigured the Saviour. But strange to say,
very little seems to have been written upon those who adumbrated the
Antichrist. So far as we are aware practically nothing has been given out
concerning the many Bible characters of ill fame, who foreshadowed that coming
one, that occupies such a prominent place in the prophetic scriptures. A wide
field is here opened for study, and we take pleasure in now submitting to the
careful perusal of the reader the results of our own imperfect researches,
hoping that it may lead others to make a more complete examination of the
subject for themselves.
It was well said by one of the Continental
Puritans that "When we read the Scriptures, we are to judge beforehand, that
then only do we understand them, when we discover in them a wisdom unsearchable
and worthy of God" (Witsius).Such is the inexhaustible fulness of the written
Word of God that not only are its words significant of things, but even the
things, which are first signified by the words, also represent other things,
which they were appointed to prefigure long before they happened. Besides the
plain and literal sense of Scripture, there is also a mystical sense, hidden
beneath the surface and which can only be discovered as we, in dependence on
the Holy Spirit, diligently compare scripture with scripture. In pursuing the
latter we need not only to proceed with due caution, but in "fear and
trembling", lest we devise mysteries of of our own imagination, and thus
pervert to one use what belongs to another. The principle which will safeguard
us is to thoroughly acquaint ourselves with the antitypes. Let nothing be
regarded as a type unless we are sure there is an exact correspondence with the
antitype. This will preserve us from erroneously supposing that any person who
is clearly a type of either Christ or the Antichrist is so in every detail of
his life. Thus Moses was plainly a type of Christ as our Mediator, and in many
other respects too, but in his failures and in other details of his personal
history he was not a type of Christ. So, too, with those who foreshadowed the
Antichrist: not everything recorded of them prefigured the character or deeds
of the Man of Sin. Should it still be inquired, How are we to ascertain in
which respects the actions of Old Testament characters were, and were not,
typical? the answer, as given above, is, By comparing the antitype. This will
save us from the wild allegorizing of Origen and others of the "Fathers". We
shall now look at ten Bible characters, each of which strikingly typified the
Antichrist.
1. Cain. It is indeed solemn to discover that the
very first man born into this world prefigured the Man of Sin. He did so in a
least seven respects. First, we may observe that in 1 John 3:12 we are told
"Cain was of that Wicked One, i.e. the Devil. Of none other is this particular
expression used. The Antichrist will also, in a special sense, be "of that
Wicked one", for the Devil is said to be his father (John 8:44). Second, Cain
was a religious hypocrite. This is seen in the fact that at first he posed as
a worshipper of God, but the emptiness of his pretensions were quickly
evidenced; for, when the Lord refused his offering, Cain was "very wroth" (Gen.
4:5). As such he clearly prefigured that one who will first claim to be the
Christ, only to stand forth later as His denier (1 John 2:22). Third, by his
primogeniture Cain occupied the position of ruler. Said the Lord to him, "Unto
to thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him", that is, over Abel
(Gen. 4:7). Such, too, will be the position filled by the Antichrist - he shall
be a Ruler over men. Fourth, in murdering his brother Abel, Cain foreshadowed
the wicked martyrdom of the Tribulation saints by the Son of Perdition. Fifth,
Cain was a liar. After the murder of Abel, when the Lord asked Cain, "Where is
Abel thy brother?", he answered, "I know not" (Gen. 4:9). In like manner deceit
and falsehood will characterize him who is appropriately named "the Lie" (2
Thess. 2:11). Sixth, God's judgment descended upon Cain. So far as we know from
the Scripture record, no human eye witnessed the dastardly murder of Abel, and
doubtless Cain deemed himself secure from any penal consequences. But if so, he
reckoned without God. The Lord announced to him, "Thy brother's blood crieth
unto Me from the ground", and then He declared, "And now art thou cursed from
the earth" (Gen. 4:10). So, too, in his reckless conceit , the Antichrist will
imagine that he can defy God and slay His people with impugnity. But his
blasphemous delusions will be quickly dispelled. Seventh, Cain was made to
exclaim, "My punishment is greater than I can bear" (Gen. 4:13). Such indeed
will be the awful portion meted out to the Antichrist - he shall be "cast alive
into the lake of fire burning with brimstone" (Rev. 19:20).
2. Lamech. And Lamech said unto his wives: Adah
and Zillah, hear my voice; "Ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: For I
have slain a man for wounding me, and a young man for bruising me. If Cain
shall be avenged sevenfold, Truly Lamech seventy and seven fold" (Gen. 4:23,24,
R. V.). The record of this man's life is exceedingly brief, but from the little
that is recorded about him we may discover at least seven parallelisms between
him and the Antichrist. First, the meaning of his name. Lamech signifies
"powerful". This was an appropriate name for one who foreshadowed the Man of
Sin who, as the Head of the United States of the World, will be powerful
governmentally. He will also be mighty in his person, for we are told that the
Dragon shall give power unto him (Rev. 13:4). Second, in the fact that Lamech
was a descendant of Cain (Gen. 4:17-19), not Seth, we see that he sprang from
the evil line. Third, he was the seventh from fallen Adam, as though to
intimate that the cycle of depravity was completed in him. So the Antichrist
will be not only the culmination of satanic craft and power, but as well, the
climax of human wickedness - the Man of Sin. Fourth, the first thing predicted
of Lamech is his "lawlessness". "Lamech took unto him two wives" (Gen. 4:19).
As such he violated the marriage law and disobeyed the command of God (Gen.
2:24). Clearly, then, he foreshadowed the "Lawless One" (2 Thess. 2:8, R.V.).
Fifth, like Cain before him, Lamech was a murderer. His confession is, "I have
slain a man for wounding me, and a young man for bruising me" (Gen. 4:23). In
this, too, he foreshadowed the Man of blood and of violence. Sixth, he was
filled with pride. This comes out in two details. First, he says to his wives,
"Hear my voice; Ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech" (Gen. 4:23).
Second, in his arrogant self-importance - "If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,
truly LAMECH seventy and seven fold" (Gen. 4:24). This appears to mean that
Lamech had slain a man for wounding him, and mad with passion, he jeered
ironically at God's dealings with Cain. Seventh, in the fact that the very next
thing recorded after the brief notice of Lamech is the birth of Seth (the one
from whom, according to the flesh, Christ descended) who set aside the line of
Cain - for on his birth Eve exclaimed, "God hath appointed me another seed
instead of Abel whom Cain slew" (Gen. 4:25) - thus we have a beautiful
foreshadowing of the millennial reign of the Lord Jesus following the overthrow
of the Antichrist.
3. Nimrod. This personal type of the Antichrist
is deeply interesting and remarkable full in its details. His exploits are
recorded in Gen. 10 and 11, and it is most significant that his person and
history are there introduced at the point immediately preceding God's call of
Abraham from among the Gentiles and His bringing him into the promised land.
Thus will history repeat itself. Just before God again gathers Abraham's
descendants from out of the lands of the Gentiles (many, perhaps the majority
of whom, will be found dwelling in Chalden, in Assyria, the "north country" see
Isa. 11:11; Jer. 3:18, etc.) there will arise one who will fill out the picture
here typically outlined by Nimrod.
Let us examine the details of this type. First,
the meaning of his name is most suggestive. Nimrod signifies "The Rebel". A fit
designation was this for a man that foreshadowed the Lawless One, who shall
oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God (2 Thess. 2:4), and who
shall "stand up against the Prince of princes" (Dan. 8:25). Second, we are told
that he was a son of Cush - "And Cush begat Nimrod" (Gen. 10:8), and Cush was a
son of Ham, who was curst by Noah. Nimrod, then, was not a descendant of Shem,
from whom Christ sprang, nor of Japheth; but he came from Ham. It is remarkable
that these men who typified the Antichrist came from the evil line. Third, we
are told that Nimrod "began to be a mighty one in the earth" (Gen. 10:8). Four
times over is this term "mighty" connected with this one who prefigured him
"whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying
wonders" (2 Thess. 2:9). But observe that it is first said, "He began to be
mighty", which seems to suggest the idea that he struggled for the pre-eminence
and obtained it by mere force of will. How this corresponds with the fact that
the Man of Sin first appears as "the little horn" and by force of conquest
attains to the position of King of kings needs only to be pointed out. It is
also significant that the Hebrew word for "mighty" in Gen. 10:9 is "gibbor"
which is translated several times "Chief" and "Chieftain". Fourth, it is also
added, "Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord" which means that he pushed
his designs in brazen defiance of his Maker. The words "mighty hunter before
the Lord" are found twice in Gen. 10:9. This repetition in so short a narrative
is highly significant. If we compare the expression with a similar one in Gen.
6:11, - "The earth also (in the days of Noah) was corrupt before God" - the
impression conveyed is that this "Rebel" pursued his impious designs in open
defiance of the Almighty. The contents of Gen. 11 abundantly confirm this
interpretation. In like manner, of the Antichrist it is written, "And the King
shall do according to his will, and he shall exalt himself and magnify himself
above every god (ruler), and shall speak marvelous things against the God of
gods" (Dan. 11:36). Fifth, Nimrod was a "Man of Blood". In 1 Chron. 1:10 - "And
Cush begat Nimrod; he began to be mighty upon the earth". The Chaldea
paraphrase of this verse says, "Cush begat Nimrod who began to prevail in
wickedness for he slew innocent blood and rebelled against Jehovah". This,
coupled with the expression "a mighty Hunter before the Lord", suggests that he
relentlessly sought out and slew God's people. As such, he accurately portrayed
the bloody and deceitful Man (Psa. 5:6), the violent Man (Psa. 140:1). Sixth,
Nimrod was a King - "the beginning of his kingdom was Babel" (Gen. 10:10. Thus
he was King of Babylon, which is also one of the many titles of the Antichrist
(Isa. 14:4). In the verses which follow in Gen. 10 we read, "He went out into
Assyria and builded Ninevah, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah", etc. (Gen.
10:11). From these statements it is evident that Nimrod's ambition was to
establish a world empire. Seventh, mark his inordinate desire for fame. His
consuming desire was to make for himself a name. Here again the antitype
marvellously corresponds with the type, for the Man of Sin is expressly
denominated "King over all the children of pride" (John 41:34).
What is recorded in Gen. 10 about Nimrod supplies
the key to the first half of Gen. 11 which tells of the building of the Tower
of Babel. Gen. 10:10 informs us that the beginning of Nimrod's kingdom was
Babel. In the language of that day Babel meant "the gate of God", but
afterwards, because of the judgment which the Lord there inflicted, it came to
mean "Confusion". That at the time Nimrod founded Babel this word signified
"the gate (the figure of official position) of God", intimates that he not only
organized an imperial government over which he presided as king, but that he
also instituted a new and idolatrous system of worship. If the type be perfect,
and we are fully assured it is so, then, as the Lawless One will yet do, Nimrod
demanded and received Divine honors. In all probability, it was at this point
that idolatry was introduced.
Nimrod is not directly mentioned in Gen. 11, but
from the statements made about him in chap. 10 there cannot be any doubt that
he was the "Chief" and "King" who organized and headed the movement and
rebellion there described: "And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a
tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be
scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth" (11:4). Here we behold a
most blatant defiance of God, a deliberate refusal to obey His commands given
through Noah - "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth" (9:1). But
they said, "Let us make us a name lest we be scattered upon the face of the
whole earth". As we have seen, Nimrod's ambition was to establish a
world-empire. To accomplish this two things, at least, were necessary. First, a
center, a great headquarters; and second, a motive for the inspiration and
encouragement of his followers. The former was furnished in the city of
Babylon: the latter was to be supplied in the "let us make us a name". It was
inordinate desire for fame. The idea of the Tower (considered in the light of
its setting) seems that of strength, a stronghold, rather than eminence.
To sum up. In Nimrod and his schemes we behold
Satan's initial attempt to raise up an universal ruler of men. In his
inordinate desire for fame, in the mighty power that he wielded, in his
ruthless and brutal methods, in his blatant defiance of the Creator, in his
founding of the kingdom of Babel, in his assuming to himself Divine honors, in
the fact that the Holy Spirit has placed the record of these things just before
the inspired account of God's bringing Abraham into Canaan - pointing forward
to the re-gathering of Israel in Palestine, immediately after the overthrows of
the Lawless One - and finally, in the Divine destruction of his kingdom -
described in the words, "Let Us go down and there confound their language"
(Gen. 11:7), which so marvellously pictures the descent of Christ from heaven
to vanquish His impious rival - we cannot fail to see that we have a
wonderfully complete typical picture of the person, the work, and the
destruction of the Antichrist.
4. Chedorlaomer. The history of this man is
recorded in Gen. 14 which is a chapter of deep interest to the student of
typology. The chapter opens with the words "And it came to pass in the days"
of." This is an expression which occurs six times (in the Hebrew) and always
marks a time of trouble ending in blessing - cf Ruth 1:11; Isa. 7:1; Jer. 1:3;
Ester 1:1; 2 Sam. 21:1" (Companion Bible). Such is plainly the case here. The
first half of Gen. 14 depicts Tribulation conditions, and this is followed by a
scene foreshadowing millennial glory. The time when Chedorlaomer lived is the
first point in the type. His history is recorded just before the first mention
of Melchizedek, the priest-king, who came forth and blessed Abraham - an
unmistakable foreshadowment of Christ in millennial glory, blessing Israel.
Second, the name of this man is highly significant. Gesenius, in his lexicon,
says of the word `a handful of sheaves'...perhaps its true etymology should be
sought in the ancient Persian". The latter is doubtless correct, for "Elam", of
which Chedorbaomer was king (Gen. 14:1), is the ancient name for Persia. Col.
Rawlinson searched for his name on the tablets of ancient Assyria, and there he
found that his official title was, "Ravager of the west"! Thus was he a true
type of the coming one who shall wade through a sea of blood to his coveted
position as Emperor of the world. Third, it is indeed remarkable to find that
just as Rev. 13:1 shows us that the empire of which the Antichrist will be the
Head (see our notes on this verse in Chapter 11) includes within it the
territory and perpetuates the characteristics of the earlier empires (Babylon,
Persia, Greece, and Rome), so dominions: "And it came to pass in the
days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of
Elam, and Tidal king of nations". Now "Shinar" is one of the names of Babylon
(see Dan. 1:2); "Elam" is the ancient name of Persia' "Ellasar" is translated
"Hellas" in the Sept., which is the ancient name of Greece; while "Tidal king
of the nations" evidently stands for Rome, the last of the world empires.
Fourth, but what is even more striking, is the fact that in Gen. 14:5
Chedorlamoer is seen at the head of the kings mentioned in v. 1. They act as
his vassals, and thus bow to the superiority of this one who was evidently a
King of kings. Fifth, Chedorlaomer was a warrior of renown. He was the Attila,
the Napoleon of his day. He defeated in battle the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah
and brought them into subjection and servitude (see 14:2-4). Later, they
rebelled, and gathering his forces together he went forth, vanquished, and slew
them (14:9,10). Thus did he foreshadow the Destroyer of the Gentiles (Jer.
4:7). Sixth, in Gen. 14:12 we read, "And they took Lot, Abraham's brother's
son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed". This prefigured the
persecution of Israel by Antichrist and his subordinates in a coming day.
Finally, we learn how that Abraham and his servants pursued Chedorlaomer and
his forces, and that "Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him" were slain
"in the kings dale" (14:17), which strikingly adumbrated the future overthrow
of Antichrist and the kings who shall be with him, in the dale of Megiddo (see
Rev. 19:19).
5. Pharaoh. We have in mind the Pharaoh of the
book of Exodus. His history and character are described at much greater length
than the other personal types of the Antichrist which have been before us, and
therefore more parallelisms are to be found here. We shall aim to be suggestive
rather than exhaustive. First, Pharaoh was king of Egypt which, in Scripture,
is the lasting symbol of the world. In like manner, the one whom he so
strikingly prefigured will be Head of the world-kingdom. Second, the Pharaoh of
Exodus came from Assyria (Isa. 52:4); so also will the Antichrist first rise in
that land. Third, Ex. 1 presents him to our view as the merciless persecutor of
the Hebrews, embittering their lives by hard bondage. Fourth, he is next seen
as the one who sought to cut off Israel from being a nation, giving orders that
all the male children should be slain in infancy. Fifth, he was the blatant
defier of God. When Moses and Aaron appeared before him and said, "Thus saith
the Lord God of Israel, Let My people go, that they may hold a feast unto Me in
the wilderness", his arrogant reply was, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey
His voice to let Israel go?" (Ex. 5:1,2). Sixth, God's two witnesses performed
miracles before Pharaoh (Ex. 7:10); so, too, will God's two witnesses in the
Tribulation period work miracles before the Beast (Rev. 11:6,7). Seventh,
Pharaoh had magical resources at his disposal (Ex. 7:11), as the Antichrist
will have at his (2 Thess. 2:9). Eighth, Pharaoh made fair promises to the
Hebrews, only to break them (Ex. 8:8,15). In this, too, he foreshadowed the
Antichrist in his perfidy and treachery toward Israel. Ninth, he met with a
drastic end at the hands of God (Psa. 136:15). Tenth, he was overthrown at the
time that Israel started out for the promised land: so Antichrist will be cast
into the Lake of Fire just before Israel enters into everlasting possession of
their promised inheritance. In all of these ten respects (and in others which
the student may search out for himself) Pharaoh was a striking and accurate
type of the Antichrist.
6. Abimelech. First, Abimelech signifies "father
of the king". Gideon, deliverer of Israel, was his father. But his mother was a
concubine, and this name was given to him, no doubt, for the purpose of hiding
the shame of his birth. Looking from the type to the antitype - "Father of the
King" - all attention to the satanic origin of the Antichrist. Second,
Abimelech slew seventy of his own brethren (Judges 9:5), and was therefore a
bloody persecutor of Israel. Third, Judges 9:6,22 tell us that he was "king
over Israel". Fourth, it is significant to note that he occupied the throne at
the time of Israel's apostasy (see Judges 8:33,34). Fifth, it is also most
suggestive that we are told he commenced his career at the stone (Judges 9:6),
or pillar, which Joshua erected in Ebal (facing Gerizim), the mount where all
the curses of a broken law were announced - Deut. 11:29; 27:4,12,13; Josh.
8:30. Sixth, he was a mighty warrior, a violent man (see Judges 9:40-50, and cf
Psa. 140:1 for the Antichrist as such). Seventh, he was slain by the sword
(Judges 9:54 and see Zech. 11:7; Rev. 13:3 for the antitype).
7. Saul. In at least ten respects Saul
foreshadowed the Antichrist. Almost the first thing told us about Saul is that
he was "from his shoulders and upward higher than any of the people" (1 Sam.
9:2, which is repeated in 10:23). As such he fitly prefigured the coming
Super-man, who in intelligence, governmental power, and satanic might, will so
tower above all his contemporaries that men shall exclaim, "Who is like unto
the Beast?" (Rev. 13:4). Second, Saul was king of Israel (1 Sam. 10:24), so
also will the Antichrist be. Third, Saul was a priest-king, blatantly
performing the office of the Levite (see 1 Sam. 13:9, and cf Ezek. 21:25,26 R.
V.). Fourth, the time of his reign was immediately before that of David, as
that of the Antichrist will immediately precede that of David's Son and Lord.
Fifth, he was a mighty warrior (see 1 Sam. 11:11; 13:1-4; 15:4; 7:8). Sixth, he
was a rebel against God (1 Sam. 15:11). Seventh, he hated David (1 Sam.
18:7,8,11; 26:2, etc.). Eighth, he slew the servants of God (1 Sam. 22:17,18).
Ninth, he had intercourse with the powers of evil (1 Sam. 29). Tenth, he died
by the sword (1 Sam. 31:4).
8. Goliath. First, his name means "Soothsayer"
which at once connects him with the powers of evil. Second, he was a giant, and
thus, like Saul, prefigured the Super-man. Third, he was the enemy of Israel.
Fourth, his consuming egotism was displayed in his blatant challenge, "I defy
the armies of Israel" (1 Sam. 17:10). Fifth, the mysterious number 666 (the
number of the Antichrist) is connected with Goliath. Note the three sixes. (a)
He was six cubits high (1 Sam. 17:4). (b) Six pieces of armour are enumerated -
helmet, coat of mail, greaves, target, staff, and shield (1 Sam. 17:5-7). (c)
His spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron (1 Sam. 17:7). Sixth, he
was slain by the sword (see 1 Sam. 17:51). Seventh, he was slain by David -
type of Christ. In each of these respects he foreshadowed the Antichrist.
9. Absalom. First, the meaning of his name is
very significant. "Absalom" means "father of peace". A careful reading of his
history reveals the fact that, again and again, he posed as a man of peace,
while war was in his heart. So the Antichrist will pose as the promised Prince
of peace, and for a time it will appear that he has actually ushered in the
Millennium. But ere long his violent and bloody character will be revealed.
Second, Absalom was the son of David, and therefore a Jew. Third, but Absalom
was a son of David by Maacah, the daughter of the Gentile king of Jeshur (2
Sam. 3:3). So, too, will the Antichrist be a veritable king among men. Fifth,
Absalom was a man of blood (2 Sam. 13,etc.). Sixth, Absalom sought to obtain
the kingdom by flatteries (2 Sam. 15:2-6); cf Dan. 11:21,23. Seventh, he
cloaked his rebellion by a pretense of religion (read 2 Sam. 15:7,8). Eighth,
he was the immediate cause of the faithful followers of David being driven from
Jerusalem into the wilderness (2 Sam. 15:14-16). Ninth, he reared up a pillar
unto himself (2 Sam. 18:18), which clearly foreshadowed the image which the
Antichrist will cause to be set up unto himself. Tenth, he met with a violent
end (2 Sam. 18:14).
There are quite a number of others who
foreshadowed the Antichrist in one or more of the outstanding features of his
character and career. For instance, there is Balak who, accompanied by Baalam
the prophet sought to curse and destroy Israel - a striking foreshadowing of
the Beast with his ally the False Prophet. There is Adoni-zedek, mentioned in
Joshua 10, and who headed a federation of ten kings; it is remarkable that his
name signifies "lord of righteousness" which is what the Antichrist will claim
to be as he comes forth on the white horse (Rev. 6). Then there is Adoni-kam,
with whom is associated the mystical number 666 - see Ezra 2:13; and how
profoundly significant that his name signifies "the Lord hath risen". We
believe that this mystic number in connection with the Antichrist will apply to
him only after his resurrection - and six the number of man! Sennacherib (2
Kings 18) prefigured the Antichrist in a number of ways: as the king of
Assyria, the blatant defier of God, smitten by the sword, etc. Haman, four
times denominated "the Jews' enemy" (Esther 3:10, etc.), and termed "the
adversary" (Esther 7:6), was another typical character. Nebuchadnezzar, king of
kings, who demanded universal worship, who set up an image to himself, and
decreed that all should worship it under pain of death, etc., manifestly
pointed forward to the Man of Sin, and so we might continue. Almost every
prominent feature of the Antichrist's person and career was foreshadowed by
some Old Testament character. The subject is intensely interesting, and we
trust that many of our readers will be encouraged to pursue it further for
themselves. In closing this chapter we shall look at one New Testament type of
the Antichrist.
10. Herod. At the beginning of the New Testament
there meets us a typical foreshadowing of the Antichrist. We refer to what is
recorded in Matt. 2. The description there furnished of Herod obviously
contains a prophetic adumbration of his great prototype. Notice, first, that
three times over he is denominated "the king" (vv. 1,3,9), as such he
prefigured the last great king, before the appearing of the King of kings.
Second, observe his hypocrisy. When the "wise men", who had followed the star
which heralded the Saviour's birth, were summoned into Herod's presence, we are
told that he said unto them, "Go and search diligently for the young child; and
when ye have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him
also" (v. 8). That nothing could have been further from his mind is plain from
his subsequent acts. But, nevertheless, he first posed as a devout worshipper.
Such is the role that the Antichrist will first fill in Palestine. Third, next
he threw off his religious mask and displayed his wicked heart: "Then Herod,
when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent
forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem", etc. (v. 16).
Similarly will the Antichrist act in Jerusalem.l Three and one half years
before his end comes he will discard his religious pretensions and stand forth
in his true character. Fourth, in this edict of slaying the young children in
Bethlehem and the coasts thereof, he was aiming, of course, at Christ Himself.
Thus did he accurately foreshadow that one who will yet fulfill the terms of
Gen. 3:15, where we read of a double "enmity" - between Satan and the woman
(Israel), and between her Seed (Christ) and the Serpent's "seed" (the
Antichrist". In the fifth place, we may also discover in Herod's destruction of
the children, a forecast of the fiendish assaults which the Antichrist will
make upon the Jews, when he seeks to cut them off from being a nation. In the
sixth place, we may note how the consequence of Herod's cruelty will reappear
in the future - "In Ramah was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping,
and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be
comforted, because they are not" (Matt. 2:18). This is a quotation from Jer.
31:15. But like most, if not all, prophecies, this will receive another and
final fulfillment at the close of the Tribulation period. Our authority for
this is found in the words which immediately follow in Jer. 31: "Thus saith the
Lord, Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work
shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of
the Enemy. And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children
shall come again to their own border". Thus it is clear that "bitter weeping
and lamentation" will again be heard in Ramah just before Christ returns and
restores Israel. Seventh, the accuracy of the typical picture supplied by Matt.
2 may be discovered in the failure of Herod to destroy the Christ-child. Just
as God foiled Herod, so will He yet bring to nought the wicked designs of the
Antichrist; and just as we read of Christ coming and dwelling at Nazareth after
the death of Herod, so Christ shall again dwell in that land after the death of
the false King. Surely, this remarkable typical picture of the Antichrist
should cause us to search more diligently for other esoteric allusions to him
in the New Testament.