The Man of Sin: Uncovering the Truth about the Antichrist
Overview
Christians have always been fascinated with the antichrist, but recently the interest seems to have reached an all-time high, with pop culture depictions and speculation leaving many people confused or even frightened. But what does the Bible really say? What have Christians throughout history believed about the antichrist? Should we fear the antichrist or such things as the mark of the Beast? Have some end-times prophecies already been fulfilled?
Pastor and professor Kim Riddlebarger carefully untangles the confusion surrounding this biblical doctrine. He considers common beliefs about the antichrist and end times, closely examines the relevant scriptural passages, and explains how these passages have been interpreted historically by the church.
In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Scripture citations link directly to English translations, and important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
- Addresses the biblical doctrine so as to remove confusion and fear
- Discusses the history of thought surrounding the antichrist
- Examines Scripture relevant to the antichrist to get to the root of the biblical character
- A Morbid Curiosity: Misconceptions about Antichrist
- Forerunners of the Antichrist: The Old Testament Background to the Doctrine of Antichrist
- The Doctrine of Antichrist in the New Testament Era: Some Preliminary Considerations
- Many Antichrists Have Already Come: The Doctrine of Antichrist in the Epistles of John
- The Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet: The Doctrine of Antichrist in the Book of Revelation
- The Man of Lawlessness: The Doctrine of Antichrist in 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12
- Know Your Enemy: The Antichrist in Church History
- The Antichrist: Figure of the Past or Future Foe?
Top Highlights
“Third, John tells us that antichrist may not even be an individual person or persons at all. Instead, antichrist may represent a system of heretical thought, specifically the denial that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.” (Pages 79–80)
“Very likely, this means that Daniel foretells three different events—one associated with the coming of Antiochus Epiphanes and the profanation of the Jerusalem temple during the Maccabean wars in 167 BC, another tied to the dawn of the messianic age and the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in AD 70, and then finally to an end-times profanation of the holy place by the archfoe of Israel’s Messiah.” (Page 127)
“The period of time between the first advent of Jesus Christ until his second advent—the time between the establishment of Christ’s kingdom as described in the Gospels and the consummation of all things—is the same period of redemptive history described in Revelation 20 as a ‘thousand years.’ This means that the so-called ‘millennium’ is a present reality and not a future hope.” (Page 64)
“Paul is not speaking of the temple in Jerusalem (either the historic temple destroyed by the Romans in AD 70 or a rebuilt temple yet to come). Paul is instead using the temple as a metaphor for the church, since the church is now indwelt by the Spirit of God in this present age.” (Page 126)
“The triple six emphasizes that the beast and his followers fall short of God’s creative purposes for humanity.’85” (Page 113)
Beyond sensationalism and silliness, this book on the antichrist corrects a tendency among a lot of us simply to ignore the topic. Riddlebarger writes with accessible prose, although there is always more research and analysis behind it than meets the eye. If you want to learn about this strange New Testament figure without all the hype usually associated with the genre, look no further. It’s serious, interesting, well-informed, and edifying reading.
—Michael Horton, professor of systematic theology, Westminster Seminary, CA
Kim Riddlebarger earned his PhD from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is the senior pastor of Christ Reformed Church in Anaheim, California, and has been a visiting professor of systematic theology at Westminster Seminary, California. He is also a cohost of the White Horse Inn radio program and a contributor to Modern Reformation magazine.