In fact, he disclaimed any right to rule in any sense at his first coming:

And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? (Luke 12:13,14)

When he would not be a king, but rather a Lamb, they would have no part of him, but demanded his crucifixion.

Now there are growing numbers of christians who expect Christ to take them to heaven while violent wars occur on the earth. Unfortunately they will experience instead a Jewish political Lion whom they will not recognize. They could find themselves warring against the real Christ who does not meet their preconceived specifications of what He should be like or what He should do at His advent. It should be noted that it was the very people who claimed that they were looking for the Messiah who opposed him at his first coming when he did not fulfil their preconceived ideas of what he should accomplish. When he does not fulfil their notions this time, such as their being taken to heaven, it is easy to see that it could be this group that will again oppose him.

There is a clear distinction then, as to how the Bible reveals the second coming and how many religious expositors view it. Even though the name Jesus is the same, it is another Jesus.

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached . . . ye might well bear with him (2 Corinthians 11:4).

Perhaps it comes down to the fact that his title is not understood. His name is Jesus ("Saviour"): Thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). However, his office is that of The Christ, The Anointed, The Messiah, which denotes his national position as ruler of the Nation of Israel. Many religious persons think that the term "Jesus Christ" is equal to, say, "John Doe". Such is not the case at all. This designation relates directly to his work-first as Saviour (from eternal death) of his brothers and sisters, and secondly as National Deliverer of the nation of Israel. When the significance of the name and office of Jesus is understood, the link between his death 2000 years ago and the rebirth of the Nation of Israel in our time is easy to comprehend; where this is not understood, confusion prevails.

A final practical question arises in connection with this Coming Antichrist idea: Who could this Antichrist be? It has been said that "Coming events cast their shadow before". What nation on this earth would have a leader who would befriend Israel (for the supposed Antichrist must be a leader of a country able to guarantee Israel, by terms of a covenant, safety for seven years), when this would immediately alienate those with whom the world economic power lies, namely, the Arabs? Would it be the United States? Russia? China? Europe (as is commonly suggested)? The Arabs themselves? What would any nation possibly have to gain by making a covenant with Israel? What nation could promise Israel that it would guarantee its survival? Would any of these nations support an individual wanting to be worshipped in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem as god? The answer clearly seems to be that no human being could ever fulfil the necessary requirements of the supposed coming Antichrist. The only individual who could possibly perform the miraculous feats required would be Jesus himself, by the power of God Almighty. It is the very show of this power which will undoubtedly deceive those looking for Antichrist into thinking that Jesus is in fact he.

Objections

As the reader has worked through the above thesis, some objections may have arisen in his mind. Three possible objections are considered below:

1. Psalm 2 indicates that the kings of the earth fight against the LORD and against his Christ. Does not this show that they know who they are fighting against, and are not deceived into thinking that this new leader is the long expected Antichrist?

In Revelation 17:13,14 it is clearly pointed out that certain nations will resist the claims of Christ:

These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

The question being asked is whether they do this in knowledge or ignorance of whom they are opposing. An allusion to Psalm 2 is made by the early disciples in Act 4:23-27. The "kings of the earth" here are defined as being composed of both Jews and Gentiles. Did they oppose the LORD and His Christ in knowledge or ignorance of what they were doing, for the language is clear that they "set themselves against the LORD and His Christ"? The answer is clear: they opposed God and His Son in ignorance.

Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory (1 Corinthians 2:8).

This shows clearly that this Psalm could very possibly apply at his second coming in the same manner as it did at his first coming; namely, referring to opposition to him in ignorance. A probable reason for this opposition is that they believe him to be the Antichrist.

2. Jesus is clearly a Jew. Is it not now true that many expositors identify Antichrist as someone from the Roman cult? Does not this destroy the above thesis?

It is true that many expositors identify Antichrist as a Roman. Some, however, say that he will be a Jew. Because, in our opinion, none of the prophecies used to support the Coming Antichrist concept refer to a future individual in any way, human imagination must fill in a number of gaps, which is the great danger in the entire concept. The details of this supposed Coming Antichrist are so plastic that they could very easily be molded to fit the Christ of the Scriptures at his second coming by those anticipating the appearance of Antichrist.

3. Is not the Antichrist hypothesis only held by a very small percentage of the world's population? How could this small group influence the whole world?

It is true that the persons holding this view, taken as a percentage of the world population, are a minuscule proportion indeed. However, with a world devoted to the occult, astrology, UFOs, and soap operas, it is easy to see that should a Middle Eastern leader commence a campaign of spectacular military victories, all people would look for a solution to this new and disturbing enigma. Organized christianity would claim that it had predicted some time before that this exact situation would arise. No other philosophy or cult would have any answer. Religion now would be solicited for advice on how to handle the situation. Organized religion would, therefore, experience a tremendous resurgence of influence during this period, among people with very divergent backgrounds.

In summary, this portion of the pamphlet has outlined the opinions currently extant among many evangelical writers on the subject of the Coming Antichrist. It has been pointed out that as a result of speculation on prophecies which, in our opinion, have nothing to do with a Coming Antichrist, the similarities between what this supposed individual would do, and what the Christ of the Scriptures will do at his Second Coming, are very striking -- striking to the point that when the "rapture", as commonly conceived, does not occur, and yet a new ruler, Jesus, appears in Jerusalem, the world at large could be very well induced by professing organized christianity into believing that he is the Antichrist. Objections have been considered, and it has been shown that it is the very elasticity in the views held with respect to this Coming Antichrist that could make an application to Jesus himself at His Glorious Appearance very feasible.

The conclusion of this portion of the pamphlet is this: We would do very well to investigate the bases for all predictions concerning a Coming Antichrist It is particularly important at this time in history that we are neither deceived ourselves nor that we deceive others as to the nature of coming events. The warning of the apostle John speaks urgently to our generation:

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world (1 John 4: 1).

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References to the phamphlet