Business Administration Faculty Publications

What About the Antichrist? Revelation 13:1-10

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-3-2008

Journal Title

The Christian Index

Abstract

In his famous “The Screwtape Letters,” Christian writer and apologist C.S. Lewis describes how a senior demon, Screwtape, mentors a junior demon named Wormwood through a series of letters. In one letter, Screwtape advises Wormwood, “What we want, if men become Christians at all, is to keep them in the state of mind I call ‘Christianity And.’ You know – Christianity and the Crisis, Christianity and the New Psychology…. If they must be Christian, let them be Christians with a difference. Substitute for the faith itself, some Fashion with a Christian coloring.”

C.S. Lewis beautifully illustrates Satan’s deceptive tactics in the “The Screwtape Letters.” Writing to Christians in the first century, John the Revelator also warns believers to beware of Satan’s deceptiveness.

In chapter 12, John described the dragon’s (Satan) failed attempts to destroy the Messiah (12:1-6). Indeed, Satan suffered a crushing defeat in chapter 12, ultimately being cast down to earth where he persecutes “those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus” (12:17).

In chapter 13, John introduces two beasts – agents of the Devil – who will continue waging war against believers, believers not just in the time of John, but believers of all times. In other words, we have in chapter 13 a picture of how Satan attacks the contemporary church as well.

Keywords

Revelation, Antichrist

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