Question: Will Antichrist be a Jew (just as Judas, a fellow Jew, betrayed Jesus)? If so, will he be of the tribe of Dan (Danish)? | thebereancall.org

TBC Staff

Question: Will Antichrist be a Jew (just as Judas, a fellow Jew, betrayed Jesus)? If so, will he be of the tribe of Dan (Danish)?

Answer: Danes are not Jews and therefore cannot be from the tribe of Dan! The argument for Antichrist being Jewish is not because Judas was a Jew, but because it is speculated that Israel would only accept a Jew. Unquestionably, Israelis will embrace Antichrist as their deliverer: “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive” (Jn:5:43). But why must he be a Jew?

The majority in Israel today would receive anyone as their Messiah who brought peace—whether he were Jew or Gentile. The fact that Antichrist will establish a false peace that will deceive Israel seems clear: “them that are at rest, that dwell safely...having neither bars nor gates...that are gathered out of the nations...that dwell in the midst of the land [of Israel] (Ezk 38:11-12); and by peace shall [Antichrist] destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand” (Dn 8:25).

Antichrist could be Jewish, but he need not be. He must, however, according to Daniel:9:26-27, be born within the borders of the ancient Roman Empire: “The people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city [Jerusalem] and the sanctuary [temple] and he shall confirm the covenant [for peace and rebuilding the temple]...for one week [seven years]: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease....”

The “covenant” must have provided for rebuilding the temple; the sacrifices could only be stopped if they had started, and for that the temple is essential. Surely the Muslims, UN, EU, and USA would never all agree to the rebuilding of the temple unless it were forced upon them—and that is the meaning of the Hebrew. Of course, only Antichrist, empowered by Satan, could impose this upon the world. (Israel will imagine he is their friend, whereas he has the temple rebuilt because he himself intends to sit in it declaring that he is God and demanding that all mankind worship him.)

The “people of the prince that shall come,” who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70, were, of course, the Roman armies under Titus. Thus Antichrist, whether Jew or Gentile, must have been born within the boundaries of the ancient Roman Empire. It would be fruitless and a waste of time to speculate regarding the identity of Antichrist (who can only “be revealed in his time” – 2 Thes:2:6), though that has always been a popular pursuit for many.