"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.