Informationsmarktverzerrung durch Fundamentalismus am Beispiel der USA

Kapitel 6: Apokalyptische Außenpolitik

1. Weltgeschehen als Endzeit

von Margarete Payer

mailto: payer@payer.de

Zitierweise / cite as:

Payer, Margarete <1942 - >: Informationsmarktverzerrung durch Fundamentalismus am Beispiel der USA. -- Kapitel 6: Apokalyptische Außenpolitik. -- 1. Weltgeschehen als Endzeit. -- Fassung vom 2005-04-18. -- URL: http://www.payer.de/fundamentalismus/fundamentalismus061.htm

Erstmals publiziert: 2005-03-30

Überarbeitungen: 2005-04-18 [Ergänzungen]; 2005-04-13 [Ergänzungen]; 2005-04-01 [Ergänzungen]

Anlass: Lehrveranstaltung an der Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart, Sommersemester 2005

Copyright: Dieser Text steht der Allgemeinheit zur Verfügung. Eine Verwertung in Publikationen, die über übliche Zitate hinausgeht, bedarf der ausdrücklichen Genehmigung des Verfassers.

Diese Inhalt ist unter einer Creative Commons-Lizenz lizenziert.

Dieser Text ist Teil der Abteilung  Länder und Kulturen von Tüpfli's Global Village Library

0. Übersicht

• 1. Mottos
• 2. Biblische Grundlagen
• 3. End times — Endzeit
• 4. The second coming — die Wiederkunft Christi
• 5. Der Antichrist
  • 5.1. Kandidaten für den Antichrist
  • 5.2. 666: die Zahl des Antichrist
• 6. Tribulation — die Trübsal
• 7. Armageddon/Harmageddon
• 8. Verbreiter der endzeitlichen Weltinterpretationen
  • 8.1. Jack Van Impe

1. Mottos

Abb.: The signs that herald thereturn of Jesus to earth

Bildquelle: Lindsey, Hal <1929>: There's a new world coming / [Illustrationen: Fleming H. Revell Company]. -- Santa Ana, CA : Vision House Publishers, 1974. -- Online: http://www.finkel.org/avi/revelation/index.html. -- Zugriff am 2005-03-21

2. Biblische Grundlagen

Die beiden wichtigsten apokalyptischen Texte mit klassischen Illustrationen:

• Johannesapokalypse in klassischen Comics / hrsg. von Alois Payer. -- URL:  http://www.payer.de/christentum/apokalypse.htm

• Die Danielapokalypse (Daniel 7 - 12) in klassischen Comics  / hrsg. von Alois Payer. -- Fassung vom 2005-03-20. -- URL:  http://www.payer.de/christentum/danielapokalypse.htm  

Lukasevangelium 17

20Da er aber gefragt ward von den Pharisäern: Wann kommt das Reich Gottes? antwortete er ihnen und sprach: Das Reich Gottes kommt nicht mit äußerlichen Gebärden;
21man wird auch nicht sagen: Siehe hier! oder: da ist es! Denn sehet, das Reich Gottes ist inwendig in euch.
22Er sprach aber zu den Jüngern: Es wird die Zeit kommen, dass ihr werdet begehren zu sehen einen Tag des Menschensohnes, und werdet ihn nicht sehen.
23Und sie werden zu euch sagen: Siehe hier! siehe da! Gehet nicht hin und folget auch nicht.
24Denn wie der Blitz oben vom Himmel blitzt und leuchtet über alles, was unter dem Himmel ist, also wird des Menschen Sohn an seinem Tage sein.
25Zuvor aber muss er viel leiden und verworfen werden von diesem Geschlecht.
26Und wie es geschah zu den Zeiten Noahs, so wird's auch geschehen in den Tagen des Menschensohnes:
27sie aßen, sie tranken, sie freiten, sie ließen freien bis auf den Tag, da Noah in die Arche ging und die Sintflut kam und brachte sie alle um.
28Desgleichen wie es geschah zu den Zeiten Lots: sie aßen, sie tranken, sie kauften, sie verkauften, sie pflanzten, sie bauten;
29an dem Tage aber, da Lot aus Sodom ging, da regnete es Feuer und Schwefel vom Himmel und brachte sie alle um.
30Auf diese Weise wird's auch gehen an dem Tage, wenn des Menschen Sohn soll offenbart werden.
31An dem Tage, wer auf dem Dach ist und sein Hausrat in dem Hause, der steige nicht hernieder, ihn zu holen. Desgleichen wer auf dem Felde ist, der wende nicht um nach dem was hinter ihm ist.
32Gedenket an des Lot Weib!
33Wer da sucht, seine Seele zu erhalten, der wird sie verlieren; und wer sie verlieren wird, der wird ihr zum Leben helfen.
34Ich sage euch: In derselben Nacht werden zwei auf einem Bette liegen; einer wird angenommen, der andere wird verlassen werden.
35Zwei werden mahlen miteinander; eine wird angenommen, die andere wird verlassen werden.
36Zwei werden auf dem Felde sein; einer wird angenommen, der andere wird verlassen werden.
37Und sie antworteten und sprachen zu ihm: HERR wo? Er aber sprach zu ihnen: Wo das Aas ist, da sammeln sich auch die Adler.
[Luther-Bibel 1912]
 

3. End times — Endzeit

Abb.: The End Times
[Bildquelle: http://www.truthinlove.com/frontpage.html. -- Zugriff am 2005-03-22]

"The end times are, in one version of Christian eschatology, a time of tribulation that will precede the Second Coming of Jesus. In another version the Rastafarians believe that the end times began with the crowning of Haile Selassie as Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930, and that he will soon reveal himself as God. Specifically, what is usually referred to as the 'end times' revolves around a cluster of beliefs in Christian or Rastafarian millennialism. These beliefs typically include the ideas that the Biblical apocalypse is imminent and that various signs in current events are omens of Armageddon. These beliefs have been widely held in one form, by the Adventist movement (Millerites), by Jehovah's Witnesses, and in another form by dispensational premillennialists. [edit]   End times in Christianity End times beliefs in Christianity vary widely. Christian premillennialists, who believe the End Times are in the future, usually articulate a fairly specific timetable that climaxes in the end of the world. For some, Israel, the European Economic Community, or the United Nations are seen as key players whose role was foretold in prophecies. Among dispensational premillennialists, there are those that hope that they will be supernaturally summoned to Heaven by the Rapture before the tribulations prophesied in the Bible's book of Revelation take place. 'End times' may also refer simply to the passing of a particular age or long period in the relationship between man and God. Adherents to this view sometimes cite St. Paul's second letter to Timothy, and draw analogies to the late 20th/early 21st centuries. [...] Origins Post-Exilic Hebrew books of prophecy such as the Book of Daniel and Book of Ezekiel are given new interpretations in this Christian tradition, and in Rastafari, while apocalyptic forecasts appear in the Judeo-Christian Sibylline Oracles and in the whole field of apocalyptic literature, which includes the Book of Revelation ascribed to John and the Apocalypse of Peter. Religious movements which expect that the second coming of Christ, or of Haile Selassie, will be a cataclysmic event, generally called adventism, have arisen throughout the Christian era; but they became particularly common during and after the Protestant Reformation. Swedenborgianism, Shakers, and others developed entire religious systems around a central concern for the second coming of Christ, disclosed by new prophecy or special gifts of revelation. The Millerites are diverse religious groups which similarly rely upon a special gift of interpretation for fixing the date of Christ's return. The chief difference between the nineteenth century Millerite and Adventist movements and contemporary prophecy belief is that William Miller and his followers fixed the time for the Second Coming by calendar calculations based on interpretations of the Biblical apocalypses; they originally set a date for the Second Coming in 1844. These sorts of computations also appear in some contemporary prophecy beliefs, but few contemporary End Times prophets use them to fix a date; their timetables will be triggered by future events such as the Rapture. Rather, contemporary End Times believers point to current events as indicating imminent world wars and moral catastrophes, and accordingly believe that God's judgment against the conflict-ridden and corrupt world is close at hand. Abb.: John Nelson Darby Dispensationalism, in contrast to the Millerite Adventist movement, got its start in the 19th century, when John Nelson Darby, founder of the Plymouth Brethren sect, incorporated into his system of Biblical intepretation a system of organizing Biblical time into a number of discrete dispensations, each of which marks a separate covenant with God. Darby's beliefs were widely publicised in Cyrus I. Scofield's Scofield Reference Bible, an annotated Bible that became popular in the United States of America. Since the majority of the Biblical prophets were writing at a time when Palestine was mostly Jewish, and the Temple in Jerusalem was still functioning, they wrote as if those institutions would still be in operation during the prophecied events. Their destruction in A.D. 70 put the prophetic timetable, if there is one, on hold. Believers therefore anticipated the return of Jews to Palestine and the reconstruction of the Temple before the Second Coming could occur. Of course the Apocalypse of John and Gospel of John are held by Christian tradition to have been written at least a decade after the fall of Jerusalem, and liberal Christians hold the same to be true for the three other (synoptic) gospels. Conservatives usually place the writing of the synoptic gospels before the fall of Jerusalem, but agree that the Apocalypse and John's Gospel were written after the fall. The prophecies The foundation of Israel in 1948 gave a major boost to the dispensationalist belief system; Israel's history of wars with its Arab neighbours did even more for it. After the Six Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973, it seemed plausible to many fundamentalist Christians in the 1970s that Mideast turmoil may well be paving the way for the Battle of Armageddon. Leaders of the movement such as Hal Lindsey claimed furthermore that the European Economic Community was a revived Roman Empire, and would become the kingdom of the coming Antichrist or Beast. A Roman Empire, of course, also figured in the New Testament writers' vision of the future. The fact that in the early 1970s, there were seven nations in the European Economic Community was held to be significant; this aligned the Community with a seven headed dragon in Revelations. This specific prophecy has required revision, but the idea of a revived Roman Empire remains. The Antichrist was supposed to be the dictatorial leader of a "one world government." He would promise peace to the world while leading Christians into apostasy, and impose a "one world money system" in which anyone had to have a Number of the Beast branded on them to buy or sell. Like the Roman emperors of old, he would impose horrible martyrdoms on surviving Christians. At some point after his appearance, a large number of Jews would convert to Christianity and preach the gospel after the Christians had been removed by the Rapture. Believers in the system therefore scanned the headlines wondering if various world leaders might be the Antichrist, and wondering whether Mideast violence might be a sign of Armageddon. They feared such things as Social Security numbers and UPC barcodes, fearing that these tax identification numbers may be precursors to the dangerous Number of the Beast, whose receipt destines one's soul to damnation. The Antichrist has as his allies the Beast and the Whore of Babylon, mysterious figures who run an apostate church or false religion. A world ravaged by plague and turmoil turns to the Antichrist to lead it, and who promises to deliver it. Eventually, the Antichrist musters an army to attack Israel. At the climax of the story, the Battle of Armageddon, Jesus returns in the Second Coming and stops the fighting. The movement has spawned various timetables and countdowns to the apocalypse, whose general tendency can be summed up with the title of one of Lindsey's books, The 1980s: Countdown to Armageddon. The former Soviet Union played a large role in Lindsey's earlier interpretations; his later books understandably tone that down considerably, while new villains like Saddam Hussein take its place. The movement has strained relationships with conservative U.S. governments and the government of Israel, as some Jews think American Christians' supposed support of Israel is merely a cover for their hope of the destruction of Judaism during the end times. It should be obvious from the foregoing that there is nothing in the Biblical apocalypses that forces these particular interpretations. The Seventh-day Adventists have their own tradition of millennialism arising from the nineteenth century Millerite movement that is distinct from contemporary dispensationalism. The prophecies have had to be revised several times in the light of changing current events. The whole belief system is often characterised by those who do not hold it, or who have abandoned it, as a mass paranoid delusion, full of ideas of reference that supposedly reveal the secret and sinister meaning that links unrelated events. End times speculations have occasionally been made the subject of political controversy, especially in the United States when conservative Christians seek national political office. The implications of the prophecies that turmoil in the Middle East is inescapable, that nuclear war is predestined by Scripture, and that it will supernaturally lead to a divine utopia, give rise to some misgivings among unbelievers in the prophecies. James G. Watt, Ronald Reagan's Secretary of the Interior, once remarked that "my responsibility is to follow the Scriptures which call upon us to occupy the land until Jesus returns;" this was interpreted by political foes as meaning that we did not need to take care of the environment because Jesus was returning soon, a view also evidenced when in public testimony he said, "after the last tree is felled, Christ will come back." (Note: the "last tree" quote is currently under debate - although numerous recent sources state that this comment was made in "public testimony," no source can identify the specific testimony in question, and no source can identify a contemporaneous historical document establishing the quote). Ronald Reagan himself was quoted in 1980 as saying that "we may be the generation that sees Armageddon," suggesting that he was familiar with the prophecies. Similar controversies have followed United States Attorney General John Ashcroft. The end times according to Preterism Another view of the 'end times' known as Preterism differentiates between the concept of 'end times' and 'end of time', and promotes a different understanding of these prophecies, in that they took place in the first century, more specifically in year A.D. 70, when the Jewish Temple was destroyed, and animal sacrifices were stopped. In this view, the 'end times' concept is referring to the end of the covenant between God and Israel, rather than the end of time, or the end of planet Earth. Unlike all the other Christian theological systems, Preterism holds an exclusive and unique view on the nature and timing of the 'End Times', in that Preterists teach the 'end times' to be past. Preterists believe that prophecies such as the Second Coming, the defiling of the Temple, the destruction of Jerusalem, the Antichrist, the Great Tribulation, the advent of The Day of the Lord, the Resurrection of the dead (though they do not believe in bodily resurrection) and the Final Judgment were fulfilled at or about the year 70 AD when the Roman general (and future Emperor) Titus sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Jewish Temple, putting a permanent stop to the daily animal sacrifices. Preterists also believe the term 'Last Days' or 'End Times' refers not to the last days of planet Earth, or last days of mankind, but to the last days of the Old Covenant, the Mosaic Covenant which God had exclusively with Israel until year 70 AD. According to Preterism, many 'time passages' in the New Testament indicate with apparent certainty that the Second Coming of Christ, and the 'End Times' predicted in the Bible were to take place within the lifetimes of Christ's disciples: Matt. 10:23, Matt. 16:28, Matt. 24:34, Matt. 26:64, Rom. 13:11-12, 1 Cor. 7:29-31, 1 Cor. 10:11, Phil. 4:5, James 5:8-9, 1 Pet. 4:7, 1 Jn. 2:18. [...] Fictional treatments Varying beliefs about the end times have been the subject of a number of works of fiction. Literature The Left Behind series of novels, comics, and motion pictures, originally by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, are a fictional telling of these tales from the most popular, Futurist point of view, of an evangelist who wishes to convert people to belief in these prophecies. A rapture of sorts occurs in the novel Job: A Comedy of Justice by Robert A. Heinlein. An end-times novel that depicts a Preterist point of view, entitled The Last Disciple (http://www.decipherTheCode.com), was written by well-known apologist Hank Hanegraaff (aka "The Bible Answer Man (http://equip.org/)") and Sigmund Brouwer; it was released in Autumn 2004, ironically by the same publisher as the futurist Left Behind series. Motion Pictures Abb.: Die Omen-Trilogie auf DVD {Wenn Sie HIER klicken, können Sie diese DVDs bei amazon.de bestellen} The motion picture The Omen (1976) and its sequels are predicated on Futurist end-times beliefs. Another such motion picture is The Seventh Sign (1988). The motion picture Rosemary's Baby features the birth of a child of Satan, who is presumably destined to mature into the Antichrist. Alex de la Iglesia's Spain horror-comedy motion picture "El Dia de la Bestia" (Day of the Beast) depicts the efforts of a Basque priest and a young follower of heavy metal music to prevent the birth of the Antichrist. References Boyer, Paul. When Time Shall Be No More: Prophecy Belief in Modern American Culture. ISBN 0674951298 Graham, Billy. Approaching Hoofbeats: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. ISBN 0380699214 Lindsey, Hal. The Late Great Planet Earth (1970 Bantam edition, seventeenth printing); current ISBN 031027771X Lindsey, Hal. The 1980s: Countdown to Armageddon (1981), ISBN B00005VA37 Oropeza, B. J. 99 Reasons Why Nobody Knows When Christ Will Return, ISBN 0830816364 End times oriented Bible commentaries Falwell, Jerry (ed.), The King James Study Bible, ISBN 0785209301 Scofield, C. I.. (ed.) The Scofield Reference Bible, facsimile of 1917 edition. ISBN 0529109530. Van Impe, Jack (ed.) The Jack Van Impe Prophecy Bible, ISBN 1884137881 For further reading Cohn, Norman, The Pursuit of the Millennium: Revolutionary Millennarians and Mystical Anarchists of the Middle Ages. ISBN 0195004566 Demar, Gary. Last Days Madness: Obsession of the Modern Church. ISBN 0915815354 LaHaye, Tim and Jenkins, Jerry, Are We Living in the End Times? ISBN 0842336443 Riddlebarger, Kim, A Case for Amillennialism: Understanding the End Times. ISBN 080106435X Robbins, Thomas and Palmer, Susan J., Millennium, Messiahs, and Mayhem: Contemporary Apocalyptic Movements. ISBN 0415916496 Sproul, R. C., The Last Days According to Jesus. ISBN 080106340X [Quelle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_times. -- Zugriff am 2005-03-16]

4. The second coming — die Wiederkunft Christi

Abb.: The second coming
[Bildquelle: http://home.att.net/~jrd/Biblecharts.html. -- Zugriff am 2005-03-22]

"The prophecies of a Second Coming are various and span across many religions and cultures. Most notable is the Christian belief in the return of Jesus. Rastafarians believe that it is ex-Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie who is the returned messiah. Another is Maitreya (Pali: Metteyya), a bodhisattva, prophesied by Gautama Buddha to be the next Buddha who will return to restore Buddhism when it becomes lost or corrupt. Christianity Across the many denominations of Christianity, the view of Christ's second coming is largely differing. Few dare to claim complete and authorative interpretation of the typically symbolic and prophetic biblical sources. What is commonly accepted is that Jesus Christ died on the cross. He was resurrected to physical life and accepted into heaven. He is to return to this earth to judge and establish his kingdom, ending the era of grace we are currently living in. No one is to know the hour of Christ's return. The Book of Daniel, the Gospel of Matthew and the Book of Revelation are considered to be the most fruitful sources of study, alltough many parts of the Bible are sprinkled with references to the "last day(s)" and the Second Coming. A short reference to it is also contained in the Nicene Creed: "He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; of His kingdom there shall be no end" (speaking of "one Lord Jesus Christ"). [...] Rastafari The Rastafarian religion believes that Haile Selassie is the second coming. He both embodied this when he became Emperor of Ethiopia, but is also expected to return a second time to initiate the apocalyptic day of judgement. Haile Selassie, also called Jah rastafari, is considered to be still alive. Abb.: Haile Selassie Timing Distinction All the above discussion is about the Second Coming to earth of Jesus that is clear for all to see. The Bible says coming on "GLORY" interpreted to be "in the sky with a huge glow in the clouds about Jesus." So that the timing of that Second Coming it is argued we dont know but it WILL BE obvious. An earlier "presence" of Jesus (before the obvious Second Coming see above) is the long debated presence BEFORE that obvious coming in the sky and this earlier presence is Jesus here on earth (e.g. today) "judging the nations". Since this "presence" includes larger effects (as his movement about would cause disruptions as power outages, gravity effects ("the earth flees before his face"), this presence NOW today would be known by the government(s). That appears to be the case .... interested persons research this point. Obvious Precursors to the Second Coming The overall precursor is the belief that God planned a 7,000 year timetable for Man - beginning with Adam; and since Adam was born 6,000 years ago (4,000 BC) then at 2,000 AD -- there is left only the remaining 1,000 years for Christ's reign on earth beginning 2,000 AD. This overall timetable means that the Second Coming is imminent. A second key precursor is the founding anew of the state of Israel which occurred in 1948. This precursor comes from the restated phrasig in the Bible from the founding of the Olive Tree (used in bible to mean Israel) , then , within the lives (of those alive at that founding of that Olive tree) I WILL COME AGAIN... Since that was 1948 then to now that totals 67 years and with normal life spans 77 years, that ALSO points to a Second Coming NOW or soon. Another clear precursor for all to see is that the Second Coming is promised (in the Bible) to occur within 3 1/2 years of an abomination in the temple (by the Antichrist). What muddles this particular prophecy is the fact that the temple (the Temple always in the Bible is referring to the main temple of Judaism and Christianity on the temple mount in Jerusalem) which has not been rebuilt since its 2nd Destruction by the Romans circa AD 70. BUT ... the temple to God / Jesus was always the people / his people. So that some abomination occurs over the people .... And that abomination being obvious, that means, when you observe that abomination, then within 3 1/2 years Jesus will come again. There are many more general precursors to the Second Coming, as the emergence of the global ruler - the AntiChrist; wars, pestulence that are wide spread , etc. [Quelle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Coming. -- Zugriff am 2005-03-22]

"Second Coming of Christ. In Old Testament times the idea that in due course God would send his Messiah (= "Anointed One") made its appearance and this thought continued in the intertestamental period. The term could be applied to Gentiles, such as Cyrus (Isa. 45:1), but its characteristic use was for a great king whom God would send at the end of the world, a deliverer who would set God's people free from their oppressors. The Christians accepted this idea and built on it. They gave it a new twist when they spoke of Jesus as "the Christ," "the Anointed One," and saw him not only as having lived a life on earth here in time but as destined to return to the earth at the end of the age to set up God's final state of things. There was a difference from previous messianic expectations in that Jesus had lived out a life on earth so that the coming to which Christians looked forward was a second coming. And it was important that the one for whose second coming believers looked had already lived on earth and wrought redemption for all who believed in him. The Teaching of Jesus. The greater part of Jesus' teaching concerned life here and now and the way people should live in the service of God. He drew attention to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies (e.g., Luke 4:21; cf. Matt. 12:17—21), and clearly saw himself as sent by the Father to inaugurate the kingdom of God. Some have seen this as "realized eschatology," the view that the present kingdom of God, established in the life and the teaching of Jesus, is the whole story (C. H. Dodd argued for this view). But this perspective overlooks the fact that Jesus certainly looked forward to a future "coming" when this world order would be done away and a completely new state of affairs would be inaugurated. Thus he warned his hearers that anyone ashamed of him and his teaching would find the Son of Man ashamed of him "when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels" (Mark 8:38). This teaching is given as something already accepted and it thus appears to be part of Jesus' teaching from earlier days. There is no point at which he ceases to teach other things and begins to enunciate teaching on his second coming. Right at the beginning Jesus taught that "the kingdom of God is near" (Mark 1:15) and this may be held to imply the second coming for it was when that took place that the kingdom would be set up in its fullness. That he spoke more about his second coming than is recorded seems clear from the question the disciples asked him toward the end of his life: "What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Matt. 24:3). Not much teaching about his return is recorded before this time, but these words show that Jesus had previously taught the disciples that he would come back. All three Synoptists record significant teaching about Jesus' coming again in the Olivet discourse. The coming will be sudden and unexpected (Matt. 25:13; Luke 12:40), but when it happens it will be like lightning, obvious to all (Matt. 24:27; Luke 17:24). Jesus makes it clear that his coming will take place at a time when people will not be expecting it (Matt. 24:36, 44). His call for watchfulness is important (Matt. 24:42-51), for it indicates that the coming of the Son of Man has decisive importance. Earlier there had been a request that the places of honor in the kingdom should be given to the sons of Zebedee. Jesus did not deny that there would be such places, but said they were for those for whom the Father had prepared them (Matt. 20:20-23). The call for watchfulness is surely related to the coming of the kingdom. When Jesus comes it will be too late to make preparations, so he exhorts his followers to be watchful, ready for his coming, whenever it should be. We should also bear in mind the teaching of the parable of the talents. When the Master returns there will be an accounting of what his people have done with the talents he has given them. An important part of Jesus' teaching about his second coming is the truth that it will form a strong contrast with his first coming. Then he had been a poor man, despised by religious and secular authorities and indeed probably quite unknown to many people. But when he comes back he will be "coming in clouds with great power and glory" (Mark 13:26). Something of his eminence is to be discerned from the fact that he will "gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens" (v. 27); he will be seen "sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven" (14:62). Right to the end of his life Jesus firmly enunciated the idea that he would come again, for at his examination before Caiaphas he said, "you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven" (Mark 14:62). And Luke records Jesus' words just prior to his ascension: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority" and the words of the angels, "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:7, 10). Acts also has a reference to God's having set a day "when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead" (Acts 17:31). This book does not often refer to the second coming, but the subject is not absent from Luke's second volume. There is a strong emphasis on judgment at the time of Jesus' return. This is seen first in the separation of the saved from the lost. Thus of two men working in a field and of two women grinding at a hand mill at that time in each case "one will be taken and the other left" (Matt. 24:37-41). This will be seen also in the mourning of "all the nations of the earth" when they "see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory" (Matt. 24:30; in Luke Jesus speaks on "the day the Son of Man is revealed," Luke 17:30). What is stressed is that worldly people will be carrying on their usual manner of life without regard to their responsibility to God and without realizing their accountability right up to the time of Jesus' second coming. We discern the thought of final judgment also in such teachings of Jesus as the parable of the talents. Always there are the thoughts of human accountability and of final judgment which is to take place following the return of Jesus in triumph at the end of the age. There is not a great deal about the second coming in the Fourth Gospel, but there is a persistent reference to Jesus' care for his own who will have eternal life and whom he will raise up at the last day (6:39, 40, 44, 54). This is seen also in his coming back to take the disciples to be with him (14:3, 28) and in the words about the disciples seeing him which puzzled them so much (16:16-18, 22). In the concluding verses of this Gospel there is another reference to Jesus' return (21:22-23). The Parousia. Clearly Christ's second coming meant a great deal to the New Testament writers. Paul, for example, mentions it in most of his letters. He makes a good deal of use of the word parousia (14 times), which meant originally "presence" (Phil. 2:12) and thus a "coming to be present" (other ways of referring to the coming see it as an apokalypsis, "a revelation," or as an epiphaneia, "an appearing"; it is not infrequently referred to as "the day" or "the great day"). It was used of the "coming" of a king or emperor visiting a province and, in some religions, of the manifestation of the deity. In the New Testament it came to be used as a technical term for the second coming of a King. That Jesus first came in lowliness, despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, was important for those early believers. But that he would in due course come back in triumphant majesty was just as important. The subject of the return of Christ is certainly important as the number of references to it in the New Testament makes amply plain. But there were difficulties in understanding what it meant even in the early church. Thus Paul counsels one group of early Christians not be "unsettled or alarmed" by teaching "that the day of the Lord has already come" (2 Thess. 2:2). If the teaching about it could be so drastically misunderstood in the earliest days of the church we should not be surprised if we find it difficult to fit all that the New Testament says about it into one coherent pattern. In what is certainly one of his earliest surviving letters, 1 Thessalonians, Paul devotes attention to the problem of believers who had died. Apparently some of the early Christians thought that these people would miss out on the wonders when Christ returns. Paul says that on the contrary, when Jesus returns they will be with him; the living will have no precedence. He goes on to say that the Lord will "come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God" (4:16). Clearly Paul is describing a majestic coming, a coming to rule and not as at Christ's first coming, a coming to serve. He goes on to speak of living believers as caught up to meet the coming Lord in the air. Traditionally this has been understood to mean that Paul is speaking of the end of this life as we know it and the ushering in of the final state of affairs. But some Christians have seen in the words a secret rapture ("rapture" is from the Latin raptus, "seized," "carried off"), wherein believers are caught up secretly out of this life and taken to be with the Lord while earthly life goes on without them for the rest of the human race. Pretribulationists hold that there follows a period of tribulation for those remaining on earth (Matt. 24), which will last for a thousand years (Rev. 20:5). Midtribulationists think that the church will experience three and a half years of the tribulation before being raptured (citing Dan. 7:25, etc.). Posttribulationists hold that the church will remain on earth throughout the tribulation and that the return of Christ is after that. It is difficult to resist the conclusion that some have been far too confident in the way they interpret some difficult scriptural passages. That Christ will return at the end of the age, bringing "those who have fallen asleep in him" (1 Thess. 4:14) and that living believers will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air is clearly taught (1 Thess. 4:17). So is the fact that all this will be public and open, for the Lord will come "with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God" (1 Thess. 4:16). But we must exercise care in the way we go beyond these words and in our attempts to relate them to other scriptural passages. Whichever way we interpret the difficult passages we must bear in mind Jesus' exhortation to his followers to watch (Matt. 24:42). That the returning Christ will come in majesty is made very clear. He will be "revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels" (2 Thess. 1:7). It is "the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed" (v. 10). Paul can speak of waiting for "the blessed hope," which he goes on to explain as "the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). There will be "praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed" (1 Peter 1:7; cf. "glories," v. 11). In the opening of Revelation we read, "he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him" (1:7) and from then on right through the book we are left in no doubt as to the majesty of the Christ whose place is supreme in heaven, but who will come back to this earth. Final Triumph of Goodness. The return of Christ will usher in the era in which goodness will be triumphant, a truth that is brought out in many ways. Thus throughout the Book of Revelation we are reminded that the power of evil cannot stand up to the might of God. The final triumph of good over evil is brought out in a number of ways, notably in the magnificent vision of the heavenly city and in the vision of the wedding of the Lamb. Sometimes this is emphasized with the thought of the defeat of the forces of evil as when Paul says that Christ will hand over the kingdom to the Father after he has destroyed all opposing powers (1 Cor. 15:24). "The wrath of God" is coming (Col. 3:6), which surely means that that wrath will triumph over all evil. And Paul speaks of "the rebellion" as something that will occur and of "the man of lawlessness" as being "revealed." He goes on to say that "the secret power of lawlessness" is already at work in this world, but that it will be more fully manifested when "the one who now holds it back" is taken out of the way. But the Lord Jesus will destroy the evil power "by the splendor of his coming" (2 Thess. 2:3-12). Believers "are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13). Sometimes the strength of evil, especially in the last days before Jesus' return, is emphasized. "There will be terrible times in the last days" (2 Tim. 3:1) and even among those who profess to be followers of Christ some will abandon the faith and accept "things taught by demons" (1 Tim. 4:1). Paul speaks of "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" and says plainly, "that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed" (2 Thess. 2:1-3). There will be scoffers who will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised?" (2 Peter 3:4). In 1 John there is a warning against "the antichrist" and the writer goes on to speak of "many antichrists" as being present whereby his readers know that it is "the last hour" (1 John 2:18). In Revelation there are some vivid pictures of the evil that will be at the last times. The New Testament writers never underestimate the strength of evil; they encountered it in their own lives as they tried to live out the faith in the face of strenuous opposition, and they were sure that it would continue to the end of time. But they were equally sure that at the return of Christ all evil will be defeated and the kingdom of God finally set up, a kingdom in which righteousness will be supreme. Unexpectedness of the Day. Though the second coming of Christ is plainly taught in a variety of ways throughout the New Testament it is also made clear that when it comes it will be sudden and unexpected. That day "will come like a thief in the night" (1 Thess. 5:2). So also the risen Lord tells the church at Sardis to wake up lest he come to them "like a thief" (Rev. 3:3). People will be saying "Peace and safety" when destruction suddenly comes (1 Thess. 5:3). Believers are exhorted that they "continue in him, so that when he appears [at the parousia] we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming" (1 John 2:28). Though there will be "signs" that herald the coming, its arrival cannot be calculated accurately and people will still be surprised when Jesus comes. Sometimes it is said that this will happen soon: "For in just a very little while, 'He who is coming will come and will not delay'" (Heb. 10:37). We should understand "a very little while" in the perspective of eternity. In terms of one short human life the delay is already considerable, but the biblical writer is not thinking in those terms. His "very little while" speaks of what is certain, rather than of what is soon in human terms. That the second coming will be soon is stressed in Revelation (22:7, 12, 20). But it will be "soon" in God's time, not in ours. Eager Expectation. The awe-inspiring nature of the coming and its unexpectedness should not make believers view it with apprehension. The Corinthian church "eagerly" awaits the day (1 Cor. 1:7). The Ephesians are told that they by the Holy Spirit "were sealed for the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30). This is an unusual way of referring to Christ's return but there can be no doubt that it is his coming that is in mind. Believers may have assurance as they look forward to that day. Until it comes they "wait for (God's) Son from heaven" (1 Thess. 1:10). Paul can express his trust in Christ and express his conviction "that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day" (2 Tim. 1:12). There is no need for him to explain which day "that day" is; so central was it to Christian teaching that Paul had no need to define it further. And we should notice his confidence about what will happen on that day. Similarly the writer to the Hebrews looks forward to the coming of "a kingdom that cannot be shaken" (12:28). Sometimes this is expressed in terms of hope. We have been saved "in hope" (Rom. 8:24), a hope that is not centered on this life (1 Cor. 15:19), but is "stored up" for us in heaven (Col. 1:5). This hope is "held out in the gospel" and it can be spoken of as "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:23, 27). Christ is himself our hope (1 Tim. 1:1). Christians wait for "the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). Peter speaks of the "living hope" given to Christians and goes on to refer to "the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5). He exhorts his readers: "set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed" (1 Peter 1:13). Believers must always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is within them (1 Peter 3:15). In 1 John we find that "When he appears, we shall be like him" and we are told that "Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself" (3:2-3). Instead of hope the writer may refer to confidence: "Love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment" (4:17). Judgment. That the return of Christ leads on to judgment for all is made very clear. This may be expressed in terms of confidence for believers, and there are many passages that speak of their final state. Thus Paul assures the Corinthians that Christ will be "revealed" and that he "will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 1:7-8). That they will be "blameless" indicates that blame will be assessed. A little later Paul has his teaching about Christians building on the foundation Christ laid and his reminder that "the day" will bring judgment. Fire will test everyone's work. What survives the flames will lead to a reward and what does not means loss (1 Cor. 3:11-15). It is said of believers that when Christ appears they will "appear with him in glory" (Col. 3:4), and further, that we wait for the coming of him who "rescues us from the coming wrath" (1 Thess. 1:10). Paul prays for the Thessalonians that their "whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 5:23). And that apostle speaks of "the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day," a crown, which he adds, will be given "also to all who have longed for his appearing" (2 Tim. 4:8). Sometimes there is a reference to judgment without specific reference to the coming of Christ, but where this is clearly implied (e.g., 1 Peter 4:5; cf. v. 7). Paul can use the certainty of the coming of "the day" as a way of motivating believers to be active in the service of their Lord. Thus he prays that the love of the Philippian Christians may abound more and more so that they may have discernment "and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ" (Phil. 1:10). He asks the Thessalonian believers, "What is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?" and answers, "Is it not you?" (1 Thess. 2:19). The Supremacy of Christ. At his first coming Jesus was "despised and rejected by men" (Isa. 53:3), but the New Testament makes it clear that it will not be this way at the second coming. Then the Father will have "put everything under his feet" (1 Cor. 15:27). At that time all his people will be "gathered to him" (2 Thess. 2:1), and they "will be with the Lord forever" (1 Thess. 4:17). This confidence Paul can speak of as "the blessed hope" which he proceeds to explain as "the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). We should understand passages referring to the kingdom here, for the thought is that Christ will be King in that day, as Revelation makes so abundantly clear. The writer to the Hebrews adds an interesting point when he says of the Old Testament saints that God has provided "that only together with us would they be made perfect" (11:40). And Jude adds the thought that "you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life" (v. 21). There is, of course, a sense in which believers already have eternal life, but Jude is referring to the sense in which the consummation will be reached only when Jesus returns. The Millennium. The thought of Jesus' second coming dominates Revelation with its vivid imagery expressing the certainty of his return and the transformation of all things when that happens. There are problems in knowing exactly how the visions are to be interpreted, none more so than in the reference to the binding of Satan for a thousand years and the reign of certain believers with Christ for that period (Rev. 20:1-6). The interpretation of this chapter has divided evangelical Christians. Pre-millennialists hold that Christ will come before the thousand years, post-millennialists that the return of Christ will follow the thousand years, and amillennialists that the thousand years are to be understood symbolically; this period refers to the whole time before the second coming. [Quelle: Leon L. Morris. -- In: Evangelical dictionary of biblical theology / edited by Walter A. Elwell.  -- Grand Rapids, Mich. : Baker Books ; Carlisle, Cumbria : Paternoster Press, ©1996.  -- x, 933 S. ; 26 cm.  -- ISBN: 0801020492. -- s.v. -- {Wenn Sie HIER klicken, können Sie dieses Buch bei amazon.de bestellen}]

5. Der Antichrist

Abb.: The Antichrist
[Bildquelle: http://home.att.net/~jrd/Biblecharts.html. -- Zugriff am 2005-03-22]

2. Brief des Paulus an die Thessalonicher 2, 1 - 12

1Aber der Zukunft halben unsers HERRN Jesu Christi und unsrer Versammlung zu ihm bitten wir euch, liebe Brüder,
2daß ihr euch nicht bald bewegen lasset von eurem Sinn noch erschrecken, weder durch Geist noch durch Wort noch durch Brief, als von uns gesandt, dass der Tag Christi vorhanden sei.
3Lasset euch niemand verführen in keinerlei Weise; denn er kommt nicht, es sei denn, dass zuvor der Abfall komme und offenbart werde der Mensch der Sünde, das Kind des Verderbens,
4der da ist der Widersacher und sich überhebt über alles, was Gott oder Gottesdienst heißt, also dass er sich setzt in den Tempel Gottes als ein Gott und gibt sich aus, er sei Gott.
5Gedenket ihr nicht daran, dass ich euch solches sagte, da ich noch bei euch war?
6Und was es noch aufhält, wisset ihr, dass er offenbart werde zu seiner Zeit.
7Denn es regt sich bereits das Geheimnis der Bosheit, nur dass, der es jetzt aufhält, muss hinweggetan werden;
8und alsdann wird der Boshafte offenbart werden, welchen der HERR umbringen wird mit dem Geist seines Mundes und durch die Erscheinung seiner Zukunft ihm ein Ende machen,
9ihm, dessen Zukunft geschieht nach der Wirkung des Satans mit allerlei lügenhaftigen Kräften und Zeichen und Wundern
10und mit allerlei Verführung zur Ungerechtigkeit unter denen, die verloren werden, dafür dass sie die Liebe zur Wahrheit nicht haben angenommen, auf dass sie selig würden.
11Darum wird ihnen Gott kräftige Irrtümer senden, dass sie glauben der Lüge,
12auf dass gerichtet werden alle, die der Wahrheit nicht glauben, sondern haben Lust an der Ungerechtigkeit.
[Luther-Bibel 1912]
 

"Antichrist (griech., »Widerchrist«, bei Luther Endechrist), der vom Satan gesandte gewaltige Gegner des Christentums, der kurz vor der Wiedererscheinung Christi die gesamte Macht des Bösen in der Welt zum letzten Kampf gegen die christliche Kirche vereinigen, aber schließlich durch Christus überwunden werden wird. Die Erwartung einer solchen Persönlichkeit, eines »Menschen der Sünde«, in dem das ganze dem Christentum feindlich entgegengesetzte Streben seinen Abschluss erreichen werde, findet sich besonders 2. Thess. 2, 3 f. und Offenb. 13 und 17, besitzt aber ihre Anknüpfungspunkte schon im Judentum. Wie nämlich dieses vor dem Erscheinen des Messias eine furchtbare Zerrüttung aller sittlichen Verhältnisse (Geburtswehen des Messias) erwartete, so das Urchristentum vor der gehofften Wiedererscheinung Christi, und wie das Buch Daniel den Antiochos Epiphanes als den Gottesfeind schildert, um durch die Aussicht auf seinen gewissen Untergang über die Drangsale der Gegenwart hinwegzuheben, so erscheint in der Offenbarung des Johannes Nero in gleicher Stellung. Seither erblickte jedes Geschlecht, das den christlichen Glauben durch eine mächtige Zeitrichtung bedroht sah, in dem jedesmaligen Repräsentanten derselben den Antichrist, so z. B. Wiclif, die Hussiten und Reformatoren im Papst. Ja, der Gedanke, dass der Papst der Antichrist sei, ging durch die Schmalkaldischen Artikel selbst in den Lehrbegriff der Lutheraner über. In der griechisch-morgenländischen Kirche wurde besonders seit dem 16. Jahrh. die türkische Herrschaft oder auch Mohammed nach dem Vorgang des Papstes Innocenz III. als Antichrist bezeichnet. Neuerdings sollte 1805 mit Napoleon I. und 1848 mit den Revolutionsmännern die Zeit des Antichrists anbrechen. Die älteste poetische Darstellung der Antichristsage ist das Gedicht Muspilli (s. d.); von spätern Schriften über den Gegenstand, die sich durch das ganze Mittelalter hinziehen, erinnern wir an die der Dichterin Ava (s. d.), an das Mysterium »Ludus paschalis de adventu et interitu Antichristi«, an den Abschnitt »Von dem endechriste« in Freidanks »Bescheidenheit« (s. Freidank)." [Quelle: Meyers großes Konversations-Lexikon. -- DVD-ROM-Ausg. Faksimile und Volltext der 6. Aufl. 1905-1909. -- Berlin : Directmedia Publ. --2003. -- 1 DVD-ROM. -- (Digitale Bibliothek ; 100). -- ISBN 3-89853-200-3. -- s.v.. -- {Wenn Sie HIER klicken, können Sie diese DVD bei amazon.de bestellen}]

In Christian eschatology, the Antichrist is a person or other entity that is the embodiment of evil and utterly opposed to truth. Origin and meaning The English word Antichrist is taken from the Greek αντιχριστος, antikhristos, and literally means instead of Christ. In the New Testament In the New Testament, the word "Antichrist" is used only in 1 John and 2 John: Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. (1 John 2:22 ESV; see also 2:18, 4:3, 1:7) Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist (2 John 1:7.) Here it seems to describe any false teacher or false prophet or corrupter of the Christian faith, but sometimes also seems to indicate a specific person or a single spirit of deception that motivates false teaching, and whose presence is a sign of the end times. Many Christians identify this particular Antichrist with the man of sin or son of perdition mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2, and with several figures in the Book of Revelation including the Dragon, the Beast, the False Prophet, and the Whore of Babylon. The Antichrist is variously understood to be a consummately evil system of government or leader, a false religion or religious leader that sets up false worship in place of the worship of Christ, the incarnation of Satan, a son of Satan, or a human being under the liege of Satan. Related ideas and references appear in many other places in the Bible and various apocrypha, so that a more complete biblical portrait of the Antichrist has been built up gradually by Christian theologians and folk-religionists. Matthew 24 warns of "false Christs" in several places, and of deceivers who would appear falsely claiming to be the returned Christ. (Matt. 24:5, 24) In the "small apocalypse" of St. Paul, in 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12, a "man of sin", "the son of perdition" is expected to set himself up in the temple of God, on the false pretense that he is God himself. This portrait of the Antichrist is reminiscent of the acts of Antiochus Epiphanes, who around 170 BC commanded Jews to sacrifice pigs on the altar, four times a year on the Shabbat, in tribute to him as the supreme god of the Seleucids. Paul appears to be warning his readers by this allusion to events in the past, to anticipate similar trouble in the future. Some Christians believe that the events warned of in this passage have already taken place soon after Paul warned of them. Many others believe that the Antichrist has yet to appear. The expected role of the Antichrist Christian denominations disagree on what will happen in the end times, and the role that Satan and the Antichrist will play. Among those who expect the Antichrist to arise in the future, there is a general consensus that sometime prior to the expected return of Jesus, there will be a period of "trials and tribulations" during which the Antichrist, inspired by Satan, will attempt to win supporters, and will silence anyone or make enemies of any country who refuses to approve of him. This metaphor written as ("receive his mark"). In this view, an event termed the "White Throne Judgment" will take place, at which time both the living and the dead will be resurrected, some for everlasting life, and some for everlasting death. All those who worship God and Jesus will be admitted to the presence of God; but everyone who would not repent of the Antichrist will be sent to an outer darkness. Finally, the "Dragon" (often interpreted as Satan), the "Beast" (often interpreted as the Antichrist) and the "false prophet" (interpreted in many ways) who compels the world to worship the Beast (lie), and all who received his mark (cast their lot with him), will be thrown into a lake of fire together with death and Hell. These views are based on controversial passages in the Apocalypse of John, more commonly known as the Book of Revelation. Characteristics of the Antichrist Based on the interpretations of the specific passages from the books of Daniel and Revelation, the Antichrist is commonly expected to meet certain characteristics. The Bible describes a beast-like creature, but over the years these characteristics have been interpreted as being metaphorical. For example, the beast is supposed to have "ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns upon its horns" (Revelation 13:1–2) which is sometimes interpreted to mean the Antichrist will lead 27 or 17 countries. They will follow in his battles that he will declare boldly and without humility are for a purpose which is untrue. Likewise the fact that the beast is described as being "worshipped" is taken as a sign that the Antichrist will be a popular figure among those who are deceived by him. Revelation states that "He will appear as an angel of light", which is interepreted to mean that he will profess to be a man of God, or a person who is himself a Christian. The most common interpretations continue to be that the Antichrist will be some sort of high-ranking political leader, who will initially do very good, popular things, which will win him many followers. In the end, however he is supposed to get increasingly totalitarian and elicit more and more sacrifices from his followers until eventually his evil ways become known, and the era of "trials and tribulations" begins. In popular culture The Antichrist is a central figure in many popular movies with occult themes, such as Rosemary's Baby, and The Omen series. In The Seventh Seal, the idea of the Antichrist is tangentially referred to as a child conceived without a soul, whose birth will signal the end of all life. The Antichrist is a central figure in the Left Behind series of books and movies; in this series the Antichrist figure is a European politician named Nicolae Carpathia. There is also an Antichrist-like character called Randall Flagg in Stephen King's writings, most notably in The Stand and The Dark Tower series (the latter of which has him serving the Crimson King, a being who may be King's variation of the Beast). Identity of the Antichrist Many people, or even nations or movements, have been thought by some to be the Antichrist. Paul of Tarsus has been theorized by some (among them Thomas Jefferson, Albert Schweitzer, George Bernard Shaw, Carl Sagan and Carl Jung) to have fulfilled the role of the Antichrist within the chronicles of the New Testament of the Bible itself. This theory is premised on an idea common among some scholars of religion, that the original teachings of Christ were subverted by Paul, who some characterize as a Jewish spy and false convert. The Roman emperor beginning with Nero, sometimes together with the four emperors who succeeded him in the year following his suicide, until the elevation of Nero's general Vespasian to emperor, have been interpreted from very early times, either alone or collectively as the Beast of the Apocalypse. In this tumultuous period, superstitious fear and mob violence grew against Christians, and the Roman wars against the Jews intensified (AD 66–70), ending with the destruction of the Temple in AD 70 under the command of general Titus (later emperor), and the maniacal slaughter of the Jews who were living at Jerusalem. According to tradition, Nero ordered the crucifixion of St. Peter and the beheading of St. Paul. Both Jewish and Christian literature survives, referring to Emperor Nero as the Antichrist. A more detailed description of this interpretation can be found in the entry on the Book of Revelation. Another idea that began appearing early in the history of the Christian church, is the opinion that the Antichrist will be an apostate priest or Christian secular ruler, perhaps a Pope or other high leader of the Christian church, or a pretender to the Papacy. Some Christian sects have made it an issue of faith to identify the Bishop of Rome and the papal system as the Antichrist. Virtually all popes have been called the Antichrist by their enemies, and many popes have applied this title of "Antichrist", "son of perdition", or "man of sin", to their enemies as well. Even St. Peter, the first Pope according to Roman Catholic tradition, was called "Satan" by Jesus according to the Gospel of Matthew chapter 16, the same chapter of the gospel in which Peter is told by Jesus, "on this rock [Greek: petra] I will build my church". St. Bellarmine gives in full the theory set forth by the Greek and Latin Fathers, of a personal Antichrist to come just before the end of the world and to be accepted by the Jews and enthroned in the temple at Jerusalem—thus endeavoring to dispose of the Protestant exposition which saw Antichrist in the pope. Bellarmine's interpretation, in modified form, is now accepted by most premillennial dispensationalists. After the reforms of Patriarch Nikon to the Russian Orthodox Church of 1652 a large number of Old Believers held that Peter the Great was the Antichrist. Identifying the Antichrist has become a hobby of the Internet age, and a body of literature in its own right. Various numerological methods of calculating the number of the name of the Beast ("666" in most manuscript sources, "616" in a minority), and other methods are used to identify the Antichrist before he has the chance to lead astray. A nice example is the case of Adolf Hitler, where numbering the letters A=100, B=101, etc, produces H+I+T+L+E+R=666. Candidates for the Antichrist have been men in virtually all positions of public influence, the most frequent modern candidates: Prince Charles of Wales[1] (http://www.lionlamb.net/Yavoh/archive/print/Nov2001PN.htm), Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, various Popes, the European Union and recent Presidents of the United States. Some have taken seriously the suggestion made by the Left Behind series, that the Antichrist may be the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Since the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack, theories about Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, or George W. Bush being the Antichrist have been put forward. In addition, many apocalyptic webites claim that Javier Solana has rebuilt the Roman Empire through the EU (European Union), where he is said to have been named High Representative through Resolution 666 [2] (http://europa.eu.int/abc/doc/off/rg/en/1998/x0666.htm). This claim echoes the plot of the Left Behind novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. [Quelle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antichrist. -- Zugriff am 2005-03-22]

"Antichrist. The term "antichrist" occurs only in 1 and 2 John, and there in both singular and plural forms. It is part of a complex of images and figures that represent the activity and power of evil—of those forces that are hostile to God. The Old Testament uses the figure of a dragon to symbolize evil's conflict with God existing from the time of creation to God's final triumph (Isa. 27:1; cf. Gen 1:21; see also the reference to Rahab the dragon/sea monster defeated at the time of creation, Ps. 89:9-10; cf. Job 9:13; 26:12). The dragon figure is applied to earthly powers who are enemies of God, such as Nebuchadnezzer (Jer. 51:34) and Pharoah (Ezek. 32:2). The figure of the beast also denotes forces (specifically political powers) hostile to God (Dan. 7). Both these figures reappear in the New Testament, particularly in Revelation. The dragon is used twelve times in Revelation and designates the devil and Satan and the enemy of God's Messiah. The beast is a central image in Revelation used to symbolize that which opposes and parodies God. The New Testament indicates the presence of cosmic opposition to God through reference primarily to forces, people, or a person who seek to deceive those who already know God's Messiah. The cosmic struggle with evil is now chiefly localized in the church. So the spirit of antichrist (1 John 4:3), the false Christs (Mark 13:22) and antichrists (1 John 2:18), the antichrist (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7), the man of lawlessness (2 Thess. 2:3), and the "desolating sacrilege" (Mark 13:14—the masculine participle suggesting a person such as the antichrist) all concentrate their activity on the elect or the community of faith. These figure(s) lie and deny Christ (1 John 2:22; 2 John 7; cf. 1 John 4:3), lead astray (Mark 13:22), oppose and even declare himself as God in the temple (2 Thess. 2:4, cf. Mark 13:14). In both Testaments these figures function not only to describe the magnitude and threat of evil but to affirm God's control over creation. In the Old Testament and New Testament the image of the beast is used to describe both the power and intensity of evil and to declare God's ultimate victory. The figure of the antichrist and the man of lawlessness do not occur in the Old Testament, although their New Testament use is replete with Old Testament allusions. In the New Testament these figures function in line with the Old Testament conviction that God will ultimately defeat the forces of evil. The predominant venue for these figures in the Bible is in the context of discussion of the last days. The eschaton is recognizable because of the unleashing of evil and will be characterized by a particularly vivid and horrific confrontation be- tween God and his enemy (2 Thess. 2; 1 John 2:18). This expectation accords with that of Jewish apocalyptic literature (Sybilline Oracles, Book 3; IV Esdras 5.6) and early Catholic Christianity (Didache 16:1-4). The constant biblical conviction is that God will ultimately triumph over every opposition to him and his people, whether such enmity is manifested in earthly or supernatural powers. The last battle will be won by God and the beneficiaries will be God's people. [Quelle: L. Ann Jervis. -- In: Evangelical dictionary of biblical theology / edited by Walter A. Elwell.  -- Grand Rapids, Mich. : Baker Books ; Carlisle, Cumbria : Paternoster Press, ©1996.  -- x, 933 S. ; 26 cm.  -- ISBN: 0801020492. -- s.v. -- {Wenn Sie HIER klicken, können Sie dieses Buch bei amazon.de bestellen}]

5.1. Kandidaten für den Antichrist

Abb.: Einbandtitel "Robert Faid, who describes himself as a nuclear engineer and who holds a master's degree in theology from Coatesville Bible College, was at the convention pushing his new book, Gorbachev! Has the Real Antichrist Come?, which argues that Mikhail Gorbachev is the Antichrist predicted in the Bible. "Gorbachev meets fourteen of the sixteen prophetic identity clues in the Scriptures," Faid told me confidently. When you assign numbers to the letters in Gorbachev's name, using the Cyrillic alphabet, he said, it comes out to 666, the mark of the beast. Then there is the matter of the birthmark on the Soviet leader's forehead. "When I look at the top of Gorbachev's head, I see a red dragon and over the right eye, there's a tail that hangs, representing stars," Faid said. This, he believes, resembles the description of Satan in the book of Revelation. "If Gorbachev is truly the Antichrist," Faid concludes, "Satan branded him in his mother's womb." Moreover, Faid said that he had computed the odds against Gorbachev's being the Antichrist; they work out to 710 quadrillion to one (specifically, 710,609,175,188,282,100 to 1)." [Quelle: Balmer, Randall Herbert <1954 - >: Mine eyes have seen the glory : a journey into the evangelical subculture in America. -- 3rd ed.  -- New York : Oxford University Press, ©2000.  -- xviii, 327 S. ; 21 cm.  -- ISBN: 0195131800. -- S. 205f. -- {Wenn Sie HIER klicken, können Sie dieses Buch bei amazon.de bestellen}]

"Antichrist Candidates Whether or not each of these leaders is the Antichrist, each surely has a role in the last days described in the Book of Revelation from the Bible. The common thread among all of these men is that they don't know Jesus Christ and are blind to what's coming. The Bible has never been wrong and it never will be. Saddam Hussein As of December 14th, 2003, Saddam Hussein can no longer intimidate and torture the Iraqi people. There was a lot of speculation regarding Saddam fulfilling Bible prophecy as the Antichrist, but now that looks unlikely barring some unforeseen miracle. God said he would send "strong delusion" to those who rejected the gospel, so it's not impossible that another evil leader such as Osama Bin Laden could attempt to save Saddam. Qusay Hussein and Uday Hussein Qusay Hussein is one of Saddam's two sons. Uday is the other. The United States killed these two evil men in the Spring of 2003. Osama Bin-Laden How could anyone gloat after murder like he did, especially in the name of Allah or what he thinks is God? The God I serve would not reward evil. "Woe to them who call evil good and good evil." Yasser Arafat Abb.: Der Tod 2004 verhinderte seine Karriere als Antichrist: Y. Arafat Yasser Arafat habitually lies, smuggles weapons, counterfeits money, rewards terror, etc. He is deceived at the "Israeli Occupation." There is no such thing. Myths about Israel dispels those rumors. Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Abb.: Armer George W.! Ölinteressen zwingen zur Begegnung mit einem potentiellen Antichrist (Kronprinz Abdullah) [Foto: Weißes Haus] Crown Prince Abdullah recently visited President Bush at his Texas ranch and "enlightened" Mr. Bush about the Middle East situation. Very few people know the root of the conflict. Isaac vs. Ishmael explains it. Mohammad Khatami Mohammad Khatami is the President of Iran. He will play a major role most likely in end-time events. Gog (Russia) has a nuclear agreement with Iran now. Jesus said he is against Gog and that he would "put a hook in his mouth" to draw him to the Battle of Armageddon. Pakistan's Pervez Musharaff Pakistan's President Musharaff will no doubt face a major confrontation against India regarding Kashmir. Both countries have nuclear capabilities now and have been amassing troops along the border. India's President Vajpayee India's President Vajpayee told his troops recently to get ready for "a decisive battle" against Pakistan. It's just a matter of time before God removes "the restrainer of lawlessness" and Satan can cause men to destroy each other. Syria's Bashar Assad The Bible tells us that Damascus, Syria shall become a "ruinous heap". Most Middle Easterners believe Jesus was simply a "good man". This is impossible because Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. Josephus, an objective historian from Jesus' time claimed that Jesus was reputed throughout the land to be "The Christ". He is the Messiah, The Son of God. Muslim Sheiks, Clerics, and Imams God said the descendants from Ishmael's line would be like "a wild donkey of a man whose hand would be against everyone". It's astonishing to view the rioting, flag burning, and cold blooded murder from the Muslim nations on nearly every nightly newscast. [...] Pope John Paul II Abb.: Der Antichrist? [Bild: Vatikan] The most ecumenical man on earth. You cannot unite all faiths or pray with other people and their Gods. They don't exist, so you can't acknowledge them. God is a jealous God and calls it spiritual adultery. Does anyone see the true reason why thousands of Catholic Priests were exposed as child molesters across the country at the same time? The Lord was revealing at a very high price the fact that the Catholic doctrine is wrong. From salvation by faith and works, Mary worship, confession, penance, the catechism, the rosary, sacraments, vain repetition in prayer, etc. It is false teaching. How could a spirit-filled Christian molest a child, especially repeatedly over years? The answer is he couldn't. When a person is born of the spirit, The Holy Spirit shows him the truth. I was shown that Catholicism is man's version of "religion". Jesus warned us against the "leaven of the Pharisees". I believe there are many Catholics who have good intentions, they are just mislead. Read Catholicism and The Mary Mystery to see more details about what is wrong with the Roman Catholic Church Doctrine. Silvio Berlusconi "There is no one on the international scene who can presume to measure up to me. My greatness is unquestionable, my humanity, my history—others can only dream of such.”--Silvio. (He forgot humility) Spent millions on an autobiography of himself sent to every voter in Italy. He is an egomaniac accused of bribery, corruption, and who knows what else. Romano Prodi One of the leaders of the European Union. God said that this "revived Roman Empire" would be given power for a short time with the Antichrist. Gerhard Schroeder Abb.: Ist er der Antichrist? oder erst Stoiber? oder wird gar Angela Merkel die erste AntichristIn? [Foto: Bundeskanzleramt] I wouldn't be surprised to see Germany (Germ any) play a major role in the end times because of the Holocaust. Anti-Semitism seems to flourish there. When the Holy Spirit and church are removed at the rapture, then Satan and the demonic hosts will be able to work through unsuspecting people easily. Jacques Chirac Abb.: Zwei mögliche Antichristen: Chirac und Putin [Foto: Präsidialamt] His stance against the United States is not surprising considering he should be a part of the demonically controlled European Union in the final days. God said that he would "bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel". France has repeatedly sided with the Palestinians and the United States has repeatedly supported Israel. Javier Solana Abb.: Schäkert Präsident George W. Busch mit dem Antichrist (J. Solana)? [Foto: EU-Rat] He has outwardly spoken against including anything about God in the European Union's new constitution. He is a perfect example of how God "has hidden the truth from the wise and prudent, but revealed it unto babes." Fidel Castro The current leader of Communist Cuba. Russia's Vladimir Putin Vladimir rules atheistic, communist Russia. The Lord says in Ezekiel that he is against Gog, and will destroy him in the last days. He will "put a hook in his mouth and drag him into battle". China's Hu Jintao One of the signs of the end times is in the Book of Revelation, John sees the army and the number of that army is 20 thousand thousands, which is equivalent to 200 million. China has recently boasted that it has an army of more than 200 million. China has been knows for Christian persecution also and human rights violations. North Korea's Kim Jong-Il One of the original three countries labeled "the axis of evil" by George Bush. The country is communist, atheist, and dislikes the West. Kim is a known alcoholic (That's the reason demons can influence him so easily.), loves American movies with blood and gore, and is known to have wild mood swings. Mexico's Vicente Fox Abb.: Präsident George W. Busch in den Armen des Antichrist (V. Fox)? [Foto: Weißes Haus] Mexico's President Fox is a regular in all of the European Union meetings. On May 7th, 2002 over 50 countries gathered in Europe to discuss the "new world order" and globalization. The EU, as God told us, will play a major role in the last days. EU [! richtig wäre: UNO] Secretary General Kofi Annan As events have unfolded in the Middle East, I have been astounded to see most of the European Union leaders side with Palestine, despite Israel having to endure mass suicide bombings. The only answer is that it is demonic influence. Mr. Villepin [französischer Inenminister] Britain's Tony Blair Abb.: Sei vorsichtig gegenüber allen Europäern, George W.! selbst Tony könnte der Antichrist sein! [Foto: Weißes Haus] He actually seems genuine to me and not evil. He is America's ally, but he does not know the truth about what's coming. Therefore, he is open to deception." [Quelle: http://www.raptureready.us/antichrist.htm. -- Zugrif am 2005-03-23]

Weiterführende Ressource:

Fuller, Robert C. <1952 - >: Naming the Antichrist : the history of an American obsession. -- New York : Oxford University Press, 1995.  -- vi, 232 S. ; 25 cm.  -- ISBN 0195082443. -- {Wenn Sie HIER klicken, können Sie dieses Buch bei amazon.de bestellen}

5.2. 666: die Zahl des Antichrist

Abb.: 666
[Bildquelle: http://www.sounddoctrine.com/666.htm. -- Zugriff am 205-03-24]

"The Number of the Beast is mentioned in the Book of Revelation of the Christian Bible and is generally accepted to be 666. It is closely associated with the Mark of the Beast. References from the Bible In the King James Version, Revelation 13:18 reads: Here is wisdom: let him who hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred three score and six. In the Good News Bible, the same verse runs: This calls for wisdom. Whoever is intelligent can figure out the meaning of the number of the beast, because the number stands for the name of someone. Its number is 666 In the Greek text of the New Testament it reads: Ὧδε ἡ σοφία ἐστίν· ὁ ἔχων νοῦν ψηφισάτω τὸν ἀριθμὸν τοῦ θηρίου, ἀριθμὸς γὰρ ἀνθρώπου ἐστίν· καὶ ὁ ἀριθμὸς αὐτοῦ ἑξακόσιοι ἑξήκοντα ἕξ. Hōde hē sophia estin; ho echōn noun psēphisatō ton arithmon tou thēriou, arithmos gar anthrōpou estin; kai ho arithmos autou hexakosioi hexēkonta hex. And in the Vulgate: Hic sapientia est. Qui habet intellectum, computet numerum bestiae. Numerus enim hominis est, et numerus eius est sescenti sexaginta sex. The original Greek does not literally render the phrase as six-six-six (three Greek words for six in a row -- εξ εξ εξ or in Greek numerical form ςςς´) but six hundred and sixty-six (either spelled out as εξακοσιοι εξηκοντα εξ, six-hundred-sixty-six, or in numerical form χξς´). The Arabic form of the Beast has KFR on its forehead (see Beast (http://members.lycos.co.uk/yusufsdomain/judgment.html)) In the Old Testament Books of Chronicles, II Chronicles 9:13 reads (KJV): "Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold..." Variant Readings Most manuscripts of the Bible read six-hundred-sixty-six or 666. However, there are a few variant readings for the Number of the Beast in verse 18. Codex C (5th century), Papyrus 115 (3rd or 4th century), and some copies of Irenaeus's works have 616. Theological interpretations There are various theories about the meaning of this verse, and there have been many attempts to show that a person is the Antichrist by relating his name to the number 666. One interpretation is simply that 666 represents humankind in general because of the special significance that the number has in the Bible. Six is known as an "imperfect number" because it is one short of seven, the "perfect number" (seven days in the week, seven tongues of flame, seven spiritual gifts...). So three (the number of the Trinity) sixes is seen as extremely imperfect. Therefore, 666 represents imperfect man, while 777 represents God. Another interpretation is that 666 is actually some kind of code based on the letters of someone's name. This sparks great public interest since it seems to provide some way to identify the antichrist. Numerologists like to devise clever ways of assigning numbers to letters so that the letters of a name will add up to this symbolic number. Probably the best-known scheme has A=100, B=101, and so on. With this code, the name "HITLER" adds up to 666. While these ideas are intriguing, they usually require many odd preconditions (you have to start with 100, you cannot include the first name) and work in a few languages only (in Spanish, for example, "HITLER" adds up to 668.) See also Vicarius Filii Dei. For example, scholars who believe the Book of Revelation refers to real people and events argue that the number represents the value of Nero or Neron Caesar (נרון קסר, Nrwn Qsr*) in Hebrew letters, which also have numerical values (note that Hebrew is written from right to left): r S q n w r n 666 = 200 + 60 + 100 + 50 + 6 + 200 + 50 As noted above, some early texts of the Book of Revelation use 616 instead, which would represent the alternative Hebrew spelling נרו קסר, Nrw Qsr (based on the Latin form "Nero Caesar"): r S q w r n 616 = 200 + 60 + 100 + 6 + 200 + 50 *Note: Hebrew נרון קסר, Nrwn Qsr = Greek Νερων Καισαρ, Nerôn Kaisar, though קסר, qSr, should strictly speaking be כסר, kSr. See Barry, Kieren (1999). The Greek Qabalah. New York: Samuel Weiser, Inc. ISBN 1-57863-110-6., p. 145. In Roman numerals 666 represents all the numbers from 1 to 500 in descending order, namely D (500) + C (100) + L (50) + X (10) + V (5) + I (1), or DCLXVI. Robert Graves suggests in his study of pagan symbolism The White Goddess that this is an acronym for the Latin sentence Domitianus Caesar Legatos Xti Violenter Interfecit, or "The Emperor Domitian violently killed the envoys of Christ". Another reading in Roman numerals regards DCLXVI as an anagram of DIC LVX, which is then supposed to be an abbreviation of dicit lux, "the light speaks." In an alternate style of Greek notation for numerals, 6 + 60 + 600 can be expressed as digamma koppa kappa which when superposed into a monogram, form the graffiti form of the labrys very common on roman walls of the time, which is interesting considering what some characterise as misogynist tendencies in the book. Culture and psychology The number 666 retains a peculiar significance in the culture and psychology of Western societies. Just as many people try to avoid the "unlucky" number 13 (sometimes going to the extent of having a floor "12A" in multi-story buildings, or even to skip the 13th floor entirely so that a 20 story building will possess a 21st floor), so people find ways to avoid the "Devil's number", even in contexts that would seem on first sight to be far removed from superstition. For example, when the giant CPU manufacturer Intel introduced the 666 MHz Pentium III in 1999, they chose to market it as the Pentium III 667 on the pretext that, since the actual clock speed was 666.666 MHz, 667 was the more accurate approximation—conveniently ignoring their own usual rounding practice: as examples, consider the earlier 66.666 MHz 486-66, the 466.666 MHz Celeron 466, or the later 866.666 MHz Pentium III 866. In another instance, U.S. Highway 666 was renumbered in 2003 after controversy over the supposed reference to the Biblical beast. See [1] (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/us666.htm). While the association is not clearly Satanic in nature, and usually is not construed to promote Satanism, a reference to the number "666" may be the cause for the controversial assignment of the "Parental Advisory" designation to the HIM album Razorblade Romance, generally considered innocuous as it contains no profanity nor sexually explicit language. Other speculations Former U.S. president Ronald Wilson Reagan had six letters in his first, middle, and last name. He also lived, in California, in house number 666 on his block, until wife Nancy Reagan had it changed to 668. Some Rastafarians believed he was the Beast. Other Christian groups portray Spanish and EU politician Javier Solana as the Beast, citing documents such as this (http://europa.eu.int/abc/doc/off/rg/en/1998/x0666.htm). While the people who saw Reagan as the beast mostly had an Anti-American agenda, most of those who see Solana as the Beast have a pro-United States anti European Union political agenda. In ancient Dacia, 666 was the number of those who returned to the right faith. The first Apple Computer, the Apple I was sold for $666.66. Stanley Kubrick (director of 2001: A Space Odyssey) died 666 days before January 1, 2001. 0.666 is approximately two-thirds of one whole, one short of all three thirds. Because three is the number of the trinity, it may be that the number is meant to represent being in communion with God only in the mind and spirit (but not the body). The Catholic church believes that Satan generally attacks the body; a theme recurring throughout the latter chapters of Revelation. Abb.: UPC bar code [Bildquelle: http://www.greaterthings.com/Essays/666mark.htm. -- Zugriff am 2005-03-23] A widespread conspiracy theory concerns the EAN or UPC bar codes, instituted in 1974, and found on most consumer products. The "control codes" in the left, middle, and right of the code appear on initial inspection to represent the number "6". Because of this, all EAN/UPC codes (so the theory goes) contain the number 666. One interpretation of the Book of Revelation indicates that the Number of the Beast is required for all business transactions — a role that the EAN/UPC code certainly fits. Also interesting are the facts, that the inventor of the UPC code, George J. Laurer, has six letters in his first, middle, and last name [2] (http://bellsouthpwp.net/l/a/laurergj/UPC/666quest.html), and that, as of 2004, exactly 666 prefixes (out of possible 1000) are assigned in the EAN-13 namespace [3] (http://ean-int.org/prefix.html). (Unfortunately, the control codes only appear to represent the number six if one is unaware that both the black bars and the spaces in between them are used to encode information.) The sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is "waw" (or "vav"). This is closest approximation of the English letter "w". Thus the ubiquitous acronym "www" could be the Number of the Beast. Also, the number 6 in Roman numerals is represented as VI. 666= VIVIVI which has been suggested that visions from the past, mistook it for WWW. Most recently, the development of RFIDs could eventually necessitate consumers to implant RFID-based credit or debit devices to purchase goods and services. RFIDs are already replacing UPCs in some products, and the use of RFIDs as a human tracking and identification instrument has begun. The anti-impotence drug Viagra has a molecular weight of 666.7 g/mol. As of January 14, 2005, the IP address of the Python programming language web site, www.python.org, is 194.109.137.226. If you add up the 4 octets, you get 666. [4] In Film Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange visually represented Alex (Malcolm McDowell) as the Beast during a scene where he is flanked by two prisoners who are identified as 665 and 667. End of Days, directed by Peter Hyams, supposes as a plot point that the number represented in Revelations was actually seen upside down in a dream and should have actually been 999. This ignores the reality that Arabic numerals were probably not invented until ca. 400 CE, and only reached the Middle East by 670 CE, whereas Revelations is considered to have been written in the first or second centuries CE. The Omen and its sequels have the Mark Of The Beast found underneath Damien's scalp. Joke It is often quipped that 668 is "the Neighbor of the Beast"; there are at least two filk songs on this topic. Additional quips suggest that 1-888-666-6666 is "the Toll-Free Number of the Beast", $665.99 is "the Retail Price of the Beast", 00666 is "the ZIP Code of the Beast", 0.666 is "the Number of the Millibeast", 6.5913 is "the Natural Logarithm of the Beast", Route 666 is "the Highway of the Beast", etc. "6.66, One Hundredth of the Number of the Beast" is the name of the only song by the fictional Australian rock band Salmonhater. Adam Spencer and Wil Andersen, hosts of the Triple J breakfast show (radio), invented the band as a joke one morning. A fan of the show soon composed this song for the pretend band, and a video clip was also made later." [Quelle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_of_the_Beast_%28numerology%29. -- Zugriff am 2005-03-23]

"Mark of the Beast. Revelation 16:2 and 19:20 cite the "mark of the beast" as a sign that identifies those who worship the beast out of the sea (Rev. 13:1). This beast is usually identified as the antichrist. This mark is first mentioned in 13:16-17, where it is imposed on humanity by the beast out of the earth (13:11). This second beast is the false prophet (19:20), who forces the worship of the antichrist and brands those who do so with the mark. This mark is equivalent to the beast's name or number (13:17; cf. 14:11). This enigmatic number is announced in 13:18 as 666. The term "mark" has no special biblical usage apart from its association with the beast. The Greek term charagma was most commonly used for imprints on documents or coins. Charagma is well attested to have been an imperial seal of the Roman Empire used on official documents during the first and second centuries. This term does not occur in the Septuagint, and its use in the church fathers is insignificant. The only other reference to charagma in the New Testament besides those in Revelation, is Acts 17:29, where it stands for an image formed by art. A more common term for "mark" or "brand" is stigma in its noun and verb forms. Branding was practiced in the ancient world, and even in relation to religious concerns. Religious tattooing was observed (cf. Lucian, Syr. Dea 59; Herodotus 2.113). Third Maccabees 2:29 records an incident in which Jews were branded by Ptolemy Philopator I (217 B.C.) with the Greek religious Dionysian ivy-leaf symbol. The "mark" on Cain in Genesis 4:15 is rendered by semeion in the Septuagint, the term for "sign." Paul's reference to his bearing in his body the "marks" of Jesus (Gal. 6:17) utilizes stigma, not charagma. The contextual significance of marking those who worship the beast may be accounted for by noting how this motif answers to the seal on the foreheads of those who worship the Lamb (Rev. 7:3; 14:1). This contrast is particularly noted in 20:4, where those who are martyred for the Lamb are resurrected to reign with Christ. The mark and seal well image the two earthly groups who dominate the narrative. The interpretive difficulty in understanding the mark of the beast resides in identifying what response John expected by his challenge in Revelation 13:18 to calculate the number of the beast. The process of working from a number to a name was an ancient process called gematria in Hebrew and isopsephia in Greek. Many ancient languages utilized the letters of the alphabet for their numerical systems. The letter and number ratio was known by all. This existing process was used in enigmatic statements to conceal the identity of the person under consideration. An oft-quoted graffito from Pompeii (about a.d. 79) reads "I love her whose number is 545." Only those who knew the name or the pool of candidates could work out the riddle. The apocalyptic Sibylline Oracles used "888," the numerical equivalent of lesous (Greek letters for Jesus), as an indirect reference to Jesus as the incarnate God. Therefore, John could have expected his audience to solve the riddle, but only if there was a shared pool of understanding concerning the enigmatic nature of the reference. The history of interpretation concerning the correlation of a person with the number 666 has only resulted in endless speculations. One of the most prominent candidates has been the first-century Roman emperor Nero. A rare rendering of his name into Neron Caesar, transliterated into Hebrew as nrwn qsr, renders the number 666 (nun/50, resh/200, waw/6, nun/50, qof/100, samech/60, and resh/200 = 666). This rare form of Nero's name was actually found in an Aramaic document from Qumran (cf. John's play on Hebrew words in the Book of Revelation at 9:11 and 16:16). It is also noteworthy that a variant reading in Greek New Testament manuscripts exits that cites the number as "616" rather than "666." The transliteration of the normal Nero Caesar into the Hebrew nrw qsr, renders the number 616. There was also a belief in a revived Nero as the antichrist from the first century (cf. book 5 of the Sibylline Oracles) to the time of Augustine, who cites this idea in The City of God. Irenaeus, however, wrote within a century of the apostle John and did not mention Nero. He proposed a number of options, including lateinos, meaning a Latin (30+1+300 + 5 + 10 + 50 + 70 + 200 = 666), and thus a Roman ruler, and teitan, a Roman name with which he was enamored (Contra Haereses 5.29-30). A few modern scholars have noted that the numbers can also argue for a connection with Babylon and Nimrod. The list is expanded with the creative use of numbers during times of modern crises (e.g., Hitler was a major candidate during World War II). It is possible that John merely intended the number to be symbolic of what the beast and his followers represent: humankind in their ultimate rebellion against God, his Lamb, and the followers of the Lamb. John explains in 13:18 that the number 666 is the number of man. The number 7 is well established as a number of completeness or perfection. The number 6, being one less than 7, may symbolize humankind, which falls short of perfection. Irenaeus notes that the image set up by Nebuchadnezzar was 60 cubits high by 6 cubits wide. The number 666 could well personify the imperfection of man, even implying in the triple number the unholy trinity of the dragon, antichrist, and the false prophet. The identity of those who follow the Lamb or the beast is self-evident to the observer, whether it is the first century or the eschatological future. The vision calls John and his audience to discern the spirit of sinful humanity that accompanies the antichrist rather than to decode his identity." [Quelle: Gary T. Meadors. -- In: Evangelical dictionary of biblical theology / edited by Walter A. Elwell.  -- Grand Rapids, Mich. : Baker Books ; Carlisle, Cumbria : Paternoster Press, ©1996.  -- x, 933 S. ; 26 cm.  -- ISBN: 0801020492. -- s.v. -- {Wenn Sie HIER klicken, können Sie dieses Buch bei amazon.de bestellen}]

6. Tribulation — die Trübsal

Abb.: The Great Tribulation
[Bildquelle: http://home.att.net/~jrd/Biblecharts.html. -- Zugriff am 2005-03-22]

"In Christian eschatology, the Tribulation is a period of immense suffering, greater than anything before in history, which some claim will occur before the end of the world. Many Christians believe that it will last seven years in all, usually divided into two periods of 3.5 years each. This is based on the phrase found several places in the book of Daniel, "time, times, and half a time," interpreted as "a year, two years, and half a year." Among Christians who believe in the Tribulation, there are differing views about what will happen to Christians during the Tribulation. According to Pretribulationism, all Christians then alive will be taken bodily up to heaven (called the rapture or Parousia) before the Tribulation begins. Those who become Christians after the rapture will live through (or perish during) the Tribulation. After the Tribulation, Christ will return. Midtribulationists believe that the rapture of the faithful will occur halfway through the tribulation, after it begins but before the worst part of it occurs. Posttribulationists believe that Christians will not be taken up into heaven until Christ returns at the end of the Tribulation. In pretribulationism and midtribulationism, the rapture and the Second Coming (or Greek, paraousia) of Christ are separate events; while in posttribulationism the two events are identical." [Quelle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribulation. -- Zugriff am 2005-03-22]

7. Armageddon/Harmageddon

Harmagedon (auch Harmageddon, Armageddon) ist der Name des Schauplatzes der letzten Entscheidungsschlacht der Könige der Erde gegen Gott im Buch der Offenbarung des Johannes 16,16. Der Seher Johannes schildert die Vision des 6. Engels, der durch die Austrocknung des Euphrat sowie durch von Drache, Tier, und Pseudoprophet ausgehende froschgleiche Wesen die Könige der Erde am Tag Gottes mobilisiert. "Und er versammelte sie an einem Ort, der auf hebräisch Harmagedon heißt." Die Bedeutung des Namens Harmagedon ist umstritten. Mögliche Deutungen: Die herkömmliche Ableitung von Harmagedon ist, Har Megiddo bedeute Berg von Megiddo, ein südlicher Ausläufer des Karmelgebirges. Dort befinde sich das klassische Schlachtfeld Kanaans (Richter 4,12-16) Harmagedon sei die griechische Wiedergabe von har mo'ed, dem Versammlungsberg und wäre das dämonische Gegenstück zum Versammlungsberg der Götter (Jesaja 14,13) Harmagedon sei der mythische Weltenberg und als Versammlungsort widergöttlicher Mächte Gegenstück zum Gottesberg (Hebräer 12,22-24) Harmagedon sei die griechische Wiedergabe von har (ham) mag'don Berg (des Mazedoniers) Alexander des Großen. Alle Deutungen sind wenig zufriedenstellend. Denn das Alte Testament kennt nur eine Ebene (Sacharja 12,11), aber keinen Berg von Megiddo. Eine denkbare Lösung wäre die Kombination der Lokalisierung von Megiddo mit der Schilderung des mythologischen Kampfes Gogs auf den Bergen Israels (Hesekiel 38, 8ff.)." [Quelle: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmagedon. -- Zugriff am 2005-03-25]

"Armageddon. A name occurring only once in the Bible and designating the place where the last great battle of the ages will take place (Rev. 16:16). It will coincide with the second coming of Christ (Rev. 16:15) and there all of the hosts of evil will be defeated (Rev. 19:11-21). Armageddon is a Hebrew word, although it does not occur in the Old Testament. Its meaning is not exactly clear, but it is best taken to mean Mount Megiddo, since "Har" in Hebrew means mountain and "Mageddon" is the place-name of Megiddo. In Old Testament history Megiddo was a place of numerous decisive battles because of the broad plain that stood before it. Deborah and Barak defeated Sisera and his Canaanite army there (Judg. 4-5), Gideon drove off the Midian-ites and Amalekites (Judg. 6), Saul and the army of Israel were defeated because of their failure to trust in God (1 Sam. 31), and the Egyptian army under Pharaoh Neco killed Josiah, king of Judah (2 Kings 23:29). Although these decisive battles were fought before Megiddo, the place-name never became fixed in Jewish tradition as designating the place of decisive battle. However, given the fact that it was such a place, it is natural that John should use it to locate the final great battle on earth. Some interpreters take John's designation literally, expecting the armies of the earth to gather against God in the endtimes below the remains of Old Testament Megiddo; others see in it a more figurative element. They point out that Megiddo was not really a mountain at all and that the battle will take place in the plain. Perhaps John designated it Mount Megiddo as a clue to its symbolic meaning, drawing together the historic place of conflict in Israel's history with the prophecies of Ezekiel that speak of the great eschatological conflict taking place in the mountains of Israel (Ezek. 39:2, 4, 17). In any case, John sees the final triumph of God at Armageddon and offers that to the persecuted Christians as a word of comfort and hope that evil will not win, but is doomed to ultimate destruction. [Quelle: Walter A. Elwell. -- In: Evangelical dictionary of biblical theology / edited by Walter A. Elwell.  -- Grand Rapids, Mich. : Baker Books ; Carlisle, Cumbria : Paternoster Press, ©1996.  -- x, 933 S. ; 26 cm.  -- ISBN: 0801020492. -- s.v. -- {Wenn Sie HIER klicken, können Sie dieses Buch bei amazon.de bestellen}]

Abb.: Lage von Megiddo [©MS Encarta]

Abb.: Die Schlacht von Armageddon
[Bildquelle: http://home.cfl.rr.com/lwood/maps/maps.html. -- Zugriff am 2005-03-25]

8. Verbreiter der endzeitlichen Weltinterpretationen

Hal Lindsey, Tim LaHaye und Jerry B. Jenkins sind eigene Abschnitte in diesem Kapitel gewidmet.

Ein Who's Who of Prophecy: http://www.raptureready.com/who/rap41.html. -- Zugriff am 2005-03-25. -- nennt und beschreibt folgende Apokalyptiker [sehr empfehlenswert!]:

Positive Reviews:
 

John Ankerberg -- An apologist of biblical issues

Dave Breese -- Was one of prophecy's most gifted speakers

JR Church -- Serving the Lord for many years now

Jimmy DeYoung -- An expert on the Middle East

Russ Doughten -- Father of the Modern Christian Movie

Daymond Duck -- A best-selling author of many books

Arno Froese -- Editor of Midnight Call magazine

Phillip Goodman -- Teaches the basics of prophecy

John Hagee -- founder and Pastor of Cornerstone Church

Ed Hindson -- A busy man who wears many hat

Dave Hunt -- Someone who fearless speaks the truth

Thomas Ice -- Defender of the pre-trib view

Terry James -- A great speaker and a dear friend

Grant Jeffrey -- Always has an answer to every question

David Jeremiah -- A highly sought-after conference speaker

Gary Kah -- The only conspiracy speaker that makes sense

Tim LaHaye -- One of the greats of Christian fiction

Zola Levitt -- Teaches people from a Jewish perspective

David Allen Lewis -- Prophecy, prayer, and spiritual warfare

Hal Lindsey -- A giant in the world of Bible prophecy

Jan_Markell -- Founder of Olive Tree Ministries

Chuck Missler -- A man gifted in business and now in prophecy

David Noeble -- An authority on the decline of morality

Charles Pack -- A rich history of serving the Lord

Donald Perkins -- A man with the best prophetic charts

Randall Price -- An expert in the field of biblical archaeology

David Reagan -- A dependable source of reliable information

Larry Spargimino -- A man of talent who stays busy

Perry Stone -- A prophecy expert that does claim to be one

John Walvoord -- Former head of Dallas Theological Seminary

The Bad Apples:
 

Irvin Baxter -- Very unique view of prophecy

Peter Lalonde -- Mr. Hollywood

Texe Marrs -- Conspiracy magnet

Stan Johnson -- Erroneous doctrine magnet

Hilton Sutton -- Lacking humility

Jimmy Swaggart -- Trouble with the ladies

Jack Van Impe -- Smart man; dumb decisions

Ron Wyatt -- Archaeological fraud

The Prophetically Confused:
 

Kenneth Gentry - Preterism

Robert Van Kampen - Pre-wrath

Dave MacPherson - Pre-trib rapture basher

Robert Gundry - Dispensational post-trib

Als Beispiel aus der unübersehbaren Masse der Apokalyptiker sei nur genannt:

8.1. Jack Van Impe

Abb.: Jack und Rexella Van Impe
[Bildquelle: http://www.conspiracyworld.com/web/Articles/eagle_and_serpent_article.htm. -- Zugriff am 2005-03-25] 

Webpräsenz: http://www.jvim.com/. -- Zugriff am 2005-03-25

Leider habe ich keine Selbstdarstellung Van Impes gefunden, deshalb diese kritische Fremddarstellung:

"Jack Van Impe I was so shocked by one reasoning Jack used to defend Roman Catholism, I realized I could no longer trust a man that was able to make such a huge error in judgment. Jack Van Impe is originally from Troy, Michigan. Jack toured with his father across Michigan and other areas of the U.S. performing accordion duets until the age of 17. He was greatly influenced by his father's missionary work and service to the Bible. Jack graduated from high school in 1948 and entered Detroit Bible College (which later became William Tyndale College). He put himself through school by organizing concerts, rallies, and preaching to other students. He began his profession as a church preacher in 1948; earned his diploma in 1952. After meeting his wife, Rexella, Van Impe packed his bags and traveled around the nation as an "ambassador of Christ"; his nationwide tour attracted many followers. By the early seventies, he had a syndicated radio show based solely on biblical scripture. Jack claims to have logged over 70,000 hours of Bible study (approximately eight years worth) and he also claims to have memorized 14,000 verses of scripture. Jack frequently mentions his own nickname "the Walking Bible." He does this so often, one has to wonder if the title is self-anointed. I've met Van Impe a number of times, and I know from seeing him in action that he's a very gifted man. He has a super memory that allows him to instantly recall vast quantities of scripture, and he has the ability to relate complex Bible prophecy issue to the common listener. I used to listen to Jack and Rexella's prophecy program each week. In the late 80's my cable provider didn't have a channel that carried Jack Van Impe Presents." There was a low powered Christian TV station that carried the program. I was able barely tune the program in on a small Back and white portable TV. Van Impe claims to be a "walking Bible" in his ability to memorize scripture, but unfortunately, he is a walking disaster area when it comes to common sense. Time and time again, he has made errors in judgment that defy the most basic rules of logic. Everything about Jack's program was great up until the mid 90's. It must have been around that time that Jack suffered a condition that left him mentally impaired. I'm thinking he must have suffered something like a stroke, a head trauma, or a pro-longed near drowning. For some strange reason Van Impe began endlessly praising the Pope and all things related to the Catholic Church. In the October-December, 1995 issue of Foundation Magazine, Jack is quoted as pleading for fundamentalists to "...forget your theological moorings. Forget your labels." He goes on to praise Pope John Paul II, and commends the Pope's plan for unity among all "Christians" and the establishment of a "world church." I was so shocked by one reasoning Jack used to defend Roman Catholism, I realized I could no longer trust a man that was able to make such a huge error in judgment. During one program, he gave the Catholic Church the Van Impe seal of approval simply based on his observation that the New Catholic Catechism cites 5,000 to 6,000 verses of scripture. "We [Roman Catholics & himself] agree on the great fundamentals of the faith, ...I've been reading the Catholic Catechism, 2,865 points, backed with 5,000 to 6,000 verses of Scripture. This is the Word of God. Of course there are some things where I don't agree. But I find many of these things in our Protestant churches as well. But this thing blessed my heart. This piece of literature, saturated with the precious Word of God." Van Impe made no mention of a laundry list of problems Protestants have traditionally had with the Catholic Church: viewing Mary as some sort of semi-deity, the Pope being infallible, praying for the dead, the doctrine of purgatory, grace being administered through the sacraments, the idolatrous veneration of statues and images, church tradition being made equal to the Bible, and the doctrine of confessing to priests as a means of regaining one's salvation. Jack Van Impe has now begun to compromise the faith beyond the issues related to the Catholic Church. About 20 minutes into the March 1, 2003 airing of the weekly prophecy program, Jack all but declared Islam to be equal to Christianity. He first said that Islam teaches love and all the bad elements are from the sect of Wahhabism. This has to be one of the most ridiculous remarks I've ever heard someone make about the Islamic faith. Wahhabism is only dominant on the Arabian peninsula. Its influence is almost nonexistent in the rest of the Middle East. It is true that Osama bin Laden comes from Saudi Arabia and is Wahhabi himself; Wahhabi extremism and radical ideas of purity have obviously influenced him considerably. Dozens of other Islamic groups teach hate, and they have zero connection to Wahhabism. Van Impe might as well be saying that Hitler's book Mein Kampf also teaches love. I don't see how Jack can look into the camera and say, "Let's believe God-either the Koran or the Word of God" when you have the Koran making inflammatory statements like: "Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them" (Surah 9:30). "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them" (Surah 8:12). "Do not take the Jews and Christians for friends" (Surah 5:51). "They denied the truth and uttered a monstrous falsehood against Mary. They declared: 'We have put to death the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, the apostle of God.' They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but they thought they did...they did not slay him for certain. God lifted him up to him..." (Surah 4:157-158). "The Day of Resurrection will not arrive until the Moslems make war against the Jews and kill them, and until a Jew hiding behind a rock and tree, and the rock and tree will say: 'Oh Moslem, oh servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him!'" (Sahih Bukhari 004.52.176). Because Jack Van Impe is a big player in Bible prophecy, I've received several angry emails from people who blindly defend him. I've come up with a reply that mutes most of my critics. I tell them to pick a point at which they would have to withdraw their support from this man once he crosses that line. There is no such thing as stationary apostasy. If you don't think Jack's approval of Islam is bad enough now, wait until he declares Mohammed or Mary to be on equal footing with Jesus. For those folks that said Jack would never declare the Bible and Koran to be generally interchangeable-your wait is up." [Quelle: http://www.raptureready.com/who/Jack_Van_Impe.html. -- Zugriff am 2005-03-25]

Zu Kapitel 6.2.: Christlicher Zionismus