Antichrist

by Dr Anthony E. Smith

Seen as the arch-enemy of Jesus Christ and the powers of good in Christian belief, the Antichrist was first mentioned in the last book of the Christian Bible, the Book of Revelations, where it was warned that the Dark One would appear and lay waste to all around him, corrupting the hearts of men and women, turning brother against brother, and heralding the cataclysmic end of the world.

It was first believed that the Antichrist would appear in the Holy Land (Jerusalem), and so the First Crusade was initiated, to expel the Turks and Saracens, and other heathens from that land.

Later, when Christianity split into two factions, the Catholics and the Protestants, each accused the other's leader of being the feared arch-destroyer.

Generally, it was held that this Antichrist would be identified by the number 666, and that it would shrink from the symbols of Christianity (the crucifix, holy water, etc.).

Although at first it was taken that the Enemy would be of human appearance, later the characteristics of a monster were ascribed to it: it was seen to be an enormous flying beast, with a huge head with flaming eyes, iron teeth, and the ears of an ass. (See also Satan)

From: Encyclopedia Mythica