As his name suggests, the Antichrist will present himself as an imitator of the Redeemer. Yet he will attempt to hide his deep aversion and hostility toward Christ. He may even quote the Gospel, emphasizing passages that refer to human needs in order to give the impression that he is motivated by Christian charity and to present himself as a defender of justice and mercy. In reality, he will offer a kind of “intraworldly gospel” that denies God’s transcendence and humanity’s need for redemption. He will carefully conceal his satanic mission: to achieve global domination and enter the temple of God to usurp His place (cf. Mt 24:15). Read More
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Part V: The Antichrist in Michael O’Brien’s novel
Today we’ll take a look at another book that addresses the topic of the Antichrist.
Like Robert Benson, Michael O’Brien—an author who is still alive—presents his apocalyptic narrative in the form of a novel. The main character of his trilogy is a Jewish convert who becomes a Catholic priest: Father Elias. Read More
Part IV: The Antichrist in the narrative of R. H. Benson
The second author I will discuss in this series on the threat of the Antichrist is the English Catholic priest Robert Hugh Benson. His book The Lord of the World was published in 1907.
It is a futuristic novel with apocalyptic overtones. It is of particular interest to us as believers because it portrays the conflict between a world that has abandoned the faith and the Church. Moreover, it offers a vision of what the figure of a future Antichrist might be like.
Benson’s novel was written a few years after Soloviev’s narrative. Given the similarity of theme and the resemblance of certain passages, it is reasonable to assume that Benson was familiar with Soloviev’s work. It is also possible that both authors drew inspiration from other sources discussing the Antichrist.
Robert Benson depicts the rise of a world ruler whose uncanny power extends over all things. People regard him as a new messiah who proclaims a universal message of peace. Julian Felsenburgh, as Benson names him, even succeeds in winning over believers and priests with his charisma.
Part III: The Antichrist in Solovyov’s Narrative
Today and tomorrow, we’ll examine how the Antichrist is portrayed in the literature I’m familiar with.
He is primarily described as a political figure endowed with extraordinary charisma who offers solutions to pressing political and social problems.
This Antichrist, as I have encountered him in literature, is said to exude a powerful fascination that people find almost impossible to resist. Outwardly, he appears to be a spiritual person who seems endowed with virtues, possesses great foresight, and is open to religious questions.
Thus, a different image of the Antichrist is initially presented here—one that differs from the various anti-Christian figures we have come to know on the political stage throughout history as violent tyrants.
Today, I would like to begin by discussing what is perhaps the most important book on this subject: A Short Tale of the Antichrist by Vladimir Solovyov.
Part II: Some aspects of the Antichrist
In the introduction to this series on the Antichrist we already saw that the text does not speak of a single Antichrist but of many. At the end of yesterday’s text I referred to the “anti-Christian spirit,” which we must learn to identify when it unleashes its destructive influence and seeks to confuse people.
The Inner Antichrist
Some authors who address this subject also point to an “inner Antichrist” within each of us. This is true insofar as the anti-divine temptation also lives within us, and we must reject and overcome it as much as possible. This becomes clear when we consider that the Antichrist spirit is Lucifer’s spirit, which seeks to exert influence by confusing people from within or through various external influences. The goal remains the same: the powers of darkness seek to exercise dominion over humanity and to compete with the reign of Christ. In order to combat the “inner Antichrist,” we need the tools that make up the basic spiritual equipment for following Christ. We will return to these later.
THE ANTI-CHRISTIAN THREAT AND HOW TO CONFRONT IT: “Part I: Introduction to the topic”
Preliminary remarks
After recently exploring the topic of self-deception and some common deceptions in the world and in the Church, it is now appropriate to begin a series of meditations on the Antichrist and the spirit through which he will act. I have already addressed this topic in several publications, and in 2020 I wrote a series of reflections that will now serve as my foundation. This topic is becoming increasingly relevant, as the anti-Christian spirit is operating on a massive scale in the world and even within the Church. Some might argue that it would be better to focus on the positive aspects of the Gospel. However, one does not exclude the other. Sacred Scripture frequently speaks of Satan and of powers hostile to God, and it exhorts the faithful to prepare for spiritual combat. Therefore, these topics cannot be overlooked. What matters is that we do not address them in a sensationalist way or stir up an unhealthy fascination with darkness.
Those who prefer a meditation on the daily reading or Gospel can find the respective links at the end of the text. Please note that some of these meditations were written several years ago and may occasionally refer to topics that are no longer relevant today.
St. Bonaventure: the Seraphic Doctor
One of the luminaries in the ecclesiastical firmament—as we might call the saints—is St. Bonaventure. His feast day is celebrated on July 14 in the old rite, and one day later in the new rite.
The saint was a man who possessed rich gifts of intellect and spirit and devoted them entirely to the Kingdom of God. St. Bonaventure was born in Bagnoregio, Italy, around 1221 and died on 15 July 1274 in Lyon (France). This saint was a scribe who shone like the sun (cf. Mt 13:43). Because of his ardent love for the Lord, he was called the “Seraphic Doctor”.
Saint John Gualbert: Founder of the Order of Vallombrosa
What wonderful flowers grow in God’s garden! We can never admire them enough, especially when we consider the lives of the saints handed down to us. In fact, the Church boasts a great wealth of saints, and each of their lives—as well as their deaths—tells us the story of God’s love for those of His children who decided to follow His ways. However, not all of them did so from the beginning.
Such was the case with Saint John Gualbert.
Born in Florence in 985, he came from a noble family. From a young age, he was destined for military service. His father, a warrior, educated the young John in the fine arts and instilled in him an awareness of the dignity and honor of a warrior. However, there is no mention of an education in religious devotion or Christian virtue.
GREAT DECEPTIONS: “Deceptions in the Church”
Today, we conclude the series on the “Great Deceptions.” In previous reflections, I have repeatedly pointed out that self-deception dims the light of spiritual discernment. Thus, one becomes more prone to falling prey to the deceptions that confront us in the world and even within the Church.
Yesterday, I mentioned that overcoming self-deception is important not only on a personal level and for our Christian witness but also for confronting the deceptions of the Antichrist. If we become spiritually blind, we will not be prepared to resist. On the subject of the Antichrist, I recommend listening to my prepared talk on the topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzGrEYm-kfA
GREAT DECEPTIONS: “A serious deception in 2020”
In yesterday’s meditation, we spoke of the danger that, if we remain trapped in self‑deception and fail to break free from it, our spiritual discernment may become clouded, so that we are no longer able to clearly recognize the deceptions in the world or in the Church—deceptions that, in reality, we should easily detect thanks to our Catholic faith. We must bear in mind that, generally speaking, these are not mere human errors; rather, in matters as important as those mentioned yesterday, it is the “father of lies” who is at work behind the scenes and spares no effort to lead people astray from the path of salvation—or, at the very least, to make that path more difficult.
The deception I will discuss today affects both the world and the Church. In this context, I would like to point out that I have already addressed this topic in depth in several articles available on my website. Within the framework of this meditation, I will limit myself to discussing it in relation to self‑deception and the great deceptions. Given its importance, I strongly recommend reading the more detailed articles at the following links: