Will the Antichrist be Jewish? Are there any Bible references showing his nationality?
I have read some of the things you have written concerning the Antichrist. Do you believe that the Antichrist has to be Jewish? Do you know of any references in the Bible showing from which nation he will arise?
Ted’s Response:
I can find nothing in the Bible indicating that the Antichrist must be Jewish. I know it has been speculated, by some, that he will be. On the surface, it would seem logical that Jewish Israelites would be more likely to accept a man as their "messiah" if he is Jewish.
Some point to Daniel 11:37, noting that the phrase "He will not regard the God of his fathers" is an indication that he will not acknowledge the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, referring to the one true God, thereby showing that he must be Jewish. But "God" of his fathers is in only the King James and New King James versions.
Most (or maybe all) other versions read "gods" of his fathers or ancestors. And the New King James even has a footnote citation for this passage that says "gods." So this certainly is not convincing "evidence" that the reference is to God and, therefore, that the Antichrist must be Jewish.
Furthermore, I can find nothing in Scripture establishing, for certain, that Jewish Israel will acknowledge him as their Messiah. The term "antichrist" can mean "substitute christ" as well as "against Christ." There are many who make the assumption that Israel will believe him to be their long-awaited Messiah. Maybe they will, or maybe they will not.
On the other hand, maybe they will just put their trust and confidence in him as a great man with whom they feel they can negotiate some type of "peace process" with their enemies. (One document which may exemplify this is European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument: Israel.) In such a case, they might not even see him as being their messiah at all, in which case he wouldn't necessarily have to have even a trace of Jewish blood in him.
Isaiah and Micah did make a reference to "the Assyrian" (Isaiah 10:5, 14:25; Micah 5:5,6), who will invade the land of Israel. Many assume this to be a reference to the Antichrist. I have another view: Is "the Assyrian," mentioned by Isaiah and Micah, the Antichrist? and How do you know that Gog and the Antichrist will not be the same person?
The bottom line for me is that I am reluctant to assume that the Antichrist either
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