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Judgments Before Antichrist Revelation

The concept of divine judgment preceding the revelation of Antichrist is rooted in biblical prophecy and further developed in theological tradition. The Apostle Paul, in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, indicates that "that day [of Christ] shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition" [12]. This passage suggests a sequence of events where a period of apostasy and the manifestation of Antichrist precede Christ's return and the final judgment.

Daniel's prophecies also contribute to this understanding, describing four beasts representing four kingdoms, with the fourth being conquered by a king identified as Antichrist, after which the eternal kingdom of the Son of Man is established [4]. This prophetic vision implies a judgment upon Antichrist and his kingdom before the full establishment of Christ's reign [7]. The "judgment was set" and "books were opened" in Daniel 7:10, which is understood as a forensic image of the condemnation of Antichrist and the establishment of Messiah's kingdom [7].

Augustine of Hippo, in City of God, discusses how God's just judgment permits the actions of the devil and Antichrist, leading to the seduction and subsequent judgment of those who "believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" [3]. He further notes that Daniel's prophecy of the last judgment indicates Antichrist's prior coming, leading to the eternal reign of the saints [4].

The idea of judgments preceding the Antichrist's full revelation is also connected to the broader theme of God's judgments throughout history. The Old Testament predicts a day of judgment [1]. This judgment is described as a "revelation of the righteous judgment of God" and a "day of wrath" [1]. Some interpretations suggest that God's manifested judgments prepare hearts for receiving Christ's mercy, implying that these judgments can precede and set the stage for significant eschatological events [6].

The Apostle Paul also speaks of "sins... manifest beforehand, leading before to judgment," and others that "follow after" [2]. This suggests a process where some judgments are evident prior to a more comprehensive or final reckoning.

Theological traditions have further elaborated on the signs preceding Christ's coming to judgment. Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, argues that many signs will precede Christ's advent to judgment to bring human hearts to subjection to the coming judge [8]. While not exclusively tied to the Antichrist, these signs contribute to the overall understanding of preparatory judgments.

Charles Hodge, in his Systematic Theology, notes that Antichrist is to appear before the second coming of Christ, citing 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 [12]. He describes Antichrist as a power of a different kind from worldly kingdoms, possibly ecclesiastical, that will gain ascendancy and speak "great things" against God [5]. This period of Antichrist's influence and opposition to God is itself a form of judgment, particularly for those who do not believe the truth [3].

The ultimate judgment, administered by Christ, will involve all nations and generations of humanity [11, 10]. This final judgment is distinct from the judgments that precede Antichrist's revelation, but the earlier judgments serve as precursors or contextual elements within the broader eschatological timeline. The early Church Father Justin Martyr exhorted believers to repent "before the great day of judgment come" [9], emphasizing the urgency of preparation for these impending divine reckonings.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Judgment, The — Predicted in the Old Testament -- 1Ch 16:33; Ps 9:7; 96:13; Ec 3:17. A first principle of the gospel -- Heb 6:2. A day appointed for -- Ac 17:31; Ro 2:16. Time of, unknown to us -- Mr 13:32. Called the Day of wrath. -- Ro 2:5; Re 6:17. Revelation of the righteous judgment of God. -- Ro 2:5. Day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. -- 2Pe 3:7. Day of destruction. -- Job 21:30. Judgment of the great day. -- Jude 1:6. Shall be administered by Christ -- Joh 5:22,27; Ac 10:42; Ro 14:10; 2Co 5:10. Saints shall sit with Christ in -- 1Co 6:2; Re 20:4. Sh”
  2. I Timothy “I Timothy 5:24 (YLT) — of certain men the sins are manifest beforehand, leading before to judgment, and certain also they follow after;”
  3. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 19.--WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL WROTE TO THE THESSALONIANS ABOUT THE MANIFESTATION OF ANTICHRIST WHICH SHALL PRECEDE THE DAY OF THE LORD. (part 4): permission being by His own just judgment, though the doing of them is in pursuance of the devil's unrighteous and malignant purpose, "that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Therefore, being judged, they shall be seduced, and, being seduced, they shall be judged. But, being judged, they shall be seduced by those secretly just and jus”
  4. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 23.--WHAT DANIEL PREDICTED REGARDING THE PERSECUTION OF ANTICHRIST, THE JUDGMENT OF GOD, AND THE KINGDOM OF THE SAINTS. (part 1): Daniel prophesies of the last judgment in such a way as to indicate that Antichrist shall first come, and to carry on his description to the eternal reign of the saints. For when in prophetic vision he had seen four beasts, signifying four kingdoms, and the fourth conquered by a certain king, who is recognized as Antichrist, and after this the eternal kingdom of the Son of man, that is to say, of Chris”
  5. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 89: midst of these ten kingdoms signified by the ten horns, there was to arise another kingdom or power symbolized by the little horn. Of this power it is said: (1.) That it was to be of a different kind from the others. Perhaps, as they were civil or worldly kingdoms, this was to be ecclesiastical. (2.) He was to gain the ascendancy over the other powers; at least three of them were to be plucked up by the roots. (3.) He was to speak great things, or be arrogant in his assumptions. (4.) He was to set himself against God; speaking “great word”
  6. Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 15:4: Who shall not--Greek, "Who is there but must fear Thee?" Compare Moses' song, Exo 15:14-16, on the fear which God's judgments strike into the foe. thee--so Syriac. But A, B, C, Vulgate, and CYPRIAN reject "thee." all nations shall come--alluding to Psa 22:27-31; compare Isa 66:23; Jer 16:19. The conversion of all nations, therefore, shall be when Christ shall come, and not till then; and the first moving cause will be Christ's manifested judgments preparing all hearts for receiving Christ's mercy. He shall effect by His presence what we have in”
  7. Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 7:10: thousand . . . ministered unto him--so at the giving of the law (Deu 33:2; Psa 68:17; Heb 12:22; Jde 1:14). ten . . . thousand before him--image from the Sanhedrim, in which the father of the consistory sat with his assessors on each side, in the form of a semicircle, and the people standing before him. judgment was set--The judges sat (Rev 20:4). books . . . opened-- (Rev 20:12). Forensic image; all the documents of the cause at issue, connected with the condemnation of Antichrist and his kingdom, and the setting up of Messiah's kingdom. Judgmen”
  8. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Supplement (Supplementum), Of the Signs That Will Precede the Judgment, Art. 1: Article: Whether any signs will precede the Lord's coming to judgment? I answer that, When Christ shall come to judge He will appear in the form of glory, on account of the authority becoming a judge. Now it pertains to the dignity of judicial power to have certain signs that induce people to reverence and subjection: and consequently many signs will precede the advent of Christ when He shall come to judgment, in order that the hearts of men be brought to subjection to the coming judge, a”
  9. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. CXVIII.---HE EXHORTS TO REPENTANCE BEFORE CHRIST COMES; IN WHOM CHRISTIANS, SINCE THEY BELIEVE, ARE FAR MORE RELIGIOUS THAN JEWS. (part 1): "So that you ought rather to desist from the love of strife, and repent before the great day of judgment come, wherein all those of your tribes who have pierced this Christ shall mourn as I have shown has been declared by the Scriptures. And I have explained that the Lord swore, 'after the order of Melchizedek,'(3) and what this prediction means; and the prophecy of I”
  10. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 95: on which those expectations were founded were proved to be incorrect. 2. This theory is inconsistent with the Scriptures, inasmuch as it teaches that believers only are to rise from the dead when Christ comes; whereas the Bible declares that when He appears all who are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation. 3. The Bible teaches that when Christ comes all nations shall appear at his bar for judgment. T”
  11. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 135: § 4. Christ’s coming to judge the World. This is the last step in his exaltation. He who was arraigned as a criminal at the bar of Pilate; who was unrighteously condemned, and who amid cruel mockings, was crucified with malefactors, is to come again with power and great glory; before Him are to be gathered all nations and all the generations of men, to receive from his lips their final sentence. He will then be exalted before all intelligences, as visibly their sovereign judge. What the Scriptures teach on this subject is, (1.) That Chri”
  12. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 89: § 6. Antichrist. That Antichrist is to appear before the second coming of Christ, is expressedly asserted by the Apostle in 2 Thessalonians ii. 1-3 , “We beseech you . . . . that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled . . . . as that the day of Christ is at hand. . . . . For that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” This is clear; but as to who or what Antichrist is, there is no little diversity of opinion. 1. Some understand by that term any antichristi”
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