To: Usenet
From: "Terence"
Subject: Jesus the Christ (0000.jchrist.t)
Date: unknown 
Quoting: |mporter@nyx.cs.du.edu (Mitchell Porter) 

|I am trying to get an idea of all the different meanings that have been
|ascribed to the word "Antichrist". Relevant information might be:
|  a) When was the term invented, and by whom, and why? I recall reading
|somewhere (on the net?) that it was a term invented possibly before
|Jesus, to refer to a hypothetical figure who would seek a "secular" or
|political "salvation" for the Jews.

I would guess the term, or its equivalent did exist before Jesus because
the term Christ (aka Messiah) certainly existed before Jesus.  At least
those of Judaism were waiting for the Christ to show up.  Many are still
waiting (Muslims too now I believe).  I don't think it is "secular."
Along the same lines of a Messiah, these same people witnessed one prophet
after another coming through their ranks (they often got rid of them too
in one fashion or another).  There was plenty of talk of "false prophets."

I would categorize a "false christ" along the same lines just as a "christ"
would fall along the lines of "prophets."  I think the analogy goes 
something like a master of a certain estate leaving its stewardship
to others.  The master sends back, every now and again, some servants
(prophets) to see how things are going.  The servants get beaten-up
one after the other because these others decide to want the estate 
for themselves.  Finally, the master sends his own heir, his son, to go
see what's going on.  The others decide they can own the place by killing
this son.

Well, that's an answer for part (a).  because it's so long, I won't
bother with parts (b) and (c) for now.

Terence