THE CHURCH OF = CHRIST

IN THE TIME OF THE ANTICHRIST

According to The Teachings of = the

Holy Scriptures and the Holy = Fathers

By=20 Hieromonk Ignaty =20 (Trepatschko)

>=20 2/16/91 =96 3/1/91

=85And upon this rock I will=20 build

my church, and the gates of=20 hell

shall not prevail against it=20 (Matt.=20 16:18).

=93True is the = word, firm is=20 the promise.

The Church is=20 insurmountable, even if

hell itself was = moved and=20 the ruler of

darkness summoned = turmoil=94=20 (St. Athanasius).

The Antichrist = will appear=20 immediately before the second coming of Christ, as attested to by the = Holy=20 Scriptures (Dan., chs. 7,11,12; Rev., chs. 12,13,17,20; Matt., ch. 24; = Mark, ch.=20 13; Luke, chs. 17,21; II = Thess.,=20 ch.2), and by the Holy Fathers of the Church (John of Damascus says: = =93It should=20 be known that the Antichrist must come before the end of the end of the = world=94).=20 ⁽¹⁾

What means will = this enemy=20 of God use to build his authority over all kindreds, and tongues, and = nations=20 (Rev. 13:7)? Will he = be able to=20 realize his wicked rule among people and overcome Christ=92s Holy = Church? How will the battle between = the=20 Antichrist and the Holy Church be fought?

Through the Holy = Scriptures=20 and the writings of the Fathers of the Church, we know, first of all, = what=20 battle plan the Antichrist intends to use against the Holy Church. His intention is to root out = from among=20 people, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the God-Man and Saviour, and = to=20 replace Christ with himself as the object of worship. He will try to overthrow = Christ=92s=20 teachings and sacraments, and will openly propagate himself as the only = true=20 Christ and God. To = realize this end=20 he will use not only deceit and false wonders, but will also fiercely = persecute=20 those who resist his reign. = Even=20 though he will establish his reign over many, he still will not overcome = the=20 Church of Christ.

The Saviour = Himself says=20 that the Jews will recognize the Antichrist as their Messiah: =93I am come in My Father=92s = name, and ye=20 receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will = receive=94=20 (John 5:43).

So we see that = there cannot=20 be faith in two Christ=92s (II Cor. 6:4,15). Therefore, those who have = accepted=20 the true Christ must shun the false one; and those who have accepted the = false=20 one must renounce the true Christ =96 the Messiah. From this, it is clear that = the=20 Antichrist must first openly renounce the true Christ in order that he = himself=20 be accepted as the Messiah. = Thus,=20 St. Irenaeus of Lyons calls the Antichrist the apostate from Christ, who = demands=20 that he be raised up and be adored as God. ⁽²⁾ The Apostle John = writes:=20 Who is a liar but he denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is Antichrist, that denieth = the=20 Father and the Son (I John 2:22).

Therefore, = according to the=20 teaching of the Holy Scriptures, the most substantial and evident sign = of the=20 Antichrist will be his rejection of the divinity of the Lord Jesus=20 Christ.

In his first = epistle, the=20 Evangelist John plainly witnesses that the Antichrist will not secretly = reject=20 the Lord Jesus Christ who came in the flesh, but quite openly: And every spirit that = confesseth not=20 that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is the = spirit of=20 antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now = already is=20 it in the world (I John 4:3). =20 The words =93confesseth not=94 not only make manifest the hidden = denial of=20 faith in the divinity of Christ, but also show the open confirmation of = his=20 denial before others. = These words=20 are used by the Saviour with the same idea when He says: Also I say unto you, = Whosoever shall=20 confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the = angels=20 of God (Luke 12:8; Matt. 10:32; Mark 8:38). Generally, in the language of = the Holy=20 Scriptures, the word =93confess=94 is used in terms of an open, vocal = confirmation=20 of a certain truth and is distinct from internal, hidden faith (compare = Rom.=20 10:10; Tit. 1:16; 1 Jn. 1:9; II Jn. 1:7; Rom. = 10:9).

The Apostle John = uses the=20 term =93confess not=94 to mean the same as an open rejection of the = divinity of=20 Christ. Here he points = out an=20 obvious indication through which believers are able to recognize the=20 Antichrist. Try the = spirits,=20 he says, Hereby know ye the Spirit of God=85.every spirit = that=20 confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God. = He=20 foresaw that the Antichrist will openly reject the Father and the = Son. He uses this warning precisely = so=20 Christians would not fall into the nets of the Antichrist when he=20 appears.

Like St. John, the = Apostle=20 Paul foretold that the last enemy of Christ will openly rise up against = the Lord=20 Jesus Christ and His Church. = The=20 hostile actions of all the heretics, which already began to appear in = his time=20 and continued to appear after his departure to the Lord (Acts 20:29), he = calls=20 =93the mystery of iniquity,=94 (II Thess. 2:7) because in a secretive = manner they=20 tried and are trying to bring harm to the Church of Christ. St. Paul calls the Antichrist = the=20 revelation of this mystery of iniquity, which follows after the final = apostasy=20 from faith. For that day shall not come, except there come a falling = away=20 first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of = perdition=85.whose=20 coming is after the working of Satan with all power=85.(II Thess. = 2:3, 9).=20

Thus,=20 did the ancient ecumenical Church teach by the mouths of Her renowned = Fathers=20 and Teachers. St. = Irenaeus writes=20 that the Antichrist will show himself to be impious, unrighteous, and = iniquitous=20 as an apostate. ⁽³⁾ = St. Hilary=20 testifies that through the Arians, the Devil is trying to convince = people that=20 Christ is not the Only-Begotten Son of God, but is adopted as a son by=20 grace. Through the = Antichrist,=20 however, he will try to convince people that Christ is not the Son of = God even=20 by adoption, thus completely defaming the name of the true Christ. = ⁽⁴⁾ = Blessed=20 Augustine says that the Antichrist will hinder the baptism of infants, = even=20 though there will be pious parents who will decide to endure all = tortures rather=20 than to leave their children unbaptized. ⁽⁵⁾ St. Jerome foretold that the = enemy of=20 Christ will win over the trust of the Jews through rejecting the sacred=20 ordinance of Christ, ^{(6) =}while=20 according to St. Ephraim the Syrian, =93the beast will lay his mark, = i.e. an evil=20 inscription,=85.on the right hand, and on the forehead so that it will = be=20 impossible for a man to make the sign of the Cross and on the forehead so as not to = allow man=20 to keep the holy name of the Saviour on his mind. The serpent will inscribe his = mark=20 instead of the Cross of the Saviour. =20 In order to do this, undoubtedly he will use a method so that the = name of=20 the Lord and Saviour will not even be allowed to be said during this = time.=94=20 ⁽⁷⁾ (See also =93On Christ and the = antichrist=94=20 by St. Hippolytus of Rome, and the Commentary on Revelation by St. = Andrew of=20 Caesarea).

In addition to = openly rejecting=20 the Divinity of the Saviour, His relation to God the Father, and His = teachings,=20 the Antichrist will likewise openly appropriate for himself divine = dignity and=20 will spread a new godless teaching, which will oppose the teach-ings of Christ.

The Lord clearly = refers to this=20 =96 another shall come in My name (John 5:43) i.e., not in the = name of God=20 the Father, as came our Saviour, and not even in the name of Christ, but = he=20 shall come in his own name and will propagate a new teaching, not = recognizing=20 anyone=92s authority above his own. =20 =93Seest thou,=94 explains St. John Chrysostom, =93that He = everywhere=20 declareth that He hath been =91sent=92, that judgement hath been = committed to Him by=20 the Father, that He can do nothing of Himself, in order that He may cut = off all=20 excuse for their unfairness? = But=20 who is it that He here saith shall come =91in his own name=92? He alludeth here to the = Antichrist, and=20 putteth an incontrovertible proof of the unfairness. For if as loving God ye = persecute Me,=20 much more ought this to have taken place in the case of the = Antichrist. For he will neither say that = he is sent=20 by the Father, not that he cometh according to his will, but in = everything=20 contrariwise, seizing like a tyrant what belongeth not to him, and = asserting=20 that he is the very God over all. =20 As St. Paul saith, exalting himself above all that is called = God, or=20 that is worshipped, showing himself that he is God (II Thess. = 2:4). This is to =91come in his own = name=92.=94=20 ⁽⁸⁾

The holy Apostle = Paul offers an=20 even more detailed teaching of how the Antichrist will pronounce himself = God and=20 openly demand of people reverence as such. =20 And that man of sin, he says, will be revealed, the son = of=20 perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called = God, or=20 that is worshipped; so that he as god sitteth in the temple of God = showing=20 himself that he is God (II Thess. 2:3,4).

By these words, St. = Paul=20 foretells that the Antichrist will preside among those Christians which = used to=20 belong to the True Church of Christ, but later fell away from Her, and = recognize=20 as their head the enemy of Christ and worship him. =93In the temple of God he = shall sit,=94=20 says St. Irenaeus, =93deceiving only those who worship him, as though he = were=20 Christ.=94 ⁽⁹⁾

Overseers = ordained by the=20 Holy Spirit preside in the Church of God (Acts 20:28), who are = entrusted=20 with the guidance of Christians by the Saviour Himself, but who = nevertheless=20 hold themselves as servants of the only Overseer, that is, Christ; in = order to=20 show that this will not be the way in which the Antichrist will preside = over the=20 Church, and that he will not hold the Lord Jesus Christ as his guide, = the holy=20 Apostle Paul says that he will seize the lordship over the Church as a = usurper=20 of divine greatness. For = having=20 said that he will raise himself =93above all that is called God, or that = is=20 worshipped, so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,=94 = immediately he=20 adds: =93showing himself that he is God.=94 =20 This shows that he will openly assimilate to himself divine = reverence,=20 that he will not only show himself like God, but that he is God,=20 presenting himself as God.

Adhering to Holy = Scripture, the=20 Holy Fathers teach the following:

St. Irenaeus of = Lyons:=20 =93The adversary will sit in the temple of Jerusalem, in order to show = himself as=20 Christ, he will demand that those who are captivated by him should = worship him=20 as Christ. The Antichrist will demand worship as if he were God.=94 = ⁽¹⁰⁾

St. Hippolytus = of Rome:=20 =93Having filled himself with pride, the Antichrist will begin to set = himself up=20 and glorify himself as God, belching forth slander against = Christ.=94 He will do this so openly that = he will=20 command that all those who do not want to serve him as God be killed. = ⁽¹¹⁾

St. Ambrose of = Milan: =93A=20 false prophet will prophesy concerning the Antichrist saying he is = Christ and he=20 himself will try to convince everyone that he is Christ.=94 ⁽¹²⁾

St. Ephraim the = Syrian:=20 =93Many will believe the Antichrist and will glorify him as God,=94 and = =93many will=20 worship the torturer with trembling crying out: =91Thou are our = saviour!=92=94=20 ⁽¹³⁾

Blessed = Theodoret of=20 Cyrus: =93The Antichrist will not only pronounce himself highest of = the false=20 gods, but will sit in the Temple of God, as if he were God=85.the Jews, = who did=20 not want to believe in the Lord, as though He were an adversary to God, = will=20 believe in the Antichrist who will pronounce himself to be the god of = all.=94=20 ⁽¹⁴⁾

St. John of = Damascus=20 asserts: =93The Jews, who did not accept the Lord Jesus Christ as the = true Son of=20 God and God, will receive a deceiver who will call himself God.=94 = ⁽¹⁵⁾

Thus, the entire = ancient=20 Christian Church believed that the ultimate enemy of Christ, who will = renounce=20 the Lord Jesus as the Son of God, will openly call himself Christ and = God.

What means will the = Antichrist=20 use among people in order to weaken their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ = and His=20 Gospel?

According to Holy = Scripture and=20 the Holy Fathers, in order to carry out his devilish scheme, the enemy = will, on=20 the one hand, use constant and vicious persecutions by which he will try = to=20 extract Her weaker members from the midst of the Holy church; on the = other hand,=20 he will try to use false wonders and signs to seduce, if possible, even = the=20 elect.

Our Saviour = foretold that these=20 very same calamities would befall believers before the end of the world. = Thus,=20 the Holy Apostles asked Him: =93What will be the sign of Thy coming at = the end of=20 he world?=94 The Lord = answered by=20 explaining that the first sign will be the destruction of Jerusalem and = the=20 Temple, and then added this description of the end: the appearance of = false=20 prophets, wars among nations, the increase of lawlessness, and a = complete=20 chilling of mutual love, so that many will grow to hate one another.

The Saviour drew = exceptionally=20 vivid images of various calamities as signs of the end. For than shall be great = tribulation,=20 such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time; no, nor = ever=20 shall be. And except = those days=20 should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved; but for the = elect=92s sake=20 those days will be shortened (Matt. 24:21, 22). At that time, salvation will = be gained=20 through hope in God and long-suffering patience. Our Lord warns His followers, = when that=20 time comes, not to believe the false prophets or the Antichrist (Matt. = 24:=20 23-26).

We find in the book = of the=20 Prophet Daniel (11:44; and elsewhere), and especially in the Book of = Revelation=20 (11:7; 13:7; etc=85), references to the great calamities that will = afflict the=20 Holy Church in the last times.

The Holy Fathers = are in=20 agreement with the teaching of the Holy Scriptures when they say that = the Church=20 will endure cruel and constant persecution from the Antichrist from = which the=20 only deliverance will be the second coming of the Son of God.

St. Justin Martyr = says that the=20 =93man of apostasy=94 will not only utter blasphemy against the Most = High, but will=20 take up arms against Christians by means of persecutions. ⁽¹⁶⁾

St. Irenaeus of = Lyons calls the=20 time of the Antichrist a time of cruelty and heavy persecution of the = Church,=20 which will be worse than any other time in history. ⁽¹⁷⁾

St. Hippolytus = writes that the=20 Antichrist, arrogant with pride, will send out orders among all nations = to=20 punish with death all Christians who refuse to serve and worship him as = God.

Having mentioned = the=20 Antichrist=92s pretense earlier, St. Cyril of Jerusalem continues: =93He = shall be=20 known by his crimes of inhumanity and lawlessness, so as to out do all=20 unrighteous and ungodly men who have gone before him; displaying against = all=20 men, but especially against us Christians, a spirit murderous and most = cruel,=20 merciless and crafty=94 (Catechetical Lecture 15, Ch. 12).

St. Ephraim the = Syrian, in=20 particular, vividly expresses the last persecution of Christians by the=20 Antichrist, saying, that he will deal with those who do not believe in = him =93in a=20 severe, cruel, hateful, fierce, murderous manner,=94 that =93in that = time, infants=20 will die on their mother=92s lap, and the mothers will die over their = children,=20 fathers will die with their wives and children in the marketplace, and = there=20 will be nobody there who will bury them.=94 =20 ⁽¹⁸⁾

=93For the = Antichrist will come=20 for the destruction of men, and to injure them,=94 says St. John = Chrysostom. =93For what will he not then = work? He will change and confound = all things,=20 both by his commandments and by the fear of him. He will be terrible in every = way: by his=20 power and by his unlawful commandments.=92=92 ⁽¹⁹⁾

Blessed Augustine = says that in=20 the times of the Antichrist, the devil will be freed. So much more=20 (uncontrollable) will be the violence of the freed devil than when he = was bound,=20 that the persecution of that time will surpass all previous persecutions = in its=20 cruelty. Thus, he will = use all the=20 power he has to persecute the Church. =20 ⁽²⁰⁾

We find similar = thoughts=20 expressed in the works of St. Andrew of Caesarea and St. John Damascus.

In addition to = cruel=20 persecutions, the Antichrist will use deceit to seduce Christians. False = wonders=20 and signs will work as means to this, according to the Holy = Scriptures.

The Lord spoke = further about=20 these wonders worked by the servants of the Antichrist. He said that they would seem = to be true=20 miracles if judged from their external appearance and by the effect they = will=20 have on people. The False Christ and false prophets shall show great = signs=20 and wonders; insomuch, that if it were possible, they shall deceive the = very=20 elect (Matt. 24:24). = The=20 extraordinary character of the signs, according to the words of the = Saviour,=20 will be such that the very elect will be open to the danger of = deceit. =93Then the deceit will be = great because=20 of the delusive signs,=94 notes St. John Chrysostom. ⁽²¹⁾

St. Paul has a = specific idea=20 concerning the wonders that the Antichrist will work. He says, =93He will come = after the=20 working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with = all deceit=20 of unrighteousness in them that perish (II Thess. 2:9,10). These = words show=20 the essential differences between the false miracles of the Antichrist = and the=20 true miracles of Christ. = First, the=20 Apostle said that the Antichrist will wield great power and will work = wonders,=20 but he warns Christians not to think that the enemy of God is able to = work true=20 miracles. Therefore, the = Apostle=20 calls the miracles of the Antichrist false.

And, indeed, his = wonders will=20 be false. =93Just as the = Son of God,=20 having been incarnate and having become man,=94 says St. Ambrose of = Milan, =93proved=20 His Divinity by signs and wonders, so will Satan open himself to man in = order to=20 show himself as God by means of false wonders.=94 ⁽²²⁾ They are false by their = origin, for they=20 will belch forth from the father of lies through whom will come the=20 Antichrist. Thus, the = Fathers of=20 the Church taught, =93Satan will use the Antichrist as a tool, acting = himself=20 through him.=94 ⁽²³⁾ The miracles will be false in = their=20 essence because they will not surmount the natural laws of nature, -- as do true miracles, worked = in=20 harmony with the will of God, which defeat the laws of nature. Being false in all respects, = they will=20 yet appear as true. Thus, = Apostle=20 Paul says that they will manifest great power. In addition, these words of = the Apostle=20 clearly show the difference between false wonders and deceit or = treachery, which=20 the Antichrist will use as a stumbling block for the weak in faith. Saying that the enemy of God = will=20 come with every power and sign, he adds, and with all deceit = of=20 unrighteousness in them that perish (II Thess. 2:10).

=93One of the = servants of the=20 Antichrist,=94 says St. John Chrysostom, =93having been before the = Apostles, seduced=20 many. =91He will come,=92 says the Saviour, =91and will seduce many=92; = but others to=20 appear before the second coming of the Saviour will be even more = deceitful than=20 the first: =91they will work signs and wonders in order to deceive, = if=20 possible, even the elect.=92 He refers not only to the Antichrist, = but to=20 those who will serve him.=94 ⁽²⁴⁾

Expounding on the = words of=20 Christ, wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the = desert, go=20 not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not = (Matt.=20 24:26). St. John = Chrysostom writes:=20 =93See how Christ warns us. = Do not go=20 forth, He says, into the desert=85.He did not say :go aside and believe = not; but=20 go not forth and do not go aside. =20 For in those days, the temptation will be great because of = deceitful=20 signs.=94 ⁽²⁵⁾

St. Cyril of = Jerusalem teaches=20 that the adversary of Christ will be =93a sorcerer who is very = experienced in the=20 art of deceit, sorcery and enchantment.=94 =20 He will conjure up =93 false wonders in order to tempt people so = that they=20 will think they see a resurrected man, when in reality he was not=20 resurrected. They will = see lame who=20 are walking, they will see people who were blind before suddenly start = to see,=20 when in fact, they were never healed.=94 ⁽²⁶⁾

Having = painstakingly taken into=20 account the miracles of the Antichrist, St. Ephraim the Syrian says: = =93Mountains=20 and islands will arise out of the ocean in plain sight for all to see, = but all=20 this will be deceit and an illusion and not real. In addition, he will = seduce=20 the world and will deceive all eyes. =20 Many will believe and will glorify him.=94=20 ⁽²⁷⁾

All of the = references of Holy=20 Scripture that we have cited, as well as of the Holy Fathers, show that = the=20 Antichrist will use cruelty and force, as well as trickery and false = miracles,=20 as means for rooting out faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

=93The persecution = of the=20 Church,=94 observed Blessed Augustine, =93when Christians were forced to = bring=20 sacrifices to idols by threat of exile, torture and death, was carried = out by=20 force. The second = persecution the=20 Church endures is from false teachers and false brethren, and is carried = out by=20 means of craftiness and deceit. = The=20 third persecution will be from the Antichrist, and will be the most = dangerous of=20 all because it will be accompanied by force, craftiness and deceit. His power will be used for = enforcing his=20 will, and his miracles will be used for deceit.=94 ⁽²⁸⁾

The end result of = the=20 Antichrist=92s insurrection against the Church will be that he will = attract to his=20 side those who received not the love of the truth, that they might be = saved, (II Thess. 2:10). = The=20 Holy Church will not only not waver under the persecution of the=20 Antichrist, but will be even more glorified in the face of her faithful=20 followers who will suffer for Christ.

According to the = Holy=20 Scriptures, the Antichrist will reign not only over the minds and hearts = of=20 those who reject Christ, but will create an entire community with them, = which=20 will recognize him as their head and will follow his ordinances.

Scripture = frequently refers to=20 the Antichrist as asking and conqueror who will wage war with many kings = and=20 will defeat them, utter blasphemous words against God, and oppress the = Saints of=20 the Lord, (Dan.7:23-25).

=93All the ancient = writers of the=20 Church teach, that during the end of the world, there will be ten = kings=85..and=20 then there will arise an eleventh lesser king (i.e. the Antichrist), who = will=20 defeat three of the ten=85.and with the defeat of the three, the other = seven will=20 submit to his authority.=94 ⁽²⁹⁾

In the Holy = Scriptures, the=20 kingdom of the Antichrist is described as a society in opposition, even = in its=20 external organization, to the Church of God. We find in the book of = Revelation, that=20 Satan will be permitted to act freely, then he will gather people from = all=20 nations under himself and with them he will surround the camp of the = saints and=20 the beloved city, (Rev. 20:7-9). = In=20 reference to this, St. Augustine comments, =93this will be the last = persecution,=20 which will precede the last judgement; throughout the whole world the = Holy=20 Church will be exposed to all the servants of the Devil.=94 ⁽³⁰⁾

St. Irenaeus of = Lyons, says=20 that the Antichrist will seduce a kingdom and will gather the = unbelieving Jews=20 under himself. ⁽³¹⁾ =93Christ is King, likewise, = the Antichrist=20 is a king. The Lord = gathered=20 together His sheep that went astray, and the Antichrist in like manner = will=20 gather his strayed people.=94 =20 ⁽³²⁾

St. Ephraim the = Syrian=20 testifies: =93Many classes and nations will develop similar thoughts, = and with=20 great happiness will pronounce the Antichrist as king.=94 ⁽³³⁾

Likewise, Holy = Scripture=20 clearly indicates that all members of the Antichrist=92s kingdom, will = have a=20 special mark, which will distinguish them from Christians. The Antichrist =93causeth = all, both=20 small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in = their right=20 hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he = that had=20 the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name, (Rev. = 13:16-17).

How will people = reach such=20 blindness that they will begin to consider a human being like themselves = as=20 God? Will mankind have = lost its=20 right reason?

This deception will = occur at a=20 time when the faith of man in the True God will have run dry, and thus = God will=20 give them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not=20 convenient, (Rom. 1:28). = He=20 will give them up because of their countless offenses, their opposition = to=20 Truth, and the extreme corruption of their hearts. Thus, they will be stricken = with=20 blindness, and will become unable to differentiate lies from truth, and = will=20 change the truth of God into lies, and will worship and serve creation = instead=20 of the Creator (Rom. 1:25). =20 Because they received not the love of the truth, that they = might be=20 saved. And for this cause = God shall=20 send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned = who=20 believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness, (II = Thess.=20 2:10-12). These people = will forget=20 the Creator and will serve creation. =20 At that time, when no visible creation will be in the condition = to=20 compare with the Antichrist, in power and might, nor wield such = influence as he=20 does by means of those things that blind and awe man, then they will = worship and=20 serve this unusual being.

Even though the = Antichrist will=20 spread his influence to every nation on earth, the Holy Church of Christ = will=20 exist on earth until the very time of the second glorious coming of the=20 Lord.

The Lord gave this = promise to=20 His Apostles concerning the Church: I will build my church, and the = gates of=20 hell shall not prevail against it (Matt. 16:18). Here the word =93Church=94 = should be=20 understood as those faithful to Christ and following His teaching. With the words =93gates of = hell=94, the=20 Saviour points out every type of persecutor of the Church, for example,=20 temptations, heresies, and all forces used by the devil, including the=20 Antichrist.

St. Athanasius the = Great takes=20 note to the promise of the Lord regarding the perseverance of the church = saying,=20 =93The word is sure, the promise holds strong: the Church is invincible, = even if=20 hell itself were raised and the rulers of darkness brought forth = turmoil.=94=20 ⁽³⁴⁾

St. John of = Damascus, teaches:=20 =93Even though the =91gates of hell=92 will rise up against the church, = i.e., the=20 mouths of heretics, the tools of the demons, they will not conquer the = Church,=20 even though they will arm themselves, they will not defeat Her.=94 ⁽³⁵⁾

The words =91will = not conquer=92=20 mean, according to St. John Chrysostom, that the Church will not be = destroyed by=20 any means. =93That which = the Lord has=20 created, no man can destroy.=94 =20 ⁽³⁶⁾ Because the Saviour gave His = promise=20 about the unquestionable and uncompromising invincibility of the Church, = we=20 should firmly believe that no efforts of the enemies would ever destroy=20 Her. No persecutions of = the=20 Antichrist will destroy that which the Lord Himself has established.

=93The enemies of = the Church,=94=20 says Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow, in one of his sermons, =93will = rise up=20 against the Church, but they will not crush Her. How long? Undoubtedly, until the end of = time. For, if they were able to = overcome Her=20 in some time in the future, then the Lord, the Seer of all time, would = not have=20 said so assuredly that they would never overcome.=94

Before His = Ascension, The Lord=20 gave a similar comforting promise to his disciples/ With the following words, he = sent them=20 forth for the preaching of the Gospel, strengthening their courage and = patience=20 so that they might endure the forthcoming struggles: I am with you = always,=20 even unto the end of the world (Matt. 28:20). =93Do you not see the power of = Christ? Do=20 you not see the condescension with which He says this? He will not only be with them, = He says,=20 but He will be with all people who believe in Him. For the Apostles were not able = to live=20 until the end of time, but He, to all the believers, as if one body, = says: I am=20 with you, I tear down all barriers.=94 ⁽³⁷⁾

In another place, = the Lord=20 says, And I will pray to the Father, and He shall give you another = Comforter,=20 that He may abide with you forever (John 14:16). St. John Chrysostom asks: = =93What does it=20 mean when He says, that He may abide with you unto the ages? And he answers: It means the = same as=20 when Jesus Christ says about Himself: I am with you always, even unto = the end=20 of the world.=94 = ⁽³⁸⁾ It follows from this promise = that the=20 Holy Spirit will always abide in the Church with His grace, = regardless of=20 circumstances, never leaving Her without His protection and = safekeeping.

Along with stating = that the=20 Holy Church will endure until the end of time, The Holy Scriptures also = tell us=20 that there will remain an elect of God in the last difficult times. Speaking about His second = coming, the=20 Saviour said: =93And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in = heaven;=20 and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the = Son of=20 man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send His angels = with a=20 great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from = the four=20 winds, from one end of heaven to the other (Matt. 24:30-31). These words clearly indicate = that prior=20 to the second coming, there will still be people who are pleasing to the = Lord=20 God, not only in one obscure place, but in various locations.

That Christian = divine worship=20 and the serving of the Holy Mysteries will not be terminated during the = time of=20 the Antichrist, is confirmed by St. Paul. =20 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup = (i.e., the=20 Body and Blood of Christ), ye do show the Lord=92s death till He = comes (I=20 Cor. 11:26). =93Here we = find an=20 important truth,=94 says Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow, =93in the = small word=20 =91till=92. In order to better understand this, I direct the speech of = the Apostle=20 to the question: will Christians eat the mystical Bread and drink of the = Chalice=20 of the Lord? We find the = answer in=20 the words of the Apostle: =91till He come,=92 i.e. the mystery of the = Body and Blood=20 of Christ will take place without interruption in the true Church of = Christ till=20 the very second coming of Christ, or till the end of time, which has the = same=20 meaning. Since this = cannot be=20 without the grace of the priesthood, and the grace of the priesthood = cannot=20 exist without the grace of an hierarchy, then clearly the grace of the = office of=20 bishop, according to the foresight of the Apostle, will be in the Church = in all=20 times and uninterrupted channels will flow even up to the brink of the = approach=20 of the kingdom of glory.=94

The ancient Fathers = of the=20 Church express the same opinion. = St. John Chrysostom says: =93Showing that the Holy Eucharist will = be till=20 the end of the world, The Apostle Paul said: =91till He comes.=92=94 = ⁽³⁹⁾ = St. John=20 of Damascus and St. Ephraim the Syrian concur with this view.

Faith in the = insurmountability=20 of the Church was generally accepted in the ancient Christian = Church.

Tertullian teaches: = =93The=20 Christian society will never be depleted and will particularly become = strong=20 when in its appearance it will seem to wane.=94 ⁽⁴⁰⁾

St. Ambrose of = Milan adds: =93the=20 Kingdom of the Church will abide unto the ages,=94 since God founded the = Church=20 and has foreordained to extend its existence unto the ages. ⁽⁴¹⁾

St. John of = Chrysostom writes,=20 =93Do not leave the Church, for there is nothing mightier than She; She = will never=20 grow old and will always bloom; thus the Scriptures, showing Her = durability and=20 stability, calls Her a mountain.=94 =20 ⁽⁴²⁾ This Holy Father adds = in his=20 Commentary of the Gospel of St. Matthew that in the times of the = Antichrist, the=20 Church will become filled with Jews who have converted to Christ.

St. John of = Damascus teaches:=20 =93We firmly believe that the Church will never fall, will never waiver = and will=20 not be destroyed. For = this is what=20 Christ taught, by Whom the heavens were established and the earth was = founded,=20 and stands firmly as the Holy Spirit says=94. (Ps. 32:6) The Antichrist will lure to = himself=20 =93those who have a weak and feeble mind, will seduce and will tear them = away from=20 the living God.=94 = ⁽⁴³⁾

St. Hippolytus = confirms that=20 even though the Church will be exposed to cruel persecution, it will not = cease=20 to exist. ⁽⁴⁴⁾

St. Cyril of = Jerusalem,=20 supporting his homily on the prophet Daniel (12: 1-3), teaches: =93God = will allow=20 persecution from the Antichrist not because He cannot stop it, but = because He=20 desires, as usual, His strugglers to be crowned,=94 and for this reason, = =93the=20 reverent ones among the living will be taken up into the clouds, = receiving, as a=20 reward of honor, that which is higher than any man.=94 ⁽⁴⁵⁾

St. Ephraim says: = =93Many people=20 will be found pleasing God, for whom it will be possible, in the = mountains and=20 in dessert places, to save themselves by much prayer=85.for God, seeing = their many=20 tears and sincere faith, will have mercy on them, as a tender Father, = and will=20 keep them.=94 ⁽⁴⁶⁾

Blessed Theodoret = writes: =93The=20 Antichrist will not rule over all, but only over those who are worthy of = perdition, who, even if he did not come, still would have deprived = themselves of=20 salvation.=94 ⁽⁴⁷⁾

St. Andrew of = Caesarea teaches=20 that the Antichrist will defeat only those whose names are not written = in the=20 book of life. Many of the = faithful,=20 because they have loved Christ with their whole heart, will defeat the = enemy of=20 Christ. ⁽⁴⁸⁾

This, from the = teachings of the=20 Holy Scriptures and writings of the Holy Fathers, we see that the Holy = Church,=20 with all its sacraments, will remain steadfast till the end of the = world.

Hieromonk = Ignaty

SOURCES

1). = St.=20 John of Damascus, Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, Book = IV, Ch. 26=20 (Footnotes 1, 15, 35); Oration on

the Transfiguration of the Lord. (Footnote 43).

2). = St.=20 Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies, Book 5, Ch. 25. (Footnotes 2, 3, 9, 10, 17, = 31).

3). = St. Hilary,=20 On the Trinity, Ch. 6. (Footnote 4).

4). = Blessed=20 Augustine, The City of God, Book 20. (Footnotes 5, 20, 30). Commentary on Psalm = IX. (Footnote 28).

5). = St Jerome,=20 Commentary on the Prophet Daniel, Ch. 11. (Footnotes 6, 29).

6). = St. Ephriam=20 the Syrian, Oration on the Coming of the Lord. (Footnotes 7, 18, 27, 33, 45); = Commentary of Psalm 43 and the Gospel of St. Luke. (Footnote 13).

7). = St. John=20 Chrysostom, Commentary on the Gospel of St. John. (Footnotes 8, 38): = Commentary on the=20 Gospel of St. Matthew. (Footnotes 21, 24, 25, 35, 37); Commentary = on 2=20 Thessalonians. (Footnote 19); Commentary on 1^st = Epistle to the=20 Corinthians. (Footnote 39); On Eutropius. (Footnote 42).

8). = St.=20 Hippolytus of Rome, On Christ and the Antichrist. (Footnotes 11, 32, = 44).

9). = St. Ambrose=20 of Milan, Catechetical Lectures, Oration 15. (Footnote 12); Commentary on 2 = Thessalonians.=20 (Footnote 22); = Commentary on=20 St. Luke. (Footnote = 41).

10). = Blessed=20 Theodoret of Cyprus, = Commentary=20 on 2 Thessalonians. = (Footnotes=20 14, 47).

11). = St.=20 Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, a Jew, Ch. 137. = (Footnote 16).

12). = St. Cyril=20 of Jerusalem, = Catechetical=20 Lecture 15. = (Footnotes 23, 26,=20 45).

13). = St.=20 Athanasius, (Footnote = 34).

14). = Tertullian,=20 In lib ad Scapulam, = Ch.=20 V. (Footnote 40).=20