The Antichrist: A Systematic Study of Satan's Counterfeit Christ

by Arthur W. Pink, George Nathaniel Henry Peters

Features an exhaustive, scholarly treatment of the biblical names and titles of the Antichrist. An important contribution to the study of eschatology.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Religion

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Arthur Walkington Pink was born in Nottingham, England on April 1, 1886 and became a Christian in his early 20s. Though born to Christian parents, prior to conversion he migrated into a Theosophical society (an occult gnostic group popular in England during that time), and quickly rose in prominence within their ranks. His conversion came from his father's patient admonitions from Scripture. It was Proverbs 14:12, 'there is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death,' which particularly struck his heart and compelled him to renounce Theosophy and follow Jesus.

Desiring to grow in knowledge of the Bible, Pink migrated to the United States to study at Moody Bible Institute. In 1916 he married Vera E. Russell, from Kentucky. However, he left after just two months for Colorado, then California, then Britain. From 1925 to 1928 he served in Australia, including as pastor of two congregations from 1926 to 1928, when he returned to England, and to the United States the following year. He eventually pastored churches Colorado, California, Kentucky and South Carolina.

In 1922 he started a monthly magazine entitled Studies in Scriptures which circulated among English-speaking Christians worldwide, though only to a relatively small circulation list of around 1,000.

In 1934 Pink returned to England, and within a few years turned his Christian service to writing books and pamphlets. Pink died in Stornoway, Scotland on July 15, 1952. The cause of death was anemia.

After Pink's death, his works were republished by the Banner of Truth Trust and reached a much wider audience as a result. Biographer Iain Murray observes of Pink, "the widespread circulation of his writings after his death made him one of the most influential evangelical authors in the second half of the twentieth century." His writing sparked a revival of expository preaching and focused readers' hearts on biblical living.

Reviews

[Jeanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I probably would have rated this book higher because it was full of truth, however, for me it left my heart very heavy. I am glad I read this book and I will read it again maybe in 5 years. There is so much to this work, each time you read it, you will learn more. One of the strengths of this work is the contrast between Satan and Jesus. Satan is known as the father of lies and deciet. How thru scripture satan will copy, mimic, question, take what looks good into something evil. That is all brought up in a detailed work by Pink. He leaves room for you and encourages you to go even further. Since satan is throughout the word, I think it is important to do a study of what God is revealing about him so that we would not be deceived. Probably what makes my heart heavy is that you see how easily the human heart is deceived. Satan is revealed thru the Psalms, the prophets, the gospel and of course Revelation. A type of Satan is revealed in scripture just like a type of Jesus (Moses, Elijah) Because of this it Pink brings out the line. He traces back to Cain and goes forward. Interesting enough Jesus has a line that is traceable as well. Nimrod was a great example of coming from the line of Satan and goes into great detail of Nimrod.

He ends this work with a encouragement and application to search our hearts and to examine carefully the foundation upon which our hopes are built. Is it built on Jesus Christ or the shifting sands of human feelings, human resolutions and human efforts after self-improvement. That is why theology is so important. It does not save us but it quickens our hearts that we may examine and place our faith where it should be.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far the most complex and difficult to understand book I've read by Pink. That may not be accurate - Pink prepared this information from 1909 to 1918 - this was before WW2, the birth of Israel, the United Nations, and many of the current events that seem to have prepared the way for the antichrist. So the clarity that I expected simply was not possible. In spite of this Pink brought out amazing things backed by Scripture that was very helpful. His contention that the antichrist will be a Jew makes sense and was backed by Scripture. Pink's attention to detail and Scripture is impeccable. There were several points I had to withhold my agreement until I studied for myself and a few times when my knowledge of current events surpassed Pink's but I was amazed at his insights given his time in history he wrote this. All in all an excellent though hard read.

[Kyle Dunham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very solid overview of the figure of the Antichrist, akin to a biblical theology of the Man of Sin. Although Pink's analysis is biblically consistent for the greater part of his treatment, he does devolve into a few strange interpretations--to my mind--including the view that the Antichrist is the literal, physical descendant of Satan (i.e., analogous to popular conceptions of the Nephilim from Gen 6, I suppose) and the reincarnation of Judas, who re-emerges from the abyss. Those criticisms notwithstanding I commend the book as a helpful treatment of a much-neglected eschatological figure who holds a prominent and significant role in biblical prophecy.

[Alan Fuller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pink was a Dispensationalist before he rejected that doctrine. This book must have been written during his pre-trib years. He later wrote an excellent critique of that system. He blames Luther and his contemporaries for applying prophecies concerning the Antichrist to Rome, which is responsible for the whole modern system of post-millennialism.

Pink makes extensive use of typological interpretation, which is not the kind of literal interpretation that Dispensationalists sometimes insist on. He makes somewhat contradictory statements about the Antichrist. In one place he says Antichrist will be an imitation Christ. In another place, he says Antichrist will be a political, commercial, military, and governmental genius. Is this an imitation of Christ? Antichrist will have three headquarters: Jerusalem will be his religious headquarters, Rome his political, and a rebuilt Babylon his commercial. He also believes the "Bride," in prophecy is Israel. The idea that the Church is the Bride is a statement nowhere affirmed in Scripture according to Pink. He doesn't discuss Rev 21:2, Eph 5:30-32, Gal 4:25-26, or other related scriptures.

[Albert L Schaubel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Antichrist.

I have read Mr Pink before and have marveled at his exhaustive coverage of a subject. I do not have a fixed End Times doctrine. I have read a number of books on the End Times and Mr Pink's dealing with this subject has some very interesting points. The book interprets where antichrist comes from, his many names and his personality. It describes his relations with the nations as well as with Israel.

[Todd Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good piece on the Antichrist. Pink spells out how Rome is not the Antichrist. He is an wicked individual that is yet to come. Well worth the read for the student of prophecy.