A reader: “I am in a distinct minority on this point [i.e. that the many

Antichrists are harbingers of one final, terrible über-Antichrist], but I

believe there is no scriptural warrant for this position. The ‘Beast’

referred to in the Apocalypse was probably a Roman emperor who lived at the

time the Apocalypse was written, most likely either Nero or Domitian. (Nero

is the most likely candidate, since, if you write his name in Greek and

employ a numerological trick common at that time, you will come up with

666.) The other candidate for Satan Incarnate, the ‘man of lawlessness’

referred to in II Thessalonians, is more obscure, but it is quite likely

that St. Paul was also referring to a contemporary figure (again, Nero, who

came to the purple in 54 AD, would be the most likely candidate). I suspect

you were joking, but I hope talk of the antichrist does not frighten you.

In our lifetime the world has seen much evil, and the struggle between good

and evil will continue in the future. But the message of scripture is that

there is a light shining in the darkness, and the darkness will not overcome

it… Be of good cheer.”