I don't think anyone has ever conclusively shown what is meant in the bible by the 'antichrist'. It's one of those throw-away words that is just there, but with no other information no one knows what it really means, or what this 'antichrist' is supposed to do. Is the antichrist a person? A group? A nation? A demon or angel or other spirit? Outside of 'end times' scenarios, I don't think anyone even really cares; but take someone like Russell, or some good old-fashioned Adventists or Pentecostals, and suddenly the 'antichrist' is something that has to be explained, and put into context in their belief system. That's pretty much it.

The JWs never had any sort of satisfactory (ha!) explanation, and neither do the Pentecostals or Adventists. I don't think the Catholics even bother trying anymore. So why worry about it? Why the emotional reaction to a word that appeared once (?!?) in a book 2000 years ago?

Jody image

  When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
-- Ansel Adams