Dispensationalism vs. Partial Preterism: the Antichrist:

The Antichrist, often called the Beast, is a ruler of the final world empire. This figure declares himself God and persecutes any Christian who refuses to acknowledge his divine title. The Antichrist will declare war on Israel which will last for 31/2 years. According to Revelation, the number “666″ is associated with the Antichrist. However, early copies of Revelation reveal the number 616 instead of 666. The Bible teaches that those who follow the Antichrist will receive a mark on their right hand and forehead.

Scripture Reference:

“Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

Daniel 9:26-27

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-10

Dispensational belief regarding the Antichrist:

Dispensationalists believe we are still waiting for the Antichrist. The exact nature of the antichrist according to dispensationalism is varied from person to person. According to some, the Antichrist will be the product of the devil and fully aware of his status as “the Antichrist.” Most dispensationalist, however, while they submit to the idea that the Antichrist is in some way associated with the devil, do not believe the Antichrist will be aware of this association or of his appointment as “the Antichrist.”

After a seven-year period of Christian persecution conducted by the Antichrist (known as the tribulation), Jesus Christ will appear and destroy the Antichrist. According to Dispensationalists, this is Jesus Christ’s second coming.

Partial Preterist belief regarding the Antichrist:

The vast majority of Partial Preterist believe Nero Caesar, the last Roman Emperor from the Julio-Claudian Dynasty, and the Roman Empire itself were the Antichrist.

According to partial preterism several clues identify Nero Caesar as the Antichrist:

• According to gramatria (a common first century practice of adding up the numerical value of letters within a name, often used to disguise a name) Nero Caesar, when written in Hebrew adds up to either 616 or 666 depending on the two most common spellings.
• Nero Caesar initiated what is known as the Neronian persecutions, a 31/2 year persecution of Christians who refused to acknowledge him as a God.
• Nero Caesar instituted a law forbidding Christians from buying and selling unless they denounce their Christian faith and acknowledge Nero as a God.
• Nero Caesar’s General Titus conducted the First Roman-Jewish war; a 31/2 year war from 66AD – 70AD resulting in the destruction of the Jewish Temple.

While Partial Preterist believe in a literal second coming of Christ, they believe the statements regarding the arrival of Christ to destroy the Antichrist are figures of speech meaning Christ’s wrath will be brought upon the Roman Empire. They often reference Old Testament examples of such language being used to describe God’s wrath:

The oracle concerning Egypt Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and is about to come to Egypt; The idols of Egypt will tremble at His presence, And the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.

Isaiah 19:1