8.127.12. Is it true the Antichrist will be Jewish, and that the Jews will help bring him to power?
Yes — the consistent testimony of the Fathers, Saints, and theologians of the Church teaches that the Antichrist will likely be of Jewish origin, and that he will be initially welcomed and aided by many Jews, especially as a false messianic figure.
This belief is not based on racial prejudice or antisemitism, but rather on Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and centuries of Catholic theological commentary. It reflects the tragic fact that, as a people, the Jews rejected Christ and continue to await a messiah of their own — one who fits their worldly expectations.
Scriptural Foundations
Our Lord Jesus Christ foretold:
“I am come in the name of my Father, and you receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive.”
The Church Fathers, including St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. Irenaeus, St. Hippolytus, and St. John Chrysostom, interpreted this verse as referring to the Antichrist. They taught that the Jews, having rejected the true Messiah, will mistake the Antichrist for their long-awaited messiah, especially if he offers them worldly power, restores the Temple, or facilitates dominance in global affairs.
What Do the Fathers and Theologians Say?
St. Hippolytus (3rd century) writes in On Christ and Antichrist that the Antichrist will come “from the tribe of Dan,” citing Genesis 49:17: “Dan shall be a serpent in the way...”
St. Irenaeus, in Against Heresies (Book V), held that the Antichrist will be of Jewish descent and will falsely present himself as the fulfillment of Jewish prophecy.
St. John Chrysostom and St. Jerome also affirm this understanding, warning that the Jews will be deceived, and will honor the Antichrist as their messiah.
The Catechism of the Council of Trent (on the Second Coming) affirms the Church’s expectation that the Antichrist will precede the return of Christ, and that his coming will involve mass deception and apostasy.
Why Would the Jews Accept the Antichrist?
The Jewish expectation of the messiah is not of a suffering Redeemer who saves souls, but of a political savior, a leader who will:
Restore the Temple in Jerusalem
Reestablish a worldly kingdom
Bring prosperity and power to Israel
Overturn Christianity, which they reject as false
If a charismatic global figure were to arise — promising peace, security, and even supporting Israel geopolitically — many Jews, still waiting for their messiah, may enthusiastically support him.
This scenario fits the apocalyptic warnings of the Church, and highlights the grave spiritual dangers of rejecting Jesus Christ and the New Covenant.
Important Clarifications
Not all Jews will support the Antichrist. Some will see through the deception, especially as his tyranny unfolds.
Many non-Jews, including apostate “Catholics” and secular world leaders, will also support the Antichrist. The deception will be global.
The Church does not teach hatred toward the Jews — but sorrow and urgency for their conversion, knowing the consequences of their continued unbelief (Romans 11).
The view that the Antichrist may be Jewish is based on theology, not ethnicity. It is not antisemitic but doctrinal.
| Category | Traditional Catholic View | Post-Vatican II View | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antichrist | Personal figure; likely Jewish; will deceive many | Often downplayed or treated symbolically | Scripture and Fathers teach a real person will come |
| Jewish Role | Some Jews will support him as a false messiah | Rarely discussed, seen as antisemitic to mention | John 5:43 and Fathers directly address this |
| Messiah Expectation | Fulfilled only in Christ, rejected by Jews | Jews still seen as in “covenant” with God | Awaiting another messiah denies Jesus is Lord |
| Evangelization | Jews must convert to avoid deception and be saved | Interfaith dialogue replaces calls to conversion | Rejecting Christ leads to error and loss of salvation |
| End Times | Includes Jewish deception, Antichrist, and great apostasy | Focus on social justice and “unity” instead | Apocalyptic prophecy is downplayed or ignored today |
Summary:
The Catholic Church, following Sacred Scripture and sacred tradition, has always taught that the Jewish people will experience a large-scale conversion to Christ before the end of the world. This is not a theological opinion or private revelation, but a truth deeply embedded in the writings of St. Paul, especially Romans 11, and affirmed by the Fathers and Doctors of the Church.
While the Jewish people as a whole rejected Christ at His first coming, this did not mean they were forsaken forever. God’s plan still includes them — but only through faith in Jesus Christ and entry into His Church, not through their continued adherence to the Old Law.
St. Paul calls this mystery a work of divine mercy. The Jews’ temporary blindness made way for the Gentiles’ conversion. But when the time appointed by God comes, the Jews will also return to the true Faith. This will occur after “the fullness of the Gentiles” and is expected to coincide with major eschatological events such as the rise and fall of the Antichrist.
Fathers such as St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. Augustine, and St. Thomas Aquinas echo this view. It was reiterated by pre-Vatican II catechisms and theologians, including Cardinal Billot and Fr. Denis Fahey. They held that the conversion of the Jews would be one of the final triumphs of the Church.
Post-Vatican II theology, however, tends to avoid this teaching. Influenced by ecumenism and fear of “offending” other religions, many today reject the notion of Jewish conversion, promoting instead “dual-covenant theology” — a heresy that claims the Old Covenant remains salvific for Jews. This contradicts not only Catholic tradition but also the express words of Christ and the Apostles.
In truth, Christ is the only way for all people, including the Jews. Until the foretold conversion takes place, Jews — like all others — must be evangelized and brought into the one true Church.
The coming conversion of the Jews is a cause for great hope, not indifference. It is a sign of God’s fidelity to His promises and a demonstration of His boundless mercy. But it does not remove our responsibility to pray and work for the conversion of every soul now.