Systematic Theology (Vol 3) - Hodge - XLVII - Chapter 3 (Second advent) concluded

Required reading
Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge (Vol 3) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Chapter 3 (Second advent).

My summary
Today Hodge tackles the difficult matter of the antichrist.

Most of the reading defends the proposition that the antichrist is the papacy.

Hodge sums up the teachings with the following:

'From this review it appears that the doctrine of the Romish theologians concerning Antichrist, agrees with that of a large body of modern Protestant writers in the following points:

(1.) That he is to be an individual, and not a corporation, or "genus hominum."

(2.) That he is to be a worldly potentate.

(3.) That he is to attain universal dominion.

(4.) That he is to be, in character, godless and reckless, full of malignity against Christ and his people.

(5.) That by his seductions and persecutions he is to succeed for a time in almost banishing true religion from the world.

(6.) That his reign is to be brief.'

What grabbed me
I think Hodge made an excellent point about Roman Catholics themselves: 'That many Roman Catholics, past and present, are true Christians, is a palpable fact. It is a fact which no man can deny without committing a great sin. It is a sin against Christ not to acknowledge as true Christians those who bear his image, and whom He recognizes as his brethren. It is a sin also against ourselves. We are not born of God unless we love the children of God. If we hate and denounce those whom Christ loves as members of his own body, what are we? It is best to be found on the side of Christ, let what will happen. It is perfectly consistent, then, for a man to denounce the papacy as the man of sin, and yet rejoice in believing, and in openly acknowledging, that there are, and ever have been, many Romanists who are the true children of God.'

Roman Catholicism as an institution is to be seen in a different light from individuals who call themselves Roman Catholics.

Next week's reading
Commence Chapter 4 (The concomitants of the second advent) by reading up to the heading '3. The end of the world'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.