Republished in 2017 in reformatted form, this book was originally printed in 1898.

Introduction

It is a scholarly work by a seasoned and well-informed pastor and theologian, who draws upon philosophy, religion, ideology, and, of course, Scripture, to assess what will dominate the Church and the world just before the return of Jesus. As such, the book carries a strong prophetic tone. Its main value for us is to see how the author considers Christian eschatology in the light of the thoughts and conditions of his own era, which makes it a fascinating comparison with modern attempts to do the same.

Antichrist in the New Testament

The book is in four main parts. In the first, Andrews comments on what the Scriptures teach about the antichrist. There are short sections on the Old Testament, the teachings of Jesus, and those of the Apostles collectively, with those of John, Peter and Jude being treated separately. In his analysis of John's letters, Andrews notes the essence of the anti-Christian spirit is the denial that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This spirit was already in the world and would find its last and highest manifestation in one man.

But by mentioning many antichrists, John's intention is not to focus on the person of Antichrist but on the workings of the anti-Christian spirit. A larger section is devoted to Paul's teachings, in which Andrews notes that 2 Thessalonians 2:7 shows that Paul already saw the “mystery of lawlessness” at work in his day. In considering Revelation, Andrews interprets “the bride” in chapter 12 as the faithful remnant minority, and “the harlot” in chapter 17 as the unfaithful majority of Christians. Babylon is the visible Church which forms an ordered institution and system in society.

by mentioning many antichrists, John's intention is not to focus on the person of Antichrist but on the workings of the anti-Christian spirit.

Final declension

The second part of the book deals with the origin and nature of the final falling away. Andrews believes it is the loss of first love, not doctrinal errors, that formed the root of the falling away, and the key to the whole subsequent history of the Church. He then spells out the consequences of this loss: disunity, lack of obedience, loss of truth and a waning desire for the Lord’s return. Above all, honouring the Lord ceased to be paramount, as the Church became puffed up with the honour the world gave her.

The author then discusses the initial stage of the falling away, in three aspects. The first regards the loss of the real headship of Christ as churches decided to choose their own bishops and priests. The second aspect is a disregard of the Holy Spirit as the active agent of Christ. In particular, the estrangement between the Head and the Church has hindered the Spirit’s work. As to the third aspect, doubts have arisen concerning the return of the Lord. His apparent delay has led the Church to take the kingdom in her own name and before the true time.

Modern heresies

In the third part of his book, Andrews describes tendencies that in his time seemed to be preparing the way of the Antichrist. He discusses various systems of thought which began to hold sway and which contrast with belief in a triune creator God. To Andrews, it seems that pantheistic philosophy is the most influential among the anti-Christian influences. This will provide a new form of Christianity based on a new conception of Christ, and a universe evolved, not created. The author also discusses biblical criticism as a means for undermining faith in the Bible, and he outlines the effect of modern scientific culture on the spiritual receptivity of the mind.

doubts have arisen concerning the return of the Lord. His apparent delay has led the Church to take the kingdom in her own name and before the true time.

The fourth part of the book concerns the reign of Antichrist. In a section concerning Antichrist as head of the nations, Andrews considers how current (to him) political and social tendencies will prepare the way of the kingdom of the Lawless One.

Church of the future

A section then considers the morality of the future. If there is no personal God, then a different basis for morality must be found. This could be found in nature. Andrews looks at two aspects of this. The first is Man as part of nature. Since nature is indifferent to morality, morality is shaped by experience and is changeable; respect for laws will diminish and moral chaos follows. The second aspect is Man as part of God, where the pantheist's ethical end is the development of himself, not of society. The standard of right and wrong is only located within each individual. What is useful to myself is good and right, what is injurious is wrong and evil.

Regarding the church of the future, Andrews considers five different possibilities, of which two are particularly interesting. One is a Church controlled by the State. The idea here is that man needs some kind of religion, if only as some kind of control for the public good. Another is a Church based on a social gospel. The aim here is to establish better relations with the world by removing the walls separating the sacred and the secular. This involves changing organisations and doctrine. The main object is not the saving of individuals, but rather the saving of the world itself. It seems that the modern Emergent Church movement has the same objective.

Essence of the incarnation

In the last section of the book, Andrews asks the important question: What truth needs to be proclaimed most strongly and distinctly by the Church? The answer is, the Incarnation, and all that follows concerning the identity and role of Christ. If this doctrine is denied, Jesus will be relegated to a place among other religious teachers.

What truth needs to be proclaimed most strongly and distinctly by the Church? The answer is, the Incarnation, and all that follows concerning the identity and role of Christ

This book is much recommended. Of course there are some points at which one may differ with the author on some of his assumptions and interpretations of certain biblical issues. But he hits the nail on the head on so many of the developments we have seen since he wrote his book, not least in our post-modern society.

Andrews does not see a great awakening before the return of Jesus, rather a great falling away. We cannot stop this development, he claims, but we can warn other believers. In this Andrews sounds a clear and loud warning to Christians in the 21st century.

‘Christianity and Anti-Christianity in Their Final Conflict’ (200pp, paperback) is independently published (CreateSpace) and is available from World of Books for £10.69 (free shipping), or £6.21 on kindle