The Worthless Shephard

The Worthless Shepard

Is it possible that the Bible gives us a physical description of the Antichrist?

Zec 11:16 "For behold, I am going to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for the perishing, seek the scattered, heal the broken, or sustain the one standing, but will devour the flesh of the fat {sheep} and tear off their hoofs.

This is a prophecy about a time that follows Jesus’ death and resurrection (Zec 11:10-15). Zec 12, 13, and 14 all deal with the last days, the Day of the Lord. Therefore is it reasonable to assume that these verses deal with the last days also.

God tells us here that He is going to raise up a shepherd, a leader, in the land of Israel who will not take care of the people, but will devour them. Because this leader is a leader in Israel, he will most probably be Jewish.

Zec 11:17 "Woe to the worthless shepherd Who leaves the flock! A sword will be on his arm And on his right eye! His arm will be totally withered And his right eye will be blind."

This worthless shepherd leaves (unattended) the flock or the people of Israel, Jews. A literal interpretation would tells us that one of his arms and right eye are struck by a sword and the arm withers and he is blinded in the right eye.

Some commentators say that this worthless shepherd is the Antichrist. Thus the Antichrist would be a Jew with a withered arm and a blinded right eye.

This just as well could be the key leader in Israel at the time the Antichrist comes to power and negotiates the 7-year peace treaty.

It is also possible that this worthless shepherd could be the False Prophet of Revelation 13:11-17, a religious figure and the cohort of the Antichrist.

Figuratively, the word used for eye could be interpreted as relating to mental and spiritual faculties and the word used for arm could be interpreted as a symbol of political and military strength. The word used for blind could be interpreted as, to grow weak, grow dim, grow faint, falter, be weak, be dim, or be darkened. Figuratively then, the mental and spiritual capabilities of this Jewish leader would be dimmed and his political and military strength withered.

These intriguing verses might not give us a specific physical description of the Antichrist but they do give us a greater insight into some of the key players of the last days.