preparing for the future notable but also their persistence and determination, often carrying or tenaciously dragging objects weighing twice their own weight or more, doing everything possible to fulfill their particular task, and refusing to turn back even though they may fall, slide or roll down some steep precipice. Remarkably cooperative, they keep their nests very clean and show concern for their fellow workers, at times assisting injured or exhausted ants back to the nest.

ANTELOPE

[Heb., di·shonʹ, from a root meaning “to spring, leap”; rendered in AV, AS and Dy as “pygarg,” meaning “white-rumped”].

A cud-chewing animal and a splitter of the hoof, sole mention of which is made at Deuteronomy 14:5, where it is included in the list of animals permitted to the Israelites for food. There is uncertainty as to which animal is meant by the Hebrew word di·shonʹ.

The Addax antelope, a native of the desert regions of North Africa and the Egyptian Sudan, is often suggested as corresponding to the di·shonʹ of the Hebrew Scriptures. This antelope measures about forty inches (c. one meter) high at the shoulder. Its spreading, cloven hoofs equip it admirably for travel in the loose sands of the desert, where it can go without water for extremely long periods. The widespread horns of this animal are twisted like a screw, sometimes making over three turns, and measure about forty inches (c. one meter) along the curve. With the exception of the belly, tail and hindquarters, which always remain white, the color of the Addax antelope becomes darker in winter, changing from a sandy color to brownish.

Another possibility is the Arabian Oryx, also a desert antelope. Unlike the Addax antelope, the Arabian Oryx has slightly back-curved horns. Aside from dark-brown stockings and facial markings, its coat is white in color.

ANTHOTHIJAH

(An·tho·thiʹjah) [answers of Jah; or belonging to Anathoth].

A son of Shashak of the tribe of Benjamin.—1 Chron. 8:24, 25.

ANTICHRIST

(Gr., an·tiʹkhri·stos) [against or instead of Christ].

This expression, singular and plural, occurs five times, all of them in two of John’s epistles.

The subject was not new among the Christians when John wrote his letters (about 98 C.E.). 1 John 2:18 states: “Young children, it is the last hour, and, just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now there have come to be many antichrists; from which fact we gain the knowledge that it is the last hour.” John’s statement shows that there are many individual antichrists, though all together they may form a composite person designated “the antichrist.” (2 John 7) The use of the expression “hour” as referring to a period of time, either relatively brief or of undetermined length, is exemplified in other writings of John. (See John 2:4; 4:21-23; 5:25, 28; 7:30; 8:20; 12:23, 27.) He thus does not restrict the appearance, existence and activity of such antichrist to some future time only but shows it as then present and due to continue on.—1 John 4:3.

IDENTIFICATION

Although there has been much effort in the past to identify the “antichrist” with an individual, such as Pompey, Nero or Mohammed (this latter person being suggested by Pope Innocent III in 1213 C.E.), or with a specific organization, as in the Protestant view of the “antichrist” as applying to the papacy, John’s inspired statements show the term to be broad in its application, embracing all those who deny that “Jesus is the Christ,” and who deny that Jesus is the Son of God who came “in the flesh.”—1 John 2:22; 4:2, 3; 2 John 7; compare John 8:42, 48, 49; 9:22.

Denial of Jesus as the Christ and as the Son of God of necessity embraces the denial of any or all of the Scriptural teachings concerning him: his origin, his place in God’s arrangement, his fulfillment of the prophecies in the Hebrew Scriptures as the promised Messiah, his ministry and teachings and prophecies, as well as any opposition to or efforts to replace him in his position as God’s appointed High Priest and King. This is evident from other texts, which, while not using the term “antichrist,” express essentially the same idea. Thus, Jesus stated: “He that is not on my side is against me, and he that does not gather with me scatters.” (Luke 11:23) 2 John 7 shows that such ones might act as deceivers, and hence the “antichrist” would include those who are “false Christs” and “false prophets,” as well as those who perform powerful works in Jesus’ name and yet are classed by him as “workers of lawlessness.”—Matt. 24:24; 7:15, 22, 23.

In view of Jesus’ rule that what is done to his true followers is done to him (Matt. 25:40, 45; Acts 9:5), the term must include those who persecute such ones, including the symbolic “Babylon the Great,” and those described as the “evil slave” in Jesus’ parable.—Luke 21:12; Rev. 17:5, 6; Matt. 24:48-51.

John specifically mentions apostates as among those of the antichrist by referring to those who “went out from us,” abandoning the Christian congregation. (1 John 2:18, 19) It therefore includes the “man of lawlessness” or “son of destruction” described by Paul, as well as the “false teachers” Peter denounces for forming destructive sects and who “disown even the owner that bought them.”—2 Thess. 2:3-5; 2 Pet. 2:1.

Kingdoms, nations and organizations are similarly shown to be part of the antichrist in the symbolic description at Revelation 17:8-15; 19:19-21; compare Psalm 2:1, 2.

In all the above cases those composing the antichrist are shown to be headed for eventual destruction as a recompense for their opposing course.—See MAN OF LAWLESSNESS.

ANTI-LEBANON

The easternmost of the two ranges forming the mountain system of Lebanon. The Anti-Lebanon range parallels the Lebanon range for about sixty-five miles (104 kilometers), extending from the plateau of Bashan, E of Dan, up to the great plain of Emesa, not far from the site of Riblah. Between the two ranges lies a long valley formed by the Orontes and Litany (Leontes) Rivers and called Coele-Syria (“Hollow Syria”) or the Biqaʽ.—Josh. 11:17.

In the N the ridge is narrow and broken by a series of prominent peaks. The central mass is broader, higher and rougher, while the southern zone is cut by long torrent valleys that lead off to the E and S. To the E of the main ridge there is a series of descending plateaus that gradually drop to the level of the Plains of Damascus. The southern zone includes Mount Hermon, which reaches over 9,000 feet (2,743 meters). The geology of these mountains is similar to that of the Lebanon range, and they are composed mainly of limestone, having gray cliffs and round gray summits.

The Anti-Lebanon range is evidently referred to in the Hebrew by the name “Amanah’’ at Song of Solomon 4:8, where it is mentioned in connection with Mount Hermon. While some have considered Amanah to be a particular mountain peak, it appears rather to refer either to the entire Anti-Lebanon range or some part of it. The mountain ranges of “Libana” and “Ammanana” are mentioned jointly in inscriptions of Assyrian monarchs Tiglath-pileser III and Sennacherib. The Abanah River (modern Barada) is also called “Amanah” at 2 Kings 5:12 in some texts, and this river, the principal one of Damascus, has its source in the southern part of the Anti-Lebanon mountains. Hence the name may refer either to that part of the range or to the range as a whole.

Since the major part of the Anti-Lebanon range is not snowcapped, it has few rivers or streams. Little vegetation grows, but thin forests of dwarf oak and