Must The Anti-Christ Be Jewish?

Q. It was always my understanding that Israel will accept the anti-christ as their leader and as the messiah?  If that truly is the fact, then would they not follow his geneology back to David??  Wouldn’t he have to be a Jew?

A. It’s important to remember that only believing Jews will reject the anti-Christ, and they won’t do this until he claims to be God, at the beginning of the Great Tribulation.  Prior to that time, the anti-Christ will appear to fulfill all of Israel’s desires. Chief among these will be giving them the go-ahead for their Temple.  And in their history, another foreign king, Cyrus of Persia, was called Messiah (anointed one) in Isaiah 45:1.  He also helped the Jews rebuilt their Temple.  So there is precedent.

Also in Ezekiel 44:7-8 there’s a prophecy that upon His return, the Lord will accuse Israel of putting a foreigner, uncircumcised in heart or flesh, in charge of His sanctuary during the Great Tribulation.