ThemalignfigureoftheAntichristenduresinmodernculture,whetherreligiousorsecular;andthespectralshadowhehascastovertheagescontinuestoexertastrongandpowerfulfascination.PhilipC.AlmondtellsthestoryofthesonofSatanfromhisearlybeginningstothepresentday,andexploresthisfalseMessiahintheology,literatureandthehistoryofideas.DiscussingtheoriginsofthemalevolentbeingwhoatdifferenttimeswascursedasBelial,NeroorDamien,theauthorrevealshowChristianityinbothEastandWesthasimaginedthisincarnationofabsoluteevildestinedtoappearattheendoftime.Forthebetterpartofthelasttwothousandyears,Almondsuggests,thehumanbattlebetweenrightandwronghasbeenenvisagedasamightycosmicduelbetweengoodanditsopposite,culminatinginanepicfinalshowdownbetweenChristandhisdeadlyarch-nemesis.
