This commentary explains alot, I'm listening to it now. He talks about the idiomatic meaning of "the Assyrian" - one of many names of the antichrist. (ie; the antichrist need not be an Assyrian....). For instance, Satan is referred to as "The King of Babylon", this is an idiomatic title.     http://www.blueletterbible.org/audio_video/comm_topic.cfm?AuthorID=21&commInfo=54&groupID=23&commTopic=Isaiah%20-%20[1990's]&SeriesOrder=10