Who or what is the antichrist?

[Chad]

Who or what is the antichrist?
by Matt Slick

The term antichrist is only found in the epistles of John (1 John 2:18,22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7). The antichrist is the one who opposes Christ and thus God. The antichrist is an eschatological (end times) person who will appear and deceive countless people near the time of Christ's return. The antichrist is associated with Satan and will be aided by demonic forces in his unholy movement against God and in his attempt to rule the nations of the world. Most scholars agree that the antichrist will claim to be God and will rule many nations in Europe and bring the world to the brink of destruction.

Paul does not use the term "antichrist." Instead, he uses the term "man of lawlessness" in 2 Thess. 2:3 to describe an evil person who will stand in great opposition to God and His people. Paul speaks regarding the Day of the Lord...

"Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God," (2 Thess. 2:3-4).​

There are Old Testament references to the antichrist, though the terms "antichrist" and "man of lawlessness" are not used. Instead, "the little horn" and "worthless shepherd" are used as they prophesy his arrival.

• Dan.7:8,21, "While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth uttering great boasts...21 I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them."
• Zech. 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."

From the Zechariah passage and the one found in Rev. 13:2,3, some theologians believe that the antichrist will suffer a head wound that will be fatal.

"And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast," (Rev. 13:2-3).

But, like the devil who imitates the truth in order to deceive, the antichrist will rise from the dead. His resurrection will be assisted by Satan. However, he will retain his wounds. His right arm will be withered and he will be blind in his right eye.

"And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast," (Rev. 13:2,3).​

The Spirit of Antichrist

The term "antichrist" is also used to describe a spiritual condition. In other words, it is descriptive of those people who oppose the true God.

"Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour...22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son," (1 John 2:18,22).

In 1 John 4:3 John says that all who do not confess Jesus are of the spirit of the antichrist, "and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world."

The cults such as Mormonism, the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Christadelphians, the Christian Scientists, etc., are all of the Spirit of the antichrist since they deny the true Lord and Savior, Jesus.

 

[Brother Paul]

Good article Chad....I just want to add that in the Greek "ante-Chrestos" also carries with it the implication of one who replaces Christ or comes setting himself up as replacement for Christ in the hearts and minds of men...some say he will be a false Messiah that will even fool some of the elect....but if one really understands the parousia (the coming) as scripturally described I cannot see any of the elect making this grave error. But thanks so much it was interesting and well put together...

Brother Paul

 

[brakelite]

Just to add a different perspective.....

The Antichrist is revealed to us through scripture in several different ways. In Daniel 2 he is the mixture of iron and clay. In Daniel 7 he is the little horn. In 2 Thessalonians he is the man of sin and son of perdition, and in Revelation 13 the sea beast.
I have mentioned before that Nebuchadnezzar was the representative of the entire empire, so also with the 'man of sin'. Below is an excerpt from a sermon by the renowned preacher and writer Puritan Thomas Manton in the 17th century. Charles Spurgeon testified to Mantons works as being “a mighty mountain of sound theology”

But because he is called the man of sin, here it cometh fitly to be inquired whether Antichrist be an individual person? for 'that man of sin' would seem to be some single person. No; he is put for a society and succession of men, that make up the head of the apostate state. As one lion figured the whole kingdom of the Babylonians, and one bear the kingdom of the Medes and Persians, and one leopard the kingdom of the Grecians, Dan 7; — and there the fourth beast is the fourth kingdom, — so one person that succession of men that head the revolters from Christ. So Dan 8; a goat figured a succession of kings; so the Assyrian, Isa 10:5, several kings in that empire; so Isa 14:9, the king of Babylon, meaning not one but many. So this man of sin doth not note a single man, but a succession of men, a body politic or corporate, under one opposite head to the kingdom of Christ: so the 'man of God' is put for all faithful ministers, 2 Tim 3:17; so 'honour the king,' I Peter 2:17, series regum. So o arciereus, Heb 9:25, 'The high priest every year entereth into the holy place;' meaning not one, but the succession of the order; and in reason it must needs be so here. Because Antichrist, from his beginning to his end, from his rise and revelation, till his ruin and destruction, will take up such a long track of time, as cannot fall within the age of any one man, even from the time of the apostles till the end of the world. Antichrist is the head of the apostasy; for here the apostasy and the revelation of the man of sin are tied together; now the mysterious apostasy could not be perfected in a short time.

In this sermon, Manton, like many reformers before and after him, was applying the prophecy of 2 Thess. concerning the man of sin directly to the papal system, which fits perfectly Bro. Pauls note that 'antichrist' has a nuance of meaning replacing Christ in the hearts and minds of his followers...something the papacy has succeeded in doing very well....and as the popes'any titles declares...vicar of the Son of God....we all know what 'vicar' means.

 

[KingdomSeeker]

The "antichrist" is the man of sin. The man of sin is first Adam. The bible says through one man sin entered. That man is the whole human race. The whole bible talks about two men. The race of Adam, and the new creation, the race of Christ, the bible even mentions that the body of christ(grafted to the head) is being perfected into the "perfect man" (Ephesians 4:13) we are one multi membered man, the last Adam. We are the creation that is growing to be manifested fully as the son(s) of God, on the earth. And so first Adam is also a multimembered man. The man of sin.

This antichrist, this man who is in place of Christ and has the mind of death(carnal mind is death, the bible says so) is the man of sin. He sits in the temple of god(the human body/soul) claiming to be God(leading himself teaching and living as if e has a right to himself, to be sel sufficient, and not fully reliant on The Lord in total abandonment like a living savrifice) and is abolishing/has abolished the daily sacrifice in the temple. If the temple is the body and soul of an individual, what would be the daily sacrifice?

Jesus said deny Self DAILY, Otherwise you cant follow me, he didn't say some of yourself he said all. He again the son of man can do nothing of himself, not did he ever. And we must by faith walk that same way. Obeying and believing the words of Jesus and walking like he walks(1 John 2:6 "He that says he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.") to deny the self life, to deny living from out of ones soul, living by emotions, will and thoughts, and instead yield that to the LORD and live out from his spirit his kingdom, being led by his spirit and not your soul. That is to deny self daily. To have that as your goal and focus daily, which, your soul life, living as lord of yourself can still be very apparent and most don't know the difference even in religious things, and church going.

daily:check

The bible also has a command for us to be a living sacrifice.And it says THAT is our form worship. To be a living sacrifice
is the other half of deny self. It is now that your self is denied, live as a sacrifice on an altar. You have no say over our day to say life, for YOUR life is his in GOD with Christ, and it is HIS life that lives(or is supposed to live through you as you yield to him) out of you. A sacrifice doesn't make his own plans anymore, they seek only the will of God, to do what he reveled to them personally through deep seperate(holy) comunion(prayer/obedience/seeking his face to know him, and hear his voice)

Sacrifice:check

those two things together(for they are basiclly one whole coin) is the daily(deny self daily) sacrifice(be a living sacrifice). If one sees this abolished in the temple of God(the life and body of a Christian) then the man of sin has Allready set up the abomination that causes desolation(the unclean thing/the carnal mind/death)

When first Adam, your adamic nature(personally first and then corporately second) sits as God in your heart and you lead your life, even a religious one, and the LORD is not actully LORD and you do not ACTUALLY seek and do what god wants in ALL your ways, an your life is indipendant from Christs spirit and leading, ad your soul is The Lord, then the man of sin just abolished the daily sacrifice.

this happens first in the individual and then corporately. This has Allready happened to most of Christendom, and many, even those who rea this, have been hardened an there conscience seared, that they can't see or hear it.

The antichrist is ruling and has been ruling the temple(chosen vessels of God) and usurped the lords authority Allready. The fullness is coming, jus like the fullness of Christ in the manifested many membered SON is coming. But the ruling and reigning has Allready begun in the spirit, Just a's the ruling and reigning of the antichrist has Allready begun.

There are only but two men. Christ And Adam. There only are two wisdoms, the most highs, and mans. There are two things to have on the forhead(mind) and right hand(works/power) one sealed you from the self, and the other opened you to it. This antichrist this mind of Adam, this beast mind(like Nebuchadnezzar) for worshiping self(like Nebuchadnezzar) that is the man of sin. Mankind(Adam) or God kind(Christ) and there is no in between. One can't eat at the table of demons and of God.

So who are you? What is this great salvation(healing/deliverance/restoration) and what is this salvation from/of? And who are we? Who's do we live out of? First Adam? Or last? Man? Or God? And Re we sure? Have we heard Jesus tell us for sure? His sheep hear his voice and follow no one else most definitely not themselves. Grater is he in you(Christ) than he in the world(you) Whois your lord? And who reigns in the temple of God?

 

[rserge]

Any chance that revelation speaks of a time that has come and gone and we keep looking for signs that happened millennia ago? If that were true we would be living in a millennia of peace and war is just something that happens because man is deceived by the idea that revelation is about the future rather than the past. Like the antichrist for example. Is there an individual in history that also resembles the symbology used? You guys keep looking for somebody that came and went a long time ago.

 

[farout]

ANYONE who is not for Jesus Christ is against Jesus Christ. At times even Christians can be against Jesus Christ. These health and wealth false teachers / false preachers, are anti-Christ's. When gaining wealth is the motive of a preacher / teacher that's an anti-Christ. All one has to do is watch "Christian TV" and the majority of are greedy money hungry anti-Christ's.

When you see these anti-Christ's drive very expensive luxury vehicles' fly jet planes, own several very large expensive houses, and have all their family in on their "ministry" who live just as greedy like the leaders of this greedy anti-Christ ministry, THAT'S NOT ABOUT JESUS CHRIST IN ANYWAY WHATSOEVER!!!!!!

Have you ever heard of these so called "healers" go into a hospital and even visit with the sick or those near death? They don't, because they are anti-Christ's phony son's of the devil.
These ant-Christ's don't feed or clothe the poor. They are like leeches suck all the life they can from people who believe the lies these anti-Christ's preach.

A song was recently made about some of these so called preacher / teachers. Be wise know genuine preachers / teachers by the fruit they produce for JESUS CHRIST.

 

[rserge]

Farout...
The Christian antichrists you are talking about are the ones who died and found heaven on earth. There are different Christians called to do different things. Preachers/evangelists are preachers/evangelists. Healers are healers. You will not see preachers in hospitals and you will not see healers standing behind pulpits. The reason why preachers/evangelists are blessed with millions and cars and jets is because God wants to show atheists what God is capable of giving to a man who does what he does to earn millions and cars and jets. If God portrayed Christian workers as beggars then the world would treat them as such. But remember even the holiest of man is still only dust and is capable of getting absorbed by the success. Try a pulpit on soon, see if it's big enough for you. Preachers go to hospitals to send Gods children home without fear of the journey they have to take to get there. Healers? Don't get me started on them. The best ones don't spend millions on drugs that kill you while fixing your illness. But you probably call them witches with a magic potion. Sorry dude. I just don't like it when people run their mouth about fellow Christians. What's your Christian day job anyway?

 

[farout]

Farout...
The Christian antichrists you are talking about are the ones who died and found heaven on earth. There are different Christians called to do different things. Preachers/evangelists are preachers/evangelists. Healers are healers. You will not see preachers in hospitals and you will not see healers standing behind pulpits. The reason why preachers/evangelists are blessed with millions and cars and jets is because God wants to show atheists what God is capable of giving to a man who does what he does to earn millions and cars and jets. If God portrayed Christian workers as beggars then the world would treat them as such. But remember even the holiest of man is still only dust and is capable of getting absorbed by the success. Try a pulpit on soon, see if it's big enough for you. Preachers go to hospitals to send Gods children home without fear of the journey they have to take to get there. Healers? Don't get me started on them. The best ones don't spend millions on drugs that kill you while fixing your illness. But you probably call them witches with a magic potion. Sorry dude. I just don't like it when people run their mouth about fellow Christians. What's your Christian day job anyway?

rserg: I am retired, friend. I have done many things in my life. And yes, I have been to seminary and pastored four churches. Three were bi- vocational churches, and one was full time church.There really is no such thing as a part time pastor, only part time pay. I always felt a pulpit was awesome place, and I never used it as place for personal gain. I pray the Holy Spirit used my voice to expound the WORD of GOD. I think you might be wrong, no man by himself is equipped to preach the WORD of GOD without the Holy Spirit. The pulpit is a big responsibility.

I have been in more hospitals than I care to remember. I was a patient in a Naval Hospital for almost 8 moths, and I almost died. I have visited more people in hospitals than you would believe. I've traveled several hundred miles to be with a man who had heart surgery. I have been called at all hours of the day an night, at times Ibeat the ambulance before the people got to the hospital. I honestly believe a pastor needs to be where his people are, be it in a hospital, and yes, I have even gone to a bar when a member got depressed and drank too much. I have visited people in jail's as well. I have been with people when they died, became parents, and even when a family member killed themselves. I once had a man confess murder to me. I have experienced a lot and tried to represent Christ as best I could with the Holy Spirits help. I have baptized many, done a good number of marriages, conducted a lot of funerals, anointed some sick folks with oil. Then been the one to tell husband or wife when their mate passed on to be with he LORD. All this service for the Lord has taken it's toil over the years. I have not burned out or rusted out. I was a disabled Veteran to begin with. Today I am almost home bound, due to my service connected health issues. God has allowed me to serve, and I am blessed and thankful.

Being "blessed" as you say with "millions and cars and jets is because God wants to show atheists what God is capable of giving to a man who does what he does to earn millions and cars and jets." Wealth may be a blessing, but not often. When people are duped into giving seed faith, so these false teachers / false preachers, can increase their wealth, and become more "blessed" that is positively not of God. I have seen too many people with shipwrecked faith because they gave all they had to build a hospital that had praying hands on the outside. I saw a letter from a preacher, who said if he did not get a certain amount of money, God was going to take him home. He did not get the money, he clamed God demanded. However, he lived almost 20 years loner! Did God change His mind? I have seen theme park and hotel attempted to be built from believer's money. Christians were promised a lifetime of free visits to a Godly place for families to have fun at. The theme park and hotel turned out to be a bust filled with fraud and broken promises. Many older people put in their retirement money, to get the interest they were promised, for loaning the building money for the theme park and hotel. This was done by a so called Christian ministry! Many Christians were deeply hurt in their retirement. Many of those needing the interest to live on, never got dine of interest, or their initial investment money back. They lived lean last years on earth. Some elderly folk ended life in poverty, many living with their children or relatives. So very sad and wrong!

Jewish leaders at the time of Jesus Christ believed wealth was a sure sign of blessings from God. The Jewish leaders were the very ones who wanted Jesus put to death. The Jewish Leaders were not followers of Jesus Christ. May people in our world don't have a roof over their head. Most people don't have food for tomorrow. Very few people have more than $1.00. Many children went to bed hungry tonight. Many people don't have a bed to sleep in. Many people don't have a change of clothes. Many children in Africa don't have shoes. Starvation is a reality in our world today. Is Wealth not more of a responsibility, than a blessing?
n

Sorry you have mistaken me for running my mouth at GENUINE Christians. I am referring ONLY to false preachers and false teachers. As genuine Christians we are to be able to tell false from real. I have mentioned NO names as it seems pretty clear who are really HIS followers. Blessings and Merry Christmas.

 

[rserge]

Desert Storm disabled vet 50%
Military intelligence, US ARMY and Israeli liaison at age of 20.
43 now. An ex wife who is catholic with a Muslim husband 10 years younger than her who has an abusive lifestyle. He was charged with child abuse against my son yet courts keep my son in their home.
I had my first NDE as a baby on life support. Several injuries growing up. In 1994 was my last that had a lasting impression on my life. I got to see the being of light. BOL - google it. Now as a Christian I have to decide if what he says is true. Is he satan or does he represent God. What he says goes against scripture.
I thank you for your military and service behind pulpit. I joined talkjesus when they were talking about world ending in a few years. They don't realize who is reading this website and what comments like that can do to a person or a religion based violent organization. You guys don't realize that global terrorism is fueled by religion. If Christians want the end then the end will be here sooner than you expect. But you are hoping the rapture gets here before you have to experience the end.
I'm sorry I judged you in last comment. But having made the last comment allowed you to expand on what you really meant. Just as I have here.
Merry Christmas.

 

[Eric E Stahl]

We are all serving in the Lord's army, I hope. There is no retirement, only reasignment.

 

[brakelite]

Quote rserge....." Is there an individual in history that also resembles the symbology used".....
Actually, yes. But he hasn't gone. The man of sin refers to a system as opposed to an individual, and he began to emerge in the apostle Johns day, and remains with us today. As the iron/clay (Daniel 2) composite grew out of and followed immediately from pagan Rome and remained until the second coming, so will the Antichrist.

 

[Christ4Ever]

Peace and Love to all here.

At times the over the top responses are gut reactions to something we disagree with. It is at this time, that we should stop, pray, read a little of God’s Word, and then respond to the fellow brother in Christ with love and tenderness. We must do this while still making our point!

For me I always try to look at the contents of what I’m reading as if it’s coming from a person who knows much more than me, which is usually the case. At the very least from someone who is as dear to me as my own self.

To be honest as interesting as this thread is to read, I try to concern myself with my walk (difficult lately), and when having to respond to any I encounter, especially as it relates to prophecy, when dealing with current/near future events that may be unwinding before us, I recall with sadness a brother who said the rapture was going to happen....what was that last year or the year before?. It’s too easy to be wrong when dealing with as yet unfolded events or attempting to squeeze them into current events. With the speed of communication (Selective as news can be.) shows us an ever changing landscape a believer in these days must traverse.

Another example of this is. Scripture in the early 1900's prior to the 1940’s was seen by many if not most theologians of the day as meaning that Israel because of the scattering of the Jews on or about 70 AD as a nation needed to be taken as being “symbolic” when discussed in scripture because it was not realistic to them that the Nation of Israel would ever reside on the same land identified in scripture. How wrong they were!

Current events easily show us that the World is not getting better, and that persecution of Christians is increasing, even in nations that one would have looked at as centers of Christendom. Whether this is Antichrist as a societal construct, spiritual turmoil of the non-believer, or a sign of the soil is being prepared for the advent of a historical/biblical figure I do not know for a certainty. In any case, the believer is in or nearing a time of unprecedented battle on a worldwide scale. Apostasy, heretical teachings, persecution, martyrdom, etc. are on the increase. I’m not saying this has not always been the case, throughout history such incidents occurring, yet we know the Gospel is being spread around the world as never before, with all forms of communication. One thing we do know is not “if”, but “when”, is drawing closer for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ!

So, be it Pope, First Citizen of the World, Secular Society, World Government/Leader what have you. Regardless of the case, we know that the motivating intelligence behind it all lays at the feet of our enemy Lucifer.

(As a side note, I saw the Pope kissing the leg of a statue of baby Jesus! My issues with Catholicism grow, but need to continue to remind myself that until the last breath of man salvation through Christ Jesus is ever available, where ever they might find themselves!)

I can sure get wordy! Sorry.

Now to the subject of the thread. I cannot separate the characters involved here.

I see that Lucifer has a tendency to produce falsehood by twisting the meaning of truth. A distortion if you will. Example would be the tempting of Christ. Lucifer readily exploits scripture and is accurate in word, but not with the reason it was intended for. With the Antichrist, I sense this as well. Let me show you what I mean. We believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What better falsehood for him but to produce an opposite to the Holy Trinity? A false one. Always keep in mind that Lucifer's down fall was pride. Wanting to be greater than God (Isaiah 14:12). What characters come into play in prophecy but, Lucifer, Antichrist, and False Prophet. Needless to say, they are not for the benefit of mankind, but its doom.
Just my thoughts on the why.

I took a class at my church which took a quick look at the Antichrist, which I will share below.

Statement with supportive Scripture verses we reviewed.

Ruler during the tribulation who controls the entire world.
[Dan 7:2-7, 24-27 KJV] [Dan 8:4 KJV] [Dan 11:36 KJV] [Rev 13:1-18 KJV] [Rev 17:11-17 KJV]

An incredibly wicked person, a "man of lawlessness" and sin.
[Dan 9:27 KJV] [2Th 2:3 KJV] [Rev 13:12 KJV]

Described as a beast.
[Rev 13:1-18 KJV] [Rev 17:3, 8 KJV] [Rev 16:19 KJV] [Rev 19:1-21 KJV] [Rev 20:1-15 KJV]

Will set up an image of himself in the temple and will demand worship.
[Dan 7:8, 25 KJV] [Dan 11:31, 36 KJV] [Mat 24:15 KJV] [Mar 13:14 KJV] [2Th 2:3-4 KJV] [Rev 13:4, 8, 12 KJV] [Rev 14:15 KJV] [Rev 14:9 KJV] [Rev 16:2 KJV]

Will exercise miracles through the power of Satan.
[Mat 24:24 KJV] [2Th 2:9-10 KJV] [Rev 13:3, 12-14 KJV] [Rev 16:14 KJV] [Rev 17:8 KJV]

Will have ability to deceive the nations.
[2Th 2:9-10 KJV] [1Jo 2:18 KJV] [Rev 20:3 KJV]

Will be assisted by the false prophet (the beast of the earth)
[Rev 13:11-17 KJV] [Rev 16:13 KJV] [Rev 19:20 KJV] [Rev 20:10 KJV]

Will kill the two witnesses who proclaimed the gospel.
[Rev 11:7-10 KJV]

Will attempt to kill all who do not have the mark of the beast.
[Rev 6:9 KJV] [Rev 13:15-17 KJV] [Rev 14:12-13 KJV]

Will eventually destroy the religious system with which he was aligned.
[Rev 17:16-17 KJV]

Will be defeated by Christ when Christ returns to earth to establish his kingdom.
[2Th 2:8 KJV] [Rev 16:16 KJV] [Rev 19:15-21 KJV]
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YBIC
C4E
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P.S. Also, want to thank everyone here for their service!

Colossians 3:23-24 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

 

[brakelite]

@Christ4Ever greetings my friend and blessings this Christmas and New Year season. Trust that where you live you are not battling with snow and ice like so many others of your countrymen. White Christmas indeed! Here is early summer...never seen snow at Christmas...tradition here is to enjoy Christmas dinner at the beach along with sandflies and sand.

To the OP. I believe you hit on something that is of great significance ..... Satan aka Lucifer has sought to deceive the world with a counterfeit trinity. The dragon (himself) the beast (antichrist) and the false prophet. Therefore it logically follows that the religious system he sets up as a form of worship to himself (worship of himself is something he has always sought) is also a counterfeit of the real. Not an enemy to religion, but in fact a friend. But most certainly an enemy to truth. But coming across to the masses as a true system of worship...a true system of Christian worship. All this fits perfectly with the base meaning of the title 'antichrist'. A system or individual heading that system who exalts himself in such a fashion that replaces Christ...not openly opposing Christ as such...but replacing the true Christ with a false Christ, himself.

Our eternal destiny is at stake here. We must know without a shadow of doubt which system we are following. We can only do this through our sure knowledge of the true Jesus now ministering in the heavenly sanctuary on our behalf. It is only as we come to know Him personally and believe and trust in His word and receive of His Spirit that we can be assured that we are not deceived. As we surrender our lives wholly to Him, forsaking the world and all its attractions and distractions, we can trust that He will never allow us to be deceived. Satan constantly seeks to distort the character of God. So much of God, and who and what He is, we will never ever, even in eternity, fully understand. Yet one thing we do know and can trust in. God is Love! This we can believe. For this reason we can trust Him with our lives. Calvary is all the evidence we need to convince us that if we surrender our lives also to the Father, we also, like Jesus, will be raised from the dead.
Anything that Satan or his false church would seek to promote; any teaching, though appearing to be Biblical yet doesn't agree with the loving character of the Father, must be rejected. The Bible doesn't say that God is strength, or is mercy, or is grace, or is power. Certainly He is strong, merciful, gracious, and powerful, but the apostle John tells us that God is not just loving, but that God is Love. Love is the foundation, the spring, the source of every idea, notion, thought, act and purpose of God. Nothing He does is done without love. Love is the prime motivating virtue of all of God's promises, actions, thoughts.

Those ideas, actions, and thoughts of the Antichrist, though they may sound loving, are ultimately wholly selfish, the opposite of love. If any be a part of a religious system that takes rather than gives; that seeks its own glory rather than God's; that exalts itself rather than the Savior; that demands sacrifice and payment from you for atonement rather than a reliance on the blood of the Lamb and the grace of God; that would constantly seek to draw you to itself rather than showing the way to Jesus; That demands obedience to its own laws rules statutes etc as opposed to the commandments of God, then know for a certainty that in that place you will never find truth or light.

Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father except by Me. Cleave to Jesus folks and trust Him alone. Not an individual, a system, a church, a denomination...none of these died for you. Join a church by all means. Be faithful to your denomination by all means. But only if said church or denomination is constantly uplifting our glorious Savior, Jesus Christ. Make Jesus now the center of your life and keep Him there and He will surely guide you into all truth. He will never fail nor forsake, nor ever allow you to be deceived by the sophistries and lies and deceptions of the evil one. As C4E said, we are living in perilous times. It is time now to make your calling and salvation sure. Be assured that any who doesn't study and get to know personally the true Christ through His word, through constant prayer and reliance on the Holy Spirit, and discover for themselves on one hand the love and mercy of the Father, and on the other hand who and/or what is the true identity of the Antichrist, will surely find themselves on the side of the Antichrist. Let no-one take their faith for granted. Nurture it, grow it, feed it. Seek God with all your hearts. Ask for a constant and daily replenishing of His Holy Spirit. Never ever let Him go.

 

[farout]

Desert Storm disabled vet 50%
Military intelligence, US ARMY and Israeli liaison at age of 20.
43 now. An ex wife who is catholic with a Muslim husband 10 years younger than her who has an abusive lifestyle. He was charged with child abuse against my son yet courts keep my son in their home.
I had my first NDE as a baby on life support. Several injuries growing up. In 1994 was my last that had a lasting impression on my life. I got to see the being of light. BOL - google it. Now as a Christian I have to decide if what he says is true. Is he satan or does he represent God. What he says goes against scripture.
I thank you for your military and service behind pulpit. I joined talkjesus when they were talking about world ending in a few years. They don't realize who is reading this website and what comments like that can do to a person or a religion based violent organization. You guys don't realize that global terrorism is fueled by religion. If Christians want the end then the end will be here sooner than you expect. But you are hoping the rapture gets here before you have to experience the end.
I'm sorry I judged you in last comment. But having made the last comment allowed you to expand on what you really meant. Just as I have here.
Merry Christmas.

I was not able to respond until today, sorry. All is ok

 

[Christ4Ever]

Desert Storm disabled vet 50%
Military intelligence, US ARMY and Israeli liaison at age of 20.
43 now. An ex wife who is catholic with a Muslim husband 10 years younger than her who has an abusive lifestyle. He was charged with child abuse against my son yet courts keep my son in their home.
I had my first NDE as a baby on life support. Several injuries growing up. In 1994 was my last that had a lasting impression on my life. I got to see the being of light. BOL - google it. Now as a Christian I have to decide if what he says is true. Is he satan or does he represent God. What he says goes against scripture.
I thank you for your military and service behind pulpit. I joined talkjesus when they were talking about world ending in a few years. They don't realize who is reading this website and what comments like that can do to a person or a religion based violent organization. You guys don't realize that global terrorism is fueled by religion. If Christians want the end then the end will be here sooner than you expect. But you are hoping the rapture gets here before you have to experience the end.
I'm sorry I judged you in last comment. But having made the last comment allowed you to expand on what you really meant. Just as I have here.
Merry Christmas.

I know this reply was not meant for me rserge, but as a retired military man myself I feel some kinship, even though not as strong a bond as the blood of Christ, which has made us brothers. Still, the road you travel is well worn by many others. Some with us still. While others have gone home.

I highlighted one area of your post and if I may suggest a book for you to read. It is called "Running Against the Wind" by Brian Flynn. About the only to find it would be through Amazon, since it's out of print. It's really a testimony also of another Brother in Christ. Though he only served one tour in the military, his Testimony will hit home with you. Fairly easy read, but should you find it and read it. Please let me know your thoughts on what he has to say.

I will just say that the "BOL" that you spoke of is nothing new to the New Age movement. Be extremely careful, and the one thing I will tell you, is that if it spoke of things contrary to scripture, and this should happen to you again, not that I suggest you go looking for it, for I don't. Ask the question that is told to us to ask which is in 1 John 4:1-10. By this you will know.

My prayers are with you and yours brother.
YBIC
C4E
<><

 

[NoHype]

So how do we settle this rage of 'no, antichrist is a society against Christ', or 'no, antichrist is a single man that will come'?

I think there's things Apostle John stated in 1 John 2 that clears that up if we pay close attention.

Firstly, the theme of a false one coming that will try to put himself in place of our Lord was an Old Testament prophecy from the Book of Daniel, and by our Lord Jesus in Matt.24 and Mark 13 with His reference to those who will be saying Christ is here and not to believe it, and by Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 11 when he warned about the concept of the "another Jesus". And then in John 14 when our Lord Jesus warned that the prince of this world cometh, which is put there to occur after His ascension to The Father when He would no longer talk much with His disciples.

Apostle John starts off in 1 John 2:18 reminding the brethren the last days have begun, and as they had heard that antichrist shall come... . So right off the bat John is reminding them how they had already heard that antichrist shall come. So when did they first hear about the coming of antichrist? I refer you back to the statements in my paragraph above, the link to it from the Old Testament prophets like Daniel, our Lord Jesus while upon the Mount of Olives. And then later with Apostle Paul's warnings in 2 Cor.11.

In all of those references the idea of the coming antichrist is about a singular entity. In Matt.24:24 and Mark 13:22 with the KJV phrase "false Christs" it is with the Greek of that phrase with pseudochristos (defined by Strong's as 'a spurious Messiah'). In 2 Thess.2:3-4 with the "man of sin", etc., it also is the same working, it's just that the word antichrist is not used there.

With Apostle John's latter part of 1 John 2:18 he then gives a new revelation about antichrist, stating how there already existed then "many antichrists". Then John continues that subject of the many antichrists thereafter, showing how there is even a "spirit of antichrist", and by that is how the "many antichrists" have manifested.

Can we then leave either one of those ideas out which Apostle John gave there and fully come to an understanding about the concept of antichrist? I don't think so, but that's what many try to do.

When our Lord Jesus told His disciples at the end of John 14 that thereafter He would not talk with them much, and that the prince of this world cometh, that is one of the ways the early disciples already had foreknowledge of the false one coming. Many of the early Church fathers continued that very message also about a specific coming Antichrist figure, which idea they got from the early disciples and Apostles. Only later did the idea that there is no such specific Antichrist figure creep into the Church.

"mystery of iniquity" - in 2 Thess.2 Apostle Paul mentioned that the mystery of iniquity was already at work. In that chapter Paul is giving a specific warning about a singular false one coming to set himself up in place of God, exalting himself over all that is worshiped, or that is even called God. That's would be a single Antichrist figure. But his later mention that the "mystery of iniquity" was already at work represents the "many antichrists" idea. So in essence, Paul was also covering both subjects about the coming Antichrist and the many antichrists, like Apostle John did in 1 John 2:18. If one looks back to our Lord Jesus' Olivet Discourse in Matt.24 they will discover our Lord did the same thing (compare Matt.24:5 with the singular pseudochristos idea of Matt.24:23-26).

 

[HarpT]

The "antichrist" is the man of sin. The man of sin is first Adam. The bible says through one man sin entered. That man is the whole human race. The whole bible talks about two men. The race of Adam, and the new creation, the race of Christ, the bible even mentions that the body of christ(grafted to the head) is being perfected into the "perfect man" (Ephesians 4:13) we are one multi membered man, the last Adam. We are the creation that is growing to be manifested fully as the son(s) of God, on the earth. And so first Adam is also a multimembered man. The man of sin.

This antichrist, this man who is in place of Christ and has the mind of death(carnal mind is death, the bible says so) is the man of sin. He sits in the temple of god(the human body/soul) claiming to be God(leading himself teaching and living as if e has a right to himself, to be sel sufficient, and not fully reliant on The Lord in total abandonment like a living savrifice) and is abolishing/has abolished the daily sacrifice in the temple. If the temple is the body and soul of an individual, what would be the daily sacrifice?

Jesus said deny Self DAILY, Otherwise you cant follow me, he didn't say some of yourself he said all. He again the son of man can do nothing of himself, not did he ever. And we must by faith walk that same way. Obeying and believing the words of Jesus and walking like he walks(1 John 2:6 "He that says he abides in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.") to deny the self life, to deny living from out of ones soul, living by emotions, will and thoughts, and instead yield that to the LORD and live out from his spirit his kingdom, being led by his spirit and not your soul. That is to deny self daily. To have that as your goal and focus daily, which, your soul life, living as lord of yourself can still be very apparent and most don't know the difference even in religious things, and church going.

daily:check

The bible also has a command for us to be a living sacrifice.And it says THAT is our form worship. To be a living sacrifice
is the other half of deny self. It is now that your self is denied, live as a sacrifice on an altar. You have no say over our day to say life, for YOUR life is his in GOD with Christ, and it is HIS life that lives(or is supposed to live through you as you yield to him) out of you. A sacrifice doesn't make his own plans anymore, they seek only the will of God, to do what he reveled to them personally through deep seperate(holy) comunion(prayer/obedience/seeking his face to know him, and hear his voice)

Sacrifice:check

those two things together(for they are basiclly one whole coin) is the daily(deny self daily) sacrifice(be a living sacrifice). If one sees this abolished in the temple of God(the life and body of a Christian) then the man of sin has Allready set up the abomination that causes desolation(the unclean thing/the carnal mind/death)

When first Adam, your adamic nature(personally first and then corporately second) sits as God in your heart and you lead your life, even a religious one, and the LORD is not actully LORD and you do not ACTUALLY seek and do what god wants in ALL your ways, an your life is indipendant from Christs spirit and leading, ad your soul is The Lord, then the man of sin just abolished the daily sacrifice.

this happens first in the individual and then corporately. This has Allready happened to most of Christendom, and many, even those who rea this, have been hardened an there conscience seared, that they can't see or hear it.

The antichrist is ruling and has been ruling the temple(chosen vessels of God) and usurped the lords authority Allready. The fullness is coming, jus like the fullness of Christ in the manifested many membered SON is coming. But the ruling and reigning has Allready begun in the spirit, Just a's the ruling and reigning of the antichrist has Allready begun.

There are only but two men. Christ And Adam. There only are two wisdoms, the most highs, and mans. There are two things to have on the forhead(mind) and right hand(works/power) one sealed you from the self, and the other opened you to it. This antichrist this mind of Adam, this beast mind(like Nebuchadnezzar) for worshiping self(like Nebuchadnezzar) that is the man of sin. Mankind(Adam) or God kind(Christ) and there is no in between. One can't eat at the table of demons and of God.

So who are you? What is this great salvation(healing/deliverance/restoration) and what is this salvation from/of? And who are we? Who's do we live out of? First Adam? Or last? Man? Or God? And Re we sure? Have we heard Jesus tell us for sure? His sheep hear his voice and follow no one else most definitely not themselves. Grater is he in you(Christ) than he in the world(you) Whois your lord? And who reigns in the temple of God?

That was great! I really enjoyed that. Thanks!

 

[farout]

When we do not believe, and follow Jesus Christ, until we do are not a anti- Christ? What does the BIBLE say?

 

[HarpT]

When we do not believe, and follow Jesus Christ, until we do are not a anti- Christ? What does the BIBLE say?

I don't understand exactly what you wrote. It sounds like you mean that until we are saved and walk in the redeemed life God purchased for us with the blood of His Son, are we antichrist? That is; are we antichrist up until the point we are saved? According to John we are.

1 John 2:22, "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son."

Even though in context he is referring to those who have left the fold, citing that they were never truly of the fold; it is still true that any spirit which is not of God (of which we all were before we knew Him) is of the devil and is therefore antichrist. It's really the same spirit that has always been in the world since the fall of man but before the coming of Christ the opportunity to deny Him wasn't present.

Therefore does he also say, "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye heard that it should come; and even now it is already in the world (1 Jn. 4:3.)"

 

[farout]

I don't understand exactly what you wrote. It sounds like you mean that until we are saved and walk in the redeemed life God purchased for us with the blood of His Son, are we antichrist? That is; are we antichrist up until the point we are saved? According to John we are.

1 John 2:22, "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son."

Even though in context he is referring to those who have left the fold, citing that they were never truly of the fold; it is still true that any spirit which is not of God (of which we all were before we knew Him) is of the devil and is therefore antichrist. It's really the same spirit that has always been in the world since the fall of man but before the coming of Christ the opportunity to deny Him wasn't present.

Therefore does he also say, "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye heard that it should come; and even now it is already in the world (1 Jn. 4:3.)"

Exactly what I am saying, agreed!