Bible Study Signs of the Antichrist to look for

[JohnD]

Revelation 13:1-5 (KJV)
1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

It used to puzzle me what could so convince the entire world (except for believers in Jesus Christ an that only because the Holy Spirit dwells within us see Matthew 24:24).

If the scriptures truly do indicate that a resurrected Judas Iscariot is the ultimate antichrist (beast / man of sin / man of lawlessness) comparing these verses (John 12:12 / 2Thessalonian 2:3-4 / Luke 22:3 / John 13:26-27 / Acts 1:25)... then his blood content will convince even the greatest skeptic...

From the most recent script of the TV show Forever:

I ran the DNA samples of Julian's killer through the database. Let me guess. It doesn't match Erik Haas' DNA. Not unless Erik once had the bubonic plague. Lucas, what are you talking about? Okay. Well, you know human blood has all these antibodies from diseases that, uh, we've come into contact with, right? Mm-hmm. Well, the killer's blood has antibodies from diseases that don't even exist anymore. "Yersinia pestis, pertrussian fever, cyprian cough..." I mean, for someone to have all those diseases in his system, they've got to be, like... 2,000 years old.

Read more at: http://transcripts.foreverdreaming.org/viewtopic.php?f=72&t=16378

 

[JohnD]

Imagine a 2000 year old man back from the dead and scientifically able to prove it (blood content). Virtually every one will be convinced and buy into what he says.

Revelation 13:4 (KJV)
4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

 

[Sinthesis]

Imagine a 33 year old man back from the dead and able to prove it through eye witnesses. You would think every one would be convinced and buy into what he says, but people believe what they want to believe.

Mar 16:14 - Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.​

Jhn 20:29 - Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
​

I believe that once you have found Jesus Christ, it is foolish to obsess over any antichrist.

 

[JohnD]

Point taken.

Then the evidence and prophecies about him are useless, I suppose. I mean, if it is foolish for Christians to obsess over it, then who else will read about it in scripture or even care? Unbelievers don't believe.

So why did God waste the ink?

1 John 2:18 (KJV)
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

So what, John?

 

[Sinthesis]

God didn't waste any ink. The problem was, and still is, that unbelievers in Jesus Christ as the Messiah are still looking for a savior. It is part of human nature. Those are the ones that are susceptible to antichrists, and charismatic charlatans have been willing, as many antichrists, to gather people to themselves for two thousand years. They were around before Jesus, and according to Him some will even seem very convincing.

Act 5:36 - For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
Act 5:37 - After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.​

Mat 24:23 - Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Mat 24:24 - For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mat 24:25 - Behold, I have told you before.
Mat 24:26 - Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.​

 

[Chopper]

Excuse me fellows, please be careful about using word's like "foolish" as that reflects on a person's character. This is a very interesting thread and I'm learning thru it. Please respect each other. Both of you are highly respected by me and I want to hear more of what you have to say....Thank you.

 

[Karl]

Daniel 9 & 11 both teach there is a man that will manifest himself during the last seven years of the 490 year prophecy in Daniel 9, Paul also talks about him in 2 Thessalonians 2, but he can't be revealed until the Church has been removed, ...this anti-christ is yet future.

John tells us there is the future antichrist and also there will be anti-christ present with us throughout the Church Age.

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 1Jn 2:18

If we take a look at Strong's definition of the word anti-christ,

antichristos
an-tee'-khris-tos
From G473 and G5547; an opponent of the Messiah: - antichrist.

We see it is a combination of two words,

G473
anti
an-tee'
A primary particle; opposite, that is, instead or because of (rarely in addition to): - for, in the room of. Often used in composition to denote contrast, requital, substitution, correspondence, etc.

anti means instead of

and

G5547
Christos
khris-tos'
From G5548; anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: - Christ.

When we put them together we see the anti-christs during the Church age are person or things worshiped instead of the true Messiah.

When we read vs 18 in it's proper context we find John first warning us about the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, and these things are not of/from Father, 1 Jn:16

next vs 18,

And then goes on to tell us who are these anti-christs are, ...men who were once fellowshipping with believers, but left, having never been a part of the true Church 1 Jn 2:19 and they are are teaching things that pertain to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, all worldly lusts that do not come from the teaching of the Holy Spirit. 1 Jn 2:27

 

[JohnD]

the spirit of antichrist (the antichrists throughout the church age) defined:

Matthew 12:30 (NIV)
30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

Luke 11:23 (NIV)
23 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.

With the exception of the unrepentant, or the ultimate Antichrist, does not mean being antichrist is eternally condemned to hell in the sense that we were all born unbelievers / antichrist in the sense that we were not born "with Jesus" but "against Jesus." And God converted us when we believed / repented.

So have at the antichrists of the world with just as much vigor in your Christian witness as before you discovered they are antichrists you are actually witnessing to.