Who is the antichrist?

[AKJVReader]

The "Battle of Armageddon", the number "666" and the "Antichrist" send a chill up the spine by the very mention of the words. For many, these words conjure up a dramatic image of some end of the world holocaust. With images that include fire, mass destruction, and the Devil himself taking political control of the world through the United Nations etc. etc. Speculations about who the "antichrist" is have included about every US president and any "evil" world leader. I remember a speculation that the "antichrist" would be a demon possessed super-human that was a genetically engineered clone. Recent favorites include Sadam Hussin of the Gulf war. I personally know of several individuals who believed the Gulf war was the beginning of the end of the world. In fact, many were absolutely terrified by the Gulf war, fearing what the outcome would be. TV evangelists love to talk about the "antichrist", but in the end it is all nothing more than idle speculation designed more to keep a TV audience sending in their donations.

Now don't get me wrong. The word "antichrist" is found in the Bible. But that is were the Bible parts ways with modern speculationists. The rhetoric regarding the "antichrist" is so loud, that the average person has been misled to believe that the book of Revelation talks about nothing else but the "antichrist". In fact, the word "antichrist" is not found even once in the book of Revelation. That in itself should send warning bells off. In fact, the word "antichrist" is only found in 4 passages. All were penned by Apostle John within the books of first and second John.

So exactly what does the Bible have to say about the "antichrist"? Here is an exhaustive study on the word. I, personally, have such a high regard for the Bible, that by reading the scriptures for yourself without my comment is all you need to have a clear understanding of the "antichrist".

THE 4 BIBLE PASSAGES:

"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. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." (1 John 2:18-19)

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also." (1 John 2:22-23)

"Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 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 have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."
(1 John 4:2-3)

"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." (2 John 1:7)

From the Bible we can clearly see 3 things. First, the "antichrist" is defined as anyone who doesn't believe Jesus is the divine son of God. Second, "antichrists" appear to actively teach against Christ. Third, there were many "antichrists" in the world when John wrote the book. This directly contradicts the teaching of modern speculationists who say that one antichrist will arise at some still future time.

The Greek word from which our English word "antichrist" is translated is very simple to understand. It is a simple compound word and means "anti" + "Christ" = "antichrist". We use the same compound word every day. We have people who are "anti-smoking" or "anti-gay" or "anti-hunting" or "anti-Semitic" or "anti-abortion". There really is no big mystery as to what the word means. "Anti-Christ" is anyone who opposes Christ.

Take this test to see if someone is an "antichrist":
1. Do they actively teach or simply believe that Jesus Christ never walked the earth, but was a mythological figure?
2. Do they actively teach or simply believe there was a man named Jesus Christ, but he did not actually raise from the dead?
3. Do they actively speak out against or simply believe Christianity is a false religion?
4. Jesus said, "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." (Matthew 12:30). Are they an atheist or agnostic who is indifferent and non-religious? Then they too are an "antichrist"! The Bible term "antichrist" could be simply understood to be equivalent to being a "non-believer."

The "antichrist" then, has no horns or red glowing eyes. Neither is the "antichrist" some demon possessed super-intelligent human clone. Rather, the "antichrist" is that sweet elderly lady living next door who openly teaches the neighborhood kids that Jesus just was a myth.

 

[Hitch]

Yup.

 

[savedbygrace57]

The Anti Christ is satan, His evil spirit working through false doctrines.

 

[warhorse]

The "Battle of Armageddon", the number "666" and the "Antichrist" send a chill up the spine by the very mention of the words. For many, these words conjure up a dramatic image of some end of the world holocaust. With images that include fire, mass destruction, and the Devil himself taking political control of the world through the United Nations etc. etc. Speculations about who the "antichrist" is have included about every US president and any "evil" world leader. I remember a speculation that the "antichrist" would be a demon possessed super-human that was a genetically engineered clone. Recent favorites include Sadam Hussin of the Gulf war. I personally know of several individuals who believed the Gulf war was the beginning of the end of the world. In fact, many were absolutely terrified by the Gulf war, fearing what the outcome would be. TV evangelists love to talk about the "antichrist", but in the end it is all nothing more than idle speculation designed more to keep a TV audience sending in their donations.

Now don't get me wrong. The word "antichrist" is found in the Bible. But that is were the Bible parts ways with modern speculationists. The rhetoric regarding the "antichrist" is so loud, that the average person has been misled to believe that the book of Revelation talks about nothing else but the "antichrist". In fact, the word "antichrist" is not found even once in the book of Revelation. That in itself should send warning bells off. In fact, the word "antichrist" is only found in 4 passages. All were penned by Apostle John within the books of first and second John.

So exactly what does the Bible have to say about the "antichrist"? Here is an exhaustive study on the word. I, personally, have such a high regard for the Bible, that by reading the scriptures for yourself without my comment is all you need to have a clear understanding of the "antichrist".

THE 4 BIBLE PASSAGES:

"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. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." (1 John 2:18-19)

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also." (1 John 2:22-23)

"Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 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 have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."
(1 John 4:2-3)

"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." (2 John 1:7)

From the Bible we can clearly see 3 things. First, the "antichrist" is defined as anyone who doesn't believe Jesus is the divine son of God. Second, "antichrists" appear to actively teach against Christ. Third, there were many "antichrists" in the world when John wrote the book. This directly contradicts the teaching of modern speculationists who say that one antichrist will arise at some still future time.

The Greek word from which our English word "antichrist" is translated is very simple to understand. It is a simple compound word and means "anti" + "Christ" = "antichrist". We use the same compound word every day. We have people who are "anti-smoking" or "anti-gay" or "anti-hunting" or "anti-Semitic" or "anti-abortion". There really is no big mystery as to what the word means. "Anti-Christ" is anyone who opposes Christ.

Take this test to see if someone is an "antichrist":
1. Do they actively teach or simply believe that Jesus Christ never walked the earth, but was a mythological figure?
2. Do they actively teach or simply believe there was a man named Jesus Christ, but he did not actually raise from the dead?
3. Do they actively speak out against or simply believe Christianity is a false religion?
4. Jesus said, "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." (Matthew 12:30). Are they an atheist or agnostic who is indifferent and non-religious? Then they too are an "antichrist"! The Bible term "antichrist" could be simply understood to be equivalent to being a "non-believer."

The "antichrist" then, has no horns or red glowing eyes. Neither is the "antichrist" some demon possessed super-intelligent human clone. Rather, the "antichrist" is that sweet elderly lady living next door who openly teaches the neighborhood kids that Jesus just was a myth.

True ... as would some of the worlds largest faiths like Islam, and Judiesm.

 

[Chris]

I have often thought of the Antichrist in latter days as generations of multiple people rather than a singular person. It could even be a philosophy like evolutionary theories
my 2 cents

 

[jasoncran]

I have often thought of the Antichrist in latter days as generations of multiple people rather than a singular person. It could even be a philosophy like evolutionary theories
my 2 cents

while i dont believe in the toe, it by nature isnt really anti-christian in nature. the promotion of it is.

its really an attempt by men who dont have christ to explain origins of all life. it neither deals with how life came to be or how we got here.

just that its an attempt to explain the 'variations of species' the diversity of species.

does it go agaisnt what the bible says. yes, why? the bible if properly interpreted doesnt state how god did it but rather does say he did it. the problem with the toe is that it is continually happening(macro) to form new species, whereas the bible says god's creative works have stopped.

 

[jasoncran]

the idea you espouse or are thinking of is called naturalism. its ambigous to say that god used evolution at the least but theistic evolution isnt the same as naturalism.

 

[Chris]

the idea you espouse or are thinking of is called naturalism. its ambigous to say that god used evolution at the least but theistic evolution isnt the same as naturalism.

I was more thinking of maybe the antichrist is a shift towards godlessness world wide across a few generations of people.

When science took off and everything we think revolves around reason and proof I feel people started not trusting the inbuilt belief we have that there is a god.

 

[jasoncran]

I was more thinking of maybe the antichrist is a shift towards godlessness world wide across a few generations of people.

When science took off and everything we think revolves around reason and proof I feel people started not trusting the inbuilt belief we have that there is a god.

the laters is exactly what is called naturalism

 

[xounstaer]

I guess the word antichrist says it all: anti-christ. wether it then is to being a "non-believer is no truth....

i sometimes have trouble picking a side.. it's like as i learned in school.

one group gets to argument; 'yes'
another gets to argument; 'no'

i have no more to say and uh i hope i wont be paranoid.

 

[reba]

So often when i see a thread use the title antichrist i sigh O no here we go again.....

Pleasant read AKJV thanks

 

[tim-from-pa]

Daniel and Revelation go together as Daniel interprets the symbols used in Revelation. The beast (aka Antichrist) comes from the old Seleucid portion of the Grecian Empire. We also Know he's Assyrian (c.f. Isaiah 11). The book of Revelation talks about the beast with the body of the leopard (symbolic of the Grecian Empire). This all makes sense, so these are some clues to go by when we want to determine who the beast is.

From this knowledge, we know the beast is not a wayward US president "just because it sounds good" or some charismatic cult leader "because he's leading people astray" or whatever other fanciful character I see Christians attributing to the beast. Unfortunately, in forums I would not be exaggerating if I say that that 95% of the predictions as to who the beast is remains very unbiblical and nonsensical, yet the same people would even debate that "because their theory sounds good".

 

[Who Says]

So exactly what does the Bible have to say about the "antichrist"? Here is an exhaustive study on the word. I, personally, have such a high regard for the Bible, that by reading the scriptures for yourself without my comment is all you need to have a clear understanding of the "antichrist".

THE 4 BIBLE PASSAGES:

"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. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." (1 John 2:18-19)

"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also." (1 John 2:22-23)

"Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 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 have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."
(1 John 4:2-3)

"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." (2 John 1:7)

From the Bible we can clearly see 3 things. First, the "antichrist" is defined as anyone who doesn't believe Jesus is the divine son of God. Second, "antichrists" appear to actively teach against Christ. Third, there were many "antichrists" in the world when John wrote the book. This directly contradicts the teaching of modern speculationists who say that one antichrist will arise at some still future time.

The Greek word from which our English word "antichrist" is translated is very simple to understand. It is a simple compound word and means "anti" + "Christ" = "antichrist". We use the same compound word every day. We have people who are "anti-smoking" or "anti-gay" or "anti-hunting" or "anti-Semitic" or "anti-abortion". There really is no big mystery as to what the word means. "Anti-Christ" is anyone who opposes Christ.

Take this test to see if someone is an "antichrist":
1. Do they actively teach or simply believe that Jesus Christ never walked the earth, but was a mythological figure?
2. Do they actively teach or simply believe there was a man named Jesus Christ, but he did not actually raise from the dead?
3. Do they actively speak out against or simply believe Christianity is a false religion?
4. Jesus said, "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." (Matthew 12:30). Are they an atheist or agnostic who is indifferent and non-religious? Then they too are an "antichrist"! The Bible term "antichrist" could be simply understood to be equivalent to being a "non-believer."

The "antichrist" then, has no horns or red glowing eyes. Neither is the "antichrist" some demon possessed super-intelligent human clone. Rather, the "antichrist" is that sweet elderly lady living next door who openly teaches the neighborhood kids that Jesus just was a myth.

That is a pretty good layout of scripture. But the real keys to the antichrist are these:

"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."

So we see requirement One: "They went out from us" Received the true teaching and left it. So they are apostates.

Now let's consider how we really know who they are:
"Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 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 have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."

The key here is that the comparison we are to make is whether they compare in the spirit of their holiness to the spirit of God's holiness. Christ is to us the holiness of God sent in the flesh. Even the demons knew this: Luke 4:34 "Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God." But these antichrists do not reflect that they really believe that Jesus was the holiness of God sent to us as our example in the flesh as they do not imitate Christ's true holiness. Yet they claim to represent the true Christ as an illusion of Satan that even they themselves believe.


And because of not having the spirit of God's holiness they can: Titus 1:16 "profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."

And because they lack that spirit of holiness of God they can: 2 Corinthians 11:4 "preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted,"

So we see requirement Two: They evidence themselves both by word and action to be presenting a false Christ who upon close inspection does not measure up to the true holiness in Christ of God.

Thus they are as Paul said: 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 "false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

They may be teaching a Christ that is too soft on sin. They may have any number of ways to present Christ that actually act to misrepresent who he is in terms of holiness.

And the reason this is important is that Christ's body is the temple of his Father's Holy Spirit because it is holy and able for the Father to so take up residence there. That is why we have to become a part of Christ's body for us to have union with God's spirit. We put on Christ by imitating his holy conduct and conforming our minds to his holy thinking. But the antichrist makes out that we do not have to do that.

Therefore the body of Christ that we end up putting on by the lead of the antichrist is not a habitation of God's Holy Spirit but the devil's deceptive imitation of it.

That is scary isn't it. It should be. It means we must closely inspect ourselves and what we believe for we may be otherwise misled.

And this is not about whether one believes Jesus to be God or the Son of God. That debate only sidetracks the important issue. We must see the correct holiness of Christ or we cannot imitate it. And if we remain unholy we abuse the grace given us to cover us as we put that holiness on. So we become the lukewarm Christian that Revelation says he spews like vomit out of his mouth.

Therein we see requirement number Three: The antichrist misrepresents the holiness of Christ so as to create a false body of Christ to help resist the development and work of the true body of Christ.

 

[Who Says]

2 Thessalonians 2:3 ¶Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

That is indeed the antichrist. It is one man in the sense that it is the corrupted flesh of Adam taking over control of the church. That corrupted flesh of Adam co-exists with the true spiritual Christians just as Paul described of Israel in Romans chapter 9, where we see that the children of promise co-existed the vessels fit for destruction.

This man has been here for a long long time. As I have been saying, The church that we see in the flesh is just the congregation as was gathered to the base of the mountain in the wilderness with Moses. The most of them proved unfaithful and so were left to die in the wilderness.

They are our warning example. We have been told that by Paul more than once.

The true church is spiritual. It is the church described at Hebrews 12:22-24. We see it through eyes of faith as we walk not by sight but by faith, keeping our eyes not upon the things seen which are temporal but on the things unseen in heaven which are everlasting.

So where do you find this antichrist? Right alongside you in your place of worship just as it was for those Israelites in the wilderness.

Now look at Joel and Hosea and all of the prophecies that show that corrupted flesh man Adam at work right among us.

 

[Eventide]

Two Heads...

Some excellent commentary thus far in this thread.. AMEN to that..

Let me add a .02 in saying that right now there are TWO HEADS.. I think that the Wheat and the Tares represent this in scripture..

All in Adam are under condemnation.. we're condemned already if we do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God.. so we are all Tares in that sense.. for there are none righteous, no not even one.. and there are none good but ONE, and that is God..

So a person is either in Adam and under condemnation..

Or they're in Christ (the last Adam) and justified by faith in HIM.

You're either growing up in Christ who is the Head of the church.. or you're growing up into the Antichrist (for there are many) who will be fully manifested in the end as the man of sin, the beast of Revelation.. who the Lord will destroy with the brightness of His coming.

 

[savedbygrace57]

It would be a mistake to think of the Antichrist as a one single individual, but he is a malignant spirit against the Truth of Christ. 1 jn 2:

18Little 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.

He just was under restraint more then in those times because it was God's will for the corporate church to continue a while longer before this spirit completely took it over as it has now in our day.. That restraint was not going to last forever. Thats what paul meant here 2 thess 2:


3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

5Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

6And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

8And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

The Antichrist is also the Mystery of Iniquity..

 

[Sam21]

In the original post it was implied that there is no end time antichrist ruler coming in the future, that is simply not true,the bible is very clear that just before Christ return a person will arise who opposes Christ and will conquer most of the world, that person is commonly called the antichrist. John said that we KNOW that the antichrist COMES. John then went on to explain that there were many antichrists(not THE antichrist) and that to John this was evidence that the end was near. The many antichrists that John mentioned were NOT the antichrist that was to come but many people with the attitude of the antichrist that was to come. So John did in fact say that there was coming an antichrist(individual). Paul spoke of the same individual and called him the son of destruction, Revelation calls the same person the Beast, and Daniel calls the same individual the Little Horn. When speaking of the individual that was called antichrist,son of destruction,beast,little horn, most christians simply call him the antichrist. So there is coming an individual that could be called the antichrist. Note, John said that THE antichrist comes. His reference to his observation of many people being antichrists(against Christ)does not change the fact that John did say that THE antichrist comes.

 

[Eventide]

I agree Sam.. it will all come to a Head in the 'man of sin', the one the Revelation calls the Beast.. and the NT speaks of Christ's return in 2 Thess 2 to destroy this man, which I think aligns perfectly with Rev 19, where His coming there is seen to take the beast alive and cast him into the lake of fire.

Rev 13 describes the Beast as 'a man' multiple times.

 

[sdktlk]

Anti - Simply means against. Christ - Has two meanings. First, Christ it is the Name, the filling up of the Image of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lord - Speaks of the Supreme position of Jesus. Jesus - Is our Lord's earthly name pointing to His humanity. Christ - Greek, Christos, speaks first of Jesus as Messiah and second as The Anointed of God. Second, it points to who we, as Christians, ARE. We, as believers are suppose to be moving toward, "...the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ..." (Eph 4:13) It is God's desire that we, corporately, as a perfect, that is complete man, "...be filled with all the fulness of God..." (Eph 3:19b)

So, antichrist IS anything that says this is not possible. We know, "...that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness..." (1Jn 5:19) It is not the world, or the systems of the world, or any one person in the world that we need to concern ourselves with for we clearly understand that the whole world lies in the wicked one.

What or who is this antichrist then? For the answers I would encourage those who will to see: Revelation Unveiled It is a complete unveiling of the Truth concerning these matters. In order to understand what is said in Revelation unveiled you have to read all the posts, from the first to the last. Yours in Christ Jesus

 

[farouk]

Remember that John's First Epistle speaks of Antichrist, but also of 'many antichrists'.

Very true.