Who Is Anti-Christ?

by John Waddey⁽⁴⁰⁾
firstcenturychristian

A major character in the premillennial scenario is an evil and ominous super being they identify as "The Anti-Christ." The false prophets of the millennial systems speculate wildly as they spin their uninspired tale of "The Anti-Christ."

Hal Lindsey, the most vocal of these false prophets, sees two Anti-Christs. One will emerge as ruler of the European Union and become dictator of the world. He then sees a Jewish Anti-Christ who will ally with the European Anti-Christ. Claiming to be Messiah, he will foment a world-wide persecution against all Christians who will not submit to him (New World, p. 186-190); Late Great Planet Earth, p. 141). He assures us the Jewish temple will be rebuilt during seven years of tribulation (New World, p. 160). The European Anti-Christ will move his headquarters from Rome to Jerusalem. He will turn on the Jews placing his image in their new temple and demanding that all worship him (Ibid. p. 178). He will persecute Jewish and all other believers. This will terminate in what Lindsay calls the Battle of Armageddon. The leaders of Egypt with Arab allies will attack Israel. Russia and other Arab nations will respond against him. China and the Anti-Christ of Europe will invade and attack the Western forces. Three hundred million troops will meet in Northern Palestine for the Battle of Armageddon (Late Great Planet Earth, pp. 142-152). The awesome conflict will spread throughout the world (Ibid. p. 154-156). Christ will intervene and the conflict will end in total victory for Him (Ibid p. 156-157). (All quotes from Stafford North’s Like a Thief in the Night, pp. 77-78).

It makes for interesting study to contrast the fanciful story described above with what the Bible actually says about anti-christ. One might think there are scores of passages on this mysterious person but in reality there are but four verses in all the Scripture that mention anti-christ.

* "...it is the last hour: and as ye have heard that anti-christ cometh, even now have there arisen many anti-christs; whereby we know that it is the last hour" (I John 2:18)

* "Who is the liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is th anti-christ, even he that denieth the Father and the Son" (I John 2:22).

* "Every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the spirit of the anti-christ, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already" (I John 4:3).

* "For many deceivers are gone forth in to the world, even they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the anti-christ." (II John 7).

Just what does John have in mind when writing of anti-christ?

* "Anti" means against and thus describes an enemy or opponent of Christ.

* Note that he mentions "many anti-christs" (I John 2:18). He referred not to just one particular false teacher.

* Those who were anti-christs denied that Jesus of Nazareth was the messiah (Christ). They denied the divine relationship of the Father and the Son" (I John 2:22).

* There was then and still is a "spirit of anti-christ" (I John 4:3). This tells us it was a belief or teaching which any person may or may not hold.

* Anti-christs are deceivers who pretend to be true disciples of Jesus but in reality they are his enemies. They deny his divine nature (II John 7).

* Antichrists were active in John later years (80-96 A.D.) (I John 2:18).

* Notice that nothing in these verses describes one great anti-christ coming in our lifetime.

* Nothing in them indicates that an evil political ruler will be "The Anti-Christ" the speculators write so much about.

* Nothing ties the anti-christs mentioned by John to modern Israel, Russia, China or the European Union.

* Nothing in these verses indicates that these anti-christs will foment a great world war, an Armageddon.

These lines from the aged apostle do tell us that any man, any church, any school or philosophical system that denies the Jesus is the incarnation of deity is anti-christian and should be rejected. Thus every liberal preacher and professor who denies that Jesus of Nazareth was Immanuel, (God with us Matt. 1:18-23), is anti-christ. So is every seminary that promotes such a denial of Christ’s deity and every religious journal that publishes such views. Every religion such as Judaism and Islam is anti-christian because they deny that Jesus is God’s divine Son who came down from heaven. Every cult that claims to be Christian but denies the deity of Jesus is in reality anti-christian. With this information in hand we can view all of the wild, unfounded speculations of the millennial spokesmen as worthless trash to be rejected. It would be comical if not part of a deceptive system that denies the omnipotence and invincibility of Christ and the existence of his kingdom. It denigrates his church as a substitute created when wicked men thwarted Christ’s mission.

Article submitted Monday, March 23, 2009 & read 63 times.

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