The Antichrist Is Now Here
by Joel Hendon(755)
Many people concern themselves with the coming of the end of time...soon. And also many predicate their thoughts and concerns on the four verses of scripture which mention the "antichrist". That's the only four times the term antichrist is found in the Bible. Let's look at each and discuss them.
1 John 2:18 reads thus: "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists, whereby we know it is the last time." 1 John 2:22 adds: "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son" 1 John 4:3 has this comment: "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 now already it is in the world." Finally, 2 John 1:7 adds this: "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." Please read and consider each carefully. Not one suggests that they refer to one single evil person. What John here refers to is a spirit, for lack of a better word, I'll call it a "mindset" or attitude. There are today, billions of people on earth who deny Jesus Christ, one way or another. And to deny that He lived, is antichrist. To deny that He was born of God by the virgin Mary, is antichrist. To deny that He was(is) one of the triune Godhead is antichrist. To deny that the only way of obtaining redemption from our sins and gaining everlasting life is through Him and Him only, is antichrist. These verses spell that out as well as many more verses in the New Testament.
So put away your concern that this fellow or that fellow may be the Antichrist. Whoever you have in mind may have the antichrist spirit, but he is surely not alone, nor is the end of time likely to be imminent because of one person being here.
There is another scripture which contains language which tends more to indicate such a person as some feel must come. But I am certain that he has come and gone, long ago. Read this scripture:
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; 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. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And 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: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
(2 Thessalonians 2:3-12) I cannot venture an opinion as to the full meaning of this scripture although almost all of the early scholars agree that this is a severe warning of an apostasy that was to afflict the Lord's church before the end time. And the apostle here indicates that this was in the beginning stages as he spoke. History does show that the church fell into apostasy within a very few centuries and became an evil empire rather than the harmless and decent souls who opened the doors to that kingdom on the first Pentecost after Christ's resurrection. So, I am convinced that the specific man of sin has come many centuries ago.
Few fully understand that the "last days" or "last times" have been in effect now since that day of Pentecost in approximately 32 AD. These terms are used in a number of places, but are made clear by the opening verses of the book of Hebrews which says this: "God, who at sundry times and divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds" (Hebrews: 1:1-2)
The Hebrew writer has reference here to the periods of God's rule through the patriarchal period by speaking to the tribal fathers and then under the law of Moses, speaking to the Israelites through Moses and the prophets. But at the death of Jesus and the entrance of his church (Acts 2), all those things were fulfilled and the testament of Jesus Christ took effect. This is the last times, there will be no further dispensations. Christ, the saviour of the world will reign supreme as long as time continues.
We cannot know when the end is coming, nor does it matter. If you are old enough to read this article, your end of time is coming within less than one hundred years. Our individual deaths end our share of time so we should not concern ourselves with the timing of the return of Jesus for us. Just be ready always
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Article submitted Monday, June 29, 2009 & read 43 times.
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» left by robert melaccio sr (247 days 20 hours ago.)
Joel you are correct on a number of issues, yet the Fig tree very significant as is "peace and security" and Temple worship. Yes the early church thought they were in the last days, but those things that had to come to be are here upon us now even at the door. The designated life span of man 3 score and ten. thye fig tree 1948 all scripture and stated in multiple books of the bible. The man of sin who will sit in the Temple must make the peace first. These are all well within possibilty in our lifetime. Good job.
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