Who is Antichrist?
JOHN
Likely written around 62 AD to an unnamed church in Asia Minor, John’s audience has suffered division and abandonment. As he counsels, notice John’s references to antichrist; this is a present reality his readers are experiencing, just as we’ve seen in our previous examples.
18 “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore, we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” (1 John 2:18-19; remember the false Christs and false prophets of Matthew 24:23-25.)
From verse 19, it seems members of this congregation abandoned the faith, deserting the Church and drawing others after them. In verse 22, John zeroes in on exactly what he means when he says “antichrist” (antichristos, Strong’s 500):
“Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.” (1 John 2:22)
John writes these things concerning those “who seduce you” (1 John 1:26). He is confronting an active threat by those who would undermine this body of believers. Now John defines the difference between true believers and false:
1 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.” (1 John 4:1-3)
Here we not only see a definition of what it means to be anti-Christ, but we also catch a glimpse of what it means to be in Christ. In his second letter to this church, John doubles down on his definition of antichrist:
“For many deceivers have entered into the world, those who do not confess Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” (2 John 1:7)
Throughout John’s three epistles, the author drives home several key themes including admonition to reject false teachings, how to identify true believers, and encouragement to stand firm in the faith.
Top Antichrist Theories
Next, let’s briefly discuss the top theories surrounding the identity of John’s antichrists… [See complete transcript at ProphecyCourse.org…]
2 replies on “Who is the Antichrist?”
there are similar observations as my book which came out in January 24 written before seeing your video. Have you looked at the dramatic aspect.? See my book to him whoever comes: the drama of the ideal church in the tribulation by sea. Douglas Lesher. On Amazon
The PAPACY is CLEARLY the ANTICHRIST. (2 Thess 2:4) The pope stands in the TEMPLE/BODY OF CHRIST declaring he is Christ’s sole representative on earth and infallible! He also claims control over every man’s soul and goods and every King, government and country in the world ( Temporal power as well as spiritual power). 2 Thess 2:7b ‘only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. ‘. This is Paul using code to say the ROMAN EMPIRE WILL FALL confirming what all well studied Jews knew from Daniel, Chap 2 and the 4 kingdoms, the last being Christ’s Kingdom established at his birth, life, death , resurrection and Ascension to heaven. The fourth kingdom of Rome is ruling when Christ is born and his Kingdom established. Paul had to talk in code as speaking of the Roman Kingdom falling and coming to an end would have been seen as treasonous and would have resulted in his imprisonment and death more than likely. Dan 2:44. The HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE arose from the ashes of the Roman Empire, This is clearly detailed in all the historical record. The Pope received all the titles of the Roman Emperor,( one being ‘Pontifex Maximus’ ( head of ALL religions) Anyone who refuses to see the Papacy as the ANTICHRIST and Man of Sin as taught by ALL the Reformers is either blind or deliberately hiding the truth which means they are not true Protestants either. A Protestant Christian is one who PROTESTS against the CLAIMS of the Papacy and rejects their false teachings and the 126 current CURSES ( ANANTHEMA’S) the Pope has against the Protestant Christian Churches. “Come out of Babylon my people!” commands the voice from heaven Revelation 18:4 ” that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5. For her sins have reached unto heaven and God hath remembered her iniquities. Rev 17:9 clearly identified who the “Whore of Babylon” is to the wise and discerning mind. The woman sits on “seven mountains” and reigns over the Kings of the earth. The woman is “drunken with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. Only ONE CHURCH answers that description! The Roman Catholic Church and their terrible 600 yr Inquisition and persecution of the true believers in Christ.
“From 1203 to 1805
50 million Christians died,
Suffering at the hands of Rome,
Coz they believed in Christ alone!”
( Song verse quoted from “The Inquisition” by Richard Bennett (ex Roman Catholic priest) on the Berean Beacon YouTube Channel). Other estimates say 68 million and others up to 100 million. Besides this every major world war has been fomented and caused by the ‘JESUITS’ (established in 1540 and the military arm of the RC Counter Reformation) FOR THE LAST 500 YEARS OF THE RC COUNTER REFORMATION. We now see the devastation and economic, spiritual and political havoc they are causing through being in complete control of all our governments and institutions. We must OPPOSE THIS INSTITUTION OF THE DEVIL WITH EVERY FIBRE OF OUR BEING! For truly the PAPACY is the GREATEST ENEMY OF GOD’S PEOPLE ON THIS EARTH. We must not forget our freedoms were won with the blood and lives of the Christian martyrs. The right to the Bible in English and freedom of worship, civil freedoms and free democracies ect. “The price of Freedom is eternal vigilance”.