Sorry Paul, but I have to do it!
As some mentioned in their comments yesterday, there are four places where the word “antichrist” can be found in Scripture, interestingly none is in the book of Revelation. Yes, that’s right, do a word search if you doubt me! Here they are for your review:
1 John 2:18
Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.
Notice that John is claiming that it was “the last hour” when he wrote these words.
1 John 2:22
Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.
1 John 4:3
but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
Again notice that John claims antichrist is already present in his day.
2 John 1:7
I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
Obviously, it would be a good idea to read the whole chapters… OK, let’s make a list of what we know for sure about the antichrist:
Antichrist is:
1. Already here.
2. Denies that Jesus is the Christ.
3. Denies the Father and the Son.
4. Denies that Jesus Christ came in the flesh
5. Does not acknowledge Jesus
6. Is a liar and a deceiver.
7. There have been many antichrists for the past 2,000 years.
This is what we know for certain, because the text tells us explicitly. I know lots of them myself, I’ll bet you do as well if you think about it. Now the real question on the subject is this: Is there a really big antichrist at the end of the age, a special one with amazing abilities? That, in my judgment, is debatable. Many say yes and many say no… I simply say that the text is not clear. Proponents of this view nearly always cite Revelation chapter 13 as a “proof” text, and they may well be right. However, I don’t cite it because it doesn’t say it clearly enough to be completely sure. It would have helped if John, the only Bible author who ever used the word, had used it in Revelation, but he didn’t. I can only wonder if this is significant, and I cannot say for certain one way or the other. If you are honest, you probably can’t either. I realize that there is a school of thought that insists that antichrist is present, and has a rationale to prove it, but I find the premises that go into the argument a little shaky, so I leave it you, dear reader, to decide for yourself.
Of course, what John has to say explicitly in First and Second John is quite instructive, providing us with a great deal of guidance as we go through our Christian walk, so I would strongly recommend that anyone in doubt, or just curious, carefully read these chapters.
And this, dear reader, is all I’m going to post on the subject!
Life Project Blog 
I think that most of the time when the term antichrist is used it just means anyone or anything that is against Christ. Also the spirit of antichrist has been used. However, in 2 Thess. 2:3, 9, I would say here the terms “man of sin” and “son of perdition,” is descriptive of an actual man who will come in our future. In Rev. 19:20 he is called the “beast.” Here there is no doubt that he is a person–at least to me. He will be a person that will declare himself to be God and will sit it the temple and demand to be worshipped as God (a temple yet to be built, because there is no temple now)–this is in 2 Thess. 2:4; Dan. 9:27; Matt. 24:15.
You might well be right, and I know many would certainly agree. I get really queasy when we start rebuilding temples and making the Law of Moses God’s ultimate purpose as some teach… not saying you did… All I will say is you could well be right. In any event, I enjoy the conversation, thanks for joining in!
Many decide to make major topics out of minor ones. For me, it is better to see that which can be evaluated at face value rather than start a never ending discussion about that which can only be defined as conjecture. Perhaps it would be better to find that which applies specifically to how I live my life, what things I choose to make my focal point, and how others are blessed (or not) as a result. Being distracted by the unknown, or the unclear, or the opaque, isn’t going to help me live out Ephesian 2:10, for example. In summary, I have enough quandaries that I need His help with to become embroiled in debates that fit the bill of one that occurred in Eden. But I guess that supports your theory. The serpent was archetype of the anti-Christ, was it not?
I would say so… and I quite agree with your comments! I guess that was the whole point of the exercise…
Good job.. Most of the supposed prophecies we hear today have been fabricated using a verse here and a verse there, an assumption betwixt, maybe even an insertion or two.
Biblical prophecies are not too difficult, it is the ones assembled and used for selling books that don’t make much sense.
Again, nice post.. 🙂
Excellent comment, and very insightful Marcus! Once upon a time, I told my wife that if I wanted to make a million dollars, I’d write a “prophecy” book full of the popular speculation and sell a bunch of them while on the circuit doing seminars and selling videos! Of course, I didn’t want to have to explain all that to God one day, so I never made the million!
Thank God to know people with such opinion exist!
Mega preachers and some TV evangelists go a long way in talking otherwise and ‘fabricate’ as you said.
People reject what they can’t figure out. They reject what doesn’t affect them here and now, in the present. But shouldn’t we think of what’s ahead and shouldn’t we struggle to understand what is difficult. Or should we just say, “let’s just read and go by the easy passages.” But I do agree that the subject of prophecy has been badly abused–to make money. But then again, that’s not a reason to ignore it. I would rather people say something about what they think on certain prophecy topics, than to ignore or reject them. And can we really judge which topics in the bible are major and minor?
Stephen, you raise valid points, and believe it or not I tend to agree with you. When a person comes to understand prophecies, such as Revelation it can be a life-changing experience. They will come to an understanding of the world around us like never before… but wait! “Everybody knows” prophecy is about the world to come! You see, the well has been poisoned by a false premise. Most people either don’t want to deal with it, or they are excited to deal with it, if and only if they hear what they expect to hear. This is pretty clear in all of the comments to my original post. The bottom line for me is that the most common presuppositions that we bring to the subject of prophecy these days, might just be incorrect. Now, how do I teach that in this medium? I haven’t figured that out just yet.
Yes the subject of prophecy is a little scary to all of us. Some of us are afraid to study it and some go right after it. Some seem to have the gift of understanding these things more than others, but then we wonder if they are right. I think we just have to keep going after it and reading what others have said to see if we can find bits of truth here and there. We can’t all be wrong. But here is how we can find the truth: by living a holy life and in prayer and trusting Him. He will show us the way. Those who live in sin, that is, those who are unrepentant, they will be the ones who teach error. I think this is generally the case. One can be brilliant and can know the Hebrew and Greek language, but if he is living in unrepentant sin, he will not know the truth and of course will not teach it. Well anyway, I hope these things have been helpful.
Stephen, you make me want to write more about prophecy, and I really don’t think I should. Your last point is really the key: What is important is our relationship with Jesus Christ. The subject of prophecy has a way of pulling people away from their relationship with Him; it’s so thrilling! Of course that isn’t everyone, maybe not even most, but it is a factor for me, because I see my calling to service being to bring people closer to Him in their relationship with Him, so that they will have something to share with others of that relationship…
Well, we will see. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I’ve enjoyed the conversation, and hope to have more as we go forward!
Yes studying prophecy I think can make one proud–proud in his knowledge. That is why we must be grounded and firm in our relationship with Christ. But those who have a deep growing relationship with Christ, they are the ones who should study and teach prophecy, because they will teach the truth. I think as we grow closer to Him it should be natural to want to know all of what God has said to us in scripture–that includes the prophecy passages. And I think if we study prophecy with the goal of knowing Him, I don’t think it will be so much of a problem. After all, as you said, the book of Revelation is all about revealing Jesus. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ. And I think there is so much in all of the books of prophecy that will allow us to know Him better and deeper. The key is how we go about our study. Do we study just for knowledge or to know and experience Him?
Exactly!
You are very correct about the false premise and the presuppositions on modern prophecies. I also am praying and asking how to even begin to unravel all the webs which run through what we hear taught today.. That was the main reason I began blogging.
There is a paradigm shift underway and I truly believe God Himself in Spirit is changing the mindset of many who are hearing Him. This is very evident in the emerging/emergent church movement. I have taken a great interest in some of their teachers. I do see some problematic items in some areas, but overall I agree with most of what I’m hearing.
There will always be some problems when the Spirit begins to blow in a different direction. I personally am willing to be patient with the problems if it means getting to the truth..
That is why I have been listening more than blogging lately, I also haven’t figured out how to begin to teach what needs to be taught in the arena. Small groups is where I am having the most success.
Keep plugging, you’ll get the answer soon..
Thanks Marcus. You are right, I think about all of this stuff, and there is definitely a shift going on. You know how preachers and many others have been saying for years that we need a revival. Well, I’m not crazy about that partucular word, but it is going on! God is clearly playing offense right around us, and my concern is that most of us are so set in our old ways, that we haven’t even noticed!
These discussions of the past couple of days bring to mind your weekend seminar at MCC which you began by playing a bit of a recording of A Theme from “Thus Spake Zarathustra.” Indeed these discussions are (can I say) “fun” to read. That, and much of your other teaching, has helped to clear my mind on several points.
Thanks!
Thanks Dennis, I well remember the Antichrist Workshop. Funny thing is that it is so much easier to explore this subject in a weekend workshop where there is plenty of time to discuss the elements involved, than in blog posts that by their nature, need to be short!
That was a well balanced exposition. Keep going!
Thanks George, it is a troubling topic in many ways, and I have tried to be fair while avoiding over speculation…
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I intend to write another comment as well when I have more time to research it but I wanted to leave this thought with you. There may be a very good reason that the spirit of antichrist is not associated in the revelation of the beasts in Revelation 13, I Co 13 states that along with speaking in tongues the knowledge of the salvation through Christ disappears when we are gathered together. One way God protects the completeness of the body of Christ at the time of the gathering, That door of Salvation is closed. I am not saying another does not open for it still talks about those sanctified for God during this time. But with the disappearance of the knowledge of Jesus the messiah perhaps the spirit of antichrist changes his name. Our heavenly father designed the plan of salvation, His only begotten carried it out and thus made it available to us but knowledge, prophecies and tongues are no longer available when the born again spirit is removed from the earth with the gathering together. It can’t mean all prophecy or all knowledge because there will be those set apart to God during this time but the knowledge that secures and makes available that born again status that gives you or us the privilege of being a part of the gathering together to see Jesus face to face, that comes with us. So then the beast becomes anti-God and no longer antichrist till we come back for the battle of Armageddon, When we bring the knowledge of Christ back to the earth in time for the resurrections. Our presence on the earth prevents the beast from having his way with the earth that is a scripture I must look up for I have temporarily forgotten it’s location, but any way, Thought you might like to think about this as a possible reason John is not inspired to mention the spirit of antichrist in the book of Revelation. Selah
interesting thought that I hadn’t considered before, thanks. I look forward to more information!
As for this being “the last days.” We are in the last days that began with Jesus’ departure and the birth of the church. How far in? I think it was John Piper who said, mostly seriously, that if a day is as a thousand years with the Lord, we are only two days into the last days by God’s reckoning. 🙂
He may be right, who knows? We sure agree on when the clock started running!
Another new scroll button please.
sorry about the hardware issues!