TCH MINI-STUDY 61
ANTICHRIST SHALL COME
The apostle John wrote Little children [fellow believers in Christ], 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. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye
know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
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: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also: Let that therefore abide in you,
which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue
in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even [particularly] eternal life. These things have
I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not
that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught
you, ye shall abide in him (1 John 2:18-27).
John is obviously warning that at some point in the last time, a person referred
to in scripture as the antichrist shall come to earth. Who, or what, is this antichrist, and how do the scriptures describe him? What
are his characteristics? What part of the world and what nationality will he be?
WHAT IS A WORKING DEFINTION OF ANTICHRIST?
In
verse 18 of our subject verses above, the word antichrist is translated from the Greek word antichristos, which means an opponent
of the Messiah or one who is anointed, an opposite, instead of, in contrast to, a substitution for, or in place of.
Unger's Bible
Dictionary defines antichrist as follows: "The Greek preposition "anti," in composition, sometimes denotes substitution, taking the
place of another; hence "false christ." The connection in which the word is used appears to import opposition, covert rather than
avowed, with a professed friendliness."
Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines antichrist as follows: "One who denies or
opposes Christ; a great antagonist expected to fill the world with wickedness but to be conquered forever by Christ at His second
coming; a false Christ."
THE SCRIPTURES DESCRIBE TWO TYPES OF ANTICHRISTS:
Scriptures instruct us that there are two types
of antichrist. First, any individual who does not believe that Jesus Christ has already come in the flesh, is described in the scriptures
as having a spirit of anti-christ. The apostle John gives us a definition of the spirit of anti-christ: 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). John later adds, 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).
Second, the scriptures also describe
the actual person of the antichrist himself, that man of sin, evil, and lawlessness, who will manifest himself during the tribulation
and control the world. Paul explains - 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 (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
WHO
IS THIS ACTUAL PERSON OF THE END TIMES REFERRED TO IN THE
SCRIPTURES AS THE ANTICHRIST?:
The anti-christ is the ultimate enemy
and exact opposite of Jesus Christ. According to Christian tradition and doctrine, the anti-christ will reign during the periods of
the tribulation [3 ½ years] and great tribulation [another 3 ½ years] just prior to the last judgment of Christ.
WHAT ARE SOME
OF THE BIBLICAL NAMES OF THE INDIVIDUAL PERSON
REFERRED TO AS THE ANTICHRIST?:
In the scriptures, the individual person referred
to as the antichrist has several names. In the old testament, the antichrist is referred to as Lucifer (Isa 14:12), the king
of Babylon (Isa 14:4), the little horn (Dan 7:8; 8:9), the king of fierce countenance (Dan 8:23, the priince that shall come (Dan
9:26), the wilful king (Dan 11:36), and the vile person (Daniel 11:21).
In the new testament, the antichrist is referred to asantichrist (1 John 2:18) , and the beast in Revelation 13:1-10. In Paul's letter to the church in Thessalonica, he is called the man
of sin and the son of perdition: Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away [Greek,apostasia, defection, to forsake, separate, or divorce] first, and that man of sin [Greek, hamartia, sin, offence, sinful, guilt]be revealed, the son of perdition [Greek, apoleia, physical, spiritual or eternal loss or ruin, damnation, destruction, death, waste,
or pernicious ways] (2 Thessalonians 2:3). He is also referred to as the beast (Revelation 13:1,12), the vile person (Daniel 11:21),
and that Wicked [Greek, anomos, lawless, not subject to the Jewish law, a transgressor, or unlawful] (2 Thess 2:8-9).
WHAT WILL
THE ANTICHRIST DO?
The antichrist will come initially with a program of peace: And through his policy also he shall cause craft
to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against
the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand (Daniel 8:25).
The antichrist will persecute and/or kill those who,
during the tribulation, come to a saving knowledge of Christ: And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear
out [Hebrew or Chaldean, bela, to afflict mentally and physically, cause to fail or decay, or consume] the saints of the most High, and
think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time (Daniel 7:25).
The
antichrist will blaspheme God: And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying,
Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies;
and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his
name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven (Revelation 13:4-6).
The antichrist will possibly come from the region
of the ancient Roman Empire: The scriptures do not tell us a specific country or region which the antichrist shall come from. This
issue involves only speculation.
The antichrist will claim to be God and will be worshipped: 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 (2 Thessalonians 23-:4).
The antichrist will make a seven year peace treaty with Israel, and then he will
break the treaty after just 3 ½ years: And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [1 week of years, or 7 years]: and
in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall
make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate (Daniel 9:27).
The antichrist
will display miraculous powers: 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 2:9-12).
The antichrist will rule with full authority:And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two
months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues,
and nations (Revelation 13:5-7).
The antichrist will occupy the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem: 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 (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
The antichrist will attempt to convert all rulers of the earth to his cause,
and ruthlessly and violentely persecute any who resist his plans, especially Christians: For then shall be great tribulation, such
as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there
should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened (Matthew 24:21-22).
The antichrist will eventually
control the world's economy: And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak,
and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich
and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he
that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name (Revelation 13:15-17).
The antichrist will eventually
desecrate god's temple: And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the
daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate (Daniel 11:31), And from the time that the daily sacrifice
shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days (Daniel
12:11), and in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in
peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be
broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up,
and shall become strong with a small people. He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do
that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea,
and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time (Daniel 11:21-24). Jesus referred to this abomination
of desolation: When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place,
(whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not
come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto
them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on
the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever
shall be (Matthew 24:15-21).
The antichrist will attempt to destroy the nation of Israel through deceit: And at the time of the
end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and
with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into
the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief
of the children of Ammon (Daniel 11:40-41), And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week
he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even
until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate (Daniel 9:27).
The antichrist will die but miraculoously
be resurrected to life: And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell
therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed (Revelation 13:12), and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by
the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they
should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live (Revelation 13:14).
The antichrist will cause
armies of the earth to fight against Jesus Christ: And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together
to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that
wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image.
These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon
the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh (Revelation 19:19-21).
What
is the final destiny of individuals who have a spirit of antichrist, as well as the person referred to during the tribulation as THE
antichrist?: Individuals who do not believe in Jesus Christ and, therefore, have a spirit of antichrist, as well as the person of
the antichrist, that man of lawlessness, will both be cast by God into the lake of fire: And I saw the beast, and the kings of the
earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was
taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of
the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone (Revelation 19:19-20).
John further explaines, He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath
not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:18).
AMEN.