Most worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him? The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise authority for forty-two months… He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. (Revelation 13:4-5, 7 NIV)
Americans are rich in Bibles, but poor in understanding them. Last summer “the antichrist” came up in our study. One new student blurted out “Trump,” implying the then future U.S. president was the devil with a red tie. I’m sure others in the class noted my grimace. I would have been just as displeased had he named Mr. Trump’s opponent.
I don’t believe it is wise to say someone is the antichrist. “Be careful,” I said for the benefit of the class. “You’ll know it is the antichrist when those with the world’s power lay their crowns before him.” (cf. Revelation 13:1-8)
A scheme of the enemy is to misuse a Bible term like “the antichrist” until it is obscured. When the true definition has been confused, the devil turns it into a weapon for evil. An accusation of “the antichrist” omits many others equally deserving of the title.
Our problem is in the definite article “the”. In our minds, “the” implies “one and only”. I’ll try to explain with Scripture: The one and only Apostle John wrote near the end of the first century A.D. At that time there were many “antichrists” (1 John 2:18). That was then, so how many are there over 1900 years later? If Jesus has followers who are “like Christ”, then why can’t the devil have antichrists? If there are many “the” cannot be “one and only.”
So who is “the antichrist”? Again, our Bible tells us: It is the one who promotes the big lie. It is “the” one–not “a” one– who denies Jesus is the Christ, “such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.” (1 John 2:22)
In past years, I have heard former U.S. presidents George W. Bush and Barack H. Obama referred to as “the antichrist”. Pointing a finger is a sign of Biblical illiteracy, a Pharisaical attitude and a foolish slandering of authority (Jude 7-11).
Deceit is a characteristic of the antichrist. Biblically, the gender is neutral, so, the antichrist also applies to females. Were Jezebel or Herodias (Herod’s wife), the antichrist? Is the woman in Revelation 17 not a consummate example? John asks “Who is the liar?” (1 John 2:22). Deceiver and lover of wickedness does not just describe males.
“I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone into the world. Any such person is the antichrist.” (2 John 7)
The devil is a liar. Do we all agree? Where do all liars eventually go? Revelation 21:8 tells us theirs is the second death. Those lying and deceiving are “the antichrist.” Repeaters of falsehoods–however far removed from the original untruth–are on dangerous ground.
Boasters, the conceited and the blasphemer are “the antichrist”. Beware of calling someone an awful name. By doing so, we break “the Golden Rule”. Since slander is so hateful and destructive, the Lord warns the consequences are equal to what awaits the evil one. “But anyone who says ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” (Matthew 5:22b)
The one who will deceive the nations and wars against God’s saints is THE ANTICHRIST or “the beast of Daniel and Revelation”. Stick with prophecy. No adding or subtracting or we join in the deception and disinformation, and we know what that means (cf. Rev. 22:18-19). It means don’t worry about Trump or Putin being “the antichrist”, we are–with the definite article.
2 comments
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January 27, 2017 at 8:43 am
arjdolphins
Excellent article! When we stick with prophecy, the answer will become obvious as the events unfold. The Bible is clear as to what the antichrist will be doing. In order to understand this son of perdition, I encourage everyone to begin with a thorough reading of Daniel chapters 7-12 and Revelation 13. That is just a starting point. If we do not do this, even self-professed Christians will be in danger of being deceived.
EJ
January 27, 2017 at 11:13 am
John Finkbeiner
Thanks for the comment. I felt the most important idea from this piece was “the antichrist” does not necessarily mean “the beast”. The (definite article) antichrist was anyone in John’s day possessing the spirit of the antichrist, so, applying the near-far prophetic, it is true in our day as well.
“The antichrist” turned out en masse last weekend for the Women’s March.” Support for my assertion is in the verses in 1 and 2 John where you see “antichrist” directly referred to. Also, check out Matthew 16:23. In his rebuke of Simon Peter, Jesus called him Satan, “Get behind me Satan!” The Lord could have just as easily called Peter “the antichrist”, for he said, “You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
Finally, in Psalm 52, from inspiration, David wrote about the treachery of Doeg, the Edomite. Again, looking for the near-far prophetic in Scripture it seems clear that what is described is the spirit of antichrist in any age, and the complete fulfillment in the beast of Revelation.
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