Antichrist:
The only text
that speaks of the antichrist is found in 1st and 2nd
John.
1Jn:2:18:
1Jn:2:22:
1Jn:4:3:
2Jn:1:7:
Though we
hear a great deal of teaching about the person called the antichrist, it is in
truth speaking about the man of sin, the beast, or the son of perdition.
2Thes:2:3:
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;
THE BEAST
He is also
referred to as a beast in the book of Revelations.
Rev
13:1: And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the
sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his
heads the name of blasphemy.
2:
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the
feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him
his power, and his seat, and great authority.
THE BEASTS KINGDOM
This is
speaking of the kingdom of the beast.
Rev
13:3: And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly
wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
4:
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?
THE BEAST THAT SPEAKS
This is
speaking of the leader that will rule the beast kingdom, more commonly called
the Antichrist.
Re
13:15: 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.
16:
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:
17:
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.
18:
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast:
for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and
six.
Satan will be
the power behind this ruler (the antichrist) and the kingdom and king will be
worshipped by those dwelling on the earth.
Seeking the wrong spirit.
Many people spend
great effort in the pursuit of the identity of the beast, but this is out of
line for a Christian!
A Christian
is to be looking for the Blessed Hope, Jesus the soon coming King.
We are not to
waist time seeking the kingdom of Satan, but rather we are told to seek the
kingdom of God and those things that are from above.
1Jn:2:18:
Little children, 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.
END TIMES
When did the
last times, or the last days, begin?
There is a
time span allotted to the Gentile nations to turn to God.
It is called
the times of the Gentiles.
Lk:21:24:
And they (the Jews) shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away
captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles,
until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Rom:11:25:
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye
should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to
Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
THE SIGN
What is the
sign that it is the last time?
There are to
be many Antichrists.
John was
convinced that the last time had begun because many Antichrists were present in
his day.
1Jn:2:18: Little
children, 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.
The prophecy
that one would come and exalt himself above God is also found in Old Testament
prophecies.
What does the
prefix anti mean on the word
antichrist?
1. against,
hostile to, opposed to
2. that
counteracts, that operates against
3. that
prevents, cures, or neutralizes
4. opposite,
reverse
5. rivaling
6. having the
superficial aspect, but not the usual characteristics, of
7. inverse
Who is under the power of antichrist?
1Jn:2:22:
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist,
that denieth the Father and the Son.
Who is a liar?
One who
denies that Jesus is the Christ.
Who is
antichrist?
He that
denies God the Father, God the Spirit, or God the Son.
THE INFLUENCE OF ANTICHRIST
It is
important that we observe that this antichrist is a spirit being, that
influences men and governments!
1Jn:4:3:
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.
Every spirit
that does not confess that Jesus Christ is born of the flesh, is not of God.
Any person
that refuses to accept that Jesus Christ was God, born in the flesh; is
motivated by the spirit of antichrist.
REJECTION OF CHRIST
The rejection
of Jesus Christ was already active in the days of the Apostle John.
There is a
time coming when nearly all will reject Jesus as God and follow after the
doctrine of the spirit of antichrist.
This is
called the great falling away.
I believe we
are very close to that time when the great falling away will occur.
2Thes:2:3:
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there
come a falling away first”
Those that do
not confess Christ as the Son of God are under the power, and motivated by, the
spirit of antichrist.
The spirit of
antichrist was prophesied to come.
John said
that the spirit of antichrist had already come.
A deceiver is equal to a person under the power of
the spirit of antichrist.
2Jn:1:7:
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.
Many
deceivers were in the world in John’s time as well.
The hallmark
of the great falling away, will be the spreading of false doctrines.
1Tm:4:1:
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
They do not
confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh.
Those that
reject the fact that Jesus Christ was born in this world are deceivers and
antichrists.
How can we identify the persons and governments that
are under the influence of the spirit of antichrist?
Any person,
group, or government that rejects the truth of the physical birth of Jesus
Christ, is an antichrist.
Any person or
group that opposes Jesus Christ and His teachings is an antichrist.
Antichrists
are those that stand in opposition to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Who or what group do you know of, that stands against
the life and teachings of Jesus Christ?
Do
evolutionists stand in opposition to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the
Bible about creation?
Does the
educational system stand in opposition to the teachings and life of Jesus
Christ?
Are the laws
against speaking the name of Jesus or God in our schools?
Is it against
the law to display or teach on the ten commandments?
Is it
unlawful to pray in our schools in the name of Jesus?
Does our
government pass laws that stand against the life and teachings of Jesus Christ?
Is it against
the law to display Christian writings on public property?
Do businesses
stand in opposition to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ?
Does
television programming espouse the life and teachings of Jesus Christ?
Are there
churches that do not teach the teachings of Jesus Christ?
Are there
Churches that teach the direct opposite
of the teachings of the Bible?
Are there
churches that deny that Jesus is God come in the flesh?
Are there
Churches that teach that Jesus Christ was not born of a virgin?
Are there
churches that teach that there are other ways to be saved than through Jesus
Christ?
Does science
teach that God exists?
Is God,
Jesus, the Bible, and the spiritual realm taught to be mere superstition.
Anyone that
teaches in opposition to the life, the teachings, the resurrection of Jesus
Christ, and the Holy Scriptures, is antichrist.
ANTICHRISTS IS ALIVE NOW
I submit to
you that there is deception in the world today; and that the spirit of
antichrist is actively working to overthrow Christians and Christianity.
The
antichrist can not have full reign on earth until that which opposes and
restrains him, is removed.
2Thes:2:6:
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
The church,
comprised of praying believers, is the force that is resisting the spirit of
antichrist and the devil on earth today.
Jms:4:7: Submit yourselves therefore
to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
THE CHURCH
The thing
that withholds the spirit of antichrist from having full reign on earth is the
Church of Jesus Christ, but when it is removed, hell will be loosed on earth!
1Cor:15:52:
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
ONE NAME
There is no other name named,
wherein is salvation.
Acts:4:12:
Neither is there salvation in any other (then Jesus Christ): for there is none
other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
SALVATION
It is only through the sacrifice of the life of Jesus Christ; that we
have salvation and eternal life.
Acts:2:21:
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord
(Jesus Christ) shall be saved.
Rom:10:13:
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord (Jesus Christ) shall be
saved.
Look up!
Lk:21:28:
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your
heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Have a GOD-day!
Pastor Ron
