Article 43
Will the Anti-Christ
of the future be anything like the past? John says in his epistles that
there were many Anti-Christs, and they went out from among us. In other
words, the Anti-Christs of the past had been professed Christians (1 John
2:18,19).
The man of sin - Anti-Christ
- is said to be the "son of perdition" in 2 Thessalonians 2:3.
The only other place in the Bible where the expression "son of perdition"
is used is hi John 17:12, where Jesus describes Judas as the son of perdition.
Of course, Judas was one of the closest ones to Jesus. He was a professed
follower, a professed believer.
Based on the past,
it appears that the future Anti-Christ will have been a Christian or professed
Christian. One who substitutes for Christ for, after all, Anti-Christ
means "hi place of Christ". An apparent believer who brings
attention, veiled worship to himself, as the Christ, the Savior of the
world. He will use the name of Christ, Christian.
What other clue does John give to identify the Anti-Christs? They deny
that Jesus is come in the flesh (1 John 4:1-3; 2 John 7). The wise men
of Daniel's day told Nebuchadnezzar that the only ones who could tell
him what he dreamed were the gods, "... whose dwelling is not with
flesh" (Daniel 2:11, KJV). Whose dwelling is not with mortals (NRSV).
While worldly wisdom
said God would not dwell with man, the mystery of godliness was, God was
manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). In order to save man, the Second
Person of the godhead became man. It took a kinsman to redeem one sold
into bondage. This is the great Christian truth, the basis of the gospel.
The Anti-Christs of the past denied the foundation of Christianity, that
God was manifested in the flesh - the heart and soul of the gospel.
It would appear that
the future anti-Christ would attack the gospel somehow. He is a tool of
satan of whom it is said, "He deceiveth the whole world". Which
is the most deceptive: an outright lie or a half-truth? For his last great
deception, should we expect satan to deny the gospel or to supply a half-truth
gospel? If possible, the very elect will be deceived.
At the time of the
Protestant Reformation, the established church taught that man is justified,
made acceptable, by God coming in man's heart and making him more kind,
loving, etc. On this basis, God's work of grace on man's heart, he is
made acceptable to God. This teaching causes man to focus on his own heart
which Jeremiah says is deceitful, above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). It
appears to be the reason for the Dark Ages, when men were so heavenly
minded they were of no earthly good.
When Martin Luther could not find enough grace in his own heart which
would make him acceptable to God, he discovered that our justification,
redemption and righteousness is IN -emphasis on IN - Jesus Christ (Romans
3:24-26). This brought about the greatest Christian revival since apostolic
times. It changed history and the church.
Jesus is our Savior
because He has within himself our righteousness, that which makes us acceptable
to God. To take what the believer has in Jesus and put it into man, makes
man a substitute Savior, one in place of Christ, an Anti-Christ.
Unfortunately, most of the preaching, teaching, Bible study and literature
hi Protestant America, focuses on man and what takes place in man's heart.
Unknowingly, a false Roman gospel. Millions of true, sincere believers
believe they are saved because of their new birth which is only a consequence,
a result, a by-product of God's work of grace IN Jesus Christ. This is
the confusion from which God calls His people in Revelation 18:1-4.
Not only is there
confusion on the gospel, there is also confusion on eschatology or last
things. Again, many sincere believers hold to the popular view that the
Anti-Christ will be some atheist, some politically powerful person. One
well known preacher has said he will be a Jew from Palestine. Not only
has a false gospel emanated from Rome but also false eschatology.
The Reformers pointed
to the papacy as the Anti-Christ. A Jesuit Priest, Francisco Ribera of
Spain, published a book around 1590, denying the Protestant view by claiming
the Anti-Christ would be future, a single individual who would abolish
the Christian religion and be involved with rebuilding the Jewish Temple
at Jerusalem. He is the founder of the futurist school of prophetic interpretation
which has been swallowed hook, line and sinker by sincere, conservative
Christians, not aware of its source. See Article #12, "SEVEN YEARS
OF TRIBULATION", fact or fiction; Article #13, "THE TRUE ISRAEL
OF GOD", literal or spiritual; and Article #14, "FUTURISM ORIGINATES
FROM REFORMER'S ANTICHRIST", at christianitysconfusion.com.
It was the religious
leaders who crucified Christ Has human nature greatly changed since Jesus'
day? The descendants of Abraham looked for the Promised One for 2,000
years yet, when He came, they were confused - confused by sin - and they
killed Him. Christians have looked for the Promised One to return for
2,000 years. Why should it be any different this time?
Lying, cheating, stealing,
and killing are sin. Yet the worse sin is pride. Religious pride is the
worst of all. It crucified the Savior of the world.
Lucifer was the created being closest to God. He was beautiful and rightly
so. God made him that way. Sin began when Lucifer focused on his beauty,
God's work on his person, rather than on God who did the work. Think about
it.