Antichrist. Now here is a topic that has sparked much debate and speculation. Even the Motion Picture Industry has gotten into the act with it's making of "The Omen" in 1976.
What is interesting is that the making of this movie follows with the pattern of what many believe about Antichrist: That it is a singular powerful and influential end-time demon-seed and leader who come as an adversary of Christ.
The false "Bill of Goods" that the world is being sold by religious organizations is "Who Is The Antichrist" rather than "Who Are Antichrists." The world has been misled down a path to look for the coming of a person rather than looking at the qualities and characteristics in all humans and their organizations that display the spirit of Antichrist.
But is the idea of an singular powerful adversarial leader spoken of in Scripture?
Where Is Antichrist Mentioned In Scripture?
There are only four instances of the word "Antichrist" in Scripture. These instances appear between only two books in the Bible: 1 John and 2 John. They appear at:
Many persons incorrectly associate Antichrist with The Book of Revelation. Antichrist is never mentioned in that Book nor should anyone presume such. (I cover 666 and the Beasts of Revelation in another article.
Do Scriptures Speak of One Antichrist?
The answer – quite frankly – is no. It speaks of many Antichrists. The Apostle John even tells us that they were even in existence back in his day.
Young children, it is the last hour, and, just as YOU have heard that antichrist is coming, even now there have come to be many antichrists; from which fact we gain the knowledge that it is the last hour. (1 John 2:18)
What or Who Are Antichrist?
The Apostle John answers this question too. Antichrists would be persons who hold to some religious believe in Christ but prove false to it. Listen to what John says in this regard:
They went out from us, but they were not of our sort; for if they had been of our sort, they would have remained with us. (1 John 2:19)
This Scripture shows that there were persons who were within the fold and the true teaching and who later departed from it. John identifies them as Antichrists.
The Apostle John also says something that today is earth-shattering with regard as to who is Antichrist. John – at 1 John 2:22 – says that any person who denies that Jesus is The Christ (Messiah) and any person who denies the Father and the Son is Antichrist.
Who is the liar if it is not the one that denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one that denies the Father and the Son.
This merits expansion in explanation.
The Apostle John linked the denial of Jesus as The Christ to denial of the Father and the Son. Why?
Because if anyone ascribes to Jesus the title and position of God, denies the Father that exclusive position. if Jesus is made God, then he cannot be the Christ. Therefore, this denies both the Father and the Son.
The Scriptures are clear concerning the two separate entities: God and Christ. Notice what The Apostle Paul says in this regard at 1 Cor 8:6:
There is actually to us one God the Father, out of whom all things are, and we for him; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are, and we through him.
So a person would be in error to believe that Jesus is anyone but the Christ. They would be Antichrist.
A popular Trinity teaching – which is taught and believed in by millions – is an demon-inspired teaching that promotes this Antichrist spirit in the world today. It teaches that there is God, The Father, God, The Son, and a God, The Holy Spirit. All three being but one God. That does not add up and it goes against what the Apostle Paul stated in 1 Cor 8:6.
Those who believe in the demon-inspired teaching are Antichrists.
There is More
The Apostle John associated false "expressions" or teachings as being Antichrist.
YOU gain the knowledge of the inspired expression from God by this: Every inspired expression that confesses Jesus Christ as having come in the flesh originates with God, but every inspired expression that does not confess Jesus does not originate with God. Furthermore, this is the antichrist’s [inspired expression] which YOU have heard was coming, and now it is already in the world.
The Trinity teaching is one such expression. Does the Trinity teaching confess that Jesus originates with God. Not really. It teaches that Jesus is God. This teaching is the Antichrist's inspired expression; and those who adhere to it are Antichrists.
At 2 John 2:7, The Apostle John confirms that there are many Antichrists:
For many deceivers have gone forth into the world, persons not confessing Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
This Scripture appears to contradict itself but it doesn't. It mentions many deceivers (plural) and then uses the word deceiver (singular). But the deceiver are many persons.
The Trinity teaching is taught from the pulpits all over the world and believe in countless millions of persons. These persons, in turn, teach it to others. The result is many deceivers having gone forth in the world promoting this teaching.
Association With The Book of Revelation?
There is no association with Antichrist and The Book of Revelation. There is no association with Antichrist and the number 666 or the Beasts mentioned in The Book of Revelation.
It simply amazes me to hear persons – in one breath – mention Antichrist and 666 and The Beast as a matter-of-fact. One hearing such explanations should slow them down and say to them, "Hold up, not so fast. Let's look at what Scripture says about this."
Persons who believe those things speak so fast about it that you have a difficult time to slow them down to look at Scripture. They make a lot of assumptions. If Scripture teaches that there are many Antichrist – as I have shown from the Scriptures above – why are they trying to tell others that there is one main one that will come? They are going against what is written.
I guarantee to you that they cannot produce one Scripture that speaks of Antichrist being a singular powerful and influential adversary of Christ who is to come. That too, is in disharmony with what the Apostle John says of the many Antichrists that existed even back in his day.
Is All Religion Antichrist?
Undeniably – and sadly – yes. When Jesus came on the scene, he did not come to create a new religion and call it "Christianity." Christianity is a name that men created. Jesus came with a message from God and as a Savior for the whole world. Rather than coming to establish a religion, he established a simple Brotherhood.
It would make no sense for Jesus to establish a religion called Christianity as that would be doing is own will and not the will of his Father. Jesus knew that it would be his Father's kingdom that would bring everlasting peace to the human family.
What today is called Christianity by men, is a counterfeit. The Apostle John in The book of Revelation saw it in vision and wondered in amazement over it. Jesus spoke of it too in this way at Matthew 7:21-23:
Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew YOU! Get away from me, YOU workers of lawlessness.
So there will be many claiming they know Christ. They will use his name and title (The Church-systems today call themselves by his name and title). they would expel demons and many other powerful works, but Jesus says that I does not know them. Wow !!!
Why because they do not do the will of the Father. They do their own thing. They establish religious organizations and call them by his name and title. Jesus did not even do that neither did his Apostles. Jesus and his Apostles focused on accomplishing God's will.
Sadly, the massive Church-system and all religious organization established themselves on their own and they are all Antichrist.
So What To Do?
Remove yourself from the influence of the world and it's thinking. In case you haven't noticed it, the world is a very religious place, but one in which war is rampant and danger is around every corner. One would think in a world so full of religion, it would be a relatively peaceful place. Leading the world in crimes against humanity is what men call today call Christianity. It is not of God and Christ.
While focus is being placed on Islam and terrorism, those nations that claim to be Christian are just as guilty in participating in that which Jesus told his followers not to. There is no "Love of Enemy" in any of the nations claiming to follow Christ. They are acting hypocritically.
Sadly, members of those nations who claim to follow Christ listen to their Political and Religious leaders rather than to their one True Master: Christ Jesus.
Listen to Jesus and what Scripture says about Antichrist – not religious organization and certainly not The Motion Picture Industry.