The AntiChrist – 1.Jn.2:18-29; 4:3; 2.Jn.7 (11-11-14). Many people in the religious world believe that “the Antichrist” was some individual super monster that would arise just before the 2nd coming of Christ. In order to arrive at this idea they twist the scriptures, 2.Pet.3:16, to justify their false teaching. They have the mistaken idea that the NT writers expected Jesus to return at any moment. I disagree. The 2nd coming of Christ was a very “eminent” (conspicuous, prominent) teaching, but it does not necessarily follow they expected Him to return at any moment. They saw this life as a time of preparation for believers who would be able to enjoy the fullness of the glories to be enjoyed when Jesus returned. John in his epistles is the only one to use the term “antichrist/s.” All we know about this subject, by inspiration, is what we read in 1.Jn.2: 18-29; 4:3; 2.Jn.7. Please note that immediately after he mentions “the antichrist is coming” he follows up with “even now many antichrists have come.” So, we can know that when John wrote his readers already know about the antichrist 2:18 and he was writing to warn against their false doctrine. He had just warned them against fellowshipping with the world 2:15-17 and now turns his attention to the doctrinal danger in fellowshipping the “antichrists.” What is the meaning of antichrist? The word “anti” means opposed to or over against. So the antichrist/s were opposed to Christ, elevating themselves over Him. There were antichrist and antichrists. Many carried the message and spirit of the one who is referred to as antichrist. I believe John left the teaching about the antichrist somewhat ambiguous so that future generations might be able also to profit from what he taught. John was not referring to one particular person as the Antichrist. Anyone who stands opposed to the Lord’s teaching is an antichrist. Who was antichrist? Antichrist and the antichrists were those who were once Christians in the true sense 1.Jn.2:19, but now had a different spirit and left the body of believers. They are different from the ones who are “anointed” and know the truth as opposed to the Gnostics v.20-21; 1.Cor.2:15-16. Their going out accomplished one good thing, it manifested who were the true disciples as opposed to the false who made shipwreck of the faith 1.Tim.1:19. Jesus had taught this while on earth Lk.8:11-15. He later writes in 4:3 that just because one demonstrates spiritual activity does not mean his teaching is of divine origin Matt.7:21-23. He needs to be tested by the Word. John’s teaching does not give credence or support to the idea they were never really Christians or they had not departed, but it does help us to identify the antichrist. So, who was the antichrist? It was a subtle but deadly denial of Jesus’ deity by those who claimed to follow Him. During the 1st century the “Gnostic heresy” developed. The theory taught that matter is inherently evil. Therefore a divine being could not take on human flesh. So they drew a distinction with Jesus. Some taught that deity came upon the physical Jesus at His baptism but departed prior to His crucifixion. Another form was “docetism” a doctrine that Christ only seemed to have a human body. The result was the same for both ideas. By drawing a distinction between the physical Jesus and the spiritual Jesus both denied the incarnation of Christ. The Gnostics felt their understanding of the hidden knowledge (gnosis) made them spiritually elite. They felt they were superior and existed above the normal distinctions between right and wrong. By denying the deity of Christ and drawing a distinction between the human and the divine they removed all the moral absolutes and opened the gates of licentiousness. They felt they could practice a deplorable lifestyle of sensualism completely disregarding Christian ethics. John identifies them as 1. Liars. We may not know all there is to know but we can know they were “liars” 1.Jn.2:22. Some denied the deity of Christ, others denied His humanity but both are lies. 2. Deceivers who led Christians astray 2.Jn.7; 1Jn.2:26. So they were liars and deceivers. 3. They opposed Jesus by trying to take His place. Jesus had warned of this Matt.24:5, 24. I believe Paul’s man of sin 2.Thes.2:3, 4 is identical to John’s antichrist. . He was already in the world in the 1st century 1.Jn.4:3. He had many disciples so it was a 1st century problem. Since he was about to make a public appearance it was the “last hour.” The last hour, “the last days” – a time of consummation, when one era has reached the end for which history had been moving it. The end of one era, the beginning of another Heb.1:1-3; Gal.3:26-29 (what God began in Abraham ended with the coming of the Christ, Lk.24:44-47 (end of the Law, prophets, psalms, and the beginning of a new era, repentance and forgiveness of sins. This was a proof that the Messiah had come for the Jews divided time into two ages. Before the Messiah - When the Messiah came. The coming of the antichrists confirmed that He had already come. Are there antichrists today? There were antichrists in the 1st century when John wrote and they continue today. Every preacher/teacher who teaches anything contrary to the doctrine of Christ can be called an antichrist and we are warned not to have fellowship with them. This includes every denominational preacher and any of my brethren who teach and practice things not found in the book, or who are involved in compromising and fellowshipping error. It is ridiculous to look for some mysterious figure in the remote future years since John said they were already present during the 1st century. Many carried the message and spirit of the one who is referred to as antichrist. The Bible does not engage in fantasy, confusion or speculation. What is revealed remains true in every generation I believe John left the teaching about the antichrist somewhat ambiguous so that future generations might be able also to profit from what he taught. He was not referring to one particular person as the Antichrist. Anyone who stands opposed to the Lord’s teaching (doctrine) is an antichrist. Those who become so captivated and involved in endtime speculation should heed the words of Charles Spurgeon, a 19th century Baptist preacher in London. “So, too, certain persons who are always given to curious speculations need warning. When they read the Bible it is not to find out whether they are saved or no, but to know whether we are under the 3rd or 4th vial, when the millennium is going to be, or what is the battle of Armageddon. Ah, sir, search out all these things thou hast time and skill, but look to thine own salvation first. The book of Revelation, blessed is he that understands it, but not unless, first of all, he understands this, he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” Don’t lose sight of the real message of the cross. Jesus dying for our sins. The real question is not who or when the antichrist will come, but are you a Christian? Are you saved and ready to meet Jesus when He returns for His redeemed? Rev.1:5-7.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 17:09:26 +0000