Understanding the Antichrist: Deception and Vigilance

"Today we're going to look at one of the most fascinating and yet controversial subjects that refer to the last times, and that's the question of the identity of the Antichrist. And in fact it even begs the question when we talk about the Antichrist because one of the questions that we encounter with respect to this idea of antichrist is, 'Is there one Antichrist or are there many antichrists. Is antichrist singular or plural?'" [00:00:06]

"Now, as I say, there's fascination in the world and in fact, sometimes preoccupation with the concept of the Antichrist it's a common feature of interest in the world of the occult. We saw the film smash hit 'Rosemary's Baby,' which was linked to this concept of the Antichrist and the popular prophetess or seerest of the twentieth century, Jean Dixon, prophesied several years ago that the Antichrist has already been born, and as I speak is currently maturing into adulthood and will soon make himself known publicly." [00:01:46]

"John writes these words: 'Little children, it is the last hour.' Notice the timeframe reference that is used here by John. 'Little children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming. Even now many antichrists have come by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us they would have continued with us, but they went out that they might be made manifest that none of them were of us.'" [00:03:15]

"Now, obviously in this context John is speaking of many antichrists who already have come, and he's describing antichrists (plural here), in terms of those who have committed the sin of apostasy, those who had once professed faith in Christ, but then left the Christian community and repudiated their confession. And so here, John links antichrist with apostasy." [00:04:00]

"Now, he talks about the coming of the Antichrist; he speaks of many antichrists, and he talks about the spirit of the Antichrist who is coming but who is already in the world. So one thing is clear. In John's description of antichrist, that in his idea of antichrist he's talking about something that represented a clear and present danger to the first century church." [00:05:28]

"Now, if it merely means anti then the Antichrist is defined in terms of his opposition to Christ. He is one who is against Christ. The term, if used in its secondary sense of anti, would be somebody who subverts or seeks to replace Christ as a false substitute. He is a supplanter, a false Messiah." [00:06:41]

"Paul begins by saying, 'Let no one deceive you by any means for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped. So that he sits as God in the temple of God showing himself that he is God.'" [00:08:54]

"Now, again the context in which Paul talks about this mystery of iniquity or the mystery of lawlessness, the man of sin, the son of perdition, is in response to trouble that was brewing in the Thessalonican community that Paul speaks of at the beginning of 2 Thessalonians when he says, I don't want you people to be upset by reports that allegedly have come from me." [00:10:20]

"Now, obviously they were expecting a very quick appearance of Jesus and some had actually been convinced that or had heard the rumor that He had returned. Paul says not yet, because before that takes place we have to have the appearance of this man of lawlessness and so on. Now, let's look at it again. 'That day will not come unless the falling away comes first.'" [00:11:12]

"Now, just as John talks about the Antichrist being already in the world and already working, so Paul in his description of the man of lawlessness, this mysterious person as being presently already at work. But he says that in the present situation this man of lawlessness is being held in restraint." [00:17:03]

"Now, here it seems to suggest that the man of lawlessness will be endowed with supernatural powers, giving lying signs and wonders and will be working in concert with Satan. Now, these elements of the description of the man of lawlessness who is already at work here correspond in a remarkable fashion with the description that we get of the beast of Revelation whose mark is the mark 666." [00:20:35]

"So that whatever light we can learn from the Antichrist will teach us something about the man of lawlessness. Conversely whatever we can discern about the meaning of the man of lawlessness will tell us something about the Antichrist, and again, whatever we learn about the Antichrist, the man of lawlessness will shed light on our understanding of the mysterious beast who is introduced to us in the apocalyptic literature of the book of Revelation." [00:22:13]