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There are Many Antichrists.

This word antichrist means “against (or instead of) Christ.”

(Luke 11:23) . . .He that is not on my side is against me, and he that does not gather with me scatters.

Jesus also showed that all that shared in persecuting his brothers were basically anti-christ.

(Matthew 25:40) . . .And in reply the king will say to them, ‘Truly I say to YOU, To the extent that YOU did it to one of the least of these my brothers, YOU did it to me.’

Reinforcing this idea the apostle Paul was referred to as persecuting Jesus when he persecuted Jesus followers.

(Acts 9:5) . . .He said: “Who are you, Lord?” He said: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Antichrist includes the political powers as well

(Psalm 2:1-2) . . .Why have the nations been in tumult And the national groups themselves kept muttering an empty thing?  ² The kings of earth take their stand And high officials themselves have massed together as one Against Jehovah and against his anointed one,

The wild beast which is identified as the political systems of the earth in the following scripture and is destroyed at Armageddon because it  fought against Jesus Christ as Revelation 19 shows

(Revelation 19:19- And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage the war with the one seated on the horse and with his army.

All Charismatic leaders and false teachers are also identifyed  as antichrists

(Matthew 24:24) For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones.

Persecutors of Jesus true followers whether religious or political are part of the antichrist

(Luke 21:12) “But before all these things people will lay their hands upon YOU and persecute YOU, delivering YOU up to the synagogues and prisons, YOU being haled before kings and governors for the sake of my name.

Also those religions that claim Jesus as their master but who have failed to keep on the watch and not given their flocks their food at the proper time are listed as antchrists

(Matthew 24:48-51) “But if ever that evil slave should say in his heart, ‘My master is delaying,’ ⁴⁹ and should start to beat his fellow slaves and should eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards, ⁵⁰ the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, ⁵¹ and will punish him with the greatest severity and will assign him his part with the hypocrites. There is where [his] weeping and the gnashing of [his] teeth will be.

Babylon the Great is also an antichrist.

(Revelation 17:5-6) ⁵ And upon her forehead was written a name, a mystery: “Babylon the Great, the mother of the harlots and of the disgusting things of the earth.” ⁶ And I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the holy ones and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus.. . .

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The Man of Lawlessness

The religions of the world claim to be looking out for the rise of a person called the antichrist. He is supposed to go to the temple in Israel and draw a big following because of his magnetic Satanic personality. However this article is intended to show that the religious antichrist that these religions refer to does not exist and actually refers to a class of person that fits the desciption of “a man of lawlessness” according to 2 Theesaloninas chapter 2.

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The Scriptural View

(2 Thessalonians 2:1-12) . . .However, brothers, respecting the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we request of YOU 2 not to be quickly shaken from YOUR reason nor to be excited either through an inspired expression or through a verbal message or through a letter as though from us, to the effect that the day of Jehovah is here.
Apparently at this time certain ones began teaching that the second coming (Greek parousia meaning presence) was in process. The Apostle warned the brothers in the Thessalonian Congregation that even if someone prophesied that message or even if they received a letter apparently from the apostles that taught that message, they were not to accept it as the truth. He explains why:-

3 Let no one seduce YOU in any manner, because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness gets revealed, the son of destruction.

An apostasy had to come first. This was no doubt based on Jesus parable at Matthew 13 where Jesus likened the world as a field under cultivation and himself as a farmer sowing seed who sowed wheat in the field and which he explained were true Christians. When night came,  speaking of the time after he had died and gone to heaven, an evil one came and sowed weeds in the field. The seed of wheat and weeds looks similar so that in an answer to a request to uproot the weeds he said no, because maybe some of the wheat would also be uprooted. He said that the two should be allowed to grow together until the harvest, which he explained would be the end of the system of things (world).  So as Paul explained this apostasy had to occur first. Going into detail about the apostates he said:-

4 He is set in opposition and lifts himself up over everyone who is called “god” or an object of reverence, so that he sits down in the temple of The God, publicly showing himself to be a god. 5 Do YOU not remember that, while I was yet with YOU, I used to tell YOU these things? 6 And so now YOU know the thing that acts as a restraint, with a view to his being revealed in his own due time.

Although using the expression “He” the apostle evidently was using the term to describe a class of person. This idea is supported by the apostle John’s statement at  1st John.

(1 John 2:18) . . .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.

Remember that the Lawless one was set in opposition to Christ and therefore is an anticchrist. Furthermore we know that the congregation was referred to as the temple of God,

(1 Corinthians 3:16-17) 16 Do YOU not know that YOU people are God’s temple, and that the spirit of God dwells in YOU? 17 If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] YOU people are. . .

The reason why this translation puts the word “YOU” in capitals is because in the Greek text the word is in the plural form whereas English does not normally convey that thought. What therefore should we expect to see? A class of person becoming very prominent in the congregation and being looked up to in the congregation as someone in a class above the members of the congregation. While the apostles were alive they could prevent this from happening  but after they died these ones would rise to prominence. Furthermore when Adam and Eve chose to obey the serpent rather than God, the serpent became their God.

The apostle Paul continues his explanation by saying:-

7 True, the mystery of this lawlessness is already at work; but only till he who is right now acting as a restraint gets to be out of the way. 8 Then, indeed, the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will do away with by the spirit of his mouth and bring to nothing by the manifestation of his presence.

This explanation indicates that his warning was because this lawlessness was already operating. In fact he was apparently applying it to the sources of the false teaching that he was warning them against. Who was acting as a restraint? Why himself and the other apostles. However he says that when they were out of the way, probably referring to after their deaths then this lawless class would emerge out into the open. His next words show that these ones would come from within the Christian congregation but would be the work of Satan. Not having a genuine love for the truth these ones would teach falsehoods and seek prominence in the congregation. God was going to permit this operation of error because persons that did not have a sincere love of the truth would believe these lies, preferring unrighteousness.

9 But the lawless one’s presence is according to the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and portents 10 and with every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth that they might be saved. 11 So that is why God lets an operation of error go to them, that they may get to believing the lie, 12 in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness.

The apostle John wrote revelation and was the last apostle to die therefore his words at 1 John are very significant. He spoke of the last hour also evidently with Jesus’ parable at Matthew 13 in mind. The last hour John was referring to was the last hour of true Christianity. The apostasy was beginning to take hold and without the restraint of the apostles was due to take over the Christian congregation. Furthermore these apostates formed part of  “the Antichrist” and not some fictitious individual that the churches are looking forward to seeing.

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The Last Hour of True Christianity

(1 John 2:18) . . .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.

Before leaving the earth Jesus commissioned his disciples to preach, baptize and to teach others to observe all his commandments. This would of necessity include his command to make disciples and teach them also to do the same. This is how true Christianity spread as recorded in the book of Acts. They were not to choose leaders to follow because they were all brothers and all shared in the preaching work.

(Matthew 28:18-20) . . .And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded YOU. And, look! I am with YOU all the days until the conclusion of the system of  things. . .

(Matthew 23:10-12) . . .Neither be called ‘leaders,’ for YOUR Leader is one, the Christ. 11 But the greatest one among YOU must be YOUR minister. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

This was different with “the lawless one”. He would assume the role of a leader and rise above the flock. He would settle himself in the spiritual temple (the Christian congregation) The Congregation members would look to him for their instruction instead of following Jesus teaching to the letter. In this way, by overruling Jesus teaching, he assumed the role of God in the temple. The contents of 2nd Thessalonians 2:1-12 indicate that deceit and lies would be his tools.

To discern, who the “man of lawless” is, (Christendom’s Antichrist) a person has to love the truth, and be prepared to accept scripture rather than the lies. If one does not love the truth then God permits an operation of error to go to them so that they may be judged because they did not love the truth. This is what the scripture tells us.

(2 Timothy 3:16-17) . . .All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.

Claiming to be Christian means nothing according as 2 Cor. 11. shows.

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Identifying the religious Antichrists

(2 Corinthians 11:13-15) . . .For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light. 15 It is therefore nothing great if his ministers also keep transforming themselves into ministers of righteousness. But their end shall be according to their works.

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The Religious Antichrist’s Historical Record

Compare what you know about the history of religion with this explanation.

1. Soon after the death of the apostles, instead of all Christians sharing in the preaching work, a clergy and laity class developed.
2. The clergy assumed flattering titles:- Holy Father, Pastor, Bishop ,

(Matthew 23:8-14) 8 But YOU, do not YOU be called Rabbi, for one is YOUR teacher, whereas all YOU are brothers. 9 Moreover, do not call anyone YOUR father on earth, for one is YOUR Father, the heavenly One. 10 Neither be called ‘leaders,’ for YOUR Leader is one, the Christ. 11 But the greatest one among YOU must be YOUR minister. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. “

The instruction to be a minister was not a command to assume the title of minister and preach to a laity class. but rather a command to minister to the needs of the brothers in the congregation. As all the brothers took part in the preaching work the most zealous ones would share in helping with the organizing of the activity.

3. The clergy class adopted distinctive clothes and built huge rich ornamental churches like the pagan temples, filling them with statues of Jesus, and other holy ones in violation of God’s law regarding the making of images for worship.

4. They courted the political leaders of the world and even crowned kings despite Jesus saying that they should not be part of the world.

(John 15:17-19) . . .These things I command YOU, that YOU love one another. 18 If the world hates YOU, YOU know that it has hated me before it hated YOU. 19 If YOU were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because YOU are no part of the world, but I have chosen YOU out of the world, on this account the world hates YOU

5. In later years they tried to prevent Bible translators from translating the Bible and burned many at the stake. People were burned as heretics. In this way they tried to maintain their control over people.

6. The reformation only removed some of the outward trappings but the basic teachings remained the same. Someone would squabble over some teaching or other and then leave the church taking some followers with them. Instead of checking out all the teachings the ones leaving held on to the teaching of the parent church, until the same thing happened with them, This is how the thousands of Christian churches cam into existence.

7. Some of the most horrific acts of terrorism were done in the name of Christianity. Remember the crusades and persecutions of other religious minorities down the centuries. This persecution of religious minorities even continues today. Very often the clergy  use their influence with the governmental authorities to pressure the authorities to persecute those who expose their teachings,

8. As this discussion is quite long a discussion of the false doctrines will have to wait for another occasion.

9. Teachings that the early Christians never believed in were:-
(1)    The trinity (only accepted in 4th century after Christ)
(2)  The immortality of the human soul (Doctrine of Plato) “Young’s Analytical Concordance” shows that the word immortal is only used four times in the Bible and never in connection with the word soul.
(3)  Hellfire ( The authorized or King James Bible accepted by most churches translates the Hebrew word  sheol 31 times hell, 31 grave and 3 times pit, according to Young’s Analytical Concordance to the Bible.  Just like the false apostles and teachers in the first century, they may use the name Jesus and speak of God but deny him by their works.

(Titus 1:13-16) . . .This witness is true. For this very cause keep on reproving them with severity, that they may be healthy in the faith, 14 paying no attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn themselves away from the truth. 15 All things are clean to clean [persons]. But to [persons] defiled and faithless nothing is clean, but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They publicly declare they know God, but they disown him by their works, because they are detestable and disobedient and not approved for good work of any sort.

10, They have taught that the  destiny of all faithful servants of God is to be born again and to go to heaven.  Is this true? No! David and Abraham were not born again. There is also a hope of life on earth in harmony with God’s original purpose for man. (Psalm 37:29)

11. Another false teaching was that Christ was resurrected in the flesh and went bodily to heaven. If that were true then he would have taken back his sacrifice.

12. A close examination of the facts will show that the flocks of Christendom are almost all spiritual Babes.  Ask them a few questions regarding Bible teachings and you will hear contradictory and speculative answer.

(2 Peter 2:1-3) . . .However, there also came to be false prophets among the people, as there will also be false teachers among YOU. These very ones will quietly bring in destructive sects and will disown even the owner that bought them, bringing speedy destruction upon themselves. 2 Furthermore, many will follow their acts of loose conduct, and on account of these the way of the truth will be spoken of abusively. 3 Also, with covetousness they will exploit YOU with counterfeit words. But as for them, the judgment from of old is not moving slowly, and the destruction of them is not slumbering.

(Ephesians 4:14-15) . . .in order that we should no longer be babes, tossed about as by waves and carried hither and thither by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men, by means of cunning in contriving error. 15 But speaking the truth, let us by love grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ. . .

(2 Timothy 4:3-5) . . .For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. 5 You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do [the] work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.

(Hebrews 5:11-14) . . .Concerning him we have much to say and hard to be explained, since YOU have become dull in YOUR hearing. 12 For, indeed, although YOU ought to be teachers in view of the time, YOU again need someone to teach YOU from the beginning the elementary things of the sacred pronouncements of God; and YOU have become such as need milk, not solid food. 13 For everyone that partakes of milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to mature people, to those who through use have their perceptive powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong.

(Hebrews 6:1-3) . . .For this reason, now that we have left the primary doctrine about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying a foundation again, namely, repentance from dead works, and faith toward God, 2 the teaching on baptisms and the laying on of the hands, the resurrection of the dead and everlasting judgment. 3 And this we will do, if God indeed permits.

If any of these teachings are queried I am willing to supply the proof.
However it should be obvious that this knowledge concerning the Antichrist means that we need to make a thorough investigation of bible subjects because we will be in danger of losing our lives if we accumulate the wrong beliefs.

We have to choose the narrow road

(Matthew 7:13-14) . . .Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it. . .

(Matthew 7:21-29) . . .“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. 22 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?’ 23 And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew YOU! Get away from me, YOU workers of lawlessness. 24 “Therefore everyone that hears these sayings of mine and does them will be likened to a discreet man, who built his house upon the rock-mass. 25 And the rain poured down and the floods came and the winds blew and lashed against that house, but it did not cave in, for it had been founded upon the rock-mass. 26 Furthermore, everyone hearing these sayings of mine and not doing them will be likened to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. 27 And the rain poured down and the floods came and the winds blew and struck against that house and it caved in, and its collapse was great.” 28 Now when Jesus finished these sayings, the effect was that the crowds were astounded at his way of teaching; 29 for he was teaching them as a person having authority, and not as their scribes.

It is apparent that when the apostle Paul discussed the “man of lawlessness” at (2Thess. 1-12), he had Jesus words as recorded at Matt. 7:27-29 in mind. Compare the description of the man of lawlessness in the two scriptures. Jesus calls them lawless and Paul speaks of the “man of lawlessness” Apparently when Paul called these apostates  “a man of lawlessness” and also “the son of destruction,” he had Judas, the betrayer of Jesus, in mind.  God lets an operation of error go to the members of the congregation, according to Paul so that any who did not love the truth but preferred to believe the lie could be judged. Jesus told them to “get away from me “you workers of lawlessness.” Can there be any doubt that Jesus was referring to those who were apostates and Pauls  speaks of the apostasy and John refers to them as antichrists. Furthermore , both Paul and Jesus referred to them as doing powerful works and even performing wonders.

The reason why I spent so much of this article in handling the religious antichrist is because it is the most deceptive of all the various antichrists. Many antichrists are openly in oppostion to Christ but the “the man lf lawlessness.” well represented by Judas, betrayed Jesus Christ by claiming to be one of his disciples and yet was in opposition to Jesus Christ. This oppostion to Jesus Christ is subtle and needs special attention. This is not a condemnation of indiviual clergymen because of the following reasons.

The religious clergy of Jesus’ day proved themselves to be part of the religious antichrist

(Matthew 5:20) . . .For I say to YOU that if YOUR righteousness does not abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, YOU will by no means enter into the kingdom of the heavens.

(Matthew 23:1-2) . . .Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying: ² “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the seat of Moses.. . .

(Matthew 23:6-11) . . .They like the most prominent place at evening meals and the front seats in the synagogues, ⁷ and the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called Rabbi by men. ⁸ But YOU, do not YOU be called Rabbi, for one is YOUR teacher, whereas all YOU are brothers. ⁹ Moreover, do not call anyone YOUR father on earth, for one is YOUR Father, the heavenly One. ¹⁰ Neither be called ‘leaders,’ for YOUR Leader is one, the Christ. ¹¹ But the greatest one among YOU must be YOUR minister. . .

(Matthew 23:13-15) . . .“Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because YOU shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men; for YOU yourselves do not go in, neither do YOU permit those on their way in to go in. ¹⁴ —— ¹⁵ “Woe to YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because YOU traverse sea and dry land to make one proselyte, and when he becomes one YOU make him a subject for Ge·hen´na twice as much so as yourselves. . .

(Matthew 23:16) . . .“Woe to YOU, blind guides, . . .

(Matthew 23:33) . . .“Serpents, offspring of vipers, how are YOU to flee from the judgment of Ge·hen´na?

However the religious antichrist or the “man of lawlessness” as the scriptures identify him, is a collective class and does not mean that the individuals themselves are condemned, just as the apostle Paul who was a Pharisee and an active opposer of Jesus Christ later was enlightened and became a faithful Christian. Many clergymen in Christendom, were themselves perhaps deceived and when once enlightened used their freedom of choice to abandon that class and like the apostle Paul, choose to becom faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

(Philippians 3:4-8) . . .If any other man thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I the more so: ⁵ circumcised the eighth day, out of the family stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [born] from Hebrews; as respects law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as respects zeal, persecuting the congregation; as respects righteousness that is by means of law, one who proved himself blameless. ⁷ Yet what things were gains to me, these I have considered loss on account of the Christ. ⁸ Why, for that matter, I do indeed also consider all things to be loss on account of the excelling value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.. . .

,I realize that this will come as a shock to many sincere believers but this is where the test of humility comes to the fore. When one looks back to the time when Jesus came to earth, it was the religious clergy of that time, the scribes and pharisees who were the ones who took the lead in persecuting Jesus and his followers. History repeats itself. If you wish to expand your understanding further I suggest that you examine the articles entitled “The Origin of Religion“ and “Who is Babylon the Great“ on this site, You can also examine the links for further research.

If you wish to see a list of articles select this link.

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