SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ANTICHRIST(S)

  1. Does lthe Bible define the title "Antichrist"? The PREPOSITION "anti" can mean
    1. against
    2. instead of

      However, John (the only NT author who uses this term, and by-the-way, never in Revelation) defines the term in connection with the heresy of Gnosticism (see SPECIAL TOPIC: GNOSTICISM) in 2 John v. 7. The followers of this heresy were already within the early church (cf. 1 John 2:18-19,22; also note 4:1-3).

  2. There is a personal opposition to God, His Messiah, and His people. This is often expressed by
    1. a supernatural personage, Satan (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SATAN  and  SPECIAL TOPIC: DEVIL)
    2. spiritual representatives of Satan, the demonic (see SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELS IN THE BIBLE   and   SPECIAL TOPIC: DEMONS (fallen angels)
    3. humans empowered and carrying out Satan's schemes and plans
      1. nations, groups
      2. individuals

  3. Some of the Evil People who are empowered by Satan and oppose God are:
    1. "the seed" of the serpent ‒ Gen. 3:15 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SATANIC ATTEMPTS TO THWART THE MESSIANIC LINE)
    2. evil kings of Israel and Judah
    3. kings anad judges of the nations ‒ Psalm 2
    4. Gog ‒ Ezekiel 38-39 (see notes online)
    5. Littlehorn of the Fourth Kingdom of Dan. 7:20-28
    6. Antiochus IV ‒ Dan. 8:9-14; 9:24-27; 11:36-39
    7. Belial ‒ Nahum 1:8 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIAL)
    8. "man of Lawlessness" ‒ Thessalonians 2. Some historical guesses related to the Jewish War with Rome:
      1. High Priest Phannias ‒ during the Roman siege of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 (Gary DeMar, Last Days Madness, pp. 294-305 and Josephus, The War of the Jews)
      2. Cerinthus (Gnostic leader of John's day; see SPECIAL TOPIC: GNOSTICISM)
      3. John Levi of Gischala ‒ one of the leaders of the three factions within Jerusalem during the Roman siege (John Bray, Gary DeMar)
      4. I think Nero fits the historical context best (i.e., 666, Caesar Nero in Hebrew; 616, Caesar Nero in Latin)
    9. "Abomination of Desolation" ‒ Dan. 9:27; 11:31; see SPECIAL TOPIC: ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
    10. Antichrist(s) ‒ 1 John 2:18-19; 2 John v. 7 (Gnostics, see SPECIAL TOPIC: GNOSTICISM)
    11. sea beast ‒ Revelation 13

 

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