And Now, the Antichrist!

Whoa!

Not so fast, John.

The time of the return of Christ certainly destroys the Anti-Christ and the false prophet, but not Satan.

He is held captive for that millennium, released, causes another uprising, then he is cast into the lake of fire.

Of course, this is probably to be understood in your post, but for those who read casually out of interest, I thought I would startle them into reading more closely.

 

Perhaps we should start a thread on the bottomless pit.

I know that when I bottomed out in what I thought was a bottomless pit of despair, my Lord was there with me.

1
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith on Canaan’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
2
My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
3
I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.
4
I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till rest I’ve found,
“Lord, lead me on to higher ground.”
(Johnson Oatman Jr. - also wrote, "There's Not a Friend Like the Lowly Jesus," and "When Upon Life's Billows You Are Temptest Tossed")​

 

Hi folk - thanks John for an interesting topic.

I've been aware of this thread & seen a few posts, & now it's a bit late to join it, but here goes ....

I think there are three time periods relevant -

1. The time prior to the destruction:
John, like Paul in 2 Thes. 2, & Peter in 2 Peter 3, was warning people of his own generation - this generation - to watch out for antichrists who were trying to gather support for their rebellion/apostasy leading up to AD 70.
Those antichrists, & the antichrist/man of sin perished.

2. Throughout the Gospel age:
But all these things are written for general instruction for the church down the ages. There have been plenty of antichrists, rising up in power, & perishing. Many have been named in the thread.
Perhaps the most dangerous of these was Constantine who, with the connivance of the Bishops "Christianised" the Empire, so that church & state became one entity with two arms, two swords - word & steel, to control the world.
True Christians, Donatist, Anabaptists, & others maintained their witness as a persecuted minority.
Rome fell, but the antichristian RC church retained its authority by associating with whoever had military power.
And the Reformers continued with that church-state association & continued to persecute the Anabaptists & other non-conformists.

3. At the end of time:
How will living Christians recognise him? That is what this thread is all about. There have been many antichrists in history, & they have been identified at the time. I think, though, none fit the prophetic description - but will HE? Not if he died in AD 70 & we are looking for powerful & evil men who are antichrist, but not THE antichrist.
I think the focus on the nation of Israel in the land promised to Abram could be significant, but I consider the restoration prophecies were fulfilled by Christ & the many thousands of Israelites who formed the church after Pentecost. IMO the present nation is not relevant to prophecy.
Christians should always be aware of antichrists, but I do not consider the futurists who have gained the popularity over the last 70 years are better at guessing than the rest of us.

So, what did Jesus say?

Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
32 ‘But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: he leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

35 ‘Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back – whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: “Watch!”’​

 

You did good until you place Israel (the nation) as unimportant in the scheme. For the scripture prophecy and NT statements validate that a future nation of Jews will occupy and will be redeemed.

IF one was to hold to the thinking that after 70AD nothing concerning them was prophetic, then ONLY 144,000 Jews would EVER be saved, specific to each tribe, and everyone of them martyrs. All occurring before 70A.

Poor Hyman Appelman would have been left out. Hyman Appelman - Southern Baptist Evangelists

 

I did write "I think the focus on the nation of Israel in the land promised to Abram could be significant, ...."

The Gospel has been open to all nations, all peoples regardless of ethnicity, including of course Jews, since Pentecost.

But I don't think this is the thread for that discussion.

 

This is true (both).

I just didn't want the misconception that the prophetic statements concerning the gathering of Israel (nation) as assigned to insignificant from the standpoint that some require nothing from the Jews nor do they see the evidence of more prophetic statements concerning the nation of Israel in the Scriptures.

 

Irenaeus' famous quote, questionably used to assign a late date to John's visions, is pertinent:

“We will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision.

For [it or he] was seen not very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of Domitian’s reign.”

– Saint Irenaeus, Adversus haereses 5, 30, 3
​

Long ago it was suggested to me that with all those sevens in Revelation relating to the activities of God, that 666 refers to man trying to be like God. But of course failing at every attempt, even though he may deceive many.

But people will go on speculating ..... meanwhile, watch & pray.

 

I am not denying what you saying here.

and Im not saying it even if it meant anointed one, it doesn't mean Jesus.

In other Hebrew websites It does say the another one here Is Jesus.

The point I was trying to make is they make it, is that Jewish rabbis see this passage as the destruction of Jerusalem not some future antichrist.

I think adding an antichrist in here is a gross interpretation.

 

Because I don't believe Jesus came spiritually but just in judgment?

 

My bad.

http://jewsforjudaism.org

Oh goodness, Im not aligning my self with anything.

 

Has anyone else heard the speculation that Antichrist will lead the UN (Tim LaHaye)?

 

yes,

No doubt that person will have much sway across the world, but it is unknown if the UN will remain in existence and supported by the US, or if some regrouping will happen when the US is no longer a viable nation.

 

Hey proffessor,

You spending time in the office, today?