The Antichrist - Revealed Before Or After The Rapture?

[BibleTalk]

I have come across a number of believers who feel very strongly that the antichrist will be revealed before the rapture... here are my thoughts on this and I would be interested in knowing yours... yea or nae...

When Will The Antichrist Be Revealed?

Will the body of Christ know the person of Anti-Christ before the Rapture of the Church? Second Thessalonians chapter two gives a conclusive answer to this question.

The apostle Paul was confronting the confusion that surrounded the second coming of Christ. Many thought that The Day of the Lord (Great Tribulation) had already commenced and that they missed the rapture of the Church, assuming that the anti-Christ was revealed. This confusion led many believers to neglect their personal responsibilities in life, resulting in unrest and irrational behavior amongst God's people (2 Thess. 3:11).

While you and I live in a time of the spirit of antichrist, and many false prophets; the person who will be the Anti-Christ has yet to be revealed. Chapter two of Second Thessalonians is very specific about the revealing of the Anti-Christ and its timing.

Paul articulates that the revealing of the Anti-Christ to the world cannot happen until the restrainer (The Holy Spirit) is removed. Consistently throughout Scripture and history, the Holy Spirit and His restraining influence is through God's People (Matthew 13,14; John 16:7, 11).

Paul challenges the believers in Thessalonica not to be shaken and troubled by thinking the day of the Lord had come (vs.2). He briefly explains what will happen during the Great Tribulation in verses 3 and 4. How that the Anti-Christ will exalt himself as God when he sits in the temple of God. Paul is simply assuring them that this did not happen yet.

The Antichrist will be the world's political dictator of the last days. The Scripture declares ...and power was given him over all kindred, and tongues, and nations... Rev. 13:7. The Antichrist will be a man whom Satan will fill to such an extent that he will be Satan incarnate. This is why Paul calls him the man of sin and the son of perdition. 2 Thess. 2:3

Knowing that the rapture of the Church is imminent, I believe that it is possible for the Anti-Christ to be alive today ( 2 Thess. 2:7). Yet, Paul makes it very clear that the Anti-Christ will be restrained until the Holy Spirit and the Church are removed. Due to the Anit-Christ' nature of administering Satan's will by signs and wonders, and successfully deceiving the unbelieving world by promoting idolatrous worship and possessing the power of death. and having all authority over commerce, and having an identifying physical mark; he cannot be revealed until after the rapture of the Church.

Jesus gave telling words about false prophets in Matt. 24:24, warning that in the last days many false prophets would arise and deceive, if possible, even the elect. False prophets with their mastery use of false doctrine easily influence people away from the biblical mandate of God's Word, namely, the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our only sufficiency necessary to expose false prophets and their teachings is the Word of God under the direct influence of the Holy Spirit. And this is why the Anti-Christ hides in darkness. He cannot, even with all of Satan's potential overcome the body of Christ (Matthew 16:18; James 4:7; 1 John 4:4)... thus, he is restrained from exacting his hellish ministry until after the Church is gone.

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger - www.InvitationToChrist.org

 

[ReformedBaptist]

Is this your pitch for dispensationalism? lol

 

[Revmitchell]

Is this another slick form of spam

 

[deacon jd]

In the passage to which you are referring, there are two things which must happen. First the great falling away, then the revealing of the antichrist. Do you believe that the church and the Holy Spirit has to be removed before the falling away? If so then who is falling away and what are they falling away from? If not then how can you say that the rapture has to take place before antichrist is revealed and not before the falling away? Also, you scripture references for the restrainer being the Holy Spirit do not link with the 2 Thes passage. The antichrist will be "revealed" according to the word of God. Who will he be revealed to?

 

[webdog]

In the passage to which you are referring, there are two things which must happen. First the great falling away, then the revealing of the antichrist. Do you believe that the church and the Holy Spirit has to be removed before the falling away? If so then who is falling away and what are they falling away from? If not then how can you say that the rapture has to take place before antichrist is revealed and not before the falling away? Also, you scripture references for the restrainer being the Holy Spirit do not link with the 2 Thes passage. The antichrist will be "revealed" according to the word of God. Who will he be revealed to?

The falling away, i.e. apostasy simply means "removal of christianity" in the greek. I can think of no other time when the removal of christianity will be more true than during the rapture.

 

[webdog]

Bibletalk, welcome to the BB

Let me apologize for my brothers in Christ...there are many on here who have a hard time showing grace to a new poster. I hope you have thick skin, because unfortunately, you'll probably need it more here than on secular sites :tear:

 

[BibleTalk]

Falling Away...

Great Questions...

With every generation... there has been a falling away for various reasons such as but not limited to: persecution, tempation, moral lapse, worldliness, ignorance that often leads to trickery influences (as happend in the church at Galatia... etc.).

However, it is my understanding that there will be a general falling away prior to the revealing of the anti-christ. As a matter of fact... I believe that the Church in general is progressively falling away presently into a state of entrenched carnality.

The antichrist will appear and present himself as the Christ to a lost world after the Church is raptured. In particular, he will seek for the attention and affection of Israel...

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger - www.InvitationToChrist.org

 

[ReformedBaptist]

Bibletalk, welcome to the BB

Let me apologize for my brothers in Christ...there are many on here who have a hard time showing grace to a new poster. I hope you have thick skin, because unfortunately, you'll probably need it more here than on secular sites :tear:

No need to apologize for me. It does look like spam and advertising. You do know what lol means right?

 

[MB]

In the passage to which you are referring, there are two things which must happen. First the great falling away, then the revealing of the antichrist. Do you believe that the church and the Holy Spirit has to be removed before the falling away? If so then who is falling away and what are they falling away from? If not then how can you say that the rapture has to take place before antichrist is revealed and not before the falling away? Also, you scripture references for the restrainer being the Holy Spirit do not link with the 2 Thes passage. The antichrist will be "revealed" according to the word of God. Who will he be revealed to?

The rapture isn't the end.
MB

 

[deacon jd]

The rapture isn't the end.
MB

I disagree.

 

[deacon jd]

To whom will the antichrist be revealed?

 

[MB]

To whom will the antichrist be revealed?

Those left on earth after the rapture. but if you believe in post or mid trib you may not believe this.
MB

 

[OldRegular]

I have come across a number of believers who feel very strongly that the antichrist will be revealed before the rapture... here are my thoughts on this and I would be interested in knowing yours... yea or nae...

When Will The Antichrist Be Revealed?

Will the body of Christ know the person of Anti-Christ before the Rapture of the Church?

Depends on which antichrist you are talking about. The Apostle John tells us there are many antichrists:

1John 2:18. Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1John 2:22. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1John 4:3. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2John 1:7. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

 

[Me4Him]

When Will The Antichrist Be Revealed?

Paul articulates that the revealing of the Anti-Christ to the world cannot happen until the restrainer (The Holy Spirit) is removed. Consistently throughout Scripture and history, the Holy Spirit and His restraining influence is through God's People (Matthew 13,14; John 16:7, 11).

Israel rejected God speaking "DIRECTLY" to them at Mt Sinai, telling Moses to let God speak to him, then he could tell them what God said.

This is why God sent "prophets" to speak for him to Israel.

And Israel again rejected God speaking directly to them through Jesus/"COMFORTER".

Heb 1:1 God, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, (Jesus)

Ec 4:1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

The "Oppressor" can't have the power he is given until this "Comforter" is "taken out of the way".

Israel will return until the "law and Prophets" (Two witnesses/Moses/Elijah) system during the trib. (and for other reasons)

Knowing that the rapture of the Church is imminent, I believe that it is possible for the Anti-Christ to be alive today ( 2 Thess. 2:7). Yet, Paul makes it very clear that the Anti-Christ will be restrained until the Holy Spirit and the Church are removed. Due to the Anit-Christ' nature of administering Satan's will by signs and wonders, and successfully deceiving the unbelieving world by promoting idolatrous worship and possessing the power of death. and having all authority over commerce, and having an identifying physical mark; he cannot be revealed until after the rapture of the Church.

2Th 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (rapture)

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed,

Paul describe two revealing here, one "physical", one "Spiritual".

I think the best way to explain this is to say that the AC is "PHYSICALLY" revealed to the world at the start of the trib as a "man of peace",

but his "SPIRITUAL NATURE" (being the son of the devil) is not revealed until Mid trib.

Of course the AC will have to be born/grow up prior to the start of the trib, he is alive today, and the church may see him (physically) in the news but not recognize him (spiritually) for what he is to become

If the church was still here when he made the peace treaty, his "SPIRITUAL NATURE" would be recognized immediately, but this "Spiritual nature" isn't revealed until after the rapture.

the people in "darkness" see only the "physical", not the "Spiritual".

 

[BibleTalk]

the people in "darkness" see only the "physical", not the "Spiritual".

Good observation...:love2: To the discerning eye,,, the antichrist will have a worldly attraction by the world which will have an appetite for his methodology that feeds security (a false security) through a message of fear. However, the 144,000 jewish missionaries will see straight through him and know that he is anti-christ.

Sincerely, Dr. Arthur Belanger - www.InvitationToChrist.org

 

[OldRegular]

Understanding of Scripture is attained only by diligent study and that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. That being said it seems that dispensationalism adds unnecessary confusion to the understanding of Scripture. For example consider the simplicity of the Baptist Faith and Message approach to the doctrine of Last Things compared to all that is posted on this Forum:

"God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord."

I believe that when the last of the elect [The last of those whose names were written in The Lamb's Book of Life before the foundation of the world.] is brought into the household of Faith, the Church, the Bride of Jesus Christ,

1. Jesus Christ will return in power and great glory;Matthew 24, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4, 2 Peter 3, Revelation 11, 19 to name a few

2. There will be a resurrection of the saved and the lost;John 5:28, 29

3. Those who are in Christ and still living will be changed in a moment in a twinkling of the eye, receiving their incorruptible body;1 Corinthians 15

4. All will stand before Jesus Christ as Judge [the Great White Throne Judgment]; Revelation 20

5. The books will be opened, including the Book of Life; Revelation 20

6. Those who are in Adam will be cast into the lake of fire along with Satan; Revelation 20

7. Those who are in Jesus Christ will enter the New Heavens and New Earth to dwell in the presence of the Triune God throughout eternity. Revelation 21, 22

 

[Tom Butler]

Some help, please.

How do we know that the Restrainer is the Holy Spirit? Can anyone provide a specific, unequivocal, not-subject-to-any-other-interpretation scripture verse which identifies the HS as the Restrainer?

Can anyone provide a clear, unequivocal, not-subject-to-any-other-interpretation that I Thess 4:13-18 is pre-tribulational?

Can anyone provide a clear, unequivocal, not-subject----oh, you know--that the wrath mentioned in I Thess 5:9 is the wrath of the Anti-Christ?

Can anyone provide a clear, unequivocal--oh, you know--that the 144,000 in Rev. 7 are Jewish evangelists or missionaries.

How do we know that the Anti-Christ is alive today?

 

[Ed Edwards]

Dear Elder Brother Tom Butler:

I was going to eventually answer all your questions, if the Lord tarries. But nobody seems interested in a logically proved (from the Fundamentals of Christianity) dispensational, pretribulational, pre-millennial, futuristic view point what The Bible says is the Eschatology. It isn't dangerous, you know, all Eschatology is directed toward us doing good works on earth.

But nobody seems interested in what I was doing at:

http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=54854&page=7

and it seems that old dispensational discussions, new Antichrist discussions, etc are all multiplying, everybody asking questions. I know all the answers (well, the ones I thought of asking anyway) and have a framework by which other questions can be answered. But it seems these young fellers around here all in way to much of a hurry. Maybe us older folks can sit back and discuss eschatology and figure out what the Bible says instead of what dispies, a-mills, pan-mills, preterists, etc. etc. say.


BTW, the best book Tim LaHaye ever wrote was HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE FOR YOURSELF (Harvest House, 1976, 1998). And that is what I did starting about 1976 (or maybe earlier, the Holy Spirit was teaching me long before LaHaye wrote any books.

Mat 5:16 (Geneva Bible, 1587 or 1599 Edition?):
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good workes, and glorifie your Father which is in heauen.

Heb 10:24-25 (Geneva Bible, 1587 or 1599 Edition?):
And let vs consider one another, to prouoke vnto loue, and to good workes,
25 Not forsaking the fellowship that we haue among our selues, as the maner of some is: but let vs exhort one another, and that so much the more, because ye see that the day draweth neere.

 

[Ed Edwards]

the post has been removed to:

http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?p=1338816#post1338816

 

[saturneptune]

Is this another slick form of spam

I believe you have this one pegged.