antichrist

[Robert]

There is much speculation in the world as to who is the antichrist. Here are some "clear" verses:

• 1 John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 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 it might be plain that they all are not of us.

  1 John 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.

  2 John 7 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.

[Bravus]

Interesting, very interesting. First, there are many, not one, and second it's not some great political or religious (or politico-religious) leader but various people teaching this doctrine. Thanks for sharing those verses, Robert - food for thought indeed.

[Clio]

And now you know why when I speak of True Jesus, it's always by His full title.

True Jesus of Nazareth come in the flesh and ascended in Glory by the power of Abba.

Clio

[Robert]

Quote:

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Robert said:

1 John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that

antichrist is coming

, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 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 it might be plain that they all are not of us.

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We must remember that the local Christians in the time of John understood the full and complete gospel. There was no guessing. "The falling away" from the true gospel had not yet taken place as foretold by the Apostle Paul.

The context of the above quote is quite clear:

a] "antichrist (singular) is coming"

b] "many antichrists" are already present

c] "They [i.e., "the many antichrists"] went out from us [the "us" being the NT Christian church].

Why did they leave? The other clear verses lead me to believe that they denied that "Christ came in the flesh"!

Perhaps Paul can help?

• Acts 20:22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—[:"red"]the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.[/]

  25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole counsel of God.

  28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves ["dogs" see Phil 3:2] will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

[Robert]

Quote:

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1 John 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.

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John 1:14 "And the Word [Jesus as God] was made flesh, and dwelt among us...."

Rom 1:3 "concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh...."

Gal 4:4 "God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law...."

Heb 2:14 "Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same...."

Why does the antichrist(s) deny this truth?

[Robert]

Quote:

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Robert said:

29 I know that after I leave [context: to go to Jersalem],

savage wolves ["dogs" see Phil 3:2] will come in among you and will not spare the flock

.

30 Even from your own number [members] men will arise and distort the truth

in order to draw away disciples after them.

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"Savage wolves"...men who distort the gospel "in order to draw away disciples after them."

You see the gospel takes our human pride & glory and places it in the dust. Human works and self-righteousness are an insult to God's work of redemption "in Christ Jesus."

All antichrists seek to reduce the gospel from good news to good advice. They separate from Christ's Deity the humanity that He assumed in order to legally deliver fallen mankind from "under the law." Thus they pervert the gospel in exchange for pride filled works with the sole intent of meriting heaven.

• 2 Thess 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come [the 2nd coming], except there come a falling away first [i.e., a falling away from the true gospel], and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

[Yong T Tay]

Quote Robert:

"All antichrists seek to reduce the gospel from good news to good advice."

You hit the nail on the head. We are saved by being in Christ Jesus as we are and that is the good news. Some people want us to believe that we need to be as perfect as Jesus Christ in order to be saved and that reduce the gospel to a mere good advice. If we could be as perfect as Jesus in this life, we would not need to have Jesus as our Saviour. We become self-righteous and proud of our good works instead of relying in Christ's righteousness. These some people are the antichrists.

[Restin]

Hey yall, I think the anti Christ is going to turn out to be a majestic, noble-looking leader type in regal robes, stepping down from a huge spaceship just like Star Trek Enterprise. (we're primed for this from the Star Trek series, ya know). He will announce that his people created the crop designs, are responsible for the flying saucers, and have now arrived to heal the earth and lead her to peace. He will head straight for the pope, kiss his hand, and everyone will cry, 'Jesus has come, Jesus has come!