INTRODUCTION TO THE ANTICHRIST & THE 2nd COMING

THE SECOND COMING AND THE ANTICHRIST

INTRODUCTION

 

• The two extreme attitudes:

1. Some don't want anything said on this point.

2. Others talk too much about it.

Proper attitude - Give it the place the Scriptures give it and it will take its proper place.

•  Reasons for discussing the antichrist:

1. Bible has much to say for the protection and edification of the believer.

2. Certain tendencies in the world today point to the rise of Antichrist.

 

• Main passages are in four books:

Isa. 14:1-20

Dan. 7:8-26, 8:9-25, 9:26-27, 11:36-45

2 Thess. 2:1-12

Rev. 13:1-10; 17:1-18

 THE GREEK TERM - antichristos   anticristoV antichristos an-tee'-khris-tos

Meaning: against Christ. Counterpart or imitation; substitution; opposition.

 

• Usage in New Testament: only by John -- five times

1 John 2:18 the definite article with that oti antichrist anticristo  is rejected by many editors. But this does not make the idea indefinite. The quality of Antichrist as centered in one person still persists.

 

1 John 2:22 "Who tiV is esti a liar yeusthV but ei mh he that denieth arneomai that oti Jesus IhsouV is esti ou the Christ CristoV? He outoV is esti antichrist anticristoV, that denieth arneomai the Father pathr and kai the Son uioV."

1 John 4:3 - Confesseth not Jesus "And kai every paV spirit pneuma that oV confesseth omologew not mh that Jesus IhsouV Christ CristoV is come ercomai in en the flesh sarx is esti not ou of ek God qeoV: and kai this touto is esti that spirit of antichrist anticristoV, whereof oV ye have heard akouw that oti it should come ercomai; and even kai now nun already hdh is it esti in en the world kosmoV"

2 John 7 - Refers to Second Coming "For oti many poluV deceivers planoV are entered eisercomai into eiV the world kosmoV, who o confess omologew not mh that Jesus IhsouV Christ CristoV is come ercomai in en the flesh sarx. This outoV is esti a deceiver planoV and kai an antichrist anticristoV"

•  The problem in John's references:

Does John deny the coming of a final person in this character? No.

He merely points out that the tendencies were in the world at the time of writing. This same John also wrote Revelation.

Does "antichrist" mean only "opposer" of Christ? Imitation - substi­tution - opposition

"Anti can mean substitution or opposition, but both ideas are identical in the word antichristos." (Robertson, Word Pictures, Vol. VI, Page 215).

Cf. Matt. 24:5, pseudochristoi these are "For gar many poluV shall come ercomai in epi my mou name onoma, saying legw, I egw am eimi Christ CristoV; and kai shall deceive planaw many poluV."