THE ANTICHRIST'S RELIGION AND MORAL CHARACTER

THE ANTICHRIST'S RELIGION AND MORAL CHARACTER

He will be the very incarnation and consummation of human sin, pride, arrogance, rebellion and ambition.

• A materialistic pantheist in religion

Dan. 11:38 - "honor a god of forces" (A.R.V.) "Fortresses"

Deification of natural forces and denial of any god apart from them. Enables him to justify worship of self and image on philosophic grounds. Leads finally to enthronement of force in settlement of human affairs. Examples - Germany, Russia, See Andrews "Christianity and Anti-Christianity."

•  A blasphemer extraordinary

Rev. 13:1, 5-6 "And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy." "And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven."

Dan. 7:25 "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time."

Dan. 11:36 "speak marvelous things against the God of gods."

"Marvelous" - Heb. word used of extraordinary acts of God. Almost equivalent to supernatural.

 What is blasphemy in worst form? Should not confuse with swearing, cursing, profanity. It is the highly intellectual man who dispassion­ately and deliberately denying or affirming untruth about God, or the things of God. Speaking against Jesus.

•  The great antinomian. "Against the law."

2 Thess. 2:8 A.R.V. -- "That lawless one" -- ho anomoV anomos an'-om-os cf. v. 3 Margin - "the man of lawlessness"

All sin partakes of this character -- 1 John 3:4 A.R. V. "Sin is lawlessness." anomia anomia an-om-ee'-ah

Intolerance of discipline and restraint a mark of times. All who are intolerant of restraint are always tyrants toward others.

 

• The very incarnation of selfish ambition

Dan. 11:36, 37  "Exalt . . . magnify himself"

2 Thess. 2:4 "Exalteth himself"

 This is basic nature of all sin. Choice of self instead of God. As witness Adam.

The very antithesis of our Lord. "Not my will but thine be done." Phil. 2:5-8 - "Emptied himself."

 

• Attempts to defeat the course of prophecy and change law of God

Dan. 7:25 - "thinks to change (the) times and (the) laws" A.R.V.

Times (see Acts 1:7) appointed times - not as 7th day Adventist. Laws (Rom. 6:23) "The wages of sin is death." "Ye shall not surely die" Gen. 3.

•  Claims for self-honors which belong to God alone

Dan. 11:36 "Magnify himself above every God."

2 Thess. 2:4 "Showing himself that he is God."

 Cf. present tendencies

Identification of God with the material Universe - mother nature

Development of a social consciousness of humanity.

Recognition of the value of ritual and symbolism.