The Antichrist

Article Index

 

O ver the years much speculation has risen as to the identity of this personage. 

He is thought to have been Nero, Antiochus Epiphanes IV, Kaiser Wilhelm, Mussolini, Hitler, the Pope; even Henry Kissinger; and the latest, Prince Charles! 

The greatest and most powerful qualification is either ignored or rejected. 

You see, the antichrist will be the devil in human flesh: just as surely as Jesus was God manifest in the flesh. 

This can not happen until Satan is cast out of heaven! And this takes place at the beginning of the great tribulation period, the last three and a half years of time immediately prior to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Then how is it possible for him to sign a covenant (peace treaty) with the Jews for seven years?


 

T he Spirit of Antichrist

1 John 2:18,19,22; 4:3; 2 John 7 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is the spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 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. 

The spirit of antichrist has been operative in the world for the last 2,000 years. 

The Greek word, antichristos, means, and opponent of the Messiah; opposite, that is, instead, because, for, in the room of, in the stead of. 

The English word is derived from the Greek, anti, against, and Christ. a false Christ; an antagonist of Christ. 

Many Christians are expecting Jesus to return soon. And so He shall. But preceding His coming is another who will look like him, do works comparable to His, manifest a charismatic personality, and dominate the world. 

He will not stand diametrically opposed, but rather, stand alongside Him. He will come in His place. The next one to come is not Jesus Christ, but antichrist. And will will not come at any moment: he will come to function in his time. 

Satan requires equal time, and he will get it. Just as surely as Jesus Christ ministered on this earth for three and a half years, so will the antichrist. 

Though the spirit of antichrist has been manifest for two thousand years, the person under consideration, will be a specific individual. 

All too often he is searched for in the wrong place. He can neither be found nor identified, because he is not there. 

Look in the church! He will be a man used of God more than 99% of all members of the body of Christ! 

Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 

Thank God, it is not possible. 

The foregoing would not deceive anyone. 

But should he come out of the church? That's an entirely different matter. 

His mission will be highly successful. 

Revelation 12:4  And his tail drew a third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 

A star in the bible (in this instance) is a symbol of a blood washed, spirit filled saint of God. 



T he Wicked One

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 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; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 

Notice the progression carefully: 

1. Falling Away 

2. Man of Sin Revealed (Son of Perdition) 

3. Opposes and Exalts Self (cf Satan) 

4. Sits in the Temple: Shows He is God 

5. Withholdeth:  That He Might be Revealed in His Time 

6. Mystery of Iniquity 

7. He That Letteth Will Let Until He be Taken Away (Why?) That the Man of Sin Might be revealed in His Time! 

8. Then,  AND ONLY THEN, Will the Wicked be Revealed With All Power, Signs and lying Wonders 

9. Those With No Love For The Truth Will Be Sent a Strong Delusion (From God), That They Might Believe a Lie And Be Damned! 

The Third Trumpet 

Revelation 8:10,11And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. 

The Fifth Trumpet 

Revelation 9:1  And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. 


 

J udas the Prototype

Matthew 26:20-25 Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. 

Mark 14:17-21  And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. And they began to be sorrowful, and say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I? And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born. 

Luke 22:19-23 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing. 

John 13:21-30 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. 

John 13:2,18,19 And supper being ended, the devil now having put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. 

Acts 1:16-20 Men and brethren, this Scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was to guide them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishopric let another take. 

The sop was a fragment, or morsel that was dipped into the gravy. It was customary for a host to honour a guest in this manner. Judas would have occupied a prominent position at the feast. 

To be fulfilled in the Day of Atonement. Communion is the first sacrament in the church, ahead of baptism! 

Ecclesiastes 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 

Luke 22:1-6 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people. The entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude. 

As surely as Judas entered into a covenant with the chief priests, scribes and captains, so will the antichrist enter into a covenant with the devil. 

The offer will be too large; the temptation too great. He will conquer the world; but at what price? 

Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 



P attern of Antichrist

 

Three - Twelve - One Falls 

Gabriel, Michael, Lucifer - Archangels - Lucifer 

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob - Tribes of Israel - Reuben 

Joshua - Spies - Sethur (666) 

Father (Voice), Son (Lamb), Holy Spirit (Dove) - Disciples - Judas 

Sun, Moon, Stars - Crown - Antichrist 

In each instance, the fallen one arises in the presence of God, or of His elect! 

Trinity - Anti-Trinity 

Father - Dragon 

Son (The manifested, numbered One) - Beast 

Holy Spirit - False Prophet 

888 (Jesus, in the Greek language) - 666 (Revelation 13) 

The word for beast, in the Book of Revelation, appears 37 times (symbolic of the Word of God). 

Every triple digit number, as above, will always be divisible by 37! 


 

P rophecies Related to Judas

Psalm 41:9  Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. 

Psalm 69:25 Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents. 

Psalm 109:8  Let his days be few; and let another take his office. 

Was Judas Ever Saved or Was He a Devil From the Beginning? 

Matthew 10:1-4,8 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.