Who's the AntiChrist this year?

With all the talk about this being the "last days" and how the "antichrist" is gonna be setting himself up "soon" I figured I'd say my piece as well. First, let me offer a disclaimer. I do not believe in the "Left Behind" theology, or what it's known as, Dispensationalism. I believe it is pure fantasy, erroneous and not founded on any biblical concept. I hope the readers of this here blog don't get upset with me, but that they check everything that I have written with the scriptures, for it alone is the basis for our beliefs.

Rather than looking to see what leading Dispensationals have to say about "the AntiChrist". Let us just turn to the scriptures, that way, when you see the latest article speculating on the whereabouts of "antichrist", you'll already know how to respond.

I think the Bible is clear on this. The only time that "anti-Christ" is used is in the first and second epistles of John. So let us turn there.

John wrote, "Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; from this we know that it is the last hour" (1 John 2:18).

It was the "last hour" 2000 years ago, antichrist had come 2000 years ago. John makes it very clear that "antichrist" was in his day, and that should be clear from him saying, "...now many antichrists have come" and "from this we know that it is the last hour". So, because many antichrists have come, John knows that IT IS THE LAST HOUR. Perhaps John, or the Holy Spirit(God) was wrong, either way we place our own authority above scripture by saying that it wasn't then(when written) but now(2007). John goes on to say that these "antichrists" "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 become plain that they all are not of us".

side note: Let the Arminian understand this point. Had they continued in the faith, they would have shown their election to be true because it is the true saint that overcomes the world, at least according to John.

John also made it clear that "antichrist" isn't just a single entity, but many.

Who is "antichrist"?
John says that "antichrist" is anyone who "denies that Jesus is the Christ" and anyone "who denies the Father and the Son" (1 John 2:22). "Every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of antichrist" (1 John 4:3). And John again says, as if it weren't clear the first time, "that which you heard(about antichrist) was coming and NOW IS IN THE WORLD ALREADY". (emphasis mine)

once again,

"For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist" (2 John 7).

So, "antichrist" is not some future guy found in the Left Behind novels. "Antichrist" is anyone who denies Jesus is the Messiah, that He is God in the Flesh and that denies the Father and the Son. What was true of "antichrist" then is true of "antichrist" today. Therefore, millions upon millions can be classified as "antichrist" and there is no need to speculate about a future "THE antichrist" during the tribulation.



Grace and Peace,

Brandon