What or who is the anti-christ?

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by N2JC

I am sure there are many posts on the Anti-Christ, but I was wondering what your thoughts were about the Anti-Christ. Is it a person, system or religion? This is a unique time in our world with everything happening in Iran and North Korea and the unmatchable growth of Islam in America and in the world today.

It's this guy who lives around the corner and when he goes out on the weekends his car broadcasts this heavy bass line so loud that I can feel it in my bedroom when he drives past the house.

[berkeley]

I am not hip, relevant, or "emergent" enough to be comfortable with the reference to Jesus Christ by initials.

[N2JC]

Originally Posted by coadie

1 John 2:22
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

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.
1 John 4:2-4 (in Context) 1 John 4 (Whole Chapter)
2 John 1:7
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.
2 John 1

Don't forget this. It isn't just endtimes prophesy that discusses the anti christ.

__________________________________________________ _____________
Isn't Islam the one religion that denies Jesus as the Messiah?

[Bowas]

Originally Posted by N2JC

__________________________________________________ _____________
Isn't Islam the one religion that denies Jesus as the Messiah?

No. Judahism also. John would have been referring more about the Jews of his day rather than the muslims or any of the other non Jesus-messiah believers.
I know we all attack the muslims today but do keep in mind, the geat persecutors of the early Christians was those of the Jewish faith. Remember Saul?

[U376977]

Originally Posted by coadie

1 John 2:22
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

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.
1 John 4:2-4 (in Context) 1 John 4 (Whole Chapter)
2 John 1:7
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.
2 John 1

Don't forget this. It isn't just endtimes prophesy that discusses the anti christ.

Originally Posted by N2JC

__________________________________________________ _____________
Isn't Islam the one religion that denies Jesus as the Messiah?

Originally Posted by Bowas

No. Judahism also. John would have been referring more about the Jews of his day rather than the muslims or any of the other non Jesus-messiah believers.
I know we all attack the muslims today but do keep in mind, the geat persecutors of the early Christians was those of the Jewish faith. Remember Saul?

True. But when I read or hear this I always want to shout that we can't talk about the Jewish persecution without including the RCC. I know they were not an instution at the time of the writing of John...but through history they murdered FAR MORE then the Jews.

[Bowas]

Originally Posted by U376977

True. But when I read or hear this I always want to shout that we can't talk about the Jewish persecution without including the RCC. I know they were not an instution at the time of the writing of John...but through history they murdered FAR MORE then the Jews.

Do you mean far more numerically, or significantly?
Here is what Jesus said about that generation of the Jewish people.
Mat 23:31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Mat 23:32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
Mat 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Mat 23:34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
Mat 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Mat 23:36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

And...

Mar 15:12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
Mar 15:13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.
Mar 15:14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

[TK Burk]

One of the first hurdles the apostles faced was the teachings of the First Century Gnostics. These various groups not only believed they had a higher, more enlightened view of all things, but most also believed that sin was innately found within a man’s flesh. Consequently they taught that anything a man or woman did for their flesh was sinful. Some even took this to the extreme where even eating the food necessary for survival was sinful. Such extremism led the Gnostics who claimed Jesus as their savior to conclude that His flesh could not have been human, so He was either a spirit-being or His flesh was of a heavenly origin. The popularity of Gnosticism was most likely the reason why John described the spirit of antichrist as being those who denied that Jesus “came in the flesh” (1Joh 4:3), and also why Paul wrote against those who, for religious reasons, taught against marriage and the eating of certain meats (see 1Tim 4:3).

The confusion most face today concerning the identity of the antichrist is that they firstly believe it is a title referring to a despotic dictator, and secondly they see this man as waging war against Jesus Christ and His believers. The problem with these is that no such teaching is found about the antichrist in the entire Bible.

The term antichrist is not found in the Book of Revelation. This is a surprise to many believers since it is a common teaching that the Book of Revelation was given to describe the antichrist’s activities in the “end time.” The term “antichrist” is found only 1 John and 2 John (1Joh 2:18; 1Joh 2:22; 1Joh 4:3; 2Joh. 1:7). Not one of these passages mention anything about the antichrist be a tyrannical one-world leader, even though that is the meaning typically given.

The word “antichrist” comes from the Greek “antichristos” (G500). This term does not refer to a person who is Christ’s archenemy, but rather to a spirit that stands opposed to Christ. Remember, the term is not ‘antijesus,’ but “antichrist.” Webster’s Dictionary defines “anti” as: “a preposition signifying against, opposite, contrary, or in place of.” The word “Christ” means “anointed” or the “anointed one.” By adding ‘anti’ to ‘christ’ you have a term that means ‘opposed, contrary, or in place of the anointing.’ John wrote that the antichrist is a “spirit.” From this we see that the “antichrist” is not a physical man who persecutes Jesus’ believers, but is a spirit that affects the physical man, dissuading him from enjoying the anointing of God. John said there were many such instances of that “spirit” in his day. He then indicated that its presence was an indicator that his generation was living in “the last time.” This would agree with the many verses where Jesus and the Apostles warned those of that same generation that because they crucified Jesus, persecuted His church, and rejected the New Covenant, they would suffer the coming prophesied judgment of God. This judgment did come to that generation in 70 AD.

So, the “spirit of antichrist,” is any doctrine, tradition, superstition, or belief that hinders a man or woman from enjoying the anointing of God. More so, it is any belief that leads man to believe he is able to secure his ‘own way’ or ‘salvation’ outside the teachings and anointing of Jesus Christ. This was the same spirit that led Eve to believe that if she ate the fruit of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, she could be her own god (see Gen 3:5-6). So “antichrist” is not the opponent of God, but rather that which is opposed to God.

[N2JC]

Originally Posted by TK Burk

One of the first hurdles the apostles faced was the teachings of the First Century Gnostics. These various groups not only believed they had a higher, more enlightened view of all things, but most also believed that sin was innately found within a man’s flesh. Consequently they taught that anything a man or woman did for their flesh was sinful. Some even took this to the extreme where even eating the food necessary for survival was sinful. Such extremism led the Gnostics who claimed Jesus as their savior to conclude that His flesh could not have been human, so He was either a spirit-being or His flesh was of a heavenly origin. The popularity of Gnosticism was most likely the reason why John described the spirit of antichrist as being those who denied that Jesus “came in the flesh” (1Joh 4:3), and also why Paul wrote against those who, for religious reasons, taught against marriage and the eating of certain meats (see 1Tim 4:3).

The confusion most face today concerning the identity of the antichrist is that they firstly believe it is a title referring to a despotic dictator, and secondly they see this man as waging war against Jesus Christ and His believers. The problem with these is that no such teaching is found about the antichrist in the entire Bible.

The term antichrist is not found in the Book of Revelation. This is a surprise to many believers since it is a common teaching that the Book of Revelation was given to describe the antichrist’s activities in the “end time.” The term “antichrist” is found only 1 John and 2 John (1Joh 2:18; 1Joh 2:22; 1Joh 4:3; 2Joh. 1:7). Not one of these passages mention anything about the antichrist be a tyrannical one-world leader, even though that is the meaning typically given.

The word “antichrist” comes from the Greek “antichristos” (G500). This term does not refer to a person who is Christ’s archenemy, but rather to a spirit that stands opposed to Christ. Remember, the term is not ‘antijesus,’ but “antichrist.” Webster’s Dictionary defines “anti” as: “a preposition signifying against, opposite, contrary, or in place of.” The word “Christ” means “anointed” or the “anointed one.” By adding ‘anti’ to ‘christ’ you have a term that means ‘opposed, contrary, or in place of the anointing.’ John wrote that the antichrist is a “spirit.” From this we see that the “antichrist” is not a physical man who persecutes Jesus’ believers, but is a spirit that affects the physical man, dissuading him from enjoying the anointing of God. John said there were many such instances of that “spirit” in his day. He then indicated that its presence was an indicator that his generation was living in “the last time.” This would agree with the many verses where Jesus and the Apostles warned those of that same generation that because they crucified Jesus, persecuted His church, and rejected the New Covenant, they would suffer the coming prophesied judgment of God. This judgment did come to that generation in 70 AD.

So, the “spirit of antichrist,” is any doctrine, tradition, superstition, or belief that hinders a man or woman from enjoying the anointing of God. More so, it is any belief that leads man to believe he is able to secure his ‘own way’ or ‘salvation’ outside the teachings and anointing of Jesus Christ. This was the same spirit that led Eve to believe that if she ate the fruit of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, she could be her own god (see Gen 3:5-6). So “antichrist” is not the opponent of God, but rather that which is opposed to God.

When I first asked this question, this is the response that I was waiting on. Simply put, anti-Christ = anti-Annointing. So, where does this place us as Christians? What is scary is that many people who profess to be Christians do not want to understand all of His annointing!! There are so many churches across America that are so focused on programs and having a post modern church that is "relevant" to the world, that they forget about the annointing? Don't get me wrong, I am totally for having a modern church that does not forget about the annointing. To me, the annointing should include miracles and deliverance in every service. So, those that do not focus on the "complete package of the annointing" have the spirit of anti-Christ? The Bible tells us that there will be many false prophets among in the endtime. So, are the pastors of the churches that ignore the annointing false prophets? There are many religious organizations that are scared to understand all of God's annointing. Thoughts???

[Revelationist]

Originally Posted by Jason

I do believe the antichrist/beast will be a man,possibly even devil-possesed. I don't think the spirit of nero will enter him, I've never heard that-pretty far out.

But there is not one scripture that says that antichrist might be a man... you would think if it was a man, then at least the scripture would say that antichrist is a man.

[TK Burk]

Originally Posted by N2JC

When I first asked this question, this is the response that I was waiting on. Simply put, anti-Christ = anti-Annointing. So, where does this place us as Christians? What is scary is that many people who profess to be Christians do not want to understand all of His annointing!! There are so many churches across America that are so focused on programs and having a post modern church that is "relevant" to the world, that they forget about the annointing? Don't get me wrong, I am totally for having a modern church that does not forget about the annointing. To me, the annointing should include miracles and deliverance in every service. So, those that do not focus on the "complete package of the annointing" have the spirit of anti-Christ? The Bible tells us that there will be many false prophets among in the endtime. So, are the pastors of the churches that ignore the annointing false prophets? There are many religious organizations that are scared to understand all of God's annointing. Thoughts???

N2JC, what do you believe about your above post?