Antichrist, Deceivers

Beasts in the Church

The term โ€œantichristโ€ occurs only in the second and third letters of John, and he applies the plural noun to deceivers that are causing dissension in his congregations. Their very presence constitutes irrefutable evidence that the โ€œlast daysโ€ have commenced. These troublemakers are โ€œantichristsโ€ and forerunners of the โ€œAntichristโ€ who is to come.

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Antichrist, Deceivers, Man of Lawlessness

The Mystery of Lawlessness

According to Paul, the โ€œmystery of lawlessnessโ€ is active in the world preparing hearts for the โ€œarrivalโ€ of the โ€œMan of Lawlessness.โ€ It will continue to do so until the appointed time when this figure โ€œcomes out of the midstโ€ and appears in the โ€œsanctuary of God.โ€ And he will employ โ€œlying signs and wondersโ€ to cause many disciples to depart from the faith.

In the New Testament, the term โ€œmystery of lawlessnessโ€ is unique to Paulโ€™s second letter to the Thessalonians. The Greek term rendered โ€œmysteryโ€ does not refer to something that is esoteric or mysterious, but to something that is hidden.

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Antichrist, Deceivers

The Antichrist Spirit

In popular interpretations, the Antichrist is a political tyrant intent on world domination. Whether this proves true, Jesus and his apostles expressed more concern about the deceivers who ply their trade in the church. And in passages that refer to the Antichrist, the issue is deceivers who infiltrate the church.

The only New Testament author to employ the term โ€œantichristโ€ is John in his first two letters. In them, he warns that โ€œit is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come.โ€

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Apostasy, Deceivers, Last Days

Howling Imposters

Christโ€™s final block of teaching that he gave on the Mount of Olives includes several warnings about coming โ€œdeceiversโ€ and โ€œfalse prophetsโ€ intent on misleading the saints, warnings reiterated and expanded in the writings of the apostles. And his discourse began with stern warnings to โ€œbeware lest anyone deceive you.โ€

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Antichrist, Apostasy, Deceivers

PREDICTED EVENTS

The Church has been plagued with deceivers and apostasy, just as predicted in the New Testament.

The New Testament warns disciples about several things that will characterize the period between Christโ€™s first and second comings, ones that will intensify as the end approaches. They include an army of deceivers, deception, apostasy, the rise of a horrific malevolent figure, and Satanโ€™s final assault on the church.

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