Does The Bible Mention An "Antichrist" ?

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Thursday February 21, 2008

There are some Christians who don't believe that the Bible even mentions an "antichrist". They push the idea that the antichrist references throughout the Bible only refer to an "antichrist spirit" - which in some places, it does. But the Bible definitely does mention a man who is the "antichrist"!

2 Thessalonians 2:3,4 (NIV)
3. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion (Greek: apastasia: DEPARTURE) occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

Here we see the "man of lawlessness" described. He is described as all things anti-Christ. He opposes everything that is called God and that is worshiped. That means he denies the existence of any God! Christ constantly talked about the Father and prayed to Him many, many times.
This man of lawlessness also exalts himself over everything that is called God and that is worshiped. Christ is the opposite; He HUMBLED Himself!

Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)
5. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7. but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!

So the man of lawlessness mentioned in 2nd Thessalonians is the opposite of Christ!

2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 (NIV)
6. And now you know what is holding him (the antichrist) back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.

The antichrist is being HELD BACK by the very power of God that he opposes! Then, in the end, Jesus Christ will overthrow him and destroy him on the Day Of The Lord!

2 Thessalonians 2:9,10 (NIV)
9. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, 10. and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

These last verses are final conclusive evidence that the man of lawlessness is the antichrist. According to verse 10 above, he teaches what is contrary to the truth! His followers perish because they refuse to love the truth!
Jesus, on the other hand, is the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life! Talk about exact opposites!

The man of lawlessness in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10 is the very definition of "ANTI-CHRIST"! He is described as a MAN twice in verse 3, so we know that he is NOT satan himself! There has never been a man who fit the description of "antichrist" better than the man of lawlessness!

If someone tells you there is no "antichrist", or that the Bible never mentions an "antichrist", THEY ARE WRONG! The antichrist will be revealed after the church is raptured, and life on earth will become a living hell! We can thank God that we will be gone when the antichrist is ruling on earth!

PRAYER
Thank You Father for sending Jesus fulfill the law and defeat satan. Thank You for Your Word that unveils Your truth to me so I can understand how to live my life on this earth. Help me understand Your ways better and put them into practice as I renew my mind with Your Word and allow Your Word to govern my life.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

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