David Cox Anthology on the Antichrist

David Cox Anthology on the Antichrist is a sample topic (chapter) out of a compiled work in theWord Free Bible program on the Antichrist, and also antichrists (plural). Note that this work is free on twmodules.com (https://twmodules.com/co-cz-tw-authors/), and this is one of 87 topics (chapters) in the work. I cite many other books, sermons, and articles from the Internal for studying this topic all in one place. A complete listing of topics is after this article below. Most of the complete works (books) on the Antichrist are separate from this work, except Gritter’s.

Please note that I am both a missionary and pastor of a local church. I also am a Christian writer. I am using both the Internet (my websites) as well as varius formats to publish what I writer, because this is much cheaper than paper and ink printing, and I can make revisions and add new material at no cost to me. (donate to my ministry at https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/davidcoxmex) I do not sell my works, so they are free for as long as I am able to pay for Internet hosting fees, and I have health to keep my sites free from hackers. This post is a capture of this topic in this theWord module as of September 6, 2024. Version 2.o. I work on expanding these notes over time.

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Cox – The general concept of Anti-Christ, the one opposite of Christ
By Pastor David Cox

We really cannot speak of what the Antichrist is or what he represents unless we begin with what the Bible teaches about “the Christ”. The Antichrist is the opposite or that which is opposed to the Christ.

The word “Christ” is not found in the Old Testament per se. The word “Christ” comes from the Greek Xristos, or Christ. The concept is not so much defined in the New Testament. In order to understand the use and concepts we are dealing with here, we need to go back to the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, God distinguished certain men with certain positions, offices, and tasks. God called certain men to be kings and others prophets. A king rules over others, and a prophet speaks the message of God to people. Before these roles were more definitely defined, the fathers of family did these things. They “ran things” in a ranch kind of scene where the children all worked for the family, specifically the father. Everything was good until the father could no longer handle the matters that needed to be handled, so he appointed somebody in his place. Usually this was the eldest son, and if he had no sons, he would appoint a trusted servant. The purpose of the father doing this was so that their farm or ranch would continue, and specifically benefit the mother and the rest of the family.

This “handing off” of authority from father to somebody else was made as certain as possible so that there would not be rebellion from the other children. If they disagreed, they could leave and strike it out on their own. But with this dual role of governing and determining the acts of everybody as being moral or immoral essentially (comparing the act to what they understand of the moral character of God, as being approved or disapproved), this person yielded a large amount of power and authority. God called upon these people to be fair, honest, and use equal justice in their decisions.

When the nation of Israel grew, this transfer or appointing of authority was seen as being from God, not a decision that a man makes. At this time, the king or prophet (priests entered in here also) were “anointed” with oil in an official ceremony (consecration). The Old Testament “anointed one” was this special person chosen by God to do a work or task which God wanted done. The concept was extended to include more than just people and their jobs, but also to things related to the holiness of God.

Anointed in the Old Testament

Wafers with oil – Exo 29:2; Lev 2:4.
Exo 29:29 Aaron and his sons. The priests were “anointed” (Lev 4:3, 16) which refers to people installed into the official office of being a priest.

Components of being “anointed”

Before anything else, the person had to be officially called by God. This is not a self-will thing, where when a person desires it, he has the anointing of God. God calls individuals into His royal service, and that means that there were requirements being established both before the appointing, and sustained through the service to God that the individual does. Everything in this revolves around doing the will of God, not one’s own self will.

The meaning of Messiah

The concept of “Messiah” means simply, “the anointed one”. Only two verses in the Old Testament use this word, Daniel 9:25-26 predicting the coming of the “Messiah the Prince” in his entry into the world. Our connection with the entire overlay of Scripture of Messiah and Christ is give in John.

John 1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

This verse links Christ to being the same concept of Messiah. While only Daniel 9:25-26 have the word Messiah, it would appear that the concept was well understood among the Jews. (See Mat 1:17, the counting of the coming of the Messiah-Christ is the genealogy of Jesus.) With this context of a coming “Messiah”, which they understood as being the special anointed minister of God to save the Jews, they misunderstood this as probably “save only the Jews”. The Christ came to save the world. Another misconception was that this salvation was from other nations that persecuted the Jews, but God’s purpose was to save everyone from their sins. In other words, the Jews viewed themselves as being righteous, and they did not need salvation from their own moral character, but from others. God used others, other nations, to pressure them to turn to God. This worked but eventually in these people’s lives, they again and again turned from God, or their children did.

What we can learn about the Messiah from the New Testament

Mat 16:16; Mark 8:29 Peter’s assigning the term “Christ” to Jesus was very important. John the Baptist heard of “the works of Christ” (Mat 11:2), so the common Jew of this time had some knowledge or expectations of what the Messiah’s works would be. This should also be linked with the general combination of “Jesus Christ”. Jesus is the Greek of the Old Testament word “Joshua”, which means “Jehovah is Salvation”. But Jesus is the person name of the Messiah, that which was given to his parents for his earthly name (Mat 1:16).

The enormously important issue of salvation was based on the foundation of how a person understands the person of Jesus. Matthew 22:42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. (Luke 9:20) John 6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. So the Jewish concept of Messiah was that the Messiah would be a descendant of the house of King David from the Old Testament. Jesus plainly asked the Jews listening to him “How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David” (Mark 12:35).

Luke 3:15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;

There is a insoluble link between the Messiah and the people he saves. Mark 9:41 “because ye belong to Christ” reveals this link for example.

Luke 22:67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

We should carry this line of thought one step farther. To accept “the Christ” in a specific person you must believe. Faith, saving faith, is a requirement for accepting a person as Christ. If the person you accept as “your Christ” is Jesus, fully God, then you win, but if it is somebody else, you lose. In Christ’s day, they understood that when the Christ comes, he will reign (Luke 23:2 “saying that he himself is Christ a King.”

The Miraculous Birth of the Christ

This traces back to the concept of the Christ as being an umpire or lawyer, which takes on the case of a person in trouble with the law. The lawyer must be at one with the condemned, and the lawyer must be upright before the court. So the Messiah had to be totally human, and totally God. Without both of these, he could not do his job of interceding. So God made Jesus to enter the world through a virgin (Mat 1:18) through the Holy Spirit. Note in Luke 2:26, that Simeon received the assurance that he would not die, “before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

Christ’s birth was already predicted precisely in Daniel 9:25-26 which we saw above. But in Mat 2:4, it appeared to be common knowledge that the Messiah’s birth into the world was predicted even to the place.

In Luke 2:11, this place prediction reveals another element, Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. “Lord” would be the New Testament Greek translation for Jehovah in the Old Testament, fulfilling the prediction of Isaiah, “Emmanuel” or “God with us”.

Where will the Christ come from?

John 7:41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?  John 7:42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

The point here is that the Jews were understanding that a Deliverer or Savior was promised to them from God. How they interpreted that Savior (Christ or Messiah) can be debated, but they were taking prophecies (without direct mention of the Messiah), and applying those to the Messiah as prophecies of the Messiah.

John 12:34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

The eternal nature of the Christ is seen here. The problem that we can see easily here is that abiding forever does not mean that he could not die, because that was the very purpose of God, that the Christ would die for mankind’s sins.

The Promise of an Eternal Ruler from the descendants of King David

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

The relationship of believing in Jesus Christ is what gives salvation to people.

The Ministry of the Christ

In Mat 16:16, the light bulb went off in the minds of Jesus’ disciples and Jesus bound them to not announce his divine office yet. In Mat 24:5 Jesus prohibited the disciples from “puffing up” among themselves calling each other “master” or “rabbi” Mat 23:10. We note here the singularity of Christ. There is only one Christ for the Bible believing child of God, and that is the historic Jesus.

The Authority of Christ

If we return to our opening thoughts, that this special anointed one (speaking of ordinary humans, not God), but if had a limited amount of authority to do the work of the father, then how much more did Jesus have as the Christ of God? Luke 4:41. Jesus had authority over demons. That is because “for they knew that he was Christ”. Christ is not Jesus’ middle name or last name, it is the name of his office and authority.

John 7:31 And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?

The concept of the “Christ” for the people of Jesus time, was that he would do miracles.
Matthew 21:23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? Acts 4:5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, Acts 4:6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. Acts 4:7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

John 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. John 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

The Jews presumed to take the authority of God into their hands, and they exerted authority over others. Note in Acts 5:28, they prohibited the disciples to preach or teach in the name of Jesus.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

The authority of Jesus comes from the very being of God, especially God the Father in sending Christ into the world.

Christ is the Savior

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Whether the Jews understood this correctly or not, their anticipation their Messiah/Christ was linked to their salvation. Many Jews understood this as salvation in the understanding of not being oppressed by foreign nations. Why were they oppressed in the first place?

Because God sent these nations to chastise them for their disobedience to God. So they wanted liberty and freedom FROM THIS PUNISHMENT, not from the true executioner, their own sins.

At the foot of the cross, the mob of Jews ridiculed Jesus.

Luke 23:35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. Luke 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

Again, the error of many people is that Jesus will save them from the stress of life, but they don’t want Jesus to save them from the presence of sin in their lives. (Note: Mat 13:20-21 That soil that represents people who receive Christ, the gospel, but when it costs them personally, they give it up, these are not saved according to Jesus.) Luke continues with the idea that even in the case of Jesus, the beloved Son of God, wasn’t it correct that God teach us all about bearing the suffering that can come with doing the will of God? (Luke 24:26, 46).

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Salvation is linked to Jesus as the Christ of God. With salvation, all the saved receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Death and Resurrection of Christ

Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. Psalms 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

This verse links the facts of the life of Christ with the Old Testament prophecy of the Messiah-Christ. The key word here is that the Psalmist uses the words “Holy One” and Luke uses “the resurrection of Christ”. So while the word “Messiah” is only found in Daniel 9:25-26, the Bible links the Messiah-Christ with more than just those two verses.

Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

If we can understand that “Jehovah” (KJV uses all capitals for this Hebrew word) means God, and like the term “God,” we understand that any of the three persons of the Trinity can be referred to in a specific case, if not God “corporately,” then this passage identifies Jesus as fully God Jehovah. He is also that special person of the Trinity tasked with saving mankind.

Acts 3:18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

Part of the mission of salvation that Jesus did was actually, physically dying on the cross. This is part of salvation in God’s plan.

Discerning the False Christs from the True Christ

Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Mark 13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

For the people present when Jesus spoke this, would they not just recognize somebody claiming to be “Christ” but didn’t look like Jesus and talk like him? Yes. The concept is that Satan would try to “hijack” the authority and power of the true Christ. These are the “antichrists”.

Matthew 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

Jesus advised all that many would come trying to use and abuse his authority, to have influence, power, and control over the children of God and the work of God.

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

There is a problem in this verse that is very serious, and Christians should meditate on this problem a lot. If “Christ” is just the name of Jesus, like Jesus is his name, then anybody listening to Jesus would say, “Why wouldn’t we recognize this guy’s face in the future?” The verse turns on the issue of recognizing, let’s say, the Son of God, God incarnate. Jesus spoke these words, and they were divinely recorded for future Christians as well as the people in his day. So the importance of what Jesus is saying is that 1) we need to recognize our Savior in order to have a saving relationship with Him. 2) We need to distinguish what is not in that spiritual profile of this Savior.

1) we need to recognize our Savior in order to have a saving relationship with Him.

This recognition implies a great need in some way. The need is that salvation is a moral change within us. We become “like” our Savior. That is not just in appreciation of Jesus saving us, that is part of our very salvation. We cannot get around John 3, that Jesus speaks to a rabbi, Nicodemus, and the burning urgency of Jesus message to that very highly educated religious scholar was, “Ye must be born again”. Religious knowledge does not save anyone. Only through a moral change, a moral transformation into the character of God is a person saved.

In considering Satan’s deceptions and attacks against God and God’s people, there is a very intense need for God’s people to recognize what is that moral change, how God “is” morally, what is His moral character. This is the “target” that all saved people must spend their energies to be like. Salvation is only by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. But there is a very real “working” that a person that is saved is going to do for the rest of their life. This “work,” not to procure salvation, but as a result or consequence of being saved, this work is perfectly encapsulated in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the example of that.
Satan uses counterfeits which would seem to pass as “Christians” but these are not smaller examples of Christ, but they are hypocrites. It is only when the Christian understands the moral pattern of “Christ”, seen explicitly in the person of Jesus, the Son of God, that they can capture, understand, and imitate that pattern.

Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

Therefore, our imitation of God is commanded. That necessitates our identifying and understanding the moral pattern, or morality in God. We need teachers, and we have the example of Jesus Christ as well as the power of the Holy Spirit to cause us to understand and comply. But God doesn’t stop there. God places moral examples of the men of God, devoted to do the work of God, in front of us in our local church. They are to be examples of Christ, and they are living examples for us to follow. That is the insertion point that Satan places one of his false prophets into what we suppose is a man of God.

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

So it is obligatory for every Christian to “recognize Christ,” and imitate that moral example of the pattern of his life. Words are wonderful, but actions show the sincerity of those words. James makes the point that faith without works is dead faith, a faith that doesn’t render spiritual good to a person.

So Satan uses the concept of an “antichrist”. To understand this concept, this is a person who has the reverence and respect of Christians for the person, i.e. he is a type of example and leader among Christians in the church, but in reality, he is a secret agent of Satan, used to destroy Christians. Jesus accurately revealed both the false prophet, false teacher, these antichrists, and how to discern them in Matthew 7. The entire chapter should be studied, but let’s examine a key part of this chapter.

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Matthew 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Matthew 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Matthew 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: Matthew 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. Matthew 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: Matthew 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

The first point here is the deceptive nature of Satan and his agents. They “appear” like sheep, but are wolves. That deception is what causes many Christians to fall before them. Secondly, Jesus insists upon the rule of thumb, what you produce reveals what you are. If a teacher, preacher, pastor, or church pretends to be morally good, but it doesn’t produce fruit, i.e. really saved people who are living victoriously, people who are rendering the spiritual fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), then the tree is not a good type of tree, the fruit it bears reveals its true character.

God overthrows bad fruit and bad trees and throws them into the fire (Mat 7:19). In the end, their true nature is fully revealed. The evidence or fruit of their lives becomes clear. It is unfortunate that many a Christian is in a bad church, under a false prophet, and as the fruit of the lives of these wicked “ministers” becomes clearer and clearer, they never come to a point of understanding and taking a stand by leaving.

The entire teaching is cast into a black or white contrast, do they really do the will of God or not? Every false prophet will claim that they are doing the will of God, but they redefine what the will of God is. Typically, the will of God for them is prophesying (i.e. getting a divine message for the people to follow, stressing obedience to their vision without comparing their vision to God’s Word), casting out devils (this is the messianic complex so many have today, that is, that all of a person’s problems are defined in what material worldly goods they are lacking or sickness/wellness issues, etc.), and wonderful works. People want to be entertained, and nothing entertains more than watching the supernatural. None of these three classes of “works” prove anything thing. Pharaoh’s magicians did wonders, but they were not of God.

The final judgment and condemnation God “not knowing them”, and casting them into hell. Salvation is a matter of the person knowing God, but more importantly, that God knows the person, i.e. that God identifies the person as one of His own children. Galatians 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements…

2) We need to distinguish what is not in that spiritual profile of this Savior.

Within the understanding of all of this, it is extremely important that the Christian knows what is not of God. When a person who says he or she is a Christian, is not acting like a Christian. There are two tacks here. Firstly, that person is not your brother in the Lord, and you should witness the plan of salvation before that person. Secondly, in no way should you esteem that person a spiritual example. Do not accept their words of exhortation or teaching or preaching. If they are not living the example of Christ, they have no authority to tell you how to live your life spiritually and morally. They will 100% lead you wrong, even if at the moment, what they say sounds good. Even a hypocrite who speaks the truth of God is teaching you to be a hypocrite like them. You can claim to be saved and be a practicing homosexual, fornicator, thief, or adulterer, and that is fine with God.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Acts 20:30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Acts 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Luke 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

So there is a definite pattern forming in our study here. “The Christ” is has power and control because he is first called of God for this task or role, and secondly, Satan wants to hijack that authority and obedience from Christ’s followers for himself.

It is interesting that when John the Baptist came on the scene, he denied that he was the Christ.

John 1:20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. John 1:25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? John 3:28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

So “that prophet” is referring back to Deuteronomy, the special prophet that God would raise up later on. This special prophet would be the one who would clarify all the plan of God in saving mankind.

Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

For our present study, just note that in the Jewish mind, they connected “that prophet” with the Messiah, or in the New Testament, Christ. Their connection is correct.

John 4:25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. John 4:29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? John 4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

Again we see the unbreakable link between the Messiah and the Christ. A person who tells us all things is a prophet.

In Matthew 7, Jesus gives a discourse focusing on the false prophets that will arise and challenge the people of God. The first few verses he sets a standard of judgment that God uses. Everybody falls under the same requirements. Hypocrites and the unsaved have no place in the work of God. For a person to be a minister for God, they must first be saved, and secondly, they must have an excellent testimony. God will give good things to his children if they ask it of Him. Matthew 7:12-14 What is “popular” (many people are following after that thing) is the easy way to hell. The path to heaven is difficult to find and get into that path, and stay there.

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Matthew 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Matthew 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Matthew 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Again we see another pattern emerging here. The false prophet will boldly identify himself as a prophet of God, as a Christian, as “one of us.” The difficulty of this point is that most Christians do not have any discernment in identifying who is saved and who is not. In a general sense, we too easily call each other brother and sister. But the matter is set to easily know who is who by Jesus. You can tell who is saved or not by their fruits, the fruits or what they life produces. For all those who say they are going to heaven and do nothing in worshiping God or serving God, they are declared to be liars going to hell by Jesus. They have no fruit which is acceptable or spiritual in God’s sight. For all those who likewise claim to be destined for heaven, but, even though they go to church, they more often than not infect the church with controversies, contentions, discontent, anger, aggression, etc.

They go to church to hurt the work of God more than anything else. They go to brag about themselves in some way.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Galatians 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The Charisma of an antichrist

We can deal with the concept of an antichrist both in the particular case of that antichrist which is in the end times, and more generally, as in the many heretics and wicked people who adversely affect God’s people.

One of the elements is that they will come “doing miracles” (Mat 7:22). If you consider that Moses facing off with the Pharaoh’s magicians, they did many miracles, copying element by element all the miracles that Moses did. It wasn’t until the end when Moses spoke of the angel of death killing all the first born that Pharaoh was not amused. They could have killed all the second born children, but no Egyptian would accept that. The point is that Moses’ God had power over life and death, and Egypt’s many gods didn’t. Neither could the magicians bring the firstborn dead back to life.

Here the charisma of a false prophet needs to be distinguished with the true man of God. A false prophet lives for the excitement he causes among his followers. The man of God lives for people to change their lives from sin to righteous, from selfishness to self-denial and service of God. Notice that the focus of the man of God is not “following him” but rather “following God”. A man of God does not make followers of himself, except as that man of God is a follower of Christ.

Being a living example is an absolute requirement for a man of God, and for a false prophet, being godly “gets in the way of his own personal success”.

Part of any false prophet’s deceptions is that he is a solver of problems. Many of these problems he himself may cause in the first place, and many are simply figments of his imagination.

Any antichrist is the opposite of Christ. Here the humility and self-denial of Christ comes to bear, and an antichrist or false prophet is arrogant, haughty, and is always giving praise to others and to himself. He brags about what he is and what he has done.

Daniel 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

• policy – “(שׂכל s’êkel) means, properly, intelligence, understanding, wisdom; and then, in a bad sense, craft, cunning.” (Barnes notes on Daniel 8:25)
• Craft means that he is very skillful in deceiving others.
• magnify himself in his heart – he is very skillful at what he does, and as he “succeeds” he continually attempts more and great things. He is astute in his conquests. “And he shall magnify himself in his heart – Shall be lifted up with pride, or esteem himself of great consequence.” (Barnes notes on Daniel 8:25)
• by peace shall destroy many – Even though he is a military conqueror, he deceives many without ever using his military might. Simply through deception he destroys many.

Daniel 11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

The key point is that of Satan, he mistakenly casts himself into the place of God. He wants to end all religion, and instead everyone worship him. The world will mostly fall into this deception.

Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

What we should understand here is that Satan’s train of thought, his deception, is to break humanity from the concrete thought that humans are inferior to “gods” or “the God”. Humans are gods in themselves if they can only conceive and follow through on it. That is the erroneous thinking of Lucifer when he fell, and he still plies that lie among mankind.

In other words, he is not necessarily saying “worship me, I am your god”, but rather “worship your own will, like me, which is my god.”

2 Thessalonians 2:3 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; 2 Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

A false prophet will always take this same approach. “He magnifies himself in his heart”.

The dynamic that is in play in all false prophets is this “god complex” where they glorify themselves. Their own will is their god. What they want to do, what pleases them is their god. Even within modern day Christianity, this exact attitude is overwhelming Christianity by so many supposed Christians. It is being pumped out of charismatic false preachers’ ministries constantly. But Satan wants to take this to a higher level. The Bible talks of “worshiping God,” but Satan argues God does not exist. You are god within yourself. He does not want people to worship a false god, but his argument instead. His argument is that he is so great that he eclipses any god in existence even the true God of the Bible. That is what replaces worship, religion.

Christlikeness

While the Bible is full of commandments, we must understand that the example of Christ, living among men, was given to us with the purpose of our becoming like Christ. He is our goal. To morally be like Christ as much as is possible.

What the Antichrist is

An antichrist is the opposite of what Christ is, “anti” meaning opposite. So morally, what Jesus Christ is, the antichrist is the opposite of that. “The Antichrist”, with a capital A, is that man in the end times who Satan will use to ultimately oppose God and persecute God’s people. At any time in history, Satan undoubtedly has various individuals ready to stand in and fulfill that work. There are “antichrists” (plural), and these are men who are the opposite of Jesus. Whether they are specifically that Revelation Antichrist or not, is not really an issue we can know, just that these people oppose Christ.

Acts 4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Acts 4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? Acts 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. Acts 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, Acts 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

The opposite of the nations, rulers and people of the earth against the Lord and Christ is from the influence of Satan against them.

Direct Bible References to the “Antichrist”

While there are only four references to antichrist in the Bible, these do prove various aspects about him.

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

First, the Bible gives us understanding that there are antichrists and there is the coming Antichrist. The difference is that there are many individuals (humans) that set themselves as morally the opposite of the morality of Jesus Christ, while at the same time, there is a singular focus on “the Antichrist”. This is a particular individual in the ends times that is much difference from all the rest.

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.

There is a very important declaration of the antichrist in this verse. A particular person takes on the person of “antichrist” when they “deny Christ.” John extends this to denying both Father and Son. We need to understand that this extends more than just words, though it would include words, but it is a rejection of how God wants us to live. The denial is a denial of the moral character of God, the attributes of God.

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.

Another key aspect of defining who and what is an antichrist is to deny Jesus Christ coming in the flesh. I understand this to mean a focus on the humility and self-denial of one’s own pleasures. The person who says that he is not going to do that, that person is far from being a Christian, and is an antichrist.

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.

Again, the concept of Christ coming in the flesh is humility and self-denial. These people are deceivers. If we consider this verse in combination with passages like Acts 20:30, these people who are antichrists are deceivers. They are liars. Moreover, from Acts 20:30 we understand that they are in the church active as “Christians” when they are agents of Satan.

Some Indirect Inferences attributed to the Antichrist of End Times

While an actual Bible word search for “antichrist” will only yield the above verses in he Johannine epistles, many commentaries see various other persons in the Bible as being representations of the antichrist. These “person pictures” are small antichrists in a sense.

They are people that are so given over to Satan that their lives become shadows of the person of Satan.

In the website www.prophecyproof.org, they have a page titled Identifying the Antichrist: Some Characteristics to look for. (I find their list interesting.) There is a point here to understand. While some people do see these passages as referring to the Antichrist of Revelation time, and even the very word “antichrist” does not appear outside the Johannine epistles, there is some debate in some corners that these are totally different people, and they do not refer to “the Antichrist”. Personally, I see an attempt to persuade people that the Antichrist is not what movies want to make him to be. There is a point there that Hollywood does not define our theology. I agree with that point. But I do not think any Bible student will correctly understand what God tells us about the world if they do not see the personality of Satan as an opponent of God and God’s people. These other mentions of a very evil human being, present when spoken about or coming in the future, the point in my mind is that these people represent Satan, and his generals may have different names, but they all have the same identifying marks, that of Satan. I see that in these passages. But if you are intensively studying the antichrist concept in the Bible, I think you need to at least hear these thoughts, if even to understand what others are thinking and understanding of different Bible verses.

The Son of Perdition

2 Thessalonians 2:3 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; 2 Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Antichrist’s Charisma

I have mentioned this point above in my other notes.

Antichrist: the Problem Solver

Revelation 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

Today there is a very heavy push among politicians to be the problem solver of the world. This is what is called a messiah complex. I could write a lot more on this topic, (for reference, Rushdoony wrote a book (The Messianic Character of Education which I believe was the name of the book) I had as a text in an education class. But I see politics as now being the messianic workhorse giving “salvation” to the world. The entire point of this error is simply to switch the meaning of the word salvation. A salvation is only real if there is a real threat. All these messianic people talking politics and saving the world, etc. do not mean a salvation for personal sin, but it is a salvation from God’s not giving you the wishes of your life. More money, health, world peace, etc. Peace cannot be had if all involved are not submissive to God. Only in harmony with God is a group of people going to “get along together.” The website mentions Daniel 9:27 where the antichrist will make a covenant with many for a week (in prophecy understanding, this is a seven, or seven years).

Daniel 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

The concept here is that by using peace as a weapon of conquest or war, he will defeat many of that person’s opponents using the disguise of doing something to promote peace, which is to only move to the destruction of his opponent in a lying way.

Antichrist: His Arrogance

2 Thessalonians 2:3 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; 2 Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Daniel 11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

Daniel 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

The key points here is just a truth of Scripture. God hates arrogance, and Satan loves arrogance. God has given himself the task of “bringing down” the arrogant soul (which arrogance is against the person of God), and arrogance, pride, etc. is the flag over Satan and his army. The gays have made “pride” their flag, so note that.

Antichrist: His Ruthlessness

Daniel 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

The idea here is that Satan in his war against God is relentless and extreme in his rage against God. The key factor that I see in this is that God did not recognize Satan and his ulterior way of serving God (Satan’s war chat is that of Burger King and the Dean Martin song, “Have it your way”), and God cast Satan out of heaven and condemned him in the end to the lake of fire. Satan’s was stung by that, and he will never “get over that” insult to his person.

Antichrist: A Personal War against Women

Daniel 11:37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

The Bible does not explain exactly what this means, but apparently, Satan and his general, the Antichrist, and his officers, the antichrists, have a kind of war against women, or the desire of women. God gave Eve to Adam to meet a spiritual need of companionship in Adam. Life is never going to be enjoyable without a companion of equality with the man.

Romans 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: Romans 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Romans 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Romans 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Romans 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

If we want to understand what is an “antichrist”, this passage is a good place to start. Satan wants the opposite what God is, of God’s moral character, of God’s will. God wants men to marry women, and be romantically involved with a single women that they have committed themselves to loving, a single and only wife. (The wife dies, he is free to find another women, but only in the Lord, i.e. a Christian). Paul’s long first chapter to Romans picks up a discourse against those who have abandoned God. Satan fits this profile exactly. But these harsh words of Paul are against men, humans, who have gone down the same road as Satan. There are lessons here to be learned.

But a commonality apparently is a disregard for women. Men are homosexual, men with men, rejecting God’s plan and God’s will of men are only to be romantically involved with a single women. Fornication, adultery, prostitutes, etc. are all one man with multiple women, and homosexuality is man with man. So this amplifies Daniel 11:37, and it is exactly in the same vein as the antichrist and Satan, those who oppose with the opposite what is of God.

I would briefly note that in Romans 1, Paul identifies “covenantbreakers… implacable, unmerciful” as being character traits of this kind of heart rejection of God. These qualities will be extremely highlighted in the tribulation as the antichrist fights against God openly in society.

The Antichrist: His Religion

Daniel 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

The website, prophecyproofs.com, says that some commentators take the phrase “understanding dark sentences” as referring to the Antichrist’s use of magic. Most people do not understand magic. Magic is the belief and practice that somehow there are spiritual forces that “by using these forces, you can get your will done”. That is the premise of magic. But there are no spiritual, magical forces that one can tap into and use by simply saying some words. There are evil angels, i.e. demons, which use this concept with people to deceive them and get them under their influence. The Bible absolutely rejects all magic as being demonic. But the point is, with magic, you do not have to deal with God the Creator, Sustainer, and Lord over all that demands everyone bow the head and bend the knee before Him. That is where this comes into play. With magic, you can get the same thing as God fulfilling the prayer of a person minus the God factor. This concept “fits” exactly with what Satan is and does. It is all satanic.

The website also speaks of theories as to the Antichrist ethnicity. I refer you to them for those thoughts. I do not believe that the country of birth or culture of upbringing is clear in Scripture.

A complete listing of topics from the module.

Overview
Bible Verse References
Cox – The general concept of Antichrist, the one opposite of Christ
h Dictionary Definitions
Amtrac
Bed
Biblegate.com
Bridgeway
Bucks
CARM
Catholic Dictionary
Easton
Encyclopedia.com
Fausset
Glossaryforthe Catechism of the Catholic Church
ISBE
Morrish-CBD
Nave’s
Smith’s
TCR
Wikipedia.org – Antichrist
a Articles [25]
Bandy – The Tribulation and the Antichrist
Berean Call – Will the Real Antichrist please Stand up?
Building a Home forthe Antichrist
ByFaith Backholer Who is the Antichrist? Twenty Signs from Scripture
Christianity.com Who is the Antichrist? lOThings to Knowfrom the Bible
Davidleremiah.org Who is the Antichrist?
Gotquestions.com What is the Antichrist?
Gotquestions.com Who is the antichrist?
Hanegraaff, Hank – Who is the Antichrist?
Harvest.org Profile of the Antichrist
Haynes – 8 Things to Know about the Spirit of the Antichrist
Hunt, Dave – Antichrist’s Coming World Religion
Hunt, Dave – Christ & Antichrist
Hunt, Dave – Preparation for Antichrist
Hunt, Dave – Spirit of Antichrist
Hodges, Zane – Spirit of Antichrist: Decoupling lesus from the Christ
Lee, F.N. – Antichrist in Scripture
Liongier.com Who Is the Antichrist?
Neverthirsty.com How to Identify the Antichrist
remnantofgod.org – Characteristics of the Antichrist
Strandberg – Who is the Antichrist?
Towns – The Antichrist – Man of Lawlessness
Wellman Ten Characteristics of the Antichrist according to the Bible
Wikipedia.org – Survey of beliefs on the Antichrist
wikipedia.org – Antichrist in Eschatologies of different groups
B Sermons [1]
B Five things to know about the Antichrist [1]
Five things to know about the Antichrist – objections by DRCox
MacArthur, John – Who is the Antichrist?
Wilson – The Coming Antichrist 2 Thess 2:1-3:5
B Chapters in Books [17]
Blackstone- lesus is Coming Again: 1. Antichrist
Hoeksema – Behold He Cometh!
Hodge, Charles – The Antichrist
Huckabee – Studies on Antichrist
Ironside – The Personal Antichrist
Larkin – Dispensational Truth
Luther, Martin – Talk Talks
MacArthur-Coming man of Sin
Martin, Ernest – 21. Antichrist will establish Mosaic Law
Nayler – Nayler-Miller Debate
Roberson, Lee- Some Golden Daybreak
Simmons – Systematic Doctrine: 40The Man of Sin
TLEE-The Antichrist
Torrey’s New Topical Textbook
Trench – Synonyms
Vincent’s NT
Wolston – Behold the Bridgegroom
Ei Booklets [1]
+ Gritters-The Antichrist [10]
Introduction
+ ANTICHRIST’S IDENTITY [7]
General Description
AntiChrist: A false Christ
AntiChrist: Opposed to Christ
AntiChrist: In place of Christ
AntiChrist: An individual person
AntiChrist: A political power
AntiChrist: An ecclesiastical power
ANTICHRIST’S PURPOSE
ANTICHRIST’S METHODS
THE CHURCH’S CALLING
Recognizing Antichrist’s spirit
A present struggle
The manner of opposition
ANTICHRIST’S CERTAIN DESTRUCTION
Jesus Christ Reigns!