Antichrists

2016-12-31

When we think of the Antichrist, we think about a future king that will one day rule over the entire world. However, the Bible also talks about antichrists in general. What makes a person an antichrist? Let us take a look at the four verses that use the word antichrist in the Bible.

Definition

The word antichrist means “in place of Christ.” We often think of “anti” meaning “against”. This may be quite true of anyone who is considered an antichrist. However, this word is a transliteration of a Greek word, and the Greek etymology of “anti” means “in the place of.” This is someone who seeks to replace Christ. This is both true of the coming Antichrist, and also true of antichrists throughout the ages.

They Went Out from Us

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. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. (1 John 2:18-19)

According to this verse, we see that antichrists “went out from us, but they were not of us.” The “us” would be John and other elders in the faith. So these antichrists started off confessing Bible teaching, but at some point, since they were not truly saved, departed from the teaching to be leaders of their own cults.

He That Denieth That Jesus is the Christ

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. (1 John 2:22-23)

Another aspect of an antichrist is someone who denies that Jesus is the Christ. “Christ” means the anointed king of God, so they have a different view of who Jesus is. Maybe He is just a good teacher, or something less that who He truly is. Anyone who does not believe in Jesus Christ, their religion is an antichrist religion because “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father” (1 John 2:23).

Confesseth Not That Jesus Christ is Come in the Flesh

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. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:3-6)

This is reiterated in 2 John 1:7-11:

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. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (2 John 1:7-11)

An antichrist also does not believe that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is what Gnosticism taught in the late first and early second centuries. This is a denial of the incarnation, that Jesus was the Son of God who actually was born as a human being. This incarnation is of vital importance, because Jesus became one of us and died on our behalf. Without Him coming in the flesh, we remain in our sins and have no hope.

Truly saved people do not follow after the teachings of these antichrists (1 John 4:6; 2 John 1:9). Not only that, we are supposed to not even have anything to do with them (2 John 1:10-11).