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Check It Out
I received a complimentary Bible reference work the other day, and I randomly turned to a page for a sample reading. The paragraph was about “antichrist.”
Here’s what the book says:
“The Greek term antichristos means 'against Christ,' and the Antichrist is described as the “man of lawlessness” (NASB) who will come and desecrate the temple in the last days and declare himself God. Many biblical commentators have applied this term to the beast who rises from the sea in Revelation 13. During the end times, this beast will win the devotion and worship of people throughout the world. He will also control the global economy. Ultimately, however, Christ will conquer the beast—the Antichrist—and send him into the lake of fire. (See Daniel 7:20-32; 9:26-27; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 1 John 2:18,22; 4:3; 2 John 7; Revelation 13:16-17; 19:20)."
Here’s what the Bible actually says:
“Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour” (1 John 2:18). “Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22). “And every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and it is already in the world” (1 John 4:3). “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist” (2 John 7).
Can you see the difference? Of course you can. Antichrist is not one person, it is an attitude or spirit that denies Christ. Many have that spirit. It is not still future, it has been active in the world for two millennia.
Folks, be discerning. Don’t believe everything you read in Bible “reference works.” Check out the suggested verses; read them for yourself. Note carefully what they do and don’t say. Don’t assume that because someone has strung together several references, they belong together. And be sure to investigate all the Bible says about the subject.
