Antichrist
Today, many Church leaders speculate about the term “antichrist” failing to regard its usage in the Scripture. First of all, consider a fact which will undoubtedly shock many people: the word “antichrist” NEVER occurs in the Book of Revelation.
In spite of this important fact, this term is routinely used by Christian teachers as a synonym for “the beast” of Revelation Chapter 13. The term “antichrist” is used in a very specific sense and is unrelated to the figure known as “the beast” and “666”. In the Scripture, the term “antichrist” is defined as a system of unbelief which denied the person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Messiah. This heresy taught that Jesus was NOT the Christ. They denied the incarnation and rejected the Doctrine of the Apostles. 1 John 4:6
The Scripture describes the individuals who were once members of the first-century Church apostatized and now were attempting to deceive other Christians in order to sway the Church as a whole away from Jesus Christ.
The Scripture identifies these apostatized individuals as “antichrist”. 1 John 2:19,26, 4:1-3, 2 John 1:7,10
A further error teaches that the “antichrist” is one specific individual and connected to the notion that the “antichrist” is someone who will make his appearance toward the end of the world.
Both of these ideas are contradicted by Scriptures in the New Testament.
The only occurrences of the term “antichrist” are in the following verses from the letters of the Apostle John: 1 John 2:18-19, 22, 26, 1 John 4:3, 2 John 1:7.
The early first-century Church had been warned about the coming of “antichrist”. There was not just one, but “many antichrists”. Therefore, the term “antichrist” cannot simply be a designation of one individual who would arise sometime in the distant future.
As a matter of fact, the Apostle John wrote that “antichrists” were already working as John wrote His epistles. In 1 John 2:18, notice this phrase: “even now are there many antichrists”. John warned the early Church not to be deceived or seduced into believing this antichrist heresy. 1 John 2:26
In 1 John 4:3, that the spirit of antichrist was already in their first century world. 2 John 1:7 also declares that antichrist was already present in the first century. Again, the “antichrist” was not some figure who should arise at the end of the world.
When we put together all the above Scriptures, we can clearly see the definition of “antichrist” as a system of apostasy and individual apostates.
In other words, “antichrist” was the fulfilment of Jesus’ prophecy that a time of great apostasy would come when many would be offended and would fall away and would betray one another and hate one another. Jesus also stated that many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Matthew 24:10-13
The Apostle Paul also warns of a “falling away” from the hope of the Gospel. 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Colossians 1:23 Jude also warned of ungodly men creeping in unawares denying the only Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 4
Conclusion
When the doctrine of “antichrist” is understood, it fits in perfectly with what the rest of the New Testament tells us about the age of the “terminal generation”.
The Apostle John made it very clear in his warnings to the early first century Church. He warned them of those who had believed the Gospel but later had forsaken the faith and went about trying to deceive others.
These apostates were called “antichrist” by the Scriptures because they had rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah, therefore; they were against Christ. Jesus also made it very clear that many false prophets would arise and deceive many bringing about a great falling away.
The Scriptures clearly state that there were many “antichrists” present back in the first century. One thing is very obvious, the notion that the “Antichrist” is one man who will be a man of sin who will rise to great power at some time in our future is not in the Bible, therefore; it is false doctrine.