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Grace Bible Church 4000 E. Collins
Rd. P.O. Box #3762 Gillette, WY 82717
(307) 686-1516 - Preaching the Living WORD through the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4:2
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THE DOCTRINE OF THE ANTICHRIST 2Th 2:4 (03/18/12) Grace Bible
Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl
Hilbert
A. The Apostasy
Precedes the Wrath of the Day of the
Lord (2Th 2:3b) 1. Paul said
that “the apostasy” had to come “first” (prōtos - first, Eng. “prototype”) before the
Day of the Lord could come. 2. “Apostasy” (apostasi,a) literally
means to “fall away from ,“ i.e. fall away
from a stand. It can also simply mean to “leave.”). As a religious term,
it means to change loyalties, defect, or rebel against a former position,
specifically a religious belief (cp. Act 21:21). 3. Paul’s
particular statement was not speaking of general apostasy that will always
co-exist alongside of God’s truth and God’s people (1Ti 4:1; Heb 3:12 cp. 2Ti
3:1-5; Luk 8:13). 4. Rather this
is “The Apostasy” (with the definite
article - hę apostasi,a, feminine,
singular, nominative) which could be characterized as the apostasy of
apostasies. This would be a rebellion led by the Antichrist himself that
would cause world-wide rebellion against God and His people Israel. 5. Some see “the
apostasy” with the possible meaning of “departure” (cp. Act 12:10) referring
to the Rapture. Most likely, according to the context and it religious
connotation it refers to the ultimate apostasy that originates from “the man
of lawlessness” in the middle of the Tribulation who leads the multitudes to
worship Satan and himself (cp. Rev 6:17). B. The
Antichrist Precedes the Wrath of the
Day of the Lord (2Th 2:3c) 1. Not only
would apostasy come first, but the central figure regarding the apostasy
would also be revealed (apokalu,ptō - uncover, unveil to make known) before the
Day of the Lord. 2. He is the
“man of lawlessness” (anomi,as
- without law) specifically with no regard for God’s Law. He is also
called the “son of destruction (apōleai fr. apollumi - to destroy) meaning
that his character and actions will be the epitome of destruction for those
who follow him as well as his own end. 3. He is also
known by other names: “the prince who is to come” (Dan. 9:26) and “the little
horn” (Dan. 7:8), “the beast” (Rev. 13:2–10, 18) and also the most known as
the “Antichrist.” C. The Word
Antichrist and its Meaning 1. The word
antichrist is anti,christos and contains the preposition anti which can mean over
against, opposite, to replace or instead of. So the antichrist is a
spirit or person who is against and opposes (Christos) Christ), His person, work and truth. 2. John speaks
of the “spirit of the antichrist” that opposes the teaching of Christ and
biblical truth (1Jo 4:3 cp. 1, 2, 6). Those who promote such things do so by
the spirit of antichrist and are themselves called “antichrists” (1Jo 2:18,
22; 2Jo 1:7). 3. However,
there is a particular individual who is the “Antichrist” who is not Satan but
directed and empowered by Satan (Rev. 13:2). He is the “man of lawlessness’
spoken of in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians.
A. His
Background 1.
Some suggest that since the
Antichrist will deceive the Jews to believe he is the Messiah, he must be a
Jew. 2.
Some suggest that the fact that the
Antichrist will set up an abomination that causes desolations shows that he
wants to eradicate Judaism and leads one to believe he will be a Gentile.
Furthermore, the type of religion the antichrist will set up in Rev. 13:11-18
is clearly a non-Jewish religion. These supported by the fact that he will be
a ruler that rises from the Western Federation seems to strongly suggest that
he will not be Jewish. B.
His Beginning 1.
The Antichrist will be revealed when
he signs a covenant with the Jewish people (Dan 9:27a). This will begin seven
years of the Great Tribulation as depicted by Daniel’s 70th week
(Dan 9:24-27). 2.
The Antichrist has a number for his
name. It is called the mark of the beast, which is 666 (Rev 13:17-18). 3.
2) Some have attempted to attribute
historical names to the Antichrist. Nero’s name with its Hebrew numerical
equivalency adds up to 666. Some see similar explanations for Caligula. Some
have attempted to equate present day names with the 666. 4.
But the best explanation is that the
number six symbolizes imperfect humanity, who is inferior to a perfect God
represented by the number seven. With this in mind, the Antichrist is a man,
who will be judged by God the Son. C.
His Breaking of the Covenant 1.
In the middle of the Great
Tribulation (Daniel’s 70th wk), the Antichrist will break his
covenant with Israel, stop their sacrifices, and commit the “abomination that
causes desolation” (Dan 9:27 cp. Mat 24:15). 2.
The abomination that causes
desolation is not specifically described, but it will be something that is
desecrating and sacrilegious. It most likely could be something akin to an
event that happened in 165 B.C. by Antiochus IV (Epiphanes), pagan king of
Syria, who sacrificed a pig on the holy altar before the Temple of Jerusalem. D.
His Brutality 1.
The Antichrist will attempt to eliminate
the two witnesses (Rev. 11:3-10). 2.
There will also be widespread
martyrdom of all who refuse to worship the Antichrist (Mt. 24:9; Rev 6:9-11;
16:4-6; 17:6) E.
His Basilica 1.
Satan will give the Antichrist his
throne (Rev 13:2). 2.
He will demand that he be the object
of all worship (2Th 2:4; Rev 13:3-4). 3.
The Antichrist will rid himself of
all religious opposition (Rev 17:16). 4.
He will be supposedly wounded unto
death and supposedly resurrected (Rev 13:3). 5.
The Antichrist will blaspheme and
wage holy war (Rev 13:5-7; 19:19). F.
His Business 1.
The Antichrist will coerce worship
through control of all economy (Rev 13:16-17). 2.
Men will become slaves of the man of
sin and will have to bear the identifying mark of their slavery. G.
His Brevity 1.
In ultimate war with Christ, the
Antichrist will be defeated. Man’s best attempts with Satanic power cannot
defeat God. 2.
The Antichrist and the false prophet
will be defeated by Christ and thrown into the lake of fire forever (2Th 2:8;
Rev 16:14; 19:19-20). IV.
OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A.
Spirit of Antichrist - Any person,
organization, or church that rejects the Person and work of Christ is the
spirit of antichrist. 1.
Though he has stated that a true
believer will demonstrate the love of God, it is the denial of doctrinal
truth that earns the title of the spirit of antichrist. 2.
“Spirit” (pneuma) here would refer to any false teacher or false prophet
who would promote doctrines produced by “deceitful spirits and doctrines of
demons” (1Ti 4:1-5). They deny: a)
Jesus added humanity to His deity
(1Jo 4:2). (Cp. Gnosticism, Docetism, Apollinarianism) b)
Jesus is confessed as the Son of God
with full deity and equivalent in every sense to God (1Jo 4:3). (Cp.
Gnosticism, Ebionism, Arianism) c)
Salvation is by faith alone in Christ
alone as opposed to the world’s religion centered on self-righteousness and
works (1Jo 4:5). B.
Spiritual Warfare - When it comes to
spiritual warfare, there is no question that the main assault is against
doctrine and biblical truth. C.
Spiritual Battle - is fought with the
“sword of the Spirit” (Eph 6:17) through the Holy Spirit (1Jo 4:4) in testing
and detecting error, promoting biblical teaching, and following its
instruction in order to combat the spirit of antichrist (1Jo 4:6 “error” pla,nę -
straying from the truth by deception and delusion). |
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