C. Matthew McMahon
Christian Preacher
What or who do you think the Antichrist is? 
The Antichrist
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Scott Bushey
Puritanboard Commissioner
There are many antichrists. Every age will have them.
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.
1 John 2:19 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.
Who shall we add to the list?
1) Harold Camping
2)
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.
1 John 2:19 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.
Who shall we add to the list?
1) Harold Camping
2)
[quote:3969214cf7][i:3969214cf7]Originally posted by mjbee[/i:3969214cf7]
I think joking about the Antichrist is most inappropriate! [edited] ya'all, have you no shame???? [/quote:3969214cf7]
What? I was joking about Rick Warren, not the antichrist himself. The antichrist takes many forms, there is nothing wrong with saying so and so is the antichrist if there is valid reason. I was not belittling the person of the antichrist (oh, big sin), but Warren. But it was a joke, a very light hearted one at that.
And if you want to be picky here, you just took the Lord's name in vain. But that happens all the time, I guess offending the antichrist is a bigger deal...
Rembrandt
[Edited on 4-26-2004 by rembrandt]
[Edited on 4-26-2004 by Dan....]
I think joking about the Antichrist is most inappropriate! [edited] ya'all, have you no shame???? [/quote:3969214cf7]
What? I was joking about Rick Warren, not the antichrist himself. The antichrist takes many forms, there is nothing wrong with saying so and so is the antichrist if there is valid reason. I was not belittling the person of the antichrist (oh, big sin), but Warren. But it was a joke, a very light hearted one at that.
And if you want to be picky here, you just took the Lord's name in vain. But that happens all the time, I guess offending the antichrist is a bigger deal...
Rembrandt
[Edited on 4-26-2004 by rembrandt]
[Edited on 4-26-2004 by Dan....]
Ianterrell
Puritan Board Sophomore
Seriously,
I think the Antichrist is mainly a spiritual influence that is against Christ and his bride. I believe that Satan will be loosed and will mount a final advance against the Kingdom of God. I believe that there may or may not be an Antichrist (man of lawlessness) that will lead this final advance and that Christ will come and destroy the Antichrist along with Satan, and his kingdom. I don't have any specific knowledge of who this individual will be, and I don't think those specifics will be known until as Paul says "the man of lawlessness will be revealed".
I think the Antichrist is mainly a spiritual influence that is against Christ and his bride. I believe that Satan will be loosed and will mount a final advance against the Kingdom of God. I believe that there may or may not be an Antichrist (man of lawlessness) that will lead this final advance and that Christ will come and destroy the Antichrist along with Satan, and his kingdom. I don't have any specific knowledge of who this individual will be, and I don't think those specifics will be known until as Paul says "the man of lawlessness will be revealed".
Tertullian
Puritan Board Freshman
I think the antichrist is Nero... yes I know that Scripture does not speak about "the antichrist"... but it does speak about the man of lawlessness and the beast whose number is 666... so in a theologicial sense it is proper to speak of the antichrist as Nero... though Scripture does not exactly use the phrase about Nero it does identify the theologicial conept attached to "the antichrist" to Nero. Gentry defends this thesis really will in his book the Beat of Revelation.
-Tyler
-Tyler
C. Matthew McMahon
Christian Preacher
Here is what the WCF says - do you agree?
VI. There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ.[13] Nor can the pope of Rome, in any sense, be head thereof.[14] [b:ffb7ac2225]but is that Antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalts himself, in the Church, against Christ and all that is called God.[/b:ffb7ac2225]
13. Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22
14. Matt. 23:8-10; I Peter 5:2-4
VI. There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ.[13] Nor can the pope of Rome, in any sense, be head thereof.[14] [b:ffb7ac2225]but is that Antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalts himself, in the Church, against Christ and all that is called God.[/b:ffb7ac2225]
13. Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22
14. Matt. 23:8-10; I Peter 5:2-4
Irishcat922
Puritan Board Sophomore
No Hope in the Pope!!:lb:
sastark
Puritan Board Graduate
[quote:52f45b759e][i:52f45b759e]Originally posted by webmaster[/i:52f45b759e]
VI. There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ.[13] Nor can the pope of Rome, in any sense, be head thereof.[14] [b:52f45b759e]but is that Antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalts himself, in the Church, against Christ and all that is called God.[/b:52f45b759e]
13. Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22
14. Matt. 23:8-10; I Peter 5:2-4 [/quote:52f45b759e]
YES! I agree. Am I the only one on this board?
PS- Matt, although I agree that the office of the bishop of Rome is the office of Antichrist, I do not think the guy who sent you the e-mails about this used the proper tone. I know that thread is now locked, and I'm not trying to reopen it. I guess I'm just trying to say that not everyone who agrees with the WCF is such a "not-nice-person" (do we have a smiley for "Jack" the founder of "Jack-in-the-Box" and one for a Donkey? If we did, I would have replaced "not-nice-person" with those two smileys and let you put 2 and 2 together.)
VI. There is no other head of the church but the Lord Jesus Christ.[13] Nor can the pope of Rome, in any sense, be head thereof.[14] [b:52f45b759e]but is that Antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalts himself, in the Church, against Christ and all that is called God.[/b:52f45b759e]
13. Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22
14. Matt. 23:8-10; I Peter 5:2-4 [/quote:52f45b759e]
YES! I agree. Am I the only one on this board?
PS- Matt, although I agree that the office of the bishop of Rome is the office of Antichrist, I do not think the guy who sent you the e-mails about this used the proper tone. I know that thread is now locked, and I'm not trying to reopen it. I guess I'm just trying to say that not everyone who agrees with the WCF is such a "not-nice-person" (do we have a smiley for "Jack" the founder of "Jack-in-the-Box" and one for a Donkey? If we did, I would have replaced "not-nice-person" with those two smileys and let you put 2 and 2 together.)
Scott
Puritan Board Graduate
Here is another contender:
http://larknews.com/march_2004/secondary.php?page=6
http://larknews.com/march_2004/secondary.php?page=6
BrianLanier
Puritan Board Freshman
[quote:04f7540881][i:04f7540881]Originally posted by Scott[/i:04f7540881]
Here is another contender:
http://larknews.com/march_2004/secondary.php?page=6 [/quote:04f7540881]
Now that is hilarious!!!! And and the same time very sad.
and
Here is another contender:
http://larknews.com/march_2004/secondary.php?page=6 [/quote:04f7540881]
Now that is hilarious!!!! And and the same time very sad.
and If "anti" in antichrist means [i:2ff9b7f6e8]instead of[/i:2ff9b7f6e8] rather than [i:2ff9b7f6e8]against[/i:2ff9b7f6e8], I would readily say that it refers to the Pope. He arrogates to himself many of the Divine titles (Vicar of Christ, Prince of Peace, His Holiness, etc.).
But then again, maybe it's John Kerry.
But then again, maybe it's John Kerry.
Puritan Sailor
Puritan Board Doctor
I think Nero, Titus, Dominitan, the Pope, and any other anti-Christian rulers have all given us a picture of how the Antichrist can and will be. Call them types I guess. But remember that the AntiChrist or beast will lead the entire world in rebellion, not just a particular region. I think the natural reading of the text lends itself to one individual who will rise up before the return of Christ, though it certainly is possible that it could be a group of people or government. But the spirit of antichrist goes anywhere the gospel goes fighting against the kingdom of God, doing anything to stop the spread of the gospel. And another thing is clear, that the elect will see the beast for who he is. Right now, we can say that there are many antichrists. But the world is certainly not united in opposition to Christ yet. Catholics, Hindu's, Muslims, Jews, and Buddists still fight amongst themselves. BUt the ecumenical movements are there and growing. All it will take is one leader to unite them against the "intolerant" faithful once the time is right. :wr50:
Puritan Sailor
Puritan Board Doctor
Rev 19
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had[5] a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,[6] followed Him on white horses. 15Now out of His mouth goes a sharp[7] sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God,[8] 18that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free[9] and slave, both small and great."
19And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
Rev 20
7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where[2] the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Do yo think these passages are describing the same event?
I think they are, just in different points of view. Rev. 19 covers the victory over the beast. Rev. 20 covers the victory over Satan. Notice both have rallied the world against Christ and his people. And both are thrown into the lake of fire at their defeat with the return of Christ. :wr50:
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had[5] a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,[6] followed Him on white horses. 15Now out of His mouth goes a sharp[7] sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for the supper of the great God,[8] 18that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free[9] and slave, both small and great."
19And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.
Rev 20
7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where[2] the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Do yo think these passages are describing the same event?
I think they are, just in different points of view. Rev. 19 covers the victory over the beast. Rev. 20 covers the victory over Satan. Notice both have rallied the world against Christ and his people. And both are thrown into the lake of fire at their defeat with the return of Christ. :wr50:
C. Matthew McMahon
Christian Preacher
On Rev. 19-20 there is an excellent paper I had posted on my site by fowler White. It is very well done.
http://www.apuritansmind.com/ChristianWalk/WhiteFowlerRecapitulationRev19.htm
http://www.apuritansmind.com/ChristianWalk/WhiteFowlerRecapitulationRev19.htm
Irishcat922
Puritan Board Sophomore
[quote:22242fffb1][i:22242fffb1]Originally posted by Scott[/i:22242fffb1]
Here is another contender:
http://larknews.com/march_2004/secondary.php?page=6 [/quote:22242fffb1]
Well he did marry a Kennedy! So you just never know now do you.
Here is another contender:
http://larknews.com/march_2004/secondary.php?page=6 [/quote:22242fffb1]
Well he did marry a Kennedy! So you just never know now do you.
Puritan Sailor
Puritan Board Doctor
[quote:c724bedfba][i:c724bedfba]Originally posted by Paul manata[/i:c724bedfba]
The Rider on a White Horse
11Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13He is clothed in a robe dipped in[4] blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
17Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave,[5] both small and great." 19And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army.20And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence[6] had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
[b:c724bedfba]The King is pictured as going to war against his enemies. Note: Read Psalm 110 in conjunction with this passage. Now, if we read Daniel 7, letting the Bible interpret itself, we see a stricking similarity. Christs coronation as king is tied to his defeat of these kingdoms...especially the "little horn" of the "fourth kingdom." The parrelles with "the little horn" and the beast of revelation are numerous. In Danile the fourth kingdom...is rome. Also, this judging is connected in Daniel with Christs ascension. NOT his second advent![/b:c724bedfba]
[b:c724bedfba]Since I have shown (very, very, briefly...we could go into much, much, more) that Rev 19 was the destruction of Jerusalem and we know that this does not happen AFTER the millennium but rather at 70 a.d. We can conclude, then, that they are different events. One takes place AFTER the millennium, and one before it. [/b:c724bedfba]
[/quote:c724bedfba]
So how did Christ throw Nero alive into the lake of fire and slay the rest of his army? Which army did Christ destroy? How did He conquer Rome according to your interpretation?
The Rider on a White Horse
11Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13He is clothed in a robe dipped in[4] blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
17Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave,[5] both small and great." 19And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army.20And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence[6] had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
[b:c724bedfba]The King is pictured as going to war against his enemies. Note: Read Psalm 110 in conjunction with this passage. Now, if we read Daniel 7, letting the Bible interpret itself, we see a stricking similarity. Christs coronation as king is tied to his defeat of these kingdoms...especially the "little horn" of the "fourth kingdom." The parrelles with "the little horn" and the beast of revelation are numerous. In Danile the fourth kingdom...is rome. Also, this judging is connected in Daniel with Christs ascension. NOT his second advent![/b:c724bedfba]
[b:c724bedfba]Since I have shown (very, very, briefly...we could go into much, much, more) that Rev 19 was the destruction of Jerusalem and we know that this does not happen AFTER the millennium but rather at 70 a.d. We can conclude, then, that they are different events. One takes place AFTER the millennium, and one before it. [/b:c724bedfba]
[/quote:c724bedfba]
So how did Christ throw Nero alive into the lake of fire and slay the rest of his army? Which army did Christ destroy? How did He conquer Rome according to your interpretation?
Bladestunner316
Puritan Board Doctor
All,
So whether hess hear now or not what are the events we know in scripture to take place priot to the second coming?
blade
So whether hess hear now or not what are the events we know in scripture to take place priot to the second coming?
blade
Bladestunner316
Puritan Board Doctor
Found This
Antichrist in Scripture
by Francis Nigel Lee
Short Summary of the findings, extracted from a message delivered at the 1997 Blue Banner Conference. See catalog for ordering information.
Let us now shortly summarize the above teachings of Holy Scripture, Martin Luther and Calvinistic Protestantism.
About 540 B.C., Daniel predicted the cessation of all new prophesying around the time of Christ's death. This, Daniel associated with the Roman destruction of the Jerusalem temple within that very same generation! Daniel 2:34-45; 7:7-19; 8:9-12, 20-25; 9:24-27; 11:30-45; 12:1-4.
Daniel also predicted that, beginning in AD 70, first the Pagan Roman Empire and then papal Rome as its successor would pollute God's true temple (the Christian Church). That would last for 1260 day-years, or till AD 1330. However, then the great plague called the 'Black Death' would sweep across the civilized world, killing most of its ungodly inhabitants. Daniel 7:24ff & 12:7 cf. Revelation 9:20ff; 11:2-9ff; 12:6-14; 13:1-7.
Daniel further predicted that the pollution of the Christian Church, starting in AD 70, would begin to cease after 1290 day-years. The latter would occur thirty years after the 1260 years and hence in AD 1360ff. Daniel 12:11 cf. 7:25 & 12:7. That was when God raised up John Wycliffe in the middle of the 'Black Death' with which He punished a deformed Church. See Revelation 9:20ff & 11:2-9ff. Cf. 'AIDS' today! Revelation 15:1-18:4.
Daniel last predicted that a further time of great blessing would start to occur at the end of 1335 day-years after AD 70. Daniel 12:4-12. This would occur when John Huss started preaching Wycliffe's Proto-Protestant views in Bohemia, in AD 1405. CF. Revelation 14:6ff. Only yet thereafter, God told Daniel, would he himself be resurrected "at the end of the days." Daniel 12:13.
The appearance of Christ at His incarnation, elicited opposition from several minor antichrists. Matthew 23:2-36 & John 17:12. The apostle John predicted that these 'antichrists' had already emerged, even before the Holy Scriptures were finally completed. I John 2:18ff & 4:1-3, and II John 7. Yet that same John also insisted that the pagan Roman empire would later be replaced by another 'religious' Roman beast. That latter would look like a lamb, but speak like a dragon. Revelation 13:1-11ff cf. Daniel 7:7-25. Indeed, Paul too predicted a great apostasy and the emergence of 'the man of sin' who would rule in the temple, the very Church of God! II Thessalonians 2:3-8.
Probably from even before, and certainly from not long after AD 70, Britain in particular and much of Europe in general started becoming Christian. Especially around the fifth century, the roman Empire broke up into ten "horns" or kingdoms followed by another diverse and blasphemous "horn." Daniel 2:41ff; 7:7, 20, 25; Revelation 13:1-18; 17:3-16. From around AD 600 onward, only the bishop at Rome was called 'pope' ('holy father'). The first papal missionary to Britain, (in AD 600ff) Austin of Rome, was then stoutly resisted by the Culdee or British Celtic Christians. Only after the 664 Synod of Whitby, from about AD 666 onward, did most of Europe and some of England but not Ireland, Scotland and Wales become increasingly Romanized. Thus, the Romish papal power or "horn" became strong or "stout" and long sat and ruled in the Temple of God, while claiming to be His spokesman. However, that spokesman was in fact 'the man of sin' antichrist! Daniel 7:25; 8:20-25; 11:36ff; 12:8-11; II Thessalonians 3:3-8, 12; II Peter 2:1-5ff; Revelation 13:11-18; 17:1-17.
In fulfillment of the prophecies, the Lord in AD 1330 sent the great plague called the 'Black Death.' Daniel 12:11 cf. Revelation 9:20ff; 11:2-9ff; 12:6-14. One major purpose of this, was to punish the deformed church which had departed from God's Word; exalted the pope; and worshipped the communion bread. Daniel 7:24ff & 12:11 cf. Revelation 13:1-13ff; 15:1-8; 16:1-11.
Thirty years later, in AD 1360, God raised up John Wycliffe. He asserted the sole sufficiency of the long-completed Holy Scriptures. Accordingly, he ridiculed transubstantiation and assailed the pope as antichrist. Daniel 12:11ff cf. Revelation 14:6ff.
Forty-five years later, at the end of 1335 years after AD 70, God further raised up John Huss in Bohemia. He promoted Wycliffe's Proto-Protestant views, and inaugurated a time of great blessing in the very heart of Europe. Daniel 12:12 cf. Revelation 14:8ff.
In AD 1415, Rome burned Huss (the "goose" for his Biblical views. This was just after he had announced that though the "unclean birds" of the papacy were then roasting a 'goose' after a hundred years a 'swan' would arise to vindicate him. Cf. Revelation 14:8ff & 18:1-2.
A century after Huss, God raised up the "swan" Martin Luther! He powerfully propagated the views of Wycliffe and Huss, that the pope was antichrist. He also predicted the destruction of that papal antichrist through the powerful preaching of the Gospel. These Reformation doctrines were well reflected in the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England, which declare: that "transubstantiation . . . is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture . . . and hath given occasion to many superstitions"; that "the sacrifices of Masses . . . were fables and dangerous deceits"; and that "the bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this Realm of England" (Articles 28, 31 & 37).
Said Luther against the papal antichrist: "We must slay him with words; the mouth of Christ must do it . . . See what effect this . . . preaching and writing this truth has had; how the papists' cover has shrunk . . . Let us be wise, thank God for His Holy Word, and be bold with our mouths . . . Let us keep boldly on: earnestly inculcate the Word; and drive out the laws of men . . . This is the way Christ is, through us, slaying the papacy." "Christ is with His saints, and wins the victory!"
John Calvin took over and systematized Luther's Biblical views. Calvin called Luther "my much respected father" who had denounced "the darkness of the papacy." Calvin himself then further repeatedly exposed the Roman pontiff as antichrist.
Calvin indicated that though the AD 600 Gregory the Great was the first bishop at Rome to be called sole pope, Gregory himself had regarded that new title as a mark of antichrist! Yet Calvin saw especially the AD 1415 papal burning of Huss as a clear evidence of the antichristian nature of the papacy. On Daniel 12:4ff, Calvin commented in 1561: "At the present time, in the papacy . . . impiety prevails."
Calvin especially insisted that both II Thessalonians 2:3ff and I John 2:18 & 4:4ff clearly brand the pope as antichrist. Romanists, said Calvin, were wrong to regard antichrist as a yet-future tyrant who would harass the church for but three and a half years. Even a ten-year-old, stated Calvin, can see that the centuries-long papacy is itself indeed antichrist! Yet the papal "antichrist will be annihilated by the Word of the Lord . . . Paul does not think the Christ will accomplish this in a moment . . . Christ will scatter the darkness . . . before His coming" by "the preaching of this doctrine." For "we fight by Christ's power, and are armed with God's weapons . . . We are victorious . . . We can no more be conquered, than can God Himself . . . Victory is certain!"
Calvin's views were expounded in Britain especially by his student John Knox together with the rest of the "six John's" in the 1560 First Scots Confession. There, the Protestants' "True Kirk is distinguished from the filthy synagogues" of Romanism. Especially against the latter, the Confession sounds the trumpet blast: "Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be confounded . . . Give Thy servants strength to speak Thy Word in boldness, and let all nations cleave to Thy true knowledge!"
The Calvinistic Second Scots Confession of AD 1580 also known as the Scottish National Covenant denounces "all kinds of papistry in general. We detest and refuse the usurped authority of that Roman antichrist. Many are stirred up by Satan and that Roman antichrist to subvert secretly God's true religion . . . We therefore . . . protest!" Indeed, this Protestant 'protest' was effective. For the Preamble to the 1618ff international Calvinistic Decrees of Dordt declared that also in Holland "the Church was delivered by the mighty hand of God from the tyranny of the Romish antichrist and the terrible idolatry of the papacy." Christians were leaving Romanism, Revelation 18:2-4!
The 1646 Calvinistic Westminster Confession of Faith denounces "popish monastical vows." It denies "the pope any power or jurisdiction" over magistrates, citing here not only II Thessalonians 2:4 but also the '666' passage of Revelation 13:15-17. It calls "papists . . . idolaters." It describes "the popish sacrifice of the 'mass' . . . [as] most abominably injurious to Christ's one sacrifice." Indeed, it terms "transubstantiation . . . repugnant not to Scripture alone, but even to common sense and reason" and indeed "the cause of manifold superstitions, yea, of gross idolatries."
More specifically, the Westminster Confession further insists about deformed churches, that "some have so degenerated as to become synagogues of Satan. Revelation 18:2; Romans 11:18-22 . . . The pope of Rome . . . is that antichrist . . . that exalteth himself in the church against Christ and all that is called God. Matthew 23:8-10; II Thessalonians 2:3-4, 8-9; Revelation 13:6."
Finally, the Calvinistic Westminster Larger Catechism insists that, in the Lord's Prayer, the petition 'Thy Kingdom come!' is a plea for the destruction also of the ecclesiastical antichrist and indeed precisely through the good works of the Spirit-empowered Church as Christ's own spiritual weapon! "We pray that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be destroyed, the gospel propagated throughout the world, the Jews called, the fullness of the Gentiles brought in, [and] the Church furnished with all gospel-officers and . . . purged from corruption." Further, "we pray that God would so over-rule the world and all in it that our sanctification and salvation may be perfected [and] Satan trodden under our feet. Romans 16:20!"
******
So Scripture, Luther, Calvin and Calvinism all teach that antichrist's days are numbered! The papacy will be brought down by the powerful Protestant preaching of the Word of God! II Thessalonians 2:8f cf. Revelation 14:6-8. When that is done:
'Who shall not fear Thee,
O Lord, and glorify
Thy Name? For
Thou only art
holy.
For all nations shall come, and worship before Thee!' Revelation 15:4
Antichrist in Scripture
by Francis Nigel Lee
Short Summary of the findings, extracted from a message delivered at the 1997 Blue Banner Conference. See catalog for ordering information.
Let us now shortly summarize the above teachings of Holy Scripture, Martin Luther and Calvinistic Protestantism.
About 540 B.C., Daniel predicted the cessation of all new prophesying around the time of Christ's death. This, Daniel associated with the Roman destruction of the Jerusalem temple within that very same generation! Daniel 2:34-45; 7:7-19; 8:9-12, 20-25; 9:24-27; 11:30-45; 12:1-4.
Daniel also predicted that, beginning in AD 70, first the Pagan Roman Empire and then papal Rome as its successor would pollute God's true temple (the Christian Church). That would last for 1260 day-years, or till AD 1330. However, then the great plague called the 'Black Death' would sweep across the civilized world, killing most of its ungodly inhabitants. Daniel 7:24ff & 12:7 cf. Revelation 9:20ff; 11:2-9ff; 12:6-14; 13:1-7.
Daniel further predicted that the pollution of the Christian Church, starting in AD 70, would begin to cease after 1290 day-years. The latter would occur thirty years after the 1260 years and hence in AD 1360ff. Daniel 12:11 cf. 7:25 & 12:7. That was when God raised up John Wycliffe in the middle of the 'Black Death' with which He punished a deformed Church. See Revelation 9:20ff & 11:2-9ff. Cf. 'AIDS' today! Revelation 15:1-18:4.
Daniel last predicted that a further time of great blessing would start to occur at the end of 1335 day-years after AD 70. Daniel 12:4-12. This would occur when John Huss started preaching Wycliffe's Proto-Protestant views in Bohemia, in AD 1405. CF. Revelation 14:6ff. Only yet thereafter, God told Daniel, would he himself be resurrected "at the end of the days." Daniel 12:13.
The appearance of Christ at His incarnation, elicited opposition from several minor antichrists. Matthew 23:2-36 & John 17:12. The apostle John predicted that these 'antichrists' had already emerged, even before the Holy Scriptures were finally completed. I John 2:18ff & 4:1-3, and II John 7. Yet that same John also insisted that the pagan Roman empire would later be replaced by another 'religious' Roman beast. That latter would look like a lamb, but speak like a dragon. Revelation 13:1-11ff cf. Daniel 7:7-25. Indeed, Paul too predicted a great apostasy and the emergence of 'the man of sin' who would rule in the temple, the very Church of God! II Thessalonians 2:3-8.
Probably from even before, and certainly from not long after AD 70, Britain in particular and much of Europe in general started becoming Christian. Especially around the fifth century, the roman Empire broke up into ten "horns" or kingdoms followed by another diverse and blasphemous "horn." Daniel 2:41ff; 7:7, 20, 25; Revelation 13:1-18; 17:3-16. From around AD 600 onward, only the bishop at Rome was called 'pope' ('holy father'). The first papal missionary to Britain, (in AD 600ff) Austin of Rome, was then stoutly resisted by the Culdee or British Celtic Christians. Only after the 664 Synod of Whitby, from about AD 666 onward, did most of Europe and some of England but not Ireland, Scotland and Wales become increasingly Romanized. Thus, the Romish papal power or "horn" became strong or "stout" and long sat and ruled in the Temple of God, while claiming to be His spokesman. However, that spokesman was in fact 'the man of sin' antichrist! Daniel 7:25; 8:20-25; 11:36ff; 12:8-11; II Thessalonians 3:3-8, 12; II Peter 2:1-5ff; Revelation 13:11-18; 17:1-17.
In fulfillment of the prophecies, the Lord in AD 1330 sent the great plague called the 'Black Death.' Daniel 12:11 cf. Revelation 9:20ff; 11:2-9ff; 12:6-14. One major purpose of this, was to punish the deformed church which had departed from God's Word; exalted the pope; and worshipped the communion bread. Daniel 7:24ff & 12:11 cf. Revelation 13:1-13ff; 15:1-8; 16:1-11.
Thirty years later, in AD 1360, God raised up John Wycliffe. He asserted the sole sufficiency of the long-completed Holy Scriptures. Accordingly, he ridiculed transubstantiation and assailed the pope as antichrist. Daniel 12:11ff cf. Revelation 14:6ff.
Forty-five years later, at the end of 1335 years after AD 70, God further raised up John Huss in Bohemia. He promoted Wycliffe's Proto-Protestant views, and inaugurated a time of great blessing in the very heart of Europe. Daniel 12:12 cf. Revelation 14:8ff.
In AD 1415, Rome burned Huss (the "goose"
for his Biblical views. This was just after he had announced that though the "unclean birds" of the papacy were then roasting a 'goose' after a hundred years a 'swan' would arise to vindicate him. Cf. Revelation 14:8ff & 18:1-2. A century after Huss, God raised up the "swan" Martin Luther! He powerfully propagated the views of Wycliffe and Huss, that the pope was antichrist. He also predicted the destruction of that papal antichrist through the powerful preaching of the Gospel. These Reformation doctrines were well reflected in the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England, which declare: that "transubstantiation . . . is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture . . . and hath given occasion to many superstitions"; that "the sacrifices of Masses . . . were fables and dangerous deceits"; and that "the bishop of Rome hath no jurisdiction in this Realm of England" (Articles 28, 31 & 37).
Said Luther against the papal antichrist: "We must slay him with words; the mouth of Christ must do it . . . See what effect this . . . preaching and writing this truth has had; how the papists' cover has shrunk . . . Let us be wise, thank God for His Holy Word, and be bold with our mouths . . . Let us keep boldly on: earnestly inculcate the Word; and drive out the laws of men . . . This is the way Christ is, through us, slaying the papacy." "Christ is with His saints, and wins the victory!"
John Calvin took over and systematized Luther's Biblical views. Calvin called Luther "my much respected father" who had denounced "the darkness of the papacy." Calvin himself then further repeatedly exposed the Roman pontiff as antichrist.
Calvin indicated that though the AD 600 Gregory the Great was the first bishop at Rome to be called sole pope, Gregory himself had regarded that new title as a mark of antichrist! Yet Calvin saw especially the AD 1415 papal burning of Huss as a clear evidence of the antichristian nature of the papacy. On Daniel 12:4ff, Calvin commented in 1561: "At the present time, in the papacy . . . impiety prevails."
Calvin especially insisted that both II Thessalonians 2:3ff and I John 2:18 & 4:4ff clearly brand the pope as antichrist. Romanists, said Calvin, were wrong to regard antichrist as a yet-future tyrant who would harass the church for but three and a half years. Even a ten-year-old, stated Calvin, can see that the centuries-long papacy is itself indeed antichrist! Yet the papal "antichrist will be annihilated by the Word of the Lord . . . Paul does not think the Christ will accomplish this in a moment . . . Christ will scatter the darkness . . . before His coming" by "the preaching of this doctrine." For "we fight by Christ's power, and are armed with God's weapons . . . We are victorious . . . We can no more be conquered, than can God Himself . . . Victory is certain!"
Calvin's views were expounded in Britain especially by his student John Knox together with the rest of the "six John's" in the 1560 First Scots Confession. There, the Protestants' "True Kirk is distinguished from the filthy synagogues" of Romanism. Especially against the latter, the Confession sounds the trumpet blast: "Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be confounded . . . Give Thy servants strength to speak Thy Word in boldness, and let all nations cleave to Thy true knowledge!"
The Calvinistic Second Scots Confession of AD 1580 also known as the Scottish National Covenant denounces "all kinds of papistry in general. We detest and refuse the usurped authority of that Roman antichrist. Many are stirred up by Satan and that Roman antichrist to subvert secretly God's true religion . . . We therefore . . . protest!" Indeed, this Protestant 'protest' was effective. For the Preamble to the 1618ff international Calvinistic Decrees of Dordt declared that also in Holland "the Church was delivered by the mighty hand of God from the tyranny of the Romish antichrist and the terrible idolatry of the papacy." Christians were leaving Romanism, Revelation 18:2-4!
The 1646 Calvinistic Westminster Confession of Faith denounces "popish monastical vows." It denies "the pope any power or jurisdiction" over magistrates, citing here not only II Thessalonians 2:4 but also the '666' passage of Revelation 13:15-17. It calls "papists . . . idolaters." It describes "the popish sacrifice of the 'mass' . . . [as] most abominably injurious to Christ's one sacrifice." Indeed, it terms "transubstantiation . . . repugnant not to Scripture alone, but even to common sense and reason" and indeed "the cause of manifold superstitions, yea, of gross idolatries."
More specifically, the Westminster Confession further insists about deformed churches, that "some have so degenerated as to become synagogues of Satan. Revelation 18:2; Romans 11:18-22 . . . The pope of Rome . . . is that antichrist . . . that exalteth himself in the church against Christ and all that is called God. Matthew 23:8-10; II Thessalonians 2:3-4, 8-9; Revelation 13:6."
Finally, the Calvinistic Westminster Larger Catechism insists that, in the Lord's Prayer, the petition 'Thy Kingdom come!' is a plea for the destruction also of the ecclesiastical antichrist and indeed precisely through the good works of the Spirit-empowered Church as Christ's own spiritual weapon! "We pray that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be destroyed, the gospel propagated throughout the world, the Jews called, the fullness of the Gentiles brought in, [and] the Church furnished with all gospel-officers and . . . purged from corruption." Further, "we pray that God would so over-rule the world and all in it that our sanctification and salvation may be perfected [and] Satan trodden under our feet. Romans 16:20!"
******
So Scripture, Luther, Calvin and Calvinism all teach that antichrist's days are numbered! The papacy will be brought down by the powerful Protestant preaching of the Word of God! II Thessalonians 2:8f cf. Revelation 14:6-8. When that is done:
'Who shall not fear Thee,
O Lord, and glorify
Thy Name? For
Thou only art
holy.
For all nations shall come, and worship before Thee!' Revelation 15:4
Bladestunner316
Puritan Board Doctor
Bladestunner316
Puritan Board Doctor
Bladestunner316
Puritan Board Doctor
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