by Pearl Nabi

Created on: October 20, 2008

The world stage is already prepared for the Antichrist and it will only take his appearance to bring about all the events foretold in the Scriptures.

Even as 1 John 4:3 was writing his epistle, he said that the spirit of the Antichrist was already there, way back then even in those days, in the world. This doesn't mean the Antichrist was there physically but that the things that he embodied were already at work in the world. For instance, we talk about the 'spirit' of Christmas, meaning the feelings and expectations engendered by the season, of good will, of merriment, of anticipation, of preparation, even though it is not yet even Christmas Day.

This means that way back almost two thousand years, the 'spirit' of the Antichrist was already around. This spirit is to be found in the attitude of mankind - as in the example towards Christmas - as in this verse towards the person who will stand in the place of the anointed Son of God.

Other things to remember are that 'Anti' means 'against' as in 'anitibiotic' meaning 'against life' yet in a perverse sense it also gives life in that it provides healing. Another meaning of 'anti' means 'in place of', so it can only mean someone who will actually stand in the place of the Son of God. This is the failing of many of the prime candidates suggested as the Antichrist: none of them could possibly convince the world that they are the Christ, much less be worshipped as God, in the Temple of God!

It is in 2 Thessalonians 2:4 where it says that the Antichrist 'opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or worshipped as God, so he sits in the Temple of God showing himself that he is God'. The question then is does this mean in the Temple at Jerusalem or within us? By 'within us' I mean where 2 Corinthians 6:16 says our body is the Temple of the Living God and if we have been baptised by the Son with the Spirit of God (John 1:33), then God is within us. So which Temple is the Antichrist worshipped in?

The short answer is both! The Son said in Matthew 24:15 that when we see 'the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place [i.e. the Temple]...' which means that we will see the Antichrist in person standing in the Temple at Jerusalem. 'Abomination of Desolation' is merely another Biblical term for Antichrist because the result of worshipping the false Christ as God is complete religious desolation and loss of salvation.

The Antichrist is not going to appear to be evil or unrighteous. There is going to be no outward manifestation of his true colours. In fact, he's going to so look so much like the genuine article that even the elect would be fooled, if that were possible. (Matthew 24:24) As 2 Corinthians 11:13 & 14 says that they are false apostles who transform 'themselves into apostles of Christ' and Satan transforms himself into an Angel of Light. This is not what they actually become but only what they appear to be.

So where in the world are there religious ministers who appear to be ministers of Christ but who are actually ravenous wolves in sheep's clothing? It should be obvious that they have deceived us into worshipping a Christ who is not the true Son of God, but an impostor who stands in his place. So who is the Antichrist that stands in place of the true Son of God and who is also worshipped as though he were God?

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