NOTICE:This study is being rebuilt because it was deleted due to technical difficulties. Fortunately they were backed up on a flash drive, but it is a long process to cut and pasting these notes. Thankyou for your patience
I. A Fallen Apostolic Ministry
The antichrist is a copy of the Lord Jesus Christ
The first mention of the title "antichrist" (or an opponent of the Messiah) is by the apostle John. (1John 2:18-20) "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. 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."
1. The beast (antichrist) is a copy! Up This man of sin always copies the things of God, that is why we are to be "wise unto that which is good, (The Lord Jesus Christ) and simple concerning evil." (The antichrist) (Rom 16:19-20) The book of Revelation begins with it's "The Revelation of Jesus Christ," (Rev 1:1) not the antichrist. Once an understanding of who Christ is then it will automatically expose the evil workings of the antichrist.
Note how many times the antichrist copies.
2. The beast (antichrist) is a man The first thing that Jesus said in response to the disciples question about His Second Coming, was "let no man deceive you." (Mat.24:4) This was the same answer the apostle Paul gave to the Thessalonians. "Let no man deceive you." (2Thes.2:3, Note: Gal.1:11-12) a. The man of sin is the son of perdition. (2Thes.2:3) b. A copy of Jesus was the Son of God. (Matt.1:18-25) How did Jesus become the only begotten Son? (John.1:14, Heb.1:5) He become became the "only begotten Son" by being born of a virgin! (Matt.1:18-25) Then He did not begin His ministry until He was 30 years old. Luke.3:23, Num.4:3, 23, 30, 35. Matt.5:17-19) At the age of 30, Jesus became the "Christ." He became "anointed"2 of the Holy Spirit. (Luke.3:21-23, Matt.1:13)
Note: Could the beast counterfeit the birth of Jesus also? The pattern would seem to indicate this. If this proves to be true, then the antichrist would be born 30 years before him being "revealed in his time." (2Thes.2:6, Rev.13:5)
Something to think about? This "man of sin" will have a false anointing, preaching "another Jesus...another spirit...another Gospel." (2Cor.11:17)
Watch and pray because this "man of sin" is between us and the Second Coming!"
3. The beast (antichrist) is a copy of Christ being the God / man. Since the 1880 A.D. the "serpent" (Satan, Devil Rev.12:9) has intensified his challenge to the Deity of Christ (i.e. Jesus is God manifest in the flesh 1Tim.3:15, 1John.4:1-3) while all the time preparing (1John.4:3, 2Thes.2:7) his man of sin that will declare himself as God manifest in the flesh. (2Thes.2:4)
4. The beast (antichrist) is a false apostle and has his false prophet with him This another copy. The apostle and prophet are given to responsibility for the foundation of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph.2:20-22, 1Cor.3:10-11) This "man of sin" counterfeits the apostolic and prophetic ministries laying the false foundation for his apostate Church. MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS." (Rev.17-18) No wonder Paul wrote, "let us watch (Eph.1:18) and be sober" (1Thes.5:6) because this preparation is happening now! (1John.4:3, 2Thes.2:7) a. The "false prophet" is the other "beast" in Rev.13:11-18; 19:20) b. Jesus is "our Apostle...of our profession." (Heb.3:1) Therefore, the beast / antichrist is a false apostle, with a false anointing because he copies everything that Christ is. c. The signs of an apostle is, "in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. (2 Cor 12:12-13) This man of sin does "Lying" (counterfeit) signs and wonders and mighty deeds. (Note:2Cor.11:1-7, 15)
Note: This "man of sin" will be revealed before Jesus returns! (Review: What about the Rapture)
d. update The example of Judas Iscariot give us some insight into how and why this happened. (1) Just as Judas was chosen by Jesus, (Matt.10:1) this "man" begins in the Church as one of the Eph.4:11 ministries. (apostle) Note: Peter said, " For he (Judas) was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry." (Acts 1:17-18 "apostleship" v.25) (2) Just as Judas was sent out by Jesus and performed all the signs, wonders and miracles, (Matt.10:1-4) this "man" will do the same in Jesus name before he falls by transgression. (Acts.1:25)
Note: There was a problem developing in Judas with money (John.12:4) before he falls by transgression and Satan enters him. (Acts.1:25, Luke.22:3, John.13:2) The pattern reveals this "man" will be same.
Judas "fell" (taking all this exposure to the anointing of God, signs, wonders and miracles with him. Like that of Lucifer, (Eze.28:11-19) he was exposed to the truth but chose not to abide in the truth. (John.8:44-45)
(3) Just as Judas betrayed Jesus for money, (Matt.26:14) this "man" will also betray Jesus for money. (4) Just as at the communion, Satan entered Judas to betray Jesus. (Luke.22:3, John.13:2) Satan will enter "this man" (5) Just as Judas partnered with Religion and the present government to destroy Jesus, (Mark.14:43) this "man of sin" will do the same.
5. The beast (antichrist) counterfeits the entire 5 fold ministry When Jesus ascended He "gave gifts unto men." The apostle, prophet, evangelists, pastor and teacher. (Eph.4:8-16) The antichrist will counterfeit the same! The "man of sin: will sit in the Temple of God (the Church) imitating the gift of the "apostle...prophet....evangelists, pastors and teachers."
Note: This is "mystery of iniquity" already working! (2Thes.2:7, 1John.4:3)
6. The beast (antichrist) is a false / counterfeit High Priest The reason he is a "false" high priest is because he copying Jesus is the only true High Priest. "For there is only God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1Tim.2:5, Heb.2:17; 3:1; 7:1-28) This "man of sin" wants to be the "mediator" (High Priest) and he wants to be God. (2Thes.2:4)
Note: The "man of sin" is also setting himself up as a false bridegroom! Why? Because the antichrist wants to be "like"The Lord Jesus Christ, the true Bridegroom. For those that have a "love for the truth" (2Thes.2:10) will easily (1John.2:26-27, John.16:12-15) discern the difference. (For details review: "Marriage") . Not only the antichrist will be a bridegroom imposter, but will violate the pattern for marriage of the High Priest. If you do not know God's Word and His patterns, you will lead astray. God says, "my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst." (Isa 5:13)
7. The beast (antichrist) has a counterfeit "mark" The beast (antichrist) "causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads." (Rev.13:16-17) A counterfeit, of the real "mark" that God has. a. The mark is not a new thing that the beast invented. It is a counterfeit! (Gen.4:15, Job.7:20; 16:12, Psa.37:37, Rom.16:17) b. Paul wrote, "I press towards the mark..." (Phil.3:8, 2Cor.11:1-15) c. Why would the beast counterfeit God's spiritual mark with a natural mark? This man of sin is going to have "lying" signs and wonders. (2Thes.2:9, Note: Exod.7:11-12) These signs and wonders are not the miracle of man's scientific achievement, no these are signs and wonders "like" what Christ did. (Acts.2:22 / Isa.14:13, 2Thes.2:4 "as God")
8. The beast (antichrist) wants his counterfeit name record on us "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." (Rev 13:16-18) a. God said, "in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee." (Ex 20:24-25, Deut.12:5, 11; 14:23-24; 16:2, 6) Christ said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matt 28:19-20, Acts.2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5) This is where the "family" (Eph.3:14-15) name is recorded, in our water baptism.
Note: The name of "The Lord Jesus Christ" is the "family" name that the Bride marries into. Therefore it is no wonder that the beast / antichrist wants his family name on his false / counterfeit Bride. MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS. (Rev.17:1-18; 18:1-24)
b. "Whatsoever (buying and selling) ye do in word or deed, (Rev.13:16-18) do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (Col 3:17-18) The antichrist / beast is again counterfeiting the things of God.
9. The beast (antichrist) sits in the Temple of God "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2Thes.2:4-5) a. What is the Temple of God? (1) "Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet," (Acts 7:48-49; 17:24) (2) There has been no Temple in Jerusalem since 70 A.D. when it was destroyed by Titus and the Roman Army. (Dan.9:26, Matt.24:15-21, Mark.13:14-19, Luke.21:20-24) b. In the New Testament, the Temple of God is the Church The only Temple that God lives in today in the New Covenant is the Church, the Body of Christ. There is no other Temple where God's name is record on it. (Exod.20:24) The antichrist is not going waste his time opposing an earthly Temple in Jerusalem because God's name is not recorded on it. In fact, it was left desolate and destroyed. (Dan.9:26) (1) "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Eph 2:21, 1Peter.2:5-9) (2) "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1Tim 3:15-16)
Note: Some think that the Temple will be rebuilt again in Jerusalem, and that will be the Temple of God. This comes from a misunderstanding of Daniel's 70 Week prophecy. There will be no rebuilt Temple. God is finished (Acts.7:47-48; 17:24) with natural earthly Temples. (Review: Daniel's 70 week Prophecy, Phase.5 Page 4-5)
10. The beast (antichrist) has a world-wide counterfeit Church There "came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters...With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication." (Rev 17:1-3) a. This "great whore" is the apostate 3 (prostitute) Church (1) This woman signifies the Church of the antichrist. (A woman always speaks of a Church, either true or false. (2Cor.11:1-3, Eph.5:21-33, Jer.31:32, Hosea.1:1-11; 2:1-2) (1) This Woman is drunk "with the blood of the saints." (Rev.17:6) (2) In her was found the blood of Prophets" (Rev.18:24) (3) The "voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride shall be heard no more in thee." (Babylon Rev.18:22) (4) This means the "voice" of the bridegroom and bride was heard in Babylon.(Rev.18:24) (5) This present a interesting picture. The Rev.12 Woman (The Bride of Christ) and the Rev.17 Woman (The Bride of the antichrist) were "grinding"4 together. Think of the Parable of the Wheat and the tares. (Matt.13:24-30, 36-43) "Let both grow together until the harvest (the end of the world. v.39)" then a separation. (Matt.24:41)
This separating will cause a great falling away!
b. This apostate Church will fall away "out from us." (1John.2:18-19) Let "no man deceive you by any means: for that day (the Second Coming) shall not come, except there come a falling5 away (apostasy) first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." (2 Thes.2:3-4) This should be no surprise because Lucifer and Judas (both sons of"perdition" John.17:12, 2Thes.2:3) fell from the inside out, (Isa.14:11-14, Eze.28:11-19, Matt.10:4, Acts.1:16-25) Note: Lucifer, Judas and the apostate Church all began in the things of God.
(1) The "falling away" is not speaking of the unsaved because they are already fallen in sin. There is nothing for them to fall from. (Rom.3:23; 5:12) (2) This "falling away" or the falling "out form us" (the Church) happens some time before the revealing of the beast / antichrist, 42 months (Rev.13:5) before Christ returns and destroys him. (2Thes.2:5-10, Rev.19:11-20)
(Click here for explanation of these order of events)
(3) This places the "falling away and the revealing of the beast / antichrist just before the "Tribulation." (Review: Eschatology One, Phase 10) (4) This apostate Church falling "out from us" (1John.2:19) compares to that of the Parable of the Tares. (Matt.13:24-30, 36-43) The "children of the wicked one" were removed. (5) This apostasy is a spiritual whore doom. (Eze.16:1-28, Jer.3:6-10, Hosea.1:1-9, James.4:1-4 / 1John.2:16) Many in the Church world have "gone (whoring) in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. (i.e. idolatry, man's philosophy, vain deceit, tradition of men and follow after the rudiments of this world, and not after Christ.- Col.2:8) These are spots..." (Jude.1:11-13) that will be removed (Eph.5:27, 32) from the "espoused" (2Cor.11:1-3) Church before the wedding.
Note: The Harlot Church will embrace Cain, Balaam, Korah, idolatry, man's philosophy, vain deceit, tradition of men and follow after the rudiments of this world, into "another Jesus...another spirit...(and)..another gospel." (2 Cor.11:4-5) and not after Christ. (Col.2:8) It is after the antichrist, disguised as after The LORD JESUS CHRIST. (Note: Josh.9:1)
(6) This apostate Church has "the form of godliness (i.e. appearing to be a Bride) but denying the power (that comes from a separated and consecrated life within the confines of marriage)... from such ("form") turn away." (2Tim.3:5)
Note: The Harlot woman has "the form' of the Bride while "grinding together at the mill." (Matt.24:36-41) Watch out! (Eph.1:18, 1Thes.5:1-8)
(7) Paul says, we don't take the members of Christ (1Cor.12:12-31) and make them one with a harlot. (1Cor.6:15-20) Christ Jesus, our High Priest (Heb.3:1) cannot take a "whore" as a wife. (Lev.21:7, 10-15, Matt.5:17-19)
Consider this: Joseph had the lawful right (Deut.24:1) to put Mary away when he discovered she with child, because she was "espoused to Joseph." (Matt.1:18) We have been "espoused" (2Cor.11:2) to Jesus to be His Bride as Mary was. For the "espoused " Church to have "friendship" (James.4:4) with this world (i.e. the lust of the eyes, flesh and pride of life 1John.2:16) is spiritual adultery and is worthy of being "put away." (Matt.1:19, 5:17-19, 2Tim.2:13, Rom.3:21, 31)
(8) The spirit of antichrist is "even now" working in the world, (1John 4:3, 2Thes.2:8) and in the Church today to develop his false bride. (Note: The Wheat and the Tares Matt.13:24-30, 36-43) That is why John says, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God" (1John.4:3)
God's Word was "Come out of her my people" (Rev.18:4) Today we have become like Laodicea and God is going to call out a people once again. (Also review: Marriage, Vail)
(Click here for explanation of chart)
10. The beast (antichrist) has power over the kingdoms of this world. "And it was given unto him (the beast / antichrist) to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." (Rev 13:7-8)
It is the "last time" because there are many antichrists
Was John wrong, thinking that his day was the "last time," that Jesus was coming back in his day. (The 1st. century) Of course NOT! John was writing by the "inspiration of God!" (2Tim.3:16) How can the "inspiration" (i.e. The Holy Spirit) be wrong? The answer is in what God inspired Peter to write along with king David. (2Peter 3:8-9, Psa.90:4) "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."Note these other New Testament writer's:
1. Paul wrote that God "Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son." (Heb 1:2-3) b. Peter wrote that Jesus, "was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." (1Peter 1:20-21) c. Paul told the Corinthians, "this I say, brethren, the time is short" (1Cor 7:29-30) d. Peter declared, "this (the day of Pentecost) is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; (Joel.2:28) "it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh" (Acts 2:16-17) Review: Phase 10
(Click here for explanation of chart below)
Today, we are in the last of the last two days before Jesus returns.