Antichrist = Antimessiah?

[Old man]

I think this is where this should go. We'll see.

I have seen several references on this forum to the “Antichrist” coming as or trying to pass himself off as the Messiah. I have yet to find any scriptures that indicate this to be true. It is also true that I have yet to memorize the entire Bible so there may be some but I am not aware of any. This being so and because there is (I believe) scriptures that make this idea hard for me to accept I would like to take this thread to explain and perhaps get some feed back on an idea that I am forming about this subject.

It starts with one of the reasons why the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah (there were several reasons). In Matt. 11:13-14 Jesus tells His disciples that John is “Elijah who was to come.” Add to this what He says about John being Elijah in Matt 17:10-13 in which he admits in verse 11 that Elijah is coming and will restore all things but then clarifies that Elijah had already come (referring to John as being Elijah. See Matt 11:13-14 and 17:13.)

Mal 4:5 "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.
Mal 4:6 "He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse."

Mat 11:13 "For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
Mat 11:14 "And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come.

Mat 17:10 And His disciples asked Him, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
Mat 17:11 And He answered and said, "Elijah is coming and will restore all things;
Mat 17:12 but I say to you that Elijah already came,and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."
Mat 17:13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

The Jews did not recognized or accept that John was or could be Elijah who was to prepare the way for the Lord i.e. “Restore all things” and therefore did not accept Jesus as the Messiah whom John pointed out to be the savior. (This is only one of the reasons they rejected Him) Because they did not see John as being the one coming in the spirit of Elijah the Jews are still waiting for him to show up and prepare the way for their Messiah to come.

Can it be said that although they are “waiting” for their Messiah to come they are actually “looking” for Elijah to show up first. In fact they set a place for him at their Passover seder in anticipation of his coming. They expect him to come first. The first question is would they receive anyone as the Messiah who is not preceded by Elijah first? If not then in order for the “Antichrist” to be accepted as the Messiah, Elijah (or someone posing as him) would have to come first.

I have been wondering if the “Antichrist” will come first claiming to be Elijah.

Here is a sequence of events of how this would work if he comes not claiming to be the Messiah but instead claiming to be Elijah.

1. A war is fought with Israel by the nations around her in which God intervenes and destroys 9/10 of the armies that come against her (i.e. Libya, Ethiopia, Syria, Turkey, Iran, etc. All those of the Eze. 38 prophecy)
2. The “Antichrist” is raised from the dead or healed from a fatal wound of the head that is humanly and technologically impossible to heal or treat.
   
   1. Rev 13:3 I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast;
   2. 1 and 2 do not really have to fall in that order. The miracle of God’s intervention in the war in close proximity time-wise, would just add credence to the legitimacy of the “Antichrist” being Elijah and from God regardless whether it happens before or after his healing. Satan will use that event to slip his own guy in there.
   
   
3. The “Antichrist” changes his name to reflect the name the number of which is 666.
   
   1. This is to reflect the Biblical precedence of a name being change after an encounter with God. Examples: Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Paul, Matthew, Peter, Barnabas, the new names mentioned for those who overcome see letter to the angel of Pergamum (Rev. 2:17.)
   2. His encounter of coarse was not with God but Satan (i.e. the red dragon Rev. 13:1-2 ) but the name change would be reflective of a name changed by God. Whether he renames himself or Satan gives him the name ?????
   
   
4. The “Antichrist” claiming to be Elijah (as supported by the two previously mentioned miracles) establishes a peace treaty with the surrounding nations that are still smarting from the whooping they got. (Would signing a peace treaty with them constitute a miracle? No one yet has been able to establish one.)
   
   1. Dan 9:27 "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."
   
   
5. Now that peace is established by him in the region he (in the authority of Elijah who is to “restore all things”) gives the “go ahead” to rebuild the temple so that the messiah whose arrival is imminent (as evidenced by the arrival of “Elijah”) can suddenly appear in it.
   
   1. Mal 3:1 "Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts.
   
   
6. When the temple is built and sacrifices are reestablished he himself goes into the temple and declares himself, not messiah but god. He only needs the excuse of building the temple for the messiah in order to build it for himself, he doesn’t need to claim that he is the messiah.
   
   1. 2Th 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
   
   
7. The Jews and of coarse Christians will automatically reject and renounce him thus bringing his wrath upon them and he will be given the authority to overcome them.
   
   1. Rev 13:7 It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.
   
   

That’s it for now; although, there is more but I’ll wait to see what’s left of this part after whatever input is given.
Please be merciful!

[jeffweeder]

I have been wondering if the “Antichrist” will come first claiming to be Elijah.

That would be odd, when it is Elijahs role to prepare the way for the Messiah / Christ.

[Raybob]

I think this is where this should go. We'll see.

I have seen several references on this forum to the “Antichrist” coming as or trying to pass himself off as the Messiah. I have yet to find any scriptures that indicate this to be true. It is also true that I have yet to memorize the entire Bible so there may be some but I am not aware of any....

The scriptures you provided don't mention Antichrist at all. Antichrist isn't a person but a spirit. That spirit has been loose for quite some time now.

1Jn 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.

Yep, some time now.

1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

This is basically telling us that anyone that lies is denying Jesus as their Lord, and is of the spirit of Antichrist.

1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Self explanatory.

2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

A Christian that lives guided by the Holy Spirit is not ever going to be a deceiver. If someone is a deceiver, they clearly are not a follower of Jesus Chrsit that came in the flesh.

[DurbanDude]

I have been wondering if the “Antichrist” will come first claiming to be Elijah.

I feel that most of the descriptions of this future leader describe him as claiming to be God. (Daniel 11, 2 Thess 2, Rev 13) This is far off from claiming to be Elijah, or a forerunner to the Messiah.

I personally feel that the place he comes to power (in Jerusalem) and his comparison to Antiochus (a deceiver of the Jews) and the warnings about future "Christs" that we find in the NT all point to a Messianic type figure. His association with the country that re-appears to the amazement of earth in Rev 17, I believe is also a pointer towards him being a Jewish leader. A Jewish leader that is accepted as God by Jews sorta has to be Messianic, and the fact that he is a false Christ does make him anti Jesus.

[the rookie]

The scriptures you provided don't mention Antichrist at all. Antichrist isn't a person but a spirit. That spirit has been loose for quite some time now.

The prophetic scriptures utilized other titles besides the title "Antichrist" - and even the 1 John 2:18 passage you referenced acknowledges that the Antichrist is a man as well as a spirit. For a "spirit" to confess something, it would have to do so through men; the deceiver of 2 Jn 1:7 would also have to be human, in context to what John is saying. In other words, the argument that John is making is that there is "The Antichrist" coming in the future; yet there are men even now operating in that spirit - to deny Christ and deceive the church.

So it's "both / and" not "either / or".

[John 8:32]

That would be odd, when it is Elijahs role to prepare the way for the Messiah / Christ.

Actually it may not be odd, Jesus warns us that many would come claiming they are Christ...

Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

It would not surprise me to see false Elijah's. There have been some already who have claimed to be Elijah. Check with your local clergy and they will verify this.

[Fenris]

This is an interesting topic. Since Jews are mentioned, what do people here think the messiah would have to accomplish to be "believable" to the Jews?

[the rookie]

This is an interesting topic. Since Jews are mentioned, what do people here think the messiah would have to accomplish to be "believable" to the Jews?

In light of that question, A.W. Pink (late 19th / early 20th century theologian) was convinced that the Antichrist would be Jewish. Others have shared this viewpoint over the years. Micah 5:5, however, mentions "the Assyrian" in context to "in that day" (Mic. 5:10), or the day of deliverance and restoration at the coming of Messiah. Meaning, could a deceiver who seduces some in Israel be as potent as an "Islamic ally" bringing a supposed unprecedented peace in the Middle East? Would he have to be Jewish or could the "little horn" be an Islamic / Turkish political giant with the ability to bring the Islamic world into a real (but false) peace with Israel? There seems to be much more biblical weight behind that kind of scenario versus a Jewish "anti-messiah".

When Jesus spoke of "false messiahs" (along with "false prophets") in Matthew 24, it seemed to be in context to the false promises of justice and deliverance as well, looking to deceive the Jewish people. I would guess that these "lesser lights" (compared to the Micah 5 "Assyrian") could be Jewish. Just my little speculation

[John 8:32]

This is an interesting topic. Since Jews are mentioned, what do people here think the messiah would have to accomplish to be "believable" to the Jews?

Would He have to establish the Kingdom and fulfill the prophecies? You know which I am speaking of here.

[Fenris]

Just my little speculation

An good exposition, thank you.

[Fenris]

Would He have to establish the Kingdom and fulfill the prophecies? You know which I am speaking of here.

What kingdom...?

[Raybob]

The prophetic scriptures utilized other titles besides the title "Antichrist" - and even the 1 John 2:18 passage you referenced acknowledges that the Antichrist is a man as well as a spirit. For a "spirit" to confess something, it would have to do so through men; the deceiver of 2 Jn 1:7 would also have to be human, in context to what John is saying. In other words, the argument that John is making is that there is "The Antichrist" coming in the future; yet there are men even now operating in that spirit - to deny Christ and deceive the church.

So it's "both / and" not "either / or".

Can you explain to me how John, in 1st or 2nd John, stated that antichrist was a man? I don't see it. Also, I don't see where John mentioned "the antichrist" at all. I see him mention the "spirit of antichrist" and of men with that spirit, but I can't see where he mentions antichrist is a man.

[John 8:32]

In light of that question, A.W. Pink (late 19th / early 20th century theologian) was convinced that the Antichrist would be Jewish. Others have shared this viewpoint over the years. Micah 5:5, however, mentions "the Assyrian" in context to "in that day" (Mic. 5:10), or the day of deliverance and restoration at the coming of Messiah. Meaning, could a deceiver who seduces some in Israel be as potent as an "Islamic ally" bringing a supposed unprecedented peace in the Middle East? Would he have to be Jewish or could the "little horn" be an Islamic / Turkish political giant with the ability to bring the Islamic world into a real (but false) peace with Israel? There seems to be much more biblical weight behind that kind of scenario versus a Jewish "anti-messiah".

When Jesus spoke of "false messiahs" (along with "false prophets") in Matthew 24, it seemed to be in context to the false promises of justice and deliverance as well, looking to deceive the Jewish people. I would guess that these "lesser lights" (compared to the Micah 5 "Assyrian") could be Jewish. Just my little speculation

In the past, the Assyrians have been the antithesis of Israel. As long as we are speculating, we might as well speculate that Assyria will once again be the rod of God's anger. Wouldn't the little horn be represented by a false religion again working together with a political/military beast?

[John 8:32]

What kingdom...?

Isa 2, Isa 4, Isa 11, Mic 4, Zech 12, 14 etc.

[Fenris]

Isa 2, Isa 4, Isa 11, Mic 4, Zech 12, 14 etc.

Ezekiel 37.......?