ANIMALS/DO THEY HAVE SOULS

ANTICHRIST The term antikristos is found five times in four New Testament passages - all in John’s epistles (1 Jn 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 Jn 7). Three verses define “what” the antichrist is (1 Jn 2:22, 4:3; 2 Jn 7).There are religious groups that teach that the antichrist has not yet come. John taught that they were in existence in the first century (1 Jn 2:28, 4:3). The antichrist was nothing more than a general spirit of unbelief. It especially opposed the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Such a spirit worked in the first century, and it works today. There are those today who are looking for “the” antichrist. Some facts they present about him: A specific person, An evil world dictator, Has not come to power, and Will be a sign of the imminent return of Christ. Many world leaders have been referred to as the antichrist by those who hold to dispensational pre-millennialism. The pre-millennial concept of an antichrist does not harmonize with John’s teachings about him. Because of this, pre-millennialists will not appeal to the verses that specifically mention the antichrist when they discuss their doctrine. They believe the antichrist is one man. John says that many antichrists existed in the first century. They believe the antichrist has not come. In the first century, John said: “…even now already is it in the world” (1 Jn 4:3). They believe the antichrist will signal the Lord’s return. It has been almost 2000 years since the presence of the antichrist in the first century and Jesus has not returned. The reality is that any man can be an antichrist. When we oppose God, the Christ, His teachings, the church, etc., we are “anti” Christ. God’s face is against all who come against him.