I got a question from a friend the other day, and I have decided to post the question and my answer below. I hope it is helpful to someone!
[[ The Question ]]
----------------- Original Message -----------------
Date: May 3, 2008 9:05 AM
** This is being sent around myspace as a bulletin.. I tried to look it up online but I don't know what verse(s) it is, Sooo can you Please tell me if this is a real Bible verse???? Just wondering..
"According to The Book of Revelations the anti-christ is:
The anti-christ will be a man, in his 40s, of MUSLIM descent, who will deceive the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal.... The prophecy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, will destroy everything."
Thanks, tell Cindy I said Hi please I miss her sooo much=)
[[ The Answer ]]
I will try to be brief, but here it goes!
1. There is NO description of the antichrist in the Bible that is that specific or descriptive. Over the years, people have called lots of people the antichrist, most notably the Pope, Mikael Gorbachev (President of former Soviet Union in the '80s), Hitler, and others who fit the description.
2. For some reason ( I do not know why ) many scholars think the antichrist will arise in Europe. Perhaps because the European Union has such strong political pull, and because the people in Europe seem to be easily united for political reasons.
3. 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 is the longest passage about the antichrist. It says that the power of the 'man of lawlessness' will be displayed in counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing.
4. For those who are Christians, it would seem, the deception will not have any effect because they love the truth. It is those who do not love the truth and who are not saved that will be deceived.
5. Verse 11 of 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 is the scary part: "For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness."
a. For this reason - verse 10 says 'they perish because they refused to love the truth.' That means that the delusion is a judgment from God against those who do not accept Christ as savior, and demonstrate that they love the truth.
b. God sends - the judgment comes not from Satan, though he is used in this. It comes from God. whoa.
c. powerful delusion - it would seem that even people who try to 'think it through' would be unable to think clearly enough to figure out that this guy (anticrhist) is a fraud. Not hard to understand, seeing as how Hitler deceived so many.
d. believe the lie - many people believe that antichrist will have an over-arching theme or campaign of peace or hope or change...so it is easy to tag this one on a persuasive presidential candidate. My guess is that a potential antichrist would offer some wonderful solution to a pressing global problem, like hunger, that unites a significant part of the world in a common cause. The result would be miraculous, and as he gained power he would literally begin to do supernatural stuff (healing people, raising people from the dead, etc.)
e. all will be condemned - the Bible teaches that "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ." So, these people will be those who have not trusted Christ with their life.
f. who have not believed the truth - people who have heard about the truth of Christ, but now choose to believe the lie of antichrist
g. delight in wickedness - basically, living any way you want, without concern for your relationship with God.
6. Barack Obaman is probably not the antichrist,
7. Antichrist is satan's attempt to rule the world through another being. Think Anakin Skywalker leaving Obi Wan Kanobi and going over to the Dark Side as Darth Vader.
8. Here are verses for you if you want to do some homework:
a. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-11
b. 1 John 2:18
c. 1 John 2:22
d. 1 John 4:3
e. 2 John verse 7
f. Matthew 24:11 (false prophets)
g. Matthew 24:15 (abomination of desolation)
h. Matthew 24:24-25 (Jesus says, "I'm telling you in advance.)
Bottom line: we can figure all this out, but because God has promised to send a delusion on those who do not already believe, then what difference does it make? Once antichrist comes, those who did not already trust God will be unable to sort out the facts and choose the truth instead of antichrist.
This isn't the 'Happy Happy Joy Joy' kind of subject that gets lots of laughs, but it is interesting. I hope you will take the time to do a little study for yourself. You will probably enjoy it!
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