Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Antichrist and Oil
My grandmother came to visit the other day. As we were chatting while my children were playing with my mother, the conversation turned to the economy. Soon she mentioned, "Well, you know, oil is going to get more important the closer we get to the end times. That oil is what the Antichrist is going to be after and he's going to be able to solve all the financial problems so people will follow after him."
Hmmm.... which verse is that? What does the Bible say about antichrist? I'm going to use Green's Literal Translation for this one:
1 John 2:18-27: "Little children, it is a last hour, and as you heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have risen up, from which you know that it is a last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they were of us, they would have remained with us; but they left so that it might be revealed that they all are not of us.
"And you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I did not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because every lie is not of the truth. Who is the liar, except the one denying, saying that Jesus is not the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one denying the Father and the Son. Everyone denying the Son does not have the Father. The one confessing the Son also has the Father. Then what you heard from the beginning, let it abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you will abide both in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise which He promised us: everlasting life. I wrote these things to you concerning the ones leading you astray. And the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone teach you. But as His anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and as He taught you, abide in Him."
1 John 4:1-3: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world. By this know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. And every spirit which does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not from God; and this is the antichrist which you heard is coming, and now is already in the world."
2 John 7-9: "Because many deceivers went out into the world, those not confessing Jesus Christ to have come in the flesh, this is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, that we may not lose the things we worked out, but that we may receive a full reward. Everyone transgressing and not abiding in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. The one abiding in the doctrine of Christ, this one has the Father and the Son."
The Church in the first century had been warned that antichrist was coming ("as you heard that the antichrist is coming" 1 John 2:18; "the antichrist which you heard is coming" 1 John 4:3). The term antichrist does not refer to an individual as there were more than one ("many antichrists have risen up" 1 John 2:18)! Also, they were already at work ("even now many antichrists have risen up" 1 John 2:18; "concerning the ones leading you astray" 1 John 2:26; "many deceivers went out into the world" 2 John 7.) These antichrists were active in the first century, not being predicted as two thousand years into their future.
John also defines very clearly what these first century antichrists were doing: they were "denying, saying that Jesus is not the Christ" and "denying the Father and the Son" (1 John 2:22). They were operating with the false prophets ("many false prophets have gone forth into the world" 1 John 4:1). They denied the incarnation ("does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh" 1 John 4:3; "those not confessing Jesus Christ to have come in the flesh" 2 John 7; "everyone transgressing and not abiding in the doctrine of Christ" 2 John 9).
Here is a very important point: they had come from the Church ("they went out from us" 1 John 2:19). These first century antichrists had been in the Church, apostatized and were then leading others astray from the doctrine of the apostles ("leading you astray" 1 John 2:26; "many false prophets have gone forth into the world" 1 John 4:1; "many deceivers went out into the world" 2 John 7; "anyone comes to you and does not bear this doctrine" 2 John 10.)
Any search for an antichrist outside the Church is ruled out by this passage. In the 16th century, the usual suspects were Pope Leo X, Martin Luther, Huldrych Zwingli, Pope Paul III, Pope Julius III, English Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, English Bishop Grindal, English Bishop Whitgift, or Pope Paul IV. All churchmen. All valid suspects, although I have to personally disagree with the options of Luther and Zwingli. In the 17th century, English Bishop William Laud, King Charles I of England, Oliver Cromwell, John Robins, Tsar Alexis of Russia, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Nikon. In the 18th century, Peter the Great of Russia, King Louis XIV and King Louis XV of France, King George III of England, Lord Bute of England, Pope Clement XIV, Napoleon Bonaparte and Napoleon III of France.
Of course, we've had the most fun in the 20th century. We've had Mussolini, Hitler and Stalin. Henry Kissinger and Moammar Qadhafi. The Popes. JFK, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan. But, apart from the popes, these aren't figures recognized for having come out of the Church. Granted, Jimmy Carter teaches universalism in his Sunday School class, but as far as I know he hasn't denied the incarnation. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this.
As much as I'd like to offer Joel Osteen as an antichrist, I'm not aware of his denying the incarnation, even though his message does directly contradict the message of Jesus Christ in Luke 14:25-33 (and many others). If you need some antichrist options for today, you have the Oneness Pentecostals, most famously represented in T.D. Jakes and Tommy Tenney (The God Chasers), and musicians the Katinas and Phillips, Craig and Dean. Consider John's warning not to even let them into your house.
Jesus had predicted in Matthew 24:11, "And many false prophets will be raised and will cause many to err." This was a sign of the end. And note how John opened the passage in 1 John 2: "Little children, it is a last hour, and as you heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have risen up, from which you know that it is a last hour." The KJV, ASV, NKJV, ESV all translate this "the last."
John clearly stated that the antichrists had apostatized from the Church and were leading others into apostasy. As Jesus had predicted this sign, it was all the evidence he needed to declare it the Last Hour, with not one mention of oil.
Hmmm.... which verse is that? What does the Bible say about antichrist? I'm going to use Green's Literal Translation for this one:
1 John 2:18-27: "Little children, it is a last hour, and as you heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have risen up, from which you know that it is a last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they were of us, they would have remained with us; but they left so that it might be revealed that they all are not of us.
"And you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I did not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because every lie is not of the truth. Who is the liar, except the one denying, saying that Jesus is not the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one denying the Father and the Son. Everyone denying the Son does not have the Father. The one confessing the Son also has the Father. Then what you heard from the beginning, let it abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you will abide both in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise which He promised us: everlasting life. I wrote these things to you concerning the ones leading you astray. And the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone teach you. But as His anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and as He taught you, abide in Him."
1 John 4:1-3: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world. By this know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. And every spirit which does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not from God; and this is the antichrist which you heard is coming, and now is already in the world."
2 John 7-9: "Because many deceivers went out into the world, those not confessing Jesus Christ to have come in the flesh, this is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, that we may not lose the things we worked out, but that we may receive a full reward. Everyone transgressing and not abiding in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. The one abiding in the doctrine of Christ, this one has the Father and the Son."
The Church in the first century had been warned that antichrist was coming ("as you heard that the antichrist is coming" 1 John 2:18; "the antichrist which you heard is coming" 1 John 4:3). The term antichrist does not refer to an individual as there were more than one ("many antichrists have risen up" 1 John 2:18)! Also, they were already at work ("even now many antichrists have risen up" 1 John 2:18; "concerning the ones leading you astray" 1 John 2:26; "many deceivers went out into the world" 2 John 7.) These antichrists were active in the first century, not being predicted as two thousand years into their future.
John also defines very clearly what these first century antichrists were doing: they were "denying, saying that Jesus is not the Christ" and "denying the Father and the Son" (1 John 2:22). They were operating with the false prophets ("many false prophets have gone forth into the world" 1 John 4:1). They denied the incarnation ("does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh" 1 John 4:3; "those not confessing Jesus Christ to have come in the flesh" 2 John 7; "everyone transgressing and not abiding in the doctrine of Christ" 2 John 9).
Here is a very important point: they had come from the Church ("they went out from us" 1 John 2:19). These first century antichrists had been in the Church, apostatized and were then leading others astray from the doctrine of the apostles ("leading you astray" 1 John 2:26; "many false prophets have gone forth into the world" 1 John 4:1; "many deceivers went out into the world" 2 John 7; "anyone comes to you and does not bear this doctrine" 2 John 10.)
Any search for an antichrist outside the Church is ruled out by this passage. In the 16th century, the usual suspects were Pope Leo X, Martin Luther, Huldrych Zwingli, Pope Paul III, Pope Julius III, English Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, English Bishop Grindal, English Bishop Whitgift, or Pope Paul IV. All churchmen. All valid suspects, although I have to personally disagree with the options of Luther and Zwingli. In the 17th century, English Bishop William Laud, King Charles I of England, Oliver Cromwell, John Robins, Tsar Alexis of Russia, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Nikon. In the 18th century, Peter the Great of Russia, King Louis XIV and King Louis XV of France, King George III of England, Lord Bute of England, Pope Clement XIV, Napoleon Bonaparte and Napoleon III of France.
Of course, we've had the most fun in the 20th century. We've had Mussolini, Hitler and Stalin. Henry Kissinger and Moammar Qadhafi. The Popes. JFK, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan. But, apart from the popes, these aren't figures recognized for having come out of the Church. Granted, Jimmy Carter teaches universalism in his Sunday School class, but as far as I know he hasn't denied the incarnation. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this.
As much as I'd like to offer Joel Osteen as an antichrist, I'm not aware of his denying the incarnation, even though his message does directly contradict the message of Jesus Christ in Luke 14:25-33 (and many others). If you need some antichrist options for today, you have the Oneness Pentecostals, most famously represented in T.D. Jakes and Tommy Tenney (The God Chasers), and musicians the Katinas and Phillips, Craig and Dean. Consider John's warning not to even let them into your house.
Jesus had predicted in Matthew 24:11, "And many false prophets will be raised and will cause many to err." This was a sign of the end. And note how John opened the passage in 1 John 2: "Little children, it is a last hour, and as you heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have risen up, from which you know that it is a last hour." The KJV, ASV, NKJV, ESV all translate this "the last."
John clearly stated that the antichrists had apostatized from the Church and were leading others into apostasy. As Jesus had predicted this sign, it was all the evidence he needed to declare it the Last Hour, with not one mention of oil.
6 Comments:
I have a few questions:
1.) Philips, Craig, and Dean? Really?
2.) The Popes? While many non-Catholics may not like the structure of the church and disagree with the apostolic succession, I do not know of any popes that deny the incarnation of Christ. I leave that to Rob Bell. Rob Bell has said that there are many bricks that make up the wall of the Christian faith and taking a few out, like the virgin birth or the resurrection does not destroy Christianity. I assume you know what I think about that comment.
3.) There are a few people that I communicate with on John's blog, that you have actually debated with as well, that believe the virgin birth and resurrection to be literary allusion (I think that is the proper term.) I have actually called them heretics before. While they still challenge me on the missional aspect of Christ's call.
Anyway, that is my comment.
Do you believe there to be an Anti-christ, 1 major one that your grandmother may have been mentioning?
PAX
JD
JD,
Thanks.
1) Yes, unfortunately, PC&D do not believe the Trinitarian doctrine.
2 & 3) Good point. And I suppose I could have worded that better. My point was not that the popes were all antichrists. I was more interested in pointing out that at least they originated in the church, they were clergy - as opposed to the common misconception of a military leader "antichrist."
John is pretty clear that being an antichrist involved an heretical understanding of the Son. It also involved leading others astray into that heresy.
The Epistle to the Hebrews (also written in "these last days") clearly taught against those who were falling back into Judaism. I think this is the same error that John was addressing. If persecution were getting too difficult for some, then they were denying Christ and returning to their Jewish roots. This was the spirit of antichrist.
For your previous point, I am not aware of any popes who were denying Christ and leading the Church into Judaism.
I have encountered "Noahide" groups online that have tried to stress the "Oneness" doctrine and lead Christians into a pseudo-Judaism. That would be a modern spirit of antichrist at work. Those individuals actively doing that would count as antichrists.
As much as anyone apostatizes from the doctrine of Christ and leads others into that heresy, I would include as antichrists.
I have listed all the passages in Scripture that use the term "antichrist." I have found no evidence for the capital "A" Antichrist in any of those passages. There may always be apostasy for the Church to battle, but if we were ever in a world with only one apostate, that would actually be a good thing.
So, no, I do not believe in a capital "A" Antichrist, because I cannot find it in Scripture.
Dude, go easy on Grandma.
In very recent times there's ol what's his face, Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda. Not much of a world leader though at 61ish.
SO PC&D do not believe in the Trinity. I wonder if they preach that in their churches in Austin and the south?
Can you more fully describe the "Oneness" doctrine?
I am surprised you did not bring up the 1Tim passages regarding false teachers.
PAX
JD
From Randy Phillips' PromiseLand West belief statement: "We believe in one God who is eternal in His existence, Triune in His manifestation, being both Father, Son and Holy Ghost AND that He is Sovereign and Absolute in His authority."
That phrase Triune in His manifestation is key. See, they believe that God is one Spirit. Just as I am called "dad" by my children, "son" by my dad, and Brian by my friends, but I am all one person. They believe that God manifests as "Father", "Son", and "Holy Ghost." They believe that Jesus' divine nature is the Father/Holy Ghost. As the Father-Holy Ghost-divine nature is united to Jesus' human nature, he is one person, the Son. So, the Father is not the Son, but in the Son. Jesus Himself is not "God the Son", but unites God with human nature to form the Son. These are "manifestations" of one person, one God.
The Trinity doctrine is that there are three Persons in one Being. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are three persons within the one Godhead. They are one substance.
This is the doctrine of the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed, and every orthodox creed since then. As the Westminster Confession states in Chapter II: "In the unity of the Godhead there be three Persons of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost (Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; (John 1:14, 18) the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son." (John 15:26; Galatians 4:6).
You bring up a good point with 1 Timothy. Yes, we need to be wary of false teachers as well. An antichrist is certainly a false teacher, but I do not believe a false teacher is necessarily an antichrist.
I would go back to my previous comment regarding the slippery slope into Judaism. If you recall from Hebrews, the Church was under a great deal of persecution. If they met as Christians, they were persecuted. As many of those first century Christians were Jews, they still met at synagogue. At synagogue there was no persecution. After a while, it becomes obvious that a return to synagogue would free them from persecution. So enter the antichrists - false teachers who deny that Jesus is the incarnation, the Messiah. If Jesus is not the incarnation of the Son of God, then we have no reason to continue meeting in secret and being persecuted. We can return to synagogue and live free. But the author of Hebrews argues strongly against this, and John presents these false teachers for what they really are - antichrists.
I cannot go along with the predominant view of the end times Furor Antichrist. The antichrists of the first century were leading people to deny Jesus and leave the Church. That is as general a definition as I believe Scripture allows for an antichrist.
If you were to find someone in your church who was starting to encourage people to leave Jesus behind and follow them into Islam, atheism, Hinduism, Confucianism, etc. Then I would admit you have an antichrist on your hands.
But this concept of a military, political world leader intent on oil grabbing in Israel needs to be left behind.
Good play on words: "left behind".
Thanks for the description of the Triune/Oneness Doctrine. They are just picking up where the early church heretics left off.
I get the other stuff, but thanks for the scripture to go with it. I think these things arise because too many people try to explain Christ and all that He is in terms that we as man can understand. It is all about faith. We are looking at things from the flesh, but if the flesh is given to Christ and the spirit reborn, we understand how everything is explainable and possible in and through Christ. God can be 3 separate beings in one God, because....He is God. Sometimes, that is the answer, plain and simple.
PAX
JD
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