The Antichrist
The word Antichrist means: “a power or force seen as opposing Christ or the Christian Church.” What makes a power an “Antichrist” is when it either denies or opposes the following:
First: Salvation by Faith Alone
The Antichrist power will reject the truth of the gospel of justification by grace through faith alone, not by works of the law (Ephesians 2:9; Revelation 14:6, 7; Romans 1:16,17 and Galatians 1:8, 9; 2:16; 3:1–14). The Bible teaches that Salvation is a free gift, without money or price (Isaiah 55:1; John 4:14; 2 Corinthians 9:15; 1 John 5:11). God offers grace and man simply accepts it by faith. Not that faith is the means of our salvation, but simply the channel (Romans 4:3). Therefore, works are not a cause but an effect of salvation (Romans 3:31).
Second: Obedience to God’s Word
Also, the Antichrist will deny that the everlasting authority of the Ten Commandment law (Exodus 20:2-17) as an unchanging revelation of the nature and will of God (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 12:17; 13; 14:12; II Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 7, 8). The Lord identifies the saints as those that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus (Revelation 14:12).
At the end of time, the special point controverted will be the fourth of the Ten Commandments. There is general agreement among Christians that the other nine are of universal requirement. But early in the Christian time, people started to set aside the seventh-day Sabbath and substitute it by the keeping of the first day of the week as the day of worship (Daniel 7:25).
Sunday-observing Christians today give different reasons as to why they observe the first day of the week instead of the seventh. Some say that the Ten commandments were abolished along with all Old Testament laws. But Jesus specifically denied that assertion (Matthew 5:17-18). The Catholic Church admits that by its divine authority, transferred the sacredness of the day. But its claim is not supported by the Scriptures.
The crisis will start when symbolic Babylon pushes the state to enforce Sunday observance by civil law and tries to punish all rebels. This is described in Revelation 13:12–17. In that testing time, those who obey God will refuse to give up the observance of His true Sabbath.
Third: Jesus Christ as Lord and Mediator
Further, the Antichrist will also deny that Jesus stands as the only “Mediator” between God and Man (Daniel 8:9-14, 25; 9:24-27; Revelation 13:6; I Timothy 2:5 and Hebrews 9:15). Only through The Son of God can the sinner be reconciled to the Father (John 14:5–6; Romans 5:1–2). For the Father willed (1 Timothy 2:4) and initiated the plan of salvation. And He provided the means of salvation through His only begotton Son’s life and death. Therefore, no other person can thus be qualified to stand as man’s mediator.
The Antichrist Will Use False Miracles
When the Antichrist power denies these three previous listed truths, it will finally seek to win the loyalty of people by either “false miracles” (II Thessalonians 2:7–12; Revelation 13:11–14 and 16:12–15) or through force (Daniel 7:21, 25; 8:9, 10, 23–25; Revelation 13:7–10, 15–17).
As the ancient sign of bringing fire from heaven gave evidence to the power of the true God, so the beast of Revelation will do great miracles. He will make it appear that God is backing his agenda. These miracles will be done through the agency of spiritualism.
Finally, the false church will triumph over the state and cause it to enforce its man-made doctrines. State and church will unite. And the result will be the loss of religious liberty and the persecution of disobedient minorities.
Historic Bible scholars identified the Papacy as the Antichrist (Revelation 13 and Daniel 7).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
