Source: What is the “antichrist”? – Part 2 Revised 8/2019
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What is the “antichrist”? – Part 2.
What Christian leaders wish to remain hidden in plain sight.
Introduction:
There is a clear definition of the antichrist that Christianity seems to miss. It is easily revealed from the writings of the New Testament. Unfortunately, the fact that the word antichrist is actually an untranslated Greek word contributes to concealing who and what antichrist actually is. If it were translated, at least some of the confusion regarding this important term would be eliminated.
Since the antichrist is portrayed by Christianity in a way that generally aligns it with various over-dramatized and speculative end-time events and fulfillments of the New Testament book of Revelation, it may be a surprise to learn that the term “antichrist” is found in only four verses within the first and second epistles of John. “Antichrist” is nowhere mentioned in Revelation or anywhere else within the Bible other than John’s epistles.
In addition to wrongly applying Revelation to the false concept of antichrist, the “man of lawlessness” mentioned in Paul’s second letter to Thessalonica is also sometimes used to support an incorrect understanding as are other mysterious figures mentioned in Scripture.
The common false understanding of antichrist is a decoy, and I realize that for most people it is an unintentional decoy. The mistake is caused by selectively choosing various passages of the Bible with which sensationalized and incorrect perceptions of antichrist are constructed. The fact that the term antichrist is never mentioned within the context of most passages used to support their theories does not deter those who wrongly attribute such verses to their biased, inaccurate, and often wildly imaginative antichrist concepts.
Unfortunately, the simple definition of antichrist is lost among various theories regarding the “beast”, the “abomination of desolation”, the “man of lawlessness”, the “rapture” for those foolish enough to accept it, and other suspenseful, thrilling, and nail-biting topics that focus upon the uncertainties of the future and that captures the interest and imagination of large numbers of people.
One problem for those who cling to such erroneous theories, however, is that antichrist is not a future event, at least not exclusively. Antichrist has been present for almost two thousand years. In fact, numerous antichrists have been present. The primary antichrist has grown in power over that time and is now embraced by a large percentage of the world, just as is the “mark of the Beast“. There is no actual physical person who has or does represent antichrist mentioned within the New Testament. However, severe misrepresentation of a genuine physical person does represent the primary antichrist.
“Antichrist”, as defined by most Christians and counterfeit Messianics, is a fictitious personality. It is a lie which many people embrace as the truth. It is one of the deceptions about which Yeshua warned when he responded to the question from his disciples in Matthew chapter 24. It is one of numerous errors that the “many” false teachers who come in his name would use to mislead “many”.
I prefer to focus upon what we can know, upon what affects me and everyone else today and has all throughout the last 1700 years, upon what I can directly confront and battle. Each of those are possible with regard to antichrist. We can know with certainty what “antichrist” is. It has been hidden from us in plain sight for 1700 years while the “many” deceivers about whom Messiah warned us have worked to hide it, spread confusion and decoys, and misdirect the “many” being misled towards accepting a false understanding of antichrist.
Forget the decoys. Let’s go straight to the Bible instead.
Beginning with the passage from the first epistle of John I hope to assist in revealing to you the definition and identity of the antichrist.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Yeshua Messiah is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Yeshua Messiah 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.
The NET Bible reads:
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world.
I have actually heard Christians promote the “God in the flesh” error by modifying their quote of these verses into reading as follows:
“…every spirit that confesseth that God is come in the flesh as Yeshua Messiah is of God; and every spirit that confesseth not that God is come in the flesh as Yeshua Messiah is not of God…”
That is not what it says, despite the wishes of those who believe and teach that Messiah is God. In fact, it doesn’t even hint at such an idea. Nevertheless, some Christian leaders attempt to teach that it does. The wine of the great harlot’s “God in the flesh” intoxication is so strong that many Christians seem to sincerely interpret this verse as saying what I just quoted.
A general error that finds its way into verses such as these as well as the minds of most Christians and counterfeit Messianics is the idea that “Son of God” means “God the Son”. Nowhere in Scripture is “God the Son” found! “God the Son” is the invention of the Roman great harlot’s later church creeds.
It is possible that the apostle John’s intent in 1 John 4:2.3 was to rebuke those who teach a “God in the flesh” Messiah. At first glance the verses do appear to rebuke the notion that Yeshua was anything more than a 100 percent human being.
The Greek word that is translated as “flesh” in the verses just quoted is sarx (sarx), and the corresponding Hebrew word is basar (baw-sawr’). Both words mean pure flesh and blood – fully human, instead of the human-God that contemporary Christianity and counterfeit Messianism promote. There is nothing in the original Greek or the equivalent Hebrew term that implies anything more than 100 percent human flesh and blood. In fact, the Greek word can even be translated – and is elsewhere – as carnal or carnally minded.
Contemporary Christian and counterfeit Messianic leaders love to misquote and distort scripture to fit their “God in the flesh” bias. If distortion is the game, then let me play! A more accurate example of distortion for 1 John 4:2,3 would be:
However, unlike the Christian and counterfeit Messianic leaders, I do not wish to play distortion games by misstating what is taught within the Bible and forcing the text to conform to my opinions. Therefore, despite the fact that a legitimate argument could be made in support of what I just quoted, I will not join Christian leaders by indulging in deceptive verbal gymnastics.
We also see in these verses reference to a “spirit”. I comment later on this “spirit” of antichrist.
Untranslated words: tools of deceivers
Furthermore, as stated periodically during this study, there is a Greek word in these verses that is left untranslated. It is a word found in your English version Bible that the translators suspiciously and intentionally decided to not translate, and I believe it is for fear of what the literal meaning may cause some to consider. Christianity has built an entire mini theology and melodramatic end-time teaching around this Greek word which they transferred into the English vocabulary. Part of this sensationalized, gone-Hollywood scenario is the outlandishly unscriptural “rapture” teaching.
The Greek word is antichristos, rendered in its untranslated form in English as antichrist.
Whenever you come across words that translators did not translate, such as antichrist, pay close attention. Those are the very words on which you should place particular scrutiny. When you look up what the translation actually is you may find that the word means something traditional Christian leaders would prefer that you not discover.
The Greek word “anti” (Strong’s #473) is often used within the New Testament either as a prepositional phrase within a sentence or combined with another word as a prefix or suffix. It is also at times somewhat of a basic underlying word for other words. “Antichristos” (antichrist) is an example of it being used as a prefix. Each time it is translated unless it is contained within a name or location. The only time where anti is not translated is within the word antichrist.
Let me state that again. Even I was stunned to discover how blatant is the deception practiced by New Testament translators as well as by Christian leaders. It represents an overt and unapologetic example of deceit in the long list of deceit that exists within contemporary Christian teachings.
The only word in the New Testament, other than a name, where the Greek term “anti” is left untranslated is the word antichrist.
One must ask why? Why was it intentionally left untranslated instead of being translated like every other word in which the Greek term anti is found? It is very easily translated as shown below, but it wasn’t. Why not?
Translators engage in deception by refusing to translate the word or, perhaps, they simply bow to the powerful pressure of tradition. Their intent is to purposely leave the term antichrist in a state of ambiguity. They do not want people to consider the truth that is revealed by simply translating the word. Instead, they want there to be vagueness or uncertainty so that the simple, clear meaning will be missed. They want to maintain and feed the deception that exists with regard to the commonly accepted imaginary and false understanding of antichrist.
It is a odd that the word antichrist was left untranslated since it is very easily rendered into an English equivalent. This is similar to the scenario of baptizo, which is another untranslated Greek word that was transferred into English as “baptize”. I will use the example of baptizo to illustrate how error can be promoted and preserved.
“Baptize” was left untranslated in order to conceal its actual meaning of “immersion” or “to fully submerge “. This was done to obscure the word’s true meaning and, therefore, to promote the intentional baptism or christening error of sprinkling or pouring – an error which was and still is practiced by the Roman church and some of her daughters. In other words, the word was left untranslated so that a pagan Roman ceremonial practice could continue to be practiced.
Unfortunately, like so many other clear words of Scripture, Christians are led astray by their leaders. Thus, despite the unambiguous meaning of “baptize” as being “to fully immerse”, many Christian organizations continue to practice the incorrect custom of sprinkling or pouring.
In other words, “baptize” is a word left untranslated to purposely conceal a known error in order to allow that error to be practiced and perpetuated. So long as people were ignorant of what the word literally meant an incorrect method of baptizing could continue.
The word antichrist was left untranslated for the same reason. Christian leaders, particularly leaders beginning around the 4th century, did not want the actual meaning of the word to be understood. Their intent was to allow the continued promotion of error just as with the word baptize.
As with most lies and propaganda, if you promote the lie long enough it will eventually be accepted as truth. Politicians and others who lust for worldly gain depend upon this simple principle. They know that if a lie is told long enough, strongly enough, and circulated widely enough, that it will eventually be accepted as the de facto truth even though there may not be a shred of truth within it. We are swimming in a world infested with lies that are generally accepted as truth. Nowhere is that truer than within Christianity.
Christianity as it has existed since the 4th century, and to a lesser extent counterfeit Messianism, is largely built upon just such lies – lies and false teachings that have been told for so long, so strongly, and so widely that people accept them as truth without caring to verify their authenticity. If someone comes along with the actual truth, that person is judged to be spreading lies since in the mind of the majority the lie has become the truth and the truth has become the lie.
Since Christianity has promoted error for approximately 1700 years, most people assume Christian doctrines to be accurately portraying what the Bible teaches without ever verifying. People assume it to be correct and, therefore, place their eternal destiny in the hands of those who teach doctrines that they do not bother to scrutinize. The term “foolish” does not even begin to describe the hazardous error of such misplaced trust.
Baptize comes from the Hebrew word “mikvah” and definitely means to fully submerge in water, but since the incorrect method of sprinkling and pouring has been done for many centuries few people care what “baptize” means. They have grown to accept the lie as truth just as they have with countless other errors of Christianity.
Likewise, with antichrist. Its commonly accepted meaning has been promoted for so long that people accept it as truth. It is actually a lie.
Antichrist: Uncovering its true definition
Antichrist is actually a combination of 2 Greek words, anti and christos. The literal meaning(s) of antichrist is:
- adversary of Christ
- usurper of Christ
- instead of Christ
- opposite to Christ (or in opposition to Messiah)
- in place of Christ
The translations of “instead of” Christ and “in place of” Christ were underlined to emphasize how they are equivalent to the following terms which are, therefore, also legitimate meanings of anti and christos (antichrist):
- bogus Christ
- fake Christ
- imitation Christ
- substitute Christ
- phony Christ
- counterfeit Christ
Christian and counterfeit Messianic leaders may claim that they do explain the meaning of the term antichrist. They may state that everything I just defined as being the meaning of antichrist is what they, also, explain. However, here is the problem:
Though they may properly explain the meaning of the term, they then smother that meaning underneath their incorrectly taught fulfillment of the antichrist scenario. They focus upon the popular understanding, which is that antichrist refers to some evil and powerful personality who will arise on the world stage. They do this despite the lack of evidence in the New Testament wherever antichrist is discussed which, as we have seen, only occurs in four verses within the first and second epistles of John. Such a focus by Christian and counterfeit Messianic leaders suppresses and effectively negates the more logical understanding which is easily grasped by the simple meaning of the term.
Therefore, such leaders perform a “bait and switch” or “sleight of hand” deceptive form of teaching as they focus their audience away from the more legitimate and simple meaning of antichrist.
Often, the term antichrist is capitalized as “Antichrist”. The capitalization is completely unfounded, biased, and so pervasive that even spell-checkers in software continually attempts to “correct” the spelling if it is not capitalized. The capitalization is done in order to force a person’s opinion along the path of believing what Christianity wishes for you to accept.
Antichrist: actively present for 2000 years
It is useful at this time to note a couple of verses from earlier in John’s epistle.
18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
Traditional Christianity and counterfeit Messianism seem to have somehow erased these verses from the pages of the New Testament. Why do Traditional Christian leaders focus almost exclusively on the concept of some future individual they label as “antichrist” when these verses make it abundantly clear that the “antichrist” was present even during the time John penned his epistle? In fact, it clearly states that many antichrists were present! How could John have been any clearer?
The Source New Testament, which is an excellent new translation, supports the certain fact that the “antichrist” is not a single individual, thus providing more evidence which proves that the exaggerated sensationalized myth prevalent among many Christian groups is false. The following is taken from a translator’s note within the 1 John section of that publication, page 479.
“Antichrists. (Anti-anointing’s.) Not an individual!
There is much speculation among some Christian groups as to who the “Antichrist” will be in the end times. However, the Antichrist as an actual sole person is just a myth – the term is not mentioned at all in Revelation, and in fact is mentioned only in this letter and in 2 John (just once). John uses the term in the plural – he says that anyone who denies that Jesus is the Anointed One is an antichrist (anti-anointing) and says that many antichrists (anti-anointings) have come into the world. At no point does John refer to an “Antichrist” (Anti-anointing) as an individual. There appears to be some confusion among many contemporary Christians who appear to have confused the “Beast” of Revelation with the term “Antichrist”. Again, the term “Antichrist” is never used to refer to an individual, and the term appears only here and in 2 John and does not appear in Revelation.”
The replacement of the term “Christ” with “anointing” is accurate; however, in order to reduce confusion, I will continue to use the term “Christ” within this discussion.
Antichrist: phony, bogus, counterfeit Christ
It is important to grasp the meaning of the word translators conveniently chose to not translate from the original Greek. The term “antichrist”, as proven above, literally means “adversary of” the Messiah, “in place of” the Messiah, “instead of” the Messiah, or “usurper of” the Messiah. It can also mean a “replacement”, “phony”, “bogus”, or “counterfeit” Messiah.
John made it perfectly clear that many antichrists had gone out from them (early believers) teaching false doctrine regarding Messiah Yeshua. These antichrists or usurpers of the true Messiah were promoting doctrines that presented a Christ that was in place of or instead of the true Messiah. They were promoting a counterfeit Messiah. It is also quite likely that he was additionally referring to those who denied that Yeshua was Messiah, which would also fit the meaning of “usurper” or “adversary” of Messiah.
John refers to multiple antichrists; therefore, it is probable and feasible to assume that different types of antichrists are being referenced. Some antichrists may have rejected Yeshua as Messiah altogether, and others may have presented Messiah in a way that deviated from Truth.
Since the error of those who deny that Yeshua is Messiah requires no explanation, I will hereafter focus on the other less obvious meaning that could apply to antichrist.
John was a Hebrew – a Jew of the first century. It is, therefore, probable that the “us” John refers to in 1 John 2:19 were his Judaic brethren who followed Yeshua the Messiah as defined from their Hebraic context when he says,
“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.”
In Part 1 of this discussion within the section “Second: false prophets appear and deceive many”, I pointed out how as a result of being driven from the synagogues, banished from where they could have access to Torah scrolls, and being severely persecuted from Rome and fellow Jews who opposed “Yeshua Judaism”, that the fledgling faith system of Yeshua’s followers began to be dominated by leaders who were grossly unqualified and ignorant of Torah. I stated:
“As a result, because the numbers of remaining followers of Yeshua would have grown increasingly bereft of Torah scholars capable of properly leading them, Torah ignorant men would have stepped in to fill the void, and as discussed above, Hadrian insured that would happen. Thus, the faith of and in Yeshua slowly began to be overtaken by Torah ignorant leaders whose world views and conceptual understandings of religion were largely based upon Roman empire paganism.”
It is quite possible that the Torah ignorant leaders who usurped power from the original pro-Torah leaders of Yeshua’s followers were among those to whom John referred since they were:
- from us (They had participated in fellowship.)
- but … not of us (They were not Torah knowledgeable Jews,)
- otherwise they would have continued with us (They would have remained loyal to the Torah faith and proper Torah based understanding of Messiah.)
- they went out (They abandoned the central Torah based faction and began to promote distorted and corrupt pagan Roman concepts.)
- thus, it was proven none of them were of us (They were not loyal to the Torah faith and Torah truths regarding Messiah. Their separation from “us” (John and the loyal followers of Yeshua) proved there were never ever actually among the true followers.)
The true Hebraic context of Messiah with which John and his brethren (the “us”) were familiar had the following two central characteristics which I prove elsewhere on this web site:
- Messiah was the “anointed one”, the “sent one”, the fully empowered human agent and future earthly King chosen by the Almighty Creator. He was not “God in the flesh.” I discuss the crucial issue of what it means to the “agent” or “shaliach” of the Living God in a separate article and how this factors into proving Messiah is not God. When one understands the Hebraic meaning of “shaliach” (shah LEE ock) all the mystery regarding Messiah’s relationship with God is removed and the simple truth is easily seen. It is for this reason that you will likely never hear that issue discussed by your pastor.
- Messiah was indisputably and firmly PRO-Torah (pro-law). The true Messiah was a devoted keeper and promoter of The Ineffable Eternal God’s eternal instructions. Please read the article which asks the question “Does Traditional Christianity actually promote “Following” Christ?” for irrefutable proof of this fact.
Therefore, any definition of Messiah (Christ) which possessed characteristics which contradicted those two primary attributes was “usurping” and “replacing” the true Messiah and was, therefore, a counterfeit or phony Christ. It was (and still is), using the literal definition of the term, an “antichrist”!
The “spirit” of antichrist
Within the context of John’s discussion of the “spirit of antichrist” mentioned in 1 John 4:3 is the following verse:
6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Due to its proximity to the statement mentioning antichrist which is just 3 verses earlier we can easily deduce using necessary inference that the “spirit of antichrist” in verse 3 is equated to a “spirit of error” in verse 6. Clearly, the antichrist represents errors – false teachings – that were (and are) being spread.
Point to remember: “spirit of antichrist” = “spirit of error” = false doctrine.
The “antichrist” primarily represents of a set of false teachings. Those who accept the doctrines promoted by the “spirit of error” are unintentional victims of the “spirit of antichrist.”
So, the “antichrist” was (and is) representative of a doctrine or set of doctrines that oppose the truth concerning Messiah (Christ). This set of doctrines was already beginning to be spread in the latter part of the first century as false teachers betrayed the truth and went out promoting teachings that were (and are) in opposition to the true Messiah.
There is more than one antichrist
Now I will present yet another warning from John’s second epistle that supports this:
7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess (acknowledge) Yeshua Messiah as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
Earlier we proved that the term “many” refers to a very large number of people. Do not forget that during this study.
This is almost exactly the same warning John gave in 1 John 4:2,3. Once again John is likely warning to beware of many people who will spread many various false teachings including – but not limited to – the teachings of some who did not accept that Messiah ben Yosef had come in the person of Yeshua. He may also be warning us to beware of those who do not confess (better translated acknowledge) that Yeshua Messiah (Jesus christ) is a 100 percent pure flesh and blood human. Basically, John was warning us to beware a flood of false teachers and teachings.
Note how John specially mentioned an antichrist; thus, clearly implying there is more than one. Also, note that many deceivers had gone out and how that statement is within the same sentence in which he states that such is representative of “an antichrist”.
Therefore, we have many deceivers, yet one single “antichrist”. How is this so? It is so because “antichrist” does not represent an individual. It represents a set of false teachings, and many people can each promote those many false teachings. That is why many deceivers (multiple people) were promoting “an” antichrist (a single false doctrine relating to Christ). Therefore, a single “antichrist” can be promoted by numerous people. Likewise, numerous differing “antichrists” (different deceptions relating to Christ) can be promoted by different separate groups of people (different deceivers).
Thus, it can be deduced that: deceivers = antichrist promoters. Obviously, “deceivers” practice “deception” which is a synonym (an equivalent term) for the word “error”. The “spirit of error” indwells the “deceivers”, which are those who promote the antichrist deception.
As I point out in the other discussion which investigates if Christians are actually taught to “follow Messiah,” the Christ being promoted by Christianity is not a pro-Torah (pro-law) Messiah. On the contrary, the Christ of Christianity is an anti-Torah Messiah – a replacement Christ that allegedly came (according to Christianity) to do away with the Torah.
Christianity’s anti-Torah Christ and the pro-Torah Messiah John and his true brethren knew are the exact opposite of one another! The false Christ of Christianity is indeed “opposite to,” a “usurper of,” and “in place of” the true Messiah. It is, therefore, literally by definition, an “antichrist.”
Note the following from the earlier verses within Matthew’s gospel:
10 Then many will be led into sin, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will appear and deceive many, 12 and because lawlessness will increase so much, the love of many will grow cold.
As I discuss elsewhere on this site, the Greek term (anomia) rendered as “lawlessness” is a direct reference to Torah violation or contempt for Torah (an anti-Torah mindset). The false prophets of which Yeshua specifically warns us to beware are those who oppose Torah, yet opposition to Torah is the most fundamental of all Christian teachings. It is largely because of such an anti-Torah mindset that “many will be led into sin” since without Torah it is impossible to even know the definition of sin.
Recall Messiah’s warning from Matthew 24:4-5 which we discussed in Part 1?
Allow me to refresh your memory with the corrected punctuation which we covered in that previous part of this study.
Matthew 24:4-5 (NET)
4 Yeshua answered them, “Watch out that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in my name saying I am the Christ, and they will mislead many.”
By rejecting Torah, Christianity has largely become a comfortable home within which sin can flourish, and it certainly does within many Christian groups. So just as Yeshua warns in verses 4 and 5 of chapter 24, most of the people who rightly identify him as “Christ” are those to whom Messiah refers in verse 11 of that same chapter when he mentions “false prophets” who “appear and deceive many.”
Antichrist EXPOSED from hiding in plain sight!
I presented the two primary characteristics of the true Messiah earlier. Here I will show a comparison of that true Messiah to the antichrist being promoted by traditional Christianity and counterfeit Messianic groups.
THE TRUE MESSIAH YESHUA WHOM JOHN KNEW versus THE MESSIAH PROMOTED BY CHRISTIANITY
The Messiah of the New Testament whom John personally knew | The Messiah (Christ) promoted by Christianity |
He was the “anointed one” the “sent one” – the fully empowered human agent and future earthly King chosen by the Almighty Creator. He was 100% human just as any other human except for his more exalted neshama (spirit or soul). He was not “God in the flesh.” | He is “God in the flesh” – The Eternal Creator walking the earth as a man, who was killed and somehow resurrected by a separate part of himself to whom he also directed worship, devotion, and prayer before his death. |
His teachings and faith practices were firmly PRO-Torah (strongly in favor of the Torah or Law). | He is anti-Torah (opposed to Torah), and though he perfectly obeyed and promoted Torah, nevertheless came to do away with it as being “nailed to the cross” (a grossly misinterpreted verse, by the way). |
He was at that time “Messiah ben Yosef” and the “completed tzaddik”. In the future he will return as “Messiah ben David”. | His was then – during that period of time extending into the present – “Messiah ben David”. The concepts of “Messiah ben Yosef” and “completed tzaddik” are ignored or – as is most often the case – unknown by them. |
Take a look at that comparison. Notice how very different the Messiah John personally knew is from the one being promoted by Christianity. Can there be any doubt of what is stated next? No. It is an obvious truth.
I am fully persuaded that the anti-Torah “God in the flesh” Christ being promoted by Christianity and, to a lesser extent, the “God in the flesh” Messiah being promoted by counterfeit Messianism is precisely what a particularly deceptive and dangerous “spirit of antichrist” represents since it presents a completely different Christ “in place of” the True Messiah. The Christ promoted by Christianity is, indeed, THE most prevalent and spiritually damaging “antichrist”!
The traditional Christian lawless (anti-Torah) Christ is particularly horrific and antichrist. The Christ of traditional Christianity and counterfeit Messianism is one that is a “usurper of” the true Hebraic Messiah. Christianity and counterfeit Messianism define a pagan, Roman “God in the flesh” that is a “replacement of” and “adversary of” the actual Hebraic Messiah. Christianity’s “Jesus Christ” is a phony representation of Yeshua the Messiah who is introduced in the pages of the New Testament.
The “Jesus Christ” of contemporary Christianity is an imitation, a phony, a counterfeit messiah who differs in the two most fundamental ways from the true Messiah of the New Testament whom John and his fellow followers of Messiah knew in the first century. Christianity even changed his name by renaming him Jesus “in place of” his true name Yeshua!
At least, however, the replacement messiah of counterfeit Messianism does not advocate lawlessness (anti-Torah) as does the Traditional Christian version.
John states that those who follow this replacement messiah are of the spirit of antichrist and are following the “replacement of,” “usurper of” and “adversary of” Messiah. Tragically, Christians, counterfeit Messianics, and those who often guide them ignore these warnings as well as the overwhelming weight of Scripture as they follow the “spirit of error” by bowing down to a man-God, anti-Torah messiah of purely pagan origins.
Further warnings from the apostle John
Before leaving this issue, I’d like to point out more warnings from John’s epistles – warnings to which Christians and Messianics should give serious consideration. From John’s first epistle we read:
22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Yeshua is the Christ (Messiah)? He is antichrist (usurper of Messiah) who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us – eternal life. 26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive (Greek: seduce or cause to go astray) you.
Note how John equates “liars” with those who deny that Yeshua is Messiah. He further equates this denial of the true Messiah with the teachings of antichrist – or antimessiah.
Since John was a Jew – a Hebrew who thought and wrote entirely within His Hebraic Torah world view – the true Messiah that he states the antichrists deny would be the human, Torah embracing Messiah defined by John’s Hebraic understanding. In other words, those who follow the antichrist (replacement messiah, anti-messiah) deny and oppose the true Hebraic Messiah.
John stated that those who deny the legitimate Messiah – or who promote and follow a counterfeit messiah – actually deny the Father and the Son, since denial of the authentic Messiah and the One and Only True God by promoting a false concept of each is the same as openly denying them.
John further warns in verse 24 that the same Hebraic Messiah that had been taught from the beginning of the first century Messianic faith movement must “abide” in those claiming to follow that Messiah. If that Messiah abides in us, we can be promised of a sure hope for eternal life.
Note how eternal life was defined by Yeshua. Also note the clear distinction shown between “the only true God” whom Yeshua worshiped and Yeshua which is indicated by the use of the conjunction “and”:
3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Yeshua Messiah whom You have sent.
Finally, in verse 26 of 1 John chapter 2 John states that he wrote to the recipients of his epistle for the purpose of directly warning them of this “spirit of error” replacement messiah so that they would not be deceived. As shown in the verses from chapter 2 of 1 John quoted above, the term “deceive” means “to seduce” or “cause to go astray.”
Thus, John was writing so that we would not be seduced or caused to go astray by those promoting the replacement messiah – antichrist. Sadly, all but a few have ignored John’s warning. Most Christians and, to a lesser extent counterfeit Messianics, are squarely and probably permanently deceived by the very antichrist spirit of error that John so passionately pleaded for us to resist.
John warned us the false teachings were present and would continue. Furthermore, he warned us those who taught these false doctrines would claim to be our brethren.
Antichrist is here, has been for centuries, and is easily located
Yes indeed, ever since the early centuries the spirit of antichrist has been in the world. It is now in virtually every Christian church, taught by virtually every Christian leader, and followed by almost every Christian. The same applies to counterfeit Messianics who embrace the Roman great harlot’s idolatrous “God in the flesh” teaching.
I would not be surprised if, in order to solidify the deception Christianity wishes to promote, that there may actually arise an individual in the last days whom Christianity will label as “the antichrist”, and such an individual may truly be an antichrist. However, that in no way diminishes the fact that “antichrist” actually represents rejection of the pro-Torah Yeshua as Messiah, false doctrines which misrepresent him, or definitions of Messiah which define a counterfeit messiah. Unfortunately, all of those are present today, most notably in Christianity.
It is a tragic fact that the anti-Torah “God in the flesh” Jesus Christ” which Christianity accepts and promotes is a counterfeit, replacement messiah who differs immensely from the true Messiah as he is actually represented in the New Testament writings. Therefore, by accepting and promoting a counterfeit, both Christianity and counterfeit Messianism are effectively rejecting the true Messiah and instead embracing an antichrist.
Conclusion:
Ample evidence has been presented in this two-part discussion which proves wrong the fanciful concept that the antichrist is an evil and powerful political or military leader. Such characters are referenced separately in Scripture. They have and will appear on the world stage, but they are not the antichrist.
Every time throughout history that such a leader has arisen many people label him as antichrist. Time passes on and their label is proven incorrect, but then they simply latch onto the next evil leader and label him antichrist. That label is again proven wrong, but they continue to repeat the same error over and over. At times it seems to become some sort of silly “Name the Antichrist!” game where people compete with regard to who can identify. There are now new antichrist personalities that are being allegedly identified.
All this does is confuse, misdirect, and falsely present the true meaning of the term antichrist. It also empowers the “spirit of antichrist” by helping to conceal the correct definition of antichrist, thus making it more likely that people will unknowingly embrace an antichrist.
Properly defined, antichrist is a component of the “spirit of error” or “spirit of antichrist”. That error is represented by doctrines which promote a counterfeit messiah, and the two most profoundly incorrect of those doctrines are the idolatrous teaching that Messiah is “God in the flesh” and that he came to abolish Torah.
The correct understanding of antichrist is easy to grasp. All a person needs to do is look at the literal translation of the Greek word, antichristos, as we did within this discussion. Just look at the actual translated meaning of the word! That is all that is required. Then simply match what you observe within various teachings to the legitimate truths regarding the fully human, pro-Torah Messiah Yeshua as he is actually presented in the New Testament. If what you observe differs with the Messiah as he is truly presented, then you have just identified an antichrist teaching. All that is required is knowledge of the literal definition of antichrist. Simple!
Tragically, the spirit of error (spirit of antichrist) is so strong, it is probable that many Christians may actually reject and actively oppose the Messiah when he returns to establish his earthly Kingdom. This is due to the popular false teachings within Christianity regarding antichrist which suggest that much of what Yeshua the Messiah will accomplish when he returns will define him as antichrist to them. This is particularly true when the fact that he will return as a very strong pro-Torah personality.
Since Christianity opposes Torah or in some cases outright condemns it, the strongly pro-Torah returning Messiah will be “evil” to them since he will teach the polar opposite of what Chrsitianity teaches with respect to Torah. In addition, when the facts that he may become popular among Jews, whom most Christians condemn to “hell”, and possibly conduct military conquests or defender of Israel are considered, the “powerful political and military leader” definition often applied to antichrist by Christianity will be applied to him. Since some Christians also think antichrist will be Jewish, the situation will be even more likely to cause Messiah to be labeled antichrist.
It is also due to the separate yet also antichrist relevant false teachings among many Christian groups who either believe in the ridiculous “rapture” lie, are amillennialist (those who reject that there will be an earthly reign of Messiah), or both. Since foolish “rapture” believers think they will be “raptured away” or “taken” and, thus, not be here when Messiah is fighting his battles, and amillennialists do not think any of the actions that will usher in the Messianic era will literally occur, they will both likely reject Yeshua when he returns to establish the Kingdom of God on earth in which he will be anointed as the chosen King of all the world.
In multiple ways Christians are being setup to reject Messiah when he returns, and a primary way that is being accomplished is with the dreadfully false, absurd, unscriptural, various antichrist scenarios promoted by Christianity.
Christians are oblivious to the fact that by accepting the “God in the flesh”, Torah abolishing, falsely named “Jesus Christ” promoted by Christianity, they are already embracing the antichrist!
Indeed, by embracing the false messiah of traditional Christianity, Christians are being led squarely into the stronghold of the spirit of error – the spirit of antichrist.
If you still are not convinced this is a legitimate understanding of “antichrist,” consider the following quote which supports a primary component of my hypothesis. It is taken from the explanatory notes found in the back of The Scriptures, a translation of the Bible published by The Institute for Scripture Research, LTD.
I differ to some extent with the quote. Nevertheless, to be fair I will quote their discussion of antichrist, which they translate as “anti-Messiah”, in its entirety with emphasis on the statements that pertain to this article. I do not necessarily completely agree with their opinion; however, they do at least recognize that if antichrist had been translated instead of purposely left untranslated by Christian scholars, then it would probably have been translated as “in place of” or “instead of”, which is the same thing as a replacement or counterfeit Messiah.
“Anti-Messiah: There are many Anti-Messiahs (1 Yn [John] 2:18), yet there is an important one, and many theories have been presented throughout the centuries. Most of them identify this Anti-Messiah with the one(s) we read about in Yesh. [Isaiah] 14:12-14, Daniel 7, Daniel 8, Daniel 9, Daniel 11, Matthew 24:15, 2 Thess. 2:1-12, Rev. 13. In Rev. 13 we read of two beasts, the one seemingly a political power, and the other a religious one. This latter seems to be more closely linked to the one we read of in 2 Thess. 2, and also the “Abomination that lays waste,” of which we read in Daniel in three places, and which Yeshua quotes in Matthew 24:15. If we study the Greek word “anti” we discover that it more frequently means “in place of” or “instead of” in the Messianic Scriptures [New Testament] than its other meaning of “against.” Is this then not what the Messiah prophesied about when He spoke of “another” one, in Yn. [John] 5:43? Further, is it not the same “another” one Sha’ul [Paul] spoke about in 2 Cor. 11:4? Whoever or whatever the anti-Messiahs are, they are all used by Satan, for he is behind them all. He even masquerades as a messenger of light! (2 Cor. 11:14).”
I agree that one of the potential “anti-Messiahs” is a fictitious religious beast of sorts, and I believe it to be the man-God, anti-Torah “Jesus Christ” counterfeit Messiah that is promoted by the Holy Roman empire beast system – Christianity.
I also feel it is possible that the current primary “Beast” system is Islam, which replaced Christianity in terms of dominance and influence in the region of the Holy Land, centuries ago. Of course, it is that Holy Land region of the world (Israel and the surrounding nations) that prophecy focuses upon.
There is a long-standing Hebraic interpretation which teaches that the “feet of iron and clay” on the giant statue that was interpreted by Daniel in chapter two of the prophetic book of Daniel represents Islam (clay) and Christianity (iron). Therefore, it is quite possible that a dual “beast” system is to be considered. This is particularly true when one considers that each part of that giant image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream represents a Kingdom that will rise and fall; therefore, the “feet of iron an clay” actually represents a single Kingdom – the only one not yet destroyed – which combines both of the two largest world religious systems (iron: Christianity, and clay: Islam). And, of course, that “feet of iron and clay” Kingdom is the very last that will exist. It will be totally and permanently destroyed by Messiah when he arrives to institute the Messianic era. But that’s another topic for a different study.
The “Christ” of the Holy Roman empire is put “in place of” the true Messiah by Christian leaders who have followed the spirit of delusion – the spirit of antichrist – since the fourth century CE. It is an idol fashioned together from pagan Roman religions and, thus, a nonexistent manifestation in the imagination of many mislead Christians and, to a lesser extent, also counterfeit Messianics. That religious beast results from the various antichrist false teachings promoted by those two groups.
Yes, the false replacement messiah being promoted by traditional Christianity is a counterfeit messiah – he is an antichrist! In fact, if there is one single characterization that could be called THE antichrist, it is Christianity’s Torah abolishing, “God in the flesh”, phony messiah.
May the Eternal One (Blessed be He) open hearts and minds to the true Messiah. May Messiah Yeshua, as he is actually represented in the New Testament, be embraced by all and return soon. May it be so.
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