<< Previous | Index | Next >>"THE TIME OF THE END" The Antichrist And The Man Of Sin INTRODUCTION 1. A common element of end time speculation is the rise of a world ruler, an individual who... a. First comes on the political scene as a hero, but proves to be a villain b. Is thought to be the Antichrist and the Man of Sin described in the Bible 2. The anticipation of such a person is not limited to premillennial views... a. Some amillennialists look for a single adversary to arise shortly before Christ returns b. For example: Edward J. Young, Anthony A. Hokema 3. Connections between the Antichrist and the Man of Sin are often made with... a. The visions of Daniel concerning the "little horn", and the king of the South - Dan 7,8; 11:36-45 b. The visions of Revelation concerning the beast of the sea - Re 13: 1-9 [We shall consider the visions of Daniel and Revelation later, but in this study let's first consider what is actually said about...] I. THE ANTICHRIST A. AS REVEALED IN THE BIBLE... 1. John is the only one who actually uses the expression "antichrist" 2. He used the phrase just five times a. "you have heard that antichrist is coming" (ESV) - 1Jn 2:18 b. "so now many antichrists have come" (ESV) - 1Jn 2:18 c. "This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son" (ESV) - 1Jn 2:22 d. "This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already." (ESV) - 1Jn 4:3 e. "For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist." (ESV) - 2Jn 1:7 3. Some observations: a. Note the use of the definite article (the) - 1Jn 2:22; 4:3; 2Jn 1:7 b. Note the indefinite and plural use of the term "antichrist" - 1Jn 2:18 c. Note that in at least some sense the antichrist was already present - 1Jn 4:3; 2Jn 1:7 d. John was concerned about a spirit of antichrist producing many antichrists in his day e. But his words have been taken to suggest an individual antichrist was yet to appear -- The challenge is to determine whether John had an individual antichrist in mind B. AS ANTICIPATED BY MAN... 1. The definite article "the" leads many to anticipate an individual antichrist a. John Chrysostom held that it was the resurrected Nero b. Some Catholic sources held that it would be an apostate priest or even pope c. Premillennialists and others look for a singular adversary to arise 2. That there were "many antichrists" and was "now in the world already" lead others to conclude antichrist is an attitude reflected in both individuals and systems a. John certainly applied the term that way to the Gnostics of his day - 2Jn 1:7 b. Protestant reformers like Luther and Calvin identified the Roman papacy as the antichrist -- The evidence for a singular adversary is simply not as strong as many suggest [But what about the man of sin? Won't he be the Antichrist? Well, let's take a look at what is said about...] II. THE MAN OF SIN A. AS REVEALED IN THE BIBLE... 1. His perverse character - 2Th 2:3 a. A man of "lawlessness" - having no regard for God's law b. A son of "perdition" - one begotten for destruction 2. His God-defying activity - 2Th 2:4 a. He opposes and exalts himself 1) Above all that is called God 2) Above all that is worshiped (including Jesus) b. He sits as God in the temple (the church?) c. He shows himself that he is God! 3. His present restraint and future revealing - 2Th 2:5-8 a. He was being restrained at the time Paul wrote 1) The Thessalonians knew what was restraining him 2) For Paul had told them when he was with them b. Even so, the "mystery of lawlessness" was already at work 1) His lawless influence was already spreading 2) But it was hidden (still a mystery), to be revealed only when that which restrains was removed c. He would be revealed when the restraining force was removed 4. The decisive nature of his defeat - 2Th 2:8 a. He will be consumed and destroyed by the Lord b. His end will be similar to that of those who know not God and obey not the gospel of Christ - cf. 2 Th 1:7-9 5. The timing of his defeat - 2Th 2:8 a. This will happen at the coming of the Lord b. The Lord will destroy the man of sin with the brightness of His coming! c. Just as the Lord will destroy Satan at His coming - cf. Re 20:10 6. His relation to Satan - 2Th 2:9-10 a. His coming will be according to the working of Satan b. His coming will be with all power, signs, lying wonders c. He will exercise unrighteous deception among those who are perishing -- Who or what is this "man of sin, the son of perdition"? B. AS ANTICIPATED BY MAN... 1. One view is that the man of sin is one particular individual a. Who will arise with great power and deceive many just before Christ returns b. Who is the "antichrist" spoken of by John in 1Jn 2:18 c. This view is held by premillennialists, and some amillennialists (e.g., Edward J. Young, Anthony Hoekema) 2. Another view is that the man of sin is a series of individuals a. Perhaps a successive line of men with the same general character b. In this sense many have applied it to the Roman papacy 1) This was first suggested by a pope himself! a) Gregory the Great (550-604 A.D.) said that whoever arrogates to himself the title of "universal priest" is a forerunner of antichrist - cf. Hendriksen b) It was not long before patriarchs of Rome began to claim such distinction 2) Many Protestants view the papacy as the "man of sin" (e.g., Luther, Barnes) a) Noting the similarity between what is said about the man of sin, and what the Roman papacy became b) Suggesting that either the Holy Spirit or the Roman empire was what was "restraining" the lawlessness that was just beginning and would eventually lead to the apostasy and revelation of the man of sin -- I am prone to think the latter view may be the correct one CONCLUSION 1. What I have suggested in our study is this... a. Antichrist is applied by John to those in his day who denied Jesus coming in the flesh b. Whether he also had in mind an individual to appear later is not certain c. Man of sin is described by Paul as though it was an individual d. But his present restraint and future revealing suggests the possibility that it refers to a series of individuals 2. As with many prophetic passages, there has been a lot of foolish speculation... a. In every generation, attempts have been made to identify the man of sin, the antichrist b. In the 20th century alone, from Kaiser to Hitler to Hussein, etc. c. Many have spoken, confident in their identification, only in time to be proven wrong 3. What is important, indeed necessary, is that we be ready for whatever comes... a. Whether the man of sin and antichrist proves to be a specific individual b. Or whether the man of sin is indeed a series of individuals, such as the papacy 4. How shall we be ready for whatever comes...? a. Have a strong love for the truth - cf. 2Th 2:9-10 b. Believe in the truth - cf. 2Th 2:11-12 c. Obey the gospel of Jesus Christ - cf. 2Th 2:13-14; 1:7-9 Only then can we be confident that we are in a right relationship with the Lord, unlikely to be deceived by any individual or false system that might come before the Lord returns...<< Previous | Index | Next >>
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