Hackers Underworld 2: Forbidden Knowledge/Hackers Underworld 2: Forbidden Knowledge.iso/OCCULT/ANTICRST.TXT

Text File | 1990-12-29 | 17KB | 332 lines

                          THE ANTICHRIST


                    ****** W A R N I N G *****

     This text is prepared in response to a belief which arose in
the APOLOGETICS section that the Antichrist was not a real
person.  It is the contention of this paper that indeed he is
real and he will appear in human history as just that.  This is
not a discourse in apologetics, but an interpretation of
scripture taken in its literal sense.  It is for information
addressed to those who have a desire to know about this person.
Its "proof" is in the scripture.

                    *************************

INTRODUCTION

     The Antichrist is the name of a future personage who will
influence the world in an a masterful and pernicious way.  Some
have said that the biblical references to him refer to an
institution, a spiritual environment, or to a financial system.
While the Bible is full of symbols, even a cursory examination of
the scriptures applicable to the Antichrist will reveal that he
is a man, not a symbol of an evil to come.  The Bible gives a
clear outline of this inauspicious person - something it would
not do if he were anything other than a flesh and blood human
being.


THE PURPOSE OF THE ANTICHRIST

     Why the Antichrist?  What is his purpose in history?  Why
does he arrive on the scene at this moment in human history?  The
Bible is many things to many people, but one of its purposes is
to outline human history.  God is not trapped within the realms
of time as He has always been the I AM of the Hebrew scriptures -
something which we cannot fathom, but must accept if we are to
believe He is who He says He is.  To discuss why evil exists is
outside the scope of this paper, but if we are to read the Bible
with any degree of literalism it is obvious evil is a prominent
factor in mankind and in the Bible.  A great spiritual battle
between Satan and God has raged since he fell from Heaven and
Earth has been designated as the battleground.  We read in
Genesis of the beginning encounter in that battle as man moved
into the arena, and we see the promise of the coming One who
would eventually finish the war with victory (Genesis 3:15) -
"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between
your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will
strike his heel."  The Antichrist is Satan's final attempt to win
the war.  He is also used by God as a focal point around whom the
evil will rally as the world approaches Armageddon.


THE ORIGIN OF THE ANTICHRIST

     There has been much speculation regarding the origin of the
Antichrist and only a cursory reference will be made here.  Many
have felt he will come out of a revived Europe, and with the
United States of Europe soon to be a reality, this has
strengthened their views.  Some have believed he may come from
Syria, based on scriptures from Isaiah and Micah.  I tend to
support the first theory because there is much more scripture
sustaining that argument.


THE WORLD AT THE TIME OF THE ANTICHRIST

     There is a great deal of scripture which gives a good
description of world at the time of the Antichrist.  He will
arrive on the scene at a time when the world will hail him as the
answer to the problems of a troubled society.  What will make the
world so quick to accept a virtual dictator?  Many have felt that
a war which comes close to reaching global proportions  may make
mankind realize that a one world government is all that can
prevent a global holocaust.  Others have thought that when the
believers disappear at the time of the rapture, all of the
"negative thinkers" will at last be gone and no longer will be in
the way of a humanistic utopia and unity will be assured.
Whatever the cause, there is some restraining force which must be
removed before the Antichrist can come upon the scene.  That
moment is controlled by God, since He is the author of all
events.

     II Thessalonians 2:2-7 - "Concerning the coming of our
     Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask
     you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed
     by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come
     from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already
     come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that
     day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man
     of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to
     destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over
     everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that
     he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself
     to be God. Don't you remember that when I was with you I
     used to tell you these things.  And now you know what is
     holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the
     proper time.  For the secret power of lawlessness is
     already at work; but the one who now holds it back will
     continue to do so till he is taken out of the way."

     What is this "one who now holds it back" which will need to
be taken out of the way?  Many have said that it is the Holy
Spirit which will be removed from the earth at the time of the
rapture of the church.  This would leave evil in the world
unopposed by the Spirit of God, so evil would then become rampant
and cause the world of lawlessness and rebellion described as the
time of the end.  Theologically, I question this, although I used
to ascribe to that theory.  Rather, I believe the Holy Spirit
will still be on earth to guide and comfort the "great multitude"
of Revelation 7:14 who will come to salvation out of the great
tribulation.  Regardless, the time of the Antichrist is
controlled by God, and he will not come forth until the stage is
ready in God's plan.


THE PERSONALITY OF THE ANTICHRIST

     By searching the scriptures, we can paint a mosaic of the
personality of this end time figure.  A troubled society produces
the atmosphere for a dictator, and his personality will draw most
of the people of the world to him.  We are told in Daniel that he
will be a master of intrigue, he will succeed in whatever he
does, he will be completely wicked and "stern-faced", and he will
destroy many:

     Daniel 8:23-25 - "In the latter part of their reign,
     when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced
     king, a master of intrigue, will arise. He will become
     very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause
     astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he
     does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy
     people.
     He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider
     himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy
     many and take his stand against the Prince of princes.
     Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power."


     However, it must be understood that when this man appears,
he will not appear "stern-faced" at the beginning.  He will
appear the opposite - a man of peace, love, and concern for the
world.  His emergence will be that of a benevolent dictator, with
the unity of mankind most likely being his theme.  He will appear
as the Savior who is promised or vaguely imagined in all
confessions and traditions, who will judge according to the
measure of worldly people.  Everything about this great deceiver
will be so good, reasonable, and acceptable that one will have to
have very good reason and a lot of courage to remain calm and
negative about him against all public opinion and against a
whirlwind of enthusiasm.   He will be the epitome of deception
and his machinations will not be realized by the world until his
reign is half completed.  It is difficult to not compare him with
Hitler, another dictator of our time.  When he first came to
power, he so mesmerized the people of his time and country that
they literally worshipped him.  William Shirer, author of The
Rise and Fall of the Third Reich wrote, "Today, as far as the
vast majority of his fellow-countrymen are concerned, he (Hitler)
has reached a pinnacle never before achieved by a German ruler.
He has become - even before