The True Meaning of the Word “Antichrist”
The word “antichrist” is found only in the letters of John in the Bible, specifically first and second John.
1 John 2:18 ¶Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ 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.
2 John 1:7 ¶For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
The name “Christ” is a title, not the surname of Jesus. The word “Christ” comes from christos, a Greek word meaning “anointed.” Does Satan want to have that title? The Bible teaches that Satan wants to take the place of Christ in our hearts. The Devil wants the worship that is due Jesus to be given to him! Therefore a person who pretends to BE Christ is “antichrist” according to the sense of the meaning of the word in the letters of John!
Most people today think of the prefix “anti-” as meaning “against,” but in context of antichrist it actually means “in place of.” Early Christians understood this word to not mean someone who sought to destroy Christ but someone who sought to set himself up in the place of Christ!
When the Pope calls himself the “Vicar of Christ”, he is literally calling HIMSELF Antichrist! The word “vicar” comes from Middle English, from Old French vicaire, from Latin vicārius, vicarious, a substitute!
When we speak of the Antichrist as most people understand him today, it’s actually more correct to say the “final Antichrist” for all Popes are technically antichrist.
Anti is one of many words in the KJV that has changed in meaning to what most people understand it to mean today. Among the etymology of the word is the meaning of “instead of”. Look up the word “antipope” for it has that very meaning! An antipope was not against Popes but a person who claimed to be Pope while another Pope was reigning.
an·ti·pope
\ˈan-ti-ˌpōp\
noun
: one elected or claiming to be pope in opposition to thepope canonically chosen
Origin: Middle English antepope, from Middle Frenchantipape, from Medieval Latin antipapa, from anti- +papa pope.
First use: 15th century
I recently had a debate with a young man about the meaning of the word “anrichrist” and he conceded I had a point when I brought up the meaning of “antipope”. Wow! This is perhaps one of the first intellectual arguments I ever won! 🙂
The Dec. 23, 2013 edition of Time Magazine referred to Pope Francis position as “the most exalted throne in the world.” Isn’t that the very position that Satan himself seeks? Doesn’t he want to rule the world?
Isaiah 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Doesn’t Satan want the very Son of God, Jesus to worship him?
Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Doesn’t Satan want to have the title “Christ”? This is the true meaning of Antichrist, a person who claims to BE Christ! Christians hold the true Christ to be Jesus of Nazareth. Satan’s people are seeking to promote their version of Christ who is not the Jesus of the Gospels, not the Christ of the New Testament, but their own version of Christ based on Gnosticism and paganism, the Devil incarnate.
Men in the flesh are mortal, they die, so Satan finds another man to rule through. Antichrist is not just some guy who rules the world at the end of time, he’s a succession of men. Satan has fooled many Christians to think Antichrist appears at the end of time, though he has actually been around from the BEGINNING of time! Satan is always trying to control people through some emperor, or monarch, or pope, If you understand that, you’ll be better at eschatology than many preachers.
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