Summary: He is just as real as we are

THE ANTICHRIST

2nd Thess.2; 3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

The spirit of the antichrist has been in and at work in the world since the Resurrection of Christ. His main business is to defame, defeat and destroy the purity, power and purpose of Christ. His personal appearance will come in the seed of the serpent at the beginning of the tribulation after the Saints are returned to glory.

1. Defame the name of Jesus.

Matt.24: 4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Lie about Christ

Lead people to doubt the bible

Try to link Christ with Satan.

2. Defeat the mission of the Church

Mark 13: 21And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:

22For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

Stop soul winning programs

Stunt the growth of Christians

Sap the spiritual power from the church

3. Destroy the vision of the church

2nd John 1; 7For 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.

8Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Carnal instead of consecrated

Complaining instead of content

Careless instead of Christ like

4. Deny the Holy Spirit’s control

Titus 1; 16They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Weak spiritual strength

Worldly in sinful standers

Worthless in Soul—winning sharing

5. Dethrone the pre-eminence of Christ

2nd Peter 2: 1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

Admit his good deeds but not divine

Accept his service but not as Saviour

Acclaim his love but not his Lordship

6. Disrupt the sinner’s conversion.

2nd Thess.2; 10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

Delay becoming a Christian until to old

Doubt the reality of those that claim to be saved

Deny that God is dealing with them

7. Dog the preachers convictions

2Thess2; 3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Question the authority of the scriptures

Quip about the claims of the Saviour

Qualify your position as not being dogmatic