INTRODUCTION
A. On June 6, 2006 (6/6/06) “The Omen” Was Released In Theatres
B. Synopsis
“This WeekThe prophecy is clear, the signs unmistakable: Armageddon is upon us. On 6 / 6 / 06, ’The Omen’ is revealed...and our darkest fears are realized. ’The Omen,’ a contemporary thriller based on the 1976 classic film, centers around a young boy named Damien, the son of an American diplomat and his wife. Damien’s family is unaware he is destined to become the Anti-Christ –- until shattering events reveal the terrifying truth.” (Moviefone)
3. Purpose Of This Sermon:
1. To examine Bible references to the AntiChrist
2. To review the question “What is the AntiChrist?”
3. To review the question “When will the AntiChrist come?”
4. To review the question “How is the AntiChrist opposite of Christ?”
5. To make a personal application: “You’re here and now AntiChrist!”
More information can be found in my book, REVELATIONS TO GO! (The no-headache / no-Tylenol, life application approach to the last book of the Bible) – available for order online or wherever books are sold.
I. BIBLE REFERENCES
A. Only Four Scriptures Directly Refer To An “Antichrist”
1 John 2:18 “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.”
* Antichrist is coming
* Many antichrist have already come
John 2:22 “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.”
* Antichrist is a liar and deceiver
* Antichrist denies the father and the son
1 John 4:3 “…and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.”
* Antichrist is more than just a “person”
* Antichrist is a spirit – a system of evil
* Antichrist is coming
* Antichrist already in the world
2 John 7 “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”
* Antichrist is a deceiver
* Antichrist denies that Jesus’ incarnation
B. Other Scriptures Make Indirect References
2 Thes 2:3-12
Revelation 3:18 ff.
II. WHAT IS THE ANTICHRIST?
A. Hollywood Might Suggest
1. He is a specific flesh & blood person
2. Certainly 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 says “man of sin”
3. Translated literally – some may think it’s a flesh and blood person
B. What The Bible Teaches
1. To suggest the Antichrist is simply a flesh & blood person is limited
2. He is very much “spirit” (1 John 4:3)
3. What about 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 “man of sin” reference?
4. Refer to Ephesians 2:15 – Christ’s church is also referred to as “one new man”
5. Just as the body of Christ (the Church) is Christ’s agent and representative in the world (yesterday, today, and tomorrow), similarly the “man of lawlessness” (2 Thes 2:3 ff) is Satan’s agent and representative in the world.
6. As the church is not simply one man or one organization – but a living spiritual organism representing Christ, so also there is a dark spiritual organism or system in this world (not simply one man or organization) that represents Satan – that is what John refers to as the “spirit of the antichrist” (1 John 2:18)
III. WHEN WILL THE ANTICHRIST COME?
A. Hollywood Might Suggest That He Will Arise In The Future
B. What The Bible Teaches
1. (2 Thessalonians 2:3,6,8) uses the word “revealed”
a. not “arrived” or “comes” but “revealed”
b. “revealed” implies something that’s already here, but not obvious – something hidden or disguised
2. (2 Thessalonians 2:7) says it is “already at work” – (already present and operational even during the first century when 2 Thessalonians was written)
3. (1 John 4:3) says “and this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming and is now already in the world”
a. John reinforces what Paul was saying in 2 Thessalonians
b. the Antichrist is not simply something that will bring terror tomorrow
c. rather, the Antichrist is something that’s at work yesterday, today, and tomorrow
IV. THE ANTI-CHRIST IS THE OPPOSITE OF CHRIST!
A. Origins
1. Antichrist comes from hell (Rev. 11:7)
2. Christ comes from heaven (John 6:38)
B. Attitudes
1. Antichrist exalts himself (2 Thes 2:4)
2. Christ humbled himself (Phil 2:8)
C. Truth vs. Deception
1. Antichrist deceives (2 Thes 2:11)
2. Christ is truth (John 14:6)
D. Popularity
1. Antichrist is revealed in systems often admired, popular and applauded (Rev. 13:3,4)
** Case in point – sexual revolution (celebrated by the world, but resulted in stolen innocence and purity, escalating teen pregnancy, family breakdown, pornography, sexual perversion, etc.)
2. Christ was despised and rejected (Isaiah 53:3)
E. Ultimate Goal
1. Antichrist’s goal is death (John 10:10)
2. Christ’s goal is abundant life (John 10:10)
V. YOUR ANTICHRIST - APPLICATIONS FOR LIFE
A. Illustration:
During Operation Desert Storm, remember the news coverage as our troops were being placed along the boarders of Kuwait and out in the gulf waters? Every indication was given that our troops would storm Kuwait by way of the beach and by way of the Kuwaiti boarders. In turn, Iraqi troops set up their defenses along be beach and the Kuwaiti borders. But when the “air war” began, the US knocked out Iraqi command and control in such a way that their communication and supply lines were broken. By the time the ground war began, the US had moved it’s troops away from the gulf and Kuwaiti borders and swept around and down behind the Iraqi troops – catching them from behind by surprise. In a concluding press conference, it was a brilliant military strategy that General Norman Schwarzkopf termed the “Hail Mary Move”. The Iraqi forces never saw it coming. They were so busy looking for their enemy one direction, that the enemy swung around from behind and caught them off guard from the rear.
B. Application
1. The devil has his own “Hail Mary Move”
2. Remember the devil “deceives” – operating in ways that are not obvious
3. Popular notions about the Antichrist (including Hollywood portrayals) tend to have us looking for the Antichrist as simply a flesh and blood person or organization that will arise somewhere in the future, on a far-away soil. The Antichrist is not simply some creepy little kid named “Damien” from “The Omen”
4. Paul and John saw the Antichrist as a “here and now” entity – not just future
5. They referred to the “spirit of the Antichrist” and to “many Antichrists”
6. The Antichrist was here yesterday, is here now, and will be here in the future
7. The Antichrist is not simply something from a faraway land, but is right here, right now swooping down from behind, catching marriages off guard, homes off guard, churches off guard, and souls off guard.
8. The Antichrist might be found at a theatre near you, but also in music or media near you that you are exposed to, an unhealthy relationship near you, or anything else that is not uplifting Christ in your life or edifying to others around you.
VI. HOW TO BEGIN GETTING VICTORY OVER YOUR PERSONAL ANTICHRIST?
A. (1 John 1:9) Acknowledging His Present “Here & Now” Operations Against Your Life Personally Is The Necessary First Step
acknowledge and confession – the first step to forgiveness and a cleansing from all unrighteousness
B. (James 4:7) “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”
1. Submit to God (resistance on your own without submission to God will leave you defeated)
2. Resist the devil
3. The Bible promises that the devil will flee from you – believe it, claim it, live it
4. Draw near to God – it’s not enough to empty your life of all that doesn’t belong, but to now re-fill it with God’s grace and goodness and godliness will strengthen you. Vacancies left from the Antichrist must be filled and secured by Christ Himself.
PRAYER
For additional study check out: REVELATIONS TO GO! by Brian J. Buriff – available for order online or wherever books are sold.
