THE ROOTS OF THIS TERM
First of all, the word "AntiChrist" (anteXristou) in Greek means "instead of Christ" or, in the Hebrew, "instead of Messiah". A substitute false Messiah. We can find many more references to this "instead of Messiah" before the New Testament mentions the term in I John Chapter 2.
The presentation of anyone as "The One and Only Messiah of Israel" and G-d spoken of in the Scriptures, and being a false Messiah is what we are warned about. Not only us, but the Old Testament Jewish people were as well. The Jewish people were well aware of someone proclaiming himself a "Messiah-God" who wasn't. Antiochus I (Epiphanes) who sacked Jerusalem, forced the Jewish people to forsake the Torah and placed a bust of himself in the Holy Temple should immediately come to mind.
The Caesars also were worshipped as "God on earth" (Pontifex Maximus) for instance. The Jewish people never recognized their claim to "supreme godhood" however. The Jewish people knew from the Prophets that the True Messiah would be a Jew, not a Gentile, and that He would be of the lineage of David the king, born in Bethlehem, not Rome.
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be Ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth [have been] from of Old, from Everlasting. Micah 5:2
Therefore, the concept of "instead of Messiahs" can be traced to B.C. Jewish roots, pre-dating the New Testament. This was one main reason why all the geneological scrolls were kept in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem; so that everyone could check to be certain that anyone claiming to be The Messiah could be ascertained that He was of the lineage of David the king, which Yeshua was, through His mother Miryam (Mary) who was of the line of Nathan, the son of David the king, her ancestor.
The scrolls were consulted to prevent the "instead of Messiahs" and so safeguard the Jewish people who were waiting for Him.
YESHUAS' WARNING
Yeshua warned us that "many" would come in His Name claiming to be The Messiah, and also that His Coming would not be "secret".
And He said, "Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in My Name, saying, I am Christ (Messiah); and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. Luke 21:8
Then if any man shall say unto you, "Lo, here is Christ", or "there"; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, "Behold, he is in the desert"; go not forth: "behold, he is in the secret chambers"; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Matthew 24:23-27
THESE ONES WHO ARE FALSE WOULD BE CALLED "ANTEXRISTOU" (INSTEAD OF CHRISTS)
Yeshua is The Christ. He Spoke of those that would present themselves as Christs also. He warns Believers about this saying there would be MANY. These type persons would simply be "antichrists"; instead of Him.
It would certainly be no stretch to identify those who presented themselves or teachings as Christs, were not Christs, but ones that were "instead of Christ". As said, the word "anteXristou" translated "antichrists" in I John 2 means the ones who were "instead of Christ", not Christ at all, but false.
Each individual one would be a "man of sin" as described in II Thessalonians 2, and there would be the bust of Caesar placed in the Temple before it was destroyed, and even later, Caesars placed busts of themselves on the foundation where the Temple had stood and demanded, and were called, "lord and god".
Those that announced some false Christ that was not Scriptural, or encouraged others to follow a false Christ by false teaching. That is called "the spirit of antichrist" or the "spirit of error".
STEP ONE: THE APOSTLE JOHN CONFIRMS YESHUAS' PROPHECY THAT THERE WERE NOW "MANY ANTICHRISTS"
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. I John 2:18
The Apostle John here confirms Yeshuas' Prophecy that there would come "many" in His Name that were not of Him.
STEP TWO: THE APOSTLE JOHN IDENTIFIES THE FALSE GNOSTIC TEACHING
John prefaces his statement with this:
...you have heard that antichrist shall come.
Where did anyone hear that? That any "one man", this "antichrist" shall come?
The answer to that is that the Apostle John is here identifying a Gnostic teaching. We need to show where this "one man" idea came from. To do so, we must look at Zoroastrianism.
THE FUNDAMENTALS OF ZOROASTRIANISM
Zoroastrianism is a Dualistic Belief System that originated in the 6th Century B.C. It could be called the "grandaddy of Gnosticism". In Zoroastrianism, there are "two Gods": A "Good God" and an "Evil God". The most important thing to understand is this:
Both the Good God and the Evil God are Co-Equal and Co-Eternal. Good and Evil are "equally balanced" with each other, and this is the reason for mankinds' Eternal Struggle.
In other words, for every "Good force", the Zoroastrians taught there was a Co-Equal "Evil force" also in operation.
Now are we getting the picture? The Messiah Yeshua, The G-d-Man, to conform to Dualistic teaching, had to have a "Co-Equal and Co-Eternal" "god-man" to "balance" things out. This is the Gnostic origin of the idea. The Gnostics reasoned that since there was only "One and One only True Messiah of Israel", that there had to be a counter-acting opposite force "The One and Only True Anti Christ" to "balance" everything out!
The Apostle John says that although, "you have heard" of this, he is
The Apostle John identifies the Gnostic teaching of a "one man antichrist" and refutes it openly saying there are "many", just as Yeshua had Prophesied that there would be "many". Those that are teaching there will be only "one" are identified as teaching antichrist doctrines!
STEP THREE: THE APOSTLE JOHN SAYS WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE GNOSTIC ANTICHRISTS
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. I John 2:19
Gnostic teaching was the biggest threat to the purity of early Church Doctrines from the beginning, and continues with us to this very day. They cause constant division and sects. They used it to scare people to recruit more members.
DEBUNKING THE GNOSTIC DISPY BOOGIEMAN
For instance, the Dispensationalists imply there will be a "final showdown" between Yeshua our Messiah and a "Single Man indwelt by satan at the end of time" and attempt to present a fear scenario. As if that was some sort of "even contest"? hasatan is only a fallen angel and cannot even do anything without Yeshuas' Permission because Yeshua is already on The Throne in Heaven!
Do we now see clearly the confusion that Gnostic ideas create? Who is in charge in Matthew 28:18? Gnostic teaching places everything in doubt, and gives way too much power to the enemy.
Scripture declares that the Archangel Michael is the one who contends with satan, and Michael Appeals to our L-RD and is Victorious.
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. Jude 1:9. !
Have no Fear. Yeshua has All Power over Heaven and earth right now. (Matthew 28:18) There is no "Co-Equal, Co-Eternal Evil Gnostic Super Man" to match our Saviour. It is a Dualistic Myth.
BIG DEAL YOU SAY, WHO CARES ABOUT THE "ANTICHRIST"?
First of all, the Gnostics cared. The "Demiurge" (the Co-Equal, Co-Eternal Evil Force) was what held their whole system together.
Second of all, the Dispensationalists care, because, just as the Gnostics, this sole futuristic "one man antichrist evil force" of theirs is what holds THEIR whole system together as well!
He is the "superstar attraction" for all their fearful doctrine. They frightem new belisvers with it. He is the one the Belivers are "Darby-Raptured" from, he is the one the "seven year Trib" features, he is the one that rebuilds the Temple, he is the reason for Armageddon, he is the one that establishes One World Government. He is the focal point for every "last days" thing! Oh, yes, he is extremely importabt to Dispys, and they form their "last days" doctrines all round "him".
They are betting on "one antichrist". Yeshua says "many", John says "many", not "one", "many".
They say "not many", "one" and "we will wait for him so Jesus can come back". Baloney.
The next time some Dispensationalist tries to frighten you with their "boogieman antichrist" just tell them Yeshua and the Apostle John said there are "many" and not one, and that they themselves are trying to resurrect the false teaching of 1st Century Gnostic Dualism which is "the spirit of antichrist".
MORE FOLLOWING SOON!
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FOOTNOTES
[1
Rusk, Roger. the other end of the world. Plano, Texas. Le Book Company. 1988.
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