Chicken Soup for the Mortal Soul
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Oct. 7, 2008
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Who?
| As of recently, there have been many questions that I have heard. Whisperings. Wanderings. Ponderings. People asking. Asking the age old question; Who? Who? Who is the Antichrist?
Who will be the one to oppose the Lord Jesus?
The Antichrist is described in Revalations 13:1-8;
"And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority... The whole world was astonished and worshiped the beast. Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, who is like the beast? ... The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies ... He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. ... All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast-all whose names have not been written in the book of life...
Revalations 13:1-8
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The Antichrist, obviously, is the beast referred to, and the Dragon who gave him authority, Satan (Rev. 12:3, NASV).
The Antichrist himself has been portrayed many different ways throughout time.
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Then come the whisperings. Who? Who? Who is this Antichrist described? Who will be this intense and horrible ruler who will crush Christians under his grasp?
Who?
Who?
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Then comes those who say they know who the Antichrist is. That the Antichrist IS alive and WILL take over the earth.
But...
I believe that the Antichrist is not the main point. I don't believe that when John wrote Revalations, that he was trying to warn us of an oppressive man who would attack Christians. Instead, as quoted in Revalations 22:12, John sums up the whole book of Revalations by saying "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone to what he has done.
John did not write Revalations to scare us, to make us paranoid of the Antichrist, of earthquakes, dragons, falling stars, fire, and blood red moons. No. He didn't write it to scare us, but to tell us, 'One day Jesus will return. Be ready. He will reward you according to what you've done.'
So many people focus on the Antichrist. But the truth is, he's not the main point. He's not the main purpose! The purpose of Revalations, the end times, John's revalations, are not to tell us who the Antichrist is, and when he's coming.
No, they're written as a warning: a warning that Jesus is coming. Be ready for him. For he is coming soon.
~Nick
© Copyright 2008 by Nick Joel |
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"Yes, life is tough, and suffering builds character. Nothing worth having ever comes easy. Virtue is its own reward. And when I was your age..."
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• Oct. 7, 2008 - Untitled Comment
I think it might be funny just to put in vague notion.
Like "Him" or "that one person I know, whose name escapes me.", leaving all busy-bodies feeling ripped off.
Really, what ever happened to people just talking about politics?
~Jacque