Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

a. the Pope sits on his throne as the so-called vicar of Christ on Earth, with a scepter in onehand and legislative power in the other (Colossians 2:20-23, First Timothy 4:1-3)b. Protestantism castrates the gospel by teaching an unholy gospel of salvation by faith only,deceiving many good people into submitting to the devil’s error (cf. James 2:24)5. such antichrist sentiments are slain by God’s breath, the words from his mouth recorded in theNew Testament as the figurative sword of the Holy Spirit (cf. Ephesians 6:17), culminating inpronouncements of doom upon evildoers in the last judgment (cf. Second Corinthians 5:10)6. is there a connection between Paul’s “man of sin” and John’s “antichrist”?a. surely, for the man of sin is clearly against Christb. we need not assume that the man of sin is one person in particular, although history showsthat men have attempted to pin that title on the likes of everyone from Napoleon to Bill Gatesc. the man of sin is at the pinnacle of apostasy, and many antichrists occupy that seatC. 6661. attempts to pinpoint a single antichrist to end the ages also focus upon the book of Revelation,written to comfort saints of first century Asia Minor who faced awful persecution at the hands of theRoman empire, and concerning events to come to pass soon and shortly (cf. Revelation 1:3)2. Jesus uses signs–highly symbolic imagery–to paint a comforting picture of impending historyat the turn of the first to second century, including the defeat of the great beast, who would obviouslydepict the empire, its emperor and their work (Revelation 12:3, 13:1, 11-18)3. is the beast antichrist?a. of course, for the emperor upheld himself as God and worked to eliminate Christianityfrom the empireb. the empire answers to Daniel’s fourth beast and kingdom, which existed when the kingdomof God was to be establishedc. but this particular antichrist is no longer a threat to the church and its work and fate todayd. we can still find comfort in seeing God’s record in overcoming antichrists, knowing thusthat he can overcome those who trouble usConclusionAntichrists are in the world today, troubling the progress of the church through deception. Paul wrote,“For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministersalso transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to theirworks” (Second Corinthians 11:14-15).Character Studies! 133