Antichrist (ἀντίχριστος)
The Apostle John writes of the antichrist (ἀντίχριστος) in his first and second letters to the Church. Antichrist is a word created by combining a preposition (ἀντί) expressing opposition and Christ (Χριστός); therefore, it defines one who is against Christ.
We are first introduced to the concept of the antichrist in 1 John 2:18, where John writes about how we know it is the last hour. My little children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that an antichrist is coming, now also many antichrists have come, by which we experientially know it is the last hour. The antichrist is the liar who denies that Jesus is the Messiah, 1 John 2:22. Who is the liar, except the one denying that Jesus is the Messiah? This one is the antichrist, the one denying the Father and the Son. Although these antichrists may claim to be from the Father, the ones that oppose Christ also reject the Father, 1 John 2:23. Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father, the one verbally agreeing, has the Son and the Father. Every spirit that does not verbally agree that Jesus has come in the flesh is the antichrist, 1 John 4:3. and every spirit which does not confess (verbally agree) the Jesus is not out from God, and this is the [spirit] of the antichrist, which you have heard that is coming and now already is in the world. They are the deceivers who have gone out into the world, some even out from the assemblies, from the beginning of the Church, denying that Jesus has come in the flesh, 2 John 7. The antichrist is one who causes others to wander away from the truth. Because many deceivers have gone out into the world, the ones not confessing Jesus Christ has come in flesh. This is the deceiver (wanderer) and antichrist. In these latter times, many depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons, hypocrites who have seared their conscience in rejection of the truth, 1 Timothy 4:1-3. Now the Spirit explicitly said that in [the] last times certain ones would depart from the faith giving heed to deceiving spirits and teachings of demons, in hypocrisy speaking lies, having seared their own conscience, forbidding marriage, to refrain from foods which the God has created for partaking after thanksgiving to the ones believing and fully experientially knowing the truth. Therefore, the antichrist describes anyone who speaks in opposition to Christ, denying Who He is.
When John speaks of the antichrist that we have heard is coming in 1 John 2:18, he is not referring to the man of lawlessness, also known as the first beast of Revelation who has seven heads and ten crowns. Let no one deceive you according to any means, because except the leaving comes first and [then] the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 2 Thessalonians 2:3. And I was standing upon the sand of the sea and behold out from the sea a rising beast having ten horns and seven heads and upon his horns ten diadems and upon his heads blasphemous names (names that are falsely attributing something to him), Revelation 13:1. 1 John was written in 90 A.D. from Ephesus, and Revelation was written in 96 A.D. from the island of Patmos. Therefore, if John were referring to the antichrist in the book of Revelation when writing about the beast, he would have used this term to tie him back to his first and second letters to the Church. However, the antichrist is not used outside John’s first two letters, and within the letters, John specifically describes who the antichrist is. When it comes to the man of lawlessness, using the term antichrist as a synonym does the saints a disservice. We, of the Church, will never know who the man of lawlessness is and should be thankful, for he will be malignantly evil incarnate. The snatching of the Church by Christ will happen before the man of lawlessness is revealed and the wrath of God is poured out upon the earth, 2 Thessalonians 2:3. This one will set himself up in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, declaring himself to be a god, 2 Thessalonians 2:4. The one opposing and exalting over every thing called god or worshipped, so that he sits in the holy of holies of the God displaying himself that he is a god.
The antichrist is among us now. In fact, there are many antichrists who walk among us denying the death for sins and resurrection of Christ three days later, opposing His physical resurrection, contesting that He is the Jewish Messiah, disagreeing that He is God in the flesh. Therefore, the Church would do well to heed the advice of the Apostle John to let the truth abide in us while rejecting the heresy these false teachers try to sneak in, 1 John 2:24. Let that which you have heard from a beginning abide in you, If that which you heard from a beginning abides in you, also the Son and the Father abide in you.
To Pull, Drag, or Draw (ἑλκύω)
To draw (ἑλκύω) expresses the concept of moving an object from one area to another by attraction or pulling.
During Christ’s earthly ministry, after Jesus declared that He was the bread of life that came down from heaven, the crowd following Him from the other side of the sea where He fed them began to murmur. They knew that Jesus was the son of Joseph, so how could He come down from heaven? In response, Jesus instructed them to stop murmuring, for no one has the ability to come to Him except the Father draws him, John 6:44.
When Jesus is lifted up, He will draw all men unto Himself, John 12:32. The time for the judgment of this world has come. Just as a seed of wheat must die to produce more, through His death, many more sons of the light will be produced, John 12:36.
After the death of Christ, the disciples returned to their fishing business. They spent the night out on the sea but did not have any success. In the morning, the resurrected Christ spoke to them from the shore and instructed them to cast out the nets on the other side of the boat. Once they did this, the catch was so large they could not draw it into the boat, John 21:6. Realizing the man on the shore was Jesus, Peter jumped into the sea and swam to shore while the other disciples drew the net to land, John 21:7.
After Paul rebuked a demon who had possessed a young slave girl to deceive people who lived in the city of Philippi because she was following Paul around, claiming that he was presenting a way of salvation, her masters dragged Paul and Silas to the authorities in the marketplace, Acts 16:19. They realized that because Paul rebuked the demon she had lost her divination abilities, and therefore, her value to them.
Having partiality of persons is detrimental, for the rich man drags others into court and attributes false things to them, James 2:6-7.
When Paul was found in the Temple by some of the Jews from Asia who were seeking to kill him, they took the opportunity to stir up the people against him. Supposing Paul had brought Gentiles into the Temple, they seized him and dragged him out of the Temple, shutting the doors, Acts 21:30.
Temptations do not come from God, but each one is drawn out (ἐξελκόμενος) and enticed by his own desires, James 1:14.
To draw is used in the sense of attracting along with dragging. Although Christ had done many signs and wonders among the Jews, most did not believe; however, the ones who came to Him were attracted by the Father. Their faith in Christ did not come from them, but the Father drew them in, for He knows who are His. In the same way, because Christ was lifted up in crucifixion and raised three days later, He attracts many to Him. This is a gentle type of drawing, not forceful. Although God desires that all men be saved, He did not determine that certain ones would perish and, therefore, will not force anyone to be saved. It is the kindness of God that brings us to repentance (change of mind), not an authoritarian hand. We also see the subtle side of drawing out with how temptations come upon men and ultimately produce sin by drawing them out of their safe place and enticing them through their own strong desires. On the other side is the dragging out by force, as with a net or a rich man taking others into court.
Energize (ἐνέργεια)
Energize (ἐνέργεια) expresses the state or quality of being active.
When Paul communicated to God on behalf of the saints, he often expressed a desire for them to be given a spirit of wisdom and revelation in full experiential knowledge of Christ so that the eyes of their hearts are opened to the hope of His calling. With the heart open to see, we are able to discern the inherent ability of God that was working in the resurrection of Christ through the energizing of the might of His strength, Ephesians 1:19-20.
In the mystery of the Christ, which in past ages was not revealed but has now been declared by the Spirit and His holy apostles and prophets, we learn that the Gentiles are able to become fellow heirs, for God has made it possible for them to partake of the same body and, therefore, His promise in Christ. Paul was appointed the steward of this dispensation by the grace given to him according to the energizing of God’s inherent ability to bring the good news among the Gentiles of the unsearchable riches of the Christ, Ephesians 3:7-8.
God gave us apostles, evangelists, and pastors even teachers to bring us to a oneness of the faith so that we are no longer tossed around like inarticulate babblers. Instead, while speaking the truth in love, we can grow up in all things unto Christ, who is the head. For the whole body, being knit together, supplies each joint’s need according to the working of each part to edify itself, Ephesians 4:16.
Through the working of His inherent ability by which He can subdue all things, our bodies will be outwardly transformed to express a proper opinion of Him, Philippians 3:21. Many walk among the saints who are enemies of the cross. Their end is ruin, their god is the belly, and they openly display their shame. In contrast to how they focus on earthly things, we are to remember that our citizenship is in heaven, where we eagerly await our Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we must stand firm in the Lord and walk in the pattern Paul left for us, Philippians 3:17.
As the steward of the dispensation of Grace, Paul agonized according to the energy given to him in his inherent ability to make known the riches of the mystery of the Christ among the Gentiles, the hope of glory, Colossians 1:25-29.
In Christ, we have been circumcised with a circumcision that is not done with hands, for it is the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh by being placed into the Christ. We are immersed into His burial and, therefore, raised through the faith of the working (energizing) of God, who raised Him from the dead, Colossians 2:12. He made us alive in Christ while we were dead in our trespasses and the uncircumcision of our flesh, wiping out the handwritten ordinances against us by nailing them to His cross, Colossians 2:14. Therefore, let us not be those who govern our lives according to the principles of this world system, judging others according to days, food, drink, or sabbaths, which were nothing more than shadows of the things to come, Colossians 2:17.
After the Church is removed from the earth by Christ returning in the air to call His bride home, the man of lawlessness will rise, who works according to the energizing of Satan, with inherent ability, signs, and lying wonders to deceive those who did not welcome the love of the truth, 2 Thessalonians 2:9. Because they did not welcome the love of the truth to be saved, God will send to them a strong working of error that they should believe the lie in order that those who took pleasure in unrighteousness while rejecting the truth should be condemned for their wanderings, 2 Thessalonians 2:12.
Energize (ἐνέργεια) conveys a state or quality of activity that is seen in the resurrection of Christ by the working of God’s might, the mystery of the Christ, how the body works together for its edification, in the work of pastors and teachers to bring to light the truth of the gospel, and the employment of Satan’s ability through the man of lawlessness to deceiving the world by God sending an operating of wandering among those who rejected the truth.
Persuade (πείθω)
Persuading (πείθω) involves convincing someone to follow a particular viewpoint or course of action.
The High Priests and elders of Israel persuaded the people to request a murderer be set free while condemning a righteous man, Matthew 27:20. After they had Him crucified by the hand of Pilate, standing at the cross, they mocked Christ, saying, “He was persuaded on the basis of God. Now, let Him deliver Him if He desires, for He said that I am the Son of God.” Knowing that Jesus was the Messiah and that He stated if they destroyed His body, He would raise it in three days, the High Priests and elders persuaded Pilate to seal the tomb and put a guard at it so no one could steal the body. However, three days later, some of the guards assigned to the tomb came into the city and told the High Priest of the angel and the tomb opening, for the One they had condemned to death and mocked God answered and raised Him out from the dead. Concerned over this news, the High Priest and elders offer the guards a large sum of money to say the disciples overtook them while they slept. And if the governor hears of this, they will persuade him and make them secure, Matthew 28:14. The absurdity of such a statement is shocking, for if they were caught sleeping, they would be killed, and if they failed in their duties, they would face execution. During Christ’s earthly ministry, while addressing the Pharisees, who were fond of money, He speaks of a rich man and Lazarus. This is not a parable but a historical record of two men: one who trusted in his wealth and the other in God. After the rich man perished, speaking across the abyss to Abraham, he asked that Lazarus be sent to warn his brothers. To this, Abraham replied, they have Moses and the prophets. If they do not listen to them, they will not be persuaded by someone rising from the dead, Luke 16:31. Even after His resurrection and the substantial evidence provided, the High Priest and elders were not persuaded, just as Christ stated.
When it comes to salvation for the saints of the Church, the more we understand about what God has done, take Him at His Word, and grow in knowledge, we are going to be persuaded, just as Paul stated, that neither death, nor life, nor angels or rulers, or anything in this present age is going to separate us from the love of God in Christ, Romans 8:38. Even though we are counted as sheep for slaughter by the unrighteous, and killed all day long, in Christ we are victorious for in Him we have been co-crucified and co-raised to walk in newness of life, and when we see Him we will be like Him, resurrected and fully glorified into the ages of the ages, Romans 6:4-6; 1 John 3:2. Nothing in this world can stop what God has done, for He will finish what He started, Romans 9:28; Philippians 1:6.
The saints in Galatia became an example for the Church in their failure to live by grace. Jews, claiming to be from Jerusalem, came into the city claiming that in order to be saved, they must be circumcised. They had already received the message of the crucified and resurrected Christ and were therefore saved; however, these men bewitched them not to be persuaded by the truth and sought to be justified before men through works, Galatians 3:1. This is still an issue in many assemblies today. They claim salvation by the Spirit but maturity through the flesh. This persuasion does not come from God, Galatians 5:8. They had correctly walked, but someone hindered them from being persuaded by the truth, Galatians 5:4. After correcting them, Paul was persuaded that they would not have any other mind, and the one who troubled them would bear his judgment, Galatians 5:10.
Even being in chains, Paul was persuaded that what God had begun, He was going to finish, Philippians 1:6. Although the Jews sought to silence Paul from speaking the truth, his chains ended up persuading many of the brethren, who then spoke the truth of the resurrected Christ with boldness, Philippians 1:14. However, not to be outdone, the unpersuaded also preached of the resurrection of Christ, seeking to bring more condemnation upon Paul, Philippians 1:15-16, while not realizing they were spreading a message that has in inherent ability to save, Romans 1:16.
We are persuaded to follow a specific course of action through reasoning and logic. The question is, will we be persuaded by the truth or by those who seek to bewitch us against the facts of the gospel for salvation and how to live out the Christian life in a godly and righteous manner in Christ?
Regret (μεταμέλομαι)
Regret (μεταμέλομαι) is caused when someone feels sorry or remorse concerning a previous action. It is not equivalent to repent (μετάνοια), which means to change the mind.
When Paul had to write a letter to the saint in Corinth to correct their unbecoming behavior, he was very poignant in his comments. However, even though Paul was sorry that he had to be so hard, he did not regret writing the letter, 2 Corinthians 7:8. Through the letter, he caused them to grieve; however, this type of grief brings a change of mind, not death, 1 Corinthians 7:10.
In one of His encounters with the leaders of Israel, Jesus speaks of two sons who respond in different ways to their father’s request. The first son refused to work in the vineyard; however, after considering his father’s request, he regretted his response and went to work, Matthew 21:29. The second one agreed with the father’s request but did not go. This was to point out the fact that John the Baptist came to the leaders of Israel in righteousness, and even though they did not receive him, the tax collector and harlots did. Seeing their change of mind in response to John’s message should have opened the leader’s eyes; however, they still did not regret rejecting his message, Matthew 21:32.
Judas Iscariot was a thief, John 12:6. He was the only disciple of the twelve who did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah; however, because he handled the purse, he chose to stay with them. This type of attitude led to betraying Christ for thirty pieces of silver. However, his intent was not for Christ to be put to death; rather, he was expecting them to beat Him and afterward release Him. When He was condemned to death, Judas responded with remorse for his actions and sought to return the money, Matthew 27:3. He knew that Jesus was innocent, and by his hand Christ was placed into a position that allowed the leaders of Israel to have Him put to death, Matthew 27:4. This regret did not result in a change of mind, or repentance; instead, he hung himself, Matthew 27:5, for his grief was not a godly one but due to his loss of income.
Christ is the High Priest after the Melchizedek order. This is a covenant made by the Father that He would never regret. He is the High Priest into the age, Hebrews 7:21. Therefore, Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Unlike the Levitical order, which had many High Priests, His priesthood is unchangeable, for He abides into the age, Hebrews 7:24.
The root of regret (μεταμέλομαι) is to care about (μελει). Therefore, when God calls, He does not regret His gift, Romans 11:29, and godly grief produces a change of mind without regret, 2 Corinthians 7:10, for God does not again concern Himself with His actions as to be remorseful in saving.
To Gain a Firm Mental Grasp (ἐπίσταμαι)
Having a firm mental grasp or acquiring information is expressed by ἐπίσταμαι (epistamai). Its root means to stand (ιστημι). Therefore, it expresses standing with a firm mental grasp because of the information a person is acquainted with.
In Peter’s denial of Christ, when questioned by a young servant girl if he was with Christ, he adamantly denied it, saying that he neither intuitively knows nor has acquired knowledge concerning Christ, Mark 14:68. After Peter is restored from the attack by Satan that caused him to deny Christ, God uses him to show the Jews that the Gentiles are also being accepted into the Church. In Cornelius’ house, Peter states that they have a firm mental grasp on the fact that it is not permissible for a Jew to fellowship or enter into a place with another nation, Acts 10:28. However before Cornelius sent for Paul, God showed him that he is not to call any man common or unclean and, therefore, Peter came without objection.
During the council in Acts chapter fifteen concerning whether or not the Gentiles should be circumcised and obey the law of Moses, Peter spoke up concerning what God had been doing. The elders and apostles present had acquired knowledge concerning the situation when God instructed Peter to enter into the house of a Gentile so they could hear the gospel. They were neither circumcised nor immersed before the Holy Spirit came upon them in the same manner as He did on the day of Pentecost to show the Jews a sign, Acts 15:5.
When Apollos came to Ephesus, he was mighty in the Scripture; however, he was only familiar with (had a firm mental grasp) the immersion of John, Acts 18:25. Aquila and Priscilla took him aside and explained the way of God to him so that he acquired more accurate information concerning all that God had done since the immersion of John.
The seven sons of Sceva, who were known as exorcists, sought to use the name of Jesus against a malignantly evil spirit who was possessing man and found out that it is not the name alone but the relationship that matters. After they told the spirit that he was to leave by the authority of the Jesus that Paul preaches, the demon responded, “ I experientially know Jesus, and Paul I have acquired knowledge concerning, but who are they?” He then overpowered them and sent them running down the street without their clothing, Acts 19:15.
Those who teach contrary to proper godliness are puffed up and not acquainted with the truth, 1 Timothy 6:3. They are obsessed with disputing and arguing over words, producing envy, strife, revelings, and malignantly evil suspicions. They suppose gain is godliness. We are to withdraw from such false teachers. They speak of things they are not acquainted with and corrupt themselves in their error, Jude 10. Let us not be fooled by those who seek to make merchandise of us. Since we have not gained a firm mental grasp on what will happen tomorrow, and our lives are but a vapor that appears for only a short time, James 4:14, let us seek out the desirous will of God and live a life of godliness with contentment, 1 Timothy 6:6, for we brought nothing into this world, and will take nothing from it, 1 Timothy 6:7.