The antichrist revealed?

To be antichrist or Not to be antichrist, that's the question.

Introduction.

There’s much talk these days about the antichrist. About whom might be the antichrist. About when he will be revealed. About when he will stand in the temple. Even about when and where this temple will be built.

Candidates for the antichrist.

But ....., does Scripture speak about a person who is The antichrist?

Let’s have a look at what Scripture says.

Allow me to first do some hair-splitting; what do we mean by Scripture? Shouldn’t we speak about Sacred, that is Holy or Set Apart, Scripture? And even then; who determines what Scriptures are Set Apart, and thus declared Holy?

Actually Scripture is anything that is written, and thus we need to Set some Apart from the rest and declare them Holy or Sacred.

Many people will let some - to them unknown - people, decide for them what is considered Holy Scripture. Should we?

Personally, I prefer a version of the Sacred Scriptures that uses transliterated names of persons and places, because names shouldn’t be changed in the process of translation. The את Cepher is such a version, and I will take Scripture quotes in this blog from that one.

I prefer the את Cepher also, because it gives us a translation of the Hebrew text, as that is the language in which the Epistles, at which we’ll have a look, were originally written.

This publication uses the term Mashiach instead of Christ, but these mean the same.

Regularly , in the Scripture quotes, you’ll see the term את. These two Hebrew letters, which are pronounced as Aleph and Tav, are similar to the Greek Alpha and Omega, have been deleted from the text in almost all translations of the Sacred Scriptures. The translators didn’t know what to make of them or do with them. I would like to point out that they are very important, as we know Who is called the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end: Yahusha Ha’Mashiach, our Saviour! The presence of these letters in the text to me point, as a sign, to the fact that He is the Living Word of Elohiym. Deleting them from the text, deletes this sign.

If you prefer another publication of the Sacred Scriptures, then look them up in that one.

For those readers of this blog, who are not familiar with these transliterated names and terms, I will often mention their commonly used versions too.

Chapter 1: What Scripture says.

Okay, back to the topic of this blog: The antichrist.

Let’s start with searching out where this person is mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures.

We find that the term antichrist is mentioned only four times in all of the sacred scriptures!

Those four times are all in writings of Yochanon, better known as John; specific in his first and second Epistles.

These were probably written sometime around 100 CE.

“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antimashiach shall come, even now are there many antimashiachiym; whereby we know that it is the last time.” (YOCHANON RI'SHON (1 JOHN) 2:18 את CEPHER)

“Who is a liar but he that denies that Yahusha is Ha'mashiach? He is antimashiach, that denies the Father and the Son.”  (YOCHANON RI'SHON (1 JOHN) 2:22 את CEPHER)

“And every ruach that confesses not that Yahusha Ha'Mashiach is come in the flesh is not of Elohiym: and this is that ruach of antimashiach, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”  (YOCHANON RI'SHON (1 JOHN) 4:3 את CEPHER)

“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Yahusha Ha'Mashiach is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antimashiach.”  (YOCHANON SHENIY (2 JOHN) 1:7 את CEPHER)

To get a better understanding of what Yochanon meant, we need to read these verses in their context.

Chapter 2: Yochanon's 1st Epistle.

Let’s start with Yochanon Ri’shon (1 John).

In the second  chapter, after a bit of introduction about obedience to the commandments of the Father to show our love towards Elohiym, which is usually translated as God, Yochanon wrote about it being the last time and the coming of antimashiach as something of which they had heard that it would happen. He wrote that there were many antimashiachiym at their time, by which they knew that it was the last time.

It is clear that verse 18 doesn’t speak about The antichrist.

To explain this I would like to mention a verse from another source, that is from the cepher Ma’asiym, which is also known as the book of Acts. In chapter 11 the author wrote: “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the called out assembly, and taught much people. And the Talmidiym were called Mashiachiym first in Antioch.” (MA'ASIYM (ACTS) 11:26 את CEPHER) He was writing about Bar-Naviy, also known as Barnabas, who went to Tarsus in search for Sha’ul, also known as Saul and later Paul. When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch where they, for a whole year, assembled with the called out assembly, also called the church, and taught much people. Here it was that the believers, the talmidiym, also called disciples, were first called Mashiachiym, also known as Christians.

I mention this scripture quote because it makes clear what is meant by the term Mashiachiym. Mashiachiym is commonly translated as Christians. Antimashiachiym would thus have to be translated as antichristians, although antichrists is also a possible translation because the suffix “-iym” makes the word - it is connected to - a masculine plural form of the word.

Yochanon, in the second chapter of his first epistle, is thus writing about believers who have left the faith, as the next verse proofs. “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.”  (YOCHANON RI'SHON (1 JOHN) 2:19 את CEPHER)

But then, hadn’t Yahusha warned that that would happen?

Yahusha warned for these false Mashiachiym, these false Christians.

“For there shall arise false Mashiachiym, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so much so that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”  (MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 24:24 את CEPHER)

As shown earlier, false Mashiachiym can also mean false followers of Mashiach, or in common language: false Christians.

“For false Mashiachiym and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.”  (MARQUS (MARK) 13:22 את CEPHER)

Not false Christs, but false Christians!!! They were present in Yochanon’s time. And they are present in our time. Their presence is the more a sign that we are living in the last time. The presence of other predicted and prophesied signs makes clear that we are living in the last days of the last time!

Chapter 3: Deniers.

After pointing his readers to these false Mashiachiym, who were proof of the fact that they were living in the last time, the author points his readers to the fact that they have received an unction, that is an anointing, from the Holy One, which would be from Elohiym, Who is the Holy One of Yashar’el. Yashar’el is also known as Israel, or as Yisrael. Because of this unction, he writes, the members of the assembly the epistle is written to, know all things. They know the truth. He wrote that no lie is of the truth. Then he wrote a line with another mention of the term antimashiach. “Who is a liar but he that denies that Yahusha is Ha'mashiach? He is antimashiach, that denies the Father and the Son.” (YOCHANON RI'SHON (1 JOHN) 2:22 את CEPHER).

So, someone who denies that Yahusha, Who is commonly known as Jesus, is Ha’Mashiach, which is commonly translated as Christ, is a liar and, because of denying the Father and the Son, antimashiach, which is the same as either antichristian or antichrist!

The author specified this denial by writing that whoever denies the Son, hasn’t got the Father and whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also (verse 23). And: “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.” (YOCHANON RI'SHON (1 JOHN) 2:24 את CEPHER)

So, to be sure of having the presence of the Son and the Father, the readers have to let that abide in them what they had heard from the beginning as well as the Besorah of Yahusha Ha’Mashiach. In common English, they have to hold on to the ancient message of the covenant - between Yahuah, commonly known as The LORD, while some call Him Jehovah or Yahweh, and Yashar’el, commonly referred to as Israel, while it is also called Yisrael – and the Good News of the Besorah of Yahusha Ha’Mashiach, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This seems to contradict the Christian doctrine of the New Testament (Covenant) introduced by Christ and sounds more like a Renewed Covenant based on the Atonement for our transgressions of the Ancient Covenant by Mashiach.

Verse 25 speaks of the promise that is connected to this condition of the presence of the Son and the Father abiding in the believers: “And this is the promise that he has promised us, even eternal life.” (YOCHANON RI'SHON (1 JOHN) 2:25 את CEPHER)

Chapter 4: The anointing.

The author now mentions the reason for his writing of the epistle: “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.”  (YOCHANON RI'SHON (1 JOHN) 2:26 את CEPHER), but encourages his readers with “But the anointing which ye have received of him abides in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, ye shall abide in him.”  (YOCHANON RI'SHON (1 JOHN) 2:27 את CEPHER)

The fact that the anointing teaches the author’s addressees makes clear what this anointing is, because in the Besorah (Gospel) according to Mattityahu (Matthew) we read that Yahusha said “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Rabbi, even Mashiach; and all ye are brethren.” (MATTITHYAHU (MATTHEW) 23:8 את CEPHER) The word Rabbi means Teacher. So, if the anointing which is on the readers, is teaching them all things, this anointing is the presence of Mashiach in their lives. The presence of the Son of Elohiym.

But, as stated before, to be sure of having the presence of the Son ánd the Father, the readers have to let that abide in them what they had heard from the beginning; they have to hold on to the ancient message of the covenant, as well as the besorah of Yahusha HaMashiach.

The last thing the author does in this chapter is an exhortation towards the readers to abide in the Son and the Father, so that when Yahusha, their Mashiach and Rabbi, returns, they will have confidence and not be ashamed, knowing that they are born of Him Who is righteousness, because they do righteousness. What then is this doing righteousness other than abiding in what they had heard from the beginning, holding on to the ancient and renewed covenant, as well as the besorah, that is the good news of the Atonement for transgressions of the Ancient Covenant by the blood of Mashiach Yahusha, also known as Christ Jesus, their Saviour and Redeemer.

Now, what did the assembly, to which this Epistle was written, hear from the beginning?

“For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.” (YOCHANON RI'SHON (1 JOHN) 3:11 את CEPHER)

Chapter 5: Love one another?

To love one another, wasn’t that a New commandment given to the Talmidiym (disciples) by Yahusha?

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." (YOCHANON (JOHN) 13:34 את CEPHER)

But the ancient commandments were all about love. Love towards Elohiym (God) and love towards our neighbours.

What was new, was loving as Yahusha had loved.

He loved us so much, that he gave his live for us.

Nobody has more love, than he who gives his live for another, as stated by Yahusha: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” YOCHANON (JOHN) 15:13 את CEPHER

Chapter 6: The third quote.

Again, to understand what Yochanon meant, we need to read it in its context.

He starts off with writing about the ruachoth, that is the spirits.

"1 BELOVED, believe not every ruach, but try the ruachoth whether they are of Elohiym: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Ruach Elohiym: Every ruach that confesses that Yahusha Ha'Mashiach is come in the flesh is of Elohiym: 3 And every ruach that confesses not that Yahusha Ha'Mashiach is come in the flesh is not of Elohiym: and this is that ruach of antimashiach, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." (YOCHANON RI'SHON (1 JOHN) 4:1-3 את CEPHER)

So, it is a ruach of antimashiach that causes some believers to loose their faith and become antimashiachiym. Or in common English: it is a spirit of antichrist that causes some believers to lose their faith and become antichristians or antichrists.

Continuing Yochanon wrote:

"4 Ye are of Elohiym, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (YOCHANON RI'SHON (1 JOHN) 4:4 את CEPHER)

The members of the called out assembly, who are the addressee of this epistle, are praised, because they had overcome this ruach of antimashiach, this spirit of antichrist. They overcame it and the antimashiachiym, the antichristians or antichrists, because the Ruach that is in them is greater than the ruach that is in these people. The Ruach Ha’Qodesh, the Holy Spirit, is the greatest!

"5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of Elohiym: he that knows Elohiym hears us; he that is not of Elohiym hears not us. Hereby know we the Ruach Emeth, and the ruach of error." (YOCHANON RI'SHON (1 JOHN) 4:5-6 את CEPHER)

The Ruach Emeth means the Spirit of Truth.

And again on loving one another:

"7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of Elohiym; and everyone that loves is born of Elohiym, and knows את Elohiym. 8 He that loves not knows not Elohiym; for Elohiym is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of Elohiym toward us, because that Elohiym sent his yachiyd into the world, that we might live through him." (YOCHANON RI'SHON (1 JOHN) 4:7-9 את CEPHER)

Yachiyd, is usually translated as “only begotten”. But there is a huge difference between these two terms. We come, for instance, across the same term in the story of Avraham. Yitshaq, Isaac, is called Avraham’s Yachiyd. He was clearly Not Avraham’s “only begotten” son, because when Yitshaq was born Ishmael had been born already! “Most beloved son” would better describe the meaning of yachiyd son. Explaining more about this term goes beyond the topic of this blog.

"10 Herein is love, not that we loved Elohiym, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if Elohiym so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man has seen Elohiym at any time. If we love one another, Elohiym dwells in us, and his love is perfected in us." (YOCHANON RI'SHON (1 JOHN) 4:10-12 את CEPHER)

Yochanon continues with more on the abiding of Father and Son in the called out believers and on the presence of their love in them.

"13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he has given us of his Ruach. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Yahusha is the Son of Elohiym, Elohiym dwells in him, and he in Elohiym. 16 And we have known and believed the love that Elohiym has to us. Elohiym is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in Elohiym, and Elohiym in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love Elohiym, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love Elohiym whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, that he who loves Elohiym love his brother also." (YOCHANON RI'SHON (1 JOHN) 4:13-21 את CEPHER)

Again, the first four commandments of the ten commandments are concerning our love towards Elohiym and the other six are concerning our love towards other people.

Chapter 7: The last quote.

Now I have just one reference to antimashiach, that is antichrist, left to write about and that’s the one from another epistle of Yochanon and that’s a short one. It’s the one we call Yochanon Sheniy, which is commonly known as the 2nd letter of John.

We’ll read it in its context again, to get a better understanding of what Yochanon wanted to convey.

"THE elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the Truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the Truth; 2 For the Truth's sake, which dwells in us, and shall be with us forever. 3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from Elohiym the Father, and from the Adonai Yahusha Ha'Mashiach, the Son of the Father, in truth and love." (YOCHANON SHENIY (2 JOHN) 1:1-3 את CEPHER)

It is assumed generally that the elect lady Yochanon wrote to is a called out assembly of believers in Yahusha Ha’Mashiach.

"4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of your children walking in Truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5 And now I beseech you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto you, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another." (YOCHANON SHENIY (2 JOHN) 1:4-5 את CEPHER)

Again, Yochanon points at walking in love as being the commandment they had from the beginning. This is thus not a new commandment. As stated before, the readers have to let that abide in them what they had heard from the beginning, as well as the Besorah, the Good News, of Yahusha HaMashiach, of Jesus Christ. Again, in common English, they have to hold on to the ancient message of the covenant - between Yahuah, The LORD or Yahweh, and Yashar’el, Israel or Yisrael – and the Good News of the Besorah of Yahusha Ha’Mashiach, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

"6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Yahusha Ha'Mashiach is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antimashiach. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Mashiach, has not Elohiym. He that abides in the doctrine of Mashiach, he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him farewell: 11 For he that bids him farewell is partaker of his evil deeds. 12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. 13 The children of your elect sister greet you. Amein." (YOCHANON SHENIY (2 JOHN) 1:6-13 את CEPHER)

Chapter 8: Who needs to be revealed?

By now you might think; “But isn’t there a person mentioned in Scripture who will be revealed at the end of the current age and who is placed in a very negative light? And my answer is of course; “Yes!”

After I have now proven that there is not a specific person that will have to be revealed as The antichrist, the questions that are left are: what kind of person Is spoken of in the Sacred Scriptures who will be revealed before the return of Mashiach Yahusha, (Christ Jesus)? And why?

And Has he been revealed? When? To whom? And, most importantly, who is he?

Concerning what kind of person needs to be revealed:

"1 NOW we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Adonai Yahusha Ha'Mashiach, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by ruach, nor by word, nor by cepher as from us, as that the day of Yahuah is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called Elohiym, or that is worshipped; so that he as Elohiym sits in the Temple of Elohiym, showing himself that he is Elohiym." (TASLONIQIYM SHENIY (2 THESSALONIANS) 2:1-4 את CEPHER)

Here is stated clearly who we need to see revealed, and why.

The person we are looking for to be revealed is called “the man of sin” and “the son of perdition”.

" Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know את what withholds that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way." (TASLONIQIYM SHENIY (2 THESSALONIANS) 2:5-7 את CEPHER)

It has been a point of discussion for a long time, what and who is meant by Pa’al, who is commonly known as Paul. But the identity of this restrainer goes beyond the topic of this blog.

In the next verse Yochanon mentions another description of the person that needs to be revealed, and that is “the Lawless One”.

"8 And then shall that Lawless One be revealed, whom Yahuah shall consume with the Ruach of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 את Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the Truth, that they might be saved." (TASLONIQIYM SHENIY (2 THESSALONIANS) 2:8-10 את CEPHER)

Those people who are deceived by this Lawless One, are people who have pleasure in unrighteousness and haven’t received the love of the Truth.

"11 And for this cause Elohiym shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the Truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (TASLONIQIYM SHENIY (2 THESSALONIANS) 2:11-12 את CEPHER)

Having pleasure in unrighteousness is clearly very dangerous. But those who have chosen to go this way, aren’t aware of that at all.

"13 But we are bound to give thanks always to Elohiym for you, brethren beloved of Elohiym, because Yah has from the beginning chosen you to yeshu’ah through sanctification of the Ruach and belief of the Truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our Besorah, to the obtaining of the glory of our Adonai Yahusha Ha'Mashiach." (TASLONIQIYM SHENIY (2 THESSALONIANS) 2:13-14 את CEPHER)

Yah is a shortened form of Yahuah, which is most often translated as The LORD or Yahweh. Yeshu’ah is the Hebrew for Salvation. The suffix shuah, also written as shua, means crying out for help or salvation. Yeshu’ah is thus usually not used as a name, and for sure not as the name of a saviour.

"15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and keep the commandments which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our cepher." (TASLONIQIYM SHENIY (2 THESSALONIANS) 2:15 את CEPHER)

Yochanon makes quite clear here that the brethren are expected to keep the commandments, that is the ten commandments from the Father, the commandments described in Shemoth, also called Exodus, chapter 20. I will devote a separate chapter to them.

After that he closes the epistle with:

"16 Now our Yahuah-Yahusha Ha'Mashiach himself, and Elohiym, even our Father, which has loved us, and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." (TASLONIQIYM SHENIY (2 THESSALONIANS) 2:16-17 את CEPHER)

Chapter 9: The commandments the addressees of these epistles have had from the beginning.

"1 AND Elohiym spoke את all these words, saying,"

The first commandment:

"2 I am Yahuah Elohayka, which have brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of bondage. 3 You shall have no other elohiym before me."

The second commandment:

"4 You shall not make unto you any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them: for I Yahuah Elohayka am a jealous El, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and guard my commandments." 

The third commandment:

"7 You shall not take the name of Yahuah Elohayka in vain; for Yahuah will not hold him guiltless את that takes his name in vain."

The fourth commandment:

"8 Remember the day of the Shabbath, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shall you labor, and do all your work: 10 But the seventh day is the Shabbath of Yahuah Elohayka: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates: 11 For in six days Yahuah made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Yahuah blessed the day of Shabbath, and hallowed it."

The fifth commandment:

"12 Honor your father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land which Yahuah Elohayka gives you."

The sixth commandment:

"13 You shall not kill."

The seventh commandment:

"14 You shall not break wedlock."

The eighth commandment:

"15 You shall not steal."

The ninth commandment:

"16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

The tenth commandment:

"17 You shall not lust after your neighbor's house, you shall not lust after your neighbor's woman, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is your neighbor's."

Reaction of the people:

"18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the shofar, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off." 

SHEMOTH (EXODUS) 20:1-18 את CEPHER

Chapter 10: Conclusion and Revelations.

After all of the above, the conclusion is that Scripture doesn't speak about a person who is The antimashiach, The antichrist.

It speaks though about a person who is the Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition and the Lawless One.

Has this person been revealed?

Yes, he has been!

Certain of Yahuah's chosen servants have brought up the name of this person.

Servants like Christiena Boshoff and Jonathan Kleck.

But many did miss that revelation. And, because of that, wouldn't probably believe who he is until he will actually be consumed with the Ruach of the mouth and the brightness of the coming of Yahuah/Yahusha!

Are you wondering who he is? Have you not heard it yet?

His name is Barack Hussein Obama.