Says Dr. Loraine Boettner
". . . not one single reference in Daniel or Ezekiel or Paul or the Book of Revelation . . .
which (some) allege refer to the Antichrist is connected in any way with the verses in
the epistles of John that mention the antichrist. All is based on inference. Let the reader
search for himself and see how far-fetched that (alleged) connection is.
We make bold to say that this picture of Antichrist as a (future) world ruler . . . is pure fiction,
without so much as one clear supporting verse in all Scripture."
The Millennium, Dr. Loraine Boettner, page 210
The Bible mentions Antichrist in only the following 4 verses:
1 John 2:18
1John 2:22
1 John 4:3
2 John 7
There is no compelling argument for a future Antichrist because . . . .
There is no compelling argument that connects these 4 verses with
anything said in Daniel or Ezekiel or Paul or the Book of Revelation.
For example:
There is no evidence that the "man of sin" or the "man of lawlessness"
mentioned in 2 Thess. 2:3 is connected in any way with the antichrists
mentioned in the 4 verses in John's epistles.
Also note the following from John's epistles that mention antichrist:
(1) Antichrist is applied to many persons existing in the first century
1 John 2:18 "even now has there arisen many antichrists"
In the next verse, 1 John 2:19, John identifies the antichrists as
first century Christian apostates "They went out from us, but they
did not really belong to us."
(2) In 1 John 2:22 the antichrist is identified as those who deny the
Father and the Son. "This is the antichrist, even he that denies the
Father and the Son." The antichrists were first century apostates.
(3) In 1 John 4:3 the antichrist is identified as every one who does
not acknowledge Jesus. It is then said that antichrist "even now is
already in the world" (of the first century).
(4) 2 John 7 says that the antichrist is many deceivers that have gone
out in the world (of the first century.) Therefore this verse says that
there are many antichrists, not just one antichrist.
What say you?
`
When did there cease being ones who do "not acknowledge Jesus"? Are you saying that, from this point on (or, at least from the time of Boettner), there will not be any
future ones who "do not acknowledge Jesus"?
When did there cease being ones who "deny the Father and the Son"? Are you saying that, from this point on (or, at least from the time of Boettner), there will not be any
future ones who "deny the Father and the Son"?
Could you give a time frame of what you mean by "future" when you say that there will be no "Future Antichrist(s)"
"John identifies the antichrists as first century Christian apostates"
So much, then, for the "Nero was (the) antichrist" shtick, of course.
Are you saying that John was identifying
only apostates of the first century as antichrists? Are you saying that John was debarring, say,
fourth century apostates from being antichrists?
"Therefore this verse says that there are many antichrists, not just one antichrist."
But, who's claiming that there is "just one antichrist"? If there are many, then there is one. If there are many future antichrists, then there is one future antichrist. Can't have many without having one.
