Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 8/18/2010

Question
QUESTION: I read your answer to the question "Who is the Antichrist" back in 2005 and
I'm astonished that you gave all the characteristics of the antichrist but did
not call him by name.  By all the evidence you should know who he is.  My
question to you then is, "Who did all of the Protestant reformers know to be
the antichrist and does he not meet all of the characteristics mentioned in
your posting?"  If you need help in your research see below.
http://redeemerfw.org/resources/reformers_antichrist.pdf

ANSWER: Blessings and thank you for your question.


1.  Anti-christ:  there have been many anti-christs through the years.  But the one mentioned in revelation is the ultimate one who will be the embodiment of Satan on earth.  I do not believe he has yet to be revealed.  Just like I pointed out in my earlier post, the anti-christ comes at a particular time.  In order for that time to have occurred, there must be the rebuilding of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, a seven year peace treaty between the world and Israel, and other signs as well.  Those things have not been accomplished so the time of the anti-christ is still to come.

2.  I read through your research site.  While I find it interesting, it is partially built on false reasoning take the statement : "Not only has the Futuristic interpretation negated the powerful Reformation interpretation against Papacy, but it also allows room for ecumenism between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism. If the Papacy is not the Antichrist, then there is no point to the Reformation separation from Papacy."  

The reformation was not about the "anti-christ,"  The reformation was caused by Luther's discovery through Scripture that "salvation is by grace not by works."  The reformation restored the Scriptures to their rightful place, abolished the catholic indulgences, abolished catholic works mentality, returned the church to worship and pray to God alone.  In fact Luther had 95 things that he believed the church needed to reform.  

There is no ecumenicalism between evangelical Christianity and the Catholic church.  While the Lutherans may be attempting to close the gap between the churches, evangelicals cannot except catholic doctrine or practices.

Could it turn out that during the tribulation the Papacy could be the anti-christ?  That is possible, but I would not say that today.  We will just have to wait to see.

May the Lord Bless You Richly.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your reply; however, I don't know if it answered my question which was: "Who did all of the Protestant reformers know to
be the antichrist and does he not meet all of the characteristics mentioned in your posting?"

The reformers did not use "an" but "the" (definite article) in reference to antichrist. They refer to the Papacy and not the Pope.  The
Papacy is the position, the Pope is the man in the position.  Their statements are sited below.
http://www.cai.org/files/theme-sheets/en/c/sc0140au.pdf

My concern is if the Papacy is the antichrist than it's doctrine, including futurism that came out of the counter reformation form the
Jesuit priest Ribera, is deceiving the whole world in thinking he is still to come when he is already here.  
http://www.hol.com/~mikesch/antichrist.htm

According to my research they used the book of Daniel and Revelation to compile all the characteristics of the antichrist before making
their dangerous claims.  See below for the references in Daniel:
A.   The "little horn" or kingdom "came up among them"--the 10 horns which were the kingdoms of Western Europe (Daniel 7:8). So it
would be a little kingdom somewhere in Western Europe.
B.   It would have a man at its head who could speak for it (Daniel 7:8).
C.   It would pluck up or uproot three kingdoms (Daniel 7:8).
D.   It would be "diverse" or different from the other 10 kingdoms (Daniel 7:24).
E.   It would make war with and "wear out" or persecute the saints (Daniel 7:21, 25).
F.   It would emerge from the pagan Roman empire--the fourth world kingdom (Daniel 7:7, 8).
G.   God's people (the saints) would "be given into his hand" for "a time and times and the dividing of time" (Daniel 7:25).
H.   It would "speak great words against" or blaspheme God (Daniel 7:25). In Revelation 13:5, the Bible says the same power speaks
"great things and blasphemies."
I.   It would "think to change times and laws." Daniel 7:25.

As far as the second part to your reply, the reformation was about "reform." The church had strayed from the Bible truths and the
reformers called for five pillars of faith. Part of that reform was to separate from the traditions of the mother church and get our
doctrine from the Bible.  Their are many example I could share but that can be a subject for a separate discussion.  In staying with this
subject, the reformers may have disagreed in other doctrinal issues but not this one.  Their statements speak for themselves.  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_solas

I know you have answered this question many times but I'm asking you to review it like it's the first.  Really do your homework.  Review
all the links and don't just brows over them.  As far as "there must be the rebuilding of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, a seven year
peace treaty between the world and Israel, and other signs as well," I don't see that anywhere in the Bible.  See Daniel's 70 week time
prophecy below.
http://biblelight.net/dan927.htm

More research on the subject:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4UNZPTLp7o
http://www.amazingfacts.org/FreeStuff/BibleStudies/StudyGuides/tabid/105/ctl/Vie
15/LNG/en/SC/R/Default.aspx?7=Who-is-the-Antichrist?


Answer
Blessings and thank you for your questions.

1.  Reformers:  You are right when you say that the early reformers saw the papacy as the anti-christ and that the counter-reformers said that the anti-christ was to come.  

I cannot argue about the article "an" or "the" in the early reformers writings because I cannot read the texts they were orignially written in, since it was written in German and Latin.

We agree that the reformation wasn't about the view of the anti-christ but was about foundational issues of Christianity and and authority of Scripture.  

2.  Other signs:  You could say, like the reformers, that the papacy is an "anti-christ" because their continued doctrine is leading many away from Christ, but I do not believe that the "papacy" is "THE" anti-christ.  "THE" anti-christ is not a position, it is a person.  While you could say that the "papacy" fills some of prophesies of who the anti-christ is, the papacy does not fill them all.

The Temple must be rebuilt and a seven year peace treaty will need to be signed as I said eariler before the tribulation begins.  Daniel 9:27 says "He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.’”  It is plainly written here that a covenant (agreement, treaty) will be made.  Also the temple is an afterthought here, so it would have already been built and being used again.  For the Anti-christ will set up a new part to the temple where he will establish sacrifices to himself.   You cannot have this fulfilled unless there is a temple there already.  Also see (Isa. 2:2; Ezek. 40-48; Joel 3:18; Hag. 2:7-9;  Zech. 6:12-13)

These are things that must happen in the last days:
Increase of wars and rumors of war Joel 3:9-10; Matt. 24:6-7
Extreme Materialism   2 Tim 3:1-2; Rev 3:14-19
Lawlessness   Ps 78:8; Proverbs 30:11-14; 2 Tim 3:2-
Population Explosion   Genesis 6:1
Increase in speed and knowledge   Dan 12:4
Departure from Christian Faith   2 Thess 2:3; 1 Tim 4:1-4; 2 Tim 3:5, 4:3-4;    2 Peter 3:3-4
Intense Demonic Activity   Gen 6:1-4; 1 Tim 4:1-3
Unification of the world's religious, political, and economic systems
Rev 13:4-8, 16-17; 17:1-18, 18:1-24
Universal Drug Usage (the word sorceries can refer to drugs)Rev 9:21
Immoral & Abnormal Sexual Activity   Rom 1:17-32; 2 Pet. 2:10, 14, 3:3; Jude 18
Widespread Violence   Gen 6:11-13; Rev 9:21
Rejection of God's word   2 Tim 4:3-4, 2 Pet. 3:3-4, 16
Rejection of God   Ps 2:1-3
Blasphemy   2 Tim 3:2, 2 Pet. 3:3; Jude 18
Self-seeking and pleasure seeking   2 Tim 3:2-4
People minus a Conscience   1 Tim 4:2
Religious Hucksters   2 Pet. 2:3
Devil Worshipers   Rev 9:20, 13:11-14
Rise of false prophets Matt 24:5, 11; 2 Pet. 2:1-2
False claims of Peace   1 Thess. 5:1-3
Great political and religious upheavals in the promise land   Matt 24:32-34
  

If the "anti-christ" is already here and at work then we should be seeing these things from him:
Lawlessness     2 Thess. 2:3–12
Opposing God     2 Thess. 2:4
Working wonders     2 Thess. 2:9
Deceiving the world     2 John 7; Rev. 19:20
Persecuting Christians     Rev. 13:7
Satan-inspired     2 Thess. 2:9
Denying Christ’s incarnation     1 John 4:3; 2 John 7
Seeking man’s worship     2 Thess. 2:4

Brother, I have read through and considered your opinions but I am not convinced.  We will have to agree to disagree.  But, remember, all of this is still part of God's plan.  No matter what we think or do, God is in control.

May the Lord Bless You Richly