The Antichrist Is Already Here…in the American Church

The Antichrist Is Already Here…in the American Church ![rw-book-cover](https://img.youtube.com/vi/z7_rbg2JgGk/maxresdefault.jpg) 🔗 **Source:** [The Antichrist Is Already Here…in the American Church](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7_rbg2JgGk) > [!note]+ Document Notes > tags: #antichrist #biblical-theology #gnosticism #american-evangelicalism #spiritual-warfare #church-history > author: The Holy Post Podcast > source: YouTube > reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7_rbg2JgGk > date created: 2024-12-19 14:30 > > # 🏷️ Title: The Antichrist Is Already Here…in the American Church >  ## 🧰 Action Inbox - [H1] Study 1 John and 2 John passages on antichrist in context — biblical exegesis #biblical-theology - [H2] Examine church teachings for gnostic influences — practical theology #gnosticism - [H3] Assess personal/church alignment with crucified Messiah pattern — spiritual formation #discipleship ## 🧭 Table of Contents - [[#📝 Summary]] - [[#📖 Main Content]] - [[#🗒️ Notes]] - [[#📚 References]] - [[#🗣️ Paraphrase]] - [[#📰 Newsletter]] - [[#✅ Action Items]] - [[#🧪 Hypotheses]] - [[#📊 Methodology]] - [[#❓ Questions]] - [[#🔮 Future Research]] - [[#💡 Implications]] - [[#🧠 Learning Styles Assessment]] - [[#📊 Accessibility Assessment]] - [[#🌍 DEIB Assessment]] - [[#✅ Logical Validity]] - [[#🛡️ DARVO Analysis]] - [[#🎯 Conclusion]] ### 🔗 References - [1 John 2:18-22](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%202%3A18-22&version=NIV) - [1 John 4:2-3](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204%3A2-3&version=NIV) - [The Holy Post Podcast](https://www.holypost.com/) ## 📝 Summary - Biblical scholar corrects popular American evangelical misconceptions about "antichrist" - The term appears only in 1-2 John, not Revelation, referring to false teachers within the church - Originally described gnostic teachings denying Jesus's incarnation and crucifixion - Modern applications include any teaching that opposes the way of the crucified Messiah - American church often embraces worldly power structures contrary to Christ's example ## 📖 Main Content The discussion reveals major gaps between popular evangelical eschatology and biblical text. The word "antichrist" never appears in Revelation, despite being central to Left Behind-style end times theology. Instead, John uses it to describe false teachers who "went out from us" - church insiders promoting heretical doctrines. The original context involved early gnostic influences that denied Jesus's true incarnation and physical death. This wasn't about a future world leader but present theological deceptions undermining core Christian beliefs about God becoming flesh. The conversation extends this framework to contemporary American Christianity, identifying "antichrist" tendencies in churches that embrace coercive power, deny discipleship patterns of suffering, or promote agendas contrary to Christ's character while claiming his name. ## 🗒️ Notes #### ⏱️ [00:00](https://youtu.be/z7_rbg2JgGk?t=0) — [H1] Popular misconceptions about antichrist - Key idea: American evangelicals obsess over antichrist despite biblical text not supporting their framework - Evidence: "The word isn't used at all in Revelation" #### ⏱️ [02:15](https://youtu.be/z7_rbg2JgGk?t=135) — [H2] Revelation is about unveiling Jesus, not antichrist - Key idea: Apocalypse literally means "unveiling of Jesus" in the opening sentence - Evidence: "It has nothing to do with the unveiling of the Antichrist" #### ⏱️ [03:45](https://youtu.be/z7_rbg2JgGk?t=225) — [H1] Beasts in apocalyptic literature represent empires, not individuals - Key idea: Biblical symbolism draws from Daniel where beasts consistently represent political powers - Evidence: "Beasts in Daniel are empires. They're not individuals" #### ⏱️ [04:30](https://youtu.be/z7_rbg2JgGk?t=270) — [H1] Antichrist appears in 1-2 John as present reality within church - Key idea: John describes both future and present antichrists, plural, arising from inside the church - Evidence: "Many antichrists have come...they come from inside the church" #### ⏱️ [06:00](https://youtu.be/z7_rbg2JgGk?t=360) — [H2] Anti-Christ literally means against Christ, not singular figure - Key idea: The prefix anti simply means against, not necessarily one individual - Evidence: "The literal meaning is a person, force, teaching, thing that is against Christ" #### ⏱️ [08:45](https://youtu.be/z7_rbg2JgGk?t=525) — [H2] Jesus discourages end-times fascination and calendar-making - Key idea: Christ emphasizes faithfulness over prophetic speculation about timing - Evidence: "Jesus is discouraging fascinations with the end of history" #### ⏱️ [11:30](https://youtu.be/z7_rbg2JgGk?t=690) — [H1] 1 John defines antichrist as denying Jesus as crucified Messiah - Key idea: First definition focuses on rejecting that a crucified figure could be Messiah - Evidence: "Who is the liar? It is whoever denies Jesus is Messiah" #### ⏱️ [13:15](https://youtu.be/z7_rbg2JgGk?t=795) — [H1] Second definition involves denying incarnation - Key idea: Antichrist spirit denies that Jesus came in flesh - true incarnation - Evidence: "Every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God" #### ⏱️ [15:00](https://youtu.be/z7_rbg2JgGk?t=900) — [H1] Gnosticism taught material world was evil, spiritual good - Key idea: Greek philosophy influenced early Christianity with matter-spirit dualism - Evidence: "Gnosticism from Greek word gnosis...material world is imperfect, bad, evil" #### ⏱️ [18:30](https://youtu.be/z7_rbg2JgGk?t=1110) — [H2] Gnostic influence led to antinomian behavior - Key idea: If bodies don't matter spiritually, moral behavior becomes irrelevant - Evidence: "Who cares what I do with my body...led to justifications for immorality" #### ⏱️ [20:45](https://youtu.be/z7_rbg2JgGk?t=1245) — [H1] Modern gnosticism appears in soul-only salvation theology - Key idea: Contemporary "God only saves souls" teaching mirrors ancient heresy - Evidence: "He doesn't care about creation...bodies...leads to bad Christian teaching" #### ⏱️ [23:00](https://youtu.be/z7_rbg2JgGk?t=1380) — [H1] American church becomes antichrist through infatuation with coercive power - Key idea: Embracing worldly power structures denies the crucified Messiah's way - Evidence: "Denying that the kingdom comes through a crucified Messiah, not a political one" #### ⏱️ [28:15](https://youtu.be/z7_rbg2JgGk?t=1695) — [H2] Passion of Christ reaction reveals antichrist tendency - Key idea: Evangelicals often say "Jesus suffered so I don't have to" rather than following his pattern - Evidence: "I'm so glad he suffered that way so I don't have to" #### ⏱️ [32:30](https://youtu.be/z7_rbg2JgGk?t=1950) — [H1] Peter's rebuke demonstrates antichrist spirit - Key idea: Jesus called Peter "Satan" for rejecting suffering Messiah model - Evidence: "Get behind me Satan...you could not calculate a crucified Messiah" #### ⏱️ [36:45](https://youtu.be/z7_rbg2JgGk?t=2205) — [H2] Antichrist includes calling evil good and good evil - Key idea: Dehumanizing people or opposing Christ-like empathy qualifies as antichrist - Evidence: "Naming evil what is good and naming good what is evil" ## 📚 References - [1 John 2:18-22](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%202%3A18-22&version=NIV) - [1 John 4:2-3](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204%3A2-3&version=NIV) - [Book of Daniel](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel&version=NIV) - [Left Behind Series by Tim LaHaye](https://www.leftbehind.com/) ## 🗣️ Paraphrase - The biblical concept of antichrist differs drastically from popular evangelical end-times scenarios, referring instead to false teachers within the early church who denied core doctrines - John originally warned against gnostic influences that separated spiritual and material realms, denying Jesus's true incarnation and physical death on the cross - Contemporary applications include any church teaching that embraces worldly power over Christ's suffering servant model or calls evil good while condemning Christ-like virtues ## 📰 Newsletter **Rethinking Antichrist: What the Bible Actually Says** The word "antichrist" appears nowhere in Revelation, despite being central to popular end-times theology. Instead, 1-2 John uses it to describe false teachers *within* the church who denied Jesus's incarnation and crucifixion. This biblical framework offers crucial discernment for today's church. When Christian leaders embrace coercive power over Christ's suffering servant model, or when churches call evil good while condemning Christ-like empathy, we see antichrist influences at work. The warning isn't about some future world leader - it's about present deceptions within Christian communities that oppose the way of the crucified Messiah. Resources: [1 John Commentary](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John&version=NIV), [Early Church History](https://www.christianhistoryinstitute.org/), [Biblical Theology](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/biblical-theology/) ## ✅ Action Items #### Community - Church leaders: Audit teachings for gnostic dualism separating spiritual/material realms - Bible study groups: Study 1-2 John in historical context of early church heresies - Pastors: Preach series on following crucified Messiah pattern vs. worldly power #### WordPress - Documentation: Create accessible biblical theology resources countering popular misconceptions - Community: Moderate discussions to prevent dehumanizing language while maintaining theological dialogue - Training: Develop courses on reading apocalyptic literature in proper context ## 🧪 Hypotheses - American evangelical eschatology has been shaped more by 19th-20th century dispensationalism than biblical text - Churches emphasizing political power over servant leadership exhibit measurable antichrist characteristics as defined by John - Gnostic influences persist in contemporary Christianity through soul-body dualism in theology and practice - Popular prophecy culture creates spiritual anxiety that biblical authors actively discouraged ### 📊 Methodology - Comparative analysis of 1-2 John passages vs. popular evangelical antichrist teaching - Historical study of gnostic influences in early Christianity vs. modern parallels - Survey research on evangelical attitudes toward power, suffering, and discipleship patterns ### ❓ Questions - How can churches recover biblical discernment about antichrist influences without becoming paranoid or divisive? - What specific theological education would help pastors recognize and address gnostic influences in their congregations? - How do we distinguish legitimate theological disagreement from antichrist deception as John describes it? ### 🔮 Future Research - Systematic theology comparison between early church antichrist warnings and contemporary applications - Historical analysis of how American individualism shaped evangelical eschatology away from biblical community focus - Practical ecclesiology for churches wanting to embrace crucified Messiah discipleship patterns ### 💡 Implications - Practice: Churches need theological education emphasizing biblical context over popular prophecy culture - Policy: Seminary curricula should include early church history and gnostic influences alongside systematic theology - Security: Christian communities must develop discernment about internal deceptions rather than external threats - Education: Biblical literacy programs should emphasize reading scripture in original context vs. contemporary assumptions - Funding: Resources for theological education countering popular but unbiblical eschatological frameworks ### 🧠 Learning Styles Assessment Reading level estimate: Grade 12-14 (college level theological content) #### 👀 Visual learners - Present: YouTube video format with speaking heads - Improve: Timeline graphics showing gnostic influences, comparison charts of biblical vs. popular definitions #### 🔊 Aural learners - Present: Full audio discussion with clear theological explanations - Improve: Shorter audio clips highlighting key biblical passages with commentary #### 🗣️ Verbal learners - Present: Rich theological vocabulary with definitions, biblical analogies - Improve: Glossary of terms, comparison of ancient vs. modern language usage #### 🧩 Kinesthetic learners - Present: Conversational format allowing mental engagement with ideas - Improve: Study guide with reflection exercises, practical church assessment tools #### 🧠 Logical learners - Present: Step-by-step biblical exegesis, historical progression of ideas - Improve: Decision tree for identifying antichrist teachings, systematic comparison charts #### 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Social learners - Present: Dialogue format modeling respectful theological discussion - Improve: Small group discussion guides, community discernment practices #### 🧘‍♀️ Solitary learners - Present: Individual Bible study applications, personal reflection prompts - Improve: Self-assessment tools for theological beliefs, private spiritual formation resources #### 🌿 Naturalistic learners - Present: Organic conversation flow, contextual understanding of biblical environment - Improve: Historical setting descriptions, cultural ecology of early church ### 📊 Accessibility Assessment #### Screen reader semantics - Present: YouTube auto-captions available - Improve: Professional transcription with proper theological term pronunciation, structured headings #### Keyboard navigation - Present: Standard YouTube video controls - Improve: Timestamped navigation for specific theological topics #### Contrast and readability - Present: Clear audio with distinct speakers - Improve: Visual text overlays for key biblical passages, high-contrast topic markers #### Text resizing and reflow - Present: YouTube's built-in accessibility features - Improve: Separate text version with adjustable formatting #### Media and captions - Present: Auto-generated captions available - Improve: Professional captions with proper biblical and theological terms #### Forms and interactions - Present: Standard video engagement options - Improve: Interactive study guides with accessible form controls #### Standards reference - Meets basic WCAG 2.2 AA for video content with captions ### 🌍 DEIB Assessment #### Cultural breadth - Present: American evangelical context specifically addressed - Improve: Global Christianity perspectives on antichrist teachings, non-Western church history #### Inclusive language - Present: Academic theological language with explanations - Improve: Simplified versions for new believers, multiple cultural examples #### Neurodiversity support - Present: Structured conversation with clear topic transitions - Improve: Content outline provided upfront, consistent formatting for different learning needs #### Representation - Present: Two male theological voices - Improve: Diverse theological perspectives, women scholars' contributions to biblical interpretation #### Psychological safety - Present: Respectful disagreement with popular teachings while maintaining pastoral tone - Improve: Clear distinctions between critiquing ideas vs. attacking people, trauma-informed discussion of spiritual abuse ### ✅ Logical Validity #### Strong reasoning - Deductive strength: Biblical exegesis from 1-2 John passages to contemporary application - Inductive strength: Pattern recognition between ancient gnosticism and modern church issues - Causal reasoning: How theological misunderstandings lead to practical church problems - Analogical strength: Comparing Peter's rebuke to modern power-focused Christianity #### Fallacies --- ## Full Transcript [00:00] What do Christians, at least American [00:01] Christians, typically get wrong about [00:05] this whole concept of antichrist [00:08] from what's the gap between what you [00:10] actually see in scripture versus the way [00:12] it gets presented in a lot of both [00:14] American popular culture and the [00:16] evangelical subculture? [00:18] >> Yes. Such an obsession over Antichrist [00:22] when we were growing up. how figures [00:24] like howal Lindsay and um and others who [00:28] not only wrote quote academic books [00:31] around prophecy but then the popularized [00:33] it through the left behind series and [00:35] antichrist one of the things we get [00:37] wrong is that word isn't used at all in [00:40] revelation [00:41] >> uh which is surprising I think to a lot [00:44] of people in fact the word apocalypse or [00:46] apocalyppsis the Greek word means the [00:49] unveiling of Jesus that's literally the [00:51] first sentence it's the unveiling of [00:52] Jesus Jesus. It has nothing to do with [00:54] the unveiling of the Antichrist. And so [00:56] if we we're reading it looking for the [00:58] Antichrist, we've already read it [01:00] wrongly because that's not what the [01:01] book's about. [01:02] >> It does talk about a false prophet. It [01:04] does talk about the beast. It does talk [01:05] about a harlot on a dragon. All these [01:08] other [01:08] >> beasts, but beasts, but those but [01:10] apocalyptic literature, as you know, is [01:13] symbolic and beasts um and that whole [01:16] section is drawing from the book of [01:17] Daniel. Beasts in Daniel are empires. [01:20] They're not individuals, [01:21] >> right? And so um so so the the the the [01:25] place antichrist is used [01:28] um surprisingly is in 1 and 2 John and [01:32] it's used uh both in a future sense an [01:36] antichrist is coming but in a present [01:38] sense many antichrists have come and [01:40] it's not just singular one antichrist [01:42] but it's many yeah it's plural [01:44] >> and and yes and and they come from [01:48] inside the church [01:49] >> oh [01:50] >> um so they're [laughter] counterfeit [01:52] sort of believers. Yeah. So, so if you [01:55] just take the text without, you know, [01:58] >> interrogating it and you have this sort [02:00] of left behind hangover, [02:02] >> um you can find things that you think, [02:04] oh yeah, I could squeeze this into some [02:06] sort of Antichrist motif. But if you [02:08] just take the text without that overlay, [02:11] then it's a whole different thing where [02:13] Antichrist is just anybody or any spirit [02:16] that denies that Jesus came in the flesh [02:19] or came to be crucified or in some way, [02:23] shape, or form deceives uh and promotes [02:25] false teaching. [02:26] >> Okay, let let's let's kind of get down [02:28] to brass tax here and let's get a little [02:30] a little Greek going. [02:32] >> Uh [02:32] >> oh, I love you. Most people know that [02:34] the prefix anti just means against, [02:38] right? [02:39] >> Christ, Christos in Greek just means [02:42] Messiah or Christ. So the literal [02:44] meaning of the word is a person, a [02:48] force, a teaching, a thing that is [02:51] against Christ. [02:53] >> That's it. [02:55] >> But for some reason, we we we want to [02:58] capitalize it. [02:59] >> Yeah. [03:00] >> And make it into a singular individual. [03:02] Mhm. [03:03] >> And is that just because it makes for a [03:05] better narrative? [03:08] >> Oh, undoubtedly. And you have [03:12] um passages like First Thessalonian [03:14] where it speaks of the man of [03:15] lawlessness as a singular as a singular [03:18] person. You're thinking, "Oh, okay. [03:19] Well, here we go. Where now?" And and [03:21] this is also where you get the very [03:22] infamous quote rapture passage that I [03:25] don't think really teaches the classic [03:27] rapture. [03:27] >> Right. You I have all video on that. [03:29] People can see it on YouTube. Yes, you [03:30] do. Google Sky Jatani Rapture and you'll [03:33] you'll get the whole lowdown on that [03:34] thing. [03:35] >> Yes. And it's great. Um it's again there [03:39] is a cultural overlay that we just don't [03:42] appreciate when we're young in the faith [03:44] that is very American centric, very [03:46] individualized and very much focused on [03:49] the end of history where when you [03:52] encounter the text, Jesus is [03:54] discouraging fascinations with the end [03:56] of history. He's discouraging [03:58] calendarizing. Um, and he's simply [04:00] saying, listen, uh, your job as the [04:02] church is to be faithful. Pay attention [04:04] to the signs, which is interesting. And [04:07] then he goes into the he goes into these [04:09] these are called many apocalypses in the [04:12] end of Matthew or Mark or whatever that [04:14] have to do with the fall of Jerusalem. [04:16] They don't have to do with the end of [04:17] the age. And so it it's one of those [04:19] great examples where you can take a um [04:23] and and this is what Peter seems to be [04:24] doing. He takes a a biblical category [04:26] that isn't quite as biblical as he's [04:29] suggesting and then he's filling it with [04:32] his personal preferences and robbing it [04:35] of any biblical context associated with [04:38] Christ. The only thing that seems in his [04:41] kind of matrix, the only thing that is [04:43] antichrist is stifling innovation or um [04:47] promoting over cumbersome regulation, [04:50] which you know obviously, [04:53] you know, isn't quite exactly what the [04:55] scripture had about. [04:56] >> Okay. But but Peter Teal seems to be uh [04:59] continuing this long line of American [05:01] cultural evangelical especially [05:03] fascination with the [05:05] >> with this belief that there's going to [05:07] be a singular figure that arises in the [05:09] world who leaves the world astray and is [05:12] seen masquerading as an angel of light, [05:15] some some benevolent force, but in [05:18] reality is aligned against God and his [05:20] church. And we all have to be careful [05:22] not to be duped in and and suckered in [05:24] by this thing. But [05:25] >> that's right. Let's go back to where [05:26] antichrist is actually mentioned like [05:30] >> uh second John [05:32] >> and [05:32] >> I got I've got a couple of texts right [05:34] >> yeah let's let's get into that because I [05:35] think it to understand the the the [05:37] context in which John is writing and [05:39] what he is trying to like Peter Teal for [05:44] regardless of what you think of the [05:45] details of his argument what he is [05:47] trying to say is hey we need to be aware [05:49] of this thing and and if we know what's [05:52] coming at us up front then we can be on [05:53] guard against it and in a way John is [05:55] doing that in his epistle. He's saying, [05:56] "Hey, there's this thing going on and [05:59] it's bad and you need to be aware of it [06:01] so you can guard against it." But what [06:02] was the thing John was warning about [06:05] that he labeled Antichrist? [06:08] >> Yes. [06:08] >> Which we don't we're so removed from [06:10] that context, we don't think about it. [06:12] And you mentioned earlier that according [06:13] to John like this is something that [06:14] arises within the church, [06:16] >> right? [06:17] >> So what was that thing that John is [06:19] writing about to warn? [06:21] >> Yes. Such a good question about this [06:23] guy. [06:24] >> Yes. Well, let's let's look at a couple [06:26] texts and see if we can pick up hints [06:28] about what he's talking about. Um, dear [06:30] children, this is the last hour. As you [06:33] have heard that the antichrist is [06:35] coming, even now many antichrists have [06:37] come. This is how we know it's the last [06:39] hour. They went out from us, the church. [06:43] Um, but they did not really belong to [06:45] us. For if they had belonged to us, they [06:47] would have remained with us. But their [06:48] going showed that none of us none of [06:51] them belonged to us. [06:53] Um you but you have an anointing from [06:56] the holy one. You all know the truth. I [06:58] do not write to you because you don't [06:59] know the truth but because you do know [07:01] it and because no lie comes from the [07:02] truth. Who is the liar? It is whoever [07:05] denies Jesus is Messiah. Such a person [07:08] is the antichrist denying father and [07:10] son. So in this instance it's the denial [07:13] of the crucifixion. It's looking at [07:15] Jesus and saying there's no way a [07:17] crucified messiah could actually be [07:18] Messiah. There is another slightly [07:21] different definition he gives a couple [07:23] chapters later. This is how you can [07:25] recognize the spirit of God. Every [07:27] spirit that acknowledges that Jesus [07:29] Christ has come in the flesh is from [07:31] God. But every spirit that does not [07:33] acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This [07:36] is the spirit of antichrist which you [07:38] have heard is coming and even now is in [07:39] the world. Now this case the word flesh [07:42] doesn't mean sinfulness. It means [07:43] mortality, right? [07:44] >> It means the flesh and blood of human [07:47] bodies. It means the incarnation of [07:49] Jesus. [07:50] >> Yes. [07:56] There was a very incipit form of a later [07:59] teaching called gnosticism as you know [08:01] that was circling circling around. Paul [08:03] deals with it too in the early churches [08:06] that denied that that divinity and [08:09] materiality could coexist. Okay. [08:11] >> And so Jesus only appeared to come in in [08:14] human. [08:14] >> Yeah. Let's dig in. I love I love the [08:18] the influence ofnosticism because I [08:20] think it's still with us in many ways in [08:21] a lot of parts of the church. So people [08:22] need to understand this. [08:24] >> Christianity spreads from ancient Judea [08:26] throughout various parts of the Roman [08:27] Empire and beyond. And everywhere it [08:29] goes, it intersects with existing [08:32] philosophical and theological beliefs [08:34] and sometimes picks up those things. And [08:38] in Greece, it picks up Platonic and [08:40] Greek philosophy. And one of the the [08:42] dominant streams of Greek philosophy at [08:44] the time was this notion which becomes [08:46] known asnosticism [08:48] from the Greek word nosis meaning [08:50] knowledge. This idea that that the [08:52] material world is [08:55] is imperfect. It's bad. It's sinful. [08:59] It's evil. And that there is this [09:00] immaterial world, the spiritual world [09:03] which is idealized and perfect. And if [09:06] you remember like high school philosophy [09:07] or maybe you took some in college, the [09:09] idea of Plato's cave where you have, you [09:12] know, the m the the the depiction of the [09:14] thing but the ideal is hidden behind [09:17] like that's a little bit of kind of a [09:18] gnostic idea that the material things we [09:21] see in this world are but shadows of the [09:22] reality which is immaterial. And so this [09:25] idea kind of percolates into early [09:28] Christianity and it comes to the [09:31] conclusion that well if if material [09:33] things are bad and imperfect and God is [09:37] good and perfect then God who is spirit [09:40] can't possibly take on flesh and be [09:43] material. So narcissism comes in and [09:46] says, "Yeah, Jesus may have appeared to [09:48] be human or he may have appeared to have [09:50] had a body, but it was just an illusion [09:52] because God can't actually have a body." [09:54] And if God can't have a body, then Jesus [09:56] could not have died on the cross. And if [09:57] Jesus could not die on the cross, then [09:59] this notion of a physical [10:01] resurrection of his body totally [10:04] >> cannot have happened. And so this is the [10:06] teaching that's spreading through early [10:07] Christianity. and John and Paul and [10:08] others are going people if you deny the [10:11] resurrection and you deny the [10:13] crucifixion and you deny the incarnation [10:15] >> you ain't a follower of Jesus like this [10:18] is this is garbage the other thing it [10:20] led to again you are well aware of this [10:22] >> is if people come to believe well if [10:24] only my soul if only my immaterial [10:26] spiritual side is going to be redeemed [10:29] forever and not my body [10:31] >> right [10:32] >> then who cares who cares what happens to [10:34] my body who cares what I do with my body [10:36] who cares about sexual ual morality, who [10:38] cares about prostitution, who cares [10:40] about marriage, who cares about any of [10:41] that stuff. Bodies don't matter. And [10:44] that led to all kinds of weird [10:45] justifications for immorality in the [10:47] church. But he here's where it's an [10:49] interesting link because there's so many [10:52] Christians today who have that same [10:53] attitude, which is [10:55] >> God's only interested in saving souls. [10:57] >> He doesn't care about the world. He [10:59] doesn't care about creation. He doesn't [11:00] care about our bodies, all that. And it [11:02] leads to really bad Christian teaching. [11:04] to take yes a step back now to our [11:06] original thing. This teaching, this idea [11:10] >> is what John says is antichrist. [11:13] >> Is antichrist. Yep. [11:15] >> You would deny [11:16] >> nowhere near the way the way it's used [11:18] in contemporary American culture or [11:20] evangelicalism. Right. So, [11:22] >> okay, Pastor Mike, [11:26] >> how then would you counsel people in [11:27] your church or in in who you are [11:30] influencing? What should they how do [11:32] they apply this then this whole concept [11:34] of antichrists [11:36] >> to 21st century American Christianity? [11:39] Like if it's not Greta Thunberg and it's [11:42] not and it's not the Democrats [11:44] overregulating AI, [11:47] >> right? [11:47] >> What is Antichrist today? Because I [11:49] don't that we should be concerned with [11:51] or at least um paying attention to. I [11:54] don't want to say worried or fearful of, [11:56] but what is it that How do you translate [11:58] John's warning for today? [12:00] >> Yes. Yes. Oh, so good. Uh, I think in [12:04] two ways that you've already that you've [12:06] hinted at. One is um by denying the [12:10] crucifixion as the determinative [12:11] revelation of who God is. [12:13] >> So I think one of the ways the American [12:15] church has become Antichrist is their [12:17] infatuation with coercive power. Um, and [12:20] so to say that Jesus is the Christ meant [12:23] that that man that was crucified is the [12:26] Messiah. And to make that statement [12:28] carried a whole host of assumptions that [12:30] would have been upside down in the [12:32] ancient Roman world about how power and [12:35] authority and glory work. So, anytime we [12:39] reinforce the hierarchies that the [12:41] gospel tears down, I think we're [12:44] participating in the powers and [12:46] principalities or what Paul calls the [12:47] patterns of this world or what John [12:49] might call the spirit of the antichrist [12:52] when we're denying that Jesus that the [12:54] way the kingdom comes is through a [12:56] crucified Messiah, not a political one, [12:58] not a kingly one, not a not a, you know, [13:01] power over one or a CEO. Thoughts? I [13:05] heard a sharp and take a breath. No, [13:07] because what I I want to make sure I'm [13:09] understanding you correctly. [13:12] >> You're you're kind of expanding the [13:14] definition of antichrist to any [13:17] >> because John seems to [13:18] >> to any teaching that seems to be opposed [13:21] to the Christ we see in the gospels, [13:24] >> the Christ crucified. [13:25] >> The Christ crucified. So, it's not just [13:27] gnosticism, for example. It's not just [13:29] [clears throat] a denial of the [13:30] incarnation. It's anything that inverts [13:33] the teachings of Jesus and his [13:35] revelation of God through the cross. [13:37] >> That's right. [13:38] >> Is is Antichrist. [13:39] >> Yes. Uh any person that denies Jesus is [13:43] the Christ. Now, you can read that in a [13:45] salvific way [13:47] >> and you can say, well, yeah, anybody [13:48] that says that Jesus isn't Messiah is [13:50] the Antichrist. And that's how I was [13:52] always taught to read it. But in the [13:54] context of first John, if you read the [13:55] whole thing, it is very much concerned [13:58] with the communal dynamics of the church [14:00] as as the tangible witness to the [14:03] resurrection of Jesus. And in those [14:05] situations, denying that Jesus is [14:08] Messiah means denying the fact that that [14:10] the kingdom comes through self-suffering [14:12] love rather than through all the ways we [14:15] can pull power. [14:16] >> Let me test this a little bit [14:18] >> and I'll I'll give you I'll give you a [14:19] true scenario and you tell me if this is [14:21] Antichrist. [14:23] Okay. [14:24] >> Yes. [14:24] >> You I'm sure you recall what year was [14:26] it? 2003 2004 [14:28] um the Passion of the Christ movie comes [14:30] out. [14:32] >> The the the Mel Gibson movie, right? It [14:34] was a huge deal. It was I don't want to [14:36] get into all that, but it was crazy. [14:37] Anyway, [14:38] >> a group of people I know went to see [14:40] this movie. [14:41] >> Many of them theologically trained, some [14:42] of them pastoral leaders or church [14:44] leaders, whatever. [14:46] >> And then they deb I was part of this [14:48] group and they debriefed afterwards the [14:50] movie. And one thing that was really [14:53] fascinating was the way people from an [14:56] evangelical church background [15:00] reacted to the film. [15:02] >> And and this is an over generalization, [15:04] but for the sake of our conversation, [15:06] just go with it. The general posture and [15:08] reaction I heard from evangelicals was, [15:10] "Wow, [15:12] >> Jesus really suffered. That was [15:15] terrible. That was graphic. It was [15:17] awful. And I'm so grateful he did that [15:21] for me slash us. All fine. [15:25] >> The pivot came when it was I'm so glad [15:28] he suffered that way [15:30] >> so I don't have to. [15:33] >> Mhm. [15:33] >> Right. And it be it became, yeah, Jesus [15:36] came in the flesh. He certainly died in [15:37] the flesh. He was tortured and he [15:39] experienced this horrific injustice of [15:41] the cross. But he did all of that so I [15:44] don't have to live that way. I don't [15:46] have to I don't have to s and as I heard [15:49] that I'm going oh what about first Peter [15:52] 2 where he says Jesus left us an example [15:55] that we should follow in his steps and [15:58] it's all in the context of suffering [15:59] unjustly as he did like or Paul saying I [16:02] want to um share in the sufferings of [16:05] Jesus so that some may also attain to [16:06] the resurrection there like the message [16:08] in the New Testament is this cross isn't [16:10] just for Jesus [16:12] >> it's a pattern [16:13] >> it's a pattern that we are to follow as [16:14] well so what do you do with the people [16:15] who Don't deny Jesus is the Christ. [16:17] Don't deny he suffered and died [16:19] physically on the cross. [16:21] >> But they don't accept that as a pattern [16:22] that they are to follow. Is that also [16:24] also Antichrist? [16:26] >> Well, let me let me say I don't know. [16:30] But I suspect maybe John would put it in [16:33] that category because of the [16:35] conversation that Jesus has with Peter [16:38] >> when Peter gets rebuked as get behind me [16:41] Satan, right? Um what was the context? [16:44] The context was, "You're the Messiah, [16:47] the Holy One of God." Man, bells and [16:49] whistles and alarms going off. Yes, they [16:52] get it. And then, you know, instantly [16:54] Jesus corrects them famously. Three [16:56] times he corrects them that he's going [16:58] to suffer at the hands of the Romans and [17:00] be buried and rise again. And Peter, of [17:02] course, rebukes him. And Jesus's [17:03] response is to say, "Get behind me, [17:06] Satan." [17:08] >> Um, and which means, "Stop trying to [17:10] lead me." Like, "Get behind me and [17:12] follow me, Peter." like you're [17:14] representing the spirit of the opposer, [17:16] the accuser, the slander. So I think [17:18] that's antichrist language right there. [17:20] [snorts] And so anybody who opposes that [17:23] kind of messiah, I think Jesus gives us [17:26] permission to say, "Hey, that's that's [17:28] just that's just in partnership with the [17:30] accuser that that represented a form of [17:33] power and authority and glory that Jesus [17:36] himself resisted." So, I don't know if [17:37] I'd go around slapping Antichrist on [17:39] everyone, but I would say I would say [17:42] that that that interaction strikes me as [17:46] as one that we don't lump into the [17:47] category of Antichrist, but Jesus does [17:50] even more strongly than John, right? [17:52] Peter, get behind me, Satan, [17:54] >> because you could not calculate a [17:56] crucified Messiah. And the fact that [17:58] Peter would have to suffer with him, [18:00] >> right? See, that's that's the part I [18:02] don't know too many Christians today, at [18:03] least personally, who would deny the the [18:07] horrors of the crucifixion for Jesus. [18:09] >> Right. Right. Right. Right. Right. [18:10] >> What they deny is that they are in any [18:12] way called to to [18:14] >> follow that model. [18:15] >> Right. He did it so I don't have to. [18:18] >> That's right. That's right. And that I [18:20] think is get behind me, Satan. [18:21] Absolutely. Absolutely. Because I mean [18:25] even when Jesus is standing before [18:26] Pilate, the definitive attribute of [18:28] Jesus's kingdom is the unwillingness of [18:31] his followers to fight to protect him. [18:33] And so I just think I think there's a a [18:36] picture that you can that you can make [18:39] that that that says, listen, yeah, the [18:42] nasticism that you're addressing is [18:44] still very prominent. Now, it's not as [18:46] explicit as it used to be, but it's it's [18:48] it's the idea that there are secular [18:51] jobs and sacred jobs, or there's [18:52] full-time ministry and then there's [18:53] everybody else, where there's, you know, [18:55] I have spiritual disciplines and then I [18:57] do the rest of my life. Like that those [18:59] dichotoies are not [19:00] >> the popular rhetoric, this the old hymn, [19:02] I'll fly away, like just this this [19:04] notion that the world doesn't matter to [19:06] God. He's just rescuing souls off of a [19:08] sinking ship. Let let it go down. It [19:10] doesn't matter. Like that [19:11] that'snosticism in the 21st century. [19:13] >> Totally. or or the vision of eternity is [19:16] I'm in this ethereal heaven [19:17] >> and it's a spiritual realm and it's [19:19] disembodied and there's nothing physical [19:21] about it and God doesn't care about the [19:23] he's just going to let it all burn kind [19:24] of that's nasticism or the influence of [19:26] Greek philosophy continuing in western [19:29] Christian culture for 2,000 years now. [19:31] >> Absolutely. [19:39] >> So I think that's one category John [19:41] opens up for us. I think the other [19:42] category John opens up for us is what [19:44] we're talking about the unwillingness of [19:46] people to see Jesus as a Messiah that [19:50] doesn't just act for me but gives me a [19:52] pattern of life to inhabit, [19:54] >> right? [19:54] >> And uh and and instead use this Jesus in [19:58] ways that we're seeing all over the [20:00] place. Um for agendas that are clearly [20:03] anti-Jesus. I don't have a better [20:05] category for that than antichrist. So, [20:08] so when when Pete Hegsth talks about [20:10] this is a war that's favored by God, [20:12] that's Antichrist. Absolutely. 100% [20:15] without a doubt. Um, and again, it's not [20:18] a figure per se. It's not this organized [20:21] one world government that Peter seems to [20:23] really um fear. uh it is found within [20:27] the church when the people of God I [20:29] think uh don't fully embrace the the the [20:33] complete picture of Jesus as he's [20:35] presented to us as the kind of Messiah [20:37] he is. [20:37] >> Does the same thing go the other [20:39] direction? So I think I [20:41] >> So good. I see it guys. So good. [20:43] >> All right. I I obviously agree with you [20:45] that when [20:47] you take the the values of the world [20:50] about power and coercion and violence [20:52] and aggression and all those things and [20:54] you say this is the way of God or this [20:57] is the way of Jesus. you go, "No, it [20:59] isn't. That's that's antichrist." Right? [21:01] You're you're calling something you're [21:02] calling something of Christ which is not [21:04] of Christ. It's Antichrist. That's one [21:05] direction. [21:06] >> Then there's the other direction where [21:08] there are things which are truly of [21:10] Christ [21:11] >> that are of his kingdom that are [21:13] congruent with the character of God as [21:14] revealed in scripture and people come [21:17] along and actually say, "No, that thing [21:19] is antichrist." And I have something [21:21] specific in mind here, [21:23] >> but that the the the popular messaging [21:28] that empathy for the wrong kinds of [21:31] people is ungodly. It's sin, right? Like [21:33] that and I'm [21:36] or you could say the dehumanization of [21:38] certain people. That's that's [21:41] >> fine because God endorses doesn't like [21:44] those people. or when some people are [21:47] valued or seen as equal in dignity and [21:50] rights, but they're not, they don't have [21:51] certain qualities, people will call that [21:52] ungodly. That why are you treating those [21:54] people with dignity and respect when God [21:57] condemns them? Is that also Antichrist [21:59] in the other direction? [22:01] >> Yes. Yes. What What does Isaiah say? [22:04] It's naming It's naming evil what is [22:06] good and naming good what is evil. [22:08] Absolutely. Absolutely. I [22:10] >> I think where we get hung up on all this [22:11] is when we don't throw around the [22:13] accusation of Antichrist. the way John [22:16] does because we again think of it as [22:18] well it's it's the devil incarnate in [22:20] some way. It's it's it's a it's a it's a [22:22] it's a agent of Satan in the flesh [22:24] that's doing terrible deception all [22:25] that. [22:26] >> But what you're saying what I think the [22:27] New Testament is saying is whenever [22:29] there are ideas that are contrary to the [22:31] to the way of Jesus it is technically [22:35] Antichrist. [22:36] >> Yeah. You you are hooked into the powers [22:38] and principalities that are literally [22:40] antichrist. Absolutely. And that means I [22:44] can be too. I mean that that means that [22:46] means I'm constantly I mean for the New [22:49] Testament you know this the powers and [22:50] principalities are pervasive. We're not [22:53] in neutral territory. This is all [22:55] contested space. And so Antichrist is uh [22:59] it's a mode of life and a mode of [23:02] believing and it's a mode of reversing [23:05] um Christ that hooks into the powers and [23:08] principalities. But, you know, I I think [23:11] that one of the ways I've learned to [23:13] understand spiritual warfare is far [23:15] different than, and this applies to [23:17] Antichrist, too, far differently than [23:19] seeing a an angel or a devil, but it's [23:22] more how the community because so much [23:24] of Paul's teaching is in spiritual [23:26] warfare about in Ephesians is all about [23:28] how the community [23:30] >> like treats each other. Like that's the [23:32] spiritual warfare. And so when people [23:35] don't treat each other well, Paul keeps [23:37] attributing that to the work of the [23:39] powers that are antichrist. So I do [23:41] think there's room there to say that [23:44] there are churches that are aligned and [23:46] that are promoting the the kingdom and [23:48] there are churches in the name of Jesus [23:51] that are opposing his work. And I don't [23:52] have better words than what the Bible [23:55] gives us. Uh, and that's a good kind of [23:57] place to wrap this up. As John warns [24:01] communities of believers about the [24:02] spirit of Antichrist in their midst and [24:05] that have gone out from among us. [24:07] >> It's a warning for within the church [24:08] community. [24:09] >> That's right. [24:10] >> It isn't that there's some big bad [24:11] leader at the UN or some Right. [24:13] >> That's the thing. We're never encouraged [24:15] to go figure out who this is. [24:17] >> Right. [24:18] >> We're just encouraged to pay attention [24:20] to the people that have come out from us [24:22] who are deceivers and deny the basic [24:24] tenants of the faith. Absolutely.  📄 **Full text:** ![[Full Document Contents/Articles/The Antichrist Is Already Here…in the American Church|The Antichrist Is Already Here…in the American Church, YouTube]] ## Highlights - care about our bodies, all that. And it leads to really bad Christian teaching. to take yes a step back now to our original thing. This teaching, this idea >> is what John says is antichrist. >> Is antichrist. Yep. >> You would deny >> nowhere near the way the way it's used in contemporary American culture or evangelicalism. Right. So, >> okay, Pastor Mike, >> how then would you counsel people in your church or in in who you are ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01knwvjw9f18kbvfvg58fpww25)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted - incarnation. It's anything that inverts the teachings of Jesus and his revelation of God through the cross. >> That's right. >> Is is Antichrist. >> Yes. Uh any person that denies Jesus is the Christ. Now, you can read that in a salvific way >> and you can say, well, yeah, anybody that says that Jesus isn't Messiah is the Antichrist. And that's how I was always taught to read it. But in the context of first John, if you read the whole thing, it is very much concerned with the communal dynamics of the church ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01knwvjwbpt9j4x7298egf31wc)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted - to the way of Jesus it is technically Antichrist. >> Yeah. You you are hooked into the powers and principalities that are literally antichrist. Absolutely. And that means I can be too. I mean that that means that means I'm constantly I mean for the New Testament you know this the powers and principalities are pervasive. We're not in neutral territory. This is all contested space. And so Antichrist is uh it's a mode of life and a mode of ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01knwvjwh1gn6yy1tjeppx21zb)) - Tags: 👻 ai highlighted