Is it true that some Bible scholars believe that the anti-christ is already here?

Question

Who do they think it is?

Answer 1

Yep; in fact, many scholars have said the anti-christ has been around for more than 1,000 years.

Martin Luther was not the first person to claim that the pope is the anti-Christ. John Wycliffe came to the same conclusion some 200 years before Luther did. Unlike Luther, Wycliffe had everything to loose and nothing to gain from proclaiming this, but he did it anyway because that is what he believed. Let us examine the facts.

What is the beast (the anti-Christ)? It is a religious power that rises out of Europe after the fall of Rome (and 3 of the tribes of the fallen empire are taken out) that acts as sovereign nation. It has much wealth and wants to change the laws of God.

"And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. “(Daniel 7:24 - 25 KJV)

The history of Europe settles the matter. There were 10 kingdoms that formed directly after the fall of Rome. After three kingdoms were taken out (the Vandals, Lombards, and Huns), the "Bishop of Rome" rose to power and formed what we now know as the Roman Catholic Church and this position is now known as the pope. With this power, the pope has changed God's times and laws. Many Christians no longer observe the Sabbath (God's time and God’s law) because the pope has instituted Sunday worship; the Roman Catechism even has a different set of Ten Commandments in it than the Bible's. It is also obvious that this kingdom represented by the little horn is different from all the others. The Vatican is a nation that has great wealth (the little horn wares an expensive crown earlier in Daniel chapter 7) but is very small (like a little horn among big ones) and is wholly ruled by a religious leader unlike any other nation in Europe today. The Vatican is a nation because the USA has an ambassador to the Vatican.

There are even more clues to point to the papal system as being the anti-Christ.

"And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." (Revelation 13:3 KJV)

The pope was taken out of power and made prisoner (wounded) in 1798 by Napoleon. But, the pope was miraculously healed from his deadly wound in 1929, by Premier Mussolini if Italy who gave the pope all his power back!

The whole world has wondered after the pope. Just look at everyone that attended the funeral of the late John Paul II - leaders of almost every nation in the world!

Also, we find this of the anti-Christ. " And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. (Revelation 13:5 - 6 KJV)

What is blasphemy? "The act of claiming for oneself the attributes and rights of God." (American Heritage Dictionary)

Does the pope blaspheme?

"Against this background of love towards Holy Church, 'the pillar and bulwark of the truth' (1 Tim 3:15), we readily understand the devotion of Saint Francis of Assisi for 'the Lord Pope', the daughterly outspokenness of Saint Catherine of Siena towards the one whom she called 'sweet Christ on earth'" (Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation VITA CONSECRATA, (On The Consecrated Life And Its Mission In The Church And In The World), March 25, 1996.)

"The Pope is of so great dignity, and so exalted that he is not a mere man, but as it were God. and the vicar of God." (Ferraris Ecclesiastical dictionary)

"All names which in the Scriptures are applied to Christ, by virtue of which it is established that He is over the church, all the same names are applied to the Pope." (On the Authority of the Councils, book 2, chapter 17)

"The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in Heaven and earth." (Pope Pius V, quoted in Barclay, Chapter XXVII, p. 218, "Cities Petrus Bertanous")

""To believe that our Lord God the Pope has not the power to decree as he is decreed, is to be deemed heretical." (the Gloss "Extravagantes" o.f Pope John XXII *** inter, Tit. XIV, Cap. IV. Ad Callem Sexti Decretalium, Paris, 1685)

I would say he dose! The pope also claimes to be able to forgive sins. The bible clearly says that this is blasphamy.

"Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?" (Mark 2:7 KJV)

I think the papal system matches up with the anti-Christ too much to be a coincidence.

Answer 2

Biblical scholars think that an Anti-Christ will appear, however, since Christ was a teacher, will they be anti-teachers? People demonize others without just reason, and the church has been demonizing people and religions for centuries as being heathens, agnostics and pagans. European culture has been impressed on other nations as superior, and consequently South America is mostly Catholic, and North America is mainly Christian but of various sects...because they dominated the natives, they now expound the theory that an Anti-Christ should appear making all fearful of the future and the potential evil. But the Truth is that man is his own worst enemy and while there are battles, conflicts and wars in nearly 25 countries, it is not from one man but from many. Most of the problems stem from greed, not other faint reasons...the war to prevent terrorism is a joke....we caused the problem....We supported the Shah of Iran, and we supported Saddam...the war is of big business wanting more big business and you will pay the price at the gas pumps. Religion is often used as a scapegoat for our actions but, nonetheless it is not religion that causes conflicts.

Answer 3

Actually, I believe that. There's just no way you could prove that. The bible gives signs of the end times. The last 7 years before Christ returns to set up his kingdom are called the 'Great Tribulation'. It will be a terrible time on earth. God will be judgeing the whole earth for its sin. It is during that time that the anti-christ will rule. God gave signs of that end time and the signs all seem to be here. Therefore I believe that that time is right around the corner. It could start any time. That would mean the anti-christ would have to be alive and probably in his mid thirties or forties and probably already in government somewhere in the world. You say, "that's crazy". My advice to you is to look at the world scene right now. We have enough weapons right now to blow the world up and make the rubble bounce for 24 hours. But as Edward Tellar(the creator of the hydrogen bomb) once said, the next generation of weapons that are coming up(and they're just around the corner) will make these weapons look like pop guns. Now the question is, "is there anyone out there who is crazy enough to use them"? I don't know about you but I see a lot of nut bags out there who have power and even oil money. Many of them are religious and they think they are doing Gods will by blowing up the world. Just look at the fruit cake in charge of Iran. Then there's that nut bag in North Korea who has been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. Then you have terrorists groups who have money and answer to no one.

http://jimmydeyoung.gospelcom.net/pp/

http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/index.html

http://www.jvim.com/

http://www.prophezine.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

http://www.bible-prophecy.com/

Answer 4

Yes, there are some who believe the "Anti-Christ" is already here... as in has already been born. There is debate, even among those scholars, as to whether or not he (or she) realizes hsi role in Biblical Prophecy yet... It is generally assumed that he has not yet made a grand entrance into the arena of world politics, but is very likely studying and preparing.

Recognize that the individual Christendom refers to as the AntiChrist will have to be very well connected, very highly placed, very intelligent, very cunning and very eloquent in order to pull off the stunts described in the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation.

So... is he alive??? Possibly... even probably... but those scholars do not believe he has come onto the scene to fulfill the role prophecy has described for him.

Answer 5

If one study the word diligently, then one will comprehend if the Anti Christ is here and is telling lies. The AC would be very smart so we could arm ourselves with the Armor of God and His word.

Answer 6

Anti - Christ will appear after the 2nd Coming of Jesus.

Answer 7

I dont know about Bible scholars. But the believers of Christ never think about anti - Christ, nothing to do with him.

Answer 8

The best scholar of all knew, Jesus. He said there were many Antichrists, not just one. Unless you think he's wrong. An Antichrist can be anyone who claims them self to be speaking in the name of Christ, as Jesus himself said there would be many.

Answer 9

Dick Cheney is the anti-christ

George W Bush and Donald Rumpsfeld (misspelled deliberately) are his faithful servants.

I suppose it is all relative, though. I would call anyone who gains personal wealth and power at the expense of other people's lives servants of evil.

Answer 10

yes anyone who denies God in the flesh is Jesus is anti Christ. Also THE Anti-Christ is the Pope. (My opinion

The Bible says the earth is round in Isaiah 42
"The circle of the earth."

Type science in the Bible into google