Is it possible to know Christ without having experienced the Antichrist?

Question

St. John of Kronstadt writes it is necessary to exprtirnce the spirit of evil, the antichrist or the adversary, before we can truly experience the light of the Spirit of Christ. If you have not been subject to misfortunes and the danger of physical or spiritual deathm then you do not fervertly recognized the Savior as the Life-Giver, He Who delivers us from misfortune and spiritual death.

Answer 1

Yes. St. John of Kronstadt is right. If we picture the anti-Christ (the evil one) having a room, and Christ having an adjoining room, with a doorway, but no door. We dwell in one room or the other. Without faith we do not know Christ, therefore we know only evil.

When we come to faith, the Holy spirit leads us toward the doorway where we can come to know Jesus, and eventually pass through the doorway into faith.

Scripture teaches, and Luther stated "we are saints and sinners at the same time": So the door must be always open because we do slip back through when we sin, however we do know our way back! Thank God the door is always open to us, like it was for the prodigal son.

Your friend in Christ,

Mark

Answer 2

You could see it and know it, but maybe not appreciate it. For example, with the light and dark thing... sure, you can see the light and know it's there, but would you appreciate it if that's all there was? Would you not take it for granted?

I know I'm going to be in the minority here, however...

I'm a Theistic Satanist, so the question rather amuses me. Being raised Catholic, taken to various churches (Catholic and non) is exactly what made me appreciate becoming a Satanist. It made me giddy to know it was nothing like what the priests and churchgoers threatened it would be. I wasn't seduced or lied to-- I came of my own free will and knew what to expect. I feel safe, I feel content, I feel loved and cared for in a way that I just didn't get from other religions. Even my suicidal thoughts went away.

And I might not have found it, had I not been discontent with the idea of Jesus and Christianity. I wouldn't appreciate what I have now, had I not experienced what I found to be truly miserable.

So, though I very much disagree with Christianity, Jesus and all that, I do think there is something to the -idea- behind such a statement. I think you need to explore all your options before you can for sure settle down on the one that's right for you, whether that means devoting yourself to Jesus, Zeus, Buddha, Satan or nothing at all.

Cheers.

Answer 3

I went on a picnic this weekend and there was a woman there who loved Christ in a very simple and humble way. I could not detect in her any kind of darkness, and it was such a joy to spend time with someone like this. I am sure she has had her share of suffering, but I could not imagine that she has ever had an experience of what might be referred to as the "Antichrist". She seemed to me to be a joyful child of God with a kind of innocence about her that made the rest of us refrain from even speaking about anything evil while in her presence. Thank God there are such people in the world.

Answer 4

I've always believed in the one God with many faces and names. However, I've just become aware of how evil my own son really is. I sure appreciate God a whole lot more. I've ran into really horrible people before, but my son takes the cake and then some. It's been a terrible shock. Never before have I been this grateful for knowing where to find his opposite in God.
peace

Answer 5

it is true in my opinion that indeed to "understand" Christ with full empathy you need to understand at least a portion of evil to clearly bring to view the immence amount of conflict in the presence of good and evil fighting for territory. If you only know Good then you will clearly know when Bad presents itself. Experience, in my opinion, only determines the degree of understanding. If you read "The Great Controversy" you will know Christ in a different way. I have read Scripture and I have read "The Great Controversy" and of course there is no literature greater than Scripture this book is really a good book. Sorta hard reading for me but definately precise.

Answer 6

Well, I hate to disagree with a Saint, but I do in this case. I converted during a near-death experience where I had an encounter with Satan (before this I was agnostic). I wouldn't wish such a thing on anyone. People who can have faith WITHOUT such an experience are truly blessed.

Answer 7

Pretty sure that my ex was the spawn of the anti-Christ, so this doesn't really apply to me !!! But I do wonder if we would appreciate things as much without the contrasts to make them more wonderous. Can you truly appreciate the Cold without the Hot? The peace without the turmoil?

Answer 8

i don't know that it's absolutely necessary, but it does make for a powerful conversion. my experience lies along the same lines as the answerer above me; i was agnostic until i was attacked and harassed for a several before i finally humbled myself enough to accept Christ. i had to exhaust every other psychological possibility first, so it took a while, but after i had done that, i finally ''cleaned house'' in Jesus' name. because of this, i have very strong faith in Him, and feel that i know Him very well indeed.

Answer 9

I suppose that explains why so many fundamentalist churches spew hatred. They're just trying to experience the spirit of evil, so that they can know Christ.

Answer 10

Once you Know Christ you know Anti-Christ. because every thing and everyone that does not believe the teachings of Jesus are -anti-Christ. If your speaking of "the anti-Christ" that the bible mentions, then I do not think any one will know him or her before the rest of the world does as well.