Look I'm no fan of the Catholic Church (ex-Catholic here) or the Popes. I agree that the Popes are "anti-christ" in that they really are opposed to the true Christ. What I'm saying is that the definition, contained in the 4 scriptures written by John (1st & 2nd John) are much broader than that. John simply defined "anti-Christ" was anyone not believing that God manifested in the flesh of Jesus Christ. In fact John even declared (nearly 2000 yrs ago):
1st John 2:18 - "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time."
Excerpt from Strong's Greek Dictionary on "Antichrist" - from <G473> (anti) and <G5547> (Christos); an opponent of the Messiah :- antichrist.
"an opponent of the Messiah" - opponent is anti or against.
Again what I wrote is NOT replacement Theology. No one has replaced anyone. Church is comprised of both Jew and Gentile right! The Church as NOT replaced "Israel" - the church IS "Israel". This "Israel" is comprised of believing "Jews" and believing "Gentiles" who have been grafted in (Romans 11).
Did you bother to read any of the scriptures that I posted on this thread? How do you get around those? Who is "Israel?" Who is "Israel" in the New Testament? Who is "Israel" according to Paul the Apostle? What was Paul telling us in Romans 11? What happened to the covenant promises in Deuteronomy?
What was the New Testament "Church" composed of for about the 1st 20 years of the Church's history? What happened on the Day of Pentecost? It wasn't Gentile believers was it?
There are only 4 scriptures in the bible that contain the words "antichrist" or "antichrists". All 4 are found in 1st or 2nd John. John simply defined "antichrist" as someone who is opposed to Christ. John never wrote or some future, ultimate anti-christ. In fact in the KJV translation the definite article "the" doesn't even appear before the word "antichrist".
One interpretation is that He came in judgement against apostate Israel in 70 AD with the destruction of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem. When his disciples pointed out the beautiful Temple Jesus shocked them by saying "not one stone" will be left upon another. About 40 years later Roman General Titus destroyed the Temple. Josephus says 1.1 million Jews perished.
Kinda reminds me of what John wrote in Revelation:
Rev. 2:9: "I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan."
John repeats this "synagogue of Satan" phase in Rev. 3:9.
So there are those who say they are "Jews" (i.e. God's Chosen People) but are actually of the "synagogue of Satan".
So YES "Israel" of today is the "chicken man". You can claim to be "God's Chosen" but really not be. What's sad is that Christians by the millions are deceived.
There's another interpretation that we get from Paul the Apostle. Seems he identified the Israel of God almost 2000 years ago. BTW this is not replacement theology it's fulfillment theology.
The Apostle Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans who the true "Jews" are:
Romans 2:28-29 - "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."
Here is Paul again in Romans telling us that not all of ethic "Israel" is really "Israel":
Romans 9:6-7 - "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called."
Here's Paul saying that only those are are Christs' are of Abraham's seed/descendants:
Galatians 3:29 - " And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
Here's Paul addressing the church who he refers to as "the Israel of God":
Galatians 6:16 - " And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God."
Here's the Lord blessing Abraham - long before Israel was a nation. Note that it says "all people on earth will be blessed". I can't find any scripture that says those who "bless Israel" will be blessed. The blessings were given to Abraham and his "seed" which ultimately are those who are "in Christ" - both Jew and Gentile.
Genesis 12:3 - "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
Which Israel of the Bible are you referring to?
The one Paul, the Apostle writes of in Romans and Galatians or the one John, the Apostle writes of in Revelation 2:9 and 3:9?
John mentions "Jews" who say they are "Jews" but are of the synagogue of Satan.
I judge folks by their actions and not what they claim to be!
Revelation is to be believed but interpretations as to the message of Revelation varies greatly. Some even believe that Revelation was fulfilled in the destruction of the Temple in AD 70....just saying.
One of the best verse by verse commentaries on Revelation was written by David Chilton - entitled: Days of Vengeance. There's also copies available online for free if you dig around the internet a bit!
Yeah that thought went thru my mind too! Trust Wray to be Wray - a scoundrel.