I believe the antichrist, which is the most popular title of the most famous tool of Satan, as he is referred to in the the first and second epistles of John, is possibly alive today. If the Profane and Wicked Prince of Israel (Ezekiel 21:25-27) is a natural born human being, he would have to be alive and ready at a moments notice, to perform the role that has been mentioned throughout the bible of the coming world leader*1 outlined for us in the scriptures. I possibly picture the Man of Sin (II Thessalonians 2:13), or as he is referred to in Latin, the ‘Vicar of Christ‘*2 (which opens up a whole new can of worms), as a type of ‘sleeper agent’ ready to activate at a moment’s notice because the scriptures say Christ will return ‘as a thief in the night’ to those who are unprepared for his coming as we are told in I Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (KJV). It might be a weak link, but I John seems to support this in chapter 2:18-19 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. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us: but [they went out], that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. (KJV) where he mentions plural antichrists.
Satan doesn’t know what the interval is between the harpazo and the beginning of the seventieth week is, so Satan has to have his man ready and waiting in the wings to strike at anytime. For that to happen the Son of Perdition (II Thessalonians 2:13) has to be alive now. This means that Satan has needed to have his Man of the Earth (Psalms 10:18) ready to act when the time comes. Or does he?
As I was writing this another possibility came to mind. I think there is another scenario that we need to consider. There is a possibility that the man of lawlessness will be one of the stars that fell (fallen angels) as we are told in Revelation 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. (KJV) and he will just ‘appear’ on the scene. It says a third of the stars (which is a typical idiom for angels) go with Satan. All throughout the bible there have been visitations by angels that spoke, visited and dined with people mentioned in Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (KJV). Why should these visitations be limited to only the ‘good’ angels. This may be a thought that could be worth cultivating to see if it stands up to scriptural scrutiny.
Is the antichrist a Jew? I could research and bring forth viable arguments both and cite Revelations where it speaks of the Advesary (Lametations 4:11-12) enforcing the covenant with Israel, I could cite Daniel 11:37 that states he will reject the Gos of his fathers, There are those that put forth articles saying this is a bunch of anti-semetic rantings, but lets allow Christ to settle the argument. Christ says in John 5:42-44 about the Jews in the end times that they will receive the Violent Man (Psalms 140:1), But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only? (KJV) I believe that Christ is saying the Jews will receive this Idol Shepard (Zechariah 11:16-17) as a false messiah as prophesied in Deuteronomy 18:15-22 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. And the LORD said unto me, They have well [spoken that] which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require [it] of him. But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that [is] the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, [but] the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. (KJV) and I will defer to his authority on this one (and all the rest, also).
God Bless, Jim
*1 http://www.khouse.org/articles/1995/80/ , 9th paragraph
jimbussell 