Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
I believe part of the confusion concerning the subject of antichrist comes from failure to recognize the difference between the "fierce king" Daniel 8 and antichrist spoken of in II Thessalonians 2.
These are different subjects.
In Daniel, it speaks of one man who is a "fierce king." (Most church people are calling this "fierce king" the antichrist. The fierce king is one man, a head of state, a king, a president)
In II Thessalonians 2, it speaks of many who are antichrist and they sit in "the temple of God", the church itself. (The antichrists are those persons in churches who fall away from scripture and/or set up other doctrines in the church.)
The apostle John says this:
I 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.
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Each time I have heard the church people or the people of the world speak of antichrist, I've heard them speak of one man, usually someone in governments of men. (They are really speaking of the "fierce king" of Daniel 8 and not the antichrist of II Thessalonians 2.)
In Tolstoy's book, War and Peace, the Russian people thought Napoleon was the fierce king of Daniel 8. (They were calling him antichrist.)
Some people who lived through WWII thought Hitler "the antichrist" ... I believe Hitler was this fierce king of Daniel 8.
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The first time I heard of an antichrist was in 1975, after I was born again. In the church I was attending at that time, a woman told me of the antichrist.
(However I think she really spoke of the one man, the fierce king, of Daniel 8 but she called him antichrist.)
When I heard of this, I replied: "They must have thought this man to be Hitler."
She replied: "No ... because he comes speaking peace."
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I thought no more about it but I continued to feel Hitler fit somewhere in the end times that we read about in the Bible.
I believe Hitler could have been that "fierce king" that we read about in Daniel 8.
23-25 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart,
and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
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What this woman and I did not know at that time in 1970's, since neither of us knew what Hitler really did, is Hitler came speaking peace and by speaking peace he did destroy many.
Before WWII was declared by England, France, and Russia, Hitler came at various times in 1936-1938 saying he did not want war, while he was at the same time laying out his war plans which first involved conquering Austria, then Czechoslovakia, and then Poland.
The leaders of England and France met with Hitler and Hitler strongly declared he wanted peace, not war. (So the leaders of England and France were relieved and relaxed their guard.)
But as he said this, he was building up his army and preparing them to invade these three countries. Austria, then Czechoslovakia, and then Poland.
As he spoke peace to the world, he was secretly planning to go to war, building up his armies and armaments. And Hitler wanted to completely destroy Czechoslovikia and Poland. Although he took control of Czechosolvikia without war, he did bomb Poland on September 1, 1939, and that caused England and France to declare war.
France and England wanted peace so much they were easily deceived by Hitler when he came saying he wanted peace while he was planning for war.
But as he said this, he was building up his army and preparing them to invade these three countries. Austria, then Czechoslovakia, and then Poland.
As he spoke peace to the world, he was secretly planning to go to war, building up his armies and armaments. And Hitler wanted to completely destroy Czechoslovikia and Poland. Although he took control of Czechosolvikia without war, he did bomb Poland on September 1, 1939, and that caused England and France to declare war.
France and England wanted peace so much they were easily deceived by Hitler when he came saying he wanted peace while he was planning for war.
At the time Hitler was speaking peace to the leaders of England and France, who could have fought him, Hitler had invasion date on his calendar, preparing to take over in the nations of Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland.
Because Hitler said he wanted peace, England and France did not oppose Hitler, conceding both Austria and Czechoslovakia to appease Hitler and to keep from going to war with Germany.
Because of their desire for peace and the deception Hitler posed by speaking peace, England and France did not oppose Hitler when he and his army moved into Austria and then Czechoslovakia.
Hitler turned these two countries into German countries without firing a shot.
He just came to the leaders of these countries and told them to resign and to move out and announced they would henceforth be under the "protection" of Germany and would be ruled by Germany. He removed their police and replaced them with German police who were controlled by himself.
England and France let Hitler take over these two nations.
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Because of their desire for peace and the deception Hitler posed by speaking peace, England and France did not oppose Hitler when he and his army moved into Austria and then Czechoslovakia.
Hitler turned these two countries into German countries without firing a shot.
He just came to the leaders of these countries and told them to resign and to move out and announced they would henceforth be under the "protection" of Germany and would be ruled by Germany. He removed their police and replaced them with German police who were controlled by himself.
England and France let Hitler take over these two nations.
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Then on September 1, 1939, Hitler bombed Poland. Then it was obvious to all that Hitler, while speaking peace, had war in mind all the time and was actually preparing for war.
Two days after Hitler bombed Poland, England declared war on Germany and France followed England.
WWII officially began.
Hitler fit this description of this "king of fierce countenance" of Daniel 8, who destroyed many through speaking peace.
After Hitler bombed Poland on September 1, 1939, both England and France declared war on Germany.
Hitler continued to ask them for peace but they did not back down because Hitler was occupying Poland and Hitler refused to move his troups out of Poland though Hitler kept saying he wanted peace.
Then Hitler moved troups into both Norway and Denmark ... then France.
Amazingly, even after Hitler had taken over all these nations, Hitler told England he wanted peace, but England refused to talk to him about peace unless he removed his troups from all these nations which he had taken over: Austria,Czechoslovakia, Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. (Hitler would not do that so England fought on against Hitler.)
Two days after Hitler bombed Poland, England declared war on Germany and France followed England.
WWII officially began.
Hitler fit this description of this "king of fierce countenance" of Daniel 8, who destroyed many through speaking peace.
After Hitler bombed Poland on September 1, 1939, both England and France declared war on Germany.
Hitler continued to ask them for peace but they did not back down because Hitler was occupying Poland and Hitler refused to move his troups out of Poland though Hitler kept saying he wanted peace.
Then Hitler moved troups into both Norway and Denmark ... then France.
Amazingly, even after Hitler had taken over all these nations, Hitler told England he wanted peace, but England refused to talk to him about peace unless he removed his troups from all these nations which he had taken over: Austria,Czechoslovakia, Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. (Hitler would not do that so England fought on against Hitler.)
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Antichrist is something other than the fierce king of Daniel 8.
The apostle John says this:
I 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.
And the apostle Paul says antichrist will come through the temple of God showing himself to be as God.
II Thessalonians 2:3-4 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
There would first be "a falling away" ... church people would fall away from scripture.
Anti-christ is opposite from Christ, opposed to Christ ... thus opposed to The Word.
As the apostle John described, " even now are there many antichrists;" ... John said by this they knew they were in the last days.
Many in churches today fall away from Bible as they set up other doctrines and remove portions of the Bible from the church ... thus antichrists.
I believe that "king of fierce countenance" in Daniel 8 could have been Hitler. For a season, he had to rule. Then he was destroyed.
I believe Hitler was one part of the end-time story. But not the only part.
The "falling away" are church people departing from portions of scripture, thus allowing lawlessness against the scripture to reign in their groups.
All these parts in different decades of time are part of the story of the end-times.
For the end times began after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, and at the time of Paul and John the end times were already taking place according to that which John said in I 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.)
For the end times began after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, and at the time of Paul and John the end times were already taking place according to that which John said in I 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.)
When the iniquities of the end-times are full, the wrath of God will be poured out upon the earth and the appointed plagues and troubles will come upon this earth as we are told in Revelation 8-16
Jesus will return for HIS church which HE will remove from this earth. The church of Jesus are those persons who cling to the scriptures, doing the scriptures, as they live upon this earth.
The church people who fall away from scripture are antichrist.
There are many antichrists today.
Jesus will destroy all who are antichrist at HIS coming.
II Thessalonians 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of HIS coming:
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For those who hold fast to the scriptures:
I Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep (dead).
For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep (dead).
For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
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