Russian Patriarch Warns ‘Antichrist’ Will Control Humans Through Gadgets

Tim and Jerry will be starring in the new movie,

"Harbinger of the Coming of the Antichrist",

or is it called,

"Gadget-Controlled Humans of the New World Order"

At any rate, I'll be the first in line at the theater.

Trump and Putin are co-starring in it as well.

Don't be left behind!

Here, there, or in the air...

Get right or get left...

If there is any one personage in the Bible, Old and New Testament, described as a real person to come it's the AC, the man of ultimate lawlessness. I don't know if he will use gadgets or not but it will be a day of total spiritual sobriety that will require Spirit empowered endurance.

The antichrist will come because he is prophesied to, but modern technology is certainly something he will use to control people. Governments do build dossiers on their citizens. We live in a time when governments (and even NGOs) have an amazing amount of data on the average person.

//If there is any one personage in the Bible, Old and New Testament, described as a real person to come it's the AC, the man of ultimate lawlessness.//

Where? I’ve read through the Bible at least 15 times and I have never seen that.

The man of sin mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2, Revelation, 1 John etc. Use Occam's Razor on this: the simplest explanation is usually the correct one. A plain reading of the text offers the best interpretation.

"Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour." 1 John 2:18

ASSERTION: There will be a world dictator, whom the Bible calls "the Antichrist”

REBUTTTAL: The word "Antichrist” is never used in this way in Scripture. The expression appears only in 1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3 & 2 John 7. In these places, there is no reference to a world dictator. The teaching is that anyone who denies Christianity is "antichrist.”

ASSERTION: The first "beast” of Revelation 13 is a future dictator called the Antichrist

REBUTTAL: This beast is never referred to as the Antichrist. In fact, there is no good reason to understand him to be a human individual. The description of the beast is a composite of the four beasts of Dan.7. Those beasts are not human individuals, but empires

ASSERTION: The Man of Sin (2 Thess.2) is the same person as the beast of Revelation 13

REBUTTAL: This is widely assumed to be the case, but there is no biblical evidence for this identification. Both demand to be worshipped in their respective careers, but many rulers historically have required this of their subjects and there is no other point of similarity between them.

ASSERTION: The "little horn” (Dan.7) is the same as the beast of Revelation 13 and of the Man of Sin.

REBUTTAL: This is assumption merely. No biblical data makes this identification. The various entities have some things in common [e.g., they are all evil and powerful]

ASSERTION: The world will be required to worship an image of the beast.

REBUTTAL: This is stated in Rev. 13:14-15

ASSERTION: The Man of Sin will sit in the temple of God

REBUTTAL: This is clearly stated in 2 Thess.2:4.

ASSERTION: The antichrist will place an image of himself in the temple of God.

REBUTTAL: There is no evidence of this anywhere in Scripture. It is deduced by assuming the identification of the beast with the Man of Sin, an identification that has no basis in Scripture

ASSERTION: The temple of God is the Jewish temple in Jerusalem.

REBUTTAL: This is not stated, and is not likely. Paul never refers to the temple of apostate Judaism as "the temple of God,” though he does use this term of the Church (1 Cor.3:16-17/ 2 Cor.6:16/ cf. Eph.2:21/1 Tim.3:15/Heb.3:6)

ASSERTION: The Jewish temple will be rebuilt, and animal sacrifices restored in the end times.

REBUTTAL: The basis for this assumption is the identification of "the temple of God” with the Jewish temple in the end times (see point #20), along with a dispensational interpretation of Zech.14 and Ezek.40-48. Such an interpretation finds no support in the New Testament.

ASSERTION: The Antichrist will establish a 7-year pact with Israel but then break it after 3 1/2 years.

REBUTTAL: Not stated in Scripture. Deduced from the identification of "he” in Dan.9:27 with Antichrist. The grammar and context suggest that "he” is Christ, not Antichrist (who is never mentioned in the passage).

ASSERTION: The Antichrist will establish a cashless, global economy.

REBUTTAL: This is based on one possible interpretation of Rev.13:17, which only says people cannot buy or sell without the mark of the beast. A cashless society is one possible reason for this. A general boycott against Christians (in a normal economy) would be another possibility.

"Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour." 1 John 2:18

Notice the phrase "the antichrist" is used, in contrast to "many antichrists".

Todd, do you believe Jesus will return to earth?

Absolutely.

But the "last hour” John was referring to was not something 2000 or so years later. If so it was the greatest exaggeration of all time or he was talking about something else perhaps a tad closer to his time that fits with "last hour.”

So at Pentecost when Peter said "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel, 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh'", was he saying that the last days were only then and that period is now over?

Do you believe Jesus has already returned in the clouds physically and set foot on the Mount of Olives?

No I don’t believe Jesus has returned yet physically- ie I don’t believe the 2nd coming has happened yet.

But yes, I do believe that when the apostles used words like "soon” etc they meant what they said.

When do you think Jesus is coming back and what are the signs that His return is imminent?

What if Revelation was written around 95 A.D. as many believe? It would make the events of 70 A.D. as impossible to have been the fulfillment of Matthew 24 since it would have been written 25 years or so after the destruction of Jerusalem.

The foundation of no personal Antichrist has its origins in replacement theology. If Israel's continuing relevance is replaced then a personal AC can be handily replaced. If you admit there is a personal AC then you have to admit he will turn his wrath on the Jewish people and that would involve Israel and in replacement theology that has to be avoided at all costs.

In II Thess 2:4 Paul is quoting almost exactly from Daniel 11:36 regarding one who exalts himself above every god. It's a person he is speaking of.

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"What if Revelation was written around 95 A.D. as many believe?"

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What if Revelation was written before 70 A.D. as many believe?

The book, "Before Jerusalem Fell" is the most exhaustive book on the subject.

I myself do concede to the evidence he brings to bear from his research. If any here on SI had time to read this colossal work of written documentation, my guess is that they'd come to the same conclusion.

Carry on...

//When do you think Jesus is coming back and what are the signs that His return is imminent?//

I certainly have no idea. If, by imminent, you mean "soon” then by biblical precedent it could be more than 2000 years from now.

A Jewish presence in Palestine has to be a reality before the end time scenario takes place. We are among the first generations in almost two thousand years to see this presence. So things are not as they always have been since Christ left. It's absurd to call this presence just a accident of history. It happened against all impossible odds. The problem is that many of their own and many Christians believe they are home free and involitable with no more major trouble ahead just because they have been allowed to return to the land.

We shall see, or maybe not! Perhaps our great great great grandchildren will see.

What are the signs then?

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:16

No I mean the signs preceding His second advent.

The voice of the archangel and a trumpet blast.

Beyond that I have no idea. "...the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Matthew 24:44

If someone could map out all the signs this verse would not be true.

"And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." Matthew 24:3-8

If Christ came again in judgment in 70 AD then what of a promised resurrection at His coming? Was it spiritual in nature?

Where are the scriptures saying He will come again in judgment and then come again bodily accompanied by a physical resurrection. I was taught His coming again was to be accompanied by the resurrection. What type of resurrection occured in 70 AD?

Christ did come in judgment in 70 AD. There is no legitimate argument against this or that about 95% of the OD related to this event.

I certainly do not believe that was his second coming but I do believe that the signs described in the OD relate to the destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus also confirmed this in his hearing before the Jewish leaders before being turned over to Pilate:

"But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 26:63-64

Coming on clouds is a motif of judgment in the OT. The language in the OD is apocalyptic as are the many prophecies of judgment in the OT.

Notice His disciples asked when the end of the world would be. The world didn't end in 70 A.D.

Jesus literally ascended in the clouds, and He will just as literally descend in the clouds.

Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, "You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Matthew 24:1-3

And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”
Mark 13:1-4

And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 "As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”
Luke 21:5-7

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

Had that happened by 70 A.D.?

Yes. Paul has preached to all parts of the known Roman world. Jesus was not talking about the entire globe. The other apostles were not idle, either.

But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.
Acts 8:3-5

"This Gospel shall he preached in all the world - Not universally: this is not done yet: but in general through the several parts of the world, and not only in Judea And this was done by St. Paul and the other apostles, before Jerusalem was destroyed. And then shall the end come - Of the city and temple. Josephus's History of the Jewish War is the best commentary onthis chapter. it is a wonderful instance of God's providence, that he, an eye witness, and one who lived and died a Jew, should, especially in so extraordinary a manner, be preserved, to transmit to us a collection of important facts, which so exactly illustrate this glorious prophecy, in almost every circumstance.”

Commentary of John Wesley. Matthew Henry and Gill day the same.

The word for "all" in Matthew 24:14 is "pas" which means "all" or "every".

The word for "world" in Matthew 24:14 is "oikoumene" which means habitable earth or land.

The word for "nation" in Matthew 24:14 is "ethnos" which means "ethnic group".

So this verse means "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in every part of the habitable earth for a witness unto every ethnic group; and then shall the end come."

This clearly has not happened yet, let alone in the time of Paul and the apostles.

And as much as I respect Wesley, Henry and Gill, I don't agree with them on this.

There is no inconsistency; the whole world back then meant the Roman world. They did not know about Japan and the South American peoples or the eskimos etc.. When Jesus said "world” the known world was what was understood.

Remember who wrote the Bible? The Holy Spirit. He knew about Japan and the South American people.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.
Romans 1:8

And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).
Acts 11:28

So do you believe the Great Commission is accomplished?

No, but the OD is about the destruction of Jerusalem and the whole Roman world was reached prior to 70 AD by Paul and the other apostles.

I don’t think the great commission will ever be 100% completed. Nations are not baptized and discipled; individual people are.

And after almost 2000 years and a fairly recent organized effort to wipe out the Jewish race a Jewish presence is back in the land and in control of Jerusalem which was once destroyed. And this is just a non relevant accidental happenstance of history?

No, the nation of Israel becoming a nation in 1 day is not an accident; it was prophesied to happen. A person needs ears to hear what the scriptures say. Just trying to understand it with the mind alone leads to all kinds of error.

//And after almost 2000 years and a fairly recent organized effort to wipe out the Jewish race a Jewish presence is back in the land and in control of Jerusalem which was once destroyed. And this is just a non relevant accidental happenstance of history?//

I am not sure what your point is David, or who your post is directed to. If to me, I haven’t said anything about Israel in my posts.

Regardless, the OD is about 70 AD.

May I humbly suggest that any who are legitimately interested in accurately understanding scripture and not coming up with absolutely incorrect interpretations please obtain and read a copy of "Reading The Bible For All It's Worth" by Gordon Fee.

The simple understanding of textual criticism and context would do away with so much devisive and erroneous interpretations. The scripture cannot mean what it never meant!

I realize most will not because they are more interested in defending their preconceived beliefs than actually learning and growing in truth. This is especially true if it means reevaluating a deeply held belief we have publicly espoused.

Do people want truth ... or just to find an erroneous proof text to try and justify a position arrived at because of laziness in study. I have observed that it is normally the latter .... but for the few that actually do want accurate understanding .... get the book.

Solomon:

Textual criticism will not solve eschatological interpretation issues, deciding upon a legitimate interpretative framework does improve matters greatly such as grammatico historical.

You said: "I realize most will not because they are more interested in defending their preconceived beliefs than actually learning and growing in truth. This is especially true if it means reevaluating a deeply held belief we have publicly espoused."

Instead of just shotgunning your readers, just tell us who's defending preconceived beliefs, that helps us all lay it on the line.