Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

THE ANTI-CHRIST

1. "Little children, it is the last time; and as ye have heard that anti-Christ shall come, even now are there many anti-Christs; whereby we know that it is the last time." - 1 John 2:18
2. "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of anti-Christ." 1 John 4:3
3. "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an anti-Christ." 2 John 7

1. That the anti-Christ is not a person but a system:
   1. Daniel speaks of the anti-Christ as a beast power - "the little horn" - Dan. 7:24, 25
   2. John writes about a "Leopard beast" - Rev. 13:1-9
2. It is a religious system personified:
   1. In the man of sin - 2 Thess. 2:3-7
   2. "The throne of iniquity" - Ps. 94:20
   3. "The son of perdition" - 2 Thess. 2:3
3. The anti-Christ is the man of sin, the throne of iniquity, and the man of sin:
   1. Because of the crime committed by this system against the law of God - Dan. 7:25
   2. Because this system is a centralized organization - the city of Rome - Rev. 13:1-10
   3. And finally, this system centers in a person, the head of the church, to whom all render absolute loyalty at all times.
4. To be noted is the fact that this anti-Christ system is:
   1. Worldwide - Rev. 13:3
   2. The world pays homage to this system
   3. Even civil power supports and upholds this system - Rev. 13:2

1. He speaks great words against the Most High:
   1. Uses titles that belong to God alone - 2 Thess. 2:6, 7; Rev. 13:6, 7; Dan. 7:25
   2. Wears out the saints of the Most High; that is, he seeks to destroy all who oppose this system. Think of the martyrs of the dark ages - Rev. 12
   3. He attempted to change God's law and the seventh day Sabbath commanded in the fourth commandment - Dan. 7:25; Ps. 94:20
2. He claims:
   1. Power to forgive the sins of the people.
   2. He claims that his priests have creative power when they read the mass to turn the Son of God into a piece of bread.
   3. He claims infallibility when speaking doctrines.
3. This system teaches the doctrine of holy flesh:
   1. Since Christ came in the flesh, John 1:14, this system claims that its saints are, including their flesh, holy.
   2. But the Son of God states that flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God - John 3:1-6; 1 Cor. 15:50
4. It may be useful to add that the ladder seen by Jacob in his dream, Gen. 28:12, symbolizes Christ; but the Papacy claims that its priest-craft represents the stairway to heaven:
5. It must be noted, further, that the system of the anti- Christ has been working since the days of the apostle:
   1. Paul says of it, "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work" - 2 Thess. 2:7
   2. John connects this system with Pagan Rome - Rev. 13:17
   3. He saw this power reappearing with renewed vigor in the end of time - Rev. 13:1-9