Correspondence: Antichrist; Mat. 11:12; Infirmities in Christ?; Mat. 5:22

From: Young Christian: Volume 25, 1935

Correspondence: Antichrist; MAT 11:12; Infirmities in Christ?; MAT 5:22

• 2 min. read • grade level: 7

Question: Is Antichrist a system which seems even now to be forming in opposition to all that is of Christ, or is there to be a person of this character?

Answer: There can be no doubt that Antichrist is a person, and not a system, though many systems may be antichristian. He is the willful king (Dan. 11:36-38³⁶And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. ³⁷Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. ³⁸But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. (Daniel 11:36‑38)). He is the man of sin, or lawless one; the terrible heading up of all that now is working among men (2 Thess. 2:3, 4³Let 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; ⁴Who 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, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3‑4)); the wicked one (v. 8); the very climax of lying and deceitfulness (vv. 9, 10). And withal he assumes a religious character, as connected with the dragon and the beast, or restored head of the Roman earth; has great power, and doeth great wonders.

What is called boycotting by men is one distinct mark of Antichrist (Rev. 13:11, 17¹¹And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. (Revelation 13:11)
¹⁷And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:17)). Thus the principles of Antichrist are already working. He will be cast into the lake of fire, and will remain alive there (Rev. 19:20; 20:10²⁰And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20)
¹⁰And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)).

Question: How does the kingdom of heaven suffer violence? Who are the violent? What does the verse mean? (Matt. 11:12¹²And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12)).

Answer: The violent are those who are strong enough in faith to enter the kingdom in spite of all obstacles. To become a citizen of the kingdom of heaven which was spiritual, required an energy and determination to which citizens of the Jewish monarchy were quite unaccustomed. The word “suffereth violence” is rendered “presseth” in Luke 16:16¹⁶The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. (Luke 16:16).

Question: We read of our Lord being “weary,” “hungry,” and of His weeping. Would these in any sense be termed infirmities?

Answer: The bodily suffering and weakness that Christ felt were a part of the perfection of His sinless humanity. In a sense they may be called infirmities, but the modern use of the word rather implies disease, or some physical, or mental deficiency. Hence we would rather say, Our Saviour had all the feelings proper to a perfect, sinless humanity.

Question: What is meant in Matthew 5:22²²But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. (Matthew 5:22) by the one who calls his brother a fool being in danger of hellfire?

Answer: The Lord is here showing that murder does not begin with the outward act, but with the heart. The law took no cognizance of the latter; but God here shows that murder may exist in the heart, the only outward sign being the words “thou fool.” Hence the danger of hellfire, for murder in the heart is as bad in God’s sight as the real act.

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