The apostle Paul warned of the "spirit of the antichrist," and the actual antichrist who has yet to arrive.
"For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming." 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8. Similarly, the apostle John wrote, "Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour." 1 John 2:18. John continued, " . . . but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world." 1 John 4:3.Past leaders who exhibited the "spirit of the antichrist" left legacies of tyranny. Specific examples include: Nero, Napoleon, and Hitler. Nero Claudius Ceaser Augustus Germanicus (37 A.D.-68 A.D.) ruled the Roman empire during Christianity's early years. He made the killing of Christians public sport. He even ordered the apostle Peter executed on an upside down cross in mockery of Christ's death and resurrection. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 A.D.-1821 A.D.) came to power in his native France as a reformer. He eventually conquered Europe, and temporarily allied himself with the Catholic church to attain the title of "Emperor," going so far as to wear the Pope's crown. Adolf Hitler (1889 A.D.-1945 A.D.) bore the most resemblance to the antichrist of the tribulation. Hitler took office amidst political upheaval and a global financial depression (again, as a reformer) transforming the Germany into a powerful war machine, and plunging nation after nation into WWII. The holocaust, which resulted in the murder of nearly six million Jews, exposed the satanic influence over Hitler. Hitler also hated Christians. Regarding a peaceful coexistence between fascism and the Church, Hitler said, "That will not prevent me from tearing up Christianity root and branch, and annihilating it in Germany."
Since Adolf Hitler's defeat, humanity grows evermore connected--technologically, politically, and economically. Our world is at it's most fertile stage for the coming antichrist. Therefore, "See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us--even eternal life." 1 John 2:24-25.
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