LESSON FOURTY SEVEN (47)
TOPIC: THE ANTICHRIST
BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NKJV
[3]Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
[4]who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
MEMORY VERSE: “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is an antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.” 1 John 2:22 (NKJV).
INTRODUCTION: Antichrist implies opposition to Christ. The Bible does not say anything specific about where the Antichrist will come from. Many Bible scholars speculate that he will come from a confederacy of ten nations and/or a reborn Roman empire (Daniel 7:24-25; Revelation 17:7). Others see him as having to be a Jew to claim to be the Messiah. All of these are just speculations since the Bible does not specifically say where the Antichrist will come from or what ethnicity he will be. However, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 tells us how we will recognise the Antichrist. His appearance is one of the eschatological events.
OUTLINES:
1. His Other Names
2. His Mission And End
1. HIS OTHER NAMES
There are many speculations about who the Antichrist is/would be: some people think he is currently one of the popular world leaders, and some even believe he is/would be one of the world’s richest men. The Bible has names for him as stated: The little horn (Daniel 7:8); Man of Sin and son of perdition (2 Thessalonians 2:3); The Beast (Revelation 13:2-8); The king who sets up the abomination of desolation (Mark 13:14; Daniel 9:27); The man of lawlessness (2Thessalonians 2:1-12); The rider on a white horse – representing his claim to be a man of peace (Revelation 6:2); Vile Person (Daniel 11:21); The Wicked (2 Thessalonians 2:8).
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: The class should give instances of speculations about the antichrist and how many of the speculations have proven to be false.
2. HIS MISSION AND END
The antichrist will be empowered to rule the world (Daniel 7:25-26). He will work great miracles to deceive people (Revelation 13:11-13). He will position his images in strategic and holy places and force people to worship them (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:15). He will speak great things and blasphemies (Revelation 13:5). He will make war with the saints (Revelation 13:7). He will speak and prophesy lies to confuse people (Daniel 11:21). He will persecute the remnant that will be faithful to God (Revelation 12:17). He will take control of both the political and economic powers of the world (Revelation 13:16-17). He will give an identification number to those who will accept him. The number is ‘666’ – this number will allow people to buy and sell. Those who reject the number will be killed.
At His second coming, Christ will bind the antichrist and cast him alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone (Revelation 19:20). Those that accept the mark of the beast (the antichrist) will be “…slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse…” and their corpse fed to the birds (Revelation 19:21). The Ancient of Days will take away the kingdom from the antichrist and establish His Holy Kingdom forever (Daniel 7:26-27).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: The class should discuss some of the innovations and policies that suggest a preparation for the coming of the antichrist.
CONCLUSION: Believers must be watchful to avoid missing the rapture and fall prey to the antichrist.
QUESTIONS:
*.Mention five names/titles of the Antichrist.
* Describe in one sentence the end of the Antichrist.
FURTHER READING: SUN: Dan.7:24-27; MON: Matt.24:24; TUE: 2Thess.2:3-12; WED: 1John 2:18-22; THUR: 2 John 7; FRI: Rev.13:1-10; SAT: 1John 4:3.
ASSIGNMENT: Search the Bible and write out five (5) major activities of the Antichrist after the rapture with reference each (2X5=10 Marks).
SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN
1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.
2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.
3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.
4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee
5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds be black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.
6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?