The traditional religious world waits for the Antichrist. The traditionalists are convinced they are living in the last hour of time. Many believe Saddam Hussein is the Antichrist, or a forerunner leading to the appearance of the Antichrist. These fallacious beliefs turn up in their sermons, articles, books, videos, radio programs, TV broadcasts and tracts. None of these beliefs are true! John, the beloved Disciple, writing under the power of the Holy Spirit, addressed this subject. As you read the following please remember, John wrote in the first century. He wrote before the fall of the city of Jerusalem and the end of the Jewish world. Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. (1 John 2:18) Quite a difference of opinion isn’t there? Men today are saying it is the last hour, while John, said it was the last hour in the first century. Men today are looking for the Antichrists that brought the knowledge it was, indeed, the last hour. Where do you suppose John learned these things? He learned these things from his Master, Jesus Christ. Where do the futurist get their knowledge? Sadly, the knowledge of futurism comes from the well of traditionalism. It is based on other men’s books and sermons. It is based on the teaching received at seminary and Bible school. It is based on annotated Bibles and more recently films and videos. The Bible is NOT the source of futurism. You may wonder how a futurist of today can read the verse above and still hold to his beliefs?
Many do not hesitate to (and I cringe to say this) call the Bible writers mistaken. After all (they say) no man knew the day or hour, so how could John know it was the last hour in his day? The Bible writers meant well, but they failed to appreciate the events they say as momentary were really destined for the distant future (they say). Jesus taught the traditions of men had the power to make the work of God of no effect. The above example illustrates that continued truth. To call the Bible writers mistaken is to call God mistaken, for as most traditionalists will admit, God wrote the Bible. Some traditionalists even say Jesus was mistaken concerning the time of prophetic fulfillment. Imagine that! The God who cannot lie was mistaken. Jesus also taught that when the blind lead the blind both end in the ditch. He wasn’t mistaken about that either. The key to unlocking Biblical prophecy lies in seeing the fulfillment in the past (preterist). That’s where the Bible places it. It may crush elephantine egos of the traditionalist, but John wrote to the saints in his day, not ours! He wasn’t mistaken. He wrote as the Holy Spirit directed. Beware when men tell you the Bible is wrong. They take this position because it doesn’t agree with their traditional beliefs. They have other axes to grind and other pathways to travel. Those traditional pathways lead away from the truth of God. Let’s hear John again: This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true. (John 21:24)
Arthur Melanson
Joy Of The Lord Ministry