What is an "antichrist"? The lesson defines it as --

"An antichrist tries to take the place of Christ and is opposed to Christ."

There appears to be three types:


1. There is THE Antichrist (a specific one which is identified by the "little horn" of Daniel 7 and the "Sea Beast" of Revelation 13)

2. There are many Antichrists (Spiritual leaders taking the place of Christ and opposing Him in some way, leading people astray)

3. And there is the "spirit of Antichrist". (Which we all have to deal with in our lives -- anything that takes the place of the true God in our lives is this "spirit of antichrist")


Each of these represent something slightly different, yet all take us away from Christ and true worship, into something that is a counterfeit.

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What is the anointing John is refering to?

How could it ever be true that we "know all things"?

1 John 2:20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.
21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

i would say the "anointing" is the Holy Spirit.

what are your thoughts?

Interesting observation.

for sharing this with us.

I agree.

For me, it seemed strange for John to write "we know all things", until I started to look at the gnostic problem John was facing.

The Gnostics were refering to their "gnostic wisdom" as a "secret wisdom" that would elevate them into greater light. It was reserved for initiates into the Gnostic circle. Thus the commoner was looked down upon as "being without gnostic wisdom" and there fore not on the spiritual journey etc.

In this setting, John would be saying -- "look you don't need some "secret gnostic wisdom" you already KNOW the truth -- with the Holy Spirit guiding and the scriptures as your compass, you don't need any gnostic initiation rituals into the gnostic mysteries of knowlege, you already have everything you need for your Christian walk in the Light of Truth with Christ.

Interesting background info.