Chili

You got that from Rev.13 and these would be the Jesus worshippers "who force the rest of the world to worship the beast who's mortal wounds had been healed" in Rev. 13:12

Ojuice5001

Okay, I don't believe there will be a real Antichrist. First, the Book of Revelation was clearly intended to refer to events in the near future, namely the reign of Nero. And second, I don't think Yahweh would do such an irrational thing as destroying the world we know. Some gods have tried and will in the future, like Typhon and Loki, but not Yahweh. Nevertheless, I have a fantasy about this idea, so bear with me:

The Antichrist comes. He makes a name for himself as the Bible predicts he will, and the cognizant Christians recognize the Antichrist as such. Then at one of his political speeches, he gets struck by a lightning bolt. Sent by none other than Jupiter himself. His reign of terror is over, and the God of Abraham has to cancel all his plans for the last days, as revealed in Revelation. The world goes on as it always has before. :thumbs:

Like I said, just a fantasy rather than something I expect to happen. If only because I don't expect the existence of an Antichrist for it to happen to.

Amlodhi

Hi Ojuice5001,

I also think this is the case. With the single exception that, while I think it refers to Nero, I don't think it is depicting the historical reign of Nero. It seems that in the late 1st century, there were those that thought Nero would be revived and again reign over the empire.

Of course, it didn't happen. But one consideration that is often neglected is that the people of that age were every bit as proficient in applying eisegesis to failed prophecy as are people today.


Amlodhi

Magus55

For 1, believers won't be around during the AntiChrist, and 2, those who fall for the Antichrist will do so because they won't expect him, since they don't believe in him. We know what to expect if he were to rise up, non-believers would pay no attention.

Chili

Of course there is or Christ could not be one side of a pair of opposites.. . . or the end of the reign of each individual as "hero."Our world is subjective and can easily be destroyed. Your world is different than mine which makes you king (hero) in your world and me in mine.The problem here is that cognizant Christians are the antichrist in their own world and they will never see the antichrist if that is the high horse they are mounted on.

Ojuice5001

Chili, have you watched the final season of the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Very well-written and executed. Like Star Wars, it's a modern story that has something of the qualities that the old epics had.

The show deals with the theme of heroism. Buffy is the hero of her world; it's very stressful, but there doesn't seem to be any escape. Then there is a battle that results in her hometown of Sunnydale being destroyed, and in a change such that there are many slayers (heroes) instead of just one. This season also brings back a character who might be described as the anti-Buffy (a girl named Faith). I never thought of it before, but you could look at the conclusion of Buffy as dealing with some of the same mythic themes as you say Revelation does.

Ojuice5001

Great explanation of the symbolism of Revelation, BTW.

Kosh

I love this kind of reasoning (if it could be called such).

First off, Xians say of the supposed apostles "Who would die for a lie?".

And then they pull this bit about people who have "no desire for the truth".

SO apparently there are people that would die for a lie. :Cheeky:

DISSIDENT AGGRESSOR

1. You are here now are ye not? Or are you getting ready for the big *WHOOSH*! since Mount St. Helens started rumbling, again.
2. You know for a fact your going to be raptured? Here you go:

BYE:wave:BYE

Your name will be there someday...

This just doesn't make sense Magnus! How are we going to fall for the Antchrist, unexpectantly? If somebody starts claiming they are God... When people come up to me and say they are Jesus I usually try to determine if they're stoned, drunk or mentaly ill [Sorry, Jesus if that was really you, put PU! shave and brush your teeth next time! Youesus Christ, for Yourssake, maybenext time we can negotiate!]!
And since I am an Atheist this does not automaticaly mean I believe In Satan, if someone comes to me claiming to be, I more or less just kick 'em in the balls!
I have never in my life followed the leader or looked up [or down] to anyone as a leader

I doubt it, seriously. You follow a man who rose up claiming to be God

Exactly!

Chili

No I have not but I can spot an antichrist from miles away. I try to be nice to them because they are also victims of their own circumstances but at the same time they will use every trick in the book to mislead others and destroy their freedom as well.

Somewhere it can be argued that we all must become an antichrist to ensure that indoctrinated values be put to the test in the final battle. This is good and is very good but it must take place on neutral grounds and outside of religion if religion is to be tried. A good example of this is the battle of Coriolanus that took place just outside of Rome = away from religion.