Explain your beliefs (3 mins.) Role-play. ijwbq article 87. Topic: Who is the antichrist? (th lesson 17).
Setting: During a break at work, the publisher starts a conversation with a colleague. The colleague mentions that he saw a documentary about the antichrist that worried him. The publisher then explains, using Bible texts, that the antichrist is not a single person, but anyone who opposes Christ or teaches doctrines contrary to his teachings.
Publisher: Hi, [Name]. I'm going to sit here with you for a moment. Ugh, it's been a pretty rough morning at work. What are you looking at on your tablet?
Assistant: A documentary about the Antichrist. It says he'll be a world political leader who will appear soon. Honestly, it's left me a little worried. What do you all think about it?
Publisher: The Bible speaks about this topic in a much clearer and simpler way than many imagine.
The first thing to understand is that the antichrist doesn't refer to just one person. In fact, the Bible shows that antichrists have existed for a very long time.
Look at this text from 1 John 2:18 that I have here on my cell phone: “Little children, it is the last hour; and you have heard that the antichrist is coming. Even now many antichrists have appeared, and so we know that it is the last hour.”
Assistant: So it's not just one… I always thought so. Who are they really?
Publisher: The term “antichrist” refers to anyone who opposes Christ or seeks to take his place. This could be an individual, group, or organization that teaches falsehoods about Jesus or opposes his teachings.
Look also at what 1 John 2:22 says: “Who is the liar? Is it not he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.”
Assistant: So, whoever denies that Jesus is the Son of God is also considered an antichrist.
Publisher: Exactly. But not only that. That description also includes those who claim to follow Christ but teach doctrines he never taught.
For example, many religious leaders claim that Jesus wanted his followers to be involved in politics. However, Jesus was very clear in John 18:36. Please read it.
Assistant: It says: “Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have fought to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
Now I understand it better.
Publisher: Of course. When someone teaches that the Kingdom of God will be established through human governments, they are directly contradicting the teachings of Jesus and, in a way, taking his place.
Assistant: That makes sense.
Publisher: Some people even teach that Jesus is the Most High God, but Jesus himself said in John 14:28 that the Father is greater than he.
So any person or group that distorts the teachings of Christ or persecutes his true followers is part of what the Bible calls the antichrist.
Assistant: Thank you, Maria. I feel much calmer now. We definitely need to be careful about what we listen to and who teaches us about God.
Publisher: Yes, it's important to analyze everything with the Bible. Well, the break is over. Let's get back to work.
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