What happened to the Christians?

[apothanein kerdos]

Card, the Catholic church emerged in the first century. The point of the reformation was to get Catholocism back to what it once taught (Luther was a Catholic attempting to reform the Church from within). Therefore, your interpretation simply does not work. Even if we add it up from 325, it doesn't come close to 1611. Likewise, the Church wasn't in hiding during this time (again, this is a false assumption). Luther gained many of his beliefs from the anabaptist and Catholic thinkers similar to this. The only reason Luther is significant is not because he challenged the church (lots of people did), but because he was a Catholic that challenged it. The Church was alive and well during the period of 325-1611.

[deadman1204]

True, each so called "Antichrist" that has shown up has been a crude prototype of the one who is to come.

We like to think that it will be one man as world leader but it could be an institution, a council, or anything that unites the world as one government, community, religion or whatever they choose to call it.

"The New World Order" , "The world community" and even our desire to seek "Pax Americana" is in it's own right....AntiChrist. Which one will actually acomplish the end times? Nobody knows. The concept of taking power for the better interests of the world, establishing world peace before Christs return is the spirit of anitchrist.

umm.. wanting to make the world a better more peaceful place isnt only in the realm of the antichrists wishes

*edit: fixing quotes

Edited January 21, 2006 by deadman1204

[larryt]

Just my 2 cents to add.

Lu 18:6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

2Th 2:9 [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

LT

[deadman1204]

so every president of every country is the antichrist?

Thats a bit broad of a definition there. Anyone who trys to get the power to make the world a better place?