We've been told to expect he'll be someone other, that is, other than ourselves! He'll be a person (as opposed to a spirit), and he'll be someone other than we ourselves; that's what we're told! I'm not so sure about that "other" business, though!
Seems to me we trust what we know!; or have faith in what we can identify with! Wasn't the whole purpose of God's becoming man ("Son of Man"); so we could identify with Him?; Get to KNOW HIm?
Jesus appears to explain all this in HIS "Commentary" on the "Anti-Christ" in Jn 5:38-44 "And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. (You) Search ("sniff out" [as a bloodhound], or "track") the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and (but) they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life!"
"I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another ("Anti-Christ") shall come in his own (-self's) name, him ye will receive." (Rejection of God's Choice is mandatory acceptance (reception/welcome/trust/honor) of Satan's "spawn"!)
"How can ye believe(?), (Jesus shows the tap-root of unbelief!) which -->receive honour one of another<--, and seek not (reject!) the honour that cometh from God only?" [Mark it down; there it is!]
God sent us a Saviour. Most folks react to that as though He'd needn't have bothered!; as if to say, "Who asked you, anyway? Who needs saving? We're doing just fine! You can keep your old Jesus "junk" to yourself (if you don't mind!) - If we need anything, we'll do it our SELVES!".
Trouble is, most of us don't hear that kind of unbelief coming from our own hearts! And worst still, the folks Jesus was talking to were religious folks! They "searched" the scriptures! Do we? But they sought honor and acceptance from each other; do we? I'm quite sure they thought themselves quite capable! Do we? It's this attitude which rejects God's Saviour, ...preferring their own! [Jesus Said, "My sheep HEAR My Voice"; DO WE? And, if we do, - do we OBEY HIM? If not - WHY NOT?]
Notice who's "name" this "another" will come in - his ("own") "SELF'S" name! IN THE NAME OF SELF! The "spirit of Anti-Christ" seems self-serving, self-saving, somehow! [If the number "6" is the number for "man", {carnal-*fallen*-nature}, then TRIPLE that number must be "man's"{6}-"worldly"{6}-"flesh"{6} =equals= ***"SELF"*** {6x6x6}! "Self" is man's idol, & Satan's THRONE!]
Jesus says these people don't know Him; can't identify with Him; won't receive Him; can't believe & trust Him! Well, whom DO they know, identify with, will receive, & can believe & trust in?: THEMSELVES, of course! I'm sure no thought about the Devil or "Anti-Messiah" ever entered their minds! And I'm not sure it was necessary, either! Just as I wonder whether it will be necessary in the "last daZe"! I'm pretty sure Satan's as willing to receive a "soul-in-default" as he is a "soul-in-out&out- (conscious)-rebellion"! After all, his "role" (objective) is to deny as many as possible what God has Promised & Provided in Jesus Christ! His methods? Many! ["Self-reliance" is but one!]
But they all have one bottom-line: STOP JESUS CHRIST-IN-YOU! By any means, (and self is his method-of-CHOICE!), his "will-for-you" is to reject Jesus Christ! But if anyone ever suggested that the "spirit of Anti-Christ" might be "alive & well & living" in every self-motivated thought our carnal hearts would have us choose & prefer without consideration of what Christ may Want... ... well, as Bart Simpson says, "Don't have a cow, man!" - but we would!
There seems to be a clear relationship that Jesus draws between depending on "other's" ("society's") opinions, expectations, guidlines, approval, acceptance, etc., and automatic-(DEFAULT)-SELF- rejection of the Lordship of God's Will in our lives! After all, if Christ's not "taking care" of you, you can't expect Him to be responsible for the outcome, can you? And if He is, then we need to seek HIS Opinions, HIS Expectations, HIS Guidlines, HIS Approval, HIS Acceptance in all that we think, say & do!
"Anti" means "against", but it also means "other than" or "instead of" too! Any "other" "way" is spiritual SUICIDE! But, remember, suicide means death of SELF too! Hmmm....
Man, I don't know about you, but I don't want to die for SELF: I want to die as I've lived, for Christ! Jesus says, in that case, I'll never die! Jn 11:26 ("Jesus") "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" MAN! There's a GOOD question: DO I Believe This? The only Hope against Anti-Christ is Knowing & Loving Jesus Christ!
"Deny SELF, take YOUR cross [self-denial], [if you wish to] Follow Me... [and here Luke adds what always seems to be omitted], DAILY!" [Lk 9:23] Hmmm... Deny "anti-Christ" [self] - DAILY!....
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