Everyone who does not confess that Jesus Christ coming in the flesh is the deceiver and the antichrist. But how many Christians know that Paul never confessed that Jesus would come in the flesh, but rather that He was resurrected in the Spirit and will return in Spiritual Body? He even claims Jesus Christ is a Spirit. By the Bible’s own definition, Paul is the deceiver and the antichrist. The next time you read the New Testament, are you reading to obey the teachings of Jesus Christ or listening to the voice of an antichrist?
List of Antichrists
Who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son. Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. The person who confesses the Son has the Father also. (I John 2:22-23)
Antichrist denies the Father and the Son.
By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world. (I John 4:2-3)
Antichrist does not confess Jesus has come in flesh. This refers to His first coming.
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confess Jesus [as] Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist! (II John 1:7)
Antichrist does not confess Jesus Christ coming in flesh a second time. This is the same confession as in 1 John 4:2 (used for His first coming) except the perfect participle used there is replaced by a present participle in original language. Hence undoubtedly this referring to His second coming. This is very important because, it helps to identify the antichrist in the Bible
Paul’s letters on Christ’s Resurrection
For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received – that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. (I Corinthians 15:3-8)
Let’s ignore “the twelve” as a typo or an accidental mistake by Paul since there were only “eleven” at that time. Here Paul is saying, how he saw Jesus Christ after His resurrection is the same way everyone else saw. But we know from gospels, everyone except Paul saw Jesus Christ in Flesh and was ascended to heaven before Paul’s time. Even if what Paul saw was real, it wasn’t in Flesh and he assumes everyone who claims to have seen Christ also saw Him the same way he saw, i.e, not in Flesh. e.g., in a vision. etc. This will become the basis for his understanding on resurrection of Jesus Christ.
But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” … it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living person”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (I Corinthians 15:35; 44-45)
According to Paul, resurrection of the dead is into a Spiritual body and Christ became a life-giving spirit.
But their minds were closed. For to this very day, the same veil remains when they hear the old covenant read. It has not been removed because only in Christ is it taken away. But until this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds, but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (II Corinthians 3:14-18)
Here again, Paul is referring to Christ as Spirit.
There are no references anywhere in Pauline letters where Christ is resurrected in Flesh and Blood. According to him, flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Hence, Christ was resurrected in Spiritual Body and now is the Spirit.
Paul’s letters on Christ’s Return
We saw in previous section that Christ is resurrected in “Spiritual Body” and is now the life-giving “Spirit”, according to Pauline Epistles.
But our citizenship is in heaven – and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)
According to Paul, when Christ returns He is not going to return in Flesh but in “Spiritual Body” which he calls “Glorious Body” and believers will be transformed from their humble bodies i.e., from flesh into the likeness of His glorious body.
Gospels on Christ’s Resurrection
Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!” Eight days later the disciples were again together in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and examine my hands. Extend your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe.” Thomas replied to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:24-28)
The gospel of John is very clear that Christ was resurrection was in Flesh who can be touched.
And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Rejoice!” And they came up and took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go, bring word to My brothers to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.” (Matthew 28:9-10)
The gospel of Matthew too clear mentions about people who was able to hold His feet and worship Him, strongly suggesting risen in flesh.
Then he said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; it’s me! Touch me and see; a spirit does not have flesh and bones like you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. (Luke 24:38-40)
In the gospel of Luke, Christ showed His hands and feet, and even says spirits don’t have flesh and bones. Gospels are contrary to what Paul wrote about resurrection in “Spiritual Body”.
Gospels on Christ’s Return
and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)
In the book of Acts written by Luke, we clearly see that Christ will return the same way He was taken up, strongly suggesting His return in Flesh.
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confess Jesus [as] Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist! (II John 1:7)
John uses more strong language, even declares all who does not confess Jesus Christ’s second coming is in flesh, is antichrist.
Identifying the Antichrist
The verses speak for themselves in identifying the antichrist within the Bible.
| Paul | Gospels and Christ’s Disciples |
|---|---|
| Jesus Christ was raised into Spiritual Body and became life giving Spirit But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” … it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living person”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (I Corinthians 15:35; 44-45) | Jesus Christ was raised in flesh and declares spirit does not have flesh and bones Then he said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; it’s me! Touch me and see; a spirit does not have flesh and bones like you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. (Luke 24:38-40) |
| Jesus Christ is the Spirit But their minds were closed. For to this very day, the same veil remains when they hear the old covenant read. It has not been removed because only in Christ is it taken away. But until this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds, but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (II Corinthians 3:14-18) | Jesus Christ is risen in Flesh and Bones. He even asked Thomas to touch His wound so that he might believe Then He said to Thomas, “Place your finger here, and see My hands; and take your hand and put it into My side; and do not continue in disbelief, but be a believer.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you now believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” (John 20:27-29) |
| Christ will not return in humble body i.e, Flesh but in glorious body which is the Spiritual Body Christ will return in His glorious bodies But our citizenship is in heaven – and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:20-21) | Christ will return in Flesh, the same way He went to Heaven. Anyone who does not believe this is antichrist. And they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confess Jesus [as] Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist! (II John 1:7) |
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Conclusion
The Gospels and Acts declare that Christ will return in the flesh, and anyone who denies this is the Antichrist. By the Bible’s own definition, Paul’s teachings on a spiritual resurrection and return make him an Antichrist. The Antichrist is not just a future figure but a present deception, and Paul’s doctrine is one of these deceptions. Paul not only denies Christ’s physical return in the flesh (which makes him an Antichrist) but he also rejects the teachings of Jesus Christ through his strange doctrines for salvation leading many away from the narrow path to eternal life taught by our Lord Jesus Christ.
