But 8 fits Antiochus in history. And 7 fits all Antichrists from Nero, the Papacy and Islam now looming.
It fits that way according to the witness of men or the things of men and not those of God not seen. .There are many ideas in that way. Some say Jesus did not exist.
Rightly diving between the
things of God not seen the eternal and
those of men seen the temporal must be distinguished if we are to hear what the Holy Spirits says to the churches. .
Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Mathew 16:22-23
The Bible in 1 John informs us there were many antichrists there under the influence of spirit of the antichrist "Satan". The same antichrist that was in the garden that said . . You will not surely die. . the spirit of the antichrist is used in respect to those who hold the things of men the temporal above the things of God the unseen eternal .. Peter was forgiven of his blasphemy against the Son of man, Jesus .
Jesus as the Son on man had no power to rebuke the Satan. Something attributed the father as Lord not seen. The father gave His Son the words to rebuke the spirit of lies.
There are may antichrists today just as in the beging of the last days .the time of refomation. His motive of operation revealed in 1 John A great warning to help us hear more adequately
18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing