The spirit of antichrist

• 1 John 4:3: > "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."
• 1 John 2:18: > "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."
• 1 John 2:22: > "Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son."
• 2 John 1:7: > "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist."

Personally I believe whole heartedly that the Lord is going to take us out of here at the time of the revealing of the man of sin, the wicked one (antichrist). That's because of my own pre-trib. beliefs which aren't here for debate. Maybe later. But do you believe the spirit of antichrist is still here today and as active as he can be? You amill's probably wouldn't have an opinion on this, but then again, maybe you would. One way or another it's cool with me.

2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then shall that Wicked one be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

The timing of the catching away is of no importance as I said in the OP. But however the case, that "spirit" is of or was originated by Beelzebub (the devil) and since he is active in this present world, he most definitely is empowering it (or him) today. And even more so when he takes the form as a man (the little horn - Daniel 7), but as far as I know, that hasn't happened yet.

Continues in them, not as them?

I think John Pendleton spent quite a bit of ink to paper suggesting that the pope was indeed the antichrist. And in the essence that he was evil and following the instructions of the prince of the power of the air, I believe he was to a certain extent.

And considering these verses,
Dn:7:23: Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
Dn:7:24: And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
Dn:7:25: And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out (meaning vex, or worry) the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Dn:7:26: But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

Notice verse 25. "and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time". Knowing the wiles of the devil, and his spirit of antichrist, could this begin before the physical coming of the wicked one, aka the son of perdition?

Not at all... Paul's letters often show a sense of urgency about the return of Christ, and also showing he expected it to happen sooner rather than later at a specific, distant point in time.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

In these passages, Paul includes himself and those who might still be alive at Christ’s return, showing he thought it could happen within his life time.

Paul encourages believers to be constantly ready for Jesus’s return, rather than setting a specific time.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night."

Here, Paul is very clear that the timing of the "day of the Lord" is unknown, and is going to come unexpectedly. Paul’s teachings also show that he considered his own time to be part of the "last days," a period extending from Christ’s resurrection to His return.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

Paul describes behaviors and attitudes that were already evident in his time, showing he saw himself as living in these "last days." He also advises against focusing on specific dates or times, but rather on living righteously in anticipation of the Lord’s return.

Romans 13:11-12 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Paul tells the brethren to recognize how urgent the present time is without providing an exact timeline for the end.

Is this enough of a biblical basis my friend? It's clear that Paul preached an imminent expectation of Christ’s return without providing specific chronological details. His focus was on being ready and on righteous living in the present time, rather than predicting exact dates. This provides a "strong biblical basis" that Paul didn't have a specific chronological understanding of the "last days."

I accept your rationale for your first assertion, but not for your second.

In my 80 years I have seen many things happen. Most have been to our advantage. such as making a living and having things our parents only dreamed of.
But I have also seen the moral and spiritual decline and at a much faster rate in recent years.
We have been blessed to live in a country where we are still free to worship, teach, and live as we believe the Scripture teaches.
Satan has taken advantage of that freedom to deceive many by his false teachers.
Satan has always been able to "work the system" to his advantage. NEVER sell him short.
While we have enjoyed these blessing, most of the world has not. Our fore fathers did not.
Scripture states in many places that before Jesus returns, this freedom will end at the hands of Satan.
Most in this country do not believe they will suffer as our fore fathers did nor many Saints in the world suffer every day.
Seem they think we here in the US are just to righteous to suffer the tribulations that are to come.
They are not prepared spiritually, mentally, or physically to deal with what is coming.
Very few even believe that a wick, evil, violent person is coming that will unleash his wrath on all of God's creation and the few who do believe he is coming will not recognize him because they are looking in the wrong place and for the wrong person even though the Scripture gives us detailed information about him, where he comes from, how much time he is allowed, what he will do, signs of his coming and his final end.
There was a time I believe I would see this man of sin before I died, but at 80 I probably will not.
Some of you will.
I pray you study the Scripture so you will not be surprised.

18 Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. By this we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.

-- 1 John 2:18-10 (CSB)
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Christianity's Answer: even now many antichrists have come. The wicked One is Satan, antichrist is the One that does not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.

"Be not deceived. You are not to fight with flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places, against principalities and powers. The battle is always there, and the enemy does not take a vacation." (Spurgeon, C. H. (1865). Lectures to My Students.)

Forgive me but which is what Dino? Could you please clarify?

"The "end" in these prophecies refers to the final fulfillment of God's plan...."

Did I assert that? They do not. Forgive me please if I did. Looking...

Your post #57, second-last paragraph, last sentence.

I forgive you.

18 Children, it is the last hour.