Many Christians believe that an antichrist is also anyone claiming to be Christ or the promises Jewish messiah and that it is a future event...
I realize that, but it is not biblical. John's epistles make quite clear what the antichrist is:
"This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son." 1 John 22
"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 4:3
"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."
2 John 1:7.
Now who was it denied that Jesus Christ came in the flesh? The Gnostics because they did not believe Jesus ever had a physical body, because they felt anything physical was bad.
We know from Eusebius how dangerous John felt the Gnostics were. When one of them came to the public bath, John ran out stark naked!
There is the preterist doctrines but I'm a futurist...are you suggesting that the preterist doctrines carry more weight then futurist?... That is fine if you believe so...I don't believe it though
Preterist interpretations are certainly more historical, however I do believe a prophecy can mean different things at different time. So while I believe the 666/616 referred originally the Roman Emperors, in a later age it referred to the Umayyad Dynasty. I think the Book of Revelation is talking about something that happens again and again.
Not fulfilled ...Jesus made a reference to it concerning the last days in Matt 24
I would say that is a good example of a prophecy being fulfilled more than once.
actually no it takes place during the false messianic age Matt 24
I would take a Preterist interpretation of that passage. Jesus is describing events leading up to the destruction of the Second Temple. He makes no mention of a false messianic age, rather he is warning people to stay away from those claiming to be the Messiah. These were generally Zealots, seeking to overthrow Roman rule.