Identifying that Spirit of Antichrist that is so deeply embedded in many of the beliefs today
I sincerely believe that it's very important to try to understand the Scriptures concerning that spirit of antichrist so to recognize deceptive teachings that redirect many away from truth and the presence of Christ. As a young man growing up in a Christian home I've heard many times reference to an antichrist. Not serving the Lord at that time, I didn't give this theological teaching much thought and assumed it's validity but later in life when God got my undivided attention, I began reading and studying the bible in prayer, finding many truths which had been hidden within the confusion of doctrinal preference. These revealing truths became very precious to me. They just seemed to make very good sense and applicable in the everyday challenges of today. Therefore, I would like to share what I believe to be a better understanding about that spirit of Antichrist. Let's take a close look at the word antichrist, beginning with defining "anti".
Anti -n. 1. A person who is opposed to something, such as a group, policy, proposal, or practice. Anti - adj. 1. Opposed "Douglas MacArthur had a coterie of worshipers, balanced off by an equal number . . . who were vehemently anti" (Joseph C. Harsch). Anti - prep. Opposed to; against. [From anti-.]
Therefore, "anti" would include any individual that is opposed to an idea, or something other. Now lets take a close look at the following syllable "christ" . The word "christ" is a Greek word that came from a Hebrew word, "messiah". And the definition of the word "messiah" is:
Anointed: usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); spec. The messiah - anointed, Messiah, an epithet of Jesus Christ.
To me, Christ is not the last name of Jesus but rather included with His name to better characterize His works within those that are His. Therefore it is my deepest belief that the word antichrist should be directed to those that are resistant, not interested and/or disobedient to the anointing of Christ.
John the Baptist characterizes the works of Christ:
In the following verses, when those observing the works of John wondered if he was the Christ, John prophesied the future works of Jesus' anointing.
Luke 3:15. Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, 16. John answered, saying to them all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
For those that are Christ's, it's Jesus that anoints them with the Holy Spirit of God. Therefore those that have no desire or simply do not believe in this anointing, or do not want the righteous presence of Christ in their lives are of those that are anti or against this doctrine and gospel of Christ.
Spirit of antichrist - denying the presence of Christ's anointing:
The word "antichrist" is used five times in the bible beginning in 1 John 2:18. The last reference is used in 2 John 1:7. There is no other reference to antichrist in any other part of the bible. If one takes a very close look how antichrist is used in 1 John, I believe one would see that it is referencing the state of mind of those that deny or simply do not believe in Christ's anointing. God, as recorded in the Scriptures has given all, the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the presence of Christ, the fullness of God, to those that are earnest about repenting to God.
It's my belief that "The Antichrist" is nothing more than Satan. His deceptive behavior against truth amongst all mankind began with Adam and Eve. Since the Day of Pentecost, as recorded in the book of Acts, all mankind has the choice to be led by the Spirit of the Lord, or continue in the spirit of error, that spirit of antichrist, Satan. Those that have accepted Christ are freed from that bondage under Satan.
Romans 6:16. Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness? 17. But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Lets take a look at what the bible says of those that are not against or anti to Christ, but have chosen the Spirit of Christ over the spirit of antichrist.
Spirit of Christ vs. spirit of antichrist
Romans 8:9. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Spirit of antichrist - a state of mind & heart:
I believe John, in his writings, was trying to explain about that spirit of antichrist and the behavior of those that remain under that influence. It's very clear that the "many antichrists" did not have that "anointing from the Holy One", Christ, the source of "all truth". Some did not remain with those that were of Christ for they were antichrist.
1 John 2:18. Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. 20. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.
John is clearly stating in the verses above that those that chose that "they might be made manifest" rather than being included with those that had " an anointing from the Holy One" were of the " even now many antichrists have come".
The apostle John's view was that some, were of Christ, that continued with them and the others, having their own agenda, were antichrist. Take close notice that this anointing revealed "truth" which Jesus promised in John 16:13 would be revealed through the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth. 21. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
The following verses also includes any doctoral teaching that denies or confuses the relationship between God the Father and the Son of God. For if this relationship is denied or hidden then the individual relationship within the fullness of God is veiled, and the works of Christ can be greatly hindered and impaired. .22. Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24. Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25. And this is the promise that He has promised us eternal life.
The following precept is directed to the anointed, that they do not need that anyone teach them, but to abide in the righteous direction of truth. It further says that whomever is practicing righteousness is born of Him. This action is the leading of the Holy Spirit. 26. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 28. And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
Those that resist, for whatever their reason, may be of that "spirit of antichrist", denying the presence of Christ, not finding the wonderful promises of God ...25. And this is the promise that He has promised us eternal life.
The fourth use of the word "antichrist" continues with the same message focusing on the fact that there's only two spirits. The Spirit of truth, which are those that have accepted the presence of Christ, and the spirit of error, which are those that are of that spirit of the Antichrist. Bottom line is, the spirit of Antichrist, are those that are of the world. You see those that confess that Jesus Christ or Jesus' anointing, has come into their flesh is of God. They are of Christ and those that do not make that confession are antichrist.
Consider what the apostle John was saying to those that were in Christ: " because He (Christ) who is in you is greater than he (the Antichrist) who is in the world".
1 John 4:1. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3. and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 4. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
The apostle Paul confirms this line of reasoning in the following verse.
Romans 6:16. Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?
The last reference to antichrist in the bible:
The following verse is the final usage of the word "antichrist" in the bible. Take note that those that do not confess Jesus' anointing of truth, in their flesh are a deceiver and an antichrist. They transgress and do not abide in the doctrine of Christ, for they do not have God, they are antichrist. But for those that have accepted the "anointing from the Holy One" are abiding in the doctrine of Christ, has both the Father and the Son.
2 John 1:7. For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. 9. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;
Living in this anointing from the Holy One is the greatest treasure ever to be found for in it the righteousness of God can be demonstrated in the lives of those that are His. They are under the influence of truth that comes only through Christ. Living under this Holy influence gives understanding, strength and confidence in those that have accepted this Way of Christ. As the apostle John stated, those that are antichrist will not "hear", for they will not understand the value of the presence of Christ, the "fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:19).
Ephesians 3:14. For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15. from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16. that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17. that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18. may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height 19. to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Praise God for this wonderful free gift!!!
1 John 31. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 4. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (When Christ is manifested in the lives of those that are His, the works of the devil are being destroyed daily through this anointing of Christ.) 9. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. 10. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,
Jesus' warning & prophesy:
Matthew 24:4. And Jesus answered and said to them: " Take heed that no one deceives you. 5. "For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many.
I would like to insert here a differing point of view. In my opinion, Jesus did not say that many would claim to be Jesus but that they would take claim to being Christ. I personally have not heard of many taking claim to being Jesus but I have heard some, some with credentials, where they've been given credit or taking claim to being anointed. I believe the word "Christ" here could of have been referencing being anointed rather than referencing Jesus. Since the word Christ came from the word messiah which means anointed, I believe Jesus' message may of been that many would take claim to being anointed and because of their credentials, many would believe in them, therefore opening the door of their heart, wide open for deception. Just food for thought!
Satan's Agenda:
Jesus and His disciples warned all about being deceived. I do not believe that anyone is above being deceived. It's a warning that we all need to take seriously especially when we are seriously seeking the presence of Christ. I think being deceived in it's mature state is when Satan has convinced someone that they're above being deceived. Satan does not want anyone to understand the personal relationship that each can have within the fullness of God. He is going to send his messengers, appearing godly which will convince many of the deceptions that's hidden within that spirit of antichrist. Jesus said that His sheep will hear His voice and Satan is going to do his very best in veiling that personal relationship in Christ. I personally believe that it makes sense to assume that some of Satan's messengers will be imbedded within credentialed theologians and some will place their trust in the credentials of these evil men rather than trusting in the Holy Spirit of God.
For some that thirst for the messages given from the pulpit will continue to thirst but Jesus said ... whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.
To me the continual personal revelations that are given by the Holy Spirit is that " fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" that Jesus was talking about. (John 4:14) The encouragement we can receive from each other is a wonderful fellowship and valuable but our relationship in Christ is divine and where we truly find confidence and strength.
Jesus promised in John 6:37. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
What I have shared are my beliefs which makes perfect sense to me. I do take claim to the anointing of Christ which for me is a personal treasure but I have no other message or agenda but to encourage anyone that does not already have a close personal relationship within the fullness of God but has that desire, to consider my testimony and go to the Lord with a sincere heart in prayer and find the richness of Christ for themselves.
Words of Jesus:
John 4:23. "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24. "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.