Spirit of Antichrist
The coming Antichrist is presumed by many to be a global political and military leader who will subjugate all nations. History provides many examples of national leaders attempting to assert dominion over other nations, though all have failed in that endeavor.
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| [Photo by Nemanja Peric on Unsplash] |
Of course, their failure does not mean the actual “Antichrist” will not fit the expected model, and even today, we see certain governments hellbent on imposing their will on other nations across the globe. But what do we find when we look up the word “antichrist” in our concordances?
Under that term, surprisingly,
not a lot. The word only appears in two of John’s letters and he does not apply
it in the way so many prophecy preachers do. And while he does acknowledge that
the “Antichrist is coming,” he says next to nothing about that figure.
Instead, John warned his
audience how the “spirit of Antichrist” was active already in the
world, and that was demonstrated by the false teachers that had originated
within John’s congregations, men who “denied that Jesus came in the flesh.”
And the apostle described these deceivers as “many anticrhists” - (1
John 2:18-22, 4:1-3).
Conceptually, John’s
description of the “spirit of Antichrist” is similar if not
parallel to Paul’s account of the “mystery of lawlessness” that is
working even now to prepare for the arrival of the “man of lawlessness,”
a malevolent figure that the Apostle links inextricably to the coming “apostasy”
– (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12).
This does not mean
the “Antichrist” will also be a false teacher found in the church, but
it would not be implausible to extrapolate from what John wrote that this will
be the case. Nevertheless, his words echo the sayings of Jesus about the “many
deceivers” that would come in his name and “deceive many,” emphasis
on “many.” Moreover, Christ warned that “many false
prophets” would appear and “deceive many,” even using “great
signs and wonders” to deceive “the elect.”
And the two common
elements in his warnings were “many” and “deceivers,”
and Church History validates the accuracy of his predictions. And there are significant
verbal and conceptual parallels between Christ’s warnings and the description
of the “false prophet” in Revelation who also will use “great
signs” to deceive men.
And this leads us again
to Paul’s warning that before the “Day of the Lord” arrives the “apostasy”
will take place and the “man of lawlessness” will be revealed. Jesus
also warned of coming apostasy caused by “deceivers,” “false christs”
and “false apostles.” And while Paul introduced another term, the “man
of lawlessness,” there are striking similarities between this figure and
the warnings of both Jesus and John.
Not only will the “man
of lawlessness” deceive and cause apostasy, but he will also
employ
“all power and signs and lying wonders” to do so. And while John described the “antichrists” of his
day as having originated within the church, Paul’s description of this figure “taking
his seat in the sanctuary of God” may be closer to the same
idea than it first appears.
Consistently in his letters, Paul applies the term
“sanctuary of God” and related Temple language to the church, the “body
of Christ,” and nowhere else does he show the slightest interest in a
rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem in the final days before Christ’s return.
So, where does this leave us? Certainly, a case
can be made from passages in Revelation that the “Beast” will be
a global political figure. And if Paul was not referring to the church by the
term “sanctuary of God,” then his description begins to fit nicely with
the idea of such a global tyrant. And perhaps, in the end, this figure will be
both, a false teacher in the church who also becomes the world dictator so many
expect.
My own position has
solidified after many years spent researching the issue. Tentatively, I have an idea of
who, or better, what the final beastly creature will be, and for now, there is
an ever-present candidate that fits the bill. Like the "false prophet" in Revelation, it does not hesitate to use its economic power against anyone who dares deviate from its beastly program.
But my theory is only
plausible if this present “evil age” ends within the next few years, and
God alone knows the “times and seasons.” And if Christ’s return is not
for several decades or even centuries, all bets are off. Political regimes rise
and fall frequently, and often rather suddenly.
So, what is the
point? “Many deceivers” have invaded the church throughout its history,
and with today’s communication technologies, a very great “many” are
busy even now slithering their way into the lives of Christians. And no doubt,
we will see “many” more false teachers and phony prophets down the road.
The New Testament warns us repeatedly about coming “deceivers,” so, no surprise
here.
But how do we avoid
deception, whether from low-level “deceivers” or the “Antichrist”
himself when he or it strides onto the world scene?
Paul provided the
answer. After describing the “man of lawlessness,” he exhorted the
Thessalonians to “stand fast and hold the traditions that you were
taught.” By that, he certainly was not referring to any
later creeds, church council rulings, or institutional traditions, but instead,
to the body of teaching the Thessalonians had received already from him and his
coworkers.
Or as Paul warned the Galatians, if anyone, “even an angel from
heaven, should preach to you any gospel other than that which we preached to
you, let him be anathema.” Strong words. Paul was deadly serious.
Anything that deviates from the apostolic “tradition” must be rejected with
extreme prejudice.
Our real safety is in learning and adhering to that body of apostolic teachings,
not in church traditions, popular opinions, or what some “prophetess” saw in a dream
or “apostle” divined from the latest Hebrew year number. It is by the apostolic
tradition that we discern truth from falsehood, good from evil, and true prophets from false ones.
And I know of only one source for discovering just what Jesus and his
apostles taught, and that is the New Testament. It is as close as we can get to
the original source. Every disciple of Jesus needs to learn it for himself, and
every believer must make it his own.
It is not enough to know what your church claims the Bible says, and we
certainly ought not to rely on someone else’s interpretation of it. We need to
go directly to the source and make it central and foundational to our Christian
lives. We may not be able to recognize the “Antichrist” by his
appearance, deeds, or miracle-working power, but as soon as he, she or it
departs from the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, we will have our first clue.
