The Antichrist of popular expectation is a political tyrant determined to dominate the world. Whether this proves true, the New Testament expresses more concern about deceivers who ply their trade in the Church, “making merchandise” of God’s sheep. The handful of passages that use the term 'Antichrist' apply it to false teachers who infiltrate the Assembly, distort the Apostolic teachings, and import demonic doctrines.
In Galatia, Paul found himself combatting deceivers in his
congregations, “false brethren who SLITHERED
IN STEALTHILY to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they
might enslave us.” Fortunately, he did
not give even an inch to such men.
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| [Photo by David Clode on Unsplash] |
The “Spirit of Antichrist” is inextricably linked with false teachings and liars, and it manifests itself through false teachers and false prophets who peddle deceptions to the unsuspecting and the biblically ignorant.
The only New Testament author to employ the term “antichrist”
is John in his first two letters when he warns that “it is the last hour;
and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have
come.”
John does not deny that an individual final “antichrist” will
come, but in the meantime, many “antichrists” already are penetrating the
church and deceiving followers of Jesus - (1 John 2:18-22).
The Greek term translated as “antichrist” is a compound formed
with the noun christos (“anointed”) and the
preposition anti. The latter denotes “instead of” rather than “against.”
An “antichrist” is someone who attempts to counterfeit the true Christ,
and the “antichrists,” plural,
to whom John referred were those who “Went out from us, but they were not of us… But they went
out that it might be plain that they all are not of us.”
He admonished his assemblies to “test the spirits to see
whether they are from God,” and he warned of “the spirit of the antichrist of
which you heard that it is coming, and now, it is already in the world.”
The “antichrists” of his immediate concern were false
teachers active in John’s congregations, NOT national,
military, or political leaders of the larger world. Among other things, they
were denying the genuine humanity of Jesus - (2 John 7).
Similarly, Paul warned of the coming “Man of Lawlessness,” an
individual with the ability to deceive believers, including his use of “signs
and wonders” to mislead and cause their “apostasy.”
Paul warned the Assembly in Thessalonica to “let no one in any
way deceive you.” He pinpointed the event when this figure would be unveiled
for who and what he was – When he “seated himself in the Sanctuary of God,”
a description that is more religious in tone than political.
Elsewhere, Paul used the term “Sanctuary” or naos metaphorically for the Body of Christ. This malevolent figure will be revealed in the Assembly - (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19, 2 Corinthians 6:16).
The Apostle linked this “Man of Lawlessness” to the final “Apostasy.”
His activities will be “in accord with those of Satan,” including “lying
signs and wonders” intended to deceive believers, at least those who reject
the “love of the truth”:
- “…With all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who are perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. And for this reason, God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in wickedness” -(2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).
SERPENTS AND BEASTS
In Revelation, after his failed attempt to destroy the Messianic
“Son,” the “Great Red Dragon” departed to “wage war against
those who have the Testimony of Jesus Christ” - (Revelation 12:5-17).
Likewise, the “Beast from the Sea” was authorized to wage “war”
against the “saints and to overcome them.” In both images, Satan
persecutes the saints, and his earthly agent, the “Beast,” is the
instrument for doing so. The “saints” are identified as those who have
the “faith of Jesus.” Whether this “Beast” is a world leader, the
Devil’s purpose is to destroy the Assembly, not to wage wars of aggression
against other nation-states - (Revelation 12:17, 13:6-10, 14:12).
In the seven letters to the “Assemblies of Asia,”
Satan attacked the congregations with persecution from without AND
deception from within, and far more often with the latter. Consistently, the
Devil and his agents conduct warfare against the “Lamb” by attacking
anyone who follows him “wherever he goes” - (Revelation
2:10, 2:18-29).
In his 'Olivet Discourse,' Jesus began with a dire warning about
coming deceivers intent on misleading the “elect of God”:
- “Beware lest anyone deceive you. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and deceive many … and many will fall away… and many false prophets will arise and deceive many… False anointed ones and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect” - (Matthew 24:4-23).
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| [Photo by Elisabeth Arnold on Unsplash] |
Like snakes, false prophets and deceivers slither their way into the Assembly and hoodwink disciples of Jesus. They do not work to deceive an already deceived world, and warnings against coming deceivers are common throughout the New Testament - (1 Timothy 4:1-2, 2 Peter 2:1-2).
In the end, the “Antichrist” may prove to be a global
political leader. However, considering the warnings in the New
Testament, we should not be surprised if this creature appears first in the Body
of Christ where he and his slithering horde of deceivers are working relentlessly
even now to fool the “elect” and cause their apostasy.
RELATED POSTS:
- What Satan Fears - (What threatens the Devil’s plans is an Assembly conformed to the Cross of Christ that trembles at God’s word)
- Apostasy and Misdirection - (Believers who are watching for apostasy outside the Church will be among the first who are overtaken by it as it operates in the Assembly)
- Indisputable Evidence - (“The Spirit expressly says that in later seasons some will revolt from the faith, giving heed unto seducing spirits and teachings of demons”)