Spirit of Antichrist

Antichrist, Deceivers

The Antichrist is a deceiver intent on destroying the church and causing apostasy through deception. 

Is the Antichrist a global political leader bent on world domination? Whether that is the case, Jesus and his apostles expressed more concern about the deceivers who would ply their trade in the church. And in the few passages that refer to the Antichrist, the concern is about deceptions that infiltrate the church - [Chameleon - Photo by Pierre Bamin on Unsplash].

The only New Testament author who uses the term “antichrist” is John in two of his letters. He warns that “it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come.”

THE TERM

John does not deny that an individual and final “antichrist” will come, but in the interim, many “antichrists” are infiltrating the church and deceiving many Christians - (1 John 2:18-22).

“Antichrist” is a compound word formed with the Greek term christos (“anointed”) and the preposition anti. The latter signifies “instead of” rather than “against.” Thus, “antichrist” is someone or something that attempts to replace or imitate the true Christ. The “antichrists, plural, to whom John refers are 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.”

John admonishes his churches to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God,” and he warns 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 immediate concern to the Apostle are false teachers, NOT national, military, or political leaders - (2 John 7).

LAWLESSNESS

Similarly, Paul warns of the coming “man of lawlessness.” His concern is about a future individual with the ability to deceive Christians and cause their “apostasy.”

Thus, the apostle to the Gentiles warns, “let no one in any way deceive you,” and then describes an event when this figure will “seat himself in the sanctuary of God to oppose every so-called god,” a description that is more religious than political.

And elsewhere in his letters, Paul uses “sanctuary” metaphorically for the Body of Christ - (2 Thessalonians2:1-12, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19, 2 Corinthians 6:16).

Furthermore, Paul links the “man of lawlessness” to the final “apostasy.” When he is revealed, his activities will be “in accord with those of Satan,” including “lying signs and wonders” designed to deceive:

• “…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).

THE BEAST

In Revelation, after his failed attempt to destroy the messianic “Son,” the “Great Red Dragon” departs to “wage war against those who have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Likewise, the “beast from the sea” wages “war” against the “saints and overcomes them.” Both passages employ language from the vision of Daniel that describes the “little horn” that “made war with the saints and prevailed against them” - (Daniel 7:21, Revelation 12:17, 13:7).

In the seven letters to the “churches of Asia,” Satan attacks the congregations with persecution AND deception. Consistently in Revelation, the Devil and his vassals conduct warfare against the “Lamb” by attacking anyone who follows him - (Revelation 2:10, 2:18-29).

In his 'Olivet Discourse,' Jesus begins with a dire warning about coming deceivers who are intent on deceiving the very “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).

False prophets work to hoodwink Christ’s disciples, not to deceive the already deceived world that lies “in the lap of the Wicked One.” And warnings of this kind are common in the New Testament, for example:

• (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) - “For such as these are false apostles, deceitful workers, transfiguring themselves into apostles of Christ. And no marvel! For Satan himself transfigures himself into an angel of light! No great thing, therefore, if his ministers also are transfiguring themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.”
• (1 Timothy 4:1-2) - “Howbeit, the Spirit expressly declares, that in later seasons some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and to teachings of demons, in hypocrisy, speaking falsehoods, of demons cauterized in their own conscience.”
• (2 Peter 2:1-2) - “But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, men who will stealthily bring in destructive parties, even the Master that bought them denying, bringing upon themselves speedy destruction. And many will follow out their wanton ways, by reason of whom the way of truth will be defamed.”

In the end, the “Antichrist” may prove to be a global political and military leader.  However, considering the warnings of the New Testament, we should not be surprised if this creature appears first within the Church where he will use his words and abilities to deceive the “elect.”

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