Knowing The Anti-Christ

"And every spirit which does not acknowledge and confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh [but would [annul, destroy, sever, disunite Him] is not of God [does not proceed from Him]. This [nonconfession] is the [spirit] of the antichrist, [of] which you heard that it was coming, and now it is already in the world." 1 John 4:3 (Amplified)

There have been many who are confused by the idea of the Anti-Christ, and what it truly means. I will be getting into the meaning of futurism and historicism is, in a future post, as this pertains to this discussion as well, but let's get a basic understanding that we can work with first.

As the dictionary defines the anti-Christ as: 

"noun Theology . 1. a particular personage or power, variously identified or explained, who is conceived of as appearing in the world as the principal antagonist of Christ. 2. an opponent of Christ; a person or power antagonistic to Christ. 3. a disbeliever in Christ. 4. a false Christ. Word Origin: antichrist c.1300, from L.L. antichristus, from Gk. antikhristos [I John ii.18], from anti- "against" + khristos (see Christ). Cultural Dictionary: A person mentioned in the New Testament as an enemy of Jesus, who will appear before the Second Coming and win over many of Jesus' followers. The Antichrist is often identified with a beast described in the Book of Revelation, whom God destroys just before the final defeat of Satan."

Anything that stands against Jesus Christ, faith in God, belief in the Bible and all/any of the tenets of faith. In other words anything that stands opposite to God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Anti, meaning against gives us the key to understanding what we are dealing with.

"Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time." 1 John 2:15 (KJV)

And the above passage once again:

"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 (KJV)

the first passage says many things that we need to understand, first that we are already in the Last Days, they started when Christ was here in the flesh. What man calls the Last Days is actually the ending of the Last Days as described in Revelation. It is really defined as when the anti-Christ shall rises up and stands against God.

Secondly our reference passage (1 John 4:3) tells us the anti-Christ is already here, and that it is a spirit, as such we must understand that a spirit can be anywhere. A person, a theology, a doctrine, a church, and an organised stance (thought or principle, ie. evolution) made against Jesus Christ.

Even so-called "Christian" principles like Cessationalism, Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS), and anything that is not support by the Bible, and the tenets and principles of God made apparent by Jesus Christ. A big concept isn't it, and understanding it is important. Why? Because we, as God's children and disciples of Christ, must stand against it, directly and indirectly.

We are in a battle for our souls, and this is the principle of Satan, used to destroy God's children. So anything that comes against you concerning your faith in God, is of this spirit. And this generation of people, is seeing an epic onslaught aimed directly against a pure, stable, and powerful faith in God.

We see it in politics, television, movies, music, et al, it is everywhere constantly hammering the cornerstone of faith and those who stand on that cornerstone, Jesus. Satan, and those who knowingly and unknowingly follow him, is trying to displace our faith through Christ with worldly principles that offer only death. To dissuade us from our principles of faith, so that he can destroy us.

How do you recognize that spirit and it's weapons of warfare?

"And then the lawless one (the antichrist) will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by His appearing at His coming. The coming [of the lawless one, the antichrist] is through the activity and working of Satan and will be attended by great power and with all sorts of [pretended] miracles and signs and delusive marvels--[all of them] lying wonders--And by unlimited seduction to evil and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing (going to perdition) because they did not welcome the Truth but refused to love it that they might be saved." 1 Thessalonians 2:8-10 (Amplified)

And again:

"For many imposters (seducers, deceivers, and false leaders) have gone out into the world, men who will not acknowledge (confess, admit) the coming of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) in bodily form. Such a one is the imposter (the seducer, the deceiver, the false leader, the antagonist of Christ) and the antichrist." 2 John 7 (Amplified)

So we see the Bible is clear on who, what, how, and when, concerning the anti-Christ.

We must be aware and alert, in this war against God. We are the soldiers of truth, if you will, and this is what is constantly coming against us, to get us to embrace apostasy (anything contrary to faith) and sin. That instead of an eternal reward and life, that instead we could be destroy along with perdition (sin and those thing of sin).

We have the power to do this in our Walk Of Faith, by using the very things of God that directly defeats this effort against us. And herein lies that power to overcome sin:

"For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not [a]adjusted and [b]adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to [c]a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently." 1 Corinthians 10:13 (Amplified)

So let us stand together against sin and it's inherent reward of death, in that we will gain eternity.

Be blessed, be loved and be at peace. May the light of God's glory and presence fire the brilliance of your souls. You are greatly loved.