Understaning Antichrists [4]

Read Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3.

[1^st John 4:2-3 NASB By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.]

The antichrist spirit also denies the fact that Jesus is Christ in flesh. This is an extension of the previous verse in 1^st John 2:22. This gives us another clue to the nature of the antichrist spirit. When we look at these two verses in conjunction, we see that the Antichrist will either deny the deity of Christ, or it will deny the humanity of Christ. But to take any of the nature of Christ away is to deny the truth, and thus nullify the word of God.

[2^nd John 1:7 NASB For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.]

This is a confirmation of that which John has already written concerning the antichrist. However this time he adds one more thing to the list of Antichrist characteristics “Deceiver”

I believe that John wrote this to show that there is a spiritual link between a lying or deceiving spirit and the spirit of Antichrist. A lying or deceiving spirit will try to pervert you off the narrow way. If it can begin to take you off the track, then your vision of the truth is more easily manipulated; thus allowing the antichrist spirit room to operate within the life of the Believer.

As we continue down this road, we begin to see a picture of a spirit that is integrated itself with the church. It begins with “The Pledge” the antichrist sits among us worshiping with us, praying with us, and living with us. But the second part of any trick is “The Turn” where in the truth begins to come out. Antichrist begins to slowly release his doctrines. The divisive, deceptive damaging doctrines discussed but The Beloved Apostle in his Epistles. Slowly he beings to infect you with lies, but not all at once, because it needs to lure you away.

In the movie, The great Danton is looking to find a double to help him with his trick. He finds an actor who looks like him, and can even make it sound like him. But in the end he is a drunk who is only pretending to be The Great Danton. He lends us one great line however, “Did you think you were unique, Mr Angier? I’ve been Caesar. I’ve played Faust. How hard could it possibly be to play the Great Danton?”

I find this very interesting. You see, Cesar is a man who believed he was so powerful he was God himself, he tried to take over the world so that he was the supreme one. He was operating as an antichrist. Then he mentions Faust. For those unfamiliar with the Legend of Faust, it is the story of a man who is looking for power, and happiness, he finds it by making a deal with the devil.

This is true of much of the antichrist spirit’s work in the life of a believer. Satan lures us away with the promise of blessing. We see someone who operates in signs, wonders, and miracles, but is not grounded in the Truth of Jesus Christ, and Moral Integrity.

The Movie gives us more insight into the Spirit of Antichrist. You See I the movie there is a famous Asian magician who has a trick no one can understand, but Alfred Borden, a magician himself realizes it upon a careful examination of the magician. The Magician portrays a feeble old man, all the time, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. This is how he is able to keep the deception. In reality he is as strong as an ox, but he tries to make you believe he is weak. He shows that weakness any time he is in public so that you never see his hidden strength. Thus making the illusion complete. This is how the deceptive antichrist works as well. He blends in seamlessly among us. But, a careful observer, trained in the word is able to see the difference.

[P.S. I am aware that Ozzy is not The Antichrist, but it has been a longstanding urban legend, and I thought this picture fit well, so I went with it. Do not be offended, thank you.]