The Spirit of Antichrist
“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others” (Eph. 2:1-3).
When I was young, although I considered myself a Christian, I was immature in the faith. As a result, I identified with the philosophy of the world, specifically, that which was promoted by John Lennon. Universal peace, living as one in harmony. And as a Christian, shouldn’t that be what I desire? Shouldn’t we strive and long for peace? The only thing I failed to recognize was that this is impossible without first a change of heart (regeneration). And that is impossible until Christ calls you. Once I came to understand this I saw the futility in this philosophy. Yet, the majority of the world is still operating under this misconception. This is the doctrine of the devil. We are told in the scriptures that he appears as an angel of light, which makes it even that much harder to discern the deception (2 Cor. 11:14).
There are only two types of people in this world; sheep and goats. And they each have their leader. Do not fall into the lie that there is a third position, some neutral ground. You are either with the Lord or you are under the influence of Satan. “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad” (Matt. 12:30).
When a regenerate person hears the voice of their Father, the truth of what is said resonates with them. And likewise, the lies that the unregenerate believe resonate with them because (although they are not conscious of it) it is the voice of their father. “But you do not believe, because you are not My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:26-27). As for the goats it is written: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44). Just as the Christian has been given the Holy Spirit which enables them to do the will of their Father, so likewise they (the unregenerate) have been given the spirt of antichrist to do the will of Satan.
The spirit of antichrist is counterfeit in all respects (for more on this topic read Another Gospel by A.W. Pink). It creates a false morality, it attempts to create a utopia in this world, one that can and must be achieved without the notion or involvement of God. Mankind is sufficient. Through education, mental-health awareness, anti-nationalism, anti-religion, socialistic policies, tolerance of all behavior, self-identity, self-creation, one world, one currency, as one people all living in harmony. It sounds so peaceful and innocent; why would anyone object to this endeavor? The only problem is that it’s a lie. This is the gospel of Satan. Satan wants to rule the world and he can only do that once all the inhabitants of the world are living as one. This is what they tried to do at the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1-9). What the antichrist spirit fails to recognize is that the heart is evil. No human policy will ever create a utopia. The only remedy to sin and evil in the world is Christ. In Him there is true peace and true love.
It is interesting when atheists complain about the evils of racism and greed and political corruption, and rightly so because these things are evil. But they are only attacking the symptoms and not the source of the sickness. The source of these is an evil and depraved (natural) heart, the remedy is rebirth in Christ. It is only the Christian who can rightly and truly hate these sins. The unregenerate only complains about these things from selfish motivations. They hate greed because it competes with their own rapaciousness. They hate racism when it attacks them personally. They hate politicians who don’t advance their own personal agendas. But the Christian hates sin for the sake of it being sin. The Christian knows that “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). That the “love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). And to “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Romans 13:1).
It is useless to argue with people from any other perspective except a spiritual one. No matter how logically you present your argument, the issue is not one of reason. What they don’t already know in their heart they will never understand in their head. Don’t engage in useless arguments about politics; instead redirect the conversation to the spiritual realities of the corruptness of their hearts and their need of Christ. Use this as an opportunity to evangelize and witness to them. Show them the depravity of their heart. This is the only way for true reformation, the only true way of a spiritual revival. If Christ first changes their hearts, then His words will be understood and everything else will fall into place (they will come to understand the superficiality of their previously held position). With a new heart they will see the evilness of everything that they once held to. Just as we were once dead in trespasses and sins and walked according to the course of this world.
It doesn’t take much to see the ever-increasing evilness of this world. The reason being is that the majority of the world has the spirit of antichrist. This is why the vile things we see happening all over the world, are not only almost universally accepted among the children of darkness, but are even looked upon as progress. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:28-32). Take, for example, what just happened in NY this past week with the passing of the abortion law. The spirit of antichrist will not see this as a problem, instead it is seen as an extension of liberating women’s rights. However, the spirit of antichrist will also take great pains to appear moral and just in other humanitarian areas. It is an inconsistent and counterfeit philosophy. But those under its influence will never know this unless God gives them eyes to see.
It should be mentioned that the antichrist spirit loves Jesus. This sounds antithetical to everything mentioned above, but what I mean by this is that they admire Jesus as a man. He was possibly the best role model who ever lived. And Satan is ok with you admiring Jesus as a man so long as you don’t worship Him as God. Even atheists admire the Jesus who washed His disciple’s feet, healed the sick and the lame, fed the hungry… but they will not acknowledge Jesus as Lord. Many churches have adopted this view of Jesus as well. As Flannery O’Conner said in her novel Wise Blood, they want “the Church of Jesus Christ without Christ.” In other words, they want the Jesus of the Bible as a man without the divine aspect of His nature.
Many churches today are under the influence of the spirit of antichrist. I read an introductory statement from a church’s website the other day, and I know that this view is shared among many churches and seminaries today. They wrote on their website that they “are Bible based, not Bible bound” and that they “take the Bible seriously, not literally.” Let it be clear that if you do not take the Bible literally then you do not take it seriously. Their defense for this argument was that because Jesus spoke figuratively (in parables) that therefore it is an error to take the Bible literally. For one, Jesus did not exclusively speak in parables; He made numerous bold and declarative statements. Secondly, the reason why He sometimes spoke in parables was because His message was not intended for every listener. The parables were and are intended exclusively for the elect; to those who have been given “ears to hear” (Mark 4:23). Jesus explains the purpose of parables in Mark 4:11-12: “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.’” Paul wrote in 2 Timothy that this is precisely how the church would be in the last days—that they would have “a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Tim. 3:5).
The spirit of antichrist is already at work in the hearts of those who do not have Jesus Christ. It is amazing to see the universal sway this spirit has over the world. They all unquestioningly accept the same policies and irrational and illogical philosophies propagated throughout the antichrist system. And it is through the preparation of their hearts (already at work in this world) that will pave the way for the reception of the antichrist on earth. There will be no convincing necessary on the part of those who are already conditioned to accept his authority. When the antichrist appears, they will receive him gladly and openly. The willingness to comply with anything without any discernment has already been demonstrated time and time again. The reason why they don’t question the veracity of things they are told is because it already resonates as truth in their hearts. I marvel at the insane things I hear from late evening talk show hosts, but most people believe the same things, and so to them it is truth.
The increase in violence, murders, vicious and unthinkable crimes, not to mention the zombie-like adherence to all things technological, microchip implants, and the havoc we’ve created with gender identity are all fruits of the antichrist spirit. And it will continue to spiral downwards at an accelerating rate until finally the Antichrist comes on the scene to restore peace and order (or so they think). And the followers of this Antichrist will have already been prepared for his reception.
It’s more than just liberal or conservative. It’s more than just Republican or Democrat. The tension of this world exists between the establishing of two different churches: the church of Christ and the church of Antichrist. Of which one are you a member?
“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour” (1 John 2:18).
“Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22).
“and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world” (1 John 4:3).
