The Antichrist

Who the “antichrist” will be has long been a subject notorious for producing a myriad of opinions. Although no absolute conclusion can be drawn as to who the “Man of sin” will be, ideas are varied. Speculations have run from Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Pope. Even though who the “antichrist” will be is speculative at best, almost all agree to his being futuristic in timing.

The objective being pursued in this writing is not an understanding of futuristic events, but a desire to better comprehend the present. Four out of the five times the word “antichrist” is used, it is in conjunction with verbs in the present tense, not in the future tense. Simply stated, this is not a reference to someone who is to come, but someone who had already come when the account was recorded. Certainly this flies in the face of most perceptions. Automatically upon hearing the term “antichrist” most people conjure thoughts of the manifestation of evil which shall rise up against the saints of God. Although the futuristic personification of evil is mentioned as “that antichrist” in 1 John 2:18, all other verses give consideration to someone, or something which is already working in the world today. The proper interpretation of Scripture forces one to look not at the end times, but rather to the present day in considering who, or what, this “antichrist” is.

In order to have a firm grasp on who, or what, the “antichrist” is, one needs to understand what the term means. The base of the word is the word “Christ” which means “anointed”. This word is used as a title for Jesus. Jesus is the anointed of God. “Anointed” means “to consecrate by unction, or by the use of oil”. Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. This verse declares Jesus to be anointed by God. So one can easily see Jesus was declared by God to be purposed for a particular, spiritual objective. This purpose was revealed by Jesus himself when He declared “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost (Matthew 18:11). This is the heart of the reason for Jesus coming to this earth. Mankind, in his lost condition, needed a redeemer. With Jesus as His name, and Christ as His title, one can see the Man and His purpose.

Having a good understanding of the title of “Christ”, one now needs to turn to the prefix “anti”. Without a long discourse in linguistic considerations, one may still be able to appreciate the purpose of this prefix. “Anti” is used to show either an opposition to or a replacement of. For example, when a person is bitten by a poisonous snake, he is taken to the hospital and treated with an antivenin. This antivenin is simply “anti venom”. Its purpose is to offset the affects of the venom. So if this same principle is used, the “antichrist” is purposed to offset the affects of the Christ. The “antichrist”, or spirit of, is purposed to oppose or replace the Christ.

The object of the enemy is not to replace or oppose Jesus, just His being the Christ. One would find it a difficult task to discover religions which are Anti-Jesus. The vast majority of religions are quick to acknowledge Jesus as a man sent from God. Most will give Him due credit for being the Son of God, a miracle worker, a prophet, born of a virgin and a good man to pattern life after. But how many truly give Him credit for being the Christ? Not a Christ, but the Christ. He is the only one anointed by God to take away the sins of the world. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. He is the only one anointed by God to keep them who are saved. 2 Timothy 2:12… for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

The man Jesus is much more than a miracle worker, He is the Christ. This is where the Father of lies has performed a masterful job. He has allowed, probably even promoted a world-wide acceptance of Jesus. Jesus is being preached from the over-whelming majority of pulpits today and it doesn’t bother the Devil one bit. No one is saved by believing Jesus is a good man, or a healer. What the Deceiver doesn’t want preached is the fact that Jesus is the Christ. If one truly believes that Jesus is the divinely anointed by God to take away the sins of the world, and if that same person believes there exist no other Christ, then that person is saved. John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

By modern religions having allowed the name of Jesus to remain as their central theme, they are causing great difficulty for many of the saved to see the distinctions between the Truth and a lie. Modern religions are preaching Jesus + works = salvation. They are not preaching Jesus as the Christ. If He is the Christ, then there exists no other anointed. Nothing else can take away sin. The danger of what the Devil is doing is summed up in the “Christian Movement”. This movement idolizes Jesus, but not as the Christ. Anyone who believes in anything other than Jesus, and Jesus alone, as the source and maintainer of salvation is not a Christian. They may be a “Jesusite” but they are not a Christian. Most people in America claim to be Christians, but they are not. Many people in the Lord’s true churches today look to the religious in the community as “Christian Brethren”. They are not. Although they may carry the banner of Jesus, they have abandoned His being the Christ. If they truly believe He is the Christ, then they will gladly abandon their trusts in works. But they will not, because they are working under the spirit of the antichrist.

The following four verses are the only times the word “antichrist” is used in the Bible.
1 John 2:18 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 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist,
1 John 4:3 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.
2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

The common theme which is noticed through these verses, with the exception of the first, is the presence of the title of Jesus as the Christ. Do not be deceived. The Devil is not anti-Jesus, he is antichrist. He desires to eliminate the pure truth of the gospel. The truth which declares the only way of redemption is what the devil seeks to destroy.

May God empower His people to be able to differentiate between those who have embraced the man of Jesus, and those who have truly trusted Jesus as the Christ.