DISCERNING THE SPIRIT OF ANTI-CHRIST

OLUFUNSO J. OMIDIRAN
www.livingsword.org

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Hereby know the the spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 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 now already is it in the world." (1John 4:1-3).

We have heard a lot of man-made fables or spurious speculations about the nature and attributes of the antichrist or the futuristic ‘man of sin’ or ‘son of perdition’ (2 Thess.2:3). Nevertheless, men’s theories do not displace the reality of God’s truth. We simply need to have a clear understanding of the balanced truth of God’s Word concerning who the antichrist really is. In order to have a correct understanding of the truth about this person, we first need to understand what the spirit of antichrist is. We must be mindful of the fact that the spirit of a person is the force behind the personality.

The word ‘anti’ in Greek means ‘instead of’ or ‘in place of’. The above scripture was originally written in Greek .So antichrist (Gk: antichristos) simply speaks of someone who takes the place of Christ, a usurper.

Today, we see a lot of instances whereby Christ has been displaced by men and replaced by something or someone else. The point is that, if ever Christ is not given His rightful place in our lives, we’ve fallen victims to the antichrist spirit.

Every religion that denies the lordship/headship of Christ is of the antichrist stock, no matter how many adherents are influenced thereby. Even in the church polity today antichrist keeps having his heyday. Many things are happening today and they give us a lot of concern. If Satan is alive and well in the modern Church then the world is in trouble!

ANTICHRIST IN CHURCH!

Every departure from the simplicity of the gospel of Christ is decline towards the antichrist spirit. We see a lot of hopeless and needless debates in the organized church because Christ’s Lordship has already been denied by reckless men. For instance, the ordination and consecration of gay(homosexual)priests, immorality among professing believers, indecent lifestyles, corruption, idolatrous practices, hero-worship, sectarianism, religious pride, feelings of false security and superiority. All these are manifestations of the antichrist spirit.

One serious deceit within “Christians” and “Christian nations” is doing so much religion and still hating Christ and what He stands for. While some are fighting tooth and nail to defend their denominational extremisms, they are drifting farther and farther from the Saviour whom they claim to serve.

Furthermore, we should remember that the antichrist may come either as a religious personality or in the secular form. We should not be deceived by the synagogues of Satan which abound so much in our days. The antichrist spirit makes its appearance within God’s temple (2Thess.2:3, 4). Through this spirit the temple is desecrated and corrupted. Nay, the spirit is already here and the devastation has already started. Every religious effort that does not thrive upon the saving work of Christ on the cross is after the order of the antichrist spirit. No replacement can be found for Christ, no other name above His. (Phill.2:9, 10; Acts 4:12).

OUR CHRISTIAN TESTIMONY

Every attempt you ever made to hide your Christian testimony or identity is an ominous decline. Do you often feel ashamed to stand before other people about your acquaintance with Christ the crucified Saviour? Do you often shy away from being identified with Him? Have you found it more convenient to deny Him before the secular world? Have you not been deceived by the flamboyance of modern, Christless ‘Christianity’ just because you love to gain this present world? How much of Him have men discovered through you?

PREACHERS, HEAR THIS!

Every attempt to reinterpret God’s word so as to meet popular demands is pathetic failure. It is shameful that today that Christian ministers are trying to do away with the old-fashioned ways of the Jesus of the Bible: The old rugged cross has been reduced to a small cosmetic and fashionable necklace which all men can wear with shear amusement. As preachers we cannot solve anybody’s problem without bringing them to the Lord who saves. Mere motivational speech, philosophical enunciations, ‘positive confessions’ and all idolatrous gimmicks can never transform the spiritually corrupt. In fact, every alternative method to the narrow way message of Christ is of the antichrist spirit. By reducing or misrepresenting the truth, we are not serving Christ. Let us get back to the ancient landmarks, even the everlasting foundations. Shalom.