Antichrist

By: K. B. Napier

 Who, or what, is ‘antichrist’? There is only one way to determine the answer, and that is to find it in scripture....if scripture defines it at all. Some use the word to support their own brand of theology, but we wish to look at it purely from the stance of God’s word. I think the answer will surprise you.

John’s tells his readers that ‘it is the last time’.  He did not necessarily mean they were at the very door of the end of time itself. He was saying that the last phase or period of events, the last part of the plan of God for this earth, was coming about. The proof of this, he claimed, was that ‘antichrist’ would arise and many ‘antichrists’ were indeed arising, even in their own time.

The Christians John wrote to knew antichristos would arise, the adversary of the Messiah and His work. This might suggest that one man will, someday, come to replace lesser antichrists, whose job will be to lead people toward a wholesale deception.

If such a one will exist, he will be so powerful as to be greater in wickedness than all others, but it must be said that such a final, greater, antichrist is not a proven fact, but is assumed. It all depends on the way we read these texts.

A clue might be found in 1 John 4:3, where we read of the ‘spirit of antichrist’, meaning the source of lies (Satan) behind the heresy, rather than the people who accept and teach them.

We can also glean something from the Greek structure of the text (2:18), whose English version runs thus: “Young children, a last hour it is, and as ye heard that antichrist is coming, even now antichrists many have arisen...”  Reading the AV text it is possible to imply from the wording that ‘that antichrist’ could refer to a specific, final antichrist, whereas in the Greek it refers to any ‘antichrist’ that would come – there already being many, says John.

Thus, rather than specify one, single antichrist, we are told of many antichrists. And in 2:22, we read (in the Greek structure): “Who is the liar except the (one) denying that Jesus not is the Christ?”. This is reference to anyone who denies Jesus is the Messiah. Thus, a final, singular, antichrist may not indeed exist!

If we then go to 2 John 7, the Greek construction goes from plural to singular, suggesting that the many antichrists are really one, because the ‘spirit’ behind them all is Satan: “Because many deceivers went forth into the world, the (ones) not confessing Jesus Christ coming in (the) flesh; this is the deceiver and the antichrist.” Thus, the true meaning of ‘antichrist’ might be: one who, prompted by Satan, denies both Jesus as Messiah and His word.

A Proliferation of Antichrists

John said that even now there were ‘many’ antichrists, this being a proof that we were in the last phase of God’s plan for this earth. Satan knows that God has His plan and, as the former most illustrious arch-angel of heaven, he is aware of the general stages in God’s plan...but he does not know when the end will come. Therefore, as soon as he knew the earth was in its final phase, he doubled his efforts by sending out emissaries in abundance to deceive men.

In the 20^th century these emissaries grew in number and strength, through the Pentecostal, charismatic and ecumenical movements. All these are guiding men toward union with the ‘harlot’, Rome. Once joined ‘as one’ with this harlot, there will be numerous and speedy unions with other harlots, the false religions and cults of the day, forming a massive end-time opposition to the doctrine and things of God.

Antichristos is rooted in anti and christos. Anti means to be in the place of, or in the room of, and opposite to. So, antichrist will not just pretend to be Christ or what He stands for, but he/they will also act in opposition to Him, whilst pretending to act for God. This does not just cover a man who outrageously pretends to be Christ, but also the more subtle men who pretend to be Christian leaders. These arose in the time of the Apostles and have arisen ever since. I believe that ‘antichrists’ are closer to home than any of us realise.

I will not be popular for saying it, but, In our own day, we can conclude that charismatic leaders are antichrists, by looking at the root of christos (the anointed one, the Son of God Who was the Messiah), chrio. This refers to two things – the consecrating of Jesus to be Messiah and, the giving of spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit. Today, charismatics brazenly claim to give or pass-on spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit. This claim is abundantly seen in the Toronto Blessing and similar movements.

As the antichrists stand in the place of Christ and pass on spiritual gifts as though from the Holy Spirit, we may easily say that charismatic leaders are antichrists, and those they teach are deceived followers of the antichrists.  Though deceived, they are themselves heretics.

We do not know if a final antichrist will arise at all, but, if he does, by definition he will be more powerful and charismatic than anyone seen thus far in history. Will he be a more powerful version of the popes? Possibly, but we are not told. We can only say that, to date, all popes have been antichrists of the general kind. We cannot truly tell from this text if there will be a final and singular antichrist to surpass all others. But, we do know for certain that antichrists will increase in number as time swiftly flies by.

John, then, is warning the Christians of his day to beware of leaders who claim to be either Christ or His envoys and who promise them false spiritual gifts. Satan was very evident in their day, but is even more active in our day, as time runs out very fast.

The antichrists of John’s day were once part of local churches. They were Jews who, to those around them, were saved. However, they began spreading lies and causing division, with false teaching and claims. They were liars whose salvation was a pretence. They were ‘not of us’ and that was why they refused counsel and rebuke and left their local churches.

That is how modern day cult leaders started out – JW’s, Mormons, etc. We may not stop there, because there are many more antichrists than the ones we usually point the finger at! For example, teachers, pastors and preachers in our own reformed circles, whose words are false. There are many of these, and they teach a false theology. 

Those who are genuine might also take up false teachings and thoughts, but their genuineness is proved by their humility in accepting rebuke and deeper teaching.

Those who are false will leave to start their own following and will increase in their deviance from declared truth. This occurred in abundance at the time of the Toronto Blessing. When they leave it is easier to see what is going on, for they soon display even more signs of opposition to God and His word. This is proof that they were not genuine in the first place. Charismatics in particular have gone far beyond even the cultic nature of Roman Catholicism, by teaching what is not in scripture and that scripture is now, in their eyes, redundant.

John continues by saying that all who are genuine Believers have a witness inside them that protects them from such evil. They have the ‘unction from the Holy One (God/Holy Spirit)’.  The ‘unction’ or chrisma is the anointing of God upon their spirits (minds and hearts). This clearly tells us that the antichrists do not have an anointing from God. 

Let us Persist!

I have come to believe that Christians have a blinkered view of what, or who, is ‘antichrist’. Many have fallen to the schemes and complex theories of dispensationalism. Others have a more straightforward view based on charismaticism. Both views are cultic by nature.

There is an advantage in claiming that there will be a final, singular antichrist. In Protestant theories this is inevitably Rome and a future powerful pope. By pinning all our suspicions on a future individual external to our own church denomination, we can then dismiss any idea that antichrist may exist amongst ourselves! Before the reader splutters in protest, let us again examine what ‘antichrist’ really means. When we do so, we will be led by spiritual logic to certain conclusions, whether we like them or not.

We can see, I hope, that anyone who acts against God’s word is antichrist. We fool ourselves if we think we can allow some to get away with their heresies and errors, just because they are within our favoured circle!

Reformed Christianity (the only true kind) is suffering in our day because of the laxity of its people, who accept in their midst preachers who are not called to preach, teachers who teach bad doctrine and pastors whose office is self-made. These are as much antichrist as popes, Mormons and Muslims. The fact is, antichrist is anyone and anything that comes from Satan, who wishes to destroy by any means. The best way to (attempt to) destroy the Church is to place rot in its own ranks. And anyone who does not teach or accept the whole word of God, as it is written, is antichrist.

Friends, the implication of what is said in this article is extremely serious.  You must think very carefully about what it means and what you must do in response. We all make mistakes and we all sin – but those who consistently ignore and reject God’s word, whether by preaching the false and heretical Arminian ‘gospel’, or by teaching tradition rather than the word of God, are as antichrist as they come. The only difference is their spiritual clothing.

You must now decide – are you on God’s side, or will you prefer to join with those who are not of God? Remember that heretics and antichrist are not just leaders – they are also those who follow them. You can be antichrist by remaining silent, as well as by taking an active part. There are times when a true Believer can bring down the cause of Christ by being silent, or by imbibing bad doctrine, or by allowing a bad pastor or preacher to speak. Such a Believer will be acted upon by the Holy Spirit and conscience, in order that he may come out from such error. 

But the one who remains, against all counsel, was never ‘of us’ to begin  with. Significantly, many who are antichrist began with us and were known as Believers! Then they showed signs of deviance and tried to get others to believe the same errors. (Note that many pro-charismatics remain in reformed churches, adulterating their work and witness).  After some time they eventually leave and continue in even worse spiritual debauchery. This proves that they are not saved, as John warns.

Are you truly saved? Then prove it by adhering strictly to God’s word. Do not accept or preach Arminianism or any other error. Do not tolerate error in your church or from your pastor, preachers or teachers. Do not accept it from any member. To allow such error to remain or to proliferate, either by your silence or by your active acceptance, is to become antichrist in spirit. If you suspect this to be going on in your life, repent and cast away what ails you. Then, seek to follow God rather than men, for the stakes are too high. 

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