Many of us have heard about the antichrist, but we don’t really know what he is going to do. Plus, is there going to be one or several? This devotion begins to look at who the Antichrist will entail.
Nuggets
- There will be one Antichrist in the end; but there will be many fake Antichrists until then.
- The Antichrist will be the champion of all sin.
- We don’t have to understand all about God’s Word, but we have to believe all.
- We know that before Jesus returns, the Antichrist will dupe people by giving a false impression.
Devotions in the What I Believe series
Devotions in the End Times category
End Times Churchy Words Focus
Okay, I am going to say this upfront. I am not an expert in the end times — no where near. I am seeking God just as you are. I am trying to listen to what God wants me to know.
I will get some things right. I will get some things wrong. I am way below God’s pay grade and am far from being all-knowing.
But lucky you. You get to come along as I try to sort through this. I am sure this is only going to be a quick look at the topic.
I have two goals. I want to get us thinking because this is probably going to happen sooner rather than later. I also want to get us prepared for witnessing to worldview people. We have to know and be confident in what we believe.
I looked in Nave’s Topical Bible to see what verses were listed under Antichrist. So, we are going to focus on those in this devotion.
Let's Put It into Context
According to the Holman Bible Dictionary, the antichrist “describes a particular individual or a group of people who oppose God and His purpose.” The Scriptures don’t specifically mention the antichrist by “name.” John is the only one who does that. Alexander described the term was referring “… specifically to characterise (sic) heresy denying the incarnation, person, and dignity of Christ as God-Man.”
Resources
The Antichrist Is Coming
“Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. By this we know that it is the last hour” (I Jn. 2: 18 CSB)
There are a couple of verses that do address the antichrist.
Daniel talked about the Antichrist— yes, in code, but still described who the Antichrist will be.
- “He will speak words against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals and laws, and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time” (Dan. 7: 25 CSB).
- “Then the king will do whatever he wants. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will say outrageous things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, because what has been decreed will be accomplished” (Dan. 11: 36 CSB).
Since they believed Jesus would return soon, the first-century disciples thought the Antichrist would, also. Jesus told us to be aware because there would be many false Messiahs.
Morgan addressed the issue of whether it would be one Antichrist or many. He wrote, “The former is a prophecy [one Antichrist], the latter [many] is a fact.”
There will be one Antichrist in the end because divided leadership doesn’t work really well. The Antichrist will be the leader of a one-world government.
There will be many fake Antichrists until then. Why? Maybe to get us complacent. Maybe it is to chip away at our resistance. Maybe trying to get believers to compromise with the worldview. I think the many will just set the stage for one.
What I think we have to take away here is that this is the Antichrist is going to be a significant opponent. I didn’t know if I want to say formidable. He will find success in his endeavor. He is going to be a large opponent. It will be an intense.
But the last chapter is already written. The Antichrist is going to be defeated.
Unfortunately, the Antichrist is going to do a lot of damage before Christ returns. (Satan already has.)
The Antichrist Is a Liar
“Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son” (I Jn. 2: 18 CSB)
Oh man. I could have used so many verses in the header.
- “Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist” (II John 1:7 CSB)
- “If anyone tells you then, ‘See, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Over here!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect” (Mt, 24: 23-24 CSB).
- “For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many” (Mt. 24: 5 CSB).
- “Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will deceive many” (Mark 13: 6 CSB).
- “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in God’s temple, proclaiming that he himself is God” (II Thess. 2: 3-4 CSB).
Look at who the Antichrist is. He “… denies the Father and the Son” (I Jn. 2: 18 CSB). He is the polar opposite.
The Antichrist is in cahoots with Satan. Satan is the father of liars (Jn. 8: 44). They are two peas in a pod.
One thing is for sure. The Antichrist will be the champion of all sin. He is going to commit and endorse all forms and types of sin.
Right, as Opposed to Wrong
“This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming; even now it is already in the world” (I Jn. 4: 2-3 CSB)
Okay, I have to process this sentence. Brodie wrote, “It did not consist so much in openly impugning the principles of the gospel as in ‘not confessing them.’” (Nope, first sentence in the sermon – no help there.)
What I read this saying is, it doesn’t matter if we call into question the validity of the gospel — we have to “… declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved” (Rom. 10: 9-10 NIV).
Oh, man. Where do I find these?
I can agree with this to a certain extent. We are called to use our free will to determine what we believe. Free will is the ability within us to make decisions, which determine actions that produce character. God will not force us to believe in Him.
However — it may just be me since I am flirting with a migraine again today – does this say that we don’t have to believe the gospel is valid? That is not correct.
Faith is the belief that the doctrines stated in God’s Word are true, even if we do not understand all aspects of them. We don’t have to understand all about God’s Word, but we have to believe all.
Don’t Be Duped by The Antichrist
“So if they tell you, ‘See, he’s in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; or, ‘See, he’s in the storerooms!’ do not believe it” (Mt. 24: 26 CSB)
“Then if anyone tells you, ‘See, here is the Messiah! See, there!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect” (Mk. 13: 21-22 CSB)
We know that before Jesus returns, the Antichrist will dupe people by giving a false impression. He will pretend that he is the Messiah.
Oh, this is scary. I don’t remember reading this before. “Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. By this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us” (I Jn. 2: 17-18 CSB emphasis added).
Is that saying the antichrists are leaving the church? Are trying to compromise the church? The church is the group of believers who together worship God and Jesus Christ and work to proclaim His gospel and make disciples.
Ooo, baby. It isn’t going to be all non-believers. Non-believers are identified in Scriptures by the terms wicked, dead, cursed, and evil.
We can’t fall for the Antichrist’s delusions. We have to remain true to Jesus. An anonymous write said, “The Christian dispensation is disturbed by attempts of impostors to delude the unwary.” We can’t be the unwary.
The bad thing is that the Antichrist is going to look legitimate. He is going to be good at his deception.
Making the Connections
We’ve talked before about disciples who will be surprised when they get to heaven and find out that they are a goat. But this is something else. This is people making a conscious decision to deny the Father and Son.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
Ooo, baby. If we deny the Son, we have no access to the Father. That is because Jesus said, “… I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14: 6 NIV).
Bye, bye, heaven.
Making the Connections to Self-Discipline
We’ve been looking at defending our beliefs when we are witnessing. That means we have to to be secure enough to convince someone to accept our beliefs.
When the Antichrist comes, we will have to be secure enough that we are not duped into believing a lie. We have to be strong in our faith.
That will take self-discipline to seek God.
Our questions should still serve us to determine on what we need to focus.
- What does the Scriptures say?
- What do I believe?
- Why do I believe the same/differently than the Scriptures?
- What are the talking points when witnessing to a non-believer?
Related Links
I have created a worksheet of the questions above. Click on the button below to access it.
How Do We Apply This?
- We need to know what we believe.
- We need to be able to back it up with Scriptures.
- We need to evaluate current events and what people are trying to force us to believe with what God says is Truth.
- We have to be able to identify false teachers and prophets — as well as the many antichrists.
- Don’t think that just because we are disciples, we won’t be led away.
Don’t be like the Antichrist. Thomas wrote, “Every man that does not love the Father supremely, and accept the Son lovingly and loyally, is Antichrist.” ABCD.
The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
Father. We admit our sins, believe Jesus is our Savior, and confess You as Sovereign God. Help us to withstand the attacks made against us by Satan. Reveal to us any antichrists that come our way. Strengthen us to remain firmly in You. We will seek You so that we will grow in grace and knowledge. Amen.
What do you think?
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