Today, Tuesday July 20
The Spirit of Antichrist
1 John 2:18-20 “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.”
John uses two terms to describe and make us aware of what are dealing with as seek the truth and love the Lord instead of loving the “world”. John tells us that we have always been living in "the last time", or that is, “the last hour” ever since Jesus Christ came in His first advent as a baby in a cradle in Bethlehem. These are days of conflict and crisis and that’s why it is important that we know what we believe and why we believe it.
The second term, "antichrist," is used in the Bible only by John (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 7). It describes three things: 1. a spirit in the world that opposes or denies Christ; 2. the false teachers who embody this spirit; and, 3. a person who will head up the final world rebellion against Christ.
The "spirit of antichrist" (1 John 4:3) has been in the world since Satan declared war on God (Genesis 3). The "spirit of antichrist" is behind every false doctrine and every "religious" substitute for the realities Christians have in Christ. That prefix anti actually has a dual meaning. It can mean, in the Greek, both "against" Christ and "instead of Christ. Satan in his frenzy is fighting Christ and His eternal truth, and he is substituting counterfeits for the realities found only in our Lord Jesus.
The "spirit of antichrist" is in the world today. (v. 18) It will eventually lead to the appearance of a "satanic superman" whom the Bible calls "Antichrist" (capital A). He is also called "the man of sin" or "lawlessness". (2 Thessalonians 2:1-13)
This passage explains that there are two forces at work in today's world: truth is working through the church by the Holy Spirit, and evil is working by the energy of Satan. The Holy Spirit in Christians, is holding back lawlessness; but when the church is removed at the Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), Satan will be able to complete his temporary victory and take over the world. John has more to say about this world ruler and his evil system in the Book of Revelation, particularly in Revelation 13:1-18; 16:13; and 19:20.
Does it make any difference what we believe? It makes all the difference in the world! We are living in crisis days—in the last hour—and the spirit of antichrist is working in the world! It is vitally important that we know and believe the truth and be able to detect lies when they come our way.
And this Truth is found in a person, Jesus Christ and in His Word!
God Bless!