“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour,” (1 John 2:18).
In the original Greek, the word “antichrist” carries with it two meanings: “opposed to” and “in place of”. The antichrist spirit has been in opposition to or “anti-Christ” since the time of Jesus. But its power has been kept in check or restrained by the Holy Spirit, operating through the church. As Paul explained:
“For the mystery of lawlessness [the antichrist spirit] is already at work; only He [the Holy Spirit] who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one [the Antichrist] will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming,” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8).
In his writings, the apostle John revealed that the antichrist spirit arises in connection with Christendom, to draw many in this world away from the truth of the gospel:
“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 they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us,” (1 John 2:19).
In the last days, many will depart from the truth of God’s word. The word “apostasy” refers to a departure or “falling away” from established religious truth. It allows for the antichrist spirit to come forth unchecked in the man of lawlessness. Paul speaks about this apostasy which must precede the revealing of Antichrist.
“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes FIRST, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God,” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
In the Bible, only two men bear the title, “son of perdition”: Judas Iscariot, a man who started as one of the closest disciples of Christ, yet went on to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. And Antichrist. Both Judas and Antichrist begin in close connection with the church.
In the end times, when a large enough portion of professing Christendom fails to uphold the truth of scripture— especially concerning Christ— the Antichrist will be able to emerge into power. When widespread apostasy in the church occurs, the spiritual barrier used by the Holy Spirit to restrain evil, breaks down. “And the man of sin is revealed.”
So, what is the condition of the church today? Have we entered into apostasy?
In Catholicism, the pope is allowing Islamic readings denying the Sonship of Jesus Christ into Catholic services. John the apostle taught that anyone denying Jesus, also denies God the Father: “Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either,” (1 John 2:23). If one rejects the Son, he is also rejecting God the Father. The pope is also openly promoting a unity of all world religions, pagan with Christian faith. But, God and Baal are incompatible.
In Protestant faiths such as the Methodists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, and Presbyterians, the gospel of faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ is being replaced by a “woke” gospel of social activism. Major church splits are taking place within these denominations as basic truths such as the virgin birth of Christ and even His divinity are being called into question. Homosexuality is being embraced as the LGBTQ gains a greater voice in church government. And more and more groups are calling for “unity” with Rome and other pagan faiths as a great expression of “God’s inclusive love for all.”
Apostasy is also working its way into groups like the evangelicals, pentecostals, and charismatics. A false gospel of grace without surrender to Christ has left many vulnerable to the lure of this world, resulting in immorality and divorce. Without the guardrail of sound teaching, some worship groups have degenerated to include Islamic mystical practices as dance worship. And weird, even Satanic portrayals of Christian holy feasts, are now being presented by Hillsong, which once upon a time offered glorious worship to the Living God.
Recently, the N.A.R. (New Apostolic Reformation) has come roaring back and taken the popular and influential helm of the church in America. With its emphasis on self-appointed apostles and prophets, a tidal wave of prophecies, its active political posturings, and a promise of “great things ahead” for the church, the N.A.R. paints a much different picture of Christianity in end times than the Biblical picture of 1 Peter 4:12-19, 2 Peter 2, 2 Peter 3, 1 Thessalonians 5, 2 Thessalonians 1, 2 Thessalonians 2, 2 Timothy 3, James 5, and the entire book of Revelation.
The late Bible scholar, Derek Prince, in a teaching entitled “Take Heed That You Are Not Deceived,” names six types of people who would be likely candidates for the coming deception of Antichrist. These are:
1) Those who rely only on their own subjective impressions of things, without subjecting things to prayer and scripture. In other words, don’t accept something simply because you like it, or it makes you feel good!
2) Those who look only to human leaders. If a certain man says it, you believe it.
3) Those who accept supernatural signs as a guarantee of truth.
4) Those who through personal ambitions are susceptible to flattery. 5) Those who are unwilling to face the possibility of suffering or
persecution.
6) Those who are ignorant of Scripture.
Our world is currently in great distress. But before it explodes into the wars of Seal #2, the Bible teaches that a world leader will first arise. The conquering rider on the white horse of Seal #1 comes FIRST, promising “peace & safety” to a world on the edge. He comes as Antichrist, opposed to and in place of the genuine Messiah. Before that day arrives, make sure you are prepared to stand against his deception. Don’t be part of the great falling away!
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