Antichrist

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When you hear the word antichrist, what comes to mind? I suppose most think of “The” Antichrist, the beast of revelation that ushers in Armageddon and the final end. But while everyone is looking for signs of the Abomination of Desolation, we may lose sight of the fact that he is not waiting around for the big coronation. He is already here, always has been, and grass does not grow under his feet.

1 John 2: ¹⁸ 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.

So, who are these antichrists? Where are they? What are they doing? How do we recognize them? John gives us a very simple definition.

1 John 2: ²² Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

However, that alone is not sufficient to recognize them. Antichrists have no problem confessing Christ. They’re just words. They will tell you whatever you want to hear in order to deceive. After all, even the demons believe in God—and shudder (James 2:19). They know who Christ is. That doesn’t change them. No, we need more.

Paul never used the word antichrist, but he certainly offered us a clear profile of what one looks like.

2 Tim 3:¹ But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. ² For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,³ heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, ⁴ treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

Paul describes them with this litany of anti-Christian attributes followed by him saying that they have the appearance of godliness. The appearance of godliness? How can that be?  How can you be something totally antithetical to God yet appear to be godly. Apparently they do an excellent job of concealing who they really are.

Paul tells us to avoid such people. They oppose the truth. But are we doing that? Do we recognize those that obviously possess these characteristics? Just how concerned or aware are we? Do we even care?

Jesus said, “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (Matt 24:24)

Are we that easily deceived? Apparently so. Right now, on the world platform, there is the most egregious example of that. Take our Chief Executive for instance. Are you so blind as to deny he matches this profile to a tee? Yet so-called evangelicals and misguided leaders not only ignore the obvious, they actually praise him. “I don’t care what he says or does,” they say. “I like his policies.”

Are you so naïve as to not know that antichrist is pro-life, pro-gun, and anti-immigration? Are you also so naïve as to not to know he is pro-choice, pro-gun control and for illegal immigration at the same time. He is all things to all people. He doesn’t care as long as it serves his purposes. As long as it creates hatred and division that is all he cares about. He’s doing a pretty good job, is he not?

If you think this is about partisan politics, you would be wrong. Antichrists are Democrats, Republicans, and everything in between. They are everywhere and especially in bastions of power. That is where they thrive. The only difference between our example above and the rest of the field is they don’t generally flaunt it. They’re smarter than that. They try to hide it, though the clues are there if you know where to look. It often just exudes out of them.

So how could someone who matches this profile get such a pass, especially from the Christian community? This is scary.

Part of the problem is the conflation of politics and religion. Where did that come from? What part does the church have in politics? I don’t remember that anywhere in the Bible. Paul said that no soldier gets entangled in civil pursuits (2 Tim 2:4). They focus on their orders and only their orders. How many orders, or commissions, have we been given? The answer is only one!

Matt 28: ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

If only one, where did this other thing come from, dabbling in politics trying to force others to our way of thinking? Most likely due to their failure with the first commission. If we can’t change their hearts and minds through Christ, we’ll change them anyway we can. That is a confession of failure by the church.

Jesus had nothing to with the social or political structure of His time. That wasn’t His job. If his kingdom were of this world, he would have fought. But it wasn’t of this world.

John 18: ³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

Now we are stuck with a dichotomy. Pastors all over the world, every Sunday, are exhorting their flocks to follow the grand commission. At the same time, others, even those of repute who are led astray, are throwing obstacles in the way, unknowingly embracing antichrist.

One thing is sure—though unbelievers may be blind to spiritual truth, they are not blind to worldly truth. They see right through this blatant hypocrisy.

There is a trite term used in the world that may be apropos right now. It’s called a “come to Jesus moment.” The truth is we have lost our first love. It’s time to return.

Rev 2: ⁴ But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. ⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.