Gospel Encounters No. 15
WHO IS ANTICHRIST ?
ANTICHRIST = INSTEAD OF CHRIST
The meaning of the word translated as ‘antichrist’ . . . it is primarily what is put instead of the anointing by the Anointed One. ANTICHRISTOS 500 . . . anti 473 = instead of, substitution; CHRISTOS 5547 = the anointed One. . . from CHRIO5548 = to smear with oil.
‘Anti’ in our everyday language, means something that is against something. This is the effect every time a substitution is made for the true anointing.
1 John 2 (18) Little children, it is the last time (the ‘last time’ started back at the cross): and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. (The Father-Son speaks of relationship between the unseen Source and the seen Expression of God).
(22) Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son.
A liar is one who does not speak the truth . . . Jesus Christ is the Living Word and therefore is Truth (John 14:6). So we conclude that antichrist is one who does not allow the truth that Jesus is, to overflow out of him. Anyone who does not recognise the Holy Spirit’s anointing and come under that covering, is wide open to being a part of the antichrist as they have substituted man’s spirit (which produces some “good ideas” such as Ishmael!) for the Anointed One, anointed word etc. shown in the moving of the Spirit . . . the Spirit of Christ. . . the Spirit of God.
CHRIST IN YOU NOW
1 John 4 (3) And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Jesus Christ IS (here and now) come in the flesh . . . Who else is the Life of His Body?
It is the ‘spirit of antichrist’ that will manifest antichrist. This spirit was around back in New Testament times. There were numerous situations back then, as well as now, that looked like the Lord was at work, yet there was no anointing present. Christ, the Anointed One, with the overflow of the anointing, was replaced by structure, form and lifeless repetitions of man’s organization and replacement to the word of truth and life that reveals God’s nature, purposes and means.
‘INWARD’ BEFORE ‘OUTWARD’
2 John 1 (7) For many deceivers (plural) are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This (singular) is a deceiver and an antichrist. (8) Look to yourselves, that we lose not (by replacing) those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
Jesus Christ was the Pattern Son for all sons in these last days who desire to follow in His footsteps for He is bringing many sons to glory (Heb. 2:10). Jesus Christ today (or Christ-Jesus) depicts in every detail the life of God that was manifested upon the earth through the Lord Jesus Christ. The Seed-Life of Christ had been planted in our earth, so that He does not abide alone, but brings froth a harvest of Himself in His sons (John 12:24).
This singular antichrist consists of many who are deceived AND MOST TIME DO NOT KNOW IT . . . these ones will, in all sincerity and unbeknowingly deceive others.
The antichrist is CORPORATE in a parallel way that the Body of Christ is corporate (=us, Church). The antichrist is made up of many members (each an antichrist) all denying Christ by not allowing Him to be Lord over their lives, their meetings, their preaching, etc. When Jesus Christ is ‘LORD’, then all that transpires will come from His mind and control and will produce life that will glorify our Father.
Let us not be quick to look for an individual “out there some place” and judge and label him as the antichrist, but rather search our own heart and circumstances to see if there be any part in us that we’ve replaced Christ with tradition, a form or deadness. With the above scripture . . . “LOOK to yourselves” . . . John gives some direction as to where to look for any warning signs! Frustration and lack of reality will often cause one to seek anything that will undergird and give some comfort to the ‘natural man’ in us.
Anything that stems from ‘Adam’ in us constitutes antichrist . . . for the ‘second Adam’ (Jesus Christ) came and replaced that natural fallen man. Sad to say, there are many churches that “do their own thing” and the Lord’s ways and purposes are replaced by what was taught to the leadership in bible school. . . the congregations even expect it to be so!
ANTICHRIST BECOMES ‘LORD’ IN MAN
II Thessalonians 2: (3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (4) Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
This ‘man of sin’ ( ‘sIn’ . . . spell the word and see what is in the middle of it!) has replaced God in His temple which we are! This ‘man of sin’ is first a man who has a father else he could not be a ‘son’; this descendant come from fallen Adam whose life replaces what Christ (the Second Adam) has provided for all men.
DISCERNMENT NEEDED . . . not suspicion!
Let such a search as this stimulates each of us to discern what is in place of Christ. When that has been pinpointed, then let us also not be afraid to label it as such. Antichrist will always hide within truth. Suspicion will not unveil him, but discernment by the Spirit will.
Antichrist has no sway upon those who constantly affirm what is truth. We are the body of Christ, we are seated with Him in heavenly places, we are in Christ in God upon His Throne, we are seen as righteous by God, we are forgiven, God is for us and not against us . . . and so on.
Being ‘in Christ’ and Christ being in you — this will express Father’s desire to release His full authority through us upon this earth.
We therefore give no place to the devil, the antichrist spirit or the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (i.e. the law) because we desire to walk with Him, walk in Him and walk as Him. §