FROM WHERE I STAND - December 1, 2001

Back twenty or thirty years ago, there was much wild speculation as to who the Antichrist was, what nation he would come from, and if he was alive.  This speculation grew into naming individuals like Henry Kissinger and Don Carlos of Spain, to name a few of the popular candidates.  This “revelation” came from some type of mathematical equation.

Like so many other trends in Christian doctrine, basic Bible truth gets taken to an extreme, then becomes embellished and inflated with hyperbole.

The tragic result of this trend has a tendency to push people away, who then become angry and disillusioned and give up on the scripture’s literal interpretation.  If we can look at the scriptures and know what G-d says, we can avoid a lot of this nonsense and allow G-d to shine in these dark times.

First, John 4:3 clearly tells us “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of G-d and this is that spirit of antichrist whereof ye have heard that it should come, and even now already is it in the world.”

One basic simple premise to follow is to realize that long before the evil one sets himself up in the Holy of Holies, demanding to be worshipped, the spirit of antichrist will have long before paved the way, by allowing the same spirit of antichrist to set in the Temple of the human “heart”.  This spirit and the movement towards the deception and seduction, will all pave the way, as spiritual trends will lead to both literal and physical fulfillment.

Second, notice Paul’s warning, “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this cause G-d shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.”  II Thess. 2:9-11.

We are seeing this tragic pattern in the church having less and less a love for the truth.  TV’s, radios, and “Christian” books are chocked full of so much that is done in the name of Christianity, yet in reality, it is not true Christianity.  This perpetuates the pattern of not loving the truth, or being able to receive it.  You can add up all types of numerical equations and twist scripture to make a case about the identity of the Antichrist, but to do this is to miss the point.  The term Antichrist not only means “opposed to”, but it also means “in place of”.  Therefore, it is not the nation that this person comes from, but it is the teachings of that person.

I John 2:18 tells us, “Little children, it is the last time and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there are many antichrists, whereby we know that it is the last time.”

Eastern mysticism, New Age, Occult and Satan Worship, Communism and Islam are all the spirit of antichrist manifested in and through their teachers, and are the predecessors of the coming evil one.  Today, many Christians are being seduced into many of these beliefs, as their strong delusion prepares the way of deception and heresy.

Finally, Antichrist will find his place in the hearts of people because of their inability to discern the times they live in.  Isa. 5:20 tells us “Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil…”

It is ironic that so many well-meaning Christians are in the boycott mood and want to shut down the retail outlets of America for selling books on mysticism, the occult, and New Age movement.  While these teachings are damnable and undermine the fiber of our culture, I can take you to the Christian bookstore and you will find titles and authors hiding behind the cross, yet teaching the same elements of heresy.

As these may seem to be irrational statements, several future articles of “From where I stand” will be dealing with the doctrinal issues that are vexing the church and plaguing those who believe those types of teachings.

Suffice it to say, the spirit of antichrist is on the rise, due to the inability of people to identify the essence of what that spirit truly is.  Therefore, they are poised to embrace it.

Remember, G-d placed His Word above His name, and this is the one and only true tool for knowing and understanding the times we live in.