The Antichrist
Go To The False Prophet
We have just spoken of the three forces that are of God and beneficial for the righteous. Now we will turn to the forces of evil that seek continually to deceive the elect and reserve them for Satan's use.
Contents
Who the Antichrist is.
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Revelation 13:18)
The Antichrist is 666, that is, a trinity of sixes. Three is the number of God; six is the number of man. Antichrist is man making himself God.
There is only one legitimate will in the creation. It is the will of God the Father. It is the Father's will that Christ be Lord over all spirits and people. Only Christ has the Divine right to govern.
Every will opposed to the will of Christ is Antichrist. We understand, therefore, that each of us Christians is an antichrist until we accept the absolute lordship of Jesus over our lives.
The nations of our day have rejected the lordship of Christ. The democratic nations, the communistic nations, and the monarchies and feudal societies have all rejected the lordship of Christ. All have the Antichrist spirit.
There will be a man in whom the aspirations of all who resist the rule of Christ is fulfilled. He will claim he is God and there is no other god. This is what New Age, humanistic, democratic, communistic, and socialistic thinking, as well as all false religions, are leading to.
Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. (Daniel 8:11)
Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any God: for he shall magnify himself above all. (Daniel 11:37)
The mark of the beast.
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: (Revelation 13:16)
It may be true that the day soon will arrive when a debit system in which the hand and forehead are stamped becomes the prevailing system of commerce. We can imagine the consternation of those who have believed in the pre-tribulation rapture when their local stores turn from the credit card to the debit card, and then from the debit card to an identifying mark in the body.
We do not know how the mark will come into being. The important issue is whether the individual is obeying the will of Christ through the Holy Spirit, or whether he or she—Christian or not— is following his self-will. It is the self-will that is Antichrist (against the rule of Christ).
Characteristics of the Antichrist spirit.
The current talk about the rights of people is a sign of the Antichrist spirit, the spirit of self-will, self-centeredness. The idea that all people are equal is another symptom.
It certainly is true that we should never disparage anyone or prefer anyone solely on the basis of his or her race, gender, wealth, social standing, or for any other reason. However, the Scriptures do teach that from mankind has been called an elect, and that from that elect will be gathered a smaller group of chosen vessels, and that from the chosen will emerge the faithful, the Lord's "mighty men," the firstfruits to God and the Lamb.
We do not choose Jesus, He chooses us. This fact alone does away completely with the concept that all people have an equal opportunity to approach God. God works in terms of a ruling priesthood, not in terms of a democracy. It is a kingdom that is coming, not a democracy.
Other indications of the Antichrist spirit are the doctrines of self-government, free-enterprise capitalism as a preferred economic system (the economic system of the saints is, seek first the Kingdom of God and all material needs shall be added to you), and every other form of government and economic system in which man gains power and takes control, whether it is totalitarian, socialistic, feudal, or democratic.
The saints have been chosen out of the world to bear witness of God and His Kingdom, not to gain control of the people or resources of the world. It is our point of view that the Antichrist himself (or herself) well may be, as was Judas, a deceived Christian.
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. (I John 2:18,19)
Until we are willing to take up our cross and follow the Lord Jesus we are in danger of taking part in the Antichrist system. It is the cross of delayed gratification that destroys our self-will and brings Christ to the throne of our personality. We have to deny ourselves. We have to choose between God and pleasure.
All systems of government by man are Antichrist when they do not submit to the lordship of Christ. However, the most subtle, the most deceiving, the most threatening, of all systems, as far as the Christian saints are concerned, is the philosophy and practice of democracy, of humanism, of libertarianism.
The rise of Antichrist.
Antichrist emerges from the "sea" of people.
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. (Revelation 13:1)
And he shall speak great words against the most High,.... (Daniel 7:25)
"The name of blasphemy "!
America may be the principal example of democracy in the world. It may be noticed that it is from the art forms and media of America and other democratic nations that blasphemy is proceeding. Motion pictures and works of art that blaspheme Christ are lawful in America because of the tenets of democracy and libertarianism.
Superficially, democracy appears to be related to Christianity, in that it speaks of concern for people, equality, personal freedom, and other values that appeal to Christians—and to all decent people. However, democracy is a satanic imitation of the true freedom that can come only when the Lord Jesus Christ sets us free from sin.
The proponents of civil liberty in America do not always point out that it is impossible to assign rights to a person without depriving others of their rights. For instance, the federal and state governments are anxious to protect the rights of those with AIDS. By not treating AIDS as leprosy or any other deadly communicable disease is treated; by not using all the power of the civil government to remove the carriers of AIDS from positions where others can be infected; the rights of the healthy majority are violated.
It often is true in America that the rights of the majority are violated so that the rights of the minority may be protected. It often is true that the rights of the innocent are discarded while the rights of the guilty are supported.
Also, it often is true that much harm is caused by the insistence of the media that they be allowed to reveal what they will without regard for the consequences to people or institutions.
In no manner are these expressions of "freedom" and "concern for individual rights" a part of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are contrary to Kingdom morality (as well as common sense) and destructive of righteousness, peace, and joy.
We must keep in mind that in the last days the danger to the saints will be deception, not physical suffering. Other religions, or Communism, or the New Age movement (about which Christians are so concerned), are but a minor threat to the believers. They obviously are in error. It is democracy that is so deadly. The Christians cannot see the difference between the Statue of Liberty (the goddess of democracy) and the cross of Calvary. They cannot see any difference between the pursuit of happiness and the pursuit of righteousness.
The Christian schools of America are somewhat confused, it appears, concerning the nature of America. They do not realize there are two Americas: the religious America founded by the Puritans and the secular America of the humanists. The secular America is prevailing today and will not willingly adopt Christian values. Our job is to bear witness of the Kingdom of God, not to attempt to force secular society to conform to our way of thinking.
The right of freedom of speech is not a value of the Scriptures but of libertarian philosophy. The Scriptures teach us to gain control over our tongue, and over all other forms of self-expression, because our adamic personality is inherently lawless.
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. (James 1:26)
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (I Corinthians 9:27)
The Scriptures teach subjection and self-control, not abandonment to our senses. We do not have a right to do as we please, except as God wills.
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. (James 4:13-15)
The only truly free individual is he or she who is the slave of Christ. The Christian who has left the Law of Moses but who is not the slave of the Lord Jesus is a spiritual "single." He will make little progress in the Kingdom of God.
The Constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech has made possible every form of blasphemy in America. How, then, is freedom of speech a Christian value? We have been deceived.
The true Christian pilgrimage is one of patient, cross-carrying obedience, of delayed gratification, of repentance, and often of physical suffering and martyrdom. Where are these found in the tenets of libertarian democracy?
We appreciate that the government of America has not prevented us from following the Lord Jesus, according to its promise not to interfere with the exercise of religion. Our point is that libertarian democracy and the Kingdom of God are by no means the same form of government, and the Christian schools need to understand this and teach the children clearly and forcefully that the true saints always will be hated by the world—even by (and in the future perhaps especially by) the democratic governments of the world.
The Christians of America are to come out of the worldly society in which they live and become a holy remnant before the Lord. Our eternal government is a Kingdom governed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Our constitution is the Scriptures. Our economic system is that of seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. All other governments, constitutions, and economic systems are at enmity with our most important values.
When we attempt to mix Christianity with democracy, or trust in God with free-enterprise capitalism, we enter deception and confusion. God's anointing never will remain on people who become entangled with worldly governments or financial systems.
Money takes the place of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit of God is the Power of Christ's rule. Money is the power of the rule of Antichrist. The love and worship of money will be prominent in the worldwide Antichrist government that is on the horizon, according to our present understanding.
It is difficult for citizens of the wealthy nations of today to imagine a way of life apart from an emphasis on the acquisition of money as the objective of life on earth. However, the rule of Christ does not emphasize money at all. The emphasis is on seeking God's Kingdom and God's righteousness, with the understanding that all of our material needs will be supplied.
It has not always been true that lending money for the sake of obtaining interest has occupied such a prominent place in society. In fact, the Scripture speaks against the practice of loaning money with the intent of gaining interest. God prefers we share with one another. The practice of lending money on interest does not appear to be in the best interest of society.
Although we distinguish between interest and usury today, it does not appear that this is the case in the admonitions of Scripture. From the beginning, God spoke against lending wealth with the intent of obtaining increase.
Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee. (Leviticus 25:36)
He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, (Ezekiel 18:8)
God regards the man who shares his wealth as being righteous.
He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. (Psalms 37:26)
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; (I Timothy 6:17,18)
In our day it has come to be accepted, in the major nations in particular, that the gaining of more money by the investment of money (as distinguished from producing wealth by working, by manufacturing, by creating) is a basis of economic life. Much stress is placed on the accumulation of money.
To accumulate money is to build a reserve of power. Accumulating money is a substitute for trusting God's wisdom, power, and care.
"No man can serve God and mammon," Jesus declared. "He will love one and hate the other." Every person must choose between trusting God and trusting money. One cannot serve both God and money. Each is a God and demands our worship.
One of the major efforts of Satan in the last days will be directed toward persuading Christians that they should seek, glory in, love, worship, and trust in material wealth. The true saint will flee from every attempt to involve him or her in the pursuit of money.
Related to this is the Christian involvement in politics. Except for individuals whom God may direct into public office, the Christians are not to seek to govern the peoples of the earth. Our time to govern will come with the appearing of the Lord from Heaven. Meanwhile we must keep in mind that the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus is not of this world but will come with Him from Heaven.
If a Christian should come into authority as a public official, let him govern according to his integrity, competence, and experience. He is not to employ a Christian mystique such that he is governing as a prophet of God.
It is acceptable that a public official be a Christian. It is not acceptable that he attempt to set up the Kingdom of God at this time, that he seek to substitute the mysteries of his faith in place of integrity, competence, and courage, or that he attempt to use a high office to put his Christian friends in positions of power.
It is not unusual for popular Christian leaders to be lacking in integrity. They have permitted their Christian faith to destroy their character. They have no business being in public office. The destruction of their character is the result of their belief that accepting Jesus as our Savior relieves us of the necessity for maintaining integrity and faithfulness.
The current prophecies that Christians are to control the wealth of the world and gain political power are not of God. They are from the enemy. The true saint will shun all attempts to call him down from his cross of patient obedience to the Lord Jesus.
The Scriptures teach us, by illustration and commandment, that the saint is not to worship the God of money. We have the examples of Balaam, Gehazi, Judas, and Ananias and Sapphira, to help us understand God's attitude toward the love and worship of money.
In addition:
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition [destruction]. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (I Timothy 6:8-11)
Will we obey Paul or not?