DISCERNING THE TIMES: THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST by Jeff Wingo

 One of the signs of the last days according to the Apostle John will be the appearance of many antichrists. Yes, there will be the Antichrist, and he will come near the end, but in the meantime there are many lessor antichrists laboring to influence billions of people everyday.

Not that they will be insignificant because each of them will cause damage to the cause of Christ and the Kingdom of God; and in their own twisted way each of them will teach attractive doctrines drawing many people astray into spiritual darkness and error.

This is the battle of the kosmos or the world system as defined by the Apostle. It is more than just saying, “that preacher is teaching false doctrine.” It is the prevailing attitude of the age, which is thoroughly anti-God and anti-Christ.

John wrote “and the whole world lieth in wickedness” (1 John 5:19); this refers to “the ungodly multitude, the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ.” {1} Interestingly, the word “wickedness” as it is used here, is the Greek word poneros which is used “pre-eminently of the Devil or the evil one.” {2}

In other words, John is saying that the kosmos largely consists of the ungodly sinful mass of humanity lying under the power and influence of Satan–who is the master antichrist.

That is why John said there would be many antichrists. As long as the world endures, we will never experience a shortage of antichrists.

In fact, they are everywhere–in churches they occupy pulpits and teach classes, in the public arena they are the teachers and academics who influence millions of children and college age men and women. They occupy prominent places in the media, using that medium to influence billions through thousands of TV and radio channels each and every day. They use their influence on the Web, in books and magazines, and on billboards along the highways of America, shamelessly promoting products using pornography of various degrees.

In the area of religion they are responsible for the creation and perpetuation of thousands of cults. Indeed, the many antichrists are leading billions of people astray into spiritual darkness through fear, intimidation, and manipulation (and this includes the many antichrists in the Christian church. That is why Christianity is becoming a spiritual wasteland for true Christians).

Sadly, there are billions of people being diverted from the biblical Jesus Christ into a multitude of religions. Once there, they strive to earn their way into heaven, Nirvana, or whatever vision of eternity they are trying to reach.

Unfortunately, John was right–as long as Christ tarries, there will be many antichrists working the kosmos or world system. And all of it is under the influence of the evil one. He knows exactly what he is doing as he leads the Kingdom of Darkness; it is an ingathering destined for an eternity in hell, forever cut off from the Kingdom of God.

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:13-14).

Are you among the few on the narrow way? If not, you are on the broad way, and Jesus already told us where it ends. Jesus said He is the “way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6), so His way is a narrow way, a very narrow way that leads to one place–the cross.

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

1 Corinthians 15:1-8

Indeed, according to the spirit of the age there are many ways to heaven. But according to Jesus and the Apostle Paul there is only one true path–a narrow way that leads to the cross.

An essential component of the gospel is that Christ died for our sins. In other words, without Christ there is no hope, for we cannot save ourselves from the effects of sin–no one else on this planet is good enough, pure enough, or holy enough. That is why Jesus stepped out of the halls of eternity into our time/space dimension. The only remedy is found in the biblical Christ who died for sinners on the cross of Calvary. Truly, He is the only Savior, He is the only way, and He is the only TRUTH. All other ways are of the spirit of antichrist. Biblical salvation is a very narrow way.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation…For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10:9,10,13.

Thanks for visiting.

Jeff Wingo

Endnotes:

1. Strongs G2889; definition according to Thayer.

2. Strongs G4190; comment by Pulpit Commentary, (1890) on 1 John 2:1-29.