Anti-Mashiach 06/12/02

Islam, the Vatican, Democracy (and other institutions), respectively, have all been ‘targeted’ by various ones for the role, or possible expression, of the “Anti Christ”. Others look for a certain individual to fulfill that position, and head a one world economic and political system. As believers in Yeshua the Messiah, perhaps we all, at one time or another have had (or still have) our opinions concerning this subject. If you will bear with me, I would like to share some thoughts that I have had for some time now, but have never put down in writing. Please note that the following is not intended as a polemic designed to dispute any one, or all, of these ideas or opinions.

The Apostle John is the one who formulated the term “Antichrist”. He writes: “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour” (1 John 2:18). After addressing the “little children”, he points out that there are many antichrists and more to come, and concludes by saying that this is a sign of the end times. Why does John, when dealing with this particular topic, address “little children”? In a previous verse John identifies the “little children”. “I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake… I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father” (1 John 2:12-13; 20). The Greek word for children is “paidion”, and portrays immaturity. However, there are two things that the “child”, which John speaks about (the new believer), is to understand; Firstly that his sins are forgiven through the work of Messiah Yeshua, not for the “child’s”, sake but because of the purpose and nature of Elohim. The other point is that he has the anointing or “chrisma” of the Spirit of Holiness, which enables him to know his Heavenly Father. These two things seem to be essential in overcoming antichrist, or the teachings that emanate from that source.

In the very next verse John continues, and he points his finger at the ones responsible for introducing lies, and leading the young believers into deception. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us” (2:19). These individuals were either apostles, or perhaps disciples of the apostles, but they did not remain in fellowship with the others, because of a lying spirit that operated in them. “Who is a liar but he who denies that Yeshua is the Messiah? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.” “… Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either” (v.22-23). Yeshua said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). There is no other way to the Father, because the Father Himself was in the Son reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). "… the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24).

Apparently there were those who perhaps at first were believers, but then denied or rejected the fact that Yeshua was the Messiah, and thus are labeled liars. But John does not stop there. He goes one step further, calling them “anti-christs”, that is, being opposed to the anointing of the Spirit of Holiness, as it is only in the anointing, or the indwelling of the Spirit, that the Father and Son are present in the life of the believer. John exhorts the “child” to recognize this fact, saying: “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth…He who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. Therefore, let that abide in you, which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us----eternal life” [being the life of the Father]. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you” (1 John 2:20-21; 24-25).

Yeshua said that He would send the Comforter, meaning the Spirit of Holiness, who would lead us into all the truth (see John 16:7; 13). The first revelation truth that the Spirit brings into the life of the believer is that Yeshua is the Messiah, and that our sins are forgiven. The second is to cry out “Abba” (ref. Rom. 8:15). This anointing of the Comforter is the indwelling presence of the Father, and is also the life of the Son -“Yeshua”. They are one and the same in the Spirit of Holiness. The Apostle Paul exhorts us to examine ourselves as to whether we are in the faith: “Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Yeshua the Messiah is in you?” (2 Cor 13:5). “Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father” (1 John 2:24).

John continues his instruction to the youthful believers by telling them not to believe every spirit, but to test the spirits, whether they are of God because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world. This simple examination is the acid test to let you know whether these prophets, teachers (and apostles or pastors for that matter), indeed have the Spirit of God: “Every spirit that confesses that Yeshua the Messiah has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Yeshua the Messiah has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world” (1 John 4:1-4). Thus the spirit of Anti-Christ is seen to be against the anointing of the Spirit of Holiness in the life of the believer, and will reject the fact that the Father and the Son are present in that anointing.

Since John’s letter deals with the indwelling presence of the Spirit (the Father and Son), the “flesh” that is mentioned is not only Yeshua’s natural body of two thousand years ago, but also pertains to His “flesh” body on the earth today, meaning you and I, and all those who are in Messiah Yeshua through faith. The following verse, I believe, confirms that John is referring to Yeshua’s body of flesh today: “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Yes, He (the Father in the Son) in you, in your natural being, is the target of an Antichrist spirit, because that spirit knows that through that anointing we overcome and grow into young men. “I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one [the liar and deceiver] ” (1 John 2:13). “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world----our faith” (1 John 5:4).

The faith that the Apostles are speaking about is the faith of Abraham our earthly father (see Rom. 4:16). It is that faith which brings us into the knowledge of He who “is our life” and abides in our flesh bodies, and we (abide) in His Spirit. “For we who live are always delivered to death for Yeshuas’ sake, that the life of Yeshua also may be manifested in our mortal flesh” (2 Cor. 4:11; see Acts 17:28 and Col. 3:4). An antichrist spirit attacks “the faith” and this is why many will fall from the faith in the last days (ref. Dan. 11:35; Mat. 24:10,12,22,24), and so we must be reminded daily: “Above all, take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Eph 6:16).

In conclusion let us read again 1 John 2:24: “Therefore, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father”. In light of the usage of the word “beginning” in the previous verse, let’s read the opening lines of John’s letter: ” That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life---- the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--- that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Yeshua the Messiah. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:1-4).