The Spirit of Antichrist

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ 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 4:1-3.

John writes much about this. The spirit of Antichrist was already active in John’s day, and it is no less active in our days. On the contrary, this spirit has been working in people down through the ages until now and will continue to do so until they are ready to receive the Antichrist himself.

This spirit of Antichrist (against Christ) is the spirit that the bride has fought against; and when we awaken to this fact, we will realize that we meet this spirit everywhere. Since we are to test the spirits, John has given us instructions about how we can know them. “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.” Consequently, the spirit that does not confess this is the spirit of Antichrist. This spirit is against Jesus Christ come in the flesh.

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Rom. 8:29.

Christ is manifested in the flesh when we are conformed to the image of the Son. We can well understand that Satan is against this. He wants to be the only one who is manifested in the flesh, and we see him manifested everywhere. When people are ill-tempered, offended, lovers of money, selfish, anxious, envious, etc., Satan is being manifested in the flesh.

God’s call to us is to be saved from all this and that Jesus may be manifested in us instead. When this is to be practiced in reality, the battle really begins. Now we will see how the spirit of the Antichrist rises up in you and in all those around you. “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.” If you follow this exhortation, then Christ will be manifested in the flesh. However, no sooner does the exhortation come than the voice of opposition begins to speak out: “Is there any point in that? Am I always supposed to do what he says? That would be the last thing I’d do, submit to a fellow like that!” Etc.

But we read further: “For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.” Can you see how the spirit of Antichrist rises up? “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth.” 1 Pet. 2:18-23.

But this anti-spirit says, “You cannot take this literally. We cannot follow in Jesus’ steps who committed no sin, because then we would have to be sinless. No, we are sinners, and we must plead the blood and pray the prayer of the tax collector,” etc.

We hear this everywhere: “The forgiveness of sins is possible, but Christ manifested in the flesh? No! That is a dangerous doctrine—sinless perfection—a false doctrine. Be careful!!!” But you who read this, can you not discern between the Spirit of God and the spirit of Antichrist? In any case, you ought to have at least as much understanding as one old man in a meeting where the assembly was horrified because we taught freedom from sin. I asked, “Who do you think would be upset the most if you are set free from sin?” “The devil,” answered the old man. Well, if you are afraid of upsetting him, then resist Christ manifested in the flesh—an overcoming life—as much as you can. But listen to this: “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest.” 1 John 3:8-10.

John was particularly concerned that we should not be deceived; therefore his letters are like the sharpest two-edged sword. He had noticed that this spirit of Antichrist had begun to work in those to whom he wrote and that several had been defiled, even deceived, so that they had become antichrists and had gone out from them. 1 John 2:18-19. By this he knew that it was the last hour.

These antichrists did not begin by denying Jesus’ name—not at all! They continued to work for God, but in the spirit of Antichrist. Because they were excellent speakers, it was not easy to recognize them for what they were. But we are told that we can recognize them by whether or not they confess that Christ has come in the flesh. And then John continues to give us some examples:

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” 1 John 1:6. “If we say that we have no sin,4 we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Verse 8. “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4. “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” Verse 6. “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.” (Emphasis added). Verse 9.

John was not deceived by what they said—by their sheep’s clothing; he looked at the fruits—what kinds of works they produced. He had learned from the pattern he saw on Patmos. Rev. 2:1-2. He wanted to see Christ manifested in their flesh before he would believe them.

Paul said, “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” Acts 20:29. Paul held these wolves at bay. This spirit of Antichrist did not gain power as long as he was alive, but he could see that they would become bolder after his death. For this reason, he writes, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” 2 Tim. 4:3-4. When we read Peter’s second epistle and the epistle of Jude, we see how things had already developed in those days. How do you think things are today then? If the apostles were not able to restrain these wolves in sheep’s clothing, who can?

Open your eyes and test the spirits, and you will see a terrible sight. It is so terrible that most people do not dare to look at it. They close their eyes and say, “We must not judge; after all, we are only human,” and so they are helplessly led astray by these “antichrists.”

Here we do well to remember Jesus’ words when He sat on the Mount of Olives: “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:42-44.

The fall of the harlot of that day was imminent when Jesus spoke. If only they had known the things that made for peace, they could have been saved; but it was hidden from them. Because of their unbelief of the Word, they stumbled at the stumbling stone who was Jesus. God had given Him to them as the cornerstone in the building; but the builders rejected Him.

The builders of that day were the Pharisees and the scribes. They were responsible for educating the people and instructing the children. They were the architects of society and sat on Moses’ seat, but they did not do what they taught. The building was out of alignment. Jesus came and He should have been made the cornerstone of the building; but when the time came to straighten it out, it began to creak at the seams, and the builders were panic-stricken. If we read the Sermon on the Mount, we see how Jesus was going to straighten out the building: “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer.” “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” “But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.” “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” Matt. 7:24-25.

But it was not possible to straighten out the building. The builders did not want to acknowledge their errors. They rejected the Stone, which was chosen of God and precious. So the house fell, and its fall was great. The Roman legions came and laid siege to Jerusalem. The need became so great that they ate their own children, and the temple—the pride of the harlot—was razed to the ground. Not one stone was left upon another.

Down through the ages many have tried to build in the same way. They have built up great earthly empires, but they rejected Jesus as the cornerstone and so they have all come to ruin. Let us learn from this.

The apostles began to build anew with Jesus as the cornerstone. They were not satisfied simply to hear His word; no, it had to be done! We realize of course that this threatened Satan, and so he sent the spirit of Antichrist among them to disrupt their building, but they were able to test the spirits, and so these antichrists had to depart from them. It was revealed they were not of them. However, these opposers did not give up building just because of that. They put their threshold right beside the apostles’ threshold, and their doorposts right beside the apostles’ doorposts with only a wall between; and they defiled the name of Jesus by the abominations they committed. Ezek. 43:8.

Let us see how they do this. One of the beams they use most is: “We can do nothing.” This sounds true enough, and people gladly cross this threshold. It resembles so closely the word of Jesus, “Without Me you can do nothing.” (Emphasis added). John 15:5. But with Jesus’ words, the doorposts immediately become narrow, because He has also said that if we remain in Him, we will bear much fruit.

Another beam they use in their building is: “The blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin.” This resembles so closely the apostle’s beam: “If we walk in the light as He is in the light . . . the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. When the apostles lay their beam, “He who sins is of devil” in the building, right away the opposers are there with their beam; “My grace is sufficient for you.” And “Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” When the apostles lay their beam, “He who is led by the Spirit is a child of God,” they come with their beam, “All those who believe in Jesus are God’s children.” And when the apostles say, “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires,” they come with their beam, “Come, kneel at the foot of the cross.”

This is how they build. Many people say, “I can’t hear any difference.” Don’t you see that the spirit in the apostles’ doctrine is Christ manifested in the flesh, and that these antichrists want to explain that away? Don’t you realize that there is a wall between the two? Can’t you see that one door is narrow and the other wide?

The building of the Antichrist is also a towering structure. Many people enter through its door; but the door of the apostles’ house is narrow, and few are they who find it. Many times the disciples were anxious and troubled because they were so alone, but Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear. He who is of the truth hears My voice.” And John writes, “They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us.” 1 John 4:5-6.

This brought them rest. They could not get anyone else to join them except for those who had ears to hear and who were of the truth: those who were of God. It was best to be rid of the others anyway.

John said, “They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world.” How fitting this is when we consider their large conferences, conventions, and other prominent gatherings. We see how the world has put its stamp on them. Worldly dignitaries are often represented; sometimes they open the conference. Worldly musicians are hired for the occasion, and highly educated people are at the forefront. The fact that they are not spiritual is totally irrelevant. Truly they are of the world; they speak of the world, and the world hears them. The whole affair is concluded with a party that is attended by the elite, and those who are invited feel like they really are “somebody.” Then the tuxedos and evening dresses are brought out, and when cigars are passed around, the evening has reached a high point. This does not remind us much of Christ manifested in the flesh! Hear the voice from heaven: “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.” Rev. 18:4.

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.” 2 John 79.

“Whoever . . . does not abide in the doctrine of Christ.” What is the “doctrine of Christ”? Jesus said to a multitude that followed Him: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Mark 8:34. This is in essence the “doctrine of Christ.” If you abide in it, if you “deny yourself,” the life of Jesus will be manifested in you; Christ is manifested in the flesh. Then you have both the Father and the Son.

But then these antichrists come and preach to you: “Don’t you realize that the way you are thinking now is utter bondage? You don’t think you can help God with your salvation, do you? No, the work is finished. Jesus has done everything, and you are to do nothing. Jesus in you will do it. Just get more and more immersed in the love of Christ, and everything will work out automatically. You must not take each sin individually and try to deny it! All of that is cleansed away in Jesus’ blood! We are called to liberty in Jesus; do not allow yourself to be brought again under the yoke of bondage,” etc.

The following will give you an example of the subtle way in which the spirit of the Antichrist interprets the truth. This is an excerpt from one of the largest religious magazines in Norway:

Imputed Righteousness and the
Righteousness of Life

Jeremiah 33:16

God’s requirements and conditions for entering heaven are very precise. Just listen to the words of Jesus: “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:20. This is the requirement of the law. But “what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son.” Rom. 8:3. In other words, in Christ God gave us exactly what He required of us through the law. Now the Lord Jesus Himself is our righteousness. What a grace! Our righteousness is now perfect, because Jesus is perfect. I must say that this certainly exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees!

Our righteousness is unchangeable. Even though we have stumbled and sinned, Jesus has not sinned. Our righteousness is eternally secure. It is kept safely in heaven for us in Christ.

But what about our perfection here on earth? God requires this also; but Christ is our life also on this earth. The perfect life He lived on earth is now my life before God. A Christian has all God’s pleasure over his life for Jesus’ sake; and he can live with a smile! “As Jesus was, so are we in this world.”

If this sounds right to you, you are being subtly led away from the sound doctrine and are being turned to fables. Have you not read further in Romans 8 where it says that God gave us Jesus so that “the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Emphasis added). The spirit of Antichrist does away with all personal righteousness. It tells us: “All our righteousness is in Jesus, and it is in safekeeping in heaven.” Because of this teaching, Satan can rule here as much as he wants, unhindered by the “Christians.”

Just notice how these antichrists preach. Granted, they read God’s Word, but they do not shed any light on what it says. All they do is tell some touching stories and give a few quotes from other people (preferably someone who is famous in the world), and pass on things they have learned at Bible school or seminary. But Jeremiah says what their end will be: “‘Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,’ says the Lord, ‘who steal My words every one from his neighbor.’” Jer. 23:30. “But if they had stood in My counsel, and had caused My people to hear My words, then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings.” Verse 22.

Yet you like all these stories. You think they are so uplifting and there is such a pleasant spirit about them. Quite true, but that is because there is neither sword nor cross in them. You have been bewitched, and you are living in blissful ignorance of how pathetic your life really is. You have been led astray from working out your own salvation with fear and trembling. You have been drawn away from the doctrine of Christ. You do not have the Father or the Son; you have lost everything you gained by your labors. When you took up your cross and denied yourself, you had victory over your anger, anxiety, idle talk, backbiting, and vanity; but now you have backslidden to where you were before. You have lost your reward. Now when you go to a meeting where the word of the cross is being proclaimed, you think it is so heavy; you miss the joy of the Lord. You don’t like the Word that is as a fire, like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces. Jer. 23:29. You feel so condemned. You feel that there is such a hard spirit present, and so you run back to the antichrists—the sorcerers.

Beware! We need to call out this warning more now than in the days of John. We see plainly that it is the spirit of Antichrist that is working in the harlot, and her merchants are antichrists. Of course, the vast majority is more or less ignorant of this. They have been led astray. That is why we want the voice from heaven to sound forth louder than ever before: “Come out of her my people!” We will make this light shine whatever the cost.