The Spirit of the Antichrist

1 John 2:18 NASB95

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.

What Is The Spirit Of The Antichrist?

A Spirit of “Secret Knowledge”

A Spirit Of Deception

A Spirit That Mimics The Trinity

A Spirit of Error

A Spirit of Lawlessness

What Are We To Do About It: 4 Tests

Being An Overcomer

Real Affects On Real People

Spirits plural - false prophets plural - antichrists plural.

They and them - plural.

John was referencing real people being influenced by real spirits.

What’s interesting here is that in John’s writing, he holds to the notion that all teaching, true or false, has a spiritual dimension.

He posits that both true teachers and Antichrists are inspired by spirits, and so he warns...

A Spirit Of Secret Knowledge

Do Not Believe…

The Greek word - pisteuo here actually means trust.

Not all teachers can be trusted, because some of them are driven by spirits that do not come from God.

Secret Knowledge

Personal “Spiritual” knowledge over orthodox teachings of institutionalized religions (Gnosticism)

Hidden knowledge.

Third Eye. Spiritual enlightenment.

Pursuit of knowledge apart from God, the Bible.

Claiming that one’s teaching is inspired in the same way the Bible is inspired.

Joseph Smith, Charles Russel Taze, Mohammed, and others.

A Rejection Of Dogmatic Or Doctrinal Norms.

John 16:12–15 NASB95

“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.

Even the Holy Spirit is not free to pass along things of His own initiative.

He only speaks what He has been told.

2 Timothy 2:2 NASB95

The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Pushing back on organized religion

Ephesians 4:11–13 NASB95

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:14–15 NASB95

As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

The Spirit Of Deception

1 Timothy 4:1 NASB95

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

The antichrists in I John once appeared to be genuine Christians and were led astray.

2 Corinthians 11:2–3 NASB95

For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:4 NASB95

For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.

2 Corinthians 11:13–15 NASB95

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

Disguised as an angel of light.

Lucifer

Light Bringer / Morning Star

Luciferians / Lucifarianism

His servants disguised as servants of righteousness

Individualism is a core value of Lucifarianism emphasizing the importance of personal autonomy.

Self-empowerment - become your own source of light and truth. Rejecting external authorities that dictate beliefs or actions. You have the potential to become your own higher power.

Pursuit of knowledge - personal and spiritual development. A value of wisdom over ignorance, but believe true enlightenment comes from questioning established norms, exploring new ideas, and continually seeking to expand one’s understanding to the world.

Rejection of dogmatic norms - Encouraging individuals to question established beliefs and develop their own understanding of truth and morality. A rebellion against unjust authority. A defiance against tyranny and an assertion of individual freedom.

A Spirit That Mimics (Mocks) The Trinity (vs. 2-3)

Have Gone Out - False Prophets

“Have Gone Out” suggests that these antichrists are on a mission to deceive. It is their Great Commission...

One thing is a substitute Savior

Mark 13:22 NASB95

for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect.

I am constantly saddened when I hear of what were once solid Christian organizations slowly being lead astray by Satan’s lies.

I just heard of 2 recently that I had suspicions about, but didn’t want to believe.

Antichrist is coming

Slogan at the time.

Jesus is coming...

Islam - awaiting the 12th Imam

The twelfth and final Imam is Muhammad al-Mahdi, who is believed by the Twelvers to be currently alive, and hidden in the Major Occultation until he returns to bring justice to the world.

Lucifarians would embrace the coexist bumper sticker and would therefore embrace the 12th Imam.

Antichrist is already in the world

The power of the Antichrist is already at work.

The spirit of Christ is already at work. The Holy Spirit.

The Unholy Trinity Revelation 13

The Dragon

The Antichrist

The False Prophet

The Spirit Of Error (vs. 6)

Delusion, false judgment or opinion.

Deceit, fraud, seduction to error and sin.

Perverseness, wickedness, sin

The Spirit of Truth vs. The Spirit of Error

This is where doctrine is important.

an over-reliance on subjective experience is dangerous.

being “spiritual”, rather than believing in the Bible.

What is truth?

Truth must be an objective standard that is outside of our existence.

It must be a fact that remains a standard regardless of time, culture, and circumstances.

John 16:13 NASB95

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

John 15:26 NASB95

“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,

John 14:6 NASB95

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

The Spirit of Lawlessness (vs 6)

2 Thessalonians 2:3 NASB95

Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

2 Thessalonians 2:7 NASB95

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

Matthew 24:12 NASB95

“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.

Not the absence of the Law, but the violation of it.

And this is chiefly related to the Divine instituted laws, not merely the laws of men.

What Are We To Do?

Exhortation: Test The Spirits

We are not to be gullible.

We are not to go along to get along.

We NEED to have a spirit of discernment.

dokimazo - to try, prove whether something is worthy or not, discern, distinguish, examine

Lends itself to the ability to have an objective inquiry about it.

Examine

Does it stand up to the test?

How does it compare to the standard?

It is an objective examination against established criteria.

Let the evidence speak for itself and then take/make your conclusions from it.

Examine the nugget. Is it fool’s gold? Then reject it.

1 Thessalonians 5:21–22 NASB95

But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.

Four Initial Tests (vs. 2-3, 6)

Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. Confess means to acknowledge openly.

That Jesus is the God/man. Fully divine / fully human.

1 John 4:15 NASB95

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

1 John 2:22 NASB95

Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

That Jesus really appeared in the flesh. As a creedal statement against Gnosticism.

John 1:14 NASB95

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

That Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament. Jesus was the Messiah prophesied about in the OT.

John 1:17 NASB95

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:1 NASB95

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.

That They Know God. They are in a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

The antichrist preaches that you do not need to know God or Jesus.

1 John 2:22 NASB95

Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.

You can find your own truth.

Personal religious experience transcends doctrinal belief and declaration.

Individualism and personal autonomy

You Are An Overcomer (vs 4)

Nikao - nike. (vs 4)

Greater Is He who is in you than he who is in the world (spirit of the antichrist)

1 John 5:4–5 NASB95

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

We are victorious and will be victorious

Matthew 24:4–5 NASB95

And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

Matthew 24:24 NASB95

“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

John 16:33 NASB95

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Antichrists May Win Some Battles, But We WILL Win The War Because Of The Blood Of The Lamb!

Revelation 5:5 NASB95

and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”

Revelation 12:11 NASB95

“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Is He Worthy

Communion

Death Was Arrested