The Spirit of the Antichrist

“And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” I John 4:3
My friend, we live in an evil and wicked age. The spirit of the times in which we live make a conducive atmosphere for the spirit of the Antichrist–the spirit of rebellion! It’s already here now in the world. It comes under many guises and is most prevalent among our young people. Rebelling and having an attitude is now painted as cool. Everything nowadays comes with an attitude; without an attitude you’re considered weak. Yet, behind this attitude is the nature of antichrist: a thief and robber of the character and meekness of Christ Jesus our Lord. Antichrist simply means against Christ or “instead of Christ.” The spirit of the Antichrist opposes and rejects the righteousness and truth in the person and work of the eternal son of God, Jesus Christ. The Antichrist is an opponent of the true Messiah. As the soon return of the Lord Jesus draws closer the devil busies himself master-minding what I call, “The Great Satanic Set-Up.” Satan has been working tirelessly to set the stage to counter the return of Christ by seducing the hearts of men.
“Little Children, it is the last time; and as ye have heard the antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time! I John 2:18 I don’t spend my walk with the Lord looking for the Antichrist, but looking for Jesus Christ. Yet, today many eyes have wandered from Christ having been lured by a different spirit. Countless believers are looking for a smooth gospel that demands little and promises much. II Cor. 11:4; II Tim. 4:3-4 The condition of the American church and the lifestyles of many Christians are a telltale sign of the drifting away of true apostolic faith and New Testament Christianity. Many today are departing from the faith being seduced by the spirit of the Antichrist. They have abandoned the Christian faith for false religions. I have ministered to those who have left the church of Jesus Christ for the Jehovah’s Witness and Muslim faith. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils,” I Tim. 4:1
This message was sparked in my heart during the recent “Million Man March.” I was grieved over so many “so called” Christians who fell hook, line and sinker for this march. Yet, I wonder how many others slept right through it! Saints, it is no time to sleep especially when satan is in a furious rage and it’s the count down for Christ’s return. “…knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” Rom. 13:11 NKJV It is obvious that it is the last hour and there are many deceivers who would love nothing more than to accommodate the “sleepy eyed.”
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God…” II Thes. 2:3-4 This scripture speaks of the Antichrist not yet revealed but in these last days the nightly news has chronicled many antichrists who are forerunners of the Antichrist himself.
Sometime last year Louis Farrakhan, the leader of his Nation of Islam, came to Houston, Texas on a crusade to specifically speak to black men. It was a highly publicized event which drew over 30 thousand black men. Praising the icon, women also came and endured listening outside on loud speakers. It appears that today’s black community has found its long awaited champion. At that time I was pastoring a small mission church in a predominately black and Hispanic neighborhood. There, I was the minority! I have become the spiritual father of many of them, young and old. Although they called me Pastor, I was considered kinfolk. The criteria for brotherhood is not in nationality, race and skin tone but in bloodline. The blood of Jesus Christ brings all ethnicities into one family line – true brotherhood without walls of prejudice! “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ. For He himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us.” Eph. 2:13-14 NKJV
I prayed and asked God how a Muslim could draw thousands of black men into a Christian Church. The voice of the Lord was very clear that morning, “It is because they do not know the voice of the Good Shepherd.” You see, Jesus Christ is a stranger to many American churches, they do not know Him much less His voice. These apostate churches are so far removed from New Testament revelation and true apostolic doctrine, that they go after false teachers. True Christians, regardless of race, follow Christ for they know His voice. “…and the sheep follow him: for they know His voice.” John 10:4 It’s a sad fact that many professing Christians flocked to a Christian church to hear a Muslim. Muslims do not believe in the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the son of God, who paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross and rising on the third day. They believe that Mohammed was the true prophet of their god, Allah. Therefore, they deny and reject the deity of Christ and His redemptive death and resurrection. Muslims, especially the teachings of the Nation of Islam, contradict and are diametrically opposed to the doctrine of Christ. Their message and doctrine is from the spirit of the Antichrist. Yet, many today believe Farrakhan to be a modern day christ. The Bible warns us of these false teachers. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” I John 4:1 Farrakhan does not speak for all black Americans because many know him to deny that Jesus is the Christ. “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” I John 2:22 It’s clear from the Holy Scriptures that believers are not to bring someone with an antichrist doctrine into our home much less into the pulpit of our churches! “For many deceivers are entered into the world…This is a deceiver and an antichrist…Whosoever transgreseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God…If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house…” II John 7, 9-10 Amazingly, throngs of people are being seduced because they do not know Jesus Christ nor His word. “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.” I John 2:26 A true believer would flee much less even consider attending such an apostate gathering. “And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” John 10:5 You see, Jesus Christ is not a stranger to a true believer for they have a personal relationship with their Lord and Savior. True sheep of all races, creeds and cultures know the Good Shepherd. “I am the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” John 10:14
The prophetic significance of the Million Man March, on the nation’s Capitol, is in how the speech of one man deceived the hearts of a sea of men. The Houston Chronicle headlined the event as a show of unity and a message of hope. A show it was, “instead of Christ!” “For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” Rom. 16:18 NKJV
This message is not intended to “bash” Louis Farrakhan but to expose the spirit of the Antichrist. Farrakhan is just another pawn in satan’s game to deceive the whole world. Dear friend, if you’re a professing Christian of African heritage and you are offended because of this message, it is because you do not know Christ whom you profess. Jesus said, “And blessed is he who is not offended because of me.” Matt. 11:6 NKJV Like I stated earlier, as Christians we should be focused on the coming of Christ, not the Antichrist. Yet, because of the current spirit of the times and the recent manifestation of false christs and false prophets, I believe this word is right on time!
In 1989, I delivered a message on the spirit of the Antichrist. God gave me a revelation on Absalom as a type of the Antichrist. It appeared to go over everyone’s head because six years ago it seemed irrelevant to that time and season. Yet today, after momentous events such as Waco and the Million Man March, maybe Christians will take heed. It is human nature to listen once the tragedy is passed or the subject materializes. We seem to reject warnings when the danger is not visible. I’ve been criticized that warnings such as these are “mute” subjects. In other words, why worry about something that’s not here yet? Let’s get on with the business at hand. It’s easier to see how a false christ can show up on the scene and steal the hearts of a culture when the warnings have been rejected. Now today it is not a mute subject but a potentially volatile one!
Such a time arose during King David’s reign in Jerusalem. In the book of Second Samuel, David is anointed King over all Israel and brings the Ark of the Covenant of God to Jerusalem. David defeats his enemies and establishes his kingdom. The king then sins by committing adultery with Bathsheba and commands the murder of her husband, Uriah. It is here that the spirit of rebellion had been set in motion! “Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a lawsuit came to the King for a decision, that Absalom would call to him…Moreover Absalom would say, ‘Oh, that I were made judge in the land…then I would give him justice.’ …So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” II Sam. 15:2,4,6 NKJV Absalom was David’s son who plotted the murder of his half brother Amnon for raping his sister, Tamar. Although King David was angry, he was weakened by his own sin and failed to discipline his son. Absalom is a type of the Antichrist who seduces the people of God to usurp the throne. He appears genuine yet he is driven by hidden motives and takes advantage of an opportune time and place to deceive the innocent and unsuspecting. Absalom conspires like a slick politician who lies and uses a cloak of “religiosity” to cover his lack of character. II Sam. 15:7-12 This is the same spirit of antichrist that is behind the politics in our country today. There are few true statesmen left anymore! David is seen here as a type of the modern day church who has lost the respect of the present day generation. In his weakened and compromised state, King David flees from Absalom to the wilderness. You see, David’s sin with Bathsheba opened the door for the spirit of rebellion which divided his kingdom from within. The weakened and compromising American church has not held fast the posture of God’s righteous and holy standards. The church today is mocked, ridiculed and disrespected by the world especially through the entertainment, music and news media. Many Christian leaders have turned political in order to be compatible and have also fled or abdicated their duties and responsibilities to this country. Hence, America’s sin of rejecting the Biblical standard set forth by our founding fathers has opened the door for the spirit of the Antichrist to divide our nation from within. America’s moral stance has been sabotaged by the spirit of the Antichrist.
It is interesting that the name Absalom means “father of peace.” It is the nature of an antichrist to foster a false peace among the people, especially among the dissident and disaffected. These false prophets always seem to show up on time when people are in a captivated and vulnerable place. “Send to all them of the captivity…because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie…because he hath taught rebellion against the Lord.” Jer. 29:31-32 Only Jesus Christ, the everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace, can bring true peace. Is. 9:6
God’s law is divine authority. Absalom rebelled against the divine authority existing in his father David’s Kingship. He thought if he could win the heart of the people, he’d reach his goal – the throne. The right of the kingship is not in the will of man but in the will of Almighty God.
The 60’s movement was instigated by the spirit of the Antichrist which was a rebellion against the existing authority – the “establishment.” This movement to “find yourself” by exploring the freedoms of established moral restraints set the stage for Generation X.
Like satan, Absalom wanted the throne, the spirit of the Antichrist seeks the throne of authority and superiority. Is. 14:13; II Thes. 2:4 It is characterized in humanism, man’s authority over God’s. The spirit is evident in all the current major issues of our day: Feminism, women seeking the right of the throne over male authority; Gay rights, the right of authority over one’s own sexuality; Abortion, the right of authority over one’s body; Self-Helps, the authority of individual power; Terrorism, the right of authority by the use of force; and even the issue of school prayer; the right of authority over one’s conscience.
I was “floored” by a recent sportscast reporting on today’s football player’s lack of restraint and control. Since the name of the game is money and win, the coaches give in to the players “self-expression.” If not, the players will go elsewhere, where the grass is greener in a transient sportsfield! Self-expression has become the new euphemism for rebellion. Any way you dress it, rebellion is simply the rejection of God’s will for the will of self. Self-esteem, self-expression and all other “self-helps” are borne out of the spirit of the Antichrist!
“And then shall many be offended…and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold,” Matt. 24: 10-12
So brethren, where does that leave us today in this age of deception? I strongly believe it is more important than ever before to stay connected to the Head, Jesus Christ and His body. Col. 2:19; Heb. 10:25 Otherwise, we will not make it. How King David and Absalom each ended up prophesies to us today! “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Rom. 15:4 I believe our hope today is in Ittai’s response to King David in the time of Israel’s rebellion. “And the King said to Ittai the Gittite, ‘Why are you also going with us?’ …And Ittai answered the King and said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as my lord the King lives, surely in whatever place my lord the King shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.’ ” II Sam. 15:19,21 NKJV Ittai is a type of the committed believer who remains faithful to Christ and His church…under fire! These are those who are devoted to Christ, a remnant of believers who stay connected inspite of obstacles and hardships. Ittai wouldn’t abandon David even in the worst of trouble! “…and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Rev. 12:11
Absalom’s “big headedness” destroyed him. Although he built a monument to himself as a memorial, he wound up perishing in shame and disgrace under a pile of rocks. II Sam. 18:9-18 Those who rebel against God’s authority will perish under God’s authority! David, on the other hand, rose up to defeat his enemies in victory and was restored as King. II Sam. Chapter 18 & 19 The gates of hell shall not prevail over the true church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matt. 16:18
In these last days, those who follow after false christs and those who try to go at it alone will both loose in the end. Although David had to live out the consequences of his sin, God ultimately gave him victory. “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” James 4:6 It is imperative that we remain connected (no matter what the circumstance) to Christ and His body because ultimately we win!
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matt. 24:13

Re-edition, original word 1995