Expert: Dr Don Howe - 9/10/2009

Question
 Is the antichrist apparently good or obviously evil? He deceives but he also speaks blasphemies. Is he a wolf in (Christ-like) sheeps clothing or something like a heavy metal musician? Thank you.

Answer
  Monty, thank you for your question. The word antichrist is a combination of two Greek words: anti means “instead of” or “against” and the word Christos means “anointed one.” So the antichrist is against the anointed one, the Lord Jesus Christ. When we refer to the “Antichrist” with as a proper noun, we are referring to the Antichrist in Revelation. But when the noun “antichrist” is a regular noun, the bible id referring to people who are antichrists who is against the anointed one. So antichrist and the Antichrist of Revelation both are evil and saying blasphemies against God.

  Sometimes antichrists, with a little `a` can be referring to evil spirits and false spirits also. Jesus mentioned false spirits in Matthew 24:23-24 which states "Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There {He is,}' do not believe {him.} For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” Jesus is speaking of the Tribulation and gives the criteria of a false spirit or antichrist. If anyone says that Christ is here or there do not believe them because they are a false Christs and false prophets that will arise during the Tribulation to mislead, even people who are saved.

  Apostle John takes this even further. 1 John 2:18 states “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.”  Here John is making a distinction between the antichrist and many antichrists Remember, the Apostle John was looking for the return of Christ during his life. “You heard that antichrist is coming” is referring to Antichrist of Revelation as mentioned in Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Matt. 24:15. Then John mentions “many antichrist” which is referring to many antichrist who are false christs.
  David Guzik speaks on this distinction between The Antichrist and many antichrists “There is a distinction between the Antichrist and many antichrists. There is a “spirit” of antichrist, and this “spirit” of antichrist will one day find its ultimate fulfillment in the Antichrist, who will lead humanity in an end-times rebellion against God.”

  John says more on the Antichrist in 1 John 2:22 “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.” The Antichrist is a liar and he denies both the Father and the Son.

  John makes an interesting statement about the spirit of antichrist. 1 John 4:3 states “and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the {spirit} of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.” The spirit of the antichrist does not confess Jesus is God. But the spirit of the antichrist is present in America today.
  Charles Stanley states “ In short, the spirit of antichrist is as old as the Garden of Eden. As soon as Eve chose to rebel against the command of God, the spirit of antichrist appeared in our world. It is the willful determination to usurp the place of God by making our own decisions and ignoring His wisdom and sovereignty. Antichrists are those who continue to live by this delusion, and they fill our universities, our business world, and even our pulpits. The spirit of antichrist has penetrated every part of the world in which we live.”
  He goes on to tell us about the danger of the spirit of antichrist “The spirit of antichrist is so dangerous, so eternally destructive, and so prevalent that it is vitally important that we know what we believe and why we believe it. Many people are careless about that, however. If someone asked you to describe your basic spiritual beliefs, and then defend them, could you do it? If parents can’t present a full account of their faith, we can be certain that their children will not have that ability. Yet when those children attend our public universities, they will face the full indoctrination of the spirit of the age.”

  Monty, the wolf in sheeps clothing is referring to false prophets as noted in Matthew 7:15 and does not refer to rock musicians.

I hope this helps.

Dr Don Howe, RN, PhD, ThD

  
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