I hear a lot of people these days talking about the coming of "the man" called “Antichrist.” As if he is a single man figure yet to come in the future who is going to set up some new world order and stamp his followers with a 666 tattoo, or implant a microchip in their forehead or in their right hand. Sounds like a Hollywood movie to me.
But I believe what many fail to understand is….the antichrist
"spirit" has already come, as was also prophesied in scripture, and is confirmed by both Jesus and the apostles. So instead of taking others word for it, let us see just what the scriptures actually say about that
"spirit of antichrist", and when
"it" actually came, and how
"it" has already successfully deceived many, and how
“it” has practiced and prospered in the world as is also written.
In the book of Daniel we are given the prophecy of the 4th and final beast, and the little horn.
Daniel 7:8 “I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another
"little horn", before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold,
"in" this horn were
eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.”
And this "little horn" is also shown here in Daniel 8:9-12 9 And out of one of them came forth a
"little horn", which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.10 And
"it" waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and
"it" cast down some of the host and of stars to the ground , and stamped upon them.11 Yea,
"he" magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and
the place of the sanctuary was cast down.12 And an host was given
him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and
"it"cast down the truth to the ground; and
"it" practised, and prospered.
First thing notice, the little horn is often called
“it”, next thing notice
“it” waxed great
"even to the host of heaven". No single evil man has waxed great,
"even to the host of heaven". And now thirdly, and most importantly, is “it”
"cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground".
Again, no single evil man figure has cast down the angels of God (stars) to the ground. But we do have
scriptural proof just who did, and how he did it; and even when this occurred. Notice below "how" the great Red Dragon draws away the stars of heaven, and casts them to the ground.
Revelation 12:3-5 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.4 And
"his tail" drew
the third part of the stars of heaven,
and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
This verse shows the connection with the prophecy of Daniel and the little horn
“it” (and
"the tail" of the red Dragon) which
cast down some of the host and stars to the ground. This verse also confirms
the
timing of just when this casting out of Satan would happen; as the man child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron, and was caught up to God, and to His throne is none other than Jesus Christ.
We also see confirmation of this casting out of Satan in Revelation 12:7-97 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,8 And prevailed not;
neither was their place found any more in heaven.9 And the great dragon was
cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world:
he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
This confirms the casting out of Satan (prince of this world) and the place of their sanctuary also being cast down, as confirmed in the above verses in Daniel 8:11. I’ll get back to the little horn and tail of the Dragon in a bit, but let’s first confirm by Jesus words and the apostles what we have so far.
Jesus said in
Luke 10:18 “And he said unto them,
I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Jesus also said the Prince of this world is judged in
John 16:11 Of judgment, because
the prince of this world is judged. And again in
John 14:30 “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for
the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” (prophecy of the coming of antichrist spirit)
And so again
when is Satan judged, cast out, and when does he come?
John 12:31 "Now" is the judgment of this world:
"now shall the prince of this world be cast out".
And when Jesus said
"now", he meant now! Not some 1,990 years or so later.
Alright, we have scriptural proof to confirm this, and Jesus’ own testimony to confirm this, and now the apostles testimony of the coming of antichrist "spirit". (not a man)
1 John 2:18 Little children,
it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come,
"even now are there
many antichrists"; whereby we know that
"it is the last time".
1 John 4:3 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 have heard that
"it"should come; and even now already is
"it" in the world
2 John 1:7 For
"many deceivers" are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is
a deceiver and an
"antichrist".
Note, John says nothing about a single man being called “Antichrist”, but rather he tells us antichrist is
"a spirit" which works in
"many". (many deceivers) And also how this spirit called
"it" was already in the world when he wrote those words.
This spirit is that little horn called
“it” in Daniel 8:12 which also
"casts the truth to the ground". The reason being is
"that spirit" is of the Devil, and the Devil is the father of
"lies".
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because
there is no truth in him. When he speaketh "
a lie", he speaketh of his own: for he is
"a liar", and the father of
"it". ( "it" is
the spirit of lies, aka
the spirit of antichrist)
Which brings us to the little horn (which is
"the tail" of the red Dragon) who drew away some of the host and stars of heaven, and cast them to the earth. (as we saw in Daniel 8:10 and Rev 12:4) But first we must understand what
"the tail" of the Red Dragon
represents, which is explained here in
Isaiah 9:15 “The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and
"the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.”
So
"the tail" of the Dragon represents
"the false prophet spirit" (spirit of antichrist) which teaches lies, and draws people away from the Truth. The false prophet image is shown here in
Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and
he spake as a dragon.”
This false prophet image may look to many like a lamb (like the outward image of the Lamb of God) but
his doctrine proves what
"spirit" he is truly of; because he
"speaks as a dragon". (= speaking lies) We are warned in
Matthew 7:15 Beware of
false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
So this spirit working in
many deceivers may come in the name of Christ, and even portray that same visible outward image,(sheep’s clothing) but their doctrine proves they are truly of the Dragon. (speaking lies)
Jesus said in
Matthew 24:5 “For
"many" shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall
deceive many.” And also in
Luke 21:8 “And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for
"many" shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.” So again, we see
"many deceivers" who will put on that outward lamb image, but those that know Christ’s voice shall also know they
speak like a red Dragon. (speaking lies in hypocrisy)
Also we read in
Revelation 13:13 “And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth
in the sight of men, So these false prophets will work wonders, but note the last part of that verse
“in the sight of men”, which means in
the eyes of men they will be great wonders. But we are told in the next verse that he “
deceives them that dwell on the earth by means of those miracles”
So they are
"false" miracles(or even
"lying "wonders)
2 Thessalonians 2:9 “Even him, whose coming is after
the working of Satan with all power and signs and
lying wonders,” Jesus said at the judgment
many would say they prophesied in his name and cast out devils and did many other wonderful works in his name; but Jesus said he did not know them and that they were really
"workers of iniquity". (= the workings of Satan)
Alright, before I get back to the “eyes of men” part, let’s confirm again how there were to be
"many false prophets" doing signs and wonders.
Matthew 24:24 “For there shall arise
"false Christs", and
"false prophets", and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mark 13:22 “For
"false Christs and false prophets" shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
And again here in
1 John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not
"every spirit", but try
"the spirits" whether they are of God: because
"many false prophets" are gone out into the world.” So that confirms without a doubt by many verses of scripture that there would be
"many false prophets" who would be of that same
spirit of
antichrist showing signs and lying wonders
in the sight of men.
Which brings us back to why
“in the sight of men” is mentioned in that verse. The sight is how one sees things, or
perceives things, and even
understands things. That is why we saw in the little horn in
Daniel 7:8 “I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were
"eyes like the eyes of man", and a mouth speaking great things.”
This is the sign of the
carnally minded man who judges things based on
"outward appearances". The Lord told Samuel in
1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him:
"for the Lord seeth not as man seeth"; for
man looketh on the
"outward appearance", but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
Job asked of the Lord in
Job 10:4 Hast thou
"eyes of flesh"? or seest thou
"as man seeth?" As Jesus told the
carnally minded men in his day
John 8:15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man." Because the Lord does not see things
as men see things
Isaiah 11:3 “And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: "and he shall not judge after
the sight of his eyes", neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:”
This judging after
the flesh (outwardly) is what the firstborn nature in man does, because he also is
"carnally minded" and he only knows what he knows
"naturally." And so having
"the eyes of man" to see, they still do not perceive
the spiritual things of God.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But
"the natural man" receiveth not the things of
the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are
"spiritually discerned.”
Jeremiah 5:21 “Hear now this, O foolish people, and
without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:
It is those elect of God who have been given the
"eyes of understanding" (7 eyes of the Lord) with their eyes being
enlightened by the
Holy Spirit of God which shall not be deceived.
Ephesians 1:17-1817 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you
the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:18 "The eyes of your understanding
being enlightened"; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
People need to have their
eyes anointed with
eyesalve so they can see ------>>>>> Revelation 3:18
May the Lord give you eyes to see, and ears to hear what the Spirit is saying in God's Word. Peace and God bless.
