The Daily Word of Righteousness

Survival and Fruitfulness in the Last Days, #2

He [the False Prophet] also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:16,17—NIV)

The Antichrist (Beast) is a main topic of the Book of Revelation. Keeping in mind that the Book of Revelation is addressed to the servants of God and Christ, we Christians are solemnly warned concerning the torments that are to fall on those who worship the Antichrist and his image and receive the mark of his name.

We believe Antichrist will be a deceived Christian who, in the last days, will take his place on the Mercy Seat between the wings of the Cherubim of a restored temple in Jerusalem. We do not know who he is, what his image will be, or what will be the mark of his name.

This present brief article will not deal with the actual person of Antichrist, his image, or the mark of his name, but with the spirit of Antichrist that has been in people during the past two thousand years of church history.

Notice that Antichrist comes from among the ranks of Christians, just as did Judas.

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. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. (I John 2:18,19)

"They went out from us"!

Being deceived by the Antichrist spirit is more of a danger to the Christian than to the unbelievers. Why is this?

To understand why Antichrist is such a great danger to the Christian we must revise our concept of Satan. Satan was at one time one of the most exalted of the heavenly personages. He is accustomed to being in the center of the Glory of God.

God chose to give all of His Glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan is jealous and envious and is seeking to supplant Jesus as the heir of the Glory of God. This is why there is so much jealousy, envy, and supplanting in the churches.

Satan leaves his minor demons to harass the prostitutes, the alcoholics, those on drugs. Satan himself always seeks out the most fervent assembly of Christians he can find. Satan desires to be where there are healing and miracles taking place, pageantry, intense worship, inspiring music, the manifest Presence of God. Satan always gathers with the sons of God.

Satan still desires to be in the center of the Glory of God.

How, then, can we survive and be fruitful in the last days without being deceived by Antichrist? What is the key to the understanding of Antichrist?

To be continued.