A Richer Walk

Summary of the Concept of Antichrist

By this time, we know that there is an Antichrist, about whom the believers addressed by John had been taught, who would arrive in the last days. However, prior to his arrival, the world would be flooded by second-class antichrists that would arise out of the local churches sent to convince and to seduce the world into believing that Jesus is not the Christ.

1 Timothy 4:1–2 (KJV 1900) 1 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; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Here we see the specific operation of the “antichrists” revealed and predicted by John. Their ministry [“speaking lies in hypocrisy”] will result in defections from the church, having been seduced by the doctrines of demons, through the ministry of false teachers energized by seducing spirits.

2 Peter 2:1 (KJV 1900) 1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

We have heard from John and from Paul, now Peter weighs in with commentary on this issue of antichrists and their ministry. Let’s close this circle with John again.

1 John 4:1–3 (KJV 1900) 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. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 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.

There is a spiritual conspiracy in the world that seeks to dethrone Christ through the agency of false teaching. False teaching is not simply a difference of opinion, it is life and death: your life and your death. This conspiracy being executed in the spirit of antichrist is known by another name, the Mystery of Iniquity.

Here at the end of the unfolding drama of history, the last hour, begins an escalation of the spiritual warfare between God and his adversary, the devil.

The appearance of Christ, and his strategic victory via his substitutionary death and resurrection from the dead, positioned an elect group of human beings, the Church, with the unique position [as the spiritual body of Christ], and unlimited power [via the Indwelling of the Spirit] to glorify the Lord both in time and eternity.

This development has motivated an escalation in the Mystery of Iniquity, the coordinated offensive of Lucifer, administered in every age, by which the Plan of God is systematically opposed and undermined. That escalation is the spirit of antichrist, which will animate the devil’s administration of the earth until the return of Jesus Christ.

A major objective of the Mystery of Iniquity is the elevation of the Man of Sin, the Antichrist, who is to Christ what Lucifer purports to be in opposition to God. 

The Antichrist is a usurper, he is contending for the position of Christ, his objective is the defeat or the disqualification of Jesus as God and Messiah. Therefore, he denies the legitimate claims of Christ to rule the universe.

The Antichrist embodies the aspirations of the devil in his war against God and is the clearest representation of Lucifer’s argument and strategy.

The preamble, the prologue to the unveiling of the Antichrist is the unleashing into this last hour of history an army of antichrists, designed to counterfeit legitimate Christian faith as pastors, teachers, theologians, mercy workers, church officials, bible translators, counselors, missionaries and every other place of influence inside and outside the local church. Their mission is to destroy faith by undermining the scriptures, corrupting biblical teaching, promoting destructive spiritual alliances, and questioning divine institutions such as marriage and the family. At the same time, the demonic hierarchy is constructing the super-national political and ecclesiastical structures and relationships which will receive the Man of Sin when the divine restraint is removed and he is injected into world affairs like a virus.

At this point is will be helpful to introduce the concept of the Mystery of Iniquity, which is the prehistoric, all-encompassing strategy of the devil in the cosmic conflict. It is within the framework of the Mystery of Iniquity that we will most profitably examine Antichrist and his pivotal role in Lucifer’s end game.

[Adapted from the manuscript “The Antichrist and the New World Order,” Richard. G. Walker Sr.© 2020]