1 John 2:18-19 (ESV) Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
 
Alright, let’s regroup. John points to the many antichrists that have come through the church rather than the big guy (Antichrist) who will destroy the world. He suggests that we should be more concerned about the antichrists than the Antichrist.
 
We also, dug into the Greek to find that the prefix “anti” in antichrist doesn’t mean one who opposes Christ. What it means is one who rules instead of Christ.
 
While we could easily declare with great passion that we do not oppose Christ, how many of us could say that we do not operate selfishly at the helm of our will, instead of Christ? We all have our moments. Being submitted to the Holy Spirit, he brings us back into proper alignment.
 
The Devil is sneaky. He knows that most people would never on the front end of the antichrist infection, oppose Jesus. Later toward the end of the mass infection there will be tremendous opposition against Jesus and anyone who aligns with him, not on the front end though.
 
At first, the enemy is only interested in us ruling our lives instead of Christ. He desires that “self” rules. When self rules, love grows cold, and people become extremely deluded.
 
Matthew 24:12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.
 
This verse is the description that Jesus gives of the heart of people in the end time. This will be in increasing measure. It is already here, this infection has set in and soon it will blister onto the surface.
 
You may not see it if you are not looking for it.
 
I see this like carbon monoxide poison in a garage. A car is running, the colorless and odorless gas is present, suffocating whoever is breathing it and they may never know what is happening.
 
The delusion that is present is lawlessness. It is present in the person who choses to be led by self rather than Christ – this is at the core of antichrist, which is “instead” of Christ.
 
Listen to what Paul says, “Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false… (2 Thessalonians 2:11) Their strong delusion causes them to make decisions out from under God’s loving authority – that is the epitome of lawlessness, “I am under no one’s authority, I have no Father or Lord!”
 
Revelation 16:10-11 People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.
 
Lawlessness only occurs where people make laws up for themselves. In the end, all humanity will become antichrist, just like the Antichrist.
 
John was pointing at the presence of the antichrist infection in his day. This infection is present in the church today, as well.
 
We should dig into this some more, 1 John 2:19 says, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.” John specifically ties their leaving from the fellowship as a sign of them being antichrist.
 
Now, before we go berserk, not everyone who leaves a church is antichrist – sometimes you have to leave a church to get away from antichrist – right?!
 
But, there is an increasing number of people who consider themselves Christians, but hold no alignment with any local church. They are in no fellowship, nor do they desire to be. This is antichrist – they are not the Antichrist. They are operating outside of the desire and will of Jesus, therefore they are operating as ruler instead of Christ.
 
There are other people who will only be in a church until someone does something to upset them and then they leave, this is also antichrist. The scripture lays out how healthy reconciliation occurs, to leave without pursuing what the Holy Spirit says to do is to make decisions based on what you think is right, again antichrist, or instead of Christ.   
 
That is what John is warning about, that we should be more concerned about all of the little antichrists than the big guy Antichrist.
 
Paul warns that this infection exists inside and outside the church and it will grow stronger as Jesus allows people inside and outside the church to embrace it.
 
2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 (NLT) He (Antichrist) will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies.
 
In our following devos, we will investigate the components of an antichrist. After all, who would want to be that? Sounds important for us to know.
 
Father, thank you that your Holy Spirit leads us into all truth. If there is anything about what I am teaching that is false, then let this teaching fall flat on the ground. If on the other hand, this teaching is what your church needs to embrace then help us to see and not be deceived. Through the love and empowerment of Jesus, we will repent and move forwards with open eyes and hearts. Thank You Jesus for your watchful care over the church.
 
Blessings,
Pastor D