by Gary L. Evans
(revised 8/4/2023)
Many Antichrists Deceiving Many
1Jn 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.
These are “the last days.” We know that in the very end of this world The Antichrist will come, but as Jesus warned us there would be many antichrists deceiving many. John said this two thousand years ago, so we know from this fact that “The Last Days” have been for two thousand years so far.
Many false prophets today claim that this is “the church age.” But that doctrine is entirely made up and is not in the Bible. Instead this is more properly called “the age of many antichrists deceiving many.” False preachers and teachers won’t tell you that Biblical fact, my friends, because they fear any scrutiny of the false doctrines they teach. So what is very important for Christians today is to know how to identify these antichrists.
1Jn 2:19 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.
Those antichrists went out from the early Christian assemblies. They claimed to be Christians, and claimed to be speaking in The Name of Christ, but left those faithful assemblies of believers and went their own ways, because they would not adhere to The Truth of God’s Word.
1Jn 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
John assumes that we already know The Truth of God’s Word, and that we know that no lie can possibly be part of The Truth. So the key to identifying antichrists is to detect the lies that they speak. John then gives us an example:
1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
We know that Jesus is The Messiah, so if someone says that He is NOT The Messiah, we know that he is a liar and an antichrist for saying such a thing.
The word “denieth” is “arnehomahee” meaning “to contradict.” A contradiction can come in three forms, by addition, omission, or abnegation. Adding something to a precept that was not part of the original statement, or omitting something included originally in a statement, or abnegating by simply saying, NOT SO, are the three forms of contradiction.
We know that no lie is of The Truth, so we can apply this precept to every other Christian Doctrine taught in God’s Word. Anyone who claims to be a Christian but who contradicts the teachings of The Father (Old Testament) or The Son (New Testament) is an antichrist.
Mat 5:17-18 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Jesus said, “I have not come to change The Law, and not a dot of an “i” or a cross of a “t” can change from The Law..” But many antichrists say, “Jesus changed the law.” That’s a contradiction of what Jesus taught us, isn’t it? It is a blatant form of abnegation.
Now who are you to believe? Some preacher who claims that Jesus changed The Law, or God’s Word and our Lord’s own teaching that He did not change it?
Deu 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
God’s Law is perfect, and forbids anyone to add to it or omit from it. Anyone who does such a thing is guilty of a terrible sin, because the result of teaching people that they may sin leads them into apostasy. And inventing a “new law” can only be to impose the will of some arrogant overbearing man who seeks to dominate the congregation.
Those hypocritical scribes and Pharisees stirred up a mob claiming that Jesus was guilty of many sins and leading people into apostasy. They took The Lord’s statements out of context in order to twist them into apparent falsehoods. And being swayed by false accusations, the mob of people demanded for Jesus to be crucified.
Antichrists today continue to infer that Jesus was a liar when He said He did not change God’s Law, and thereby justify those blood thirsty hypocrites who had Him crucified. Was Jesus a liar and a sinner? No, of course not. Who do you trust, my friends? Do you trust antichrists who claim to be Christian but teach falsehood? This world is full of them. Or do you put all of your trust in Christ Jesus and The Truth of God’s Word?
2Jn 1:8-11 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
If you discern that a preacher or teacher is an antichrist and you have no authority in the assembly, just quietly get up and leave. Don’t look back and do not say goodbye. The word “goodbye” is from the Old English and means “God be with you” which implies that your prayer is that God will empower him to continue in his evil work. And what is his work? Causing people to lose their souls by teaching them lies. Do not take part in any such thing.
Joh 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
The hypocrites demanded that Jesus show them a miraculous sign to prove Himself.
Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
So Jesus answered, Go ahead and destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.
Joh 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
Then the hypocrites jumped to the conclusion that Jesus spoke of the Temple in Jerusalem. But He was referring to His own body which was to be sacrificed for our sins.
Joh 2:21-22 But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
Jesus was referring to His Body which was a temple for The Holy Spirit that dwelt in Him.
Mark 14:55-56 And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
The hypocrites tried to find people who would bear false witness against Jesus, but those that they found contradicted each other.
Mark 14:57-59 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together.
Some accusers claimed that Jesus said that He would destroy the Temple in Jerusalem and rebuild it in three days. But Jesus had said, “If YOU destroy THIS temple,” referring to His body, “I will raise it up in three days.” So they took what He said out of context in order to condemn Him.
2Pe 2:1-3 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. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Peter warned us of these antichrists and compared them to the “false prophets” of old time who deceived the people to cause them to ignore the teachings of the True Prophets of God. These deceivers today come into Christian assemblies as “false teachers,” while pretending to be sincere Christians but not teaching the doctrines taught by Jesus and the Apostles.
Jud 1:3-4 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The word, “denying,” is from the Greek, “ar-neh’-om-ahee,” which means, “to contradict, that is, disavow, reject, abnegate.”
Jude, also called Judas, used the same word that means “to contradict” that John used teaching us how to discern the antichrists in the world. And he explains that such persons were “foreordained” to this very negative purpose.
2Ti 3:1-7 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
The word, “denying,” is the same word, “contradicting,” we’ve been warned about.
Paul also warned us of these antichrists in The Last Days, and lists the types of personalities they would have and the deceitful works that they would be doing, while pretending on the surface “to be godly,” but contradicting the doctrines of Christ Jesus and The Word of God.
2Ti 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
And because of antichrists, the people will become apostate and reject The Truth of God’s Word, choosing instead to believe falsehoods that tickle their ears.
Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
The disciples asked Jesus when would the end of the world come and what signs should we look for at that time.
Mat 24:4-5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
The word, “Christ,” is from the Greek, “khris-tos’,” and means, “anointed, that is, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.” It means in its general sense, “an anointed person,” and specifically is used to refer to The Messiah, which also means, “anointed,” in the Hebrew.
Jesus warned us that in The Last Days MANY would come claiming to be “anointed,” claiming to be Christians, but instead would be DECEIVING MANY.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.