In my vlog titled ''The Secret to the Last Days'', I quoted Apostle John's words in 1 John 2:22 :
'' Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.''
So does that make those who question or are agnostic antichrists? No.
To make a vlog direct and as accessible as possible, we often focus on the key points. However to ensure a more rounded insight I would like us to revisit John's words on the subject starting from verse 18.
''Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.'' 1 John 2:18 -19
The purpose of his teaching was to make the believers aware that those who had joined the faith but later went on to oppose Jesus were not genuine followers of Jesus the Messiah in the first place. John's teaching is in line with Jesus' Parable of the Weeds:
'' But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.''Matthew 13: 25 -26 [please read 24 -30, 36 -43]
They are imposters planted in by the enemy. Theirs is the spirit of the antichrist - not the spirit of Christ. I, however, emphasize that Jesus and John were not referring to people leaving a local assembly of the church or denomination, rather, they were referring to those who claimed to be part of the church as a whole i.e. Believers, who oppose Jesus as the Messiah (i.e. the Christ), his teachings (God's word) and his rule. They will be judged at the end for the lies they tell.
''Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.'' 1 John 2:22
“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man (Jesus) will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.'' Matthew 13: 40 -41
A honest enquiring heart, a lukewarm one or even one with doubts is not an anti-Christ spirit. While these spiritual states are not the safest positions to be in days leading up to God's judgement day, they do not necessarily make one anti-Christ. The Anti-Christ spirit inspires an active denial of Jesus as the Messiah and tries to derail those who believe in his Truth.
All Jesus-followers (Christian or Messianic) were once unbelieving and that did not mean they were anti-Christ. John the Baptist (not the same John who wrote 1 John in the Bible) was Jesus' cousin and the same one who baptised him, heard God's voice acknowledging Jesus as His son and Messiah and boldly declared him as the Saviour,
''The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'' John 1:29
Yet this same John, in a moment of weak faith i.e. doubt, sent his followers (disciples) to confirm from Jesus if he indeed was the Messiah. A question to which Jesus answered:
''Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” NIV [read Matthew 11:2-6]
If John the Baptist's doubt did not make him anti-Christ, neither does yours. However, as Jesus said, ''And blessed [joyful, favored by God] is he who does not take offense at Me [accepting Me as the Messiah and trusting confidently in My message of salvation].” Matthew 11:6 AMP
Once more, as said in the video, the anti-Messiah (antichrist) is not someone with doubts but it is a spirit that actively opposes,
the preaching of the Gospel
the Messiah Jesus and
The Scriptures (word of God)
John in 1 John 2:26 was clear about his purpose for making the Christians aware of the operations of this anti-Christ spirit:
'''I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.'' .
His warning (admonition) is also clear in the next verse (27):
'' As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.''
Be rest assured, God is not afraid of questions.
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