Ellet J. Waggoner
The Present Truth : August 10, 1893
Antichrist means opposed to Christ. The spirit of antichrist is, therefore, the spirit that is opposed to the Spirit of Christ. The apostle John says, “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.” 1 John 4:3. There are many forms of it, for the same apostle says, “Even now there are many antichrists.” 1 John 2:18. But no matter what the form or the disguise, the spirit of antichrist is primarily the spirit of Satan, for his is “the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” Ephesians 2:2
The great opponent of Christ does not always carry on his work of opposition openly. He “is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14), and “deceives the whole world.” Revelation 12:9. Now no one can deceive unless he appears to tell the truth; therefore it must be expected that Satan will in his work counterfeit the truth as nearly as he can. Christ warns us that “there shall arise false christs, and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24:24. This being the case, no one need be surprised to find that Satan has carried and does still carry on his work under the guise of Christianity. It is only when people are quite fully given to his service, and there are few to challenge it, that he throws off his disguise.
If it were possible, he would deceive the very elect. And why is it not possible to deceive them? Christ gives the answer. He said of the shepherd of the sheep, “When He puts forth His own sheep, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him; for they know His voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers.” John 10:4, 5. And then He said, “I am the good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine.” Verse 14. In becoming acquainted with Christ, therefore, and in that way only, can we escape the deceptions of the enemy. It is therefore necessary that we first study briefly
THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST
so that we may know by contrast the spirit of antichrist. This is very clearly set forth by the apostle Paul, in his exhortation to us to have the same Spirit. He says: —
“If there is therefore any comfort in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; who, being in the form of God, counted it not a prize to be on an equality with God, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.”