The Sprit of this Age

           

                                     
                                                             Spirit of Anti-Christ
The second great strong man manifesting increasingly in the world today is the spirit of Anti-Christ. John referred to the spirit in his first letter, chapter 4:
'And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.' (1 John 4:3)
We are aware that this spirit in the last days will manifest as the man of sin, or the beast. We find this clearly referred to in 2 Thessalonians:
'Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.' (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4)
One of the attributes of this man of sin, or the Anti-Christ, will be that he sits as God in the temple of God in Jerusalem during the last days.
Lawless One
He is also referred to as 'the lawless one' and is restrained by the Holy Spirit:
Tor the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming.
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.'
(2 Thessalonians 2:7-9)
The manifestation of the spirit today is increasing in the world, particularly in rock festivals and with rock bands.

Children of Anti-Christ
I suggest that a list of children of this particular strong man, namely Anti-Christ can be as follows:
Spirits of abortion, anger, bitterness, blasphemy, corrupt communications, curses, dissension, drunkenness, envy or hatred, fear, filthy language, frigidity, lack of faith, lying, malice, murder, nightmares, outbursts of wrath, poverty, rebellion, spirit of wretchedness, rejection, selfish ambitions, stealing, strife, torment, unbelief, unforgiveness, anti-semitism, marxism and Islam.
Manifestations of these spirits can be sleepiness, yawning and various kinds of infirmity that respond slowly to prayer.
We find that the beast in the form of the Anti-Christ at the end of time is captured with the false prophet and is cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone:
'Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.' (Revelation 19:20)
This is the second of the great strong men to go into the lake of fire and brimstone.
Death and Hell
In the course of ministry in the deliverance area, I have often found in the past that, when I commanded the spirit's name, Death and Hell, to leave a person, violent manifestations occurred. As I began to research this area, I realized that Death and Hell were themselves strong men and are clearly referred to as such in Scripture. Not only is Hades a place, but Death and Hades are demonic angels.
We find in the Book of Revelation that they, too, are cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, being the third order of strong men to go in:
'The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.' (Revelation 20:13, 14)
Churches Attacked

I believe that churches and individuals are attacked in turn by the spirit of Jezebel, then Anti-Christ, and finally Death and Hell brings in sickness. One of the children of Death and Hell is the spirit of curse. We know that these are curses of God, referred to in Deuteronomy 27 and 28 for the disobedient, and although there are curses of the law which have been dealt with by Jesus on the cross (Galatians 3:13) we need to appropriate what Jesus Christ has done on the cross when we turn to Him.
'Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree").'
As we turn to Christ, then the spirits of these curses can be removed.
Sometimes curses are placed by people who are operating in the demonic realm. Gypsies and others have always exercised powers of cursing. Similarly, many native cultures do the same thing.
Curses
I have come to understand that such things as frequent accidents, suicides, and successions of deaths in families and many forms of sickness could be the result of a
curse.
If we know that the curse is from another person, we need to remember and act upon the words of Jesus:
. . . bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.'
(Matthew 5:44)
Children of Death and Hell
I believe that the children of Death and Hell are as follows:
Sickness, pain, plagues, breathing problems, spirits of infirmity, spirits of guilt, spirits of condemnation and fear, curses, hopelessness, loneliness, darkness, depression, spirits of suicide and self-destruction.
Under 'sickness', I would include all forms of sickness, particularly those of longstanding origin.
Unholy Trinity
It has been suggested that the foregoing three strong men, namely the spirit of Jezebel, Anti-Christ, and Death and Hell, are the satanic counterparts of the Holy Trinity; namely that the spirit of Jezebel seeks to take the place of the Holy Spirit, and the spirit of Anti-Christ seeks to take the place of God the Father, and the spirit of Death and Hell seeks to take the place of Christ. It is noteworthy that they are cast into the lake of fire and brimstone in the order of Jezebel, Anti-Christ, and Death and Hell, and it does seem important in the area of ministry to cast them out in that order when they are affecting an individual or church.
These are very strong men and we must always remember the power of agreement referred to in Matthew 18:
'Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.' (Matthew 18:18)
As we, as Christians, agree together to bind these spiritual forces then they in turn lose their grip over the church or persons, or city, and then we can plunder their house and cast out their children.
Control Spirit
Apart from the three major demonic powers referred to above, I have sometimes found there is another powerful demonic force called a control spirit.
Many people have a control spirit which will deny the truth. The devil can bring peace as well as turmoil. Control spirits act to control the person and prevent deliverance. The function of the control spirit is twofold:
1. To shield the human spirit from hurt.
2. To bring calmness.
This demon frequently comes in during childhood as a result of a trauma, for example a child's father says, 'I am going away and will not come back.' The youngster may well take on the demon which eases the pain.
As true repentance, including forgiveness, takes place, then deliverance can be accomplished.




                                                               Beware Of Antichrists!
1 John 2:18-27
INTRODUCTION
1. With a term of endearment (“little children”) that is a favorite of John’s, he now proceeds to warn
them about a problem that was very real in his day...
“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is
coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the
last hour.” (1 Jn 2:18)
2. John is the only writer of the New Testament who uses the term “antichrist”, and he uses the term
just five times...
a. Twice here in 1 Jn 2:18 (“antichrist is coming...many antichrists have come”)
b. Again in 1 Jn 2: 22 (“He is antichrist who denies...”)
c. Also in 1 Jn 4:3 (“this is the spirit of the antichrist...”)
d. And in 2 Jn 7 (“a deceiver and an antichrist.”)
3. The term is commonly used today by many to refer to one individual (“The Antichrist”), who is
supposed to appear in the “end times”...
a. I.e., some actual person who will arise in the religio-political arena and lead many people astray
just before Christ comes again
b. This view is held by pre-millenialists and many amillenialists as well
c. A connection is usually made to the “man of sin” described by Paul in 2 Th 2:1-11, and that
John possibly has reference to the same individual
4. Whether that is so or not, it is evident that John was more concerned about “antichrists” who have
already come; and so we might ask...
a. Who were these “antichrists”?
b. How were the Christians to avoid being misled by them?
c. How can we avoid being misled by antichrists today (whether it be one or many)?
[Let’s begin by...]
I. IDENTIFYING THE “ANTICHRISTS”
A. THEY REFUSE TO FOLLOW APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY... (19)
1. In John’s day...
a. They were individuals who had associated with the apostles and other Christians
b. But they had gone out on their own, and were no longer in fellowship with the apostles
c. Thus it became manifest that they were not “of us” (approved by the apostles)
d. Later, John describes the “the spirit of the antichrist” as that which does not hear the
apostles (i.e., respect apostolic authority) - cf. 1 Jn 4:3-6
Mark A. Copeland
The First Epistle Of John 20
2. In our day...
a. Many “antichrists” behave the same way
1) They may start out acting like they respect apostolic authority, and seek to be with
Christians
2) But eventually their true nature comes out and they will not want to be with those
who respect apostolic authority very long
b. So a sign of “antichrists” is their attitude toward the “apostles’ doctrine” (i.e., the
Scriptures)
c. Those who reject the apostles, reject Christ himself (cf. Jn 13:20), and are thus
“antichrist”!
B. THEY DENY JESUS IS THE CHRIST... (22-23)
1. In John’s day...
a. They denied that Jesus is the Christ - cf. 1 Jn 2:22a
1) Many Gnostics alleged that Jesus and Christ were two different persons
a) That Christ merely appeared to have flesh, but in reality did not
b) Or that the Christ descended upon Jesus at His baptism and departed at the
time of His suffering
2) It is this denial that Jesus Christ came in the flesh that John identifies as the spirit of
the antichrist - 1 Jn 4:3-4
b. They denied the Father and the Son - cf. 1 Jn 2:22b-23
1) By denying that Jesus is the Christ, they were denying the Son (i.e., He who was
“begotten of the Father” and who became flesh)! - cf. Jn 1:14
2) By denying the Son, they were in essence also denying the Father! - cf. Jn 13:20
2. Today, an “antichrist” would be one...
a. Who denies Jesus to be the Messiah
b. Who denies the nature of Jesus (that He was fully God and fully man)
[Those who deny apostolic authority, and especially their teaching about the nature of Jesus Christ,
manifest the spirit of “antichrist”. How can we guard against being misled by modern-day “antichrists”?]
II. GUARDING AGAINST THE “ANTICHRISTS”
A. JOHN’S INITIAL READERS...
1. Were reminded of their “anointing” - 1 Jn 2:20-21, 27
a. This “anointing from the Holy One”...
1) Enabled them to “know all things”
2) Enabled them “not to need that anyone teach you”
b. I understand it to be a reference to the “gifts of the Spirit”...
1) Which in New Testament times served to provide revelation and confirmation of
the truth for the early church
2) So that they could have identified the “antichrists” without John’s help
2. Despite having this “anointing”, they needed to be encouraged to continue in what they had
learned (from the Spirit) - 1 Jn 2:24-25
a. Having the “gifts of the Spirit” did not keep them from sinning, or being misled - 1 Jn
2:26

The First Epistle Of John 21
b. Only by heeding that which they had heard from the beginning would they continue to
abide in the Son and in the Father, and receive the promise of eternal life!
B. CHRISTIANS TODAY...
1. We don’t have the “anointing” like John’s readers did...
a. Though many people today do misapply this verse to teach that we can have some
“anointing” from God
b. But if we did, then we would not need the Scriptures (cf. 1 Jn 2:20,27), and only the
self-deceived would make such a claim today!
2. However, we have something just as good!
a. That is, the Word of God, which is the “sword of the Spirit” - cf. Ep 6:17
b. We have “the faith once delivered unto the saints” - cf. Ju 3
c. I.e., an objective standard by which we can know the truth, and avoid being misled by
subjective feelings that can be mistaken for some sort of prompting of the Spirit
d. With the Scriptures, we have all we need to know God’s will - cf. 2 Ti 3:16-17
3. But like John’s readers, we need to be encouraged to continue in what we have learned
from the Spirit-given Word...
a. Having the Word of God does not ensure that we won’t be misled by others
b. For unless we study and apply the Word, we are open to deceptions by modern-day
“antichrists”!
CONCLUSION
1. “Antichrists” are a very real problem for us today:
a. For while there may not be many professing Christians who deny Jesus is the Christ, or that He
came in the flesh...
b. ...there are many who reject the authority of the apostles by the manner in which they disregard
the Scriptures!
c. The solution then...remains the same for us: “Therefore let that abide in you which you
heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you
also will abide in the Son and in the Father.” (1 Jn 2:24)
2. As an impetus to heed the words of John, remember what he said was the significance of these
“antichrists”: “...by which we know it is the last hour”
a. John knew that in the scheme of God’s redemption Jesus could return at any time!
b. The fact that it has been 1900 years since John penned these words does not detract from their
truthfulness (for chronological time is meaningless to God - cf. 2 Pe 3:8-9)
c. We are living, therefore, in “the last hour”, and Christ may come in judgment at any time!
Are we ready for His coming?