In the book series, Harry Potter, no one can speak the name of “Voldemort”, because he is the bad guy: so awful and powerful that it is an accepted stance throughout the series of novels that no one speaks the name of “he who must not be named”.
…And thus: no one does.
Our culture is similar with the term/title/word/reality of the Antichrist.
When was the last time we spoke of the Antichrist or any such antichrists at the supper table or water cooler?
We don’t.
It’s accurate to say that most of us consider the Antichrist as “he who must not be named” (or even thought of). And thus, we don’t.
But we mustn’t call taboo (or ignore) what God has recognized and called out by name. The Bible warns us of the Antichrist and also of those who fall prey to leaving their churches for him.
Let’s open our eyes today, dear children (Brothers and Sisters in Christ). We can’t be deceived! And we won’t be–if we keep reading the Bible. Don’t trust people’s promises or their words. Trust God’s Word.
Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. (19) These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.
(20) But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. (21) So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. ~I John 2:18-21
Wow! Yes, Lord, we do know the difference between truth and lies. Strengthen our faith in You, Father. And open our eyes to false faith and to the Antichrist.
There..I said it: “Antichrist“.
And you should say it too, and we should know that the Antichrist (capital “A”), and antichrist’s (lower-case “A”) exist and are present.
In His Word, God talks about the Antichrist, and so we should too. He must be named so that he can be acknowledged, recognized…and avoided!
Who are we to be on the (spiritual-caution) look-out for? God (through John) tells us:
And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. (23) Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. ~I John 2:22-23
How can we be sure that we aren’t being duped? …That we are not “drinking the Kool-Aid” …that we are not following the Antichrist or an antichrist?
Keep reading the Bible, Brothers and Sisters!
You must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning (I John 2:24). And we can keep checking and testing our lives/our faith/our beliefs/and our actions against what God says.
What God says.
Not any person…even a well-spoken, smooth-talking person. Even a powerful person. Even a peace-bringing person. Even a person of promises. Even a wealthy person, or learned person, or a just person or a kind person.
Not any person…only God and His Word.
So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. (25) And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.
(26) I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. (27) But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. ~I John 2:18-27
We can name the Antichrist, friends. And while he is awful and powerful, there is none more powerful and wonderful than our God.
We must be on our guard, but we mustn’t be afraid or ignorant. The Antichrist is real, but he is nothing to fear.
We are already victorious over him, because of Christ.
So we will be watchful today, and on Sunday’s… and everyday. And we must remain faithful to what we have been taught from the beginning.
If we do, we will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us (I John 2:24-25).
We can name that…and we can CLAIM that.
Amen!
Blessings,
