Who is antichrist? The name itself bears no mystery--anyone who denies Jesus Christ as Messiah is antichrist, or literally, against Christ. John said, "I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist--he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father" (I John 2:21-23).

The battle line was drawn long ago, and that line is not so much a line between believers and nonbelievers as it is between those who know the truth of Christ and accept Him and those who know the truth of Christ and deny Him. There is, of course, the antichrist, the "man of lawlessness" of II Thessalonians 2:3 and "the beast" of Revelation 13, but even he knows Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world. He was around when the scriptures were written and when prophesy was fulfilled, and he knows his end. Of him Jesus said, "He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44). He can not harm God; he can not harm Jesus--he tried in Bethlehem, he tried during Jesus' ministry, he tried at calvary, and he failed! So what better strategy for avenging his doomed self than to go after the ones God loves, and to attempt to seduce them into destruction.

"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" (I John 2:18); "This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world" (I John 4:2-3); "Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares his wicked work" (II John 7-11). Think of how the antichrists have come--in the form of Madelyn Murray O'Hare and Darwin and Ted Turner; in psychology and music and philosophy and entertainment and education and politics and medicine and science. Great schools that were founded with the Bible as text, now ridicule belief in the Creator of the Universe. Those who believe and spread the lie are all around us, and they are made up to look awfully good.

Fence riding doesn't work. Jesus said, "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters" (Luke 11:23); and "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

The world in full of antichrists and their influence seems to be getting more powerful every day, but even in the natural we can observe that anything based on a lie does not survive. Watch! Pray! "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (I John 4:4).

A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing;

Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;

His craft and power are great; And armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,--

Were not the right man on our side, the man of God's own choosing.

dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus it is He

Lord Sabaoth His name, from age to age the same, and He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us;

We will not fear for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us.

The prince of darkness grim,--We tremble not for him;

His rage we can endure, for lo! his doom is sure,--one little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him who with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;

The body they may kill: God's truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever!             --Martin Luther

GOD'S TRUTH ABIDETH STILL!  HIS KINGDOM IS FOREVER!  AMEN!