The 'Instead of' Jesus

"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 John 2:18)

Most people in our modern culture don't know much about the Bible, but most everyone has heard of the "Antichrist." We've seen the movies and such and have been told that the Bible predicts the rise of this frightening person.

This interest in the Antichrist is nothing knew. Almost two thousand years ago, the Apostle John wrote about him and expected the Christians of his day would understand him. John lived in the

constant expectancy of Jesus' return, regarding his time as "the last hour" - an expectancy that we should also have, knowing that the Lord's return can come at any time. In this context, John warns: "the Antichrist is coming."

What does the name "Antichrist" mean? In the ancient Greek language, the prefix "anti" can mean "the opposite of" or "instead of." The Antichrist is the "opposite Jesus"; he is the "instead of" Jesus.

Most people have focused on the idea of the "opposite Jesus." This has made them think the Antichrist will appear as a supremely evil person. It follows that in this thinking, that just as much as Jesus went around doing good, the Antichrist will go around doing bad. As much as Jesus' character and personality was beautiful and attractive, the Antichrist's character and personality will be ugly and repulsive. As much as Jesus spoke only truth, the Antichrist will speak only lies. This emphasizes the idea of the "opposite Jesus" too much. The Antichrist, when he comes, will be more a "instead of" Jesus. He will look wonderful, be charming and successful. He will be the ultimate winner, and appear as an angel of light.

Some have wondered if this Antichrist will be an individual or a political system. This is really a small distinction, because the Bible tells us there will be both a person and a political system running the world before Jesus' return in glory. To a large extent, a man does represent and personify an entire government or system; when we think of the Soviet Union in the 1930s and 1940s, the figures of Stalin as an individual and Soviet Communism as a state are virtually the same. There will be an individual, and there will be a state, and the two will be closely identified.

Here's a point to focus on: John speaks of "the Antichrist" and "many Antichrists." There is a "spirit" of Antichrist, and this spirit of Antichrist will one day find its ultimate fulfillment in the Antichrist, who will lead humanity in an end-times rebellion against God. In other words, though the world still waits to see the ultimate revealing of the Antichrist, there are little previews of this man and his mission to come. These are the Antichrists with a little "a."

So, what might be an "instead of" Jesus in your life? What might there be that you love or serve more than Him? Don't only look to the bad things. Something that looks good and attractive can take the place of Jesus in our life, and thereby become an Antichrist to us – an "instead of" Jesus. If we let anything – even good things – get between us and Jesus, we've gone after some kind of an Antichrist. Many who would never dream of following the Antichrist in the last days are serving some kind of an Antichrist today. Is Jesus first in your life today?

( by David Guzik)