Counterfeit Messiahs

Since the founding of the Church, Satan has sent many deceivers and false prophets to destroy it from within.

Popular preaching presents the Antichrist as a totalitarian global leader bent on subjugating all the nations of the Earth. However, the New Testament expresses far more concern over deceivers and “false anointed ones,” counterfeit messiahs who work inside the Body of Christ to cause disruption, deceit, and apostasy. They are Pied Pipers who lead as many believers as possible to their destruction.

In the Book of Revelation, for example, the victims of the “war” launched by the “Dragon” are the “saints” who have the “Testimony of Jesus.” The only New Testament documents to use the term ‘Antichrist’ are two of John’s letters - (1 John 2:18-22, 4:3, 1 John 1:7).

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The “antichrists” referred to by John were men who “went out from us, but they were not of us,” false teachers in his congregations. He admonished his flock to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God” since the “spirit of the antichrist <…> was already in the world.” These “antichrists” were false teachers, not national or global political leaders or military conquerors- (2 John 7).

Likewise, Paul warned of the coming “Man of Lawlessness.” While his words could suggest a political figure, his concern was with this figure’s ability to deceive believers - “Let no one in any way deceive you” - (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12).

Paul linked this man to the coming “apostasy.” When he was “revealed,” his activities would be “in accord with those of Satan, deceiving men, especially believers - (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Ephesians 2:21).

The stress in 2 Thessalonians is on this man’s power to deceive and turn people away from Jesus, not on his political activity, military prowess, or sovereignty over nations. He will use “lying works, signs and wonders,” and only those who hold fast to the Apostolic teachings will avoid succumbing to his seductions.

In the Book of Revelation, the “Beast from the Sea” is not called the “Antichrist.” The Beast possesses the character and authority of the “Great Red Dragon,” and in Chapter 12, Satan does not wage war on the nations of the Earth but on “the remnant of the Seed of the Woman, those who have the Testimony of Jesus.”

Likewise, in Chapter 13 of Revelation, the “Beast” wages war on the “saints, and he overcomes them.” This same “war” is foreshadowed in the Book’s “letters” to the “Seven Assemblies of Asia” as they struggle with persecution and false teachers, “false apostles,” the “Nicolaitans,” the “doctrines of Balaam” and “that prophetess, Jezebel” - (Revelation 12:17, 13:7).

FALSE ANOINTED ONES

In his ‘Olivet Discourse,’ Jesus issued repeated warnings about coming “deceivers,” “false prophets,” “false anointed ones,” and apostasy:

• “Beware lest anyone deceive you. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and deceive astray.” - (Matthew 24:4-8).

• “Then many will stumble, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and deceive many. And because lawlessness will be multiplied, the love of the many will wax cold”- (Matthew 24:10-12).

• “For there will arise false anointed ones and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you beforehand. If therefore they say to you, Behold, he is in the wilderness; go not forth; or, Behold, he is in the inner chambers; believe it not”- (Matthew 24:23-26).

Christ’s statements parallel Paul's warning about the “Man of Lawlessness” and the “Apostasy.” Deceivers will hoodwink many believers and cause “many to fall away.” Only those who endure “to the end will be saved.” They will use “signs and wonders” to do so. The ability to perform miracles is no guarantee someone was sent by God.

Before the return of Jesus, deceivers, “false prophets,” and “false anointed ones” will proliferate and work relentlessly to fool Christ’s disciples, not the larger world that already lies in the lap of the “Wicked One” - (2 Corinthians 11:13-15, 1 Timothy 4:1).

So also, the Apostle Peter warns of coming deceivers who will work inside the Church, causing many saints to desert the faith: “False teachers among you who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality and because of them, the way of the truth will be maligned” - (2 Peter 2:1).

The satanic plan is to wage war against Jesus and overthrow him. However, the Devil can only do so by attacking the men and women who belong to Christ. This is why, in the Book of Revelation, upon his release from the “Abyss,” the Devil gathers all the nations of the Earth in his final attempt to annihilate the “camp of the saints.”

The “Antichrist” is coming to complete Satan’s efforts that are underway even now inside the Body of Christ. The time of his “unveiling” is being prepared by the Devil’s army of deceivers in our churches driven by the “Spirit of the Antichrist.”

What better way to execute his plot than by offering clever alternatives in the guise of counterfeit anointed ones and through the mouths of “false prophets” and other deceivers who “appear as angels of light”?

The Bible is clear. There is one Lord, one Messiah or “anointed one,” and one Savior, namely, Jesus Christ. Anyone who claims to be God’s “anointed” or attributes messianic status to someone else is a deceiver and liar.

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SEE ALSO:

• The Antichrist Spirit - (The Spirit of the Antichrist works to destroy the church from within through deception propagated by false teachers and false prophets – 1 John 2:18-22)

• Howling Imposters - (The New Testament warns repeatedly of coming deceivers and false prophets who will cause many disciples to depart from the faith)

• The Apostasy - (Paul warned the Thessalonians of the future apostasy which he linked to the unveiling of the Man of Lawlessness, the Son of Destruction)

• The Approaching Storm - (The New Testament warns of a future apostasy caused by deceivers and the Lawless One before the Day of the Lord arrives)