The Antichrist Spirit

One of the greatest deceptions that the Devil has brought forth, is convincing many believers that the antichrist spirit is not operating today. Spirits of the antichrist are at work and great delusion is coming forth from them to the church. Doctrines, teaching, and lifestyles that are against Christ and His word; are currently being accepted and celebrated by many in the church. These spirits of antichrist have crept into the church by deceiving leaders. Once a leader or public figure is deceived, these spirits spread mindsets that are against Christ to believers. 

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” (I John 4:1-3 NKJV)

The Falling Away

The antichrist spirit is responsible for the great falling away of believers that has already begun (2 Thessalonians 2:3). The falling away will be from Christ to the Antichrist. There is one man who will be the Antichrist, but John states that the antichrist spirit is already working in the world. The goal of this spirit is to trap a believer in so much deception, that they do not see Christ anymore and eventually turn from Him.

A falling away from Christ does not happen over night, but can be a slow process. It begins when a believer embraces doctrine, teaching, or a lifestyle that is contradictory to Christ and His word. Once a person chooses their own will and desire over Christ, deception begins to set in. The person believes a lie, and the lie becomes truth to them. Their conscious becomes seared like with a hot iron, and their mind becomes defiled. These people choose their own will, over the will of God; and therefore they hear God according to the desire of their own heart. They think they hear the Lord tell them that their lifestyle (of sin) is okay, yet the Lord never said that to them. 

The deception continues to increase as the believer continues to yield to the antichrist spirit. The believer may have started out his/her spiritual journey by confessing Jesus Christ came in the flesh, but when the antichrist spirit has done its full work; the believer will deny Christ by their very deeds (Titus 1:16). Those who truly follow Christ will be discerned by their fruit (works), not their words. 

There is a false doctrine in the church that teaches once a believer is saved, then they cannot lose their salvation. This doctrine is anti-christ, because it is in direct opposition with His word. If a Christian believes this, then they are already under the power of the antichrist spirit. 

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,” (I Timothy 4:1-2 NKJV)

The Holy Spirit states that there will be people of faith (believers in Christ), who depart from the faith.  In order to depart from the faith, you first must have it. The Greek word for "depart" also means to fall away, withdraw, and desert. The Lord couldn't be more clear in this scripture. Yet some believers will glance over this scripture because it doesn't fit what they want to believe. 

“Brothers, if any among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20 WEB)

Again, the Lord makes it apparent that it is possible for a believer to wander from the truth of Christ, and lose his soul in death. The believer who turns that brother back to the truth, will save that brother’s soul from eternal death. However, for the believer who knew the Lord, walked with Lord, and tasted of powers of the age to come; and then turned away from the Lord; it is impossible to renew them again to repentance. They will burn in the eternal fire (Hebrews 6:4-8). 

Salvation isn't just about being saved so we can go to Heaven. It is the first step of entering into a relationship with the Lord. He desires us to move closer and closer to Him until we enter into a bridal relationship of intimacy. However we do have free will. The Lord does not control our decisions. Just like any natural marriage, one partner can choose to leave the relationship. Many in the United States do just that. By our own free will, we can choose to walk away from the Lord. We can choose our sin over the Lord, and we can choose our self-life. The more we choose that which the Lord is opposed to, the more we have given ourselves over to that which is anti-christ. We can reach the point of no longer hearing Him, only ourselves. Confusion sets in. We are now a prisoner to the antichrist spirit. We have fallen away from the Lord by our own will. 

Homosexuality

A number of believers have began to accept the belief that it is okay for a Christian to be a homosexual. There are even some well known worship leaders in the church, who have embraced the homosexual lifestyle. These "believers" go on as if they were doing nothing wrong. Believing that the Lord created them that way, and the He loves their choices. These who have embraced this lifestyle are flaunting their gross sin on social media as if everything was fine. Hundreds or thousands of Christians see their lives lived out on a public stage, and are negatively influenced by their lifestyle. This is not acceptable to Jesus Christ, and He is not in a "good mood" about it. 

The Lord loves Christians who are struggling with homosexuality, but He hates the perversion they are trapped in. According to the Bible, homosexuality is sin. The Lord never condones sin, because He knows it will drive the believer far from Him. One cannot be given over to a lifestyle of sin and be close to the Lord. 

Homosexuality must be repented of. Some Christians may feel that they were born that way and that there is nothing they can do. And they are right. There is nothing they can do about it, because they are completely powerless to change. However, Christ can change them, if they truly desire Him to do so. Homosexuality is a spiritual issue. Demonic powers can attach themselves to a person's soul (mind, will, and emotions), so a person thinks and acts a certain way. Christ will deliver anyone from these demonic powers who truly hates their sin, and wants to be set free. It's very hard to hate sin, when you come out publicly, and openly brace a homosexual lifestyle.

The Holy Spirit, through Paul, states very clearly that homosexuals will not have any inheritance in the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). The Holy Spirit was using Paul to correct the church for allowing gross sexual immorality to continue by a believer in the church (1 Corinthians 5). Paul actually counsels the church to expel the believer from the church, so that Satan will attack his physical body. Under the attack of Satan, the believer may be strongly encouraged to repent of his wicked sexual sin, and thus his spirit would be saved. Meaning that if the man continued in unrepentant sexual sin, his spirit would not be saved. In this case, judgment was the necessary love of God that had the potential of bringing this man to repentance for the salvation of his spirit. Many in the present church believe judgment is unloving, but the Holy Spirit thinks differently. 

Paul goes on, by the Spirit of God, and tells believers not to keep company with other believers who are engaged in an unrepentant lifestyle of sin (1 Corinthians 5:9-13). Yet some leaders, even in the Charismatic church, have welcomed homosexual believers into their congregations. Even allowing homosexual Christians to lay hands on other believers to pray for them. These leaders have come under the influence of an antichrist spirit. Paul was under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and some of these modern day leaders are doing the exact opposite of Paul. The antichrist spirit opposes Christ and how He desires things to be handled in His church. These deceptive spirits attach to the human soul, and exalt humanistic love and compassion over the love and compassion of God. 

Believers who support homosexual believers, are guilty of sin as well. When we reject the word of God to support something we feel should be alright, we are actively resisting the Lord and siding with that which is anti-christ. If He really is our Lord, then His word trumps all else. If the Lord calls homosexuality an abomination, then it is an abomination (Leviticus 18:22). The Lord is right even if we want to feel differently. It's not about our own will being manifested, it must be about His. 

A pastor of a mega-church in New York told CNN in an interview that, "Jesus was in the thick of an era where homosexuality, just like it is today, was widely prevalent. And I'm still waiting for someone to show me the quote where Jesus addressed it on record in front of people. You won't find it because He never did." The pastor’s wife added, " it's not our place to tell anyone how they should live. That's their journey." 

This reasoning is extremely flawed. Jesus' ministry was to the Jews. All of the Jewish people understood the law, and were very familiar with the portion that stated homosexuality is a sin (Leviticus 18:22). Jesus addresses sexual immorality, adultery, and marriage between a man and a woman in His sermon on the mount. Also in that sermon He certainly tells people how to live their lives. He expects his disciples and preachers to preach the truth of his word and show people how to live godly lives. That is one of the main functions of ministers of the Gospel.

Let us also remember that Jesus told the woman who was caught in adultery to "go and sin no more." He would say the same thing to the homosexual: "sin no more!" In addition, Jesus Christ is the living word. All of the words in the Bible came from the Word Himself. Jesus was the author of the Bible. Therefore in Romans 1:18-32, the word of God records how Jesus, who is God, gives evil sinners over to homosexuality as a form of judgment. Romans depicts homosexuality as a depravity. 

It is very clear that Jesus did address homosexuality through His word. To say that God did not address homosexuality is cowardly. Yet leaders will take this stance in order to appeal to the masses. The softer they are on sin, the more people they can gather to "their" church or movement. The more people they gather, the more their influence, popularity, and finances grow. If truth was their goal, and love for their Master was their motivation; then they would speak the truth boldly as the first century disciples did. However by their weak water-downed politically correct stances on important Biblical issues, they prove that being accepted is their goal, and achievement is their motivation. These leaders are anti-christ in nature since they are seeking for themselves the success that comes from the pride of life. Yet because they love the pride of life, the love of the Father is not in them (1 John 2:15-16). 

Racism

Spirits of racism have been attacking the church in order to divide us according to our nationality or skin color. We must hold fast to the scriptures in these last days that state, “He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth..." (Acts 17:26 WEB). We must remember that skin color means nothing. We are all from "one blood," Adam. In the flesh, we all have the same origin and are the same. 

Once we become born again, we are a new creation. The life of Adam begins passing away and the life of Christ lives in us. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:27-28 WEB). The divisions of race are put to death when we allow the life of Christ to live through us. 

In Christ, there are not Jewish "Messianic" believers and gentile believers. There are only believers. Jesus' first disciples were not called "Messianic" disciples. They were called disciples. Christians in the church who are still controlled by the natural mind of Adam, separate Jew and Gentile believers. This is a work of the flesh. In Christ, the Jew and Gentile no longer exist; only the new creation exists (the one new man). The Christian that differentiates the Jewish believer and the Gentile believer is being influenced by an antichrist spirit that seeks to cause division by racism. These spirits are against Christ's creation of the one new man. 

Racism between blacks and whites has risen to a new level recently in America. In Christ, there is no black or white. However, in the church, we have all black churches or all white churches. Just like there are whole congregations that are only Messianic Jewish believers. In many congregations across the country, the flesh is dominating the Spirit; and we are dividing ourselves based on race. 

If a racial group holds on to an injustice done to them in the past, they will never move forward into their destiny. Unforgiveness will keep them bound in a prison cell of bondage (Matthew 18:21-35). We are not set free from our bondage by blaming other groups for the oppression that they have caused us. We are set free when we allow Christ to live through us and forgive. Jesus said, “But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,” (Matthew 5:44 WEB). Are groups that have been persecuted and mistreated following after the words of Jesus, or are they living after the ways of the flesh and self-life?

If groups of people are dividing themselves according to the color of their skin, then they are operating by a spirit of racism. If a Christian identifies himself as a "black man" then he is focused on his natural life, instead of the life of Christ. In Christ, there is no "black man" or "white man," only a believer of Jesus. Our identity should be who Christ is in us, not who Adam is in us. We must allow Christ to strip away the racism and divisions of Adam, until we think and see as the one new man according to the mind of Christ.

The Self-Life

Antichrist spirits use the self-life and self-will of believers to turn them against Christ. This is why Jesus said, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:34-35 NKJV). If a believer desires to save his own self-life (his will, ways, timing, plans, and destiny), then he will lose his true life that he is called to; the high calling of having Christ live through him. Only willfully choosing to carry the cross of sufferings will enable a believer to be a true follower of Christ. 

A self-centered vessel cannot be a disciple of Christ. Therefore the cross of Christ, working in a believers' life, will put the self-life to death. Carrying the cross will enable a believer to "lose his life," so that Christ can live through the disciple to spread His Father's Kingdom. 

Peter's self-will was moved by a spirit that was anti-christ, when he rebuked Jesus: “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”” (Matthew 16:21-23 NKJV). 

Peter had his mind on his own will and what he desired for Jesus. This is no different than any of us. How many times have we wanted the Lord to behave or act according to our own thoughts, plans, and will? The self-life was living through us in those times as it was living through Peter. Peter's self-will was being manipulated by Satan to speak something that was anti-christ (or anti the will of the Lord). The Lord's will was for Jesus to suffer, die, and be raised from the dead; and Peter's natural mind and will were opposing the Lord. The self-life of Peter had not yet been crucified. 

“Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:25-27 NKJV). 

Again, Jesus states that a disciple must bear his own cross. This time He adds that the disciple must hate his own family and his own life. Jesus is referring to the self-life of his family, or the natural life of Adam that is still living in his family. The natural life of fallen Adam which is in all of us, is opposed to Christ. Since our very nature is anti-christ, it must be hated. Not disliked, hated. Jesus is very clear. We must allow the Lord to deal ruthlessly with the natural self-life of Adam in us by the process called "bearing our cross." We will not be able to hate the self-life in ourselves and our family unless we ask the Lord to remove the veil and show us the truth of ourselves. Once we are allowed to see the nastiness behind the veil, we must hate what we see; and allow the cross to do its work. The natural self-life in us and others, is opposed to the Lord; and therefore must be hated and crucified. The goal is us no longer living, so Christ can live and have His way through us. 

False Prophets

“And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.” (Matthew 24:4-5, 11, 24-25 NKJV)

For a context to Jesus' prophecy; he is answering a question from His disciples in regards to the signs of His second coming, and the signs of the end of the age. As Jesus is talking to His disciples about the things that will be happening at the end of the age right before He returns; He mentions the possibility of deception three times. There is great importance to Jesus repeating Himself that often in the same prophecy. He places an emphasis on this because He needs His disciples to understand what is coming.

Antichrist spirits are now attacking believers with great deception at the end of the age. There are well known prophetic voices in the church saying that Jesus is the Christ, yet their doctrine and teaching are deceiving many. Believers that sit under these ministries are at an increased risk of "giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons." 

Jesus states that these false prophets will minister in great signs and wonders, and many will be deceived. Among the believers who have a great risk of being deceived are those in the Charismatic movement who have placed an overemphasis on signs, wonders, and miracles. When revival and ministry begin to trump the person of Jesus; they become an idol. At this point, believers are open to all kinds of deception. 

Ministers who are deceived by doctrines of demons, are now operating in the church. These prophetic ministers are proclaiming that all the nations will be saved, transformed, and that Christians will take over the seven mountains (business/finance, law/government, religion, education, arts/entertainment, media, and politics). Jesus states that only a few will be saved (Matthew 7:13-14), and that the Antichrist will have global authority (the seven mountains) at the end of the age (Revelation 13:2-7).

False prophets of the Charismatic church are prophesying that things in the world are going to get better and better, while Jesus is still prophesying of plagues, pestilences, earthquakes, famines, wars, deception, betrayal, the love of many believers growing cold, and the murder of His own disciples (Matthew 24). It's amazing how many leaders in the church are prophesying the exact opposite of Jesus. They are in fact prophesying against Christ’s prophetic words, and thus siding with the antichrist spirit. 

The false prophetic is telling believers what their own self-centered souls want to hear. They are like the prophets in the time of Ahab, who only prophesy good. Jesus' prophecy in Matthew 24 may not be positive, but it is the truth. We must desire truth over what makes us feel good if we do not want to be deceived in the days ahead. 

I have personally heard a famous "prophet" in the Charismatic church mock prophecies that economic hardship is coming. This same minister mocked believers who would store food and other supplies for the tough times that Jesus spoke of. Noah and Joseph would probably have rebuke for this well known minster who has written many books and holds the title of "Doctor." The preparing of Noah and Joseph saved the lives of many. Heaven views us as righteous when by faith, we prepare after being warned about things not yet seen (Hebrews 11:7). Faith without works is dead. This minister was under the delusion of his own will and theology.

A number of believers at the meeting thought it was one of the best meetings that our area had ever had. They were deluded. It was damaging and anti-christ in nature. The meeting only catered to the entertainment of the soul. It had no eternal value, and no inward transformation into Christ's image occurred. The prophetic minister sowed the destructive doctrine that states 'God does not judge' into believers at that meeting. The New Testament scripture contradicts his statements, proving that an anti-christ spirit was operating through the man. An antichrist spirit was warring against the pure truth of Christ's word as it ministered through the prophetic vessel. However it was masked by flamboyant preaching, entertaining singing, and soul pleasing prophesying. The carnal Christian was in ‘Heaven’ at the meeting. 

Jesus said that false prophets would come and deceive many. Believers are not going to be deceived by weird cult leaders with no influence. They are going to be deceived by gifted, anointed, and well-spoken ministers moving in great revelation. Signs and wonders will also be a hallmark of these ministries. Some or maybe a lot of their doctrine may be accurate, but some will be pure poison. The signs and wonders are real works of power, however the source of this miracle working power will be from an antichrist spirit, not the Holy Spirit. Christians who are carnal and soulish, will be more easily deceived by these miracles and works of power. After all, the minister performing them is well known, and has written many books; so he must be of God, right? This false movement is so serious that Jesus says even the chosen ones, who really walk with Him, have the potential of being deceived. Beware of the coming deception! Walk closely to the Lord in the days ahead. 

Preterism

Preterism is a destructive doctrine that the early church fathers would boldly call heresy. Preterism is a theology that states the Antichrist has already come. The apocalyptic events notated in the book of Revelation occurred in 70 A.D. according to this doctrine of demons. Leaders with major influence in the church have begun teaching this doctrine in recent years. Because of their influence, millions of believers are being exposed and influenced by this doctrine.  

Most scholars and commentators believe that John the apostle wrote the book of Revelation around the year 95 A.D. It is clear that he wrote the book while in exile on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9). Ignatius (an early church father) states that John "was banished to Patmos" by Domitian emperor of Rome. Another church father, Irenaeus, says that John was banished to Patmos at the latter end of Domitian's reign, around the year 95 or 96. Victorinus also verifies their accounts that John was indeed exiled by Domitian. Caesar Domitian ruled from 81 to 96 A.D. Therefore the book of Revelation could not have been written prior to 70 A.D. as those who hold to the belief in Preterism suppose. 

The anti-christ spirits main agenda is to deceive the masses. What greater deception could there be than for anti-christ spirits to trick the church into believing that the Antichrist himself has already come. Then when he does rise up and take control of the nations of the earth (Revelation 13:7), millions of believers will be in denial because they believe a doctrine that states the Antichrist has already come. These believers will very likely be swept away in delusion, or remain in a paralyzing shock from the catastrophic events taking place globally. Believers may be deceived into taking the mark of the beast and thus forfeiting their salvation. After all, how can there be a mark of the beast that is coming if it already happened in 70 A.D. they will reason? 

Most of the events in the book of Revelation have not occurred yet. For example, a third of mankind has not yet been killed (Revelation 9:15-19). The Antichrist has not yet been given global dominion, and authority to persecute the saints and overcome them (Revelation 13:1-7). God's wrath has not yet been poured out on the earth (Revelation 16). The mark of the beast has not yet come into existence, in which people cannot buy or sell goods without out it (Revelation 13:16-18). Jesus Christ has not returned (Revelation 19). With an elementary reading of the book of Revelation, a novice could discover that most of these prophesied events have not taken place in the history of the world; let alone in 70 A.D. when the temple of Jerusalem was destroyed. The Antichrist himself would love nothing more than for the church to believe a doctrine that states he is not coming because he has already come. 

Jesus Not the Only Way?

In a 2016 interview, Oprah Winfrey asked Carl Lentz, a New York mega-church pastor, "Do you believe that only Christians can have a relationship with God?" He replied, "No. I believe that when Jesus said that I am the way, the truth, and the life; the way I read that, Jesus said that he is a road marker, he is a map. So I think that God loves people so much, that wether they accept him or reject him, he's still gracious, and he's still moving; and he's still giving you massive red blinking lights, for chances to take a right turn when maybe you'd take a left. But I believe the God loves people, and that's what the whole Gospel is based on, it's love." 

A Christian is someone who has Jesus Christ living inside of them. Jesus was very clear when He said that the only way to the Father (God) was through Himself. Meaning if someone does not have Jesus inside them (a Christian), they do not have God the Father. If the person does not have the Father, they do not have a relationship with God. Therefore the only way to have a relationship with God is to be a Christian. We do not get the privilege of creating our own way to God. Jesus is the only way. If we think we can get to God any other way than through His way, then we are deeply deceived and in pride. 

“Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son, the same doesn’t have the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also.” (1 John 2:22-23 WEB).  

The anti-christ spirit is sowing seeds of deception in church by saying that, "One doesn't have to have the Son to have the Father. You can have a relationship with God apart from Jesus. You don't have to be a Christian to have a relationship with God." This is the voice of the antichrist! Church leaders are now buying into the deception that is being released by these anti-christ spirits. The scripture couldn't be more clear. If one denies or doesn't have the Son, then that person doesn't have God the Father. Pastors and leaders should simply state the word of God.

However, desiring to be well liked, accepted, and politically correct; they yield to the pressure of anti-christ spirits, and in doing so, disgrace Jesus Christ. These leaders may be honored by the world, but they will not be honored by Heaven. Paul bore faithful witness of Jesus Christ through much persecution and even unto his own death. Some of the most well known leaders in the American church won't even take a stand for Christ, because they are more concerned about being popular and "culturally relevant." These leaders are not baring faithful witness of Jesus Christ, rather they are baring witness for the antichrist. Where are Christ's faithful witnesses like Paul, who are willing to go all the way to death with their Master? May these burning messengers arise in these times!

“He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who doesn’t believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have God’s Son doesn’t have the life.” (1 John 5:10-12 WEB).

Adultery and Leadership

There have been some instances where well known leaders get divorced and remarried. Then they continue in a leadership role. There have even been leaders who gave up on the marriage, ended it, and married another woman right away. Then after a short restoration process, they were back leading a ministry or congregation. Unless their spouse was unfaithful to them, their divorce would not be legal in the sight of the Lord and they would be committing adultery. The Holy Spirit gives us good information on His view of leaders who have had more than one wive (adulterers):

“I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you; if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior. For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain;” (Titus 1:5-7 WEB). 

Paul tells Titus to only appoint elders or overseers who are the husband of one wife. The Greek word for elder also means presbyter, and the Greek word for overseer also means bishop and superintendent (the Christian officer in general charge of a church). According to the word of God, having had more than one wife would disqualify a man from being an overseer of a church or ministry. The exceptions would be if the first wife of the man died, or if the first wife of the man committed adultery against him (which is legal grounds for divorce according to Jesus). Let us keep in mind that all scripture is inspired by God. The Lord wanted Paul to record this, and it is the Lord's qualifications for a leader of a church or ministry. 

The Lord is very merciful and therefore divorce and adultery can be forgiven. The issue is not mercy and forgiveness, it's obedience to the Lord. He may forgive a leader who commits adultery by divorcing his wife and marrying another woman, but He is not okay with that leader maintaining their status as overseer of the church or ministry. They have disqualified themselves from functioning in that role. Once we make one exception for a leader, then everyone gets an exception to the word of God.

This is what has happened in the church in America. We have nullified the word of God by our own practices. We have made this practice acceptable, because we felt that the Bible is to strict. We have a better understanding of who the Lord is apart from His word. He is of course merciful and loving, and would even go against His own word to demonstrate His love and mercy right? Incorrect. The Lord would never contradict His word. It is the American church who has cast His word aside for a "better way." This is deep pride. 

We must hold fast to the word of God whether we like it or not. Once we disregard it for our own will, deception will creep in. Any behavior in us that contradicts that word of God is anti-christ. To be alright with leaders who have committed adultery and had more than one wife (at one time or at different times), all while continuing to lead a church or ministry; is for us to be anti-Christ's word. Antichrist spirits have taken control of churches and ministries because our lack of respect for the word of God. 

Anointing on a minister is not the sign that they should still be leading a church, ministry, or movement after committing adultery and having multiple wives. The Lord's gifts and calling are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Once the Lord gives gifts and a calling, He does not remove it. However we can chose to operate independently of Him and go our own way. The Lord may desire a leader who has unlawfully had multiple wives to come away with Him and live a private life of prayer, worship, and fasting. However since the leader has the gift and call for ministry, he can choose to continue in ministry and it will be successful to a measure. Usually those ministers who have made ministry their idol, will choose to continue in ministry regardless of what the Lord says in his word. They will hear according to the idol of their heart, ministry. They will hear "the Lord" speak to them that it is alright for them to return to ministry, or they will get a "prophetic word" from another leader. They will hear or receive the prophetic words that their souls desires to hear. 

We must not come into agreement with ways and practices that are anti-christ or against the Lord’s word. We must submit to His word in these last days. To be with the Lord in the secret place is far better than being before people in the public place. If leaders truly believed this and understood this, then leaving public ministry would be seen as a blessing.

Pope Francis

If St. Malachy's vision in the 12th century of the Popes is accurate, then we are truly in the time of the end; and this could be the final generation before the return of the Lord. Pope Francis is a Jesuit Priest. The order of the Jesuits is very secretive and dark. The oath that they must take to be apart of the order is purely demonic. I recommend the reader research this topic to better understand the Jesuit priesthood, if the reader is unfamiliar with this "priesthood."

An anti-christ spirit is operating through Pope Francis, as he has been teaching a number of things that are against the truth of Jesus Christ.  Jesus said, ““Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit. A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:15-20 WEB). 

False prophets may appear to be loving and godly on the outside, as if they were sheep. However, Jesus cautions us so that we are not deceived by their words and appearance. We must search deeper for the truth, and the truth of who they are is found in their deeds and actions (the fruit of their life). If the prophet's actions are rotten fruit, then we know that the prophet is a rotten tree and a false messenger. Let us examine some of the deeds of Pope Francis to determine his fruit. 

In September of 2013, the Pope addressed atheists writing, "You ask me if the God of the Christians forgives those who don't believe and who don't seek the faith. I start by saying - that God's mercy has no limits if you go to him with a sincere and contrite heart. The issue for those who do not believe in God is to obey their conscience."  By this statement the Pope is insinuating that because God's mercy is infinite, that mercy will be sufficient for those who don't believe in Christ. This is against the message of Jesus Christ, which states that faith in Christ is the only way to eternal life. 

On the issue of homosexuality Pope Francis has stated, "If someone is gay and searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?"  The problem with this statement is that the Lord states in His word that homosexuality is a sin, and that it is not acceptable for someone to remain in this sin. Jesus said that the words that He spoke will be our judge in the last day. That would include His entire word since Jesus is the author of the entire Bible. The word of God has already judged that homosexuality is not an acceptable practice. Therefore the job of a minister of the Gospel is to preach the word and speak what God has said and what God has already judged. 

Pope Francis has made statements indicating he believes in evolution and the Big Bang Theory by stating that God is not " a magician with a magic wand." "When we read about creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything. But that is not so," Francis said. Again, the Pope's words are anti-christ in nature. The Bible makes it very clear that the Lord can do anything and everything. The scripture states that the worlds were framed by the word of God (Hebrews 11:3), and Earth came into being by the spoken word of God almighty (Genesis 1). 

While speaking in New York On September 24, 2015, Pope Francis said, "if at times our efforts and works seem to fail and produce no fruit, we need to remember that we are followers of Jesus....and his life, humanly speaking, ended in failure, in the failure of the cross." In another speech on November 27, 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya, the Pope used the term "God's failure" when speaking about Jesus and the cross. Most believers would agree that God did not fail. Jesus, humanly speaking and spiritually speaking, was a complete success for His Father and for fallen humanity. The cross may not have looked like a success, but it was the greatest success of human history. 

In January of 2016, the Pope released a video to bring different faiths together around a common goal of "love." The video features representatives of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. In the video the Pope says, "Many think differently, feel differently, seeking God or meeting God in different ways. In this crowd, in this range of religions, there is only one certainty that we have for all: we are all children of God."  In essence, the Pope is saying that Buddhists, Islamists, Jews, and Christians are all children of God. Believers in Christ understand that there is only one God. The Bible teaches that only those who have Jesus living inside of them are children of God. Jews are not even children of God.

The only way to the Father is through Christ, and most Jews believe that Jesus was a false prophet. Jews, Buddhists, and Islamists do not have God as their Father, and therefore have a false god as their father. They are currently in deception and destined for eternal suffering in Hell. Jesus is the only hope for them. Because the Pope is speaking this lie, it may keep multitudes of people who hear this message in a deceptive bondage. The Pope is hindering people of false faiths from coming to the true faith, Christ Jesus. The anti-christ spirit's main function, is to keep people away from Christ, the one true God.

So we can see that the Pope is attempting to bring the world religions together under his definition of love and his definition of unity. However in doing this, he is casting out the absolute truth of God's word. This is very dark and deceptive. What is even more troubling is that a number of well known Christian ministers from the United States are endorsing the Pope. In 2014, John and Carol Arnott (The Toronto Blessing) wrote about the Pope, "We found him to be a gracious, humble, and dedicated Christian man. He spoke from his heart as a man of God and as a man of the heart. He is a man of prayer and commitment who loves and serves people and who wants all to come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. For what it's worth, we liked him. His sincerity, his words, his actions of humility and his love were so obvious. I believe that his motives are real and to be trusted."

In 2016, Kris Vallotton from Bethel Church in Redding, California met with Pope Francis. Kris writes, "This week I had the privilege of meeting with Pope Francis. It was probably one of the highlights of my life. He was funny, warm and very spiritual. The guy is incredibly humble, touchable, and comfortable in his own skin. Pope Francis, thank you for having the guts to brave the religious system, and reach beyond the borders of tradition to love a group of people, some of whom refuse to love you back. God bless you! You have become one of my heroes." 

The Pope is not the sheep that he appears to be. As the years pass by, his words and actions are revealing the wolf within. He may appear as a lamb, but he is beginning to speak like a dragon. The power that is operating in him is impressive, as he begins to pull worldwide leaders into a false unity movement. Any leader who desires unity more than Christ will be deceived. We can never unify over unity. We will only be unified if Christ is first, and His truth becomes our life. If we ignore the warning signs of a false prophet for the sake of unity and humanistic love, we will open ourselves up to deep deception in the days ahead. 

“Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray.

Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray.

“Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it. For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.” (Matthew 24:4-5, 11, 23-24 WEB).

Jesus warned us that many would come in His name (confessing that Jesus is the Christ), and be lying. Then they would lead many believers astray. If possible, even the elect of the believers will be lead astray. Even high profile leaders who we highly respect can be deceived and lead astray. The time is upon us and Jesus is not playing games. Leaders and believers are currently giving themselves over to false prophets and anti-christ spirits. The Pope has shown many signs of a false prophet, and church leaders are praising him. How far have we fallen!

Any leader who chooses to support, endorse, and praise a false prophet; will be swept away in the waves of delusion that are going to come upon the earth. Believers who follow a leader, who follows a false prophet; will run a much higher risk of falling in deception as well. We must hold fast to the scriptures now more than ever, for the end of the age is upon us. We must ask the Lord to give us a greater level of discernment to navigate through the days ahead. If we abide in Christ and His word, He will transform us into His true disciples. When we are His true disciples, we will know the truth and the truth will set us free. Christ will then live through us to overcome the world and the antichrist spirit.

2017