WALKING IN THE LIGHT: Rejecting the Antichrist

LESSON 6: August 1 - 7, 2009

Key Text: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:1–6)

The Student Will:

Know: Understand what it means to abide in Christ and be aware of antichrists.
Feel: Experience urgency and a need to rely on Christ’s strength.
Do: Be on his or her guard against the power of antichrist.

Know: Recognizing Antichrists

1. The Bible is the authoritative objective standard for all doctrine and teaching. How can we be sure that we interpret it correctly?

“The antidote to the messages of the antichrists is God’s Word as communicated by the Holy Spirit. It is the objective standard by which doctrines can be evaluated. True believers rely on the Holy Spirit as He manifests Himself in Scripture. The Bible has to be the final authority on all our teachings. The moment believers start to doubt the authority of the Bible, its reliability, and its inspiration, they start opening themselves up to all sorts of delusions and errors.” (Bible Study Guide, August 5, 2009)

2. What is the difference between admitting that there are things that we do not understand and doubting the validity of the Bible?

”O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33)

"Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than hell; what canst thou know?" (Job 11:7, 8)

“Many, especially those who are young in the Christian life, are at times troubled with the suggestions of skepticism. There are in the Bible many things which they cannot explain, or even understand, and Satan employs these to shake their faith in the Scriptures as a revelation from God. They ask, "How shall I know the right way? If the Bible is indeed the word of God, how can I be freed from these doubts and perplexities?" God never asks us to believe, without giving sufficient evidence upon which to base our faith. His existences, His character, the truthfulness of His word, are all established by testimony that appeals to our reason; and this testimony is abundant. Yet God has never removed the possibility of doubt. Our faith must rest upon evidence, not demonstration. Those who wish to doubt will have opportunity; while those who really desire to know the truth will find plenty of evidence on which to rest their faith.” (Steps to Christ, 105)

“We can so far comprehend His dealings with us, and the motives by which He is actuated, that we may discern boundless love and mercy united to infinite power. We can understand as much of His purposes as it is for our good to know; and beyond this we must still trust the hand that is omnipotent, the heart that is full of love.” (Steps to Christ, 106)

3. John stresses the concept of abiding in Him. What does this mean to us as Christians today?

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Here is a giving by Christ and on our part an acceptance of the promise, a conscious finding, a sense of relief from all perplexing doubt. Simple enough is it not?--Thus it appears. But the promise is large and far-reaching. It implies much. It means deliverance from constant, perplexing uncertainty. The word "rest" is repeated. "I will give you rest." "Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." …Giving up the life to Christ, means much more than many suppose. God calls for an entire surrender. We cannot receive the Holy Spirit until we break every yoke that binds us to our objectionable traits of character. These are the great hindrances to wearing Christ's yoke and learning of Him. There is no one who has not much to learn. All must be trained by Christ, when we fall upon the living Rock, our wrong traits of character are taken away as hindrances to perfection of character. When self dies, Christ lives in the human agent. Acquaintance with Christ, makes us long to abide in Him, and to have Him abide in us. (Ellen G. White, A sermon delivered in Newcastle, Australia, December 1898)

Feel: A Sense of Urgency

4. Nurturing a sense of alertness and urgency is important to meet the deceptions of the antichrists: how can we guard against complacency?

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

“Jesus prayed that His disciples might be sanctified through the truth. Let no one think that he can permit himself to indulge in any sin, however secret it may be, for God requires truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part wisdom. You need not feel complacency because you are sure that your brethren do not know of your misdeeds. Does not One who is acquainted with your brethren know all about your life? Does not He read your heart as an open book? You cannot indulge in sin and still be a witness for the Lord, for in works you deny Him. Where is the holy boldness that should characterize your faith and prayers because you are not under condemnation before man or God? Where is your ringing testimony on the side of truth?” (Ellen G. White, Abstract of a sermon at Melbourne, Australia, December 19, 1891)


5. Abiding in Christ is crucial for a victorious Christian life. How can we fully rely on Christ’s strength?

“An important lesson for every minister of Christ to learn is that of adapting his labors to the condition of those whom he seeks to benefit. Tenderness, patience, decision, and firmness are alike needful; but these are to be exercised with proper discrimination. To deal wisely with different classes of minds, under varied circumstances and conditions, is a work requiring wisdom and judgment enlightened and sanctified by the Spirit of God. In his letter to the Galatian believers Paul briefly reviewed the leading incidents connected with his own conversion and early Christian experience. By this means he sought to show that it was through a special manifestation of divine power that he had been led to see and grasp the great truths of the gospel. It was through instruction received from God Himself that Paul was led to warn and admonish the Galatians in so solemn and positive a manner. He wrote, not in hesitancy and doubt, but with the assurance of settled conviction and absolute knowledge. He clearly outlined the difference between being taught by man and receiving instruction direct from Christ. The apostle urged the Galatians to leave the false guides by whom they had been misled, and to return to the faith that had been accompanied by unmistakable evidences of divine approval. The men who had attempted to lead them from their belief in the gospel were hypocrites, unholy in heart and corrupt in life. Their religion was made up of a round of ceremonies, through the performance of which they expected to gain the favor of God. They had no desire for a gospel that called for obedience to the word, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3. They felt that a religion based on such a doctrine, required too great a sacrifice and they clung to their errors, deceiving themselves and others.” (Acts of the Apostles, 386)

Do: Be Vigilant Against Deception

6. Name some of the antichrist deceptions that are prevalent today.

a. Miracles and wonders –“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders..” (2 Thess. 2: 3,9)
b. Deceitfulness of false christs –“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matt. 24: 4, 5, 23,24)
c. Wiles false prophets –“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matt. 7: 15)
d. Fraudulent teachings of false teachers -Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. (Acts 20: 30)
e. Apostate church members –“They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.” (1 John 4: 5) There were people who had left the church and successfully proclaimed false doctrines

See also 2 Peter 2: 1-3; Mark13: 22

“Satan's enmity against Christ has been manifested against His followers. The same hatred of the principles of God's law, the same policy of deception, by which error is made to appear as truth, by which human laws are substituted for the law of God, and men are led to worship the creature rather than the Creator, may be traced in all the history of the past. Satan's efforts to misrepresent the character of God, to cause men to cherish a false conception of the Creator, and thus to regard Him with fear and hate rather than with love; his endeavors to set aside the divine law, leading the people to think themselves free from its requirements; and his persecution of those who dare to resist his deceptions, have been steadfastly pursued in all ages. They may be traced in the history of patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, of martyrs and reformers.” (Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, Introduction)


7. Prevention is better than cure: what measures can we take against being deceived by false teachers and antichrists?

“Having exposed the deceptive ways of the antichrist, John speaks of two safeguards that would keep believers in the straight and narrow way. They are to abide in the Son and the Word (1 John 2:24) and to be anointed by the Holy Spirit (vs. 27). “(Bible Study Guide, Teachers’ Comment)

8. What steps can we take to limit the possibility of falling under the influence of false teachings and antichrists?

a. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20.
b. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:20.
c. “When the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known that the Lord hath truly sent him.” Jeremiah 28:9.
d. “Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.” 1 John 4:2.

“There will be those who will claim to have visions. When God gives you clear evidence that the vision is from Him, you may accept it, but do not accept it on any other evidence; for people are going to be led more and more astray in foreign countries and in America.” (Ellen G. White, in Review and Herald, May 25, 1905)

”Sometimes it is a simple task to test the experience of one who professes to be a prophet of God. There are instances where the life of the individual is so out of harmony with Bible standards and doctrines that it is easy to decide that he is a false prophet. However, the purposes of Satan are not well served by false prophets who are brazen in their evil ways. The archdeceiver would seek to have them appear as genuine as possible. Therefore, the prophet must be placed under careful scrutiny in order to detect inconsistencies and errors. This is particularly true in the days preceding the Second Advent, for Christ issued a solemn warning concerning the matter. “For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matthew 24:24. The evidence God gives that a prophet's revelations are from Him is not some supernatural indication exhibited to each one who meets the prophet. The Bible has stated the procedure by which prophets are to be tested, so we should look for evidence that the professed spokesman for God meets the Scripture tests. Each individual should apply the tests to determine to his own satisfaction that the professed prophet is false or genuine.” (A Prophet Among You, 259)

Summary: Although almost two thousand years have passed since John’s warning, the dangers presented by antichrists are still with us. The only way we can live a victorious Christian life is by abiding in and having a right relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.