By Gary Ray Branscome
We live in a world that is full of religious falsehood, and
bogged down in the mire of deception and lies. “You have undoubtedly heard
that an antichrist is coming, however, those who talk the most about it seem
blind to the fact that there are already many antichrists at work in the world”
(a paraphrase of 1John 2:18). In fact, everyone “who denies that Jesus is
the Messiah… is an antichrist” (1John
It is obvious that the Pharisees denied that Jesus was the
Messiah. However, because the words, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son
is given… and His name shall be called… The mighty God,” tell us that the
Messiah is God; all who deny that Jesus is God are denying that He is the
Messiah (Isaiah 9:6). That not only includes any cults that deny the deity of
Christ, but also all of the “liberal” and atheist professors and teachers who
deny His deity.
Because the words, “All
things in heaven and earth, both visible and invisible, were created by Him…
all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things,”
tell us that Christ is our creator, all who deny that Christ is our creator are
denying that He is God and therefore that He is the Messiah (Colossians
1:16-17). That includes all who claim that life came into existence through
evolution.
Because the words, “He was wounded for our
transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the punishment that brought
us peace was upon Him; and by His stripes we are healed. Like sheep we have all
have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid
on Him the iniquity of us all,” foretold that the Messiah would die for the
sins of His people, all who deny that Christ died for our sins are denying that
He is the Messiah (Isaiah 53:5-6). That not only includes any false religion
that denies that Christ died on a cross, but also the “liberal” churchmen who
mock the idea of blood atonement. [See Psalm 22:16-19.]
Because the words, “Search the scriptures; for in them
you think that you have eternal life: and they are they that testify of me,”
tell us that the Bible was written to testify to Christ, all who undermine the
truth of that testimony by denying messianic prophesy and the reliability of
Scripture are antichrists (John 5:39). And, that includes many seminary professors.
In contrast to the multitude of antichrists in our society,
the Bible speaks of one man, “who opposes and exalts himself over everything
that is called God, or is worshipped; so that he sits as God in the temple of
God, and says that he is God” (2Thessalonians 2:4). Many who read those
words today assume they speak of a future ruler. However, there was a time when
people coming before the Pope were expected to kiss his feet. And, “According
to Innocent III, ‘the Pope holds the place of the true God’” (“The Papacy Evaluated,” by E.G. Bhem, page 98.) And, while those aspects of the Papacy are
played down today, especially in
The Papacy further identifies
itself with the antichrist by pronouncing a curse on all who teach that we are
saved by faith alone, by claiming that Mary plays a part in salvation, and by
encouraging its people to pray to the dead. Furthermore, the angel that spoke
to John in his vision, used the present tense when he identified “Babylon The Great,” as “That great city, which reigns [present
tense] over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 17:1, 5, 18). And, the city
that reigned at that time was
SCRIPTURE ALONE
GRACE ALONE
FAITH ALONE