Are you the “antichrist”?

John is the only writer of the New Testament who uses the term “antichrist,” and he uses the term just five times (1 John 2:18, twice; 2:22; 4:3; 2 John 7). The Greek word from which our English word “antichrist” is translated is very simple to understand. We use the same compound word every day. We have people who are “anti-smoking,” “anti-hunting,” “anti-Semitic” or “anti-abortion”. There really is no big mystery as to what the word means: “antichrist” is anyone who opposes Christ.

It is interesting to note that in some sense the antichrist was already present, but unfortunately John’s words have been taken to suggest that an individual “Antichrist” was yet to appear. The term is commonly used today by premillennialists to refer to one individual, who is supposed to appear in the end of time. Connections between the “Antichrist” and the “Man of Sin” in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-11 are often made with the visions of Daniel concerning the “king of the South” (Daniel 11:36-45) and the “beast of the sea” (Revelation 13:1-9). Premillennialists believe that Daniel foresaw a human leader, satanically energized, who would come to Jerusalem, enforce his will, exalt himself above all other people and gods, and wreck havoc and slaughter. They claim he will be so convincing as an ally and deliverer that Israel will sign a pact with him to be her protector. He will then turn against the nation and occupy the throne in the sanctuary of the rebuilt temple, which for Israel will still symbolize the presence of God, and blasphemously present himself to the world as if he were God.

There have been many who have been suggested as the “Antichrist.” Chrysostom held that it was the resurrected Nero. Some Catholics held that it would be an apostate priest or even the Pope. Speculations about who the “Antichrist” is have included about every U.S. President and world leader (such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler). Some have even said that he will be a demon-possessed, super intelligent human clone!

“Antichrists” are a very real problem for us. While there may not be many professing Christians who deny that Jesus is the Christ, or that He came in the flesh, there are many who reject the authority of the apostles by rejecting the scriptures! Are you an “antichrist”? Do you actively teach or simply believe that Jesus Christ never walked the earth, but was a mythological figure? Do you actively teach or simply believe there was a man named Jesus Christ, but He did not actually rise from the dead? Do you actively speak out against or simply believe that the Christian religion is a false religion? Are you an atheist or agnostic who is indifferent and non-religious? Then you too are an “antichrist”!

The “antichrist” has no horns or red glowing eyes. Neither is the “antichrist” some demon-possessed, super intelligent human clone. Rather, the “antichrist” is that sweet elderly lady living next door who openly teaches the neighborhood kids that Jesus just was a myth. We must “continue in the Son, and in the Father” (1 John 2:24). Remember, we are living in the last hour, and Christ may come at any time and judge us for our unbelief!

Kyle Campbell

Horoscopes

I honestly haven’t thought about horoscopes in a long time, until I joined Facebook. One of the popular applications that some of my friends use is a daily horoscope. A horoscope is a forecast of a person’s future, typically including a delineation of character and circumstances, based on the relative positions of the stars and planets at the time of that person’s birth.

Some people may use a horoscope for “fun,” but the existence of horoscopes go against the direction of God’s will. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” The Lord promises to be with us and guide us with the scriptures, not with some made up speculation about the future. No studies have shown any scientific support for the accuracy of horoscopes. Would you not rather put your trust in the all powerful God? Matthew 6:34 says, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” You may think they are “fun,” but they direct your confidence away from the Lord. There’s no “fun” in that!

Kyle Campbell

To please or be pleased

Although the 80s were considered the “Me Generation,” selfishness has always been in fashion. When someone thinks about “pleasing,” which means to be agreeable, or to accommodate, they usually think about pleasing themselves, but there are some better alternatives that someone needs to please.

First, we must please God. Colossians 1:10 says, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (cf. Colossians 3:20; 1 John 3:22; Hebrews 13:21). Second, we are to please our employees. Titus 2:9-10 says, “Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” We should not be argumentative with our bosses, even when they are overbearing.

Third, we please our neighbors. Paul wrote, “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth” (1 Corinthians 10:24; cf. Matthew 22:39; Romans 15:2). Finally, we please all that they may be saved. “Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved” (1 Corinthians 10:33; 9:19-23; 1 Peter 3:15). This scripture is not a license to do what we want, though. Some people may be in need of a bold denunciation of sin.

Pleasing as we should takes effort. Pleasing ourselves should not be our number one priority (Philippians 2:4-5, 21; Matthew 16:24). A lot of us want to seek our own, but Christ is the ultimate answer for selfishness.

Kyle Campbell

Noah walked with God

Genesis 6:8-9 says, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” Noah lived in perhaps the most wicked age in history. No one worshiped God. All the people worshiped idols and pursued their own sinful pleasures. Noah’s neighbors were evil; every person he associated with in the marketplace, or along the street, or in public gatherings, ridiculed the very thought of being faithful to God. Every temptation imaginable was abundantly available to Noah. How oppressive such an environment would have been to a righteous person (cf. 2 Peter 2:5)!

The people of Noah’s day were so wicked that God planned the most complete and drastic act of judgment recorded in scripture. Nevertheless, Noah was not lost to God in the crowd of sinners. God noticed every act of Noah’s righteousness. Noah had chosen to live uprightly before God despite what everyone around him was doing, and God had watched him. There may have been times when Noah wondered if it mattered if he lived a righteous life, since no one else was. Yet he continued, and his persistence in righteousness saved his life and the lives of his family members.

Are you constantly surrounded by evil? Do you struggle at times to live righteously when those with which you associate have no concern for God? Find assurance in the life of Noah. God watches you, even as He observed Noah. Paul wrote, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his …” (2 Timothy 2:19). Noah proved it!

Kyle Campbell

Enjoy It!

Most of the time, it seems as if we are writing against and warning of the dangers of money and covetousness. They are, of course, very dangerous, but we need to make sure that we keep a proper perspective on possessions and riches.

Solomon wrote, “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit” (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26).

God wants us to enjoy His blessings! It is good to be blessed! Use what you have, and be thankful for it. The Lord has given us wonderful material blessings, so glorify Him for them (James 1:17).

Kyle Campbell

Evaluation day

If you work for a company that does employee evaluations, you may not always be comfortable! Hopefully you’ve done enough to get a good review. Did you realize that we are moving toward the greatest of all evaluation days?

Romans 14:10-12 says, “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ … So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” How will you be evaluated?Admittedly, it is unfair to evaluate someone without them knowing the parameters of their performance. The New Testament tells us what we have to watch in order to be evaluated and have an eternal home.

In the day of judgment, we will be evaluated by our words (Matthew 12:37), our deeds (2 Corinthians 5:10), our thoughts (Matthew 5:27-28), what we see (Matthew 6:22-23), what we hear (Revelation 2:7), our liberality (2 Corinthians 9:6-8), and by what we fail to do in God’s service (James 4:17).

Children of God are new creatures in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). They have to live up to the expectations of a gracious God who has forgiven them of their sins. Are you ready to perform so you can be evaluated and judged righteous in the last day?

Kyle Campbell