by esther phinias | 5 September 2023 08:46 am09
The Spirit of Antichrist is Already Here
Many believers are unaware that the spirit of the Antichrist is not something only for the future — it is already active in the world today. The Apostle John made this very clear:
But every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
(1 John 4:3, NIV)
This means the Antichrist’s influence didn’t begin with a political figure or a mark; it began long ago with deception — teaching people to reject Christ’s lordship while appearing spiritual.
The Deceptive Doctrine: “God Only Looks at the Heart”
One of the most dangerous lies preparing the world for the Antichrist’s mark is this:
“God doesn’t care about what you do with your body; He only looks at your heart.”
This half‑truth sounds comforting, but it twists Scripture. Yes, God examines the heart (1 Samuel 16:7), but He also commands us to honor Him with our bodies:
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
(1 Corinthians 6:19–20, NIV
If God truly did not care about the body, why would Scripture repeatedly warn that receiving the physical mark of the beast — on the forehead or hand — leads to eternal judgment.
The Mark of the Beast: A Physical Act with Eternal Consequences
The book of Revelation warns:
If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
(Revelation 14:9‑10, ESV)
Notice this judgment is triggered not by a thought or feeling, but by a physical action — receiving the mark. This shows that what we do with our bodies matters deeply to God. Our bodies are not neutral; they are either instruments of righteousness or of sin (Romans 6:13).
How the Enemy is Preparing People
The Antichrist spirit is slowly desensitizing people through compromises in outward appearance and behavior:
“Wearing earrings or nose piercings isn’t wrong.”
“Tattoos and body art are just self-expression.”
“Makeup, lipstick, or eye decorations aren’t sinful — God looks at the heart.”
While these may seem harmless, they gradually condition people to believe the lie that the body doesn’t matter. So when the time comes for the ultimate test — receiving the mark — many will not resist.
A Sobering Question
If today we are unwilling to set apart our bodies for God in small matters, how will we resist when the world demands total conformity through the mark of the beast? Jesus warned:
Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is dishonest in very little is also dishonest in much.
(Luke 16:10, CSB)
Holiness Involves Both Heart and Body
Biblical holiness is not only inward but outward. God called Israel to be distinct in their worship, dress, and conduct (Deuteronomy 14:2). In the New Testament, Peter reaffirms this:
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.
(1 Peter 1:15–16, NIV)
Paul also urges believers not to conform to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:2) — a world increasingly driven by sensuality, self‑display, and rebellion against God’s order.
A Call to Spiritual Separation
Beloved, do not be deceived by popular trends. The enemy often dresses compromise in the clothing of “personal freedom” or “harmless expression.” But behind many of these movements lies the same spirit that will ultimately lead people to receive the mark.
Therefore:
Lay aside adornments and piercings that glorify the flesh (1 Timothy 2:9).
Reject tattoos and body markings that contradict God’s call to holiness (Leviticus 19:28).
Cultivate beauty that is inward — “the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” (1 Peter 3:3‑4).
Preparing for Christ’s Return
We are living in the final hours before Christ’s return. The question is: Are we set apart — both inwardly and outwardly — for Him?
Jesus is coming for a bride “without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27). This holiness includes every part of us — spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Final Exhortation
Do not wait for the mark of the beast to test your loyalty to Christ. Your faithfulness begins today — in small daily choices about how you live, dress, and present yourself as God’s temple.
Therefore, come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.
(2 Corinthians 6:17, NIV)
Maranatha — Come, Lord Jesus!
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