Another form of Antichrist is the current emphasis on "togetherness." The one thing Christ desires is that the individual believer have a direct, personal, intense relationship with Himself. Too much group activity can be detrimental to the development of an intense personal relationship with Jesus.

Antichrist understands that the financial complexities of the world economic systems plus the desire for peace and material security will force the creation of a world government, a world bank, a world army. "Togetherness" is the cry of Antichrist. "By working together we can attain the ideals, the goals, of mankind. Worldwide peace. Enough food for all. Health for all."

Does it sound familiar? Did you notice God is left out?

God is not in any of this. God chooses an individual, reveals Himself to that one, and then works with him or her day and night, night and day, until His witness, His servant, begins to understand God and draws near to Him and has fellowship with Him. God develops His Kingdom through individuals.

The Antichrist spirit is in all of us who want to be like God, whether we set out to accomplish this desire by secular means or religious means. Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ commands us to lay down our life, take up our cross, and follow Him. As we do this, the Antichrist spirit is destroyed out of us. We come into an intensely personal union with the Lord Jesus. He reveals Himself to us. The Father and He come to us and make Their eternal abode with us. This is the rest of God. This is the true salvation. All else is of Antichrist.

Ordinarily God includes a measure of mercy when He is pouring out His wrath. But God's anger is so heated against the antichrist spirit of man making Himself God that God will pour out His wrath without mixture on those who become members of the worldwide rebellion:

The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: (Revelation 14:10)

God has borne with the works of the flesh of man for many thousands of years. Human beings are bound with cowardice, unbelief, lust, with violence, covetousness, sorcery, lying, and numerous variations of these. Those who practice such things will be cast into the Lake of Fire if they do not, through Christ, turn away from such works.

But it appears the most severe penalties of all, especially during the closing days of the Church Age, are reserved for those who succumb to the world spirit of Antichrist as man attempts to obtain security, pleasure, and achievement apart from the God of Heaven.

It is entirely possible to become a "Christian," as the term is used today, and still not overcome the spirit of man making himself God. The Lord commanded us to lay down our life, take up our cross, and follow Him in personal obedience and union. Until we do this we still are part of the worldwide rebellion against God.

To be continued.