Antichrist
Any person, group, organization, philosophy or belief system that is opposed to the person of Jesus Christ or His teachings, practices, ordinances, followers and church exude the spirit of antichrist.
The apostle John taught that "antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists" (1 John 2:18). He then expounds on what particularly makes them antichrist. "I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also" (1 John 2:21-24).
John continues to teach, "every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God" (1 John 4:3). He continues, "for many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist" (2 John 1:7). This same "unclean spirit" John taught would come forth out of the mouth "of the false prophet" (Rev. 16:13). The false prophet that will be "cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone" (Rev. 19:20).
In the days of the Book of Mormon a man name Sherem came among the people. He "began to preach among the people, and to declare unto them that there should be no Christ. He did this with the intent to "overthrow the doctrine of Christ," laboring "diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people, (Jacob 7:1-3).
In the days of Alma a man named Nehor exuded the spirit of antichrist in his teachings and actions. Nehor "gone about among the people, preaching to them that which he termed to be the word of God, bearing down against the church; declaring unto the people that every priest and teacher ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people" (Alma 1:3). He also taught flattering doctrines to the people, that "all men should have eternal life" (Alma 1:4). In his contending over his false doctrine he slew a righteous man named Gideon. Nehor eventually acknowledged, between the heavens and the earth that what he had taught to the people was contrary to the word of God" (Alma 1:15).
In addition to Nehor, there was a man name Korihor who was an antichrist. who came among the people of Nephi about 17 years later. Korihor "began to preach unto the people that there should be no Christ" and argued the false concept that there is no way of knowing that there will be a Christ. Korihor scoffed at the spirit of prophecy, that the prophecies handed down to them by the prophets are a "foolish tradition." Korihor taught that it is the "effect of a frenzied mind" to "look forward" for a "remission of your sins." He taught the false doctrine that "there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature" and that man "prospered according to his genius" that "every man conquered according to his strength" and that "whatsoever a man did was no crime" (Alma 30:12-60).
Moroni teaches plainly the difference between antichrist and Christ. He writes, "a man being evil cannot do that which is good." For just as "a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil" (Moroni 7:10-11).
Moroni isn't teaching that man cannot repent and come unto Christ and forsake his evil ways. Instead, he is teaching that a man in a condition of serving the devil cannot serve Christ also. Because, "all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and do that which is evil continually."
In contrast, "that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil. For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night. For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him" (Moroni 7:14-17).
Moroni's counsel for us to "take heed" to "not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil" is what the Prophet Isaiah warned about when he declared, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20)
These are types of which one can detect antichrists of our own day.
The apostle John taught that "antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists" (1 John 2:18). He then expounds on what particularly makes them antichrist. "I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also" (1 John 2:21-24).
John continues to teach, "every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God" (1 John 4:3). He continues, "for many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist" (2 John 1:7). This same "unclean spirit" John taught would come forth out of the mouth "of the false prophet" (Rev. 16:13). The false prophet that will be "cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone" (Rev. 19:20).
In the days of the Book of Mormon a man name Sherem came among the people. He "began to preach among the people, and to declare unto them that there should be no Christ. He did this with the intent to "overthrow the doctrine of Christ," laboring "diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people, (Jacob 7:1-3).
In the days of Alma a man named Nehor exuded the spirit of antichrist in his teachings and actions. Nehor "gone about among the people, preaching to them that which he termed to be the word of God, bearing down against the church; declaring unto the people that every priest and teacher ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people" (Alma 1:3). He also taught flattering doctrines to the people, that "all men should have eternal life" (Alma 1:4). In his contending over his false doctrine he slew a righteous man named Gideon. Nehor eventually acknowledged, between the heavens and the earth that what he had taught to the people was contrary to the word of God" (Alma 1:15).
In addition to Nehor, there was a man name Korihor who was an antichrist. who came among the people of Nephi about 17 years later. Korihor "began to preach unto the people that there should be no Christ" and argued the false concept that there is no way of knowing that there will be a Christ. Korihor scoffed at the spirit of prophecy, that the prophecies handed down to them by the prophets are a "foolish tradition." Korihor taught that it is the "effect of a frenzied mind" to "look forward" for a "remission of your sins." He taught the false doctrine that "there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature" and that man "prospered according to his genius" that "every man conquered according to his strength" and that "whatsoever a man did was no crime" (Alma 30:12-60).
Moroni teaches plainly the difference between antichrist and Christ. He writes, "a man being evil cannot do that which is good." For just as "a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil" (Moroni 7:10-11).
Moroni isn't teaching that man cannot repent and come unto Christ and forsake his evil ways. Instead, he is teaching that a man in a condition of serving the devil cannot serve Christ also. Because, "all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and do that which is evil continually."
In contrast, "that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil. For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night. For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him" (Moroni 7:14-17).
Moroni's counsel for us to "take heed" to "not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil" is what the Prophet Isaiah warned about when he declared, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20)
These are types of which one can detect antichrists of our own day.