Editor's note: Edwin Woolsey’s ongoing series, "In Search of God's Ark," is pausing this week for a special Holy Week column. The series will conclude with his next installment.
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1 John 2:18: Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.
Preparing for another holy season of Easter, we are starkly confronted with the prospect of the Antichrist. However, we must realize that during the Christian era, countless antichrists have come and gone!
Most surprising of all, many of these pernicious deceivers have arisen within the church, for John said, "They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us" (1 John 2:19). Thus, according to the apostle, not every would-be do-gooder is part of the Church, regardless of their spurious claims.
Even as Jesus was tried before his Crucifixion, there were already notorious antichrists going out into the world.
One that immediately comes to mind was a zealot who stole an identity that was not his to claim. Regardless of the man's original name, he called himself "Jesus Bar Abba," meaning in Hebrew: Jehovah saves the Son of the Father. "At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So, when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, 'Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Christ (Christ/Messiah — chosen by God)?'" (Matt. 27:16-17).
Wow! What a choice! Both men had similar names, but their behaviors and reputations were totally different. Still, that did not matter to the fickle mob.
“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Christ?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” (Matt. 27:21-23).
Although Bar Abba was a troublemaker who committed murder (Mark 15:17), Christ healed the sick and fed the hungry. Yet the vicious, ignorant crowd chose an antichrist instead of God's only begotten Son. Sadly, that's simply human nature because we see the same ugly inclination even now.
Today, our society gravitates between a broad spectrum of false Christs. On one side, we have an effeminate Jesus, favored by the gender-confused; but on the other hand, the militant rabble picks an AK-47-toting Jesus who is ready to obliterate anyone his loyal followers disapprove.
This personal conflict arises from the intention to have a savior who mirrors our selfish biases. However, as Martin Luther wrote, Jesus will forever be "the man of God's own choosing!" And there's the "rub," according to Shakespeare!
But that still doesn't stop us from trying to create our version of a savior!
Today, we are confronted with a new antichrist, one dressed in white who rides out, carrying a powerful bow! Recently given a crown, he has both conquered and continues to conquer — taking peace from the earth in the face of war's bloody red specter which will eventually be followed by runaway inflation and horrific shortages (Rev. 6:2-8). "Then I saw a white horse. Its rider carried a bow and was given a crown. He had already won some victories, and he went out to win more" (Rev. 6:2).
Like Jesus Bar Abba, this current white horseman is contrary to Christ's true nature and mission, but his doomed acolytes falsely claim God's anointing and love their pretender even more.
But for those who are truly elect, we have only one Redeemer — Jesus Christ, our soon-coming King!
