"And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world." (1Jn4:3b) "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ...Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works." (2Cor11:13,15)

"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.." (Rom8:16)

When somebody comes along speaking of a "ministry" that they are in, do you immediately embrace them as "Christian brethren"? If somebody says to you that they are "praying" for you, does it give you the 'warm fuzzies' inside? If someone says that they believe in "Yeshua", are they a specially-strong Christian?

Have you ever wondered 'how' all these religions can possibly be working together to "unite" and worship together...when, if you study their doctrines, they all have different beliefs, and call their deities by different names, and have different worship traditions? How is it that all these entities that are so -different- can make claims to be worshiping "the -same- god"?

Because they -are- the same "god". [Please note the lower-case "g".]

Personal experiences from today [the day this is being written] as an object lesson for this commentary:

FIRST INCIDENT: This is about a person who complains that the strong preaching of God's Word is 'unloving' and 'harsh', wishing for more "love" in the messages. This is a person who, while chiding such a preacher, suddenly breaks out into "prayer" of the sort: Father, I lift up [so-n-so] (the one they are talking to) before you... and goes on praying for the person to realize what they've been trying to say to them. This sort of "prayer", of course, gives 'weight' to their words, because they are saying these words "to God" (supposedly). This is a person who, for who-knows-what reason, today e-mailed saying that they were planting a flower in remembrance of the person being 'chided' and 'prayed' for. I had never before heard that charismaniacs were into planting flowers for people...this is a new one on me...! It certainly isn't found in Scripture!

SECOND INCIDENT: A 'customer' walks through the door, ostensibly to investigate pricing for some signs for their "ministry". Everything in the conversation is "ministry" this, and "ministry" that. As this person first walks in, however, and as our gazes first meet each other, I immediately perceive the 'spirit' this person is of. Interestingly enough, throughout the conversation, they can never seem to look me in the eyes, spending lots of time looking around the store in all directions, including bare walls and ceilings, and at one point, standing with back towards me, looking out the windows. At one point they ask a question about something totally unrelated to "signs", and something that is none of their business to be asking. As I am not answering their question, and they are insisting on an answer...by the way, they never did get around to giving any indication of what 'kind' of signs they wanted, nor did I give them any pricing...I am now making little grunts and collecting samples off the counter to put away; in other words: This conversation is over, there's the door...

Him: There's no reason we can't get along...after all, WE'RE "BROTHERS" Me: I don't think so. Him: We worship the same god. Me: We worship different gods. Him: We worship "ye-shooo-ah". Me: That's not likely. And...out-the-door...

Before all this, I had made no mention to them of being a Christian. Just as my spirit 'knew', obviously, so did theirs; that's why he was so 'uncomfortable'.

THIRD INCIDENT: Not scarcely 5 minutes later, a 'regular' customer walks in. Not to order anything, but to ask about something. Now, this is a person who (we always get along friendly), in past conversations, has mentioned being "buddhist". Things in life had been rough years ago; and along the way another time he came in, he was 'cleaned up' better, and seemed to be of a cheerier disposition, as if some things in his life had been improving for him; and when I asked after his welfare, part of this 'improvement' was his taking up of "buddhism"; so he is now a practicing buddhist.

Having only 5 minutes earlier 'just' been confronting the spirit of so-called "ye-shooo-ah" (Hebrew roots?), and now this buddhist walks in...you know what? The "witness" with my spirit told me that this buddhist was walking in with the -same- 'spirit' as those ye-shooo-ites. Which was also the same spirit as the flower-planter.

I've been wondering why these three -seemingly- 'different' spirits should come to my attention, all on the same day, some within a few minutes of each other. I've concluded: in order that it could be written down for your reading and understanding.

One person can speak of being "spirit-filled" with the "sweet-sweet" spirit. (That's another thing I've noticed about cults like the Moonies and some others, they have this syrupy "sweet" spirit to their aura) They can speak of "Jesus Christ", and the "power-of-prayer". Another thing: this person's "prayer" for me was right on the heels (one of the first e-mails I received after mailing it) of that recent Q/A in which such "prayer" was denounced as -not-being- true prayer. These spirits like to hear truth, and immediately rebel against it, by doing the very thing/s being condemned. (Their rebellion is -quite- deliberate!)

Others pride themselves in using the "more correct names" for God. They complain if "Jehovah" is used, instead of "YHWH", but cannot bring themselves to speak of the Most High, but blank out His name, thus: "G-d", because, being unbelievers, they do not have "boldness" to come before God. (Heb4:16) Just like this person today could not look into my face; since the Holy Spirit dwells in me.

Others are overtly 'pagan', believing in eastern religions.

But they are of the -same- spirit. To them, Ye-shoo-ah, Holy Spirit, Buddha...for all these names, the spirit is the same. Take a bottle of poison, and put an "Aspirin" label on it...it's going to kill you. Take that same bottle and label it, "sugar"...it's still going to kill you.

These false messengers are busy with "ministry". Due to their (sugar) label, they seem to be "ministers of righteousness" but their "end will be according to their (poison) works". This is why it is called the "spirit of antichrist". So many are busy looking for -the- "antichrist", that it totally escapes their notice that the "spirit of antichrist" is ALREADY stomping about, devouring...THEM!

Yes... OF COURSE it is going to seem "unloving" and "harsh" when we stick to doctrine. You know why? Because God's Word "reproves/exposes" them. (Eph5:11) That's why they are busy tearing down the "walls of doctrine", because if a person "diligently divides" God's Word (2Tm2:15), the more one compares God's Holy Spirit, as portrayed in the Scriptures, to that which is presented by these false apostles, the more their lies are revealed. God's Word gives Light (1Pet1:19, Ps119:130) The more God's Light shines, the more the works-of-darkness are exposed. If they can keep you from God's Word, then they can slip in their false doctrines, and you won't be any-the-wiser. They will worship, pray, praise the Lord, and name the names of Jesus, Ye-shoo-ah, etc. and you won't realize that it is not the Most High, but merely the one who boasted that he would be "-LIKE- the Most High". (Is14:14) But what is in store for him is the Lake of Fire, "..having been prepared for the devil and his angels" (Mt25:41)

Dear Believer: Don't pay any attention to their whinings and taunts about how "unloving" you are for sticking to doctrine. Back when this apostasy began, the mere -focus- 'back' to God's Word was called "judgmental". Merely -quoting- Scripture was considered "judgmental". Can you imagine it?? The Words given by the very God they claim to worship; those words are "judgmental"? Well, yes. "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind." (Jn9:39)

Just remember that, for the claim of all these 'different' beliefs, they are -really- all one-and-the-SAME spirit. And how will you know if it is of God's 'Holy' Spirit or not? "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, [to see] whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone forth into the world." (1Jn4:1)

What is the 'gauge' by which to test them? Be like the Bereans. SEARCH THE -SCRIPTURES- DAILY... why? TO SEE WHETHER THESE THINGS ARE SO. (Acts17:11)

Amen!