1 John 4:1-6 outlines a discernment path for identifying the antichrist spirit within a church or nation, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”

Since nearly every religion recognizes Jesus as having come, the emphasis rests on whether they recognize Him as God in the flesh! If He is acknowledged as God, then we are obligated to do His will. His prohibitions become our prohibitions. Daniel was given great insight into the nature of an antichrist spirit and how it functions. Daniel 11:37 says, “He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all.” Every preacher or politician reveals the level of antichrist spirit active in their life by how they respond to homosexuality. Those who refuse to stand against it are of an antichrist spirit – will the church stand for righteousness?

Daniel 7:25 reveals another level of an antichrist spirit at work when it says, “He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.” When I was young, everyone expressed a “Merry Christmas” without hesitation and manger scenes decorated public places. Those manger scenes have been outlawed by “antichrist” judges who have not been penalized by the praying church. If the new Congress and new president advance pro-homosexual legislation then they reveal an antichrist allegiance and should be prayed for accordingly. God’s plan for a harvest includes dealing with those who bow to an antichrist spirit. Once a politician reveals his antichrist preference then the church has no choice but to ask God for relief. We should prayerfully present them to God for divine dealing. The angel who visited Herod is still on call.

We are biblically obligated to discern the antichrist spirits operating among us! Taking action in prayer is our honor as kings and priests. Moving God’s hand to visit those hindering a harvest because of advancing the antichrist agenda is an issue for intercession. David consistently prayed for God’s hand upon his enemies. When God moves in justice, salvation comes to cities and nations. Salvation manifests when the enemies are removed. May God remove every hindrance to His harvest as we position ourselves to demand justice on every antichrist spirit.

One of the chief reasons God loved David had to be His heart for war. Saul stopped short in executing divine justice and lost the kingdom as a result. David never hesitated in war! His mentality needs to be rebuilt in every believer. David would not hesitate to bring destruction on any enemy. We should at least pray as boldly as David did! Perhaps we will get the same results. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16