In my book, The Door Is Open, I discuss several signs of antichrist or anti-messiah behaviors, beginning with the scripture from Matthew 23:4-38 in The Message translation. Let’s delve into the second sign, as described in verses 6-7 of Matthew 23:
““Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called ‘Doctor’ and ‘Reverend.’”
Jesus was not gentle with the religious elite of His time; He spoke the truth to awaken people. He wanted everyone to recognize who He truly was, but for the religious leaders, it was particularly hard to accept that they needed a savior. Today, many in the church accept Jesus as their savior but then shift their focus from what He has done for them to what they believe they must do to achieve holiness. This mindset leads to the same issues seen with the religious elite Jesus spoke of.
One of my personal indicators of this problematic attitude is when someone asks, “How many hours did you pray today?” If you have noticed any similar “red flags,” please share them below to help others recognize these signs.
I invite you to reflect on each of these points with God, and perhaps consider reading The Door Is Open to fully grasp this concept, enabling you to live freely in God’s grace, love and freedom right now.
