The imposter is someone who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others. Since Satan, the deceiver, ordains or commissions his counterfeit Christ to sit in his satanic seat and to stand in his stead, it should come as no surprise that this imposter Christ will appear to the masses as God’s “anointed one.” The degree of deception will almost defy description. Hence, Jesus’ warning: “Take heed that no man deceive you” (Matt. 24:4). But he is knocking at your door.
Imitation and Flattery
It is said that “Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.” Yet when deception is the foundation of flattery, it is not flattery but fraud.
The imposter’s introduction to our world will be relatively brief and seemingly meteoric. Satan’s counterfeit Christ will make his debut, catching the globe in a growing, almost gleeful, state of surprise. Many will initially harbor suspicion, but most will accept him in hope-filled welcome. He will be led in as a lamb but will soon roar as a lion. His power and authority will have been secured beyond resistance, ultimately declaring himself “God” (see 2 Thess. 2:4).
Just as Jesus fulfilled the Father’s calling through His ministry of God’s kingdom for a period of approximately 3.5 years, even so will the false messiah carry out his satanic mission to convert the world to worship of Satan for “a time, times and a half,” a period of 3.5 years, until “he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people” (Dan. 12:7a).
Thus, the counterfeit’s purported flattery of imitation will culminate in global carnage, a testimony to the temporal consequences of radical rebellion against the Creator, to be followed by eternal damnation as the “son of perdition” (2 Thess. 2:3; Rev. 19:19-21).
Just as Jesus was the “Son of God” born to “save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21), even so the imposter will be the son of Satan, consigning those who follow him to the eternal consequences of their sins (2 Thess. 2:8-12). Even as Jesus was called “Emmanuel,” God with us, the deceiver presents his demonic representative to be that wicked with us (Matt. 1:23; 2 Thess. 2:8).
Christ brings righteousness, peace and joy with hope (Rom. 14:17; Eph. 2:12). The imposter deviously promises great things such as peace and prosperity through unrighteousness leading to unprecedented horror (Dan. 7:8, 10; Dan. 8:9, 25; 2 Thess. 2:8-12).
What Will the Imposter Emulate?
To emulate means to imitate, to match or even to surpass. What would be needed for the deceiver’s imposter to so emulate Christ, the Messiah, the anointed one as to convince people throughout the world to embrace him as a global savior in whom they should trust for meeting their deepest felt needs of the moment while providing their hope for the foreseeable future and beyond? The answer to that haunting question is scary.
There are many ways in which he might imitate. But, will his message be one of love? Absolutely! If not, it would be nearly impossible to deceive most people, especially professing Christians. Yet how could a devious counterfeit Christ preach or present a message of love? The answer may be surprising.
Love is being “progressively” redefined. The agape or selfless love of Scripture, as taught and displayed by Yeshua and His disciples, has been radically reformed into an ostensible love defined solely by temporal feelings rather than eternal, biblically-defined faith. Feelings have finally become the recognized final arbiter of truth. And feelings are easily manipulated to achieve intended agendas, even in ministry. But when the manipulation of feelings becomes the chosen machination of demonically cunning men, hell follows closely.
Beware the advancing lordship of feelings over biblical truth. When our feelings are choreographed to embrace as an expression of so-called love for what God says He hates or is an abomination, it will be a short step to embrace an imposter, redefining Christ to appear as a culturally-mandated counterfeit. Thus, the false becomes “real,” authenticated by fickle feelings.
Is the Imposter Knocking Yet at Your Door?
Beware the lordship of feelings that betrays biblical truth. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [discerning and applying] the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). When what our Creator has defined as love is culturally renamed “hate speech” and when that which God declares to hate or opposes is labeled “loving,” the imposter is knocking at the door … perhaps even your door.
Listen to this episode of VIEWPOINT on Charisma Podcast Network for more on this topic. {eoa}
Chuck Crismier is an author, pastor, former trial attorney, president of SAVE AMERICA Ministries and host of the VIEWPOINT podcast airing here daily. His website is saveus.org, where his book ANTICHRIST can be obtained.
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