Though many Christians believe otherwise, the New Testament does not actually refer specifically to any individual as the antichrist but rather to a demonic spirit…

It is a spirit that relentlessly hates and opposes the Lord Jesus as all evil spirits do but does so in a more robust and formidable manner that includes a specific agenda and a well-organized human component.

BETRAYAL AND MURDER

The direct linking of evil spirits with human beings is, of course, nothing new, as the pages of the NT are literally saturated with such linkings though such unions usually involve the human unwilling. It seemed every day of the Lord’s ministry involved His delivering some poor soul from demonic possession or oppression. These people had no ability to free themselves but would if they could which proves a forced union by a higher power. The Lord Jesus showed that He had an even higher power—the highest power—and was determined to fulfill this particular plank of His mission statement for the sake of granting freedom to whosoever believed in Him, demonic spirits be damned.

Conversely, there were also human beings who entered willingly into covenant unions with demonic forces. Of such was the antichrist spirit organization. It combined the invisible “other dimension” bad guys of New Testament lore with visible boots-on-the-ground flesh and blood bad guys doing the bidding of the former. Such people are those who essentially sold their souls due to their abject hatred of the Lord Jesus and all He stood for as well as their ravenous personal lust for worldly power, wealth, and even fame. One wonders at the mindset of such people and their motivation but it is perhaps easier to comprehend once one understands that their illicit covenant union, international agenda, and unbridled lust go back multiple centuries, even likely to the very beginning:

And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. [Genesis 4:8b]

Cain wavered in his focus on God. He was also having a problem with sin in his life. As a result he failed to discern the proper sacrifice unto the Lord. By his wholly incorrect offering which well-illustrated his spiritual cluelessness and indifferent attitude he showed great disrespect to God:

…Cain was a tiller of the ground. So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. [Genesis 4:2-3]

This was a problem due to a particular unfortunate result of his parent’s rebellion:

“Cursed is the ground because of you…” [Genesis 3:17]

When what he gave was not accepted Cain got very angry and his countenance fell (Genesis 4:5). The Lord explained to him that if he did well he would surely be accepted and his countenance would be lifted up. Yet because he had already proven he was not doing well it proved that “sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you” (Genesis 4:7). The Lord told Cain he must do better.

Regarding sin, He told Cain he must no longer give in to it (lose the temptation battle) but that “he must master it.” (Genesis 4:7). Having a good relationship with God demands this. Unrepentant sin and a good heart toward God never go together.

Now, Abel, on the other hand, had already gained mastery over sin. He had won the temptation battle that Cain had yet to win and Adam and Eve had lost. Abel overcame. Thus, he understood what God required and gave the Lord exactly that. It is why his offering was accepted:

Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering… [Genesis 4:4]

Abel pleased the Lord. His countenance was lifted up already and was lifted up even more when the Lord gave him a good report. He was likely smiling from ear to ear! Cain could have easily learned from Abel’s example but was instead quite bitter. One imagines an intensely angry appearance and surly demeanor. There was obviously something else going on in Cain’s life that kept him from relating to God.

It is likely that Cain had issues regarding his self-worth and was unable to live up to his mother’s high expectations which probably caused him to deduce he would never be good enough. It is also possible that probable spoilage made him feel he was already entitled without achieving anything or obeying God. This unfortunate attitude worked havoc with his relationship with God and caused sin. It is why he did not put the required full effort into giving God “the first fruits.” He was likely too focused on self and the slights he felt he suffered. His attitude gave vent to sin and sin was dragging him down. After the Lord’s correction Cain could have given it his all to overcome sin and get right with God but he instead went the other way. You see, based on the name she gave him (possession, acquired, or “gotten one”), Eve had most likely thought Cain would be the promised Messiah per the prophecy of Genesis 3:15.

…and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the Lord.” [Genesis 4:1][1]

THE MESSIANIC BLOODLINE

This momentous occasion had obvious consequential overtones. It was the first time a woman gave birth. Did Eve think it could ever happen again? Did she initially consider it a one-time event? She knew she was blessed and that the birth of Cain was a miracle in that it required the Lord’s providential assistance. Of course, all human births are miracles though most are never acknowledged in such a way. Eve also gave birth to the first firstborn son, an event that was somewhat rare but highly honored according to OT writ and one which was perceived as a special blessing and sign from God.

However, as was often the case in the ancient Hebrew historical accounts that became a somewhat regular pattern, the firstborn son himself was sometimes personally undeserving of such an honor in that he did not respect it or even acknowledge it. We see that especially in the life of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, who had so dishonored himself and disrespected spiritual life that God replied: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated” (Romans 9:13). Cain fell into this same category. In fact, he set the precedent.

Cain, of course, was not the Messiah. He would not even be in the bloodline of the Messiah. Ironically therefore, Cain killed the one who was the very next man in the early generational line of the Messiah after Adam. This would be righteous Abel who was an OT type of Christ. His cold-blooded murder, therefore, meant the Messianic line had been cruelly severed right at the beginning which demonstrates the dirty deed of Cain was not simply an act of uncontrolled anger and passion but one involving a demonic agenda.

A tale so sad proves the presence of an ultra-evil one who was not only in the garden previously but was still hanging around playing with Cain’s head not so long afterward. This “serpent” (nâchâsh) apparently deduced quite well what God was up to in that He intended Adam and his descendants (lowly humans!) to rule over this world, which included ruling over him, and he would not have it. The wicked and oh so shrewd night crawler consequently knew he must stop such a plan ASAP.

Once the devil gained dominion over Adam by successfully tempting him to sin all he had to do next was eliminate Abel and there would never be a future Messiah, Savior, and eternal King. The devil would thus maintain his dominion in perpetuity. There would also be no inglorious tossing of the hissing viper into future eternal hellfire. Thus, his success through Cain marked a win-win for his side and an escape from certain eternal judgment…

Therefore, what Cain did was essentially the same thing Judas Iscariot did. Although this man (Judah of Kerioth) was a disciple of the Lord in apparently good standing and one of the twelve (though a diabolos—John 6:70), he broke relationship with the Lord just before the end and was then actually possessed by satan (Luke 22:3, John 13:27).

With betrayal on his mind Judas quickly joined up with the wicked antichrist temple plotters who had formed a covenant with the antichrist spirit in a conspiracy to kill the Lord.

So we see that the Anti-Christ spirit has a very long history…

© 2025 by RJ Dawson. All Rights Reserved. [To Be Continued]  

[1] Unless otherwise noted all Scriptures are taken from the New American Standard Bible, © 1960, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

WEBSITE ADDRESS: rjdawson.com