Q. I heard a statement made recently to the effect that, since Satan does not know the exact time of Christ’s return, he must have a potential candidate for the Antichrist ready at all times. Is this true?
A. “But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Matt. 24:36).

The Bible says that there are “many antichrists” (I John 2:18), meaning that even in biblical times, when those words were written, that spirit, which will be operative in its fullness in the one and only Antichrist, was present. But with the Church not yet raptured, it could not, and still cannot, be so operative (see II Thess. 2:7-12).

As we have said many times, the Antichrist could very well be alive somewhere on earth today. Should the Lord call His Church home soon, it is clear that Satan will have a man of his choosing, ready, willing and able to pilot the world to its dismal destiny from there. Let us be sure that we and our loved ones have trusted Christ as personal Savior, in order to be a part of the Rapture of the Church and be delivered from the wrath to come.

Q. I have heard that it is necessary for us to fear God. I thought that, as Christians, we were in God’s family and, therefore, we need not fear a loving God. Could you comment?
A. The answer to this question hinges upon how we define “fear.” Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,” indicating that it is a wise thing to fear God. But the Hebrew word for “fear” in the passage means “reverence.” Throughout the Bible, when the word “fear” is used in conjunction with our relationship with the Lord, this is most often the meaning. This holds true in both the Old and the New Testaments. Moreover, in I John 4:18, where we are told, “perfect love” (such as that which God has for us) “casts out fear,” “fear” in that case is the Greek word “phobeo” meaning “terror,” and “being exceedingly afraid.”

There is one case that comes to mind of this same word, “phobeo,” being used for fear in conjunction with God, occurring in Matthew’s Gospel. It does not apply to the Christian, but should definitely cause the unsaved to stop and think.

Q. I am concerned about the spiritual state of America today. Is there anything we can do to stop our moral decline?
A. We are most definitely living in a time in which we must extend a call for spiritual revival. Revival means we get back to attention to Scripture; we go to church; we pray; we listen to God; and we confess that He is the primary basis of our lives.

Moral revival by itself, in America or in any other place, will not work, because we have “sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). If a person has sinned, what he needs is not simply high purposing that he will not do it again. He needs forgiveness! He gets that from the cross of Calvary, from the finished work of Christ, who gave His life, that sinners might live. The only place where you can receive forgiveness of sin is at the foot of the cross. And so long as the people and the nation will not return to Jesus Christ and trust in the sacrifice of His life on Calvary’s cross, their cause is hopeless. There is nothing God can do for such a nation.

So we should extend that call for revival in America. But we should do so as part of a return to the Word of God, to the knowledge of Holy Scripture. That produces repentance and faith.