Words of Almighty God of the Last Days

What is the primary manifestation of an antichrist’s wickedness? It is that they know clearly what is right and what accords with the truth, but when it comes to them doing something, they will only ever choose that which violates principles and goes against the truth, and that which satisfies their own interests and position—this is the primary manifestation of an antichrist’s wicked disposition. No matter how many words and doctrines they understand, how pleasant-sounding the language they use in sermons, or how much they seem to other people to have spiritual understanding, when they do things, they only choose one principle and one method, and that is to go against the truth, to protect their own interests, and to resist the truth till the end, one hundred percent—this is the principle and method they choose to act by. Besides this, what exactly are the God and the truth they imagine in their hearts? Their attitude toward the truth is merely one of wanting to be able to speak and preach about it, and not wanting to put it into practice. They just talk about it, wanting to be held in high esteem by God’s chosen people and then to use this to seize the position of church leader and achieve their aim of gaining mastery over God’s chosen people. They use preaching doctrine to achieve their aims—is this not them showing contempt for the truth, playing with the truth, and trampling on the truth? Do they not offend God’s disposition by treating the truth in this way? They just use the truth. In their hearts, the truth is a slogan, some lofty words, lofty words which they can use to mislead people and win them over, that can satisfy people’s thirst for wonderful things. They think that there is no one in this world who can practice the truth or live out the truth, that this just doesn’t work, that it is impossible, and that only that which everyone acknowledges and is workable is the truth. Even though they talk about the truth, in their hearts they don’t acknowledge that it is the truth. How do we test this matter? (They don’t practice the truth.) They never practice the truth; this is one aspect. And what is another important aspect? When they encounter things in real life, the doctrine they understand is never workable. They appear as though they really have spiritual understanding, they preach doctrine after doctrine, but when they encounter issues, their methods are distorted. Even though they aren’t able to practice the truth, what they do must at least be in line with human notions and imaginings, in line with human standards and tastes, and must at least pass muster with others. In this way, their position will be kept stable. In real life, however, the things they do are incredibly distorted, and one glance is enough to tell that they don’t understand the truth. Why don’t they understand the truth? In their hearts, they’re averse to the truth, they don’t acknowledge the truth, they enjoy doing things according to satanic philosophies, they always want to handle matters using human ways, and if they can convince others and gain prestige by their handling of these matters, then that is enough for them. If an antichrist hears someone preaching empty theory when they go to a venue, they get so excited, but if someone is there preaching truth reality and going into such detail as people’s various states, they always feel that the speaker is criticizing them and jabbing at their heart, and so they feel repulsed and don’t want to hear it. If they’re asked to fellowship on how their state has been recently, whether they’ve made any progress, and whether they have encountered any difficulties in performing their duty, they have nothing to say. If you continue to fellowship on this aspect of the truth, they fall asleep; they don’t enjoy hearing about it. There are also some people who lean forward when you engage in chit-chat with them, but the moment they hear someone fellowshipping on the truth, they go hide in the corner and have a snooze—they have no love for the truth whatsoever. To what extent do they have no love for the truth? On the mild side, they aren’t interested in it and it’s enough for them to be laborers; on the serious side, they’re averse to the truth, they feel particularly repulsed by the truth, and they can’t accept it. If this kind of person is a leader, then they are an antichrist; if they are an ordinary follower, then they are still walking the path of antichrists and they are the successors of antichrists. From the outside, they appear intelligent and gifted, with some good potential, but their nature essence is that of an antichrist—this is how it is.

—The Word, Vol. 4. Exposing Antichrists. Item Seven: They Are Wicked, Insidious, and Deceitful (Part One)

What are the main features of antichrists’ wickedness? The first is that they don’t acknowledge positive things, they don’t acknowledge that there is such a thing as truth, and they think that their heretical fallacies and their wicked negative things are the truth—this is one manifestation of the wickedness of antichrists. For example, some people say, “One’s own happiness is in one’s own hands” and “Only with power can one have everything”—this is the logic of antichrists. They believe that with power come people who fawn and flatter them, people who give gifts and toady up to them, as well as all manner of benefits of status and all manner of enjoyment; they believe they no longer have to be pushed around by anyone or led by anyone, and that they can lead others—this is their top priority. What do you think of their calculating like this? Isn’t it wicked? (Yes.) Antichrists use their satanic logic and heretical fallacies in place of truth—this is one aspect of their wickedness. First of all, they don’t acknowledge the truth, they don’t acknowledge that there are positive things, and they don’t acknowledge the rightness of positive things. Moreover, even though some people do acknowledge that there are positive things and negative things in this world, how do they approach positive things and the existence of truth? They still don’t love it, the life they choose and the path they walk in their belief in God remain negative and are at odds with the truth. They safeguard only their own interests. Whether a positive thing or negative thing, as long as it can safeguard their own interests, then it is all right, it is supreme. Isn’t this a wicked disposition? There is another aspect: People like this who possess a wicked essence are inherently contemptuous of God’s humility and hiddenness, God’s faithfulness and goodness; they are inherently contemptuous of these positive things. For instance, look at Me: Am I not very ordinary? I’m ordinary, why don’t you dare say it? I Myself acknowledge that I’m ordinary. I’ve never thought of Myself as being extraordinary or great. I’m just an ordinary person; I’ve always acknowledged this fact and I dare to face this fact. I don’t want to be a super-person or some great person—how exhausting that would be! Some people look down on this ordinary person that I am and always harbor notions about Me. When those who truly believe in God come before Me, they still come with some piety, regardless of what I look like on the outside. Then there are some who, despite talking to Me all very politely, harbor a contemptuous attitude toward Me in their hearts, and I can tell this from their tone and from the way they move their bodies. Even though sometimes they appear very respectful, whatever I say to them they always reply with a “No,” always negating what I say. For example, I say the weather is very hot today, and they say, “No, it isn’t. Yesterday was really hot.” They negate what I say, right? No matter what you say to them, they always negate it. Aren’t there people like this around? (There are.) I say, “The food today is salty. Is there too much salt in it or too much soy sauce?” And they say, “Neither. There’s too much sugar in it.” No matter what I say, they negate it, so I don’t say anything else, we don’t see eye to eye, and we’re talking different languages. Then there are some who, when they hear Me talking about faith in God, say, “You’re an expert at talking about this, so I’ll listen.” If I talk a little about anything external, they don’t want to listen anymore, as though I don’t know anything about external things. It’s fine that they pay no attention to Me, I want to be quiet. I don’t need anyone to pay attention to Me, I just do what I ought to do. I have My responsibilities, and I have My way of life. Tell Me, what do these attitudes people have demonstrate? They see that I don’t look like a great or capable person, and that I speak and act like an ordinary person, and so they think, “How come you’re not like god? Look at me. If I was god, I’d be most like him.” It is not a matter of being like or not like God. It’s you who demands that I be like God, I’ve never said I was like Him, and I never wanted to be like Him; I just do what I ought to do. If I go somewhere and some people don’t recognize Me, then that’s great, as it saves Me trouble. You see, the Lord Jesus spoke and worked in Judea so much back then, and no matter what corrupt dispositions the disciples who followed Him had, their attitude toward Him was as man’s attitude toward God—theirs was a normal relationship. Yet there were some who said of the Lord Jesus, “Isn’t he a carpenter’s son?” and even some who followed Him for a long time continually harbored this attitude. This is something which God incarnate often faces in becoming an ordinary, normal human being, and it is a common occurrence. Some people are so enthusiastic when they first meet Me, and when I leave they lie prostrate and weep, but this doesn’t work out during real interaction, and a lot of the time I have to endure it. Why do I have to endure it? Because some people are foolish, some cannot be cultured, some people are needed as service-doers, and some are deaf to all reason. That’s why I have to endure sometimes, and sometimes there are certain people I cannot allow to get close to Me; these people are too repugnant and they have an antagonistic disposition. … Some people who’ve believed in God for several years should have some concept of God’s work, God incarnate, and God’s saving people, yet they have no God-fearing heart at all. They’re just the same as nonbelievers and have not changed at all. Tell Me, what things are these people? They are natural born devils, the enemies of God.

—The Word, Vol. 4. Exposing Antichrists. Item Seven: They Are Wicked, Insidious, and Deceitful (Part One)

Antichrists dislike positive things, which implies that they are hostile toward them and like negative things. What are some examples of negative things? Lies and trickery—aren’t these negative things? Yes, lies and trickery are negative things. So, what is the positive counterpart to lies and trickery? (Honesty.) Correct, it’s honesty. Does Satan like honesty? (No.) It likes trickery. What is the first thing God requires of humans? God says, “If you want to believe in Me and follow Me, what kind of person should you be first and foremost?” (An honest person.) So, what is the first thing that Satan teaches people to do? To lie. What is the first evidence of the wicked nature of antichrists? (Trickery.) Yes, antichrists like trickery, they like lies, and they detest and hate honesty. Though honesty is a positive thing, they do not like it, and instead they feel repulsion and hatred toward it. By contrast, they like trickery and lies. If someone often speaks truthfully in front of antichrists, saying something like, “You like conducting work from a position of status, and sometimes you’re lazy,” how do antichrists feel about it? (They don’t accept it.) Not accepting it is one of the attitudes they possess, but is that all? What is their attitude toward this person who speaks truthfully? They feel repulsed and don’t like them. Some antichrists say to the brothers and sisters, “I’ve been leading you for some time now. Please everybody tell me your opinions about me.” Everybody thinks, “Since you’re being so sincere, we’ll give you some feedback.” Some say, “You’re quite serious and diligent in everything you do, and you’ve endured a lot of suffering. We can hardly bear to watch it, and we feel distressed on your behalf. God’s house could use more leaders like you! If we had to point out a shortcoming, it would be that you’re too serious and diligent. If you overwork yourself and burn out, you won’t be able to keep working, and won’t we be done for then? Who will lead us?” When antichrists hear this, they feel pleased. They know it’s a lie, that these people are currying favor with them, but they’re willing to listen to it. In fact, the people saying this are playing these antichrists like fools, but these antichrists would rather play the fool than reveal the true nature of these words. Antichrists love people who lick their boots like this. These individuals don’t bring up the antichrists’ faults, corrupt dispositions, or shortcomings. Instead, they covertly praise and exalt them. Even though it’s clear that their words are lies and flattery, the antichrists gladly accept these words, finding them comforting and pleasing. To antichrists, these words are better than savoring the most exquisite delicacies. After hearing these words, they feel smug. What does this illustrate? It shows that there is a certain disposition within antichrists that loves lies. Suppose someone tells them, “You’re too arrogant, and you treat people unfairly. You’re good to those who support you, but if someone keeps their distance from you or doesn’t suck up to you, you belittle and ignore them.” Aren’t these truthful words? (Yes.) How do antichrists feel after hearing this? They become unhappy. They don’t want to hear it, and they can’t accept it. They try to find excuses and reasons to explain things away and smooth things over. As for those who constantly flatter antichrists in person, who always speak nice-sounding words to covertly praise them, and even clearly trick them with their words, antichrists never investigate these people. Instead, antichrists make use of them as important figures. They even put perpetual liars in important positions, assigning them to do certain significant and dignified duties, while arranging for those who always speak honestly, and often report issues, to do their duties in less conspicuous positions, preventing them from having access to upper leadership or from being known by or close to most people. It doesn’t matter how talented these people are or what duties they can do in God’s house—antichrists ignore all that. They only care about who can engage in trickery and who is advantageous to them; these are the individuals whom they put in important positions, without considering the interests of God’s house one bit.

—The Word, Vol. 4. Exposing Antichrists. Item Seven: They Are Wicked, Insidious, and Deceitful (Part Two)

Antichrists love lies and trickery—what else do they like? They like tactics, schemes, and plots. They operate according to Satan’s philosophy, never seeking the truth, relying entirely on lies and trickery and employing schemes and plots. No matter how clearly you fellowship the truth, even if they nod in acknowledgment, they won’t act according to the truth principles. Instead, they’ll rack their brains and act using schemes and plots. It doesn’t matter how clearly you fellowship the truth, it seems that they can’t understand it; they simply do things the way they are willing to do them, the way they want to do them, and whatever way is in their own self-interest. They speak smoothly, concealing their true face and true colors, fooling and tricking people, and when others fall for it, they feel pleased, and their ambitions and desires have been fulfilled. This is the consistent method and approach of antichrists. Regarding those honest people who are straightforward in how they talk, who speak honestly and openly fellowship about their own negativity, weakness, and rebellious states, and who speak from the heart, antichrists are inwardly repulsed by them and discriminate against them. They like people who, like they do, speak in a crooked and deceitful manner and don’t practice the truth. When they encounter such people, they feel delighted in their hearts, as if they’ve found someone like them. They no longer worry about others being better than them or being able to discern them. Isn’t this a manifestation of the wicked nature of antichrists? Can’t it demonstrate that they are wicked? (Yes, it can.) Why can these matters illustrate that antichrists are wicked? Positive things and the truth are what any rational created being with a conscience should love. However, when it comes to antichrists, they regard these positive things as a pain in their necks and a thorn in their sides. Anyone who abides by or practices them becomes their enemy, and they view such individuals with hostility. Doesn’t this resemble the nature of Satan’s hostility toward Job? (Yes.) It is the same nature, the same disposition as Satan’s, and the same essence. The nature of antichrists originates from Satan, and they belong to the same category as Satan. Therefore, antichrists are in league with Satan. Is this statement excessive? Not at all; it’s entirely correct. Why? Because antichrists don’t love positive things. They enjoy engaging in trickery, they like lies, illusory appearances, and pretense. If someone exposes their true face, can they submit and accept it joyfully? Not only could they not accept it, they would respond with a shower of abuse. People who tell the truth or expose their true face would infuriate them and make them fly into a rage. For instance, there might be an antichrist who is very skilled at pretense. Everyone perceives them as a good person: loving, able to sympathize with people, able to understand others’ difficulties, and often supportive and helpful to those who are weak and negative. Whenever others have any difficulties, they are able to show consideration and excuse them. In people’s hearts, this antichrist is greater than God. Regarding this person who postures as virtuous, if you expose their pretense and imposture, if you tell them the truth, can they accept it? Not only will they not accept it, but they will start ramping up their pretense and imposture. … Why do we say that antichrists are wicked? The wickedness of antichrists lies in the fact that when they hear something that is right, not only are they unable to accept it, on the contrary, they hate it. Additionally, they resort to their own ways, looking for excuses, reasons, and various objective factors to defend and explain themselves. What purpose do they aim to achieve? They aim to turn negative things into positive things and positive things into negative ones—they want to reverse the situation. Isn’t this wicked? They think, “No matter how right you are, or how much your words are in accordance with the truth, can you withstand my silver tongue? Even though all the words I speak are clearly false, cheating, and misleading, I will still deny and condemn what you say.” Isn’t this wicked? Indeed, this is wicked. Do you think that antichrists, when they see good people, don’t consider them honest in their hearts? They do consider them to be honest people and pursuers of the truth, but what is their definition of honesty and pursuing the truth? They think that honest people are foolish. They are repulsed by, detest, and are hostile toward the pursuit of the truth. They believe it to be false, that no one could be so foolish as to forsake everything in pursuit of the truth, to say anything to anybody, and entrust everything to God. No one is that foolish. They feel that all these actions are false, and they don’t believe in any of them. Do antichrists believe that God is almighty and righteous? (They do not.) So, they draw question marks behind all these things in their minds. What’s the implication here? How do we interpret this heap of question marks? They don’t just doubt or question it; in the end, they also deny it and aim to reverse the situation. What do I mean by reversing the situation? They think, “What’s the use of being so just? If a lie is repeated a thousand times, it becomes the truth. If no one speaks the truth, then it isn’t the truth and it has no use—it’s just a lie!” Isn’t this twisting right and wrong? This is the wickedness of Satan—distorting facts and twisting right and wrong—this is what they like. Antichrists excel in pretense and trickery. What they excel in is, of course, inherent to their core, and what is inherent to their core is precisely that which is in their nature essence. Even more, it’s that which they crave and love, and it’s also the rule for how they survive in the world. They believe in sayings like “The good die young while the evil live to a great old age,” “Every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost,” “One’s destiny is in his own hands,” “Man will triumph over nature,” and so on. Do any of these statements align with humanity or the natural laws that normal people can comprehend? Not a single one. So how can antichrists be so fond of these devilish sayings of Satan and even treat them as their mottos? One can only say that it is because their nature is too wicked.

—The Word, Vol. 4. Exposing Antichrists. Item Seven: They Are Wicked, Insidious, and Deceitful (Part Two)

Antichrists, due to their inherently wicked disposition, never speak or act straightforwardly. They do not handle things with an honest attitude and sincerity, or speak using honest words and act with a heartfelt attitude. Nothing they say or do is forthright but rather circuitous and furtive, and they never directly express their thoughts or motivations. Because they believe that if they express them, they would be fully understood and seen through, their ambitions and desires would be exposed in the light, and they would not be seen among other people as high or noble, or be looked up to and worshiped by others; hence, they always try to conceal and hide their disreputable motives and desires. So, how do they go about speaking and acting? They employ various methods. Just as there is a saying among nonbelievers, “sounding out a situation,” antichrists adopt a similar approach. When they want to do something and they hold a certain viewpoint or attitude, they never express it directly; rather they use certain methods such as subtle or inquiring methods or worming things out of people to gather the information they seek. Because of their wicked disposition, antichrists never seek the truth, nor do they want to understand it. Their sole concern is their own fame, gain, and status. They engage in activities that can give them fame, gain, and status, avoiding those that offer no such things. They eagerly undertake activities related to reputation, status, standing out, and glory, while avoiding things that safeguard the work of the church or may offend others. Therefore, antichrists do not approach anything with an attitude of seeking; rather, they use the method of testing to sound things out, and then decide whether to proceed—antichrists are just this cunning and wicked. For instance, when they want to know what kind of person they are in the eyes of God, they don’t assess themselves through God’s words by coming to know themselves. Instead, they inquire around and listen for implied speech, observing the tone and attitude of leaders and the Above, and looking in God’s words to see how God determines the outcomes of people like them. They use these paths and methods to see where they belong within the house of God and find out what their future outcome will be. Doesn’t this involve some nature of testing? After some people are pruned, for example, instead of examining why they were pruned, examining the corrupt dispositions and mistakes they revealed in the course of their actions, and what aspects of the truth they should seek to know themselves and rectify their former faults, they give others a false impression, using indirect means to find out the real attitude of the Above toward them. For instance, after being pruned, they quickly bring up an insignificant issue with which to seek the Above, to see what kind of tone the Above has, whether they are patient, whether the questions they are seeking will be answered seriously, whether they will adopt a softer attitude toward them, whether they will entrust them with tasks, whether they will still regard them highly, and what the Above really thinks about the mistakes they committed previously. All these approaches are a kind of testing. In short, when they face such situations and exhibit these manifestations, do people know in their hearts? (Yes, they do.) So, when you know and you want to do these things, how do you handle it? Firstly, at the simplest level, can you rebel against yourself? Some people find it challenging to rebel against themselves when the time comes; they think it over, “Forget it, this time it has to do with my blessings and outcome. I can’t rebel against myself. Next time.” When the next time comes, and they meet again with an issue involving their blessings and outcome, they still find themselves unable to rebel against themselves. Such individuals have a sense of conscience, and although they don’t possess an antichrist’s disposition essence, it’s still quite troublesome and dangerous for them. On the other hand, antichrists often entertain these thoughts and live in such a state, but they never rebel against themselves, because they lack a sense of conscience. Even if someone exposes and prunes them, pointing out their state, they persist and absolutely won’t rebel against themselves, nor will they hate themselves because of it or let go of and resolve this state. After some antichrists are dismissed, they think, “Being dismissed seems like a normal thing, but it feels somewhat disgraceful. Though it’s not a significant matter, there’s one crucial thing I can’t let go of. If I’m dismissed, does that mean the house of god will no longer cultivate me? Then what kind of person will I be in god’s eyes? Will I still have hope? Will I still be useful at all in the house of god?” They contemplate this and come up with a plan, “I have ten thousand yuan on hand, and now is the time to use it. I’ll offer this ten thousand yuan as an offering, and see if the above’s attitude toward me can change a bit, and if they can show some favor toward me. If the house of god accepts the money, it means I still have hope. If it rejects the money, that proves I have no hope, and I’ll make other plans.” What kind of approach is this? This is testing. In short, testing is a relatively apparent manifestation of the wicked disposition essence. People use various means to obtain the information they desire, gain certainty, and then achieve peace of mind. There are multiple ways to test, such as using words to worm things out of God, using things to test Him, thinking and mulling things over in their minds. What is the most common way you test God? (Sometimes, when praying to God, I check God’s attitude toward me and see if I have peace in my heart. I use this method to test God.) This method is used quite commonly. Another method is seeing if one has anything to say during the fellowship at the gathering, if God provides enlightenment or illumination, and using it to test whether God is still with them, whether He still loves them. Also, over the course of doing their duty, seeing if God enlightens or guides them, if they have any special thoughts, ideas, or insights—using these to test what kind of attitude God has toward them. All of these methods are quite common. Anything else? (If I have made a resolution to God in prayer but fail to fulfill it, I observe whether God will treat me according to the oath I made.) This is also one kind. No matter what method people use to treat God, if they have a guilty conscience about it, and then gain knowledge about these actions and dispositions and can promptly turn them around, then the problem isn’t that significant—this is a normal corrupt disposition. However, if someone can consistently and stubbornly do this, even if they know that it is wrong and detested by God, but persist in it, never rebelling against it or giving it up, this is the essence of an antichrist. The disposition essence of an antichrist is different from ordinary people, in that they never reflect on themselves or seek the truth, but consistently and stubbornly use various methods to test God, His attitude toward people, His conclusion regarding an individual, and what His thoughts and ideas are about a person’s past, present, and future. They never seek God’s intentions, the truth, and especially not how to submit to the truth to achieve a change in their disposition. The purpose behind all their actions is to probe into God’s thoughts and ideas—this is an antichrist. This disposition of antichrists is clearly wicked. When they engage in these actions and exhibit these manifestations, there is not a trace of guilt or remorse. Even if they link themselves to these things, they show no repentance or intention to stop, but still persist in their ways. In their treatment of God, their attitude, and their approach, it is evident that they regard God as their adversary. In their thoughts and viewpoints, there is no idea or attitude of knowing God, loving God, submitting to God, or fearing God; they simply want to obtain the information they want from God and use their own methods and means to ascertain God’s precise attitude toward them and definition of them. What’s more serious is that, even though they align their own approaches with God’s words of revelation, even if there is the slightest awareness that this behavior is detested by God and not what a person should do, they will never give it up.

—The Word, Vol. 4. Exposing Antichrists. Excursus Six: Summarizing the Character of Antichrists and Their Disposition Essence (Part Three)

The most common manifestation of the wicked essence of antichrists is that they are particularly good at pretense and hypocrisy. Despite their particularly vicious, insidious, ruthless, and arrogant disposition, they present themselves externally as especially humble and benign. Isn’t this pretense? These people contemplate daily in their hearts, thinking, “What kind of clothing should I wear to make me look more Christian, more upstanding, more spiritual, more burdened, and more like a leader? How should I eat in order to make people feel that I am refined, graceful, dignified, and noble enough? What walking posture should I adopt to give an air of leadership and charisma, to appear like an extraordinary person and not an ordinary one? In my conversations with others, what tone, vocabulary, looks, and facial expressions can make people feel that I am high class, like a social elite or a high-ranking intellectual? How can my attire, style, speech, and behavior make people hold me in high regard, leave an indelible impression on them, and ensure that I remain forever in their hearts? What should I say to win over and warm people’s hearts, and to make a lasting impression? I must do more to help others and speak well of them, frequently talk about god’s words and use some spiritual terminology in front of people, read more of god’s words to others, pray more for them, speak in a low voice to make people perk up their ears and listen to me, and make them feel that I’m gentle, caring, loving, magnanimous, and forgiving.” Isn’t this pretense? These are the thoughts that occupy the hearts of antichrists. That which fills their thoughts is nothing but the trends of nonbelievers, wholly indicating that their thoughts and viewpoints belong to the world and Satan. Some people may dress like a prostitute or even a loose woman in secret; their clothing caters specifically to evil trends and is especially fashionable. However, when they come to the church, among the brothers and sisters they wear a completely different costume and demeanor. Aren’t they extremely adept at pretense? (Yes.) What antichrists contemplate in their hearts, what they do, their various manifestations, and the dispositions they reveal all illustrate that their disposition essence is wicked. Antichrists do not contemplate the truth, positive things, the right path, or God’s requirements. Their thoughts, and the approaches, methods, and goals they choose are all wicked—they all deviate from the right path and are incompatible with the truth. They even go against the truth, and in general, they can be summarized as evil; it’s just that the nature of this evil is wicked—therefore, it is collectively referred to as wickedness. They don’t contemplate being an honest person, being pure and open, or being sincere and loyal; instead, they think about wicked methods. Take, for example, a person who can open up about themselves in a pure manner, which is a positive thing and is practicing the truth. Do antichrists do this? (No.) What do they do? They are constantly pretending, and once they do something bad and start to give themselves away, they furiously hide it, justify and defend themselves, and conceal the facts—then they finally provide their reasons. Do any of these practices measure up to practicing the truth? (No.) Are any of them in accordance with the truth principles? Even less so.

—The Word, Vol. 4. Exposing Antichrists. Excursus Five: Summarizing the Character of Antichrists and Their Disposition Essence (Part Two)

The wickedness of antichrists has one obvious characteristic, and I will share with you the secret of discerning it: It is that in their speech and action alike, you cannot fathom their depths or see into their hearts. When they speak to you, their eyes always swivel around, and you cannot tell what sort of scheme they are hatching. Sometimes, they make you feel that they are loyal or quite sincere, but this is not the case—you can never see through them. You have a particular feeling in your heart, a sense that there is a deep subtlety to their thoughts, an unfathomable depth, that they are devious. This is the first characteristic of the wickedness of antichrists, and it indicates that antichrists possess an attribute of wickedness. What is the second characteristic of the wickedness of antichrists? It is that everything they say and do is highly misleading. Where is this displayed? In their particular adroitness at feeling out people’s psychologies, at saying things that fit with people’s notions and imaginings and are easy to accept. However, there is one thing you should discern: They never embody the pleasant things they say. For example, they preach doctrine to others, telling them how to be honest people, and how to pray and let God be their master when something befalls them, but when something happens to the antichrists themselves, they do not practice the truth. All they do is act according to their own will, and think of a myriad of ways to benefit themselves, making everyone else serve them and handle their affairs. They never pray to God or let Him be their master. They say things that are pleasant to the ears, but their actions do not line up with what they say. The first thing they consider when taking an action is the benefit to themselves; they do not accept God’s orchestrations and arrangements. People see that they are not obedient when doing things, that they are always looking for a way to benefit themselves and a way forward. This is the deceitful and wicked side of antichrists that people can see. When working, sometimes antichrists can withstand hardship and pay a price, even forgoing sleep and food at times, but they only do this to gain status or make a name for themselves. They suffer hardship for the sake of their ambitions and goals but are perfunctory with the important work the house of God arranges for them, which they barely carry out. So, are they submissive to God’s arrangements in all they do? Are they doing their duties? There is a problem here. There is also another sort of behavior, which is when brothers and sisters put forward different opinions, antichrists will reject them in a roundabout way, going in circles, making people think the antichrists have fellowshipped and discussed things with them—but when it comes down to it, everybody must do as they say. They are always looking for ways to shut down other people’s suggestions, so that people follow their ideas and do as they say. Is this seeking the truth principles? It certainly is not. So then, what is the principle of their work? It is that everybody must listen to them and obey them, that there is no one better to heed than they, and that their ideas are the best and the loftiest. Antichrists would have everyone feel that what they say is right, that they are the truth. Is this not wicked? This is the second characteristic of the wickedness of antichrists. The third characteristic of the wickedness of antichrists is that when they testify to themselves, they often testify to their contributions, the hardships they have suffered, and the beneficial things they have done for everyone, drilling it into people’s minds, so that those people remember that they are basking in the antichrists’ light. If someone compliments or thanks an antichrist, they may even say some very spiritual words, like, “Thank god. This is all the work of god. The grace of god is enough for us,” so that everyone sees that they are quite spiritual, and that they are a good servant of God. In reality, they are exalting and testifying to themselves, and there is no place at all in their heart for God. In everyone else’s mind, the antichrist’s status has already far exceeded that of God. Is this not real proof of antichrists testifying to themselves? In churches where an antichrist holds power and is in control, they have the highest status in people’s hearts. God can only come second or third. If God goes to a church where an antichrist holds power and says something, will what He says get through to the people there? Will they accept it from the heart? It is hard to say. This suffices to prove how much effort antichrists put into testifying to themselves. They do not testify for God at all, but use all their opportunities to testify for God to testify to themselves instead. Is this tactic antichrists use not insidious? Is it not incredibly wicked? By means of these three characteristics fellowshipped here, it is easy to discern antichrists.

—The Word, Vol. 4. Exposing Antichrists. Item Seven: They Are Wicked, Insidious, and Deceitful (Part Two)

Antichrists believe in God solely for the purpose of obtaining profit and blessings. Even if they endure some suffering or pay some prices, it’s all in order to make a deal with God. Their intention and desire to obtain blessings and rewards is immense, and they cling to it tightly. They don’t accept any of the many truths that God has expressed, in their hearts they always think that believing in God is all about obtaining blessings and securing a good destination, that this is the highest principle, and that nothing can surpass it. They think that people should not believe in God unless for the sake of gaining blessings, and that if it wasn’t for the sake of blessings, belief in God would have no meaning or value, that it would lose its meaning and value. Were these ideas instilled in antichrists by someone else? Do they derive from someone else’s education or influence? No, they are determined by the inherent nature essence of antichrists, which is something no one can change. Despite God incarnate speaking so many words today, antichrists don’t accept any of them, but instead resist and condemn them. The nature of their being averse to the truth and hating the truth can never change. If they can’t change, what does this indicate? It indicates that their nature is wicked. This is not an issue of pursuing or not pursuing the truth; this is a wicked disposition, it is brazenly clamoring against God and antagonizing God. This is the nature essence of antichrists; it is their true face. Since antichrists are able to brazenly clamor against and oppose God, what is their disposition? It is wicked. Why do I say it is wicked? Antichrists dare to resist God and clamor against Him for the sake of obtaining blessings, and for fame, gain, and status. Why do they dare to do this? Deep within their hearts there is a force, a wicked disposition that governs them, so they are able to act unscrupulously, argue with God, and clamor against Him. Before God even says He won’t give them a crown, before God strips away their destination, their wicked disposition erupts from within their hearts, and they say, “If you don’t give me a crown and a destination, I’ll go to the third heaven and argue with you!” If it weren’t for their wicked disposition, where would they find such energy? Can most people muster such energy? Why don’t antichrists believe God’s words are the truth? Why do they tenaciously hold onto their desire for blessings? Isn’t this their wickedness once again? (It is.) The very blessings that God promises to grant people have become the ambition and desire of antichrists. They are determined to obtain them, but they don’t want to follow God’s way, and they don’t love the truth. Instead, they pursue blessings, rewards, and crowns. Even before God says He won’t grant them these things, they want to contend with God. What’s their logic? “If I can’t obtain blessings and rewards, I will argue with you, I will oppose you, and I will say that you are not god!” Aren’t they threatening God by saying such things? Aren’t they trying to overthrow Him? They even dare to deny God’s sovereignty over everything. As long as God’s actions don’t align with their will, they dare to deny that God is the Creator, the one true God. Isn’t this Satan’s disposition? Isn’t this Satan’s wickedness? Is there any difference between how antichrists act and Satan’s attitude toward God? These two approaches can be completely equated. Antichrists refuse to acknowledge God’s sovereignty over everything, and they want to wrest blessings, rewards, and crowns from God’s hands. What kind of disposition is this? On what basis do they wish to act and seize things like this? How can they muster such energy? The reason for this can now be summed up: This is the wickedness of antichrists. Antichrists don’t love the truth, yet they still want to obtain blessings and crowns, and to wrest these rewards from God’s hands. Isn’t this courting death? Do they realize they are courting death? (They don’t realize it.) They might also have a faint sense that obtaining rewards is impossible, so they first say a statement like, “If I can’t obtain blessings, I’ll go to the third heaven and argue with god!” They already foresee that it will be impossible for them to obtain blessings. After all, Satan has clamored against God in midair for many years, and what has God given it? God’s only statement to it is, “After the work is finished, I will throw you into the bottomless pit. You belong in the bottomless pit!” This is God’s only “promise” to Satan. Isn’t it twisted that it still desires rewards? This is wickedness. The inherent essence of antichrists is antagonistic toward God, and antichrists themselves do not even know why this is the case. Their hearts are solely focused on gaining blessings and crowns. Whenever anything involves the truth or God, resistance and anger arises inside them. This is wickedness. Normal people probably cannot understand the inward feelings of antichrists; it’s quite tough for antichrists. Antichrists possess such immense ambitions, they harbor such immense wicked energy within them, and such a great desire for blessings. They can be described as burning with desire. But God’s house continually fellowships on the truth—it must be very painful and difficult for them to hear it. They wrong themselves and pretend so much in order to endure it. Is this not a kind of wicked energy? If ordinary people didn’t love the truth, they would find church life uninteresting and even feel a sense of repulsion toward it. Reading God’s words and fellowshipping on the truth would feel more like suffering than pleasure to them. So, how can antichrists endure it? It is because their desire for blessings is so immense that it compels them to wrong themselves and reluctantly endure it. Moreover, they sneak into God’s house to act as Satan’s lackeys, and dedicate themselves to causing disruptions and disturbances to the work of the church. They believe that this is their mission, and until they complete their task of resisting God, they feel ill at ease and that they have let Satan down. This is determined by the nature of antichrists.

—The Word, Vol. 4. Exposing Antichrists. Item Seven: They Are Wicked, Insidious, and Deceitful (Part Two)

In the last days, God comes incarnate to work, expresses many truths, opens up to humankind all the mysteries of God’s management plan, and supplies all the truths that people must understand and enter into in order to be saved. These truths and these words of God are treasures to all who love positive things. The truths are the needs of corrupt humankind, and they are also priceless treasures for humankind. Every one of God’s words, requirements, and intentions are things people should understand and grasp, they are things people must abide by to achieve salvation, and they are truths that human beings must gain. But antichrists regard these words as theories and slogans, they even turn a deaf ear to them, and worse still, they despise and deny them. Antichrists regard the most precious things among humanity to be the lies of charlatans. Antichrists believe in their hearts that there is no Savior, let alone truth or positive things in the world. They think anything beautiful or any benefit must be won by human hands and taken forcefully through human struggle. Antichrists think people without ambitions and dreams will never succeed, but their hearts are filled with aversion and hatred for the truth expressed by God. They consider the truths expressed by God to be theories and slogans, but they regard power, interests, ambition, and desire as just causes to be managed and pursued. They also use the service done with their gifts as a means to transact with God in an attempt to enter the kingdom of heaven, obtain crowns, and enjoy greater blessings. Isn’t this wicked? How do they interpret God’s intentions? They say, “God determines who is the boss by seeing who expends and suffers the most for him and who pays the highest price. He determines who can enter the kingdom and who receives crowns by seeing who is able to run around, speak eloquently, and who has the spirit of a bandit and can seize things by force. As Paul said, ‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: From now on there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness’ (2 Timothy 4:7–8).” They follow these words of Paul and believe that his words are true, but they ignore all of God’s requirements and statements for humankind, thinking, “These things are unimportant. All that matters is that once I have fought my fight and finished my course, I will receive a crown in the end. This is true. Isn’t that what god means? God has spoken thousands upon thousands of words and delivered countless sermons. Ultimately what he means to tell people is that if you want crowns and rewards, it’s up to you to fight, struggle, seize, and take it.” Is this not the logic of antichrists? In the depths of their hearts, this is how antichrists always view God’s work, and this is how they interpret God’s word and management plan. Their disposition is wicked, isn’t it? They twist God’s intentions, the truth, and all positive things. They regard God’s management plan to save humankind as a naked transaction, and regard the duty the Creator requires humankind to perform as a naked expropriation, aggression, deception, and transaction. Isn’t this the wicked disposition of antichrists? Antichrists believe that to obtain blessings and enter the kingdom of heaven, they must obtain it through a transaction, and that this is fair, reasonable, and most legitimate. Isn’t this wicked logic? Isn’t this satanic logic? Antichrists always hold such views and attitudes deep in their hearts, which proves that the disposition of antichrists is too wicked.

—The Word, Vol. 4. Exposing Antichrists. Item Nine (Part Seven)

The disposition of antichrists is wicked; not only do they not accept the truth, but they can also resist God, establish their own kingdoms, and they are implacably opposed to God—this is a wicked disposition. Do you have any understanding of wicked dispositions? Most people perhaps don’t know how to discern them, so let’s take an example. Some people usually behave very normally under typical circumstances: They talk to others and interact with others very normally, they look like normal people and they don’t do anything bad. However, when they come to gatherings and read God’s words and fellowship on the truth, some of them aren’t willing to listen, some get sleepy, some feel averse toward it and find it hard to bear, they don’t want to hear it, and some unknowingly fall asleep and become totally unaware—what’s going on here? Why are so many abnormal phenomena manifested when someone starts fellowshipping on the truth? Some of these people are in an abnormal state, but some are being wicked. The possibility that they have been possessed by evil spirits cannot be excluded, and sometimes people cannot fully comprehend this or clearly discern it. Antichrists have evil spirits within them. If you ask them why they are hostile toward the truth, they say they aren’t hostile toward the truth and stubbornly refuse to admit it, when in actual fact they know in their hearts they don’t love the truth. When no one’s reading God’s words, they get along with others like they’re normal people and you’re not aware of what lies within them. However, when someone reads God’s words, they don’t want to listen and repulsion arises in their hearts. This is their nature being laid bare—they are evil spirits; they are this kind of thing. Have God’s words exposed these people’s essence or hit a nerve? Neither. When they attend gatherings, they don’t want to listen to anyone reading God’s words—is this not them being wicked? What does “being wicked” mean? It means being hostile toward the truth, toward positive things, and toward positive people without reason; not even they themselves know what the reason is, they just have to act that way. This is what being wicked means and, in layman’s terms, it is just being bad. Some antichrists say, “Someone only needs to start reading god’s words and I don’t want to listen. I only need to hear someone bearing testimony for god and I feel repulsion, and even I don’t know why. When I see someone loving and pursuing the truth, I can’t get along with them, I want to set myself against them, I always want to curse them, to harm them behind their back and torment them to death.” Even they don’t know why they feel this way—this is them being wicked. What is the actual reason for this? Antichrists simply do not have the spirit of a normal person inside them, they simply have no normal humanity—this is how it is in the final analysis. If a normal person hears God speaking so clearly and lucidly on various aspects of the truth, they think, “In such a wicked and promiscuous era, where right and wrong are indistinguishable and good and bad are confused, it’s so precious and rare to be able to hear so much truth and such excellent words!” Why is it precious? The words of God awaken the desires and inspiration of those who have both heart and spirit. What inspiration? They long for justice and for positive things, they long to live before God, for there to be fairness and righteousness in the world, and for God to come and hold power over the world—this is the cry of all those who love the truth. However, do antichrists long for these things? (No.) What do antichrists long for? “If I was in power, I’d destroy all those whom I dislike! When someone testifies to christ being god appearing and working, testifies to god being the sovereign of mankind, and testifies to god’s words being the truth, being mankind’s highest life maxim, and being the foundation for human survival, I feel repulsion, hatred, and I don’t want to hear it!” This is something that lies deep within antichrists. Don’t antichrists have this disposition? As long as someone worships them, looks up to them, and follows them, then they’re buddies, they’re on the same team; if someone is always fellowshipping on the truth and testifying for God, then the antichrists shun them and feel repulsion toward them, and even attack, exclude, and torment them—this is wickedness. When we talk about wickedness, it is always in reference to Satan’s cunning schemes; the things Satan does are wicked, the things the great red dragon does are wicked, the things antichrists do are wicked, and when we talk about them being wicked, it refers primarily to them being hostile toward all positive things and specially opposing the truth and God—this is wickedness, and this is the disposition of antichrists.

—The Word, Vol. 4. Exposing Antichrists. Item Seven: They Are Wicked, Insidious, and Deceitful (Part One)

If an antichrist sees some people who love and pursue the truth, they feel uncomfortable. Where does this discomfort come from? It comes from their wicked disposition, that is, within their nature there is a wicked disposition which hates justice, hates positive things, hates the truth, and opposes God. That’s why, when they see someone pursuing the truth, they say, “You’re not very educated and you’re not much to look at, but you still really pursue the truth.” What attitude does this show? This is contempt. For instance, some brothers and sisters have some gift or special skill and want to perform a related duty. In fact, this is suitable in terms of their various conditions, but how do antichrists treat such brothers and sisters? In their hearts, they think, “If you want to perform this duty you first have to cozy up to me and be part of my gang, and only then will I permit you to perform this duty. Otherwise, dream on!” Isn’t this how antichrists act? Why are antichrists so repulsed by those who sincerely believe in God, who have some sense of justice and some humanity, and who make some effort to pursue the truth? Why are they always at odds with such people? When they see people pursuing the truth and behaving well, people who’re never negative and who have kind intentions, they feel uncomfortable. When antichrists see people acting impartially, people who can perform their duty according to principles, who can put the truth into practice once they understand it, they get really angry, they rack their brains trying to think of a way to torment those people, and they try to make things difficult for them. If someone sees through to an antichrist’s nature essence, sees through to the antichrist’s insidiousness and wickedness and wishes to expose and report them, what will the antichrist do? The antichrist will think of every way they can to remove this needle in their eye and thorn in their flesh and will incite brothers and sisters to reject this person. An ordinary brother or sister has no prestige and no status in the church; they have only some discernment of this antichrist and pose no threat to this antichrist. Why then does the antichrist always dislike them and treat this person as if they were a needle in their eye and a thorn in their flesh? How is this person in the antichrist’s way? Why can’t the antichrist accommodate such people? It’s because within the antichrist there is a wicked disposition. They cannot tolerate people pursuing the truth or following the right path. They set themselves against whoever wants to follow the right path and intentionally make things difficult for you, and they will rack their brains trying to think of a way to get rid of you, or else they’ll oppress you so that you become negative and weak, or they’ll find leverage on you and spread it around so that others reject you, and then they’re happy. If you don’t listen to them or follow what they say, and you continue to pursue the truth, follow the right path, and be a good person, they feel uneasy in their heart, and they feel upset and uncomfortable seeing you performing your duty. What’s this about? Have you displeased them? No, you haven’t. Why do they treat you like that when you haven’t done anything to them or harmed their interests in any way? This shows only that the nature of this kind of thing—antichrists—is wicked, and that they are inherently opposed to justice, positive things, and truth. If you ask them exactly what’s going on, they don’t even know; they just intentionally make things difficult for you. If you say to do things one way, they must do it another way; if you say so-and-so isn’t up to much, they say that person is great; if you say this is a great way to spread the gospel, they say it’s bad; if you say a sister who has only believed in God for a year or two has become negative and weak and should be supported, they say, “No need, she’s stronger than you are.” In short, they’re always at odds with you and deliberately act contrary to you. What is their principle for being at odds with you? It is that anything you say is right, they say is wrong, and whatever you say is wrong, they say is right. Are there any truth principles in their actions? None whatsoever. They just want you to make a fool of yourself, to show you up, to break you down, to beat you down so that you can’t hold your head up, you don’t pursue the truth anymore, you become weak, and you no longer believe, and then their goal is achieved, and they feel joy in their heart. What’s going on here? This is the wicked essence of the kind of people who are antichrists.

—The Word, Vol. 4. Exposing Antichrists. Item Seven: They Are Wicked, Insidious, and Deceitful (Part One)

In the wicked nature of antichrists there is something unknown to people: They can use various means, speeches, methods, strategies, ways, and fallacies to persuade you to listen to them, to make you believe they are right, correct, and positive, and even if they do evil, violate the truth principles, and reveal corrupt dispositions, in the end, they will turn things around and make people think they are right. They have this ability. What is this ability? It is to be highly misleading. This is their wickedness, that they are highly misleading. In their hearts, the things which they like, dislike, are averse to, and esteem and worship are formed by certain distorted viewpoints. These viewpoints carry a set of theories within them, all of which are plausible fallacies that are difficult for ordinary people to refute because they do not accept the truth at all and can even present sophisticated arguments for their own mistakes. Without the truth reality, you cannot convince them by fellowshipping the truth with them. The ultimate result is that they use their hollow theories to refute you, leaving you speechless, gradually succumbing to them. The wickedness of such people lies in the fact that they are highly misleading. Clearly, they are nothing and mess up every duty they do; yet, in the end, they can still mislead some people into worshiping them, “kneeling” at their feet, and make people become obedient to them. This kind of person can turn wrong into right, black into white. They can reverse truth and falsehood, attribute the wrongs they’ve done to others, and take credit for the good deeds of others as if they were their own. Over time, you become confused, not knowing who they truly are. Judging by their words, actions, and appearance, you might think, “This person is extraordinary; we can’t compare to them!” Is this not being misled? The day you are misled is the day you fall into danger. Isn’t this kind of person who misleads others just too wicked? Whoever listens to their words can be misled and disturbed, finding it hard to recover for a period of time. Some brothers and sisters can discern them and see that they are misleaders, they can expose and reject them, but others who are misled might even defend them, saying, “No, god’s house is being unfair to him; I must stand up for him.” What is the problem here? Clearly, they are misled, yet they defend and justify the one who misled them. Aren’t these people who believe in God but follow a human being? They claim to believe in God, but why do they worship this person thus and particularly defend them? If they can’t spot such an obvious matter, haven’t they been misled to a certain extent? The antichrist has misled people to the point where they no longer resemble humans or have a mind to follow God; instead, they worship and follow the antichrist. Aren’t these people betraying God? If you believe in God, but He hasn’t gained you, and the antichrist has gained your heart, and you follow them wholeheartedly, it proves that they have taken you away from the house of God. Once you depart from God’s care and protection, from the house of God, the antichrist can manipulate and toy with you as they like. When they’re done playing with you, they won’t want you anymore, and they’ll move on to misleading others. If you continue listening to their words and have value to exploit to them, they might let you follow along for a while longer. However, if they no longer see any value to exploit in you, if they no longer have any regard for you, then they will discard you. Can you still return to believing in God? (No.) Why can’t you believe anymore? Because your initial faith is gone; it has dissipated. This is how antichrists mislead and harm people. They use knowledge and learning that people worship, coupled with their gifts, to mislead and control people, just like Satan misled Adam and Eve. Regardless of the nature essence of antichrists, regardless of what they like, loathe, and esteem in their nature essence, one thing is certain: What they like and what they use to mislead people goes against the truth, has nothing to do with the truth, and is antagonistic to God—this much is certain. Remember this: Antichrists can never be compatible with God.

—The Word, Vol. 4. Exposing Antichrists. Item Seven: They Are Wicked, Insidious, and Deceitful (Part Three)