Monthly Archives: April 2016

Who is the Antichrist? (Part 2)

27 Wednesday Apr 2016

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According to dictionary.com, the definition of the term ‘globalization’ is “the act of globalizing, or extending to other or all parts of the world.” You and I are living in a globalized system and the concentration of integrating all nations with one another continues to take place daily. It has increased at such a rapid rate over several decades. Most would argue that globalization and erasing what were once barriers will create a stable and more open society.

However, the majority who are unaware of the scheme that has been set in motion by Satan, do not realize that globalization is merely a plot to bring the Antichrist into full power. As mentioned in the last blog post, the Antichrist will be a figure who will rise to world dominance according to Revelation chapter 13 and Daniel chapter 7. If you notice, over the last decade, we have heard terms that have been touted such as, ‘unity’, ‘new world order’, ‘global economy’ and ‘global society’.

Each of these terms are not just words spoken without meaning. These words are a part of a larger plan to bring this world system under one individual, who is the Antichrist. He will perpetuate a Satanic system for a season before he and Satan are utterly destroyed by God’s wrath according to 2 Thessalonians 2:8 which says:

(NLT) “Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.”

So, it is clear that Jesus Christ will ultimately reign in victory and triumph over the Antichrist and Satan. However, before that period comes the question is, how will the Antichrist assume power? What has to happen and what is happening that will lead to the shift in the world as it is known? The answer lies in a few aspects that are evident in scripture and in our daily lives.

Technology and its influence – Have you ever noticed that there has been a constant barrage of smartphone ads and an encouragement to purchase the latest technological gadget? Like it or not, technology has grafted itself into our daily lives. Many have become trapped in the constant presence of technology to the point that it has become an unknown addiction. The truth is, our world has become conditioned to believe that we must have it for survival.

In fact, there will come a day in which humanity will be forced to use technology because the world system will demand it. Think of the constant push to end cash transactions. Now, almost everything can be bought with a credit card, smartphone, or in the very near future an implanted chip. This Satanic system will use technology for the purposes of buying and selling products.

The Antichrist will be at the head of this new economy which is currently in place as we speak. Revelation chapter 13, verses 4-5 says the following:

(NLT) “They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they also worshiped the beast. “Who is as great as the beast?” they exclaimed. “Who is able to fight against him?” Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months.”

Notice that the Antichrist will be given authority. His authority will come from Satan who will empower him to do as he pleases for three and a half years. How will he be able to have this control? One major way is through technology. According to Revelation 13:17-18, at the time when the Antichrist will have power, those left behind will not be able to buy or sell without the mark of the beast. The number ‘666’ will be the world currency which means it will in some way be tied to technology. Much of how we buy things today is a subtle precursor to what will come later.

Global deception – If you look at our society today, you can see the wickedness and various changes that have occurred in the human lifestyle. Currently, there has been an open and rigorous debate over “same-sex marriage” and being “transgender”. Both of these issues seems to be the next phase that Satan is using in order to bring every person together under his world system. Anyone who goes against this latest change will be met with staunch opposition which will mean public and private ridicule. In some cases it may even mean imprisonment and or violence against those who don’t stand with the majority.

For the Christian, it should be clear that anything named as a sin in scripture is still a sin regardless of how the world tries to approve of it or make it seem harmless. Many have been deceived today into thinking that such lifestyles are not sinful but rather many believe that you are a bigot if you say otherwise. However, the Antichrist will use the same type of deception to fool the world and cause many to be destroyed.

Believe it or not, the Antichrist will make promises that will be fulfilled for a time. He will also perform miracles which according to Revelation 13:3, will create a massive following. Many will be deceived into thinking that the Antichrist is the one who can and will save a crumbling world system. However, those who worship the Antichrist will fall into destruction.

Taking advantage of political and social turmoil – If you were to turn on your television or even search the internet for your local and world news, you would find that our world is quite unstable. From Middle Eastern violence to threats of terrorism, to even constant violence existing between neighborhood citizens. The fact is, that in the last days the following things will happen according to 2 Timothy 3:2:

(NLT) “For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.”

Just looking at each generation that comes forth, it seems that life and respect for others is no longer sacred. That is because, in the last days before Christ’s return, many would become as the Apostle Paul says in this scripture. As a result, political and economic chaos will ensue. We see constant fluctuation with our collective economies while at the same time terrorism remains to be a threat to human life.

All of these things we see daily are being used in order to create a global system that will be under Satan’s influence through the Antichrist. He will promise peace and provide answers to our world’s problems for a season. Then, for three and a half years he will cause chaos and destroy those who swear their allegiance to him. This is why organizations such as the U.N., NATO, and even world politicians are unable to solve the issues. The reason is because according to prophecy these things must happen which will lead to the Antichrist coming to power. Revelation 13:7 makes it clear that he will have power over every tribe, tongue, and nation.

After reading all of this, it sounds like bad news. Unfortunately, these things must and will happen. However, the good news is that Jesus Christ will reign supreme when all of this is over. At the end of the age, God will see to it that Satan and all of his followers will receive their due punishment. Evil will be eradicated and Satan’s system will be no more. Instead, the Kingdom of Heaven will be ruled by Jesus who will rule with an iron rod according to Revelation 19:15.

At the end of it all, Jesus will be King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s. Regardless of how things are in our world now, or how bad they will be later, God shall set up His Earthly kingdom and end the evil that Satan has put forth. The question is, do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If you take a look at our world around us, things are getting worse.

The signs are pointing to the coming of Jesus Christ. This means, that the opportunity to choose Christ in a better environment is quickly passing. Choose Jesus today, so you can avoid having to make a life or death decision at the hands of the Antichrist. Repent of your sins and turn to Jesus Christ. God will honor you for choosing Him, and He will also reward you with everlasting life. Choose Jesus Christ.

Who is the Antichrist? (Part 1)

26 Tuesday Apr 2016

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Spiritual

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World leaders and those who are considered to be highly influential have existed for thousands of years. Throughout history, many individuals both male and female have risen to a status that has left an indelible mark on the world stage. Individuals such as George Washington, Martin Luther King Jr, Mahatma Gandhi, and Mother Theresa achieved greatness that was not isolated to their own country but stretched into the world at large.

Some world leaders and well-known individuals were born into wealthy families. Others, arose out of obscurity only to find their place in history as recognizable to the vast majority. It is a person who assumes status as a world leader or an iconic figure who is remembered for the impact that they have on humanity and the world culture.

Spiritually speaking, there will be an individual who will also rise to critical acclaim. However, this individual will be unlike any other world leader that we have seen in our lifetime. This individual is described in Revelation chapter 13, and he will assume the role of “The Antichrist.” Who is the Antichrist and what does the Apostle John have to say about him in Revelation 13?

Before going into that chapter, it is important to know what the term “Antichrist” means. 1 John 2:22 says the following:

(NLT) “And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.”

The Apostle John says in this verse, that the person who essentially denies that Jesus is the Christ, is an Antichrist. To be an Antichrist is to be against Christ. This is both a stance and an evil spirit that comes from Satan according to 1 John 4:3. However, while any person can assume the spirit of being an Antichrist, the Bible makes it clear that there will be one person who will embody this spirit that comes from Satan himself.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 calls this man “the man of lawlessness.” He is also known as “the man of sin” according to other translations. The point is that the Antichrist is an individual who will appear at a certain time in history. However, Revelation chapter 13 gives us a symbolic representation of who this man will be.

The Apostle John writes the book of Revelation in the format of what he sees in his visions from God. John is shown what is known as the “Tribulation period” which will be a time when chaos engulfs the world. This is also the time after the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ which is often referred to as “the rapture” in which all Christians who follow Christ will be taken out of the Earth to rest with God.

Those who reject Christ will be left to experience the challenging and destructive time that will occur during the tribulation period. The Apostle John starts in the first part of chapter 13 by stating that he sees a beast rising out of the sea.

Verse 1:

(NKJV) “Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.”

It is important to note the symbolism that John gives us from his vision. The first thing that he says is that he is standing on the sand of the sea and he sees a beast rising up out of the sea. This beast that John refers to is the Antichrist. But why is it important that he mentions the sea? Symbolically, a sea in scripture represents a mass of people. So, the Antichrist will rise out of humanity.

The seven heads represent seven kings or seven rulers within the world. John also sees these kings or heads with ten horns. The ten horns represent ten nations that are ruled by the seven kings. Historically, these kings and nations derive out of the Middle East and Europe.

In fact, Daniel chapter 7 also gives a similar prophecy that the Apostle John does.

Verses 23-24:

(NASB) “Thus, he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom, ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings.”

Who is the fourth beast? It is none other than the Antichrist who will rise to power. The important thing to note is that these ten horns represent ten nations that are ruled by seven leaders or kings. Why does Daniel initially say that there were ten kings? As Daniel prophesies in verses 23-24, three of the kings or leaders were taken out of the equation leaving seven. Thus, as John points out in Revelation there are seven heads (leaders or kings) with ten horns (ten nations).

Why is this important for us to understand what the seven heads and ten horns represent? The reason is because the Antichrist or the beast will have control over the world system by taking power over the ten nations. The ten nations are critical because they represent nations that have economic and political influence in today’s time. It is believed by many Biblical scholars that these nations will indeed come from the Middle East and Eurpoe. Nations such as France, Spain, Egypt and Iran will be among them.

The point to be made is that the Antichrist will assume power over not only the ten nations that have political and economic influence but the Antichrist will control the entire world for a certain season. How do we know that this is true?

Daniel says in verse 23 that the beast will devour the entire earth and crush it. This means that once this individual who is the Antichrist rises to power, he will indeed be responsible for destroying the world by capturing the world system. The only way that it will be possible is through the power that Satan himself provides. Notice what John says in the latter part of verse 2 of chapter 13:

(NKJV) “The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.”

The dragon that John saw in his vision is none other than Satan. So, it is vitally important that you the reader understand that our current world system is being framed by Satan who will utilize the coming of the Antichrist to deceive and destroy. Satan’s goal is to increase his own kingdom through deception and through brute force. The Antichrist who has yet to be revealed here on Earth is simply waiting in the background for his cue.

In order for the Antichrist to appear, it will only mean that Jesus Christ has returned for His church. Believe it or not, the coming of Christ is sooner than we realize. While Jesus said that no man knows the day or the hour that Christ shall return, it is clear that based on the signs of the time that can be found in our world and throughout scripture that Jesus is soon to return.

The question is, are you eternally secured in Jesus Christ? If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and savior, your time for redemption is right now. Delaying will only lead to your demise both eternally and even physically. The end of the world is yet upon us. The Antichrist will not only deceive many but he will destroy those who are left behind. Don’t delay your safety by rejecting Christ.

If you wait, you may be left behind after Christ returns only to be faced with losing your soul to Satan or losing your life in rejection of the Satanic system that is being cultivated at this very moment. While there is time, accept Christ and avoid the penalty of sin. Now is the time to come to Jesus Christ and have your sins forgiven.

The Unchanging Truth – Jesus Christ

08 Friday Apr 2016

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The world that we live in has always changed concerning the sociological perspective. Various lifestyles and belief systems have evolved over time to accommodate those who feel that they are on the fringes. There are laws that have been instituted in many nations that have become centered around “civil rights” which is proposed with the objective to include all people. With such changes and laws, new cultural norms have become imprinted upon most of the world.

For example, the mass movement of homosexuals seeking “equality” in terms of marriage rights has taken root over the past 5-7 years. There is also the issue of being transgender and wanting to be recognized as the gender that you choose rather than what you were born as. These issues have become the centerpiece of social adaptation and political influence. As a result, a sweeping majority worldwide have assimilated into such societal change. However, there is one fact that remains and that is, despite how much humanity itself changes, God’s truth and His Word does not change.

In the book of Hebrews chapter 13, there are a few key verses which point to the fact that the truth of Jesus Christ and God’s Word does not change.

Verses 7-9:

(NKJV) “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.”

In this passage, the writer is speaking primarily to Palestinian Jews while also including the Hebrews of all connected churches in the body of Christ. In this passage, the writer is writing to encourage believers in the faith of Jesus Christ. Verse 7 begins by suggesting that the believers who were the target of this admonishment, should remember those who taught them in the faith.

The writer desires that believers remember the guidance of their spiritual leaders who were responsible for conveying the message of God’s Word. But notice a key point in this passage and that is in verse 8.

Verse 8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Why did the writer want believers in Christ to understand this point? When you look at our world, it is constantly changing as mentioned earlier in this blog post. Daily, humanity continues to grow in wickedness because for one, the End Times are upon us. Secondly, sinfulness has been accepted by our world which means that there is an openness to sin and those who choose to sin.

However, when the writer says that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, he is stating that the truth of Jesus does not change. Jesus Christ is the living Word which means that it is His Word that cannot and does not change. Jesus Christ was given the authority by God to be the truth. Jesus said in John 14:6 that He is the way, the truth, and the life.

What this means is that the truth of Christ does not and shall not change. The author of Hebrews makes that clear when he says that Jesus is the same forever in that, He does not change. It is the truth of Jesus Christ that will remain which means that all of the principles found in the Word of God also remain the same.

In the social climate that we live in, many have deemed the Bible to be either irrelevant or it has become flexible in what it says. Many have now bought into satan’s lies by assuming the position that God’s Word does not mean just what it says. In essence, many have taken scripture out of context, or they have ignored what God has to say about a subject altogether.

However, God’s Word does not change for any person. The truth of His Word which also encompasses Jesus Christ remains intact. Regardless of how the world portrays sin as acceptable and glamorous, the fact is that God is still a righteous judge. This means, that any nation that gives the stamp of approval on sin, it will be met with quick judgment which means destruction.

America and many nations around the world will eventually succumb to the wrath of God because of the disobedience and blatant sin of humanity. One cannot sin and expect to come away without any consequences. It is the job of every Christian to stand firm in the faith as 1 Corinthians 16:13 says to do.

Also, notice, that the writer of Hebrews says in verse 9, not to give in or be carried about by strange doctrine. This means not to be caught up in the wind and influence of teachings that are false. What our society has suggested and continues to impose is a bevy of falsehoods which are completely against the Word of God.

Since God’s Word is the basis for absolute truth, then anything that we as humans attempt to come up with does not meet the standard of truth. Relativism is what our society pushes frequently. At the same time, by imposing relativism, there no longer becomes a basis for absolute truth. This, in turn, means that the line between right and wrong is erased. It becomes a personal conviction of right and wrong, which no longer places God as the standard for all things good or evil.

So, the overall message to every believer is not to be enticed and captured by the changing tide of our time. Whether it is the embracing of homosexuality, murder, lying, stealing, adultery, fornication, or any other sin, the Christian is to remain rooted and grounded in Gods Word. The truth of God will always stand because it is the very thing that shall never perish.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:35, that Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but His words shall not pass away. This means that regardless of what comes and goes, it is the truth of Jesus Christ that will never end. It doesn’t matter what becomes “the law of the land” or what matter of persecution shall come to the body of Christ. We who are the chosen of God and those who have been called out of darkness must stand for God’s truth.

If you are reading this and you don’t know Jesus Christ in the pardon of your sins, then you are in darkness. The Bible says in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. If you don’t know Jesus, you have an opportunity to accept the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for you. He came to die and be resurrected so that you could be saved from destruction. Accept Jesus Christ, and obtain salvation. To those who are in Christ, remain steadfast in the faith and know God’s truth rather than accepting the lies of the world.