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"Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time... Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son." (1 John 2:18-22 KJV) "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." (2 John 1:7 KJV) John says there are "many antichrists", there were many even in his day. He says that an antichrist is he who "denieth the Father and the Son", who confesses not that "Jesus Christ is come in the flesh". How did John's clear warning of multiple "antichrists" evolve into that single great Anti-Christ whom Christians fear today? The Great Second Advent Movement took place in the early 19th century. The people of this movement were convinced that Jesus' return would take place during their lifetimes. If this was indeed the case, they surmised, then all prophecy should be "unsealed" in order that they could discern God's warnings for the last days of earth's history. Few people in the pioneers' day denied that God existed, and few denied that Jesus Christ had come in the flesh. There were some outspoken atheists, but their numbers were very few at the time. Satan saw an opportunity. To resolve the issue of the "antichrists" that John warned about, the description of one, single all-powerful "Anti-Christ" was assigned to the pope by prominent Advent pioneers. This was not surprising, because this same view was actually a long-held tradition begun with the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther first identified the pope as the "antichrist". In Luther's day there were even fewer people who denied the existence of God or the salvation of Jesus. Thus he chose the pope, a title which Luther saw as most threatening to the new truths he was expounding upon at the time. But does the pope deny the Father? Does he deny that Jesus Christ came in the flesh? No. From this initial mis-identification - encouraged by Satan himself - the idea that one great "Anti-Christ" will appear at the end of the world has taken hold of Christian imaginations everywhere. However, the entire concept of a "Great Anti-Christ" is a falsehood - it is a lie that diverts the attention of the Christian away from the true antichrists of this world. Antichrists, as defined by John, do not believe in God, and do not believe that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. The modern Atheist is an antichrist. It is the modern atheist's denial of God's very existence that John described. It is the atheist's intolerance of religion of any kind that has proved to be the real threat to belief in God and His Son. How is it that Atheists are not clearly identified as antichrists by Christian denominations today? Because making it easy for Christians to identify "antichrist" was not part of Satan's plan. The eventual impact of atheism upon the United States and the world was not understood back in the days when believers were looking for the identity of antichrist. In singling out the pope as antichrist, unfortunately the true antichrist caught Christians everywhere unaware. As a result, Christians have worked closely with antichrist to secure what we perceived to be "religious liberty". How has this happened? Through our dealing with... The False Prophet "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect." (Mark 13:22 KJV) "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet." (Revelation 16:13 KJV) We have seen the false Christs - Jim Jones, David Koresh, the Reverend Moon, and many others. But what about false prophets? The book of Revelation tells us of the False Prophet, which is the Second Beast of Revelation. Over 100 years ago Ellen White made it plain to us that the Second Beast of Revelation is the United States of America. Today we can see it for ourselves by studying John's prophecy and comparing it to history. What makes the United States a false prophet? What signs and wonders does it have the power to do? Consider our motto: "In God We Trust". This motto implies that God is consulted before US foreign or domestic policies are implemented. Thus does the government claim divine guidance before the world for everything it does. Even if we invade another country, we claim to be trusting in God for authority to do so. But the USA does not consult God before acting. What does Jesus tell us this False Prophet will show before men? "And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live." (Revelation 13:13-14 KJV) Making fire come down from heaven sounds tricky, but the United States has had that capability for more than fifty years. Nuclear weapons produce a destructive fireball. To be most effective, these weapons are detonated while still in the air so that the blast effect is spread over a large area with no obstructions. The weapons used in Japan in 1945 exploded while approximately 1,900 feet in the air. Larger weapons would be detonated at even greater altitudes. What about those other miracles? The True Signs Of Our Times:
The miracles that Satan has inspired the False Prophet to perform before men are many. They are subtle miracles. These miracles impersonate good things, but mixed into each is death and suffering that Satan is helpless to prevent as he tries to imitate God. We know that Jesus is our personal Saviour, and offers us salvation on a personal basis through our relationship with Him. He comes to each of us individually when we open the door of our heart to Him. But have you considered God's view of us as a people? Do you realize how far we, as His 'Spiritual Israel', have turned from God? Are you for Jesus' Way or the American way?
The United States in its lust for wealth and power has turned the world upside down: It's going to get much worse... Why is all of this happening? Are you one of Jesus Christ's sheep? Do you "sigh and cry for the abominations" our 'Christian' society tolerates? "And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof." (Ezekiel 9:4 KJV) Jesus is sealing the symbolic 144,000 now, and those who recognize the horror of what we have really created, yet understand the love of the God who has patiently waited for all, are being 'marked' and 'sealed'. I believe they will be the sampling of humanity necessary to show that eventually the rest of Christianity will also repent and submit to God. Can you see the failings we have brought on ourselves, feel the impossibility of a man-made solution, and feel His love for you as things get worse? None of it can be stopped at this point. We are on a fast locomotive to planetary and soul destruction, and there is nothing we can do about it. Except one thing... Surrender ourselves to the righteousness that God only can provide . Recognize that we are doomed without the new heart and new government He has always wanted us to have. His instructions: "Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." (Revelation 3:11 KJV) You can't change on your own at this point, you can't keep the commandments perfectly - so don't let yourself be accused by others, put on His Robe of Righteousness, and hold fast what you have now. Seek the Good Shepherd who leads you through His Righteousness. Stop concentrating on perfecting yourself - turning the Holy Spirit within you inward - and allow His Spirit to shine before men in your every movement and word. Start actively sharing the state we are in - many cannot see that we have molded the Character of Jesus into our own earthly image for the sake of convenience. We have not been following Him where He leads. Satan's kingdom is at last divided, and his wonders and miracles are exposed for what they are: Guaranteed death for God's people. Exercise judgement upon His people who are in darkness. Show them the Light. Warn them. Love them. I'm working on a much more detailed view of how we, as His people, have turned from God and Jesus' His teachings. It truly is horrific when you objectively compare what we do with what we should do. The good news: Won't it be nice to run a business without cash? To work at what you've always dreamed of working at, or to learn the secrets of the universe? To live without death, without watching your back, without killing, but with Jesus and one another - in trust and righteousness. Pray for His return... Then you will be His sheep indeed. "For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." (Matthew 23:39 KJV)
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Apostle John had a burden to warn Christians of what he termed
"antichrists". He is the only writer in the Bible to use
this term. He gave us a clear definition of what antichrists believe: