ANTICHRIST 101 (Who, What, When, Where, Why & How) – Part 6

ANTICHRIST 101 (Who, What, When, Where, Why & How) – Part 6

Continued from Part 5

WHEN

When will the Antichrist appear? The scripture does not give us an actual date or time; however, there are facts in scripture that prepare true believers for the main event that must happen JUST BEFORE the Antichrist is revealed. This main event sort of announces the Antichrist’s ‘coming out’.

The scripture tells us that Jesus Christ Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with Michael’s voice and with God’s trumpet. At that time people will be caught up into the air to meet Him and return with Him to Heaven.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (AKJV)

Let me first clarify here that the word dead is translated from the Greek word νεκρός (nekros) (Strong’s G3498), which derives from the root word nekus (a corpse). Nekros refers to one that has breathed his last, lifeless. It properly refers to a dead body, and in this verse refers specifically to the dead natural bodies of believers, which must be changed to spiritual bodies (1Cor.15:44).

Now, the scripture tells us Christ will descend from Heaven with a shout. It does not say Christ will set foot on the earth! It goes on to say those who have died in Christ will rise first, then we (believers) who are alive and remain will be “caught up” together with those who have died in Christ. We will be caught up together “in the clouds”, to meet the Lord“in the air” to be with Him forever.

In this instance, at that time, Christ DOES NOT set foot on earth. This is a very important point because here, by this, the “catching up” is distinguished completely from the separate event called “the judgment” (Rev.20:11-15), for which Christ will be on earth (Rev.20:4-5).

The words caught up are translated from the Greek ἁρπάζω (harpazō) (Strong’s G726), which literally means to seize, carry off by force, claim for one’s self eagerly and to snatch out or away. It is the same word used in the following scriptures:

 Matt.13:19 – “catcheth away” – Satan snatching away the word of the kingdom

Acts 8:39 – “caught away” – Philip after he baptized the eunuch

2 Cor.12:2, 4 – “caught up” – Paul talking about his 3rd-Heaven experience

Rev.12:5. – “caught up” – John talking about the 144,000 (manchild)

All of these uses signify a rapid taking which causes the disappearance of the thing taken, from the place where it was. Three of these are physical takings just like some people will experience at the catching up.

There is no actual warning or event that announces the catching up and NO ONE KNOWS WHEN it will happen; but, believers will not be caught off guard for the simple reason, we are looking for it, expecting it to happen.

People who are not expecting the catching up will be shocked when it happens! Once this main event occurs, that is WHEN the people who are left behind on earth should expect the Antichrist to come out. He will come out and rule for seven years.

After this seven-year period Christ will return to earth and defeat the Antichrist, and his armies, breaking him without hand (Daniel 8:25; Revelation 19:11-16, 19-21). Christ will then set up His Kingdom to rule on earth, from Jerusalem, for 1000 years (Revelation 20:4-6). Satan is chained and bound in Hell, the actual place, for this 1000-year period (Revelation 20:1-3). This is only a fraction of experiences to come.

When Jesus Christ returns for us I want to be waiting for Him expectantly. I want Him to catch me in the act of  talking about Him with my loved ones and people everywhere, not distracted by the cares of this world. I want Him to look me squarely in the eyes and say, “Well done my good and faithful servant!”

To be continued in Part 7

ANTICHRIST 101 (Who, What, When, Where, Why & How) – Part 6

BE EXALTED O LORD OUR GOD

BE EXALTED O LORD OUR GOD

Psalm 21:13 AKJV
“Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength:
so will we sing and praise thy power.”

BE EXALTED O LORD OUR GOD

“God is removing the limitations!”

“God is removing the limitations!”

Pastor Kirk Logan preached a message on Christmas Sunday 2014. Here is an excerpt from it via a post he made on Facebook. I did not hear the message but this post was powerful in itself. The Holy Spirit has spoken a Word of hope to believers through Pastor Logan. Please enjoy and be blessed!

(Edited for brevity.)
“In preparing for Jesus’ entry on earth, God sent John the Baptist first, to announce the savior’s coming. In order for John to appear, God had to remove the limitations that were on Elisabeth, John’s mother. She was barren and she was also past the age of child bearing.

“And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.” Luke 1:7 KJV

Elisabeth was so surprised when the limits were removed that she hid herself for a few months.

“And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months…” Luke 1:24 KJV

But she couldn’t hide God’s breakthrough for long.

Men of old have exercised their power to declare this season, the “season of Christ’s Birth.” I therefore declare to you the word of God, spoken in my spirit, for His people: God is removing the limitations in this season so that we can be free to reach our full potential.

We have been held back and robbed of our blessings for too long. Some have been crippled, distressed, depressed, oppressed, shackled and put down for too long. Some are limited in health, wealth, friendship, opportunity, and position. By whatever circumstances or environment we have been limited, God’s word is resounding in my spirit. He is saying: “I am removing the limits!”

I can just picture the endless possibilities when the limits are taken off God’s people. Glory to God! Shout like blind Bartimaeus if this is your word and your moment, knowing no one can stop you when God removes the limit. Get up and walk in your healing like the man at the pool of Bethesda who was limited for 38 yrs.

Declare like Mary, “Be it unto me according thy word!” God Bless!

There is so much more to say but… enjoy the yoke-breaking anointing of the Holy Ghost working with this word.”

~Pastor Logan is Pastor at the New Testament Church of God, Springfield, Clarendon, Jamaica, West Indies.

“God is removing the limitations!”

GOD IS IN CONTROL

As dark clouds gather, DO NOT FEAR, God is in control.

Do you see the spots of light on the mountain in the picture below? Despite dark clouds blocking the sun, rays of light manage to shine through! There is always hope.

 

 

GOD has provided a way to guide you out of the darkness into His marvelous light. It doesn’t matter how dark it gets, there is ALWAYS a light somewhere that you can reach for. It doesn’t matter how great the temptation, God ALWAYS provides a way to escape.

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV

BE ENCOURAGED!!! (^_^) ~EM

UTTERANCE and the ANOINTING.

What is “utterance” and what is the “anointing”? Many preachers and teachers ‘live’ their ‘lives’ without fully tapping into the Holy Spirit, and as a result are ignorant of these integral experiences of the Christian LIFE. Let us dig in scripture to find out what these are and why they may be the most important experiences any born-again person could ever have.

The word “utterance” is found 5 times in the KJV. Here are the verses:

1. Acts 2:4
   And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
2. 1 Corinthians 1:5
   That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
3. 2 Corinthians 8:7
   Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
4. Ephesians 6:19
   And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
5. Colossians 4:3
   Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

The Greek word translated “utterance” in Acts is slightly different from in the other 4 scriptures. We have two Greek words here: APOPHTHEGGOMAI (Strong’s G669) and LOGOS (Strong’s G3056).

The one in Acts 2:4 refers to utterance or elevated speech that is given to us through the Holy Spirit. It is also translated as “said” in Acts 2:14 and “speak forth” in Acts 26:25. In the 3 translations it refers to elevated speech by men of God who were under the control of the Holy Spirit, at the time they were speaking.

The other is used in the other 4 scriptures to refer to spoken words that anyone uses. Also, in the book of John, chapter 1, verse 1, it is translated as “Word” many times and refers to Jesus himself. So this usage has three interpretations in scripture:

•  in reference to speech, doctrine or teaching, and instruction;
•  in reference to the reasoning of the mind; and
•  in reference to the Word of God, Jesus Christ himself.

It is clear that there are two “utterances” in scripture: one by the Holy Spirit and one by doctrinal teaching. Both must be in agreement with each other for our doctrine to be EPIGNOSIS (precise and correct). The Holy Spirit is never wrong but man is full of error. If man’s teaching does not line up with the Holy Spirit’s teaching then man’s teaching is incorrect. Jesus’ teaching and the Holy Spirit’s teaching are the same and are TRUTH.

It is written:

1 John 2:27
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

This is so clear. The Holy Spirit Himself teaches us through the anointing that we receive from Him. The Holy Spirit teaches us about all things and IS TRUTH and we must abide in His teaching. We believe this by faith.

Here in this chapter, John was talking to Christians who were being seduced with man’s teaching (v.26) that came from man’s limited wisdom, without the benefit of the anointing. John wrote to them to remind them who their ultimate teacher was. Look at what he also said:

1 John 2:20
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

We need the “utterance” or elevated doctrine of the Holy Spirit but we also need the “unction” as well. Both are very important and both come from HIM.

So, what is the “unction from the Holy One“? This word ‘unction’ is translated from the Greek word CHRISMA (Strong’s G5545). It occurs 3 times in 2 verses in the KJV. It is the  same word translated “anointing” in 1 John 2:27. The unction from the Holy One is the anointing or the teaching that comes from Jesus Christ (the Holy One) to us through the Holy Spirit.

Look at what Jesus said with regard to the timing of the Holy Spirit’s anointing:

Luke 12:12
For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Here Jesus was telling the disciples that they should trust the Holy Spirit to speak through them, whenever, wherever. There is no doubt in my mind that we Christians have the authority to speak with the utterance of the Holy Spirit under the unction of the Holy Spirit, BUT, we must be completely submitted to God and must be walking in obedience to Him.

Don’t get me wrong, God uses people to teach us His word. A lot of teaching is accomplished in Bible Colleges that encourage their students to rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance. But what of those rebels who do not operate under the unction from the Holy One? We must ultimately trust the Holy Spirit to guide us and to lead us into all truth because man will err. If you are born-again seek God for utterance and the anointing.