(11/08/2017) Avoiding Confusion About Antichrist

 

Today, focus is on language in the Bible that speaks of the Antichrist and the antichrist spirit.  The individual described by several End Time prophesies who is called “Antichrist” is a political figure who will be a counterfeit of the Messiah.  As an ungodly pretender (i.e., one from royal lineage who makes an unlawful claim to royal inheritance), the Antichrist will seek to reign over the earth supported by the Beast, the False Prophet, and the Great Whore.  The “spirit of antichrist” is a condition in the makeup and substance of created beings and living creatures that results from the operations of sin that oppose the continued existence of sacred law, the Creator as Law Giver, and all divine order.  Not all who are sinners, nor all who are wicked will display the antichrist spirit in ways easily discerned, yet, they all will be influenced to receive the mark of the beast, and to obey the Antichrist.  A writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Wendell” (Level 1 with 95 points, a member since November 07, 2017) posted the following:

 

Where is the phrase, many anti Christ mentioned in the bible?

 

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood:  and his name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations:  and he shall rule them with a rod of iron:  and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.  And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;  That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.  And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.  And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth:  and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.  (Revelation 19:  11-21, King James Version, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Detecting Counterfeit Human Nature (11/02/2017); Incarnate, GOD May Die (05/11/2017); About The End Of The World (08/30/2015); Those Having the True Secrets? (04/14/2015); The Endtime and Fear? (01/14/2015); Struggling? (05/11/2013); Through Much Tribulation  (05/12/2013)

 

“Wendell”, mature members of the body of Christ (the church) and saints within the kingdom of GOD are being instructed to avoid spiritual confusion and deception that arises by the appearance of “many spirits” operating among us as “antichrists” and the single figure in the prophecies of the Scriptures who is spoken of as “that Wicked” and “the Anti-Christ.”  The sacred process to recognize and respond to spirit content within oneself, events, other people, prophecies, etc., is called “discernment”.  Developing believers are to practice discernment wherein they use their own endowment of spirit imparted from the makeup of divinity as a standard to examine the authenticity and godliness for things offered and shared as being from Jesus Christ and the Father.  Included are faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, lovingkindness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.

The Bible presents many admonitions and warnings to believers on approaching and engaging spirits that are residing in the earth.  Believers receive these teachings as immutable and unchanging (that is, true in the time they were recorded, and still true to this day).  To examine, discern, and correctly acknowledge spirit meanings, quality, and values is not the same as making a divine judgment against another person for sin and ungodliness.  Our finite tools of emotion, intellect, philosophy and science do not fit created beings and living creatures to make the assignments of final judgment, for there are many subtleties (barely visible differences; hidden shifts and changes) that also must be taken into account and weighed.  Discernment should be applied when replying to questions such as those posed here, when sharing godly counsel, and when offering witness and testimony to spread the Gospel.

Many confuse the figures spoken of in prophecy that include Satan, the false prophet, the beast, the Deceiver, and those who fall way (called apostates).  Among both born-again believers and sinners, this confusion has increased widespread defiance, hidden fear, suspicion, and refusal to  cooperate with all authority figures (e.g., clergy, parents, public officials).  Careful, disciplined, and prayerful study are required to truly apprehend this material intended for priests and kings that is some of the most challenging truth from the Scriptures.  Here, casual reading rarely results in discovery, edification, and resources that are useful for ministry to others.  Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:

(1.)  1st John 2:  18-23, King James Version (KJV):  18 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.  19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us:  but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.  20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.  21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.  22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.  23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father:  [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

(2.)  1st John 4:  1-6, KJV:  1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:  because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:  Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:  and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.  4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:   because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.  5 They are of the world:  therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.  6 We are of God:  he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

(3.)  2nd Thessalonians 2:  3-10, KJV:  3 Let no man deceive you by any means:  for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;  4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.  5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?  6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.  7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work:  only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.  8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:  9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,  10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  2nd John 6-8:  KJV:  6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.  7 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.  8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

 
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(02/19/2016) The Only One Sent?

Focus, today, is upon Jesus Christ as the only provision from Deity for the preservation of Creation, existence, and life from the makeup of divinity.  The mature followers of Jesus participate as agents for the Savior’s priesthood, and rule as king.  Those opposing unity of Christ and the Holy Spirit as the one sent from the full divine person we call the GODhead also condemn the word sent, sacred inheritance, repentance and godly sorrow for sin, the cleansing and healing of Creation as well as the sovereignty of the Father who has done the sending.  Those who come having an antichrist spirit, and in the name of the Adversary, bring only condemnation, confusion, death, deceit, despair, destruction, and lies.  Consider the following, and the presentation below:

Deuteronomy 18:  18-20, King James Version (KJV):  18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.  19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.  20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

Galatians 4:  4-7, KJV:  4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Acts 3:  22-26, KJV:  22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.  23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.  24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.  25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.  26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Matthew 18:  4-9, KJV:  4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.  6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.  7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!  8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee:  it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.  9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee:  it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

The writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Annsan_In_ Him” (Level with 209,351 points, a member since May 10, 2007) posted the following:

 

How can it be true that the only work God wants of us is to believe in the one he has sent?

That’s what Jesus said in John 6:29, answering people who said “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?” Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: believe in the one he has sent.” Can anyone expand on this to explain its meaning?

 

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:  Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.  (Hebrews 1:  1-4, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Evidence GOD Exists? (09/29/2015); Why Prophets Were Sent to Israel (11/23/2014); The Need for Prophecy Then and Now (11/24/2014); Why Was A Son Sent? (11/10/2013); Promise of A Spirit? (11/11/2013); Our Need for a Son (03/04/2013); Unless You Repent (03/05/2013); How Was GOD Known Before Jesus? (10/06/2012); Jesus, King of Earth? (10/07/2012)

 

“Annsan_In_ Him”, many have been sent from GOD.  Various principles for Deity working among the living are quietly displayed through both Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit being “sent” to minister the divine presence among mankind.  Along with protection from GOD, those who are agents of divinity will be instruments of divine authority, forgiveness, love, mercy, and power.  Even so, for many mature Christian believers, “the one sent” is a sign and seal upon divine prophecy that authenticates and verifies the origin, and truth for sacred covenants, events (we say, miracles) and promises as well as utterance by the Holy Spirit through chosen spokespersons (we say, apostles and prophets).  Accepting and endorsing the one sent is pivotal to continued existence and permanence through the operations of divinity (we say, eternal life).

The birth of Jesus Christ upon the earth is unlike finite one-time events, for it continues to put forth fresh meaning, quality, and value as an aspect of things that are eternal.  Christ is an appearance or manifestation of GOD in flesh (we say, Incarnate), and operates through, upon and within the consciousness and self-will of all created beings and livings creatures—even those who disbelieve, like Phara0h whose heart was hardened to repeatedly challenge Moses).

Through Christ, all the things of divinity intended for the living are to be crystallized, clearly displayed, carried out, and completed.  Because men must apprehend these things through gradual life experience (e.g., discovery, growth, learning, suffering), teachings to speak of the divine operations on behalf of mankind use such terms as Advent, assurance, certainty, faith, longsuffering, maturing, patience, revelation, testimony, “the second death,” and waiting.  Consider again the following from the holy writings:

(1.)  Exodus 3:  12-14, King James Version (KJV):  12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.  13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?  14 And God said unto Moses, I AM That I AM:  and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

(2.)  2nd Chronicles 36:  14-16, KJV:  14 Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.  15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:  16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

(3.)  John 17:  1-3, KJV:  1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:  2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.  3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

(4.)  John 14:  15-18, KJV:  15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.  16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him:  but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  18 I will not leave you comfortless:  I will come to you.

(5.)  Mark 9:  37, KJV:  37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me:  and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (Sixty-six books of the Bible can not be reduced to a few verses.  Thus, for example, it should be shared, (6.)  Habakkuk 2:  2-4, KJV:  2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.  3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie:  though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.  4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him:  but the just shall live by his faith.)  I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

 

(04/08/2015) Secular Israel?

Today, points are shared on the Kingdom of GOD, and America and Israel as modern states.  The Israel created by the United Nations General Assembly in 1947 is not the same as the Israel created by Jehovah at Mount Sinai. Many are confused that the influence and place of Israel as an instrument in divine judgment does not appear to be the same as in ancient times.  Yet, at some stage as they develop or follow paths that were not available in their beginning, all nations appear to betray their founding fathers and pioneers.  Maniacal dissatisfaction and frustration with world leaders should be expected to increase where they are promoted as celebrities, demigods, and idols.  Exaggerated expectations appear when hero-worship and idolatry are practiced.  Foolish critics attack the President and Prime Minister of America and Israel as though a single person is permitted to make every decision for their State without input from experienced professionals, military, scholars and other experts, and as if they are not restricted from unilateral action by existing procedures and protocols that are rigorous and demanding.  Correctly understood, it is absurd to blame one man for the challenge that comes by shared goals and motives pursued among millions of men.  Fault-finding, placing blame and political invective are primarily fueled by anger, bitterness, ignorance, and immaturity.  Accusations against the United States and its leadership have long included the insinuation that greed, imperialism, pride, self-promotion, and vainglory are the only national agenda for those who serve through the American Presidency.  However, popular and world culture often seek to promote peculiar ideas of anonymity, defiance, freedom, and lawlessness without also pursuing disciplined logic, critical thinking, and the careful scrutiny required for developing and implementing accountability, consensus, sound policy, and stable government.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Harold” (Level 3 with 2,300 points, a member since June 24, 2009) posted the following low blow:

 

Is Obama going against God by opposing Israel?

 

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.  And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.  And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there:  go not after them, nor follow them.  For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.  But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.  (Luke 17:  20-30, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Human Law, Divine Favor? (03/23/2015); The American Covenant? (03/03/2015); Correctly Knowing Israel? (03/01/2015); Why Prophets Were Sent to Israel (11/23/2014); The Need for Prophecy Then and Now (11/24/2014); The Bible is All About GOD? (07/27/2014); No Mystery in Lawful Judgment (07/28/2014); Separation of Church and State (07/04/2014); The Point of Wisdom? (07/05/2014); Holy Ground (03/30/2014); The Temple Mount (03/31/2014)

 

“Harold”, in these times, Christian believers are careful to focus upon prophecy, Scripture, and spiritual truth, rather than temporal events.  Consider the following:

(1.)  Israel and America are not the Kingdom of GOD.  While ancient Israel may have functioned as a monarchy with kings and prophets having authority as visible agents for divinity, America and modern-day Israel are operating as independent secular states within a global economy.  Those who belong to the kingdom are citizens through their spirit content, and are not in a mere cultural or political relationship.

(2.)  The sovereign authority and power of Deity is not appearing as inarguably active and present through the lifestyles, policies, and public presentations from existing states.  National goals do not include maintaining, expanding, or ratifying any covenant with divinity.

(3.)  Israel has compromised the historical, traditional and spiritual commands to destroy the worship places of those in the territory they would be given as their Promised Land.  After victory during the 1967 Six-Day War, instead of destroying the al-Aqsa Mosque, Israel transferred its control to an Islamic trust that is independent of the Israeli government.  Despite Israeli desire to exist as a state having the boundaries described within the Scriptures (see the Fourth Book of Moses, called Numbers, chapter 34), multiple peace accords and agreements have now seen concession of land to demonstrate their commitment to participate within a community of nations on the basis of international law.

(4.)  Many around the world now attack President Obama as our head of State, and as a representation of the American people.  Their displays of hatred, venom, and violence are as much the product of sin and their true spiritual content as of deception, lies, propaganda and slander.  Those who misread Scripture even apply the following to accuse Obama of being the Antichrist:  2nd Thessalonians 2:  3-4, KJV:  3 Let no man deceive you by any means:  for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;  4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

The holy writings provide far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually understood.  For example, (5.)  Ezekiel 14:  13-14, KJV:  13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:  14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  May your prayers ever be answered according to correct sacred knowledge and your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC