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Why do the nations rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Christ....... He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh........ Yet I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. (Psalm 2:42.4.6)
A most interesting aspect of this prophetic Psalm is that the opening inquiry of the writer is left unanswered. His searching question concerns the reason why the peoples of the earth are hostile to Christ when he returns to subject the earth to his benevolent rule. The word used in the query, "vain", means "having no real substance". The distinct implication of the question is that the world has imagined something that is not true, that its leaders are deceived in some way. In this work a possible reason for the opposition to Christ, which it is believed is related to the "vain" idea those opposing him will hold, is advanced.
It is the sincere desire on the part of those producing this pamphlet to inform the public as to the nature of the expectations of many modern Bible students, and the possible consequences that these views may ultimately have when Jesus returns to this earth. By becoming acquainted with the evidence, the reader will hopefully then be in a better position to form his own opinion on the validity or invalidity of the ideas being put forth respecting future events.
In recent years, there has been a tremendous increase in interest within Christian circles as to what the Bible reveals about the course history will follow. One of the most prominent beliefs to emerge is the conviction that a single man will arise, the Antichrist, who will personally fulfill many prophecies in the Bible. With many this idea has become a basic tenet of their faith. An almost feverish anticipation has developed, fueled by a continuing stream of books and films, that this individual will soon appear in Jerusalem, demand to be worshipped and revered as a god, and quickly ascend to the position of supreme world dictator. There is almost complete agreement that these events are nearly upon us. This presents a very sobering and arresting challenge to the reader.
Where will he give his loyalty when this personage manifests himself Could it be, is there even a remote possibility, that Christ himself could be mistakenly identified as the Antichrist? Could the most serious blunder of history be the opposing of the real Christ as the fabricated Antichrist? Lest the reader dismiss the suggestion out of hand, we beg him to compare what the Scriptures reveal concerning Christ at his second coming on the one hand, with what many Christian expositors believe this evil despot, Antichrist, will do, on the other.
In the next 9 items, we will compare the supposed Future Antichrist of popular expositions (see footnotes), with what the Scriptures say of Christ at his return.
1. Antichrist will appear suddenly. "The way in which this
dictator is going to step onto the stage of history will be dramatic. Overnight
he will become the byword of the world. He is going to be distinguished
as supernatural 1. . . "
1. Christ will appear suddenly. 'For as a snare shall it (his coming)
come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth" (Luke 21:35).
2. Antichrist himself, or his chief cohort, the False Prophet, will
be a Jew. "This person (The False Prophet), who is called the second
beast, is going to be a Jew. Many believe he will be from the tribe of Dan,
which is one of the tribes of the original progenitors of the nation of
Israel." 2 "Several other items lead Bible students to conclude
that antichrist will be a Jew. It is hard to believe that Israel would receive
a Gentile Messiah. No Gentile could pose as Christ with any success."
3
2. Jesus is a Jew. "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?"
(Matt. 2:2). Among Christ's immediate co-rulers will be Jews -- the twelve
apostles. "Ye also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve
tribes Of Israel" (Matt. 19:28).
3. Antichrist will claim that he is the Messiah of Israel. "The
antichrist will actually pose as the Messiah, he will claim Messianic titles
and privileges ... The antichrist is a person who will attempt to convince
Israel that he is their long-anticipated Messiah.4
3. Jesus will exercise his appointed office of Messiah. "I will
overturn, overturn, overturn it: and it shall be no more, until he come
whose right it is; and I will give it him" (Ezek. 21:27). "And
he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there
shall be no end" (Luke 1:33). "And I will pour upon the house
of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and
of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and
they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be
in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn"
(Zech. 12: 10).
4. Antichrist will perform miracles. "With (sic) the counterfeit
christ arrives, he will perform miracles in order to convince Israel that
he is the prophet like Moses. The man of sin sits as a priest in the temple
and engages in a prophetic ministry."5 "In other words, Satan
himself is going to give him fantastic power. He is going to be able to
work all kinds of miracles. This is one reason that Christians should not
get too excited when they see a miracle. It may not be a miracle from God.
Satan is a miracle worker."6
4. Christ will perform miracles. "Then the eyes of the blind
shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall
the lame man leap as an hart and the tongue of the dumb sing; for in the
wilderness shall waters break out and streams in the desert" (Isaiah
35:5,6). (Note: At the first coming of Christ the prevalent opinion was
that there was some external being, Beelzebub, prince of the devils, who
was responsible for the miracles of Jesus (Matt. 12:24). This belief in
some external personage of evil pervades modem Christendom today; and it
is easy to see from the quote opposite to what agency the miracles of Christ
at his second advent could be ascribed.
5. Antichrist will reside in Jerusalem. "Jerusalem.... the
capital and center of the world dictator's (i.e. Antichrist's) rule.7
5. Jesus will rule from Jerusalem. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem which
killest the Prophets .... Ye shall not see me, until the time come when
ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord" (Luke
13:34,35). "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion"
(Psalm 2:6). "For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word
of the Lord from Jerusalem" (Isaiah 2:3).
6. Antichrist will rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem and be involved
with the service therein. "The Antichrist will deify himself --
just like the Caesars did. He will proclaim himself to be God. He will demand
that he be worshipped and will establish himself in the temple of God. (2
Thess. 2:4) There is only one place where this temple of God can be and
that is on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, on the site where the Dome of the
Rock and other Moslem shrines now stand. There are many places in the Bible
that pinpoint this location as the one where the Jews will rebuild their
Temple."8 "The Israelis will then be permitted to reinstitute
the sacrifice and offering aspect of the law of Moses. This demands that
the Temple be rebuilt, because according to the law of Moses, sacrifices
can only be offered in the Temple at Jerusalem. Apparently all this will
be done under the protection of the Antichrist of Rome. (P.S. The Arabs
are not going to like this idea of rebuilding the Temple one bit).9
6. Jesus will rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem and be involved with the
service therein. "After this I will return, and will build again
the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the
ruins thereof, and set it up: that the residue of men might seek after the
Lord...... (Acts 15:16,17). "Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying,
Behold the man whose name is the Branch; and he shall grow up out of his
place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the
temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule
upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel
of peace shall be between them both' (Zech. 6:12,13).
7. Antichrist will form a covenant with the Jews. "The Romans
under Titus did the destroying, so the coming prince would have to be someone
out of the Roman culture.. (Others say that Antichrist must be a Jew, rather
than someone of the Roman culture--see point 2 above. This shows the immense
amount of unsubstantiated speculation that has been done.) This Roman prince
will come to power just before the return of Christ. He will make 'a strong
covenant with the Israelis, guaranteeing their safety and protection. The
word translated 'strong covenant has the idea of a treaty or mutual protection
pact."10 "It will be a covenant which will permit Israel to continue
and renew her religious ceremonies including the building of a Jewish temple,
and the re-activation of Jewish sacrifices." 11
7. Jesus will be a great leader and will re-introduce the Jews into God's
true everlasting covenant. "And so all Israel shall be saved: as
it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn
ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall
take away their sins" (Romans 11:26,27). "Incline your ear and
come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting
covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given
him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people"
(Isaiah 55:3,4). "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will
make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah"
(Jeremiah 3 1:3 1). "For the children of Israel shall abide many days
without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without
an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: Afterward shall the
children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their
king. . . " (Hosea 3:4,5).
8. Antichrist will somehow defeat Russia when it attacks Israel. "With
the world balance of power dramatically in his favour and the world dazzled
by Russia's defeat (in its attempt to invade Israel) the Antichrist will
show his true colours. He will declare himself world dictator and move to
crush all opposition." 12
8. Russia will be defeated by the power of Almighty God at a time very
close to, if not coincident with Christ's return to commence his rule on
earth. "Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I
will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am
the LORD" (Ezek. 38:23). The Bible clearly teaches that God, and not
a human agency will destroy Russia when it moves south; the idea that some
individual will do this is totally foreign to scripture.
9. Antichrist's rule will commence with a proclamation and those who
refuse to submit to it will be crushed. "Ironically, the Mediterranean
leader will begin his world government by proclamation. Using his consolidated
position of power in the Middle East, he will promise a new day of peace
and prosperity for all who recognize his leadership... This man's absolute
control politically, economically, and religiously will give him power such
as no man has ever had in human history. His brilliance as a leader
will be superhuman for he will be dominated and directed by Satan himself.
But during his 3-1/2 year rule, he will ruthlessly crush all opposition."
13 (Emphasis added)B>
9. Christ's rule will commence with a proclamation and those who refuse
to submit to it will be crushed. "And I saw another angel fly in
the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that
dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour
of his judgment is come; and worship him that made heaven and earth and
the sea, and the fountains of waters" (Rev. 14:6,7). "And he shall
judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off.... '(Micah
4:3). "To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon
the people; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters
of iron; to execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all
his saints" (Psalm 149:7-9). See also Daniel 2:44; 7:14; Psalm 72:7,11.
You may well reflect at this juncture; "I clearly see the remarkable similarity between what the Bible says Jesus will do at his second coming and what modern writers say the anti-christ will do." You may have the following question:
"How can I and my family tell the difference .... and avoid finding ourselves opposed to the real Jesus Christ?" The answer is: Study the Word of God for yourself. Avail yourself of all the help you can get, but compare what you are told with the Scriptures.
WARNING: Do not leave it up to the leaders of the religious world. Their past history is not good.
1) They are confused on this matter themselves.
2) They (the leaders of the religious world) were confused the first time Jesus came . . . and crucified him.
3) They (the leaders of the religious world today) are the descendants of the leaders who gave us the children's crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, and many other horrors, all in the name of religion.
Now is the time for all of us to put our houses in order. Those of us who are heads of households have the greater responsibility, for the fate of others rests in our hands. We would like very much to share with you God's plan for man, and we expect you to test whatever we might say by the Word of God. "Beloved, believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (I John 4: 1).
At this point, the reader may have many questions. This flyer is excerpted from a larger work (35 pages) bearing the same title. It discusses the popular view of the rapture, Daniel's Prophecy of the 70 weeks, and the modern origin of current views about the Antichrist. If you would like to receive this booklet Free of charge, simply call our 800# and ask for the "35 page Antichrist booklet".
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Footnotes:
1. Lindsey, Hal, -The Late Great Planet Earth". Zondervan Publishing
House, Grand Rapids, 1970, p. 108.
2. Ibid., p. 112.
3. Befflon, John L., -Will the Real Antichrist Please Stand Up?" BP
Publications, Denver, 1974, P.37.
4. Ibid., p. 10.
5. Ibid., p. 22.
6 Lindsey, op cit., pp. 109-110.
7. Walvoord, John F., "Artnageddon, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand
Rapids, 1974, p. 170.
8 Lindsey, op cit., pp. 109-110.
9. Lindsey, op cit., p. 152.
10 Lindsey, op cit., pp. 151-152.
11. Walvoord, op cit., p. 117.
12 Walvoord, op cit., p. 141.
13 Walvoord, op cit., p. 161.
A SUMMARY OF BIBLE TEACHINGS
1. The Bible is the Word of God directly inspired by him. (2 Timothy
3:16; Hebrews 1:1; 2 Peter 1:2 1).
2. There is only one God, the Father, who created the world. (Deuteronomy
6:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; Isaiah 45:6,12).
3. The Holy Spirit is the power of God active in carrying out his
will. (Luke 1:35; Acts 10:38; Acts 8:18-19).
4. Jesus is the Son of God. God was his Father. (Luke 1:35; Matthew
3:17; Psalm 2:7).
5. Jesus was the Son of man, being born of the virgin Mary. (Galatians
4:4; 1 Timothy 2:5; Philippians 2:8).
6. Jesus shared our nature in order to overcome sin and death. (Hebrews
2:14; Hebrews 4:15; Romans 8:3).
7. Jesus overcame all temptation and, though sinless, he died to
save his followers from sin and death. (Romans 5:6; John 3:16; Isaiah 53:5).
8. The first man was Adam who disobeyed God and brought sin and death
into the world. (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22).
9. All human beings are sinners by nature and death comes to all.
(Romans 5:12; Ecclesiastes 3:19-20; Psalm 146:3-4).
10. There is no consciousness in death. (Isaiah 38:18-19; Ecclesiastes
9:5-6; Psalm 89:48).
11. The 'soul' means the body, mind, life or breath, but is not immortal.
Souls die. (Isaiah 38:17; Joshua 11:11; Ezekiel 18:4).
12. 'Hell' is another name for the grave. (Jonah 2:1-3; Psalm 116:3;
Psalm 16:10).
13. 'Hell fire' refers to the complete destruction of the unfaithful
after the day of Judgment. It is, in fact, a translation of the Hebrew name
'Gehenna' which was a valley outside Jerusalem where rubbish and criminals
were burned, not a place of eternal torment. (Mark 9:43; Matthew 10:28;
compare with Malachi 4:1-3).
14. Jesus was raised from the dead by God and later ascended to heaven.
(Acts 1:3,9; Revelation 1:18; Acts 10:40; Mark 16:19).
15. Jesus is the only mediator between God and man. (I Timothy 2:5;
Hebrews 7:24-25; Acts 4:12).
16. Jesus will return to earth personally. (Acts 1:10-11; Matthew
16:27; Acts 3:20-21).
17. Jesus will raise many of the dead when he returns. (I Thessalonians
4:16; John 5:29; Daniel 12:1-2).
18. Resurrection is the only hope of life after death. (I Corinthians
15:13-14; Philippians 3:20-21; Acts 24:15).
19. There will be a judgment following resurrection. (2 Corinthians
5:10; 2 Timothy 4:1; Romans 14:10-12).
20. Everlasting life will be on earth, for men and women whose bodies
will be changed to be immortal. (Matthew 5:5; I Corinthians 15:53-54; Philippians
3:20-21).
21. The promises made to Abraham involve a literal inheritance in
the earth for all the faithful. (Genesis 13:15; Genesis 28:13; Hebrews 11:8-9,39-40).
22. The promises made to David involve Jesus becoming the permanent
King over God's Kingdom in Israel. (2 Samuel 7:12-14; Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke
1:30-33).
23. Jerusalem will be the capital of the Kingdom of God. (Ezekiel
21:27;, Isaiah 24:23; Matthew 5:35).
24. Jesus will be assisted in ruling the world by his immortal followers.
(Daniel 7:27; Revelation 2:26; Luke 22:30).
25. The Kingdom of God will result in everlasting righteousness,
happiness and peace. (Isaiah 32:17; Isaiah 2:4; Psalm 67:4-7).
26. Christ will rule over the mortal population of the earth for
a thousand years. Afterwards all sin and death will be removed and the earth
will be full of God's glory. (Revelation 20:6; Revelation 21:4; 1 Corinthians
15:24-26).
27. The devil is another name for sin in ourselves and not a separate
supernatural being. Christ overcame it by being sinless though of our nature,
and can therefore provide us with a covering for our sins. (James 1:14-15;
Hebrews 2:14; Hebrews 9:26).
28. Satan means an adversary and the word is used about things and
people who oppose God's will. Even Peter was once called Satan (Matthew
16:23). God can also sometimes act as an adversary against the wicked: (Numbers
22:22; 2 Samuel 24:1- compare with 1 Chronicles 2 1:1).
29. Devils (demons) are not supernatural beings. People with mental
disorders were said to have 'evil spirits' -- which means disordered minds.
There is only one God. The supposed devils of heathen religions did not
exist. (I Corinthians 10:20; Acts 17:18; strange gods = demons; Isaiah 45:5,7).
30. Salvation involves the covering of sin. Righteousness can be
obtained only by faith in Christ. (Romans 4:13,21-25; Hebrews 11:6; Galatians
3:26).
31. Baptism by immersion in water, after a true confession of the
things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, is essential
for salvation. By this means our sin can be 'buried' and we can begin a
new life in Christ, being covered by his righteousness, while we continue
to follow him. (John 3:5; Acts 8: 12; Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16; Acts 8:38;
Romans 6:4; Galatians 3:27-29).
32. Israel are God's chosen people. Though scattered because of disobedience,
they are being regathered ready for the coming of their Messiah. (Joel 3:2;
Ezekiel 37:12; Ezekiel 37:22).
33. Israel will be purified as a people and become the chief of the
nations. (Zechariah 12:10; Jeremiah 31:33; Zechariah 8:23; Romans 11:25-29).
34. The breaking of bread and drinking of wine in remembrance of
Jesus was instituted by him for his true followers. (Luke 22:19-20; Acts
2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
35. There is only one true Gospel which cannot be altered. (Ephesians
4:4-6; Galatians 1:8; Jude 3).
36. Those who believe the Gospel and are baptized into Christ are
'brethren in Christ' and God calls them his children. (I John 3:1; John
1:12; 1 Peter 1:23).
All those who believe these teachings must also strive to live a godly, Christian life.
-------------------------------------
This flyer is excerpted from a larger work (35 pages) bearing the same title. It discusses the popular view of the rapture, Daniel's Prophecy of the 70 weeks, and the modern origin of current views about the Antichrist. This larger document is on a CD with many other books. If you would like to order it, then click on the order form link below.
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