I may be reading this wrong, but my anecdotal sense is that Evangelicals often perceive their duty as citizens of planet Earth as thwarting the rise of the Antichrist. Since I came into Christ way back when, over and over again I've talked with folk that are politically and socially against policy, or action, or even people they consider furthering the cause of the coming Antichrist. I think that is a misplaced aspiration.
Please don't misunderstand me, I don't want people primed to take the mark because they've come under a delusion, especially on my part. The Antichrist is [is it prophetic that I said is instead of will be? You be the judge! ;-) ] an inherently evil person and his mark seals one's doom. In my view of eschatology, only Jews will actually face that choice; nonetheless, I think we need to understand that the Antichrist and his kingdom are just part of the fabric of what God has prepared for the conclusion of this current economy.
Since the Antichrist is a precursor to the return of Christ, he will arise at the time of God's choosing, and will mark the conclusion of God's work in human history. If you give it any thought, opposing the rise of the Antichrist is not far removed, if removed at all, from opposing the return of Christ. Who'd want to do that?
So, we'll do as we have tried to do through time--what's right, what's biblical, what's sensible--and the Antichrist will come any way. He'll still take over everything and the world will go to hell in a handbasket, it's unavoidable. God did not misspeak in revealing the sequence of events leading to the end, so there are some things we just need to resign ourselves to. Why spit into the wind?
This world is not now and never has been the home to any who followed Christ. Focusing our energies here as if it were has sapped the Spirit from the bulk of the church for the bulk of the Church Age. It has destroyed the witness of the American church since 1980. Assemblies of God minister, John Keurt once quipped when asked about his philosophy of financing a building campaign, "take out a big mortgage and leave it to the Antichrist." Like it or not, we're leaving the world and all that's in it to the Antichrist, maybe we should start living like it.
Please don't misunderstand me, I don't want people primed to take the mark because they've come under a delusion, especially on my part. The Antichrist is [is it prophetic that I said is instead of will be? You be the judge! ;-) ] an inherently evil person and his mark seals one's doom. In my view of eschatology, only Jews will actually face that choice; nonetheless, I think we need to understand that the Antichrist and his kingdom are just part of the fabric of what God has prepared for the conclusion of this current economy.
Since the Antichrist is a precursor to the return of Christ, he will arise at the time of God's choosing, and will mark the conclusion of God's work in human history. If you give it any thought, opposing the rise of the Antichrist is not far removed, if removed at all, from opposing the return of Christ. Who'd want to do that?
So, we'll do as we have tried to do through time--what's right, what's biblical, what's sensible--and the Antichrist will come any way. He'll still take over everything and the world will go to hell in a handbasket, it's unavoidable. God did not misspeak in revealing the sequence of events leading to the end, so there are some things we just need to resign ourselves to. Why spit into the wind?
This world is not now and never has been the home to any who followed Christ. Focusing our energies here as if it were has sapped the Spirit from the bulk of the church for the bulk of the Church Age. It has destroyed the witness of the American church since 1980. Assemblies of God minister, John Keurt once quipped when asked about his philosophy of financing a building campaign, "take out a big mortgage and leave it to the Antichrist." Like it or not, we're leaving the world and all that's in it to the Antichrist, maybe we should start living like it.
9 comments:
This is a great post! The message should be heard by every Christian. I agree with you, that the anti-Christ is walking on earth. It won't be long...and I can't wait to see my King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Hi - found you via twitter.
Interesting post - anti-antichrist, I like that.
btw ... I can't vote on the poll on the side of your blog because none of the choices work for me, sorry.
Pastor Steve,
What are your thoughts concerning the president receiving the Nobel Peace Prize (in relation to end times)? Was it "star quality" or something more?
Ruth,
The time is ripening quickly. I don't think it can be long until the Antichrist is manifested. I've gone on record as not believing that it will be Barak Hussein Obama, I still feel comfortable with that perspective. Algore (it's Rushy I know, but funny, and way too appropriate!) was awarded with a Nobel too. I don't think it says much more than that the committee that hands out Nobels isn't qualified to receive one itself.
Janet,
Welcome to the Sound. I don't even tweet, I wonder how the Sound turned up there?
Tell me what choice you could make and I'll see if I can add it-- special bonus for first time commenters! ;-)
Looks like your favorite end times nation is back in the news again. Could this be posturing for peace as a precursor to eventual take over by the antichrist? Also, the earthquakes (or should I say birth pangs) have increased again. The time is quickly coming indeed!!
http://www.ptd.net/tiki-index.php
heanous,
Thanks for the link. I found the following quote from the article particularly interesting:
Mending links with Armenia is one of the conditions demanded of Turkey in its quest to join the EU, the BBC noted. Ankara was required to set aside its objections to categorizing the mass killing of ethnic Armenians by Turkish troops in 1915 as a genocide.
It highlights Turkey's unique position of being able to bridge the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds.
My comment doesn't seem to be working so I'm trying this one more time. Hopefully you don't get the same comment 3 times! Well said Pastor. Why don't you think the current Prez is the anti-Christ? Do you have that explanation in another post? If so, which one?
Hello Kit,
Hope all is well on the left coast.
Select the subject link "Antichrist" under "Lightning Streaks" and what I've said about the identity of the Antichrist should come up. Suffice it to say here that I do not think President Obama fits the bill. He's just a socialistic idealist, who neither understands the real world nor how it works. He's the latest incarnation of Jimmy Carter in that respect, and is bound to be as bad a president, if not worse.
I do think his presidency may precipitate the rise of the Antichrist because he is destroying what's left of this country at breakneck pace, and a strong, world-leading America is just not in the prophecies. That said, all ready, he increasingly is being seen as a joke in America and the rest of the world, which doesn't bode well for Antichrist aspirations, wouldn't you say?
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