The Antichrist?
We noticed in our previous article on the Pavilions of
Darkness that God hides Himself in the most unlikely places of the
universe; namely, in darkness, in dark waters, in thick clouds.
These are His secret places wherein He abides; where the hidden riches of His
treasures are held in reserve. Psalm 18:11 & 45:3, 15
It is strange that the church system has taught its people to
look for Him somewhere in the heavens of outer space, rather than where
the scriptures make it clear — in the pavilions of darkness, in the
dark waters of His people, in the thick clouds of His many membered body.
And herein He will remain until the hour of the Apocalypse of Jesus
Christ!
Some who know the truth of the matter claim that the time of
His appearing, that is, their appearing, has come; that the dawn of the Sun’s
rising has arrived, that there is nothing more awaiting, all we have to do
is to realize who we are and stop identifying with Adam. But the sad fact is, we
see nothing more than what’s been in times past. For that matter, we see less
than that which was in the past, such as in the days of the outpouring in 1948
which is known as Pentecost, or Latter Rain. And as great as that
manifestation was, it did not establish the Kingdom of God in the earth. It did
not to put an end to sorrow and death.
What we hear can be enticing; for the words of man’s wisdom
are often very convincing; but that which is claimed has had no spiritual
strength, vitality, or impact. It hasn’t shaken the foundations of the world
inwardly or outwardly that we can see. There hasn’t even been so much as a
breeze blowing through the mulberry leaves of the kingdoms of men. Ill winds are
certainly blowing, and fiercely in certain areas. They are surging through the
religious, economical, and governmental kingdoms; but the winds are not that of
the manifestation of the sons of God, not by any stretch of the imagination. The
winds that are shaking things are, no doubt, of God; but they are in no way that
of the appearing, the apocalypse of our Lord coming in holy myriads of
Himself. It will come, but only to those who meet the conditions and qualify for
that mighty company of overcomers. There awaits the real demonstration of the
Spirit and power that’s given without measure. It is then that the
incomprehensible ministry of the sons of God will be seen after everything that
hinders and has sealed us tight is broken by the One found worthy to do so. It
is then that our carnal coverings are removed, revealing from deep within that
which has lain dormant. It will come forth with vibrance to reveal the majesty
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Many of us have been with Him in those obscure places, in
those thick clouds, dark waters, even that dark cave of Adullam. For some it has
been a long time; but we will not lament because we know the purpose, and we
will have our day in the Sun/Son. And the beauty is, no man or religious
regime can stop its shining at the time of the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ.
It is then that our Lord will be seen coming in the clouds of holy myriads
OF HIMSELF to execute judgment! Jude 1:14-15. It is
then that wisdom will excel folly and light will excel darkness.
Ecclesiastes 2:13.
To be reminded, this apocalypse will come by none
other than by the might and Spirit of our Lord Jesus. And it will certainly not
be in need of special men and women to orchestrate it. There will be no need to
keep it hemmed in and bound by religious creeds, doctrines, and rituals. Men
will not be able to promote it in order to let the world know that God is on the
move; for as it is with the Sun, no one has to go to be told by an
astro-physicist to know it is shining, and also with the wind. No one has to be
told when it is blowing. We may need weather forecasters to tell us when it will
be a windy day in certain regions, such as when they forewarned Galveston, Texas
that Hurricane Ike was on the way; but no one had to be told once it’s fierce
breath began to blow hard upon them. And so it will be with the Apocalypse of
Jesus Christ. No one knows the day and hour; but you are being told that it
is coming, and once it arrives, nobody will have to be told, and no one will
have to make claims or spin a good yarn to convince the world that it is so; for
a blast of fire in the face is convincing of itself.
Moreover, as this fire-storm blows, there will be no
personalities standing in high places over the people of "their" churches
and TV audiences. Wherever the sons of God are, there will be the manifested
Church of Jesus Christ. This Church cannot be wrangled or owned by enterprising
entrepreneurs, and neither will there be in this company those seeking their own
glory. It is all Jesus Christ in those who are conformed and transformed to the
express image of their Father.
Frankly, this unveiling is already dawning in the
secret pavilions of people’s lives. They are not known by the world nor by those
of mainstream religion, and it is no mystery as to why this is. They are
scattered throughout the world. There is a handful here, a few there; but as a
whole, they are not visibly collected together, and they are not pushing
themselves to the forefront to be seen by anyone. Yet, things are taking place
with these derelicts and misfits in the secret pavilions of darkness with David,
that is Jesus, in the cave of Adullam. Although standing by, unseen and unheard,
their Commander is building them into a mighty army of soon to be glorified sons
of God with which to be reckoned! These members of the body of Christ, like
vapor particles of dark clouds, are being joined together in the Spirit of their
Lord, awaiting the first command, the first charge, the first lightning bolt,
His blazing word that will bring them cohesively together and send them
earthbound as mighty torrents of consuming fire. What a blazing apocalypse!
Although obscure and weak, they are obedient to the call,
which qualifies them to be mighty men of valor. They await the command that will
release and reveal them like a flood-tide of fire all over the earth. The three
and a half years Jesus was manifested as the Son of God was tremendous; but what
do you suppose it will be when He comes in the clouds of holy myriads OF
HIMSELF to execute Judgment? There will be much greater works than what
He did as one Son. It will bring an end to all revivals; for this will not be to
revive people to their former estate when they were first saved, but to
transform them to a new State called the Kingdom of God. Religious movements as
we had known will cease, along with secular and political schemes. This is
the apocalypse of Jesus Christ gathering into Himself His Ecclesia,
the called out ones, the true assembly of the living God and His Christ! From
temporary tabernacles we will see this MAN moving into the Temple! No more
booths, pavilions of darkness, but the glorious Temple of God wherein dwells
Christ Jesus and His body. And please know, this Temple is not one to be built
in the land of Israel. It is His body of many members. It is where He presently
dwells and from where He rules and will always rule.
Out of weakness, like a helpless worm in a cocoon, we come
forth from the confines of Adullam, transformed and made new. God will measure
out His power upon those who walk through the deep valley of the
shadow of death, who are weakened by disease, who are weakened by hardships,
or who are weakened by being overrun by varied pressures, tragedies, and deaths.
Some will judge our adverse circumstances and inactive lives as being out of the
will of God; but they do not understand the basic principle, when we are weak
He is strong. You see, Jesus became poor that we, His body, might
become rich, and as we become poor in spirit, the kingdom of
heaven becomes ours.
We do remember, don’t we, that in order for Jesus to become
the Lion of the tribe of Judah, He had to be led in humility as a sheep to
the slaughter? (Acts 8:32). And before all men could drink of the
River of Life, He had to empty Himself. He divested Himself of
power and authority so He could come forth with greater power and authority
in holy myriads of Himself. In death, He ceased from the Father’s
works so greater works could be done by those of His corporate Body. He
sounded no call to arms to his followers. He did not call legions of
angels to defend Him in His most crucial hour. He opened not His mouth.
Rather than arraying Himself in glory, He submitted to the humility
of being stripped naked and beaten. Rather than taking His rightful place
upon earth’s regal throne, He relinquished it to endure the anguish of
being nailed to a rugged cross. Not a likely seat of the Royal Master.
But rather than taking His position as the King of kings, He divested
Himself and became the servant of all. The richest man in the
universe became the poorest of all, having no place to lay His head or
call His own. In death, he had no hallowed mausoleum to enshrine His pierced
body. He was not laid in repose where the bodies of men of honor are committed.
No eternal flame was lit for Him. A tomb had to be borrowed for His
burial. At His birth, a stable was borrowed for His delivery, and
the animal’s feed-trough took the place of a goose-down bed,
symbolizing that His body would feed the nations of the world. He was not born
in the midst of great men who would marvel at His majesty, but among
the beasts of burden. They were his companions in birth, and throughout his
life, such were also his friends. What a wonder to say the least! Out of
Darkness where He was hidden came forth the Mystery of the ages — and that Great
Light shined in a dark world! The Apocalypse of God’s firstborn Son!
He was crucified in the weakness of flesh as the son of man,
but "He was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to
the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead."
Romans 1:4. Men destroy their enemies by killing them; but Jesus
destroyed his enemies by dying for them, and even at their own hands. He set the
precedent for every son to follow. Go thou and do likewise.
It doesn’t make sense to the natural mind that one must die
to live, weep before he can laugh, know sorrow to be filled with joy, to be
humiliated to be lifted up, to become naked to be clothed upon, to know darkness
to come forth as light. What a paradox! To the natural mind it doesn’t make
sense. But God’s mind is not natural!
Seeing, therefore, that Jesus became weak and suffered the
death of the cross that we could live, can we expect it to be different with us?
Are the servants greater than their Master? Not at all. Paul spoke of this
difficult road that we must walk: "That I may know Him, and the power of His
resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made
conformable unto His death; If by any means I might attain unto the
resurrection of the dead" Philippians 3:10-11.
After we are conformed to His death, what comes next?
Resurrection, of course! For that is the principle of life. A seed
must fall into the ground and die before it can sprout as a plant and live. We
have fallen into the carnal ground of our minds and bodies, and as the plantings
of the Lord, we too shall rise out of obscurity and live.
We have long vaunted the fact that we are the anointed
sons of God; but our understanding of this anointing may have been
lacking. We had assumed it was the anointing of life and power, the anointing
to rule and reign, the anointing to do exploits and to raise the dead, and
this is not altogether wrong. For God hath wrought us for the selfsame
life and power of Jesus. However, He not only made us for the selfsame
life, but also the selfsame death. We see this anointing
when the woman anointed Jesus with a precious ointment from an alabaster
box, and the anointing was on behalf of HIS DEATH and BURIAL, and
Jesus said what she did was good! (rf. Matthew 26:7,10,12.
Can we say the same concerning our own anointing? Has it been
unto death? That’s a difficult one; but don’t we want the power of
resurrection in our lives? Then let us receive the anointing of not only
life, but that of death as well. We are not mandated to enjoy it, but
we can endure it as our Lord before us "...who for the joy that was set
before Him endured the cross, despising the shame" Hebrews 12:2.
We will, therefore, rejoice for the joy that is set before us while being swept
over by the shroud of death and we descend into hell. Its dominion of
darkness will and has embraced us sorely, this is sure, yet it can neither hold
nor destroy us! But after it has worked its purpose, we shall turn and command
it! We shall ascend with power and dominion over death, hell, and the grave.
Moreover, when we hear these words by the Spirit of
revelation, we can say: "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in
my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." With
confidence, we will know that God’s grace is sufficient; for our strength
is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9. Truly,
God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and
hath chosen the weak things to confound they who are mighty.
1 Corinthians 1:27. Therefore, my friends, if you happen to be
among those who are acquainted with the bitter waters of grief, and the
lonely pavilions of darkness, take heart — you will shine on the
morrow as He comes in the holy myriads of Himself to execute judgment!
There are various ways that God brings judgment. Some of
those ways are by His right hand; by Christ being manifested in His word
and in His saints of glory, bringing people to a godly sorrow that works
repentance unto salvation. One, I am sure, will be much more pronounced, the
apocalypse of Jesus Christ together with the sons of God. Other forms of judgment are by
His left hand. This judgment may entail rogue rulers, enemies of the State,
wars, world class bankers, failing economies, terrorism, wars, and countless
other circumstances beyond man’s control.
The Antichrist?
With the present political and economical situations of this
nation, many are very concerned. Millions have been gripped by fear. They feel
that all might be lost: homes, jobs, retirement, even their freedom. Some are
saying that the greatest depression the world has ever known is on the horizon.
Some have a degree of hope by believing the president-elect has the
answers. He is looked upon as their savior — a black man riding from the east
upon a white horse to save the day. Some are too busy with games and
entertainment to have thought about him one way or the other. Many are in such a
stupor from drugs and alcohol addiction that they can’t think at all. While
others believe this mysterious man who came out of obscurity is not their
savior, but the antichrist.
The notion could be equally applied to numerous U.S.
presidents, not to mention many cabinet members and Supreme Court justices, as
well as those who occupy the halls of congress; yet not in the sense of what is
commonly thought about the antichrist. According to the
Bible, and I am sure to the surprise of many, there is no such thing as "the
antichrist"; that is, not as it has been so commonly taught, and with
such rigor that most people assume it is a primary tenant of faith that is
rooted deeply in scripture. But there are no scriptures on which to base this
presumption when the scriptures are taken in context and the greater picture is
seen.
Even so, with this being one of the foremost thoughts in so
many minds since the election, Barack Obama seems to be the closest man so far
to fit that infamous character’s assumed image. None of the other supposed
antichrists had such charisma as to command a world-wide following, nor were
they worshiped so greatly. Other figures of days gone by who were tagged as this
man of infamy include Henry Kissinger, Anwar Sadat, Pope John Paul II, John F.
Kennedy, and Ronald Reagan to mention a few; but none have taken center stage
and have been so gloriously arrayed as this young man. It is no small
wonder that he has so polarized the people with either being seen as the
savior or the antichrist. He certainly is a very
interesting individual to say the least. And I have no doubt about it; he has
been raised up to serve God’s purpose that no other could fill, whether for good
or evil. Moreover, as His sovereign plan unfolds — I believe those of the world
will first be affected with wonder. They will then be astonished, and later on,
stunned, if you please!
But let us back off a bit and scan this idea of the
antichrist a little more closely by seeing what the scriptures have to say
about it. There are only four verses that use the word: "Little children, it is
the last time: and as ye have heard that *(the)
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 *(the) antichrist,
that denieth the Father and the Son. 1 John 2:18, 22.
"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is
not of God: and this is that spirit of *(the) antichrist, whereof
ye have heard that it should come (Grk, is come, present tense);
and even now already IS it in the world." 1 John 4:3.
"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 *(the)
antichrist." 2 John 1:7.
Since each verse contains the definite article, the or
of the, does this mean that the antichrist is one specific man of
the future who will be the devil incarnate and who will deceive and rule the
entire world? Not by any means! For the context of these verses in no way
suggests such an idea.
Let us, therefore, take into consideration the context:
"Little children, it is the last time (Grk.
h
Çra,
hour): and as ye have heard that the antichrist shall come, even
now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it
IS the last time (hÇra,
hour). They went out from us, but they were not of us; for
if they had been of us, they would have continued
with us: but they went out, that they might be made
manifest that they were not all of us.
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all
things. 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. Who is a liar but he
that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is *(the)
antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son."1 John 2:18-22.
The antichrist(s) were the ones John was talking about at that time which he
called the last hour. He was not remotely talking about
2,000 years or so down the road, and neither was he mistaken about what he was
saying. Namely, that the antichrist was the same as the
many antichrists and that they were already on the scene. He was
saying that the many antichrists were they
who went out from them, they were not of them, if they
had been, they would have continued with them, but they
went out so they could be revealed for who they
really were — the antichrist. And whoever denies the Father and
the Son, he is the antichrist.
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the
spirits whether they are of God: because many false
prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of
God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of
God: 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.
They are of the world: therefore speak they
of the world, and the world heareth them. 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." 1 John 4:1-6.
Again, we have the same scenario. The plurals, many
false prophets and they who are of the world, are
synonymous to the singular he who was at that time
not of God and could not hear what the apostles were saying by the Spirit of
Christ. Nowhere do these verses suggest the antichrist would be coming
two or three thousand years later.
"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 (the) antichrist."
2 John 1:7.
John was equating the singular and plural as
being the same, and the context was no different in this verse than it was with
the others. It was for that time period, for that day,
for that hour, and he was not saying that the many
deceivers were a man called the antichrist two
thousand years later.
The apostle was referring to people who denied Jesus had come
in the flesh of His physical body. Neither did they believe the Spirit of Jesus
Christ had come in the flesh of His many-membered body, nor did they confess or
manifest His Spirit in their own lives, as a confession suggests.
Paul also wrote about a man that many think is
the same notorious antichrist. He called him the man of sin, the son
of perdition that Daniel the prophet spoke of who would sit (Grk,
kathizÇ,
seat, settle, hover) in the Temple of God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). And
Jesus referred to the man in Daniel’s prophecy as well, who was called the
abomination of desolation. (Matthew 25:15). Neither Daniel, Paul, nor Jesus
were referring to someone in our day; but this man was for that time, a Roman
general whose name was Titus. He desolated the city of Jerusalem, then opposed
and exalted himself above God by destroying the Temple that represented the very
presence and power of Israel’s God. This was an act of setting himself up as
God. It was a declaration to the world, especially to the Jews, that there was
no god greater than the self-exalted Titus Flavius Vespasianus who later
became the emperor of Rome. This was the abominable man of that hour for the
Jews. It was their last hour, and it ended in 70 A.D. He fulfilled the prophecy
of Daniel, Jesus, and Paul.
Let us note that the Temple that was destroyed will
never be rebuilt as it has been supposed by many. You see, when God
destroys anything, especially that which has to do with the Old Covenant, He
does not set out to rebuild it. With the New Covenant having been established by
Jesus, the new Temple of God became His many-membered body. He does not dwell in
buildings made by human hands, not even one in Jerusalem that men want to build
in order to help pave the way for Him to come again. The fact is, He has
much better accommodations wherein He is already dwelling — His body of many
members, His body of many mansions, that is, His body of many abodes. So let the
Muslims have the Dome of the Rock where the Temple once stood. God doesn’t need
it, Jesus doesn’t need it, and neither do we! We are secure where we are in Him,
and He in us.
Satan and all who are one with him are deceivers.
They appear as light but are not of the light. It is impossible for them
to confess, or manifest the light, the anointing,
the Christ. They are the opposite, or instead of Christ.
They are actors, imposters. Again, they are the antichrist(s).
There is a many-membered body of Christ, and there is
a many-membered body that makes up the antichrist (not one man). This
antichrist is comprised of all the religious systems and people who are void of
the Spirit of Christ. They are also those who may be embraced as secular
saviors, those who embody the political ideals that people look to for their
safety, prosperity, and welfare. You see, in the same manner that those of the
body of Christ are inspired by the Spirit of Christ Who makes blind eyes see,
the body of the antichrist is inspired by the god of this world who blinds eyes
that could see.
Antichrist, from the compound Greek word,
anti-christos. Anti means, opposite of or instead
of, and christos means anointed. The Antichrist is
principally the spirit of the religious, political, and economic systems of the
world. It is that which takes the place of Jesus Christ! Anything that
exalts itself as a solution to the pollution (as our late friend, Stacy
Wood used to say) is instead of Christ. It is a pretense! It is something
that can suggest a supreme answer to the question of extreme problems. It is a
deceiver. It is also, of course, anyone who rises in self-exaltation to be a
superior guide for people when it is Christ who is to be the principle guide.
The antichrist is not a political leader, although many of the rulers
of the kingdoms of men are certainly antichrists.
People have voiced their grave concern about Barack Obama
being our president, and they believe he is the antichrist. It may be
noted that most of our presidents and politicians have been deceivers
(antichrists) in one fashion or the other. How else could they have been
elected? Even at that, they were playing into the hand of God, of course, they
didn’t know it.
A deceiver is one who transforms himself into an angel of
light. He is, therefore, anti-light, or instead of light, darkness, a lie. He is
an antichrist. The world is full of them, and I do not
doubt that the people will suffer greatly in the days to come. However, we
should not be shaken over it.
For, you see, "God hath not given us the
spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" 2
Timothy 1:7, and Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I
give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27.
Moreover, "This matter
is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of
the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that
the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to
whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men."
Daniel 4:17.
Are you still unconvinced that it is God, and
not the people or the electoral college who place the person of His choosing in
office: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no
power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance (Grk. diatag‘,
arrangement, institution) of God."
Romans 13:1-2. Man, oh man! That’s a hard one! It does appear that
there will be a flood of unprecedented hardships and evil to sweep over this
nation and the world as the Psalmist wrote: "The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves."
Psalm 93:3. However, let us not forget that "The LORD
sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King
for ever." Psalm 29:10.
So what is there to fear? Even if this man is a cunning
serpent and brings the U.S. to her knees, as many believe will happen — the
most High, the Lord rules this kingdom. It may be true that God’s plan is to
use a chastening rod called Barrack Hussein Obama; and if so,
can we not say, Praise God; for is this not one of the things that will set the
stage for the apocalypse of Jesus Christ and His many-membered body?
Perhaps by the Spirit of Christ we can say it; but it’s a
little difficult in the natural. One the other hand, Obama may prove to be one
of the best presidents this nation has ever had. I hope this is the case. We
will see. Even if that comes to be so, one thing is sure, neither this man nor
any other man or woman nor political party is the solution to this mountain
of pollution. It is like our dear friend and co-laborer in Christ, Preston
Eby, said: "Adam is the man who made this mess, so Adam is not the man who is
going to get us out of it." You see, man has spent 6,000 years bringing us
to this point of degradation, and he can only make it worse. There is only one
man who has the answers, actually: He is the answer, and that man is Christ
Jesus in the body of holy myriads of Himself. This body is being raised up to be
the solution to the pollution! Praise God! What an hour! What an
apocalypse!
To be continued...