Jesus Christ is my God!
Issued 02.07.2000
The vital sign of the coming of Jesus
Before the coming of Jesus there are many phenomena which are described in the Bible. One of them is more important a sign than others. It reveals best that His coming and the gathering of His own is near. The signs given by Jesus are behaving like birth-pains. First they are weak and come infrequently, later they are strong and come more frequently. Also this sign has appeared since the days of the apostles. When God will "launch the birth" the sign will appear in its final form and power.
Delusion is the first sign
When Jesus spoke to His disciples about the signs which precede His return, He always starts His speech: "Take heed that no-one deceives you..." Matth.24:4 He also says it again during the speech. It is obvious that a delusion is the vital sign of the end time. Jesus pointed out that the delusion leads believers to lawlessness, which again leads to abandoning the love of God.
"And many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved." Matth.24:11-13
When Jesus spoke to His disciples about the signs which precede His return, He always starts His speech: "Take heed that no-one deceives you..." Matth.24:4 He also says it again during the speech. It is obvious that a delusion is the vital sign of the end time. Jesus pointed out that the delusion leads believers to lawlessness, which again leads to abandoning the love of God.
"And many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved." Matth.24:11-13
This is how we know
The apostle John, who got the revelation of the events of the end time, certainly knows what he is talking about when he gives us the sign, which can give us the knowledge that we live in the last hour.
"Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour." 1John.2:18
He points out that many antichrists are going to appear in the world before the Antichrist appears. When he says "by which we know" he announces the importance of the appearance of the Antichrist as a sign of the last time. If the appearance of many antichrists is already a sign how much more it is a sign when the real Antichrist appears. John warns against the Antichristian delusion (1John 2:18-28) and urges believers to trust in the teachings of the Holy Spirit who dwells in them and not in the doctrines of "great spiritual men". He pointed out that this teaching is relevant also just before the catching up of the Church by saying at the end of his teaching: "And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." 1John 2:28
The apostle John, who got the revelation of the events of the end time, certainly knows what he is talking about when he gives us the sign, which can give us the knowledge that we live in the last hour.
"Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour." 1John.2:18
He points out that many antichrists are going to appear in the world before the Antichrist appears. When he says "by which we know" he announces the importance of the appearance of the Antichrist as a sign of the last time. If the appearance of many antichrists is already a sign how much more it is a sign when the real Antichrist appears. John warns against the Antichristian delusion (1John 2:18-28) and urges believers to trust in the teachings of the Holy Spirit who dwells in them and not in the doctrines of "great spiritual men". He pointed out that this teaching is relevant also just before the catching up of the Church by saying at the end of his teaching: "And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." 1John 2:28
Man of lawlessness is revealed
The apostle Paul had the sure standpoint about the matter that the Antichrist will start his activities before we will be gathered to Jesus, "for that Day will not come, unless the falling away comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed."
"Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, .... Let no one deceive you by any means, for that Day will not come, unless the falling away comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." 2Thess2:1-3 It would not be any delusion, if he would start his actions by announcing that he is God. Probably it will be the highest moment of his actions.
Many teach that Jesus will take His own up before the Antichrist starts his activities. The Antichrist likes this teaching! Why? Because it is easier for him to deceive that kind of believer who thinks to get out of the world before he starts his delusion. Who would guard himself against the matter, which will not happen until he will be safe in heaven!
The apostle Paul had the sure standpoint about the matter that the Antichrist will start his activities before we will be gathered to Jesus, "for that Day will not come, unless the falling away comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed."
"Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, .... Let no one deceive you by any means, for that Day will not come, unless the falling away comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." 2Thess2:1-3 It would not be any delusion, if he would start his actions by announcing that he is God. Probably it will be the highest moment of his actions.
Many teach that Jesus will take His own up before the Antichrist starts his activities. The Antichrist likes this teaching! Why? Because it is easier for him to deceive that kind of believer who thinks to get out of the world before he starts his delusion. Who would guard himself against the matter, which will not happen until he will be safe in heaven!
Appearance of the Antichrist
Many false prophets and Antichristian preachers have prepared the appearance of the real Antichrist. About this last Antichristian delusion it is said that God will send it. Therefore it will be so strong. "God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2Thess.2:2:11-12
This delusion is great and public, for it is written: "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. " 2Thess.2:9
He is not a politician but a preacher. Later he will get a friend who is a politician, the Beast of the Revelation.
When will he come? Paul says: "And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way..." 2Tess.2:6-7 Because God will send this delusion only He is able to restrain it. On the other hand there is in the way a seal that closes the book of judgements of God.
The book of Revelation tells how the time of God's wrath is locked behind the seven seals. Before that time can begin Jesus must open those seals. When He will open the first seal, a white horse and a rider will go out. "He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer." Rev.6:2
Also Jesus will come with a white horse, but He will conquer with the sword of His mouth. The deceiver who tries to be like Jesus has a bow which gives him the victory. The Devil uses a bow when he makes war against believers. "Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Eph.6:16 When we inspect those passages of the Old Testament where it is told that God shoots His arrows into us, for an example into Job (Job:6:4), we notice, how that symbol speaks about God's actions when He tests our faith through the Devil.
This "great spiritual revival" is a global phenomenon around this one great miracle maker. The Islamite, the Jews and many Christian churches will finally receive him. He looks and sounds so genuine and good that only few notice the fraud.
You will also be delighted at him, if you do not love with all your heart Jesus of the Bible. You can receive the love of the Truth, if you see how the Truth was once crucified for the sake of your lies on the Calvary. You can fully trust in the Truth! Although He was weak on the cross, He is now strong, because He rose up from the dead and he crushed all powers of lies.
Many false prophets and Antichristian preachers have prepared the appearance of the real Antichrist. About this last Antichristian delusion it is said that God will send it. Therefore it will be so strong. "God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2Thess.2:2:11-12
This delusion is great and public, for it is written: "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. " 2Thess.2:9
He is not a politician but a preacher. Later he will get a friend who is a politician, the Beast of the Revelation.
When will he come? Paul says: "And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way..." 2Tess.2:6-7 Because God will send this delusion only He is able to restrain it. On the other hand there is in the way a seal that closes the book of judgements of God.
The book of Revelation tells how the time of God's wrath is locked behind the seven seals. Before that time can begin Jesus must open those seals. When He will open the first seal, a white horse and a rider will go out. "He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer." Rev.6:2
Also Jesus will come with a white horse, but He will conquer with the sword of His mouth. The deceiver who tries to be like Jesus has a bow which gives him the victory. The Devil uses a bow when he makes war against believers. "Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Eph.6:16 When we inspect those passages of the Old Testament where it is told that God shoots His arrows into us, for an example into Job (Job:6:4), we notice, how that symbol speaks about God's actions when He tests our faith through the Devil.
This "great spiritual revival" is a global phenomenon around this one great miracle maker. The Islamite, the Jews and many Christian churches will finally receive him. He looks and sounds so genuine and good that only few notice the fraud.
You will also be delighted at him, if you do not love with all your heart Jesus of the Bible. You can receive the love of the Truth, if you see how the Truth was once crucified for the sake of your lies on the Calvary. You can fully trust in the Truth! Although He was weak on the cross, He is now strong, because He rose up from the dead and he crushed all powers of lies.
The Bible version used in references is NIV