Encore : Who Is the Antichrist?

Everybody Greg Laurie here. You're listening to the Grigori podcast and my objective is to deliver hopefully compelling practical insights and faith culture and current events. From a biblical perspective to find out more about our ministry. Just go to our website harvest.org so thanks for joining me for this podcast but scrubber Bibles and turn to Revelation chapter 13 and the title of my message is who is the Antichrist would be wondered about that.

We'll talk about that today. Let's start with the word of prayer father were glad to be here today and we think of that wonderful promise uniquely attached to the book that were looking at that promise says blessed is the person who reads and keeps the words of this book.

So Lord were gonna read it.

Never getting here. It then hopefully were going to keep the Lord we want that blessing we want to be ready for your return. So speak to us as we open Scripture today. We ask it in Jesus name, amen. All right.

Recall how many of you own a cell phone raise up your and you wanted to. While that's just about everybody.

Seems like everybody have self as a cell phone these days.

Everyone's talking on a cell phone.

How did we ever survive before when we were on a phone you know me. They give them out. Dogs now and I'm not making that up. There's actually a dog cell phone. There's a link call he put around your parents, neck, as a little speaker on it and you can talk to your dog, and the like to get one of those just mess with the dogs mind you know is walking along these all have a set go set will down will you not. Needless to say they don't make them for You think I Would care about what you had to say do it, but do remember when cell phones first came out it was actually back in 1983 the first portable cell phone was the Motorola Dein attack 8000 acts there she is in all her glory. You remember this, I owned one of these and I was so proud of it because this baby you could take it anywhere you could make a phone call. I think Michael Douglas at one of these in Wall Street one and I didn't see Wall Street to but I saw the trailer for dinner. He's getting this stuff is being released from prison and I give him this phone which I thought was pretty funny. But this once was cutting-edge technology so young people pay attention. This is a history lesson on cell phone please wait 30 pound maybe not that much.

There have a very short battery life. Then the next generation of the came out after that was a Motorola microtech member the microtech of this compared to that other one which incidentally was nicknamed the brick this evening really portable and Concerta flipped open and you could dial your number is still using sort of a digital screen in the superlong antenna on it as well as one of those two and then the various Nokia phones and came along and and then of course we made our way to the blackberry 2004, the blackberries are very popular. So popular affected P would be so addicted to the email feature on the blackberry. They call them the CrackBerry right because they just couldn't put them down the whole industry was turned upside down by Apple in 2007, when the release this phone the iPhone and this changed everything back now when you walk into a Verizon store and AT&T store whatever it seems like most of the phones resemble this model. This template this prototype, it changed everything. This is the call the smart phone and with these icons and you can person you can go online and texting is become popular, and so forth and in others are so widespread. I remember I was at a Mac world convention in San Francisco and they were releasing for the first time the iPhone and you could actually look at one they had it encased in circular bullet proof glass. It slowly turned around there was a crowd or a crowd about like 10 people deep around it, staring at it.

So I view my normal obnoxious self walk through the front came right up to it and I was touching the glass in a guard next to it said stand Doug from the glass. Some like shoot me now what I meant was the closest thing I've ever seen to idolatry in my life. The look on the faces of the people just and I just get a grip. It's just up own people, but it was actually job the Jesus phone right and because of its popularity will know there's all these limitations of it is already said that Apple and Samsung got no big lawsuit, Apple sued Samsung for $2 billion for stealing a lot of the technologies that they develop and I think they wanted settlement of $1 billion but imitation. Whenever something is popular. There will always be an imitation. I read an interesting article about how widespread cell phones are over in Copenhagen that birds, especially the starling bird have become equipped begun incorporating the sound of a ringing cell phone into their own song.

So they've actually been able to imitated and the chirp they give. Sounds like a cell phone turn to answer a bird go you know. But the whole point is imitation.

Whenever something is popular whenever something is successful whenever something is affected. You can always be sure there will be imitation will today I want to talk to you about the ultimate imitator. His name is Satan. And he has a cheap imitation of all things that are true friend since we have real Christians that believe in Jesus. Satan has his fake believers out there pretenders posers if you will the pretend to be something they really are not. We have real miracles performing the hand of God. Satan has is fake imitations of those as well and will talk about that more in a moment God has his son Jesus, and one day listen. Satan won't have his son not exactly in the way that God's son is gone because Jesus is God incarnate, but in a way Satan will have his version of Jesus is imitation of Jesus we have Jesus Christ and Satan will have his antichrist.

This man will be history's vilest embodiment of sin and rebellion with this coming world leader may not be what you expect he will be dressed at the 20 in black with 666 tattooed on his forehead and steam rising as he walks by his eyes will glow red brother antichrist will be suave, intelligent, engaging magnetic charismatic still doing no other man is ever been able to do before will bring global peace will solve the Middle East peace puzzle. He will rid the world of terrorism.

He will be so successful, he will be hailed as the greatest peacemaker was ever live. No doubt he'll win the Nobel Peace Prize.

He will be a satanic Superman, you will even get the Jewish nation and Arab nations assign a peace treaty, paving the way for the long-awaited third Temple, but behind that is the most evil man was ever walked this you know many people believe that it antichrist is coming, and not just Christians and U.S. News & World Report that was done a while back 49% of Americans said there will be an antichrist sometime in the future in a Newsweek called 19% of Americans said they believe the antichrist is on the earth right now and in the St. Paul half of those who accept biblical prophecy believe antichrist is alive right now. No question about it. Things are right for such a man to emerge on the world stage historian Arnold Toynbee said, almost prophetically. Some years ago and I quote, by forcing on my time more and more lethal weapons and of the team time making the world more more interdependent economically.

Technology has brought mankind to such a degree of disparate distress that we are ripe for the deifying of any new Caesar who might succeed in giving the world unity and peace." Well said. Really, it fits the biblical scenario. That's right, the deifying of a new Caesar double, come on the scene of some of us may think will why would I care about the antichrist wiping give a passing thought to will maybe one reason would be. There are over 100 passages in Scripture.

They detail the origin nationality, career, character kingdom and final doom of the antichrist. He is discussed in depth in the book of Revelation.

As we will see as well as the book of Daniel is also referenced in second Thessalonians and in the book of first John, this sheer volume of information about the Antichrist in Scripture is enough for us to want to understand who he is and what he will do, but I think there's another reason we should know more about the antichrist because as we see him raining as we see evil predominant in the culture.

It could almost look like things are going in for the worst.

But as we continue to read the narrative is given to us in Revelation, we see the antichrist is defeated.

We see evil is overcome were reminded that we win in the end, so we want to keep all things in perspective.

So let's take a few moments to look at this man described as the beast, the wicked one, the son of perdition. The little horn, the Prince to come, better known as the antichrist, as I said if Satan ever had a son. This is it. Here's something to consider is coming is getting closer every day. Revelation 13 verse one. I stood in the sand of the sea and I saw a beast rising out of the sea, having seven heads and 10 horns, and on his horns 10 crowns, and on his head a blasphemous name another beast which I saw was like a leopard's feet were like the feet of a bear's novel was like the mouth of a lion and the dragon gave him his power is thrown in his great authority by someone of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded in his deadly wound was healed all the world marveled and followed the beast so they worshiped the Dragon who gave the authorities of the bees and they were said to be saying, who is like the beast, and who is able to make war with him.

He was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for 42 months. He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name's tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given to him over every tribe and tongue and nation and all that dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone has any air, let him hear. There.

Now this first description of the antichrist sound like something out of a science fiction movie, but don't think of Rodin or Godzilla care or mozzarella, but realize that these are illustrations.

These are figures of speech that John is using and uses him already here in Revelation and are also used earlier in the book of Daniel, let me put it this way to understand the beast you have to first understand it's father or let me put it another way to understand antichrist you need to know more about Satan himself.

We will reread here in Revelation chapter 12 about seven heads and 10 horns Revelation 12 three we read another sign appeared in heaven, there was a great, fiery red Dragon, having seven heads and 10 horns, and is on his head were seven diagrams now we know that Revelation reveals that that Dragon what he is spoken of is always the devil. So this coming world leader. The antichrist is empowered by the devil himself. Second Thessalonians 29 says the coming of the lawless one is based on Satan's working with all kinds of miracles, signs and wonders, you might say. Like father like son but also here we read about a lion, a bear and a leopard numbers to what is we have to think back for a moment about the companion book of Revelation, the book of Daniel, the seventh chapter. Jenny was given a vision of four animals that are representing four world kingdoms that would Daniel wrote those words. This was primarily all in his future. But now, as we look back and would Daniel wrote with 2020 hindsight we can see how this was historically fulfilled to the T first Daniel had the vision of Alliant that was a symbol of the kingdom that he was captive in an advising the King of that was the kingdom of Babylon. Remember, the Babylonians overtook the Israelites in Israel was in bondage to Babylon for 70 years and you remember the leader of Babylon was Nebuchadnezzar who was influenced by the Ministry of Daniel. He was ultimately replaced by Belshazzar was the last king of Babylon, so that was a lion, and archaeologists will on earth are ruins dating back to Babylon have the symbol that they used predominantly which was a winged lion. So first there is a lion. It is overcome by a bear.

The bear is massive strength and we know that the Medo Persians conquered Babylon.

This was predicted elsewhere in Scripture. So why the wicked boy king Belshazzar was raining.

The Medo Persians were closing in will remember that story went Belshazzar through a feast to all the false gods in there were drinking out of the out of the various cops and things taken from the Jewish Temple went out of their way to blaspheme God that they were having this drunken feast I had was seen writing on the wall. Remember tackle Tycho many many tickle you parson and Jenny was called in to interpret it which men with any said it means you been weighed in the balances and found lacking. Effectively he was saying the Belshazzar body. The parties over and your number is up, you're going down right outside of the gates of Babylon with the Medo Persians led by Darius. So Darius came in the power. Daniel survived from Babylon into the kingdom of Darius and you remember that it was Darius that was responsible for sending Daniel to the Lions in which he survived without Medo Persians were overtaken by Greece under the direction of Alexander the great, that symbolized by the leper leopards are known for speed and Alexander the great led the charge in Concord.

Much of the world and what because there were no more worlds to conquer within as you move forward during Daniel in verse seven of chapter 7 there's 1/4 piece that's terrifying, dreadful and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth, and trampled what was left beneath its feet.

It was different from any other bees, and it had 10 horns. This is a description of the mighty and unstoppable military machine of wrong. Interestingly, looking at this final beast in Daniel's prophecy of chapter 7 no one overtakes wrong and historically, no one Concord wrong. No one could stop the military. Overall Rome effectively collapsed under her own way, and was eventually overrun, but it was no military army that was able to overtake her and it is from these answers that antichrist rises because Daniel 78 says, as I was looking at the horns. Another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were rinsed out roots and all the make room for this little or horn had humanize an amount that was boasting arrogantly.

So from this other beast from this mighty military machine emerges, the antichrist and it's interesting because in a way Adolf Hitler was like a prototype of sorts of antichrist because it was his desire to bring back the kingdom of Rome again and that is exactly what antichrist is doing these coming from these roots. All of these creatures are empires reference to Revelation 13 are a body in the antichrist love the splendor of Babylon.

The cruelty of the Medo Persians. The speed of grease the mites of Rome, the pharaohs Nebuchadnezzar Alexander the great, the Caesars, Napoleon and Hitler himself all work forerunners of this one. Who is to come who will harness the economical and technological power of the world and bring about a one world economy, a one world government and a one world religion.

He will lead the mother of all evil empire. Let's identify some important things about the beast or the Antichrist number one is energized and empowered by Satan himself again. He is energized and empowered by Satan himself has already said Satan never had a son. This is it the only one who has even come close to the antichrist would probably be Judas Iscariot know sometimes do this is for traders, a man who was simply misdirected. He one of the best. He wanted to help Jesus and he just sort of went the wrong direction. Not at all you know Judas was a wicked man, and actually there was a point when Satan entered his heart. According to Scripture we read in the upper room.

John 1327 Satan entered Judas so in the same way Satan effectively enters the antichrist again.

Verse two the Dragon who is the devil gives him his power is thrown in his great authority.

The devil is given him a lot of power, a lot of authority, by the way, that as it doubles to give because Scripture says that Satan is the god of this world, the prince of the power of the year that no works in the children of disobedience you remember in the wilderness.

Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and he said all of this is mine, and I can give it to whomever I choose and you can have it if you'll fall down and worship me.

Jesus give us a whole and not double that's incorrect. These are not yours to give, but he didn't correct him because it was true in Jesus ultimately went to the cross and died for the sin of the world have purchased that that which was lost in the garden but Satan was offering to Jesus a shortcut. Listen Jesus you don't have to go to the cross. You don't have to suffer and die. I'll give it to you this. Worship me. Jesus would have nothing to do with it but the point is, he could give those kingdoms to someone and he does that.

Here he gives them to the antichrist. Now we need to understand this phrase the beast is used. It's not describing his appearance like the antichrist to be some ugly beast like creature. I think you'll be very attractive, very handsome, very intelligent. The devil wears Prada UC Hill look good this phrase the beast is not a description of his appearance to description of his character only thing antichrist, the prefix anti-not only means against, but it also means instead of so the question is, is the antichrist against, or instead of Christ. Answer both he will be the archenemy and ultimate opponent of Jesus Christ. Dwight Pentecost wrote my quote. Satan is seeking to give the world a ruler in the place of Christ will be in opposition to Christ so he can rule the world. Instead of Christ." An offensive.

These are the antichrist comes as a fake Christ. Some will even think he is Christ I have a Facebook page. How many of you use Facebook quite a few and there is some person out there was impersonating me and they actually will. God as Greg Laurie. They take a photograph of my real Facebook page and they go to people and try to friend them and so you get a message from Greg Laurie and and then you become his friend, and then this person will say, let me pray for you which is a clever little boys or anything you need, pray for, and then after that this person solicits funds for some nonexistent orphanage in Africa saw that a lot a lot of people direct message wheezing. Is this really you and I say no it isn't and then there impersonating others as well. I think James McDonald has a big James McDonald is a big Bob coy, there's a fake that all everyone is a fake out there. You're not really doing well. Unless you have a fake.

I guess you know this is irritating to me.

Obviously, the get some person impersonating me misrepresenting me but you know that that's what happened and really the antichrist is at stake.

Jesus, if you will. And sadly, many will believe in him by the waging of the story about the guy that bought his wife a beautiful diamond ring for Christmas. His buddy said what I thought your wife wanted one of those sporty four-wheel-drive vehicles and the guys a job at where my going to find a fake G get it anyway so antichrist is really a fake Christ. What is income to do. He has come to DFI Satan is come to DFI Satan verse four. They worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast same who was like the be this is what Satan is always wanted to be DFI to be worship. This is why Lucifer was thrown out of heaven because he wanted to be worshiped like God.

In John 14 is that I'll be like God I'll be like the most time cuts and actually you're outta here in the open up the trapdoor heaven and booted them out, but this is what the devil is always wanted going back to the temptation in the wilderness wanted Satan want Jesus to do worship me giving the momentary satisfaction of bowing down before me and I'll give you everything you want to know Satan is there in this place wanting to receive worship.

Also, the antichrist is coming to defy it. Take the place of Jesus is coming to defined take the place of Jesus. Verse five it was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and authority was given the continue for 42 months or 3 1/2 years and he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name's tabernacle, and those that dwell in heaven again. The antichrist not only opposes Jesus he offers himself in the place of Jesus he comes against Christ by coming in the place of Christ. Also, he comes to kill Christian antichrist is coming to kill Christian verse seven it was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe and tongue and nation during the tribulation. That is still to come.

Many believers will be martyred for their faith and already were seen an anti-Christian mentality become more popular and more widely accepted. It's one thing when it's in an Islamic country were Christians are sought for simply believing in Jesus, but it's another thing when it's happening in a country that was founded on Judeo Christian principles. It's another thing when this anti-Christian bias is happening in our country the United States of America and indeed it is your something to consider, though we do not know if the antichrist himself is here yet. There are anti-Christ plural. Let me explain this term antichrist is actually not used in the book of Revelation. Though the person is referred to the very term antichrist is found over in first John 218 it says dear children, the last hour is here.

You've heard that the antichrist is coming, talking about the person and already many such antichrists plural have appeared. From this we know the end of the world is come these people left our churches because he never really belonged with us. Otherwise they would have stayed with us when they left us to prove they did not belong to this is interesting.

Ask yourself the question, not who is the antichrist. Ask yourself in my and trying Christ got it. It's different. You see who is antichrist. According to John it's a person that once made a profession of faith but is turned their backs on God that's anti-Christ behavior you living that way you put something or someone in this place. Are you opposing him in some way have you cut yourself off from other believers and effectively turn your back on God gives us old, and you yourself could be antichrist also antichrist is coming to dominate the glow.

Verse seven dominate the glow authority was given to him over every tribe and tongue and nation the homeowner to pull this off some of this on the we might expect antichrist is again or merge on the scene. Bludgeon everybody in the submission know he's going to come as a man of peace.

He's going to be the piece maker.

In fact, the Bible says to Pease.

He will deceive many of come in economically difficult times will be worn different parts of the world there some brilliant political moves combined with his incredible charisma, he'll do it, no one is ever available to do before the bring solidity to the economy will bring world peace.

He doesn't start violently. He starts peacefully. He will evenly help the Jews rebuild their temple again will talk about this more in our next message. But imagine this, think about the constant conflict that rages between Israel and the Arab nations they signed a peace treaty in the morning and break it before lunch we call the president set up brokered peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, or other Arab nations. Comerica Pres. Carter Reagan-Bush Clinton, Bush again. George W. Bush, they all brokered these agreement.

I have no idea what Pres. Obama is doing over there but I'll tell you this antichrist will succeed or all others have failed. They will honor the peace agreement. There will be a temporary peace. He will be so successful that some people will think he is the very Messiah and that is the whole point, because that is what he is masquerading as an he's not alone.

He has a fit inside the false prophet meant timber in verse 13 and 14 now you've heard of the dynamic duo of Batman and Robin Wright. This is the demonic duo of antichrists and his false prophets is religious Guru effective you were to add Satan to the mix, you know, having on holy Trinity. Again, remember things in imitator right so you have the holy Trinity of God the father, God the son God the Holy Spirit. Now we have the unholy Trinity. As Satan in the place of God antichrist in the place of Jesus Christ and the false prophet in the place of the holy spirit working together, a new religion is going to come on the scene that everyone can embrace the probably be many beliefs intertwined with occultism 20 move toward a one world religion to me is up for shocked of antichrist. In one of the things I appreciate about our country is the freedom we have to worship. I appreciate the freedom I had to stand up here and say what I believe today without fear of arrest or being shot in and I appreciate the freedom of the perceptible views that are even different than mine. And though I may not agree with them am appreciative that we can say what we believe in our culture today even if I were able to I would never impose the Christian faith on anybody.

I would never want Christianity forced on people who did not want to believe. I believe we are reasonable faith and our desire is to bring people to Christ as we share our faith with them.

God says let's reason together, so the Lord I would never want to force anyone to believe what I believe.

But here's the problem in our culture today we see things moving toward and embracing of all faith.

Everything is equal were told were all praying the same God were all just following different roads to the same God. You can call them all. You can call them Jehovah. It doesn't matter.

I did differ. I worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

I worship the God of the Bible who said Jesus Christ. There is no other God.

There is no other God either given a fine of tolerance that will grow in the days to come of any belief you want to have access that intolerant faith as they would describe it read Bible believing Christian is going to be less tolerance for that. That's why we have to be very careful because you see the double smart, you know, we might be finding them on one side and setting up house with them. On the other, we might send a devil's evil I see all those depraved things out there.

I want nothing to do with those wicked things. Meanwhile, the devil is coming in your back door as an angel of light. Sometimes it comes in like a roaring lion and is are probably other times it comes in as an angel of light in his splendor.

That's why the Scripture says, if I were even an angel from heaven come bringing any other gospel than that which you have already heard B occurs. Why did was that said is angel of Satan as a fallen angel right if the devil were to appear to us today God for bid. I guarantee he would not have Redskin and horns and a pitchfork and appointed tail and hooves right here in Orange Julius cut for good measure is on a knocking on Julie for the use of the devil as part of their logo on know she would be a magnificent angel.

And if you didn't know anybody could be awestruck while that's right. So who come in these last days with religious deception. One of the signs of the end times is people turning away from the faith. The Bible speaks of a department apostasy, a departure from the faith.

Second Thessalonians 2 says that they will not come until there's a great rebellion against God will even be professed believers turning away, second Timothy Ford says the Bible says. Rather, the spirit says in the last days some will abandon the faith following deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings of come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron warmed over in second Timothy for the time will come and people will not put up with sound doctrine anymore. But, instead, to suit their own desires to gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want them to hear the way to translate that is in the last days it will be in its for novelty and other people to David so you know we need to reimagine the church we can do it the old way we have to do with the new way.

I don't think we need to reimagine the church. I think we need to rediscover the church the way Jesus set it up. Go back to the original template because I'll tell you what you go to some churches today and people don't even bring their Bibles with them and the sermons are short and there more like a peptalk than they are a message from God's word you want to be motivated, I want to hear practical things.

Okay, that's fine. But listen I want to hear the word of God and I want to know what the Bible says about all the things and I'm in a phase in life and I don't want to waste your time, your folks and just stand up and talk about cell phone. So I started that way. I made only some humor and things up with illustrations and things but ultimately what we are here to here is God's word and that's all that matters. And that's the antidote to this deception that will see more of in the last days. Paul said to Timothy preach the word, be prepared in season and out of season correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction. So we have to beware of any movement toward other faiths being equal with our fitting any move toward the word of God is the source of authority any move away from the uniqueness of Christ.

The sin of this, the false prophet.

This religious guru is going to be able to perform signs and wonders and symbols only see miracles in church hey I do to. But guess what God decides when and where do miracles.

But you know you love people were chasing after signs and wonders and they want to see spiritual phenomena. Okay that's not necessarily a bad thing as long as were looking at everything in the light of what Scripture teaches.

But be careful because when this false prophet comes on the scene, you'll be able to do miracles to Revelation 1313 he performs great signs, so fire comes down from heaven on earth in the sight of men.

And he deceives those that dwell on the earth by those signs and were granted to do in the sight of the beast. Can the devil do miracles in the sense he can. Not any miracle.

But remember the story when Moses went into Pharaoh's court demanded the release of the Jewish people and needed a series of miracles to convince a Pharaoh remember how Pharaoh's magicians were able to duplicate or imitate a number of the miracles, not all. I might add, but many of them and I to show the devil the imitator as I said in the beginning is able to duplicate certain things maybe replicate, maybe they're not real miracles of all I don't know but I do know there will be signs and wonders done by this false prophet and there's another thing the devil is the beginning of his fake resurrection of the antichrist diverse. Three. I saw one of his heads as if it is been mortally wounded, and the deadly wound was healed and the world marveled and followed the beast. It sounds as though there will be an assassination attempt against antichrist. This would probably be after he has become very successfully only comes in to the world scene with global solutions you know of stable economy of worldwide peace, a very religious man helps the Jews rebuild their temple. Many are even think he might be the very Messiah someone tries to kill everyone thinks he's dead and somehow he survived the assassination attempt of mortal wound is healed he recovers another devil has his fake version of the death and resurrection of Jesus, and antichrist. And after this many will flat out worship. Now I call this message to the antichrist so you're probably waiting for an answer. You're hoping I would reveal who the antichrist so I'm an answer that now who is the antichrist of Noid notice anyone else. Don't waste your time speculating over the years many people of come up with other crazy theories of who they think the antichrist is I don't even want to give all the names that it just really becomes quite silly. But here's the thing.

Why waste your time trying to figure out who the antichrist is because of we understand Scripture, we would realize antichrist cannot even emerge until we are caught up to meet the Lord in the air. We will be around to find out who we that's the whole thing. Our job is not to be looking for antichrist. Our job is to be looking for Jesus Christ. That's the emphasis of Scripture know I know I say antichrist can be revealed into the churches remove it because second Thessalonians 2, seven and eight says this you know what is restraining antichrist that he may be revealed in his own time. For this mystery of lawlessness is already at work.

Only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken away, and then that lawless one will would be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy with the brightness of his coming to Scripture the same. The one who is restraining the spread of evil will do so until he is taken out of the way been antichrist can be revealed. So who is the one who is restraining the will today. It's the Holy Spirit.

So some of wondered about that thing you will of the Holy Spirit can be taken away. How will people come to Jesus in the tribulation. This will be no Holy Spirit on the earth will actually during the tribulation. Millions are going to believe in Jesus whom is he the greatest revivals in human history happen after the rapture and the tribulation. But how can that be done without the Holy Spirit answered the canopy is only for will be working and transforming people because no one can come to Jesus apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said when he is come, he will convince the world of sin and of righteousness of the judgment to come, and so forth. So is it when I don't get this okay. He who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way, that is speaking of the restraining work of the Holy Spirit. Listen through the church. The church is the restraining force in the world today. The reason that things have not completely gone to hell in a hand basket is because of Christians because of Christians that stand up for what is right. Christians that speak out against evil christens that do what they're supposed to do function as light and salting culture. Jesus said to the light of the world of the salt of the earth and like obviously illuminates and salt in the first century was used to preserve me they would rub it into the meat so it would last longer before refrigeration. We are here to tell the world about Jesus and center light and we are here to stop the spread of evil attention.

See once the churches remove all the stuff could happen almost overnight. Check to see once a church is out of the way. At this coming world leader emerges on the scene and people are embracing that there are embracing this religion there embracing the solutions they're going for it. But here's my point. We should be looking up because Jesus in the see these things begin the Lookout for your redemption is drawing near you and say when they're happening whether beginning of illicit antichrist is not emerged yet the tribulation has not begun yet, but we see the forest socks that like the four shots before an earthquake reminding us.

The big one is coming so we can see how these things could be on. Is it any time amazes me that Christmas seems to be rolled out earlier every year, doesn't it mean we just got through it in him, but it seems like you'll start seeing using those declarations go on sale in September or October Christmas put this on Christmas layaway by your Christmas decorations today with here's what I think about if Christmas is close. Thanksgiving is closer and I love Thanksgiving. You have to love a day.

We stopped your face and go to a food coma, what's wrong with that. No, it's very sad day when we give thanks to God. Well, as we look at how close the antichrist is, here's what we learn. If antichrist is close than the coming of Jesus Christ for his church is even so, look up your redemption is drawing near to.

Here's my closing question to you are you and antichrist. I didn't ask you if you're the antichrist are you and antichrist. Some of you would resent the way you how dare you ask me that what is immune. Again, here's another definition of it from first John 222, who was a great liar listen, the one who says that Jesus is not the cry. Such people are antichrist, for they have denied the father and the son.

So if you say I don't believe that Jesus is the Christ. I don't believe Jesus is the only way to God. I don't believe in the Bible just what your anti-remember anti-means not just opposing but putting something in the place up. So here's your choice. Are you going to be for Christ or the antichrist. It's Emmanuelle or Jezebel.

It's God or its Satan and if you make the right choice.

You can know with certainty that your name will be written in the book of life, but if it is not written in the book of life, you are doomed.

Look at verse eight, all dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. One last thing is that Yorty said when you think noise of one less quest know this is the one less thing to do it between the last question, and the last thing now or in the last thing I love this phrase the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world was enemy means God made this decision to send Jesus long ago, before there was a solar system and before and that solar system. There was a planet called Earth before there was a garden called Eden on the planet called Earth before there was a man name Adam and a woman named Eve who waited the forbidden fruit causing sin enter in the world before all of that before the foundations of the world, God decided he would send Jesus to the God would come to us as a helpless baby in a manger in Bethlehem, he would live a perfect life he would voluntarily go to the cross and died for the sin of the world. He was slain from the foundation of the world. But why did God decide that because he knew we would blow it, but he gave us our chance. Anyway, like when we watch our grandkids. We just know they're going to make messes and we have a little grandson Christopher now in. We put him in his high chair and and and we and we know more food is going to be on the floor than on his tray.

We know he's going to just be a baby. We put a diaper on because we know things happen.

So you make preparation. God knows the future as well as he knows the past. He knew we would sin, so we made provision for us with the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Jesus died for you on the cross. 2000 years ago. So what your reaction are you for Jesus Christ.

Are you for antichrist, which is everything else but Christ anything else but Christ will I don't accept your premise. I don't believe in antichrist for Jesus Christ I'm the captain of my own ship on the master of my own density I hear an idiot. That's what you are and I'll tell you one you bought into the deception. The Bible says the God of this world. Speaking of the devil has blinded the lives of those that do not believe you see he's blinded you into thinking you're running your own life when in reality he's in control you want to be really free. Submit your life to the Lord Jesus Christ who will forgive you all of your sin and then you can know with certainty that when you die, your name will be written in the book was an important because, as we will discover later in Revelation, if you're not found written in the book of life, your cast into the lake of fire.

The manager names in the book you are home free baby, you're good to go.

Your reservation is set and you're ready to meet the Lord. I can't think of anything more important than that, you know, yesterday we had a service at our church in Orange County.

We said goodbye to a friend in Gary Arthur. Many of you here in Riverside may not know Gary, but Gary is in number of Christian bands like the way in parable: serve the Lord through his life and had come to work for us. Actually couple of years ago we started our church down therein he would do whatever you needed to do you know if you if you needed some of the lead worship at Pallotta's guitar do that if you needed someone that oversee group of men in our men's Bible study he did that to him. He needed someone to run sound. You go back there to the soundboard you need light bulbs change you climb up on those ladders and change the light bulbs even just serving the Lord is 50 years old Tuesday 60 years old. My and the picture of health of my dad fit active, energetic, and the Lord called him home. He died we found out we were in shock.

We had the service yesterday and it was sad to say goodbye to someone so soon, but it was glorious to see a life that was lived well, you know, he started any finished all that can be said of everyone you know Gary was a part of the music that was happening and that Jesus movement era and a number of those people that were doing that back then are walking with the Lord today. They walked away from the Lord, but he was faithful to be and that's all you want to do man is be faithful to the end is you don't know and that is going to come for you is that they're looking means it will break. If I can accompany you soon. Maybe. Maybe I'll outlive everyone here who knows I'll be 90 years old.

I forgot what is going to say God bless. Maybe I'll live nine more days. I don't know and frankly I don't worry about it you know why my name is written in the book of life and I'm ready. My boat is in my boat. Jesus Christ, who did you vote for is to be noble for Jesus Christ. You vote and not be antichrist. In particular, but just everything else. But Jesus, that's antichrist Jesus in your for me or against me when and to make your choice right now were going to pray and I'm in a give you an opportunity to get right with God. And if you're not sure your name is written in the book of life. Here's an opportunity to change that and I might add. If you're one of those people described as antichrist and what we read in verse John that was in the church but walked away from the church and does not come back. This is your chance to come back. Think about what you're going to do as we pray father we've heard your word now.

I pray for everyone listening everyone watching Lord help us to respond. Help us to believe we don't want to be part antichrist. We want to be for Jesus Christ and I pray for those that have not made this decision yet. Help them to make it now and believe in you. We pray what I had said dog. Her eyes are closed.

How many of you would say today. Greg, I want to believe in Jesus Christ. I want to know with certainty that I'll go to heaven when I die, I want my name written in the book of life. I'm ready to say yes to Jesus. Pray for me about your desire. If you want Jesus to forgive you of your sin if you want to become in the airline.

If you want to go to heaven when you die, would you lift your hand up or of you are and I'll pray for you. Lift your hand up or I can see publishing after Hannah got bless you to wherever you are up in the balcony. Raise your hand during harvest Orange County harvest orange press overflow in the amphitheater up in the court building wherever you are razor again this is not about Greg seeing you this is between you and God doesn't matter what I see or don't see just take a little step of faith razor again safe.

I want Jesus right now. I want Jesus right all right nominate as quality that are razor again if you would please I want you to stand your feet, lead you in a prayer right where you stand a prayer of asking Christ to come in your leg to stand up to fallen away from the Lord is a be a prayer recommitting yourself again and coming back to him. You stand your feet wherever you are, stand up, stand up.

That's why many are standing hope you're one of harvest Orange County you stand up right now, lead you in a prayer harvest orange grass amphitheater court building.

Stand your feet right now were going to pray one more moment anybody also begin the stand. Stand now. One final moment. God bless each one of you. Anybody else down there, but you are right you that are standing much of the pray this prayer out loud after me and this is where you were asking Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sin again as I pray pray this out loud quite used to pray this now if you would, Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner but you died on the cross for all of my sin.

I'm sorry for that sin. I turn from it now.

I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for loving me and calling me in forgiving in Jesus name I pray, amen. Everybody Greg Laurie here.

Thanks for listening to our podcast in the learn more about harvest ministries. Please subscribe and consider supporting this show just go to harvest.org and by the way, if you want to find out how to come into a personal relationship with God.

Go to know God.org that's key NOW GLD.org