TH160728/Who Is the Antichrist?

Harvest messages are brought to you by harvest partners to receive free email daily devotions or to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org. Let's grab a Bible for back now in the book of Revelation and the title of my message is who is the antichrist.

Revelation 13. Who is the antichrist.

How many of you have cell phones might is making music and I have no idea why, but I'm turning it off.

By the way, if you give yourself a break. Okay, hold it up. It's okay to have them put it on the don't do it. I just did which have your phone not a mere but dumb everybody on cell phones now I'm assignment when they first came out only a few people have them and they were very big yet very short battery life, and then they just kept getting smaller and smaller and smaller. I think Derek zoo lender have the smallest one ever.

But then unbuttoned and inserted, reached its pinnacle with this little thing actually found this going through my drawers because I don't throw anything away.

This is a Motorola Startac event. Everything that kids are you looking I'm old and ancient history right here this was that state-of-the-art cell phone of the time little flip thing you can put pictures up on it you can take pictures with it. She didn't get tax on it just actually made phone calls that solid the dim sum was almost think I like to go back to one of these again because they're so distracting.

I think with.

Along comes Steve Jobs with his new invention the iPhone.

Your mother was so much anticipation for the release of this new product that some started actually dubbing that I'm not making this up.

Jesus phone which is so absurd but they were so excited and so the whole market was changed when this first smart phone came out. Now there's all kinds of imitations of it of course but you know that everybody has one.

A child is born babies born to give him a little tiny cell phone thing for the girls blue for the boys. You know I think given to animals dogs actually have a cell phone for a dog. It hangs around their neck and you can call your dog, which I find abusing this are not making this up. There are cell phones or dogs are none for cats.

Why because a cat wouldn't even answer the be like seriously think I would even knowledge or existence, but all the imitations came after the iPhone. Now the problem is some of the imitations I would have to say it's sort of a gadget guy or maybe even a little bit better than the iPhone. But whatever there something that successful. The market is flooded with substitutes right well I want to talk about the ultimate imitator tonight not talking about the devil.

He always says is cheap imitation if you will, of what is true God as real Christians.

Satan has fake Christians. God has real preachers. Satan has fake preachers, God has his son, Jesus Christ, and one day Satan will have his son anti-Christ. That's organ to talk about in this message. The antichrist will be histories vilest embodiment of sin and rebellion but is not what you might expect you will be dressed head to toe in black.

You know what red pulsating eyes with steam coming up behind him or something like that know it it'll be the opposite will be swabbed will be intelligent will be engaging in a bit magnetic will be charismatic. We listen to some of the things that antichrist is going to pull he's going to solve the Middle East peace puzzle and rid the world of terrorism.

Terrorism is a serious problem in our world today and it's only getting worse. We've never seen groups like Isis that use the Internet to recruit people and the kinds of things they've accomplished and are just one terrorist organization antichrist will bring a stop to that effect will be so successful, he will be hailed as the greatest peacemaker that ever lived. I'm sure they'll award him the Nobel Peace Prize. In effect, the antichrist will be a satanic Superman, only to get the Jews to sign the peace treaty with their Arab neighbors that they will all abide by paving the way for the long awaited third temple, but it's all a ruse.

He's wearing a mask, not revealing who he really is the most evil man who ever lived. Interesting to note that a lot of people believe there is an antichrist out there at least one that's coming. Many people in America believe that a real antichrist will come one day in U.S. News & World Report pole 49% of Americans said they believe will be an antichrist sometime in the future that such Christians are just Americans. I find that fascinating and on Newsweek pull 19% of Americans said they believe the antichrist is on earth right now is a possible yes it is. Do we know that certain note course we don't want to miss St. Paul nearly comp of those who accept biblical prophecy believe he's alive right now and that things are certainly right for him to emerge on the scene. I know what some of your thinking. Apart from the fact that on a handsome man your thinking.

Sorry those are my thoughts. Know your thinking. Why do we need to talk about the antichrist.

I don't want to focus on you.

I don't want to talk about the devil. I don't think about dark things will. Here's why. Because there are 100 passages in the Bible that detail the origin, nationality, career, character kingdom and final doom of antichrist is not only mentioned here in Revelation, but is also spoken of that link in the book of Daniel. Second Thessalonians as well so we need to know about him, because the Bible deals with him. I had a interviewer asked me on the radio today.

When you study Revelation.

Some people don't want to do that because they find it scary Willis.

I think it's scary do not know what's going on in the world right now.

I find myself reassured when I study the book of Revelation. Have you ever saw book you're interested in reading and flip to the last page to see how it turns out you could do that with Revelation you go to the last page and guess what we win in the end. Okay, that's important to know that's important to know why is that because right now it seems like evil is prevailing. Doesn't it. It seems like were losing the war, but friends were not losing the war we lose a battle here and there, but in the end, we win.

This is temporary because God always has the last word. So who is this man called antichrist also referred to as the beast, the wicked one, the son of perdition. That's organ a focus on let me just say this at the outset of the devil ever had a son. This is it the only guy that even approaches antichrist and pure evil would be Judas Iscariot. By the way, antichrist closing is getting antichrist coming is getting closer every day, which reminds us of one thing the coming of Jesus Christ is even closer to Revelation 13 with start numbers one. Then I stood on the sand of the sea and I saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and 10 horns, and on his horns 10 crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, they might underline some of these words leopard's feet like the feet of a bear underline that to his mouth was like the mouth of a lion under nine underline that as well and the Dragon underline that to gave him his power and his throne and great authority.

And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded in the deadly wound was healed. And all of the world marveled and followed the beast and they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the bees and they worshiped the beast, saying, who is like the beast was 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. By the way, that's 3 1/2 years. Half of the tribulation.

Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, his tabernacle, those that dwell in heaven. 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 restate all who dwell in 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 an air M here.

There knowing our next message will talk about the mark of the beast a lot of questions about that some people are a bit paranoid. They don't want their hand stamped on the go to the Magic Kingdom because they're afraid they're taking the mark of the beast and their terrified of the number 666 about talk about what the mark of the before look like, but as we read these words of this creature emerging from the sea.

It sounds a lot like well a Godzilla movie doesn't and you were just waiting for Rodin to show up afterwards, but we have to understand that the Bible is speaking figuratively. By the way, these are words and symbols that have been used before, primarily in the book of Daniel. If the book of Revelation has a companion book in the Old Testament would clearly be the book of Daniel Soto understand Revelation you need to have a pretty good working knowledge of Daniel and in the same way to understand the beast you need to understand its father and to understand the antichrist.

You need to know more about Satan and notice in verse three of chapter 12. He's a great, fiery red dragon, having seven heads and 10 horns, and his heads had seven diagrams are crowns who is the Dragon that sort of been identified for us. The Dragon is the devil himself. We read that already. The Dragon is Satan. So this is the force energizing antichrist this coming world leader. The beast is empowered by the devil. Second Thessalonians 29 says the coming of the lawless one that would be the antichrist is based on Satan's working with all kinds of miracles, signs and wonders, so you might say. Like father like son because the father is the devil in the antichrist is like the sun, but we also see a lion a bear and a leopard. In verse two. Going back to Daniel chapter 7. We've already read of these creatures. There, Daniel the prophet was given a vision of the future of the world and the various kingdoms that were going to come. This was all in Daniel's future. But now for us. Largely it's in our past, so we can look back historically and see how accurate Daniel was when he wrote these words down a Daniel first saw a lion which was symbolic of the kingdom of Babylon which he was taken captive by along with Shadrach me shack in the Bendigo effective you go to a museum today and see the ruins from Bell on you'll see that the symbol of this ancient kingdom was a winged lion so you have the lion, but the lien is overtaken by a bear in Daniel's vision course. Babylon was conquered by the Medo Persian Empire. You remember Belshazzar the boy king went out of his way to mock God and and had a big party with all of his lords and so forth. And they were toasting and praising the false gods of silver and such, and he saw a hand writing on the wall. Not even an arm just to hand and die in the words were many many tickle you Farson which means you been weighed in the balances in you been found wanting or lacking in judgment is upon you would certainly right there. The Medo Persian threat the door they came in and they conquered Babylon, represented by a bear.

The Paris massive strength in the Medo Persians had a massive powerful kingdom and then Daniel was under the control of Darius, the leader of the Medo Persians but then along comes grease because the bear is overtaken by a leopard. Leopards are known for speed and in agility and Alexander the great led the charge that conquered much of the world history tells us that at one point at a young age.

Alexander wept because there were no lands left to conquer but then Daniel saw one working on this all in our past. We just talked about Babylon, overtaken by the Medo Persians mean a person's overtaken by the Greeks. But then there's one movement that still in the future. Daniel 776 and my vision, I saw fourth beast, terrifying, dreadful and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth, and trampled what was left beneath it. It was different from the other beast and it had 10 horns. Now this is referring to the mighty military machine of role that conquered the Greeks and it's interesting to note that in this last creature are this last movement in Daniel's narrative on no one overtakes Rome and you know Rome was never officially defeated on the battlefield.

They expanded the group very powerful. They ruled much of the world, but they eventually just sort of collapse from within Rome collapsed beneath her own weight. You might say. And so it is from the ancient Roman empire that this coming world leader emerges, called antichrist Daniel 78 says, looking at the warrants. Another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were rinsed out roots and all the make room for the little horn had eyes like human eyes, an amount that was boasting arrogantly, so we should know from creatures to a human being a man that's coming on the scene. So this is antichrist and we've seen his predecessors or his warm-up back historically the pharaohs Nebuchadnezzar Alexander the great the Caesar's Napoleon and even Adolf Hitler might qualify and serve comes a man that's like all of those guys put together and he comes with his economic plans and is harnessing of the latest technology in his global solutions.

In this piece treaties and he succeeds and he leads the mother of all evil empires energized by the devil himself.

So let's identify if you take away truths about the antichrist. Number one if you're taking notes. The antichrist is energized and empowered by Satan himself. As I said earlier, the only person that comes close to him as Judas Iscariot.

I don't know why it is that when you see films about Jesus.

Judas is often portrayed as a sympathetic character, almost like a guy who wanted what was right but just one about it in the wrong way that is not how the Bible presents Judas Judas was completely responsible for his actions and he betrayed the Lord of course for 30 pieces of silver and we also know that the devil himself entered into the heart of Judas Iscariot on 1327 says Satan entered Judas.

This happened in the upper room so that clearly the devil had of influencing Judas for a time, but now he actually enters into him and that's effectively what we see in the antichrist first to the Dragon. That is, the devil gives him his power and his throne and great authority.

By the way, that's the devil to get season will bring. I don't get how the devil could stop all the terrorism.

Let me ask you a question. Who do you think is behind all the terrorism the devil. Though these wars that he produces these horrific unthinkable acts of violence which I'm hesitant to even describe it, you read the papers like I do of this Catholic priest doing a mass in France's attack by Islamic Jihad is seen all bar cutting his head off of other people are there and in the service and in these other acts that we continue to see they just go on and Eric unbelievable things that don't will find all this. So the devil can quiet it down to fulfill his ultimate agenda of pushing the antichrist forward than what antichrist does in the second half of the tribulation makes all of the stuff that were seen around the world look like child's play in comparison.

So Satan entered Judas and St. will enter antichrist in the devil can give these kingdoms away because effectively the Bible says he's the God of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.

Remember when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness and what of the devil.

Do you shut up all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time and wonder if that was in the future to pay lookers Vegas all the lights you know there's New York and here's comparison here is Moscow and there's all these places.

I'll give you all the kingdoms of the world call this power for Satan says put his mind to get if you worship me. So that shows that the devil had this authority and it's worth noting that Jesus did not challenge that statement, but of course Jesus did not do this. He didn't fall down and worship the devil but now Satan is found a taker not in Jesus Christ.

But in antichrist but we need what are some of the Bible uses the phrase the beast.

It does installing beauty and the beast. You know what he sings really well, but he looks awful now. It's not that kind of obesity he's attractive physically. This is more of a description of his character.

By the way, what we call them antichrist the prefix anti-not only means against it also means instead of three. My acid question one of the antichrist against her instead of Christ. Answer these well. He is against Christ and he offers himself in the place of Christ Dwight Pentecost, an excellent author of Bible prophecy, and other things as well, made the statement and I 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." So, in effect, the beast comes off like a fake Christ. I don't know who does this, but someone keeps starting Facebook pages in my name. I don't know if any of you do any of you follow me on Facebook.

Facebook friends Capon are many printers sent. Don't be embarrassed. I'm on social media, but so my Facebook page periodically.

Someone will take pictures off my page and present themselves as being the very clever because people asked me where you can comment other think Greg you did you just like message me yet today and said he wanted to pray for me.

So what this person does is a take pictures of me and things that I post and in the name of Greg.

They say hi how are you. How can I pray for you as a good a while. Pastor Greg Scully asked me all I can pray for me and so they they tell this Greg, who isn't me at all what they need and then this person comes back again and says a couple of encouraging things and then they come and solicit funds for a non-existent charity.

I hope people haven't done up of the us money to be sent to them and some people may be of given money and then we call Facebook I: you know Zuckerberg. He never take my calls, but hey shut this down. They shut it down. Another one pops up. They shut it down. Another one pops up. I can't control it. Someone who says there me and not to the antichrist is he's presenting himself as Jesus and some will think he is the Messiah. Think about this. If maybe your living at this time and in your hope is that the temple we be rebuilt and the guy comes along and he brings global peace and he helps you rebuild your temple, and he shows concern for you, while maybe this is the Messiah we been waiting for. And that's just way that's exactly what he wants people to think he's a counterfeit and so nights when he comes to present himself as Jesus. Also, he comes to deifying Satan to deal if I say look at verse four. They worshiped the Dragon using Dragon again, the devil. So because of antichrist. They worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, St., who was like the beast, whose able to make war with him so now the devil is getting what he always wanted and what is that worship going back to Jesus there in the wilderness with the debt, whether the devil asked for all these kingdoms are give to you if you will do what worship me see this is the problem with Satan.

He's always been the ultimate disgruntled employee is always one of the top job when he was in heaven though we had a very important position insertable worship leading Angel.

He wanted to be on the throne of God. Instead, in Isaiah 14 describes and worries that I will be like God, I will be like the most high.

All be above the stars of God and the loss that exalted position.

So now he's finally getting what he's always wanted, which is worship antichrist also was coming to define and take the place of Jesus coming to define.

Take the place of Jesus. Verse five it was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, he was given great authority or given authority to continue for 42 months. The blaspheme against God. So he opposes Jesus that offers himself in his place.

Here's another point. He's coming to kill Christians is coming to kill Christians verse seven 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. Many believers are going to be martyred for their faith. At this time there will be a totally anti-Christian mentality about you can see the four shots of it right now, not just in atheistic countries like North Korea and China but also in Islamic countries were even seen it now in the United States and what so hard to believe is that this was a country that really was built on Christian principles solicit regardless of what historians tell you or I should say revisionist tell you they want to edit the faith factor out of our country's founding. There is no denying that our founding fathers had a belief in God. Some of them a very fervent belief in God in a relationship with God and even those that you didn't have that certainly had a respect for God and a respect for the word of God. So he's going to persecute Christians. Now here's an interesting twist on all of this that we don't know who antichrist is there are other antichrists plural because that term is used elsewhere in Scripture and over in first John.

It's used to describe people who have turned against Jesus and it turned away from the church. Listen to this.

First John 218 dear children, the last hour is here. You've heard that antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appear. This is how we know the end of the world is gone. These people left our churches because they never really belonged with us. Otherwise I would've stayed with us when they left us to prove they did not belong with the unit. We can sit around and talk all day about who the antichrist may be, but maybe a better question would be my antichrist. I don't mean this in the sense of the one person in the coming world leader that will emerge. I'm talking about the principal that's been identified current first on just anti-Christ.

These people were in our churches, but they left our churches and never came back to our churches because they were never really a part of us listen.

Sometimes people appear to be Christians in the appear to have a conversion in the appear to be our brothers and sisters in the Lord, but they never work. But the really good actors and that explains why someone can be in the church can be raised, sometimes even in the church and turn away and never come back. And if they never come back.

I suggest you they were not Christians to begin with because a true child of God will always come back home again. Now they may go away for a long time. My mom was the ultimate prodigal time she spent most of her adult life running from God and of the last months of it. She came back to him again. So that's how you can tell who the true Christians are, where they end up so they walk away and they come back either. Prodigal's, but if they walk away and never return. I suggest you they were never believers to even begin with. So the question is not did they lose their salvation. The truth is they never really had salvation and according to first John in effect for the way they live. They are antichrist not coming back to this world leader antichrist is coming to dominate the globe is coming to dominate the global diverse seven authority was given him over every tribe and tongue and nation. How will he pull this off will use technology for sure. And you can see what people can do with technology today and weaponry today gathering information today and just imagine if one man had control of all of this information how powerful he would be at another thing the antichrist does is he does this not through war but through peace through peace. People want peace so badly they want to live safely. They want to live without fear, and antichrist. In his initial emergence will offer them peace, heal, and economically difficult times will be in war in different parts of the world will bring about these changes that people are desired in the Bible even says to Pease. He will deceive many. I mean imagine one guy solving the Middle East peace puzzle. Think of all the president to try going back to Pres. Carter and Reagan and both President Bush's sin and all the others that that President Clinton in I don't know what Pres. Obama's been doing quite honestly over there.

I'm looking to go down that road, but it's been a mess.

He seems to be pulling away from the people we should be drawing close to them getting too close to people we should keep our distance from Israel is our ally not Iran was a political statement. Actually, that's a biblical statement that the biblical faith.

I guess I did step in to deny well there you go. But you see here our ally Israel that we been so close to we we been probably had more tension with in any other time I can remember my lifetime, at least in in here as I ran and about enemy of Israel and about enemy of the United States and I don't think I'm a prophet when I tell you they're going to develop nuclear weapons. And they're going to threaten the Israel and us with them later. So I don't think we've done anything there with the so-called peace agreement but be that as it may be the antichrist will come and do it. No one else is done to get them to sign a peace treaty that the law abide by. For a time, as it serves his purposes as he solidifies his power as he is energized by the devil and he's identified many ways in Scripture is called the man of sin. Second Thessalonians to three says the man of sin will be revealed is called the wicked one. Second Thessalonians to a cause of the wicked one that will be revealed.

And so here's an interesting twist on the story antichrist, the beast, the coming world leader will not act alone. Hell of a sidekick if you will, sort of a religious Guru assisting him. He's identified in Scripture as the false prophet.

You've heard of the dynamic duo of Batman and Robin� The demonic duo of Antichrist and the false prophet add Satan to the mix, and he certainly a part of it because the devil gives antichrist's power knew of the devil's version of the Trinity. We have the father son and Holy Spirit is Christians. The devil has himself in the place of God antichrist in the place of Jesus Christ and the false prophet in the place of the Holy Spirit how to bring about a belief system that much of the world will buy into what I think it's going to be a mixture of many a beliefs intertwined with occultism sortable one world religion and you know the most popular kind of belief in America today is spirituality. We'll talk a lot of people say why don't believe in organized religion which basically means I don't want to go to church. I'm in the spirituality of the faith.

I consider myself a very spiritual person, not to that point I think of some of the true seeker. And if you really want to be a spiritual person. They will find their way to Jesus Christ. Let me take a step further that they don't find their way to Jesus Christ. They're not a true seeker who graduates really should be gentle on. Actually, the Bible says God speaking, those that seek me will find me think of a person really want to know God, though find their way to Jesus and he will find his way to them. But he will not force conversion on them. So when they say their seekers and they are not even open to hearing the gospel that immediately tells me they're not seekers at all and so basically what were going to see in the last days as sort of an ABC form of religion. ABC guess what it stands for anything but Christ's anything but Christ's doesn't matter what you believe and who you believe in worship yourself if you like worship nothing, but it can be Jesus over open new everybody except those that believe in this particular book. We already see the four shots of it right now.

Don't wait and it's only going to get worse when antichrist comes in power so we must be leery of, sort of. These four socks entering into the church preachers that challenge the authority of Scripture. When I hear a pastor doubt the word of God my responses. What are you even good for them.

I mean if I want to hear someone talk I'll just go somewhere else. But if you don't even believe in this book. Why when I even consider your worthless opinion. By the way my opinion means nothing. My jokes my statements my thoughts was brushing my jokes meaningless apart from this book. The authority comes from Scripture not from any other place that someone administered start doubting the Bible and the one pastor in particular didn't believe in the existence of hell all really well. It just edited out of the Bible. Even though Jesus spoke of it more than all the other prophets put together we can do that to see but people do that. So whenever the word of God's challenges. The sole authority that a danger because the Bible does warn one of the signs of the last days will be an apostasy or a great falling away. Matthew 2412 Jesus said, because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. Second Thessalonians, they don't come of the day will not come until there's a great rebellion against God's people will fall away from the faith, though, that and I don't think it's so much true believers falling away as much as its professed believers falling away first Timothy 41 says the Spirit clearly says that in the last days some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. These teachings will come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron, so this is going to happen. Second Thessalonians 4 says, the time will come when they won't put up with sound doctrine. Instead, though suit their own desires and the gather around themselves a number of teachers who say what their itching ears want to hear. You know, if you want to say what people want to hear.

You can have a really big church of these on love the sermons I never feel bad when I listen anything he says and and I never feel guilt. I just feel good about myself, but it's nice unless you're living in sin and rebelling against God and be like going to a doctor and you have cancer. The doctor diagnoses you and he knows you have cancer and he says we are good to go. All gone. Evocation your fine and he knows it in a diagnose at a good doctor to good doctor even though it's hard to share that information will tell you the truth I have a friend who's a doctor and he said to tell patients that they're going to die and I said that must be the hardest thing that you do and he said oh yes, I mean imagine being a doctor having to share that information with somebody how difficult that would be an instrument for a preacher to because you know we don't like to tell people there's a judgment in the Helen but we have to share the whole counsel of God, or were basically worthless and we do it out of love because we don't want people to face the repercussions of their sin and we certainly don't want people to face an eternity separated from God.

And that's not just to a preacher that's true of all of us because were all called to take the gospel to the whole world, what would it take the whole gospel to the whole world and not edit out parts that are difficult to share nonbelievers so one of the trends of the end days of the last times are last days is people turning away. So what is the antidote, Paul continues on their second Timothy four says they won't put up with sound doctrine and no just find teachers that will give them whatever their itching ears want to hear.

So what should we do. He says preach the word, be prepared in season and out of season correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction. So my job is to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable summons afflicted.

I want to comfort them. I want to encourage them. But if there comfortable in sin and want to make it hard. I wanted to turn the heat up because I want them to repent and get right with God. See that's our job. So when we see people turning away with this is just a fulfillment of what Scripture says and this is one of the things the Bible tells us what happened in the last days. Here's an interesting thing the false prophet will be able to perform signs and wonders.

Verse 13 of Revelation 13. He performs great signs, he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of venting to deceive those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast so we can do satanic miracles to here's a question. Can the devil perform miracles will yes and no. In a way it could be you know sleight-of-hand, like what amuses a magician does not a musician, magician, you know he does a track and it's an illusion. It looks like he's doing something in then US and how do you do or they don't want to reveal their secrets right. It could be that somewhat, but I think there's also an ability that Satan has to do what the Bible calls lying wonders.

Remember the story of Moses in the court of Pharaoh and how we would do a miracle in how the magicians of the Pharaoh could replicate a number of those miracles including turning the Nile River to blot so Moses turned the river and applied they so we can do that too and they turn other water in the blood. The girls probably think it would've been more impressive if you turn the blood back in the water again as I just took a little while. We had turned that in the blood.

They were able to replicate a number of the miracles, but they were not able to duplicate. There were imitations but then there came a point where they could no longer replicate those miracles, but this man, this religious leader can do certain signs so be careful. Someone might think I have a miracle ministry and to go to one of their meetings and someone looks like their healer or something else happened that's phenomenal what others miracles pets from God can be devilish miracles.

Remember the doubles and limited so the real test is not in the signs and wonders and phenomena. The real test is in the message it's in. What they say and that's what we must be careful attention to, and here's a really interesting twist and I crisis coming up on Mark death and resurrection, just like Jesus.

But in verse three I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded in his deadly wound was healed. In all the world marveled and followed the beast. Here's is going to happen, there's going to be an assassination attempt on the antichrist and he's going to quote miraculously" survive and on the heels of that, according to verse for the people who worship him, saying, who is like the beast. So imagine for a moment going back. Historically, some of your old look. Remember this. If Pres. Kennedy had survived that attempt on the life of course he was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald was a sharpshooter and shot him from the Texas depository building there and and killed the president and the president had was blown apart.

There was no hope for recovery even though they rushed him to the hospital. Imagine if somehow the president had survived that how people would regard more one of John Lennon had survived that attack in his life will be would listen to them like never before to. Here's the antichrist assassination attempt.

He survives it.

So what is that a replica of the death and resurrection of Jesus is his own version and people will worship him and follow after him so that he has his mark that he puts on people get into that next time so back to my message title who is the antichrist answer.

I don't have a clue that you think I was gonna really answer that question. I don't know, and I think any attempt to figure it out is kind of an exercise in folly and to the point, why would we want to sit around and try to figure out who the antichrist is the Bible doesn't tell us to look for antichrist. It tells us to look for Jesus Christ. That's our focus should be.

And by the way, antichrist cannot even be revealed until the church is removed because second Thessalonians 2 says you know what is restraining the antichrist and he may be revealed in his own time. The mystery of lawlessness is at work, but he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will destroy with the brightness of his coming. Right now the restraining power on earth is the church energized by the Holy Spirit is Christians that stand up for the unborn inscriptions that stand up for what is true, it's Christians and stand up for what is right, but when they were going to be removed and once were off this earth via the rapture. Literally, all hell is going to break loose. The restraints are removed and antichrist can just cut loose and do whatever he wants to do, but my point is, he Revealed until were removed and my understanding of Scripture on the next event on the prophetic calendar is the rapture of the church. I believe that could happen at any moment is a one is a rapture of the church. I'd never seen the word rapture in the Bible. Well have you seen the word harp also in the Bible because it's there a number of times and that is the word that rapture is translated from harp also means to be removed.

Suddenly, and that's use their first Thessalonians 4 of the Lord will remove us or catch us up and they haven't harp also taken by force. It's found in many other passages as well. So the teaching of believers being caught up to meet the Lord in the air is in many passages never dealt with this in another message but the point is what caught up to meet the Lord in the air, then antichrist is revealed, then the tribulation period begins it comes to an end after seven years of the battle of Armageddon in Christ comes back. So first he comes for his church. Then Jesus returns with his church.

What goes up must come down.

So really go to heaven will gonna come back from heaven with the Lord because Jude says behold, the Lord comes with 10,000s of his saints. So if you wanted to take one of those holy land tours, you're gonna get one. None of us to be writing with the Lord in a horse at the second coming of Jesus Christ.

So, our focus should be on Jesus.

Jesus said when you see these things begin the cabin. Stand straight and look up for your salvation is near. You know before there's an earthquake. There are often four shocks and so in the same way as we see these events coming. There's four shocks of them happening in the daredevil for shock is it is the get closer together and the closer they get together, says the big ones coming. It's also true of giving birth, labor pains get closer and closer together and then the babies going to be born so this is good to be true the end times and that very phrase was used about labor pains. Jesus said the get closer together and it would seem, maybe 10 years ago there would be an event of significance that would happen every few years, then maybe every few months and nowadays. It almost seems like every few days, sometimes multiple times in a day something something or think these are signs of the times they're getting more frequent and are getting closer together that says that the Lord is coming in I would be surprised by went down to the store after church tonight and saw Christmas decorations being sold. Doesn't seem like they start earlier every year. You know, basically the end of summer you'll start seeing them in some stores and and so all here we go. You know it Christmas just goes on forever and so what does that say will of Christmases close and Thanksgiving is closer right so in the same way when we see the assigned thing. Antichrist is close. It's coming down it's happening. The port structure here that says to me that Jesus Christ is even closer so that's exciting. No study revelation should not freak you out.

It stabilizes you and reassures you it tells you that God is in control and of course there's a blessing promised of the person that reads, hears and keeps the words of this book is my closing thought and into closing statement because it limits the closing thought is to be 20 more minutes for the wealthy were almost closing thought. Are you antichrist are you a follower of Jesus Christ. Why like those categories I'm like not sure.

Well, you can only be one of the other, it's Emmanuelle or Jezebel.

It's Jesus or Satan. It's antichrist or Jesus Christ. It really is because Jesus said to not be for me is to be against me. Now you may have nice feelings toward Jesus and admire him. But Jesus did not say admire me. Jesus said, follow me, and Jesus did not say he was one of many ways to God. He said he was the only way to the father when he said I'm the way the truth and the life and no man comes of the father but by me. I said earlier, I want to tell you the truth I want to tell you the truth I want to tell you there's a God in heaven who loves you. I want to tell you there's a God who will forgive you of all of your sin. I want to tell you that your life can be changed radically by Jesus. But I have to also tell you if you reject an offer of forgiveness.

You will face a certain judgment in a place called hell and I have to also tell you from being responsible and faithful to the Scripture that if you don't believe in Jesus when the Lord comes you will not be caught up to meet him. You will be left and you'll have to face this antichrist and Philip to face this tribulation. And it's going to be horrible.

You don't want to be in this place. Notice it says those names who are not found written in the book of life see when you believe in Jesus. Your name is in the book, the only book that really matters. And you are safe and you are secure. So here's my question.

Closing.

Do you know that you go to heaven when you die and are you sure right now as you listen to this message of the Christ were to return tonight that you would be caught up to meet him or would you be one of the ones that would be left to say.

Well I don't really know how can you know. Here's how you can know the Bible tells us that for those that look for him. He will return the second time without sin under salvation. What is it me the look form to send in a street corner and start the sun all day know it means to live in anticipation of his return means you're looking forward to his return. If you don't have that hope that you'll be ready to meet the Lord, you can see that all change right now you can believe in him and he will come and live in your life.

Jesus, who died on the cross rose again from the dead three days later in a calm and take residence in your heart organ to pray in a moment.

If you're not sure if Christ is living in you. If you're not certain.

Your sin is forgiven. If you don't know with confidence that you're ready to meet the Lord than respond to this invitation as we pray. Now let's all bow our heads. Father, thank you for loving us so much that you sent Jesus to die on the cross in our place. Lord Jesus, thank you for coming in dying and rising. We thank you that you're alive in your care with us right now right here standing at the door of hearts knocking St. if you hear my voice, and open the door all command Lord, we pray, your Holy Spirit will convict and convince people of their sin and their need for Jesus and help them to come to you. We pray our heads about and her eyes are closed or praying together. How many of you would see the night Craig I'm not sure if Jesus Christ is living in my life. I'm not certain I'll go to heaven when I die, I don't know with confidence that I'm ready for his return. But I want to be sure I want Jesus in my life. I don't want to be against him. I want to be for him I'm ready to say yes to Jesus. Pray for me that your desire. If you want Jesus Christ to come into your life if you want him to forgive you of your sin if you want to go to heaven when you die, would you just lift your hand up whatever you're sitting in a pray for you.

God bless you. God bless you you you left your hand up Iraq and see a God bless you. Anybody else bless you. Remember, this is all for or against proposition.

This is a yes or no decision by not saying yes to Jesus you by default say no you want to do that he loves you, forgive you but you must come to him anybody else. You want Jesus Christ to come in your life. Raise your hand up Iraq and see it please combustion anybody else � I had just about maybe some of you would say man. I was raised in the church.

I know what's up Robin running from God. I've been doing stupid things I should not be doing and I need to repent and get right with him tonight. I need to come back to Jesus if that's your desire. If you need to make that recommitment to Christ. Raise your hand up right now. Let me pray for you combustion combustion anybody else raise your hand. Apply when we pray for you. The bus father, they can offer these undertaking this first step helps them to take the next one receive all that you have for them, we commit them to you now in Jesus name we pray.

Amen