| May 16, 1999 |
Vol. II, No. 3
|
There are many people out there who are watching world events and looking for "signs." They are looking for the coming of "the antichrist," based on misinformation and assumptions of who, or what, the antichrist is. Their knowledge is based more on Hollywood fiction than Biblical fact.
In order to understand the subject one must first understand that "the antichrist" is not a person! In fact the phrase "the antichrist" does not appear anywhere in scripture. The word "antichrist" appears five times in scripture, and only in the books of First and Second John. Contrary to popular belief, antichrist is neither connected to the book of Revelation or to the number 666. They have nothing to do with what we are talking about.
The word comes from the Greek antichristos and literally means "against Christ." John gives a very good definition of who is antichrist:
"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." (1 John 4:3)
The passage does not focus on some singular historical personage. It is the attitude a person - any person -- has toward Christ that will determine if he is antichrist or not.
For those who are looking for the antichrist to be some ominous individual coming in the future to form a new world order, a little more Bible and a little less Hollywood will help. The Scriptures paint a very plain picture:
"Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time." (1 John 2:18)
For those looking to the future for an antichrist, the Bible plainly says that even in John's day their were many antichrists! The fact that antichrists were present in John's time rules out the notion that "the antichrist" is yet to come.
The amount of error surrounding this subject is another clear indicator of how people reach conclusions on Bible subjects with little or no knowledge of what the Scriptures actually say. The truth is easily understood if - if we simply stick to the inspired word as our source and avoid the foolish conjecture of men.
--Tracy Schell
I worked many hours on the sermon. I read over the Scriptural references several times. I referred to the commentaries and historical sources, and meditated upon the lessons I had learned at the feet of other gospel preachers who have gone before me. I prayed about it. I even referred to the maps of Bible lands to try to picture in my mind the setting in which the lesson took place. I prepared an outline and had it well organized.
I spent several hours trying to determine how I could best illustrate some of the major points of the lesson. I took special care to be sure that markers, an eraser, and any other tools I might need in presenting the sermon would be at hand.
Of course, most, if not all, the points in the lesson are points you have heard before, but surely we all recognize the need to be reminded of spiritual truths we have heard in days gone by, lest we let them slip. Perhaps this sermon was no more important than others; nor less important, for that matter. In fact, such preparation goes into virtually every lesson before it can be presented publicly.
Now everything was ready. The time had arrived. Because I knew I was prepared, it would be a pleasure to address the assembly.
But, alas, you were not there! Perhaps you were sick. If so, I sympathize with you and am truly sorry you have not been well. Perhaps you had some other reason that would be acceptable before God. If so, I would be the last to cast you in any kind of bad light. But if you WILLFULLY absented yourself, you haven’t treated me fairly. When you take a notion to come, from time to time, you expect me to have prepared a lesson that will be instructive, informative, or in some way will prompt you on to better obedience to the will of the Lord. And I admit, you have every RIGHT to expect this of me. But, may I suggest, that I have a RIGHT to expect you to be there to hear the lessons I prepare unless you have an acceptable reason for missing?
Maybe this article sounds selfish on my part. I hope not. Really, I’ve grown to expect such treatment from many. In fact, when I decided to become a “full time preacher” I knew there would be a certain amount of this problem. My real concern is not so much with my own feelings in this matter, but with how the Lord must feel about it. After all, each time we proclaim His gospel, assemble around His table, etc., He is spiritually present. See Matt. 28:18-20; 1 Cor. 10:16; Matt. 18:20. When you willfully absent yourself from such assemblies, you hurt yourself by missing spiritual nourishment and by weakening your influence for good. You weaken the influence of the church as a whole, and cause doubt in the minds of many as to the importance of studying and obeying God’s word. You haven’t really done right by those who have prepared themselves to help you gain instruction and encouragement from the Scriptures. But most of all, you have chosen to forsake the fellowship of Christ Jesus.
Christ will be here for evening services. Will you?
--CRJ
For every house is built by
someone,
but He who built all things
is God.
Do you think juvenile delinquency is an evil that is peculiar to our day? If so, then you would do well to read your Bible, particularly such passages as are found in the book of First Samuel.
Eli was judge in Israel and a priest of the living God. When he grew old, instead of his children being a source of joy to that religious leader of olden days, they caused him much heartache and grief. After Eli had heard of the almost unimaginable sins which his sons committed--as recorded in First Samuel 2:22--he said unto them, "Why do ye such things? For I hear of your evil dealings by all this people...it is no good report that I hear. Ye make the Lord's people to transgress'' (1 Samuel 2:23,24).
What a tragedy! The sons of this "man of God'' were a stumblingblock to the Lord's people! However, the sons (though vile and wicked indeed) were not altogether to blame, for we are told in First Samuel 3:13, "For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.'' Eli did not "curb'' his children. He apparently just let them have their way. Perhaps he had the idea that ``boys will be boys.'' Yes, but those boys grew up to be men--''vile men''!
This case alone should be enough to convince us parents that placing restrictions upon our children is needful if we expect them to grow up to be useful citizens and individuals whose manner of life will be worthy of "the gospel of Christ.''
Fathers and mothers, think on these things!
--John Iverson
In Matt. 10:16-26, as Jesus sent His 12 apostles to preach to the lost sheep of Israel, He told them to expect persecution. He did not say, "IF you are delivered up before governors and kings." He said, "WHEN you are delivered up..." He said, "You will be brought before governors and kings..." He said, "You will be hated..."
This reminds us of what Jesus had taught earlier in the sermon on the mount: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matt. 5:10-12).
We are also made to think of Paul's statement to Timothy a few years later: "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12).
We live in a situation where persecution is not nearly so severe as that faced by Jesus, His apostles, Timothy, and other first century Christians. Many of them lost their lives to their persecutors. They literally suffered to the death. The persecutions we face are more subtle -- financial and job related pressures. Drink with the boss or miss out on possible promotions. Social ostracism. Ignore the evil in society or lose all chance to climb the social ladder. Ridicule. Compromise your Bible convictions or be considered ignorant and backward by the educated elite -- and even by your own children, as they are constantly being led farther away from the spiritual principles of the Bible by the promoters of atheism and secular humanism. True, these forms of persecution are less severe than those faced by our brethren in the first century -- but they are still quite effective in serving the purposes of the devil, who would lead us all away from God and His truth.
Two preachers once discussed their situations. The first said to the second, "If I preached as forcefully and forthrightly as you do, I'd lose my job." The second preacher replied, "If I compromised and soft-peddled the truth the way you do, I'd lose my soul. I can get another job, but I can't get another soul."
Jesus said, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt. 10:28).
--CRJ
Kindness gives birth to kindness.