Presents
Pamphlet 1565 1 John kc 7-3
The false messiah will put on quite
a show
and perform "supernatural" signs
and wonders
Many people have a problem with the next verse, 1 John 4:2.
That is usually because they take it out of the context of the subject which is being discussed which is "trying the spirits".
1 John 4:2
Hereby...
It is so simple.
[2] Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
That spirit has then been tried and found to be of God, i.e. it is scriptural.
So that is a really good step in the right direction.
But DO NOT forget to test everything else that spirit says the same way.
Got it?
If you believe everything else someone says, just because he or she passes the first basic test, without "searching the scriptures daily" to see whether those other things they teach are so, then you are a fool indeed and you have not kept His commandments!
What if a spirit doesn't confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh?
He FAILS the test!
He will eventually make the grade by the time of judgment or he will be burned by the Consuming Fire: Hebrews 12:29 "For our God is a consuming fire."
Notice the second half of this verse that says "ye", those identified as the "little children" of God in the next verse (4), have heard that antichrist is coming and you know that the "spirit of antichrist", the "spirit of iniquity" as Paul calls it in 2 Thes., is already at work. So you better be doing some major testing of the spirits in these last days.[3] 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.
One of those spirits which has "deceived MANY" is called the any-moment rapture theory and millions of Christians, our brothers and sisters, accept it untried and untested!
Why?
Because their "Christian" church teaches it.
First of all, church history will document that it originated as a "dream" by Margaret MacDonald in the year 1830 in Glasgow, Scotland, and eventually came to this country and is now taught by the MANY false prophets.
The theory claims that Jesus Christ will return at any moment and "take up" His church in the "Rapture", leaving the rest behind to face an evil and wicked person called the antichrist.
Let's put that spirit to the test.
2 Thes. 2:1
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
[2] That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
There is something that must first take place.
[3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Put his words and his writings to the FIRE first!
That Day, the day of Christ's return, SHALL NOT COME, before there is a great apostasy and that man of sin, the son of perdition, who is Satan himself, is revealed, i.e. appears on earth in person claiming to be Jesus Christ (next verse).
[4]Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
[5] Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?[6]And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
It is Michael, the archangel, who has Satan restrained (Rev. 12:7-9).
However, just as John said in vs. 4:3, the spirit of antichrist, the "mystery of iniquity", is already at work in the world, even though Satan is not yet here in person.
2 Thes. 2:7
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
[8] And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:[9] Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
Rev. 13:13 "And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men."
People will absolutely love this guy!
It is also written in Daniel that he will enter in peaceably and prosperously and our people love that prosperity, i.e. a great economy, don't they?
Even a liar, a cheat, and a thief can be our leader when the economy is good!
"It's the economy stupid!"
[10]And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
They loved seeing miracles and side shows!
They loved seeing some "spirit" knock people down on stage!
They loved the promises that Jesus was coming for them at any moment and they would be spared great tribulation!
They loved that "spirit" that moved among the crowd and caused everyone to raise their hands and wave their arms and shout "Hallelujah, Praise the Lord!"
"Let's give a big hand to the Lord!", saith the false prophet!
Clap, clap!
But you see, the problem is they "received not the love of the truth" (vs. 10), which is the love of His Word, that they might do some testing of the spirits to see whether they be of God.
It is written, and we just read it in 2 Thes. 2:3, that there will be a great falling away, a great apostasy before Christ returns!
Christians the world over will immediately believe that this supernatural archangel, Satan, the "instead of Christ" is in fact Jesus Christ.
Why?
Because he will say he is!
And he will back that up, i.e. document it, with "miracle" signs and wonders.
But he will not be Jesus Christ, he will be a look alike, an imposter, for we just documented that the Wicked one is revealed first, i.e. he comes first at the sound of the 6th Trump.
They listened to the traditions of men and cared not to know the truth. John 17:17 "...Thy word is truth."
Consequently, they will be deceived and believe the BIG LIE that Satan, the abomination who will be sitting in the temple claiming to be God, is Jesus Christ!
[11]And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
[12]That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.
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