Archives for August 2020

Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

Matthew 26:3-5

Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

John 11:47-48

Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

Acts 5:26

The next point to understand about Antichrist religion and Antichrist government is that they fear the people, the multitudes. Why? Because that is where the two beasts get their power from. When the people refuse to keep their commandments, it renders them powerless to stop. It is an illusion that they have power over the multitudes because if the people ever got together as one it would be nearly impossible for the beasts to stop. So then the beasts and the multitudes are constantly in a give and take mode of operating, each side testing the limits to see what the other side will tolerate. A cousin of fear is selfishness, for one cannot be fearful before believing that he or she has something to lose. Antichrist religion and government are selfish, seeking to feed the people what they want to hear. The people are selfish, seeking to hear from the beasts that which is pleasing in their sight. There remains an uneasy tension between the two sides. You do for me, I’ll do for you. Either side is capable of laying down the hammer and causing a great upheaval in the social fabric if they don’t get what they want.

This tension is not possible in a kingdom ruled by love. There is no fear in love. In the true authority, Christ and His followers give themselves away freely to the multitudes. There can be no accusation of unfair motives when love is the ruling power. There can be no selfishness when love is on the throne. Christ’s demonstration of love by washing the feet of the disciples shows what power there is in love. It humbles and softens the heart of the masses, when they see such love in operation. One act of kindness speaks more than thousands of words of Antichrist religion pandering to the people. The power and authority belongs to Christ in love. He shall reign forever and ever amen.

And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people. Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

John 7:12-13

And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

John 19:38

These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

John 9:22

Just like the powers that be fear the people, so the people fear the powers that be. They are in charge of the form of Antichrist religion and Antichrist government. As long as the people want what the beasts are selling, there will be fear on both sides, each fearing to offend the other. They selfishly need each other. It’s like a relationship where each side is using the other for the pleasure of sex. As long as each side is being pleased, there is a shaky truce of fear and selfishness. No love can exist where there is fear. If enough people are dissatisfied with the rule of the beasts, there will be clamor, asking for a change in leadership. This is what we see in Antichrist religion. Different churches compete with each other, seeing who can make the best offer to the masses, seeing who can draw the most people. They are like used car salesmen, each seeing to outdo the other in what they can promise the people. The same spirit exists in Antichrist government. In America, the Democrats and Republicans are in power in varying degrees. They each keep hawking their goods, trying to appeal to the masses for votes and hence power and authority.

The alliance is by nature unsteady. People are ready to shift allegiances at the drop of a hat if they don’t get what they want. Selfishness. No matter how many people switch denominations or how many people switch political parties, the two beasts stay in power to some degree. If the masses decided they wanted leadership that will rule them by the love of Christ, the system would blow up overnight. This won’t happen however, because the system remains selfish and the people remain selfish. They want to be ruled with force and cruelty. Because they allow such character in their lovers, they are assured to get what they selfishly want in return. They have itching ears, wanting to be tickled with lies and half truths. They will give their power to the beast because they refuse to be ruled by the love of Christ. A few people come out of slavery to Antichrist religion and Antichrist government and are truly born again and leave the system. Not enough people are getting saved to truly cause a reformation in the two beast system. Revelation shows that the beasts will continue to exist and thrive here on earth, until Christ returns and destroys both systems in the lake of fire, along with Satan, who is the father of the two beasts.

And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.

Mark 11:18

The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

John 12:19

Those in power and authority in Antichrist religion and government fear Jesus Christ Himself. As previously said, Jesus Christ has the power to blow up the whole Antichrist system with His radical ideas of selflessness and love. It makes the beasts uneasy when people decide to follow Christ, because they are no longer needed. Both Christ and the beasts fill a need in the peoples lives to have authority exercised over them. Most people choose the unrighteous path of the beasts, so the beasts will remain. They say of Christ, “we will not have this man to rule over us!”. Christ said narrow and strait is the way that leads to righteousness and few there be that find it. Few are willing to forsake their selfishness. Christ’s kingdom works by a total surrender to Him in love. The beasts system and kingdom works by a gimme gimme what I want right NOW plan of attack. The beasts and the masses hate each other, but each are necessary to the others existence. Both the beasts and the multitudes are afraid of what will happen when Christ reigns in the hearts of mankind, so they delay it as much as possible. Judgement day will come and their temporary system of selfishness will be destroyed in the blinding light of LOVE and TRUTH. Both the beasts and the selfish multitudes will be cast alive into the lake of fire, along with the selfish devil who seduced them all.

Those that truly love the Lord refuse to be part of religious systems that mock the very nature and character of Jesus Christ. They refuse to be part of the governmental beast that rules the land. They only submit to Antichrist government to the degree that love requires, keeping just and good laws for the sake of the good of God and all people. If the beast one day passes unjust laws, the people of God have no hesitance to break those unjust laws. Righteousness and love demand that we don’t submit to abuse of authority. It’s not in the best interests of the people or the government to raise up a standard of selfishness in the land.

For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Mark 6:20

Finally, the two beasts of AC religion and government fear those that are truly serving Jesus Christ. Serving Christ is such a radical departure from selfishness that the beasts are powerless to stop it. The day may very well come in America where the true Christians are thrown in prison for their refusal to bow to the two beasts of AC religion and government. Until then, we labor to see people come out of the two beast system and be separated unto the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many are called, but few are chosen!

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 7:15

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

Revelation 13:11

These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

2 Peter 2:17

These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

Jude 12

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

2 Timothy 3:5

Antichrist is a spirit. Vine’s Dictionary gives the definition as meaning either “against Christ” or “instead of Christ,” or perhaps, combining the two, “one who, assuming the guise of Christ, opposes Christ”. Antichrist is a spirit that seeks to deceive men by looking like Christ in outward form while denying Him in the Spirit.

These verses indicate the subtlety and trickery of Antichrist religion. They promise much but deliver little. They hope to convince men of their form of the truth as being THE TRUTH. The outward appearance is good. They come in sheep’s clothing but on the inside they are ravening wolves, looking to tear into unsuspecting fools. Their heart is far from God. Their appearance is an illusion, a magic trick, done by the same sorcery as the devil, who can transform himself into an angel of light. No wonder they have this ability, for the devil is their father.

Further, Antichrist religion looks like a lamb but speaks like a dragon. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Again, the outward appearance is what fools people. They have the form of religion, so people automatically assume that they are of God. They have the authority of men, they have the traditions of men, they have the ceremonies and rituals. The one thing they lack is the thing they need the most: the heart and Spirit of God, which is all about truth and love.

They are wells without water and clouds without water. Men are dying of thirst by drinking their counterfeit sea water, which only makes them more spiritually thirsty. A well promises water. A cloud promises water. They are Antichrist, assuming the form of Christ without having any substance or meat to their teachings. When men believe the Truth, it sets them free. When men believe the false words of Antichrist religion, it brings them further and further into bondage. They keep drinking from the polluted well, when the pure water of life is hidden from their eyes. Antichrist religion has the Bible, but they seek to keep the people in ignorance as to its true meaning of holiness and love. To them it is just words they can use to twist to their own lusts and advantage.

Antichrist religion has the form of godliness, but denies the power to transform a life from sin to obedience. The Spirit of God has been grieved away from such gatherings. Another spirit is operating, the spirit of the devil, who works in the children of disobedience. Their name should be Ichabod, for the glory and the spirit of God have departed from what calls itself spiritual Israel.

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Matthew 20:25-28

Both Antichrist religion and Antichrist government work by the same principle of authority over people. They like to rule and reign over the masses, deceiving them with their power and authority. The only reason they have any authority is because they have deceived the people into giving it to them. They are blind leaders of the blind.

True spiritual authority comes from being a servant to all people. When one gives Himself away to the people, it shows His true heart for them. He is not after what He can get out of the people, but what He can pour into their lives in the Spirit of meekness and love.

There is a strong distinction between Christ and Antichrist. Christ has been authorized by the Father to do the works of God. Furthermore, Christ’s true followers have been authorized by the Father to do the works of Christ. Christ and His followers are operating in the true Spirit of love. Giving themselves away to the masses without requiring money to be given to them. Antichrist religion and government both seek to extract maximum money from their followers. They rule over the people with force and cruelty. They have no authority from God to be doing what they are doing. They try to copy Christ’s authority, but without love, it falls flat. It is an empty shell of dead religion. It is said of them that they have not the Spirit. The body of Christ without the Spirit of Christ is just a religious counterfeit. Christ’s sheep hear His voice and follow Him. They know not the voice of strangers. They know not the voice of Antichrist. Christ said you will know false prophets by their fruits. When love is missing from a tree that has a sign in front of it that says LOVE, you know that someone is lying to you.

The Bible has much to say about Antichrist religion and Antichrist government. They are the two beasts that rise up in Revelation 13. In the coming days, we shall examine more what the Spirit of God has revealed about these two hideous beasts. Stay tuned!

The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

Psalm 87:2

Oh how God loves the gates of Zion or Jerusalem! It is the entering in place of the city. It is the way of righteousness. It is the access point to all of God’s provision. All it takes is a decision by the part of the people that they want to be holy and righteous, for Zion is a holy city. Only those who decide to live a righteous life will be granted access to the city and all of God’s goodness.

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

John 10:7

Jesus says He is the door or He is the gate into the sheepfold. The sheep are Christ’s people, His redeemed ones. No one can enter into the gate of God’s blessings unless they go through Christ first. He is the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Christ. One must pick up his or her cross, deny himself and pass through the door into everlasting life. This is why God loves the gates of Zion so much. It represents an entering in, a decision to forsake all and to follow Jesus Christ.

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Luke 15:7

Entering the gates of Zion for the first time brings great joy to heaven and all that live therein! It takes repentance. It takes a changing of ones mind from darkness to light, from wickedness to righteousness, from impurity to purity. No wonder heaven rejoices! It is a most momentous decision. It is a cause of rejoicing. It is a blessing to the heart and mind of God Himself. Oh how the Son rejoices when one enters into a relationship with God the Father through Him! God takes repentance seriously. It is an eternal commitment from God’s point of view. One can always backslide into a life of sin, but God considers holiness and righteousness to be an eternal way of life, both for Him and His Son and His Spirit and His holy angels and His holy people, the church.

It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Luke 15:32

In the story of the prodigal son, there is likewise great rejoicing when the son comes to his senses and repents of his sin. So does God rejoice when a former Christian stops his life of sin, repents and goes and sins no more. Every time there is a turning and forsaking of sin God rejoices. Only let it be a sincere departure from sin. Repentance is not something to be trifled with. It’s a decision to go God’s way of holiness and righteousness. This is our very life.

So then we can see why there is greater joy over sinners that repent than over the righteous who no longer need to repent. Let us have the heart of the Father and the heart of Jesus, who love when sinners turn from a heart of stone to a righteous heart of love. Let us witness and share the love of Christ with the lost world. Most will reject it, but some will come to the love of Christ and be reborn into a new creation. Old things will pass away and all things will become new. What rejoicing there will be in heaven because of our work of love in bringing a new convert into the kingdom of God. It brings a smile of joy to the face of God. Let us never forget our holy calling to be witnesses of the Truth, God’s Word! They will know the truth and the truth will set them free, forevermore! Amen.