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Signs of the Times Australia / NZ edition — lifestyle, health, relationships, culture, spirituality, people — published since 1886 |
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Signs of the Times Australia / NZ edition — lifestyle, health, relationships, culture, spirituality, people — published since 1886 |
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S ydney cult researcher David Millikan, in commenting on David Koresh, who led 74 of his Branch Davidian devotees to their death, says, “Some people have a hunger for certainty and are prepared to sacrifice personal liberty to a group they believe holds the answers.” Jesus, in discussing events leading up to His second coming, warned: “Watch out that no-one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:1-5).
Matthew 24:11, 24 “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect [true followers of Jesus]—if that were possible” (v 24).
A counterfeit always very closely resembles the original.
Matthew 24:21, 22 “For then there will be great distress, unequalled . . . but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.”
2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion [Greek, apostasy = falling away] occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.” The ultimate false Christ will counterfeit Jesus’ coming, deceive the world and set himself up as world dictator.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple [or God’s church, see 1 Corinthians 3:16], proclaiming himself to be God.”
Isaiah 14:12-15 “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star [Latin = Lucifer].
. . . You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven . . . I will make myself like the Most High’” (vv 12-14).
The term “antichrist” means not only “against” but also “in place of.” While there are many “antichrists” through whom Satan has worked (see 1 John 2:18), he is the ultimate antichrist.
2 Thessalonians 2:9,10 “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing.”
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 “Because they refused to love the truth and so be saved [and] have delighted in wickedness.”
Revelation expands the concept of a counterfeit Christ. In chapter 13, two beasts—from the sea and from the earth—are portrayed. They constitute a counterfeit trinity, symbolised as Babylon.
The final antichrist will be a worldwide religious coalition of secular and political powers. The seven-headed sea beast receives its authority from the dragon (Satan) and has all the characteristics of the kingdoms Satan has used to oppose God’s people, culminating in the seventh head (Daniel 7; Revelation 17:7-11).
The land beast is lamb-like but it speaks like a dragon—a wolf in sheep’s clothing—a counterfeit religion aided by Satan to carry out his devious plans.
Revelation 13:11-14 “He . . . made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men . . . he deceived the inhabitants of the earth” (vv12-14).
Fire from heaven was used in the time of Elijah to show who was the true God (see 1 Kings 18:38). Fire was used at Pentecost to indicate the giving of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-3). Here it is used to deceive people into thinking God is acting. The land beast is a counterfeit of the Holy Spirit, deceiving the world into worshipping the sea beast.
Revelation 13:15-17 “He [caused] all who refused to worship the image to be killed. . . . No-one could buy or sell unless he had the mark.”
Revelation 12:11 “They [believers in Jesus] overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” Those who hunger for certainty will find it in trusting in Jesus.
Articles of interest:
Extract from Signs of the Times, September 2002.
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