I have received many e-mails asking me if the Church is going to see the Antichrist? First of all let me say this, my faith in Christ and, my salvation in Christ is not based on whether I will be raptured before or after the Antichrist is revealed. The Church must stand on the promises of Jesus. I quote what to me is one of the most important verses that deal with the end time signs. “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36).
Our Lord told us to pray for a reason. It was His promise that he would remove anyone who is watching and praying from the wrath to come. There are many scriptures that instruct the believer God’s wrath will not be poured out His Church. I will only site a few of them for time sake.
–
1 Thessalonians 5:9 plainly states, “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. (Ephesians 5:6)
–
For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: (Colossians 3:6)
–
Romans 5:9 “ Now that we have been justified by his blood, how much more will we be saved from wrath through him!”
–
Fear has taken a hold of the Church. Many are afraid to talk about the possibility of being on earth to actually see the Antichrist. Most of this fear has crept into the hearts of Christ’s children because they have not matured in the Word and they have not matured in their walk with Christ yet. A child cannot grow unless they are feed. In order to stand your ground against the enemy of God and our Christ, one must move from the milk to the meat for strength. My Brother in the Lord, the Apostle Peter said, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby”. You cannot mature without eating and living the Word of God. When a person stands in Christ and lives in Christ they realize there is nothing to fear. A mature Christian will be on guard, they will have been trained to do battle, they would have prepared to engage and stand their ground against any form of attack summoned by the devil, they will always remain on the watch and they will be fearless as they stand in Christ.
–
Why am I instructing you on this matter? The Word of God will explain. 2 Thessalonians 2: 1-7 feeds us this information about when we as believers will be gathered together with Christ. “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until there come a "falling away" first, "and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition"; He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
–
Paul made it very clear that there was two prerequisites that had to be fullfilled before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and us believers being gathered to him. The first was what Paul called "the falling away", and second was that the "man of sin be revealed, the son of perdirion." Therefore the Antichrist can not be revealed until there is a falling away first. What is this falling away? Some say it is the church that has been taken to Christ in the rapture. Some also say it is the world and the Church who falls away from God in their disbelief. What we do know for sure is, Paul warned "that day" or the "gathering together of the saints unto Christ" would not come until this falling away takes place. Here is the key to understanding what Paul has warned us. What is hindering this lawless one, (Antichrist), from being exposed? There are only two views on who the "Restrainer" is. The first view is that the restrainer is the Holy Spirit, the second view is that the restrainer is non other than Michael the Arc Angel. If in fact the restrainer is the "Holy Spirit" who is hindering the Anti-Christ from being revealed then all believers would also be removed from the earth simutaniousley for the Holy Spirit can never leave us or forsake us. But According to the Apsotle Paul the Church is not to be gathered unto Christ until the "Man of Sin" has already been revealed. 2 Thes 2:1-7. The only other view is that Micheal the Arc Angel is the "Restrainer". If this is true then it would make sence of the scripture Pauls writes when he tells us that we will see the man of sin revealed before we are gathered together to Christ. We should see some references in the scriptures to back up this view. These are the scriptures that possibly clear this up.
*The first place where we can see Michael holding back the evil powers of Satan is in Daniel 10:21. Here is the scripture. " But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
*The second place where we see Michael as the restriner is in Daniel 12: 1-2, and here this is said of Micheal. Here is the scripture: "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which protects your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Here we see Michael taking action, then the great tribulation begins.
*The third place we see Michael again is in Revelation 12:7-8. Here we read: "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven." This is cleary a referance to when Michael thrusts Satan to the earth, at which time Satan indwells the man of sin and the Great-Tribulation begins. This is very similar to Daniels prophecy were Michael again takes action. Then in revelation chapter 13:2 we find that when michael throws Satan to earth that Satan gives his power, and throne, and great authority to the antichrist, who is the one responsible for perpitrating the great tribulation on the people of God for 3 1/2 years.
*Now with what we learned in Daniel and Revelation lets review again what Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2: 7-8.
*"The secret power of lawlessness is already at work" (This secret power is SATAN)
*"The one who holds it back will continue to do so untill he is taken out of the way" (The restrainer is MICHAEL)
*"Then the lawless one will be revealed whom the lord Jesus will overthrow." (ANTICHRIST)
If Michael the Ark angel is in fact the one which is hindering the Antichrists revealing and, he is removed to allow the full power of the Antichrist to be released then we as a church would still be on earth, and we would in fact see the Antichrist being revealed. Either way the one who hinders will not allow the Antichrist to be revealed until there was a falling away first. I do believe the falling away just may be the down fall in the belief in God and even many of the luke warm Christians who are in the world and living as those unsaved in the world. But we can only speculate at this point.
One more bit of information there are certain criterion that is clearly set for in the text with regards to the characteristics of the restrainer. And there are only 4 known views about who he is and here are the four: The Holy Spirit, Michael, Rome, Or Human Government. These are the only four views. Michael fulfills all the criteria.
Criterion #1. The restrainer is spoken of in the neuter gender in verse 6, "what is restraining." In verse 7, the restrainer is referred to using the singular masculine personal pronoun, "He who now restrains." The first criterion is that the restrainer is properly spoken of both in the neuter gender and the masculine (singular) gender. The restrainer is both an "it" and a "he."
Criterion #2. According to verse 7 the "mystery of iniquity" was already working in the first century. Since Paul spoke of the restraining in the present tense, and projected this into the future until the Antichrist is revealed, we can deduce that the restrainer has been active for at least 2000 years. Therefore, the restrainer must be a being that has lived for at least this period of time.
Criterion #3. The restrainer is hindering what Paul calls the "mystery of iniquity" and not the "Man of Sin" himself. Obviously, the "Man of Sin" (Antichrist) was not alive in the first century. The gist of Paul's statement indicates that the "mystery of iniquity" is some kind of demonic force, a "spiritual" power that seeks to bring about the revelation of the Man of Sin. John adds some light for us in the following passage.
–
First John 4:1-3 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
–
Notice the similarity to Paul's statement. John says they knew that the "spirit of Antichrist" was coming. He informs them that this "spirit" was already working at the time. Our third criterion is the restrainer seems to be able to deal directly with spiritual powers on a spiritual plane, rather than in the physical realm. Therefore it is most likely that the restrainer is a spiritual being since he is restraining a spiritual being.
Criterion #4. The restrainer must be more powerful than the one he is restraining, or have greater authority. Otherwise, how could he be successful in restraining for at least 2000 years?
Criterion #5. The Greek word for "restrain" or "withhold" in this passage means to physically grab and hold down. The restrainer deals directly in hand-to-hand combat with the demonic forces.
CRITERIA |
HOLY SPIRIT |
ROME |
HUMAN GOV |
MICHAEL & HIS ARMY |
Masculine/Neuter |
NO |
NO |
NO |
YES |
Active 2000+ Years |
YES |
NO |
YES |
YES |
Spiritual Being |
YES |
NO |
NO |
YES |
Stronger |
YES |
NO |
NO |
YES |
Direct Contact |
NO |
NO |
NO |
YES |
Click here to see a video of this explained.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBVXLLnPesQ
I know this was a bit of information, but well worth the time invested to understand these things. What God has promised those of us who are watching and abiding in Christ is that shortly after this man is revealed Jesus will remove His Church. This is why each day I pray the prayer Jesus asked me to pray which is, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man”. As I stated earlier, I am ready to stand for Christ, I am not afraid of these things, I am standing with my armor up, and I am on the watch just as Christ asked me to be. I am standing in Christ and in the power of Christ, I fear not because the one living in me is our King and He has sealed me to live in His Kingdom forever. There is no power on this earth or in the heavenly realms that can separate me from my God in Christ. I am excited to be here and I am excited Jesus has picked me to lead many of His warriors who are on fire for Him as we charge against the so-called powers of Satan. I say so called powers for as Christ is in me I have access to the angles of your God and you are those angles, Satan is as a lion with no teeth and sore gums. He may roar like a lion but I have the real Lion of Judea living within me, and when I command the enemy of our Christ to flee it is Christ Himself roaring. Jesus has given us this power and lifted us up from fear when His word went forth to proclaim “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4. Do you believe this my children? Let me help you raise the armor Christ has given you for this battle and form ranks with me as we take our rightful places on the front lines with Christ. Your weapons of love, kindness, and giving are the weapons of Christ, your strength will be the Words of our King. Your righteousness in Christ will blind your enemy and your prayers will disarm your foes even before they reach you. Look up for the time is short to win souls for the kingdom of God. It is time my church to rise, for your time of sleep as come to an end, light the flame Christ Jesus has lit with His own breath, and know you are called the Sons and Daughters of a King. Go now and preach to the World the Good News and tell them the Kingdom of God has come. Show them our Christ who lives in you and do not fear for the falling away is coming and soon you who love Christ will rise.
–
If Jesus has spoken to your heart, after reading this information, please receive His call to you. Ask Christ into your heart by saying the sinners pray. No one can enter Heaven without giving his or her life to Christ. Jesus is waiting for you, please do not let Him or yourself down.
–
"Heavenly Father, have mercy on me, a sinner. I believe in you and that your Word is true. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that he died on the cross so that I may now have forgiveness for my sins and eternal life. I know that without you in my heart my life is meaningless and I am without hope. I believe in my heart that you, Lord God, raised Him from the dead. Please, Jesus, forgive me, for every sin I have ever committed or done in my heart. Please, Lord Jesus, forgive me and come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior today. I need you to be my Father and my friend. I give you my life and ask you to take full control from this moment on; I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ." I thank you for adding my name into your Book of Life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen. |
–
Download “The Last Chronicles of Planet Earth” book for free. The large print edition may take 4-7 minutes to download the book but it will come up. If your computer is faster it will only take a few minutes. It is 309 pages in a PDF file. This new August 31, 2008 book is the latest up-dated edition. You can also choose to download the book in smaller print, which will download for you even faster. Click to links below to download the book of your choice for free.
–
Download the_last_chronicles_of_planet_earth_large_print_2008_update.pdf
–
Download final_book_for_sept. 7 2008 small print.pdf : This small print book will come up really fast and it will be easy to read.
-
My Son Adam DiMora has started writing his own blog. Please take a look and subscribe there as well. Adam is a wonderful writer and will no doubt take my place if Jesus calls me home before he comes for His Church. Adam has truly been given a gift to write for Jesus!