The Truth About The Last Days, Antichrist, The Rapture, More.

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The Truth About The Last Days, Antichrist, The Rapture, More.
http://www.teachingfaith.com/content.cfm?id=304
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Having been a Bible student for over 20 years, I'm more than a little intrigued at all the prophecies
floating around about the end times. It seems the further we get from Biblical times, the more
people crop up who claim certainty about the tribulation and the return of Christ. In fact, the many
proclaimed "prophets" are, themselves, a sign of the last days, but not in a way they would wish.
As the end draws near, it's important for us to make careful study of the Bible and of those who
claim they have the answers to all our who, what, how, where and when questions. This article is
my latest attempt to restore sanity and faith in the One-True-God while all this confusion is being
spread to snare even God's "elect, if that were possible."
The Biblical Standard For Prophets: Let's start with a word of caution for those who are so
arrogant as to presume to speak for God. The Biblical standard for a prophet is to be correct
100% of the time. People who spoke for God and were wrong even on a minor detail were taken
outside and stoned to death. God cannot be in error, so, if you're in error and claim to be quoting
Him, it's probably the biggest error of your life...maybe the last.
Today's Prophets For Profit: When I first entered ministry, a book entitled "1994" was very popular
among Christians. The premise was, that God had given the author, apparently unique, wisdom to
interpret Scripture and render a date Jesus would return, September 1994. I thought it was handy
for God to give it to him early enough to sell the book for a couple years before the end. By
October 1994, the book was on sale at a deep discount, after millions had been misled. Of
course, this book was just the latest in a 2,000 year series of misguided or deceptive accounts.
Over the centuries, many have said they knew when Christ would return...especially at the 100
year, 1,000 year and 2,000 year marks. Some were even mentioned in the Bible as having
collected money from Christians while telling people that Christ had already returned and they
missed it. Others have refrained from setting dates, but have claimed certain events, nations or
people were the figures from end times prophecy. Catholics and Protestants each claimed the
other were "Antichrists." Hal Lindsey managed to sell a book and a movie on the prospect that the
USSR was "the beast." My personal favorite was the theory that President Reagan was the
Antichrist, because his name, Ronald Wilson Reagan contained 6 letters each, 666. It's sad,
funny and predictable that most of these people have a commercial or political angle to their
revelations.
The latest I've heard in this trend is a "prophet" (name omitted intentionally) that has claimed God
told him something significant would happen in Pennsylvania the week of April 14, that President
Bush would be vindicated (in the public's eye) by the end of his term, that some time in the next
four years there would be unity among Christians and among the races of the World, an end to the
oil shortage, the best economy in the history of the world, and peace in the Middle East. Now, you
have to give this guy credit for specificity, but it's not surprising the email with his "prophecies" also

2. contained links to buy his current book and CD, along with a discussion of his upcoming book.
After all, if someone speaks for God, you'll want to buy everything he has to say. If everything in
this guy's prophecies were to come true, it would mean that Christ returns within the next four
years. Possible? Yes! Likely that God would use slick commercial marketing to announce it?
Not!
The Plain Language Interpretation: The more cryptic the prophecy, the more profound and
mysterious the prophet or his scholar seems. It's offensive to have condescending "experts" claim
to know exactly what is meant in prophecy by the "beast," the "Antichrist," the "Prostitute," "Blood,"
or any of dozens of other symbols used in Daniel, Ezekiel or Revelation. Still, we all flock to them
or to those who claim to speak directly for God. It's funny how people shy away from the plain
language end times prophecy of Jesus (Matt. 24-25, Luke 11-12) or of Paul (1 and 2 Thess.). I
guess hearing the simple truth doesn't make our ears itch as much or make our current teachers
seem very mysterious or wise. That these plain language prophecies are being fulfilled should
give us all reason to know we're in the last days and to pay close attention to World events.
Comparing Today With Last Days: Jesus said there would be many false prophets and false
Christs seeking to deceive many. Paul said we would not tolerate sound doctrines but would
gather around ourselves people who told us what we wanted to hear. Jesus said that famines,
war, earthquakes and diseases would increase in intensity like labor pains until He returned. With
roughly 200 million people killed in wars and political upheavals
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_deaths_and_atrocities_of_the_twentieth_century], the last
century was surely the bloodiest in history, but seems to pale in comparison with the record of the
first 8 years of this century. Jesus also said His followers would be able to see the the approach
of His return just like Spring follows Winter, but the rest of the world will be caught by surprise.
Jesus said the love of most will grow cold and many will leave Christ in the end times. I wonder if
that's already happening, but they just stayed in their church buildings and bickering
denominations. We Christians have to ask ourselves at this crucial moment, are we following Him
or some pop-prophet's new release? Are we comparing His Word with world events or will we be
caught by surprise? I'm neither scholar nor prophet, but I'm beginning to think I'm seeing new
leaves and birth pains, all at once. Are you ready?
Glen Williams is Webmaster for Internet Fellowship And Worship Web-Church, an Ordained
Minister, Founder of E-Home Fellowship (EHF), Co. He has been active in ministry since 1989.
You can comment on his articles at Prayer Fellowship Forums.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Glen_D._Williams

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The Truth About The Last Days, Antichrist, The Rapture, More.
http://www.teachingfaith.com/content.cfm?id=304
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