Antichrist

The Identity of the Antichrist

Posted by Brother John Jones on November 23, 2022
Posted in: Antichrist, Bible Standards, Religion. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Who are antichrists?
What is the antichrist?
What does antichrist mean?

The Antichrist

Who are antichrists?
   What is the antichrist?
   What does antichrist mean?

In some circles, it is taught and believed that the antichrist is a single person that will appear in the “last days”, before the End of the wicked world, that will oppose Christ. Some believe that this person would be the half demon, half human offspring of Satan the devil. But is this an accurate belief?

To understand the answer to these questions, it is best to breakdown the term antichrist into its roots.

The prefix is ‘anti’ whose basic meaning is ‘against’. It is used to form adjectives that mean counteracting.

Some synonyms for ‘anti’ are hostile · opposed · antagonistic · averse · ill-disposed · unsympathetic · against · (dead) set against.

Combining the prefix ‘anti’ with the word ‘Christ’ therefore defines someone or something that is in hostile opposition to Jesus Christ.

What is known from reading what the Bible has to say, does not suggest that the antichrist is a single person that would rise and appear in the last days. The apostle John stated that the antichrist was already present and at work in his time.

1 John 2:18-23

18 Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard, “Antichrist is coming,” even now many antichrists have come. We know from this that it is the last hour.

19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge.

21 I have not written to you because you don’t know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie comes from the truth.

22 Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son.

23 No one who denies the Son can have the Father; he who confesses the Son has the Father as well.

There are several key points we can draw from in these verses that help identify the antichrist.

(a) John states that antichrist were already present when he wrote this letter and that there were many antichrists.

Verse 18

“And as you have heard, “Antichrist is coming,” even now many antichrists have come”.

(b) In the next verse, John states that these “antichrist” were once part of them, but they had left the assembly of true Christian believers.

Verse 19

“They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us”.

(c) And in verse 22 John identifies an antichrist as someone who denies that Jesus is Messiah and the Father/Son relationship.

Verse 22

“Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? This one is the antichrist: the one who denies the Father and the Son”.

John makes this clear three times in his letters. The second time John makes clear the identity of an antichrist is recorded at 1 John 4:

1 John 4:1-3

1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.

3 But every spirit who does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist; you have heard that he is coming, and he is already in the world now.

John tells us that any ‘spirit’ that denies Jesus as being the Christ or Messiah is antichrist. (1 John 2:22)

The apostle John restates this truth in his second letter:

2 John 7

7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (KJV)

Statements by John preclude any notion that the antichrist is some half-demon half-man monster that would arise in the last days. Such ideas are pure fantasy.

These statements by John dismiss any notion that the antichrist is some half-demon half-man monster that would arise in the last days. It is quite possible that such stories are for the purpose of keeping the true antichrist hidden. Antichrists are humans who deny Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul refers to the antichrist as “the man of lawlessness.”

2 Thessalonians 2:3–10

3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things?

6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.

7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.

8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.

9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,

10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

Paul links the antichrist to an apostasy or deviation from the will and commandments of God. To apostatize a person has to desert or depart from pure worship of God. It is a willful, deliberate departure from God, and is never accidental. This statement is very important in identifying an antichrist because it reveals that it would have to be someone or some group that had an established relationship with God.

Based on what the apostle Paul tells us as recorded at 2 Thessalonians 2:4, antichrist also refers to those who stood in the “place of Christ,” that is, claimed they were the Christ or in the position of Christ as Mediator between God and humans.

Verse 4

“he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits in the temple of God, setting himself up as God”.

It is antichrist to attempt to usurp Christ role as the only means of salvation by convincing others that they must be associated with a particular person or religious denomination to gain salvation.

We can make a direct connection between Paul’s statement and John’s statement found at 1 John 2:19:

“They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us”.

This means that the antichrist arises from within the elect anointed church or those who profess to be members of the elect anointed church. These antichrists were/are false teachers who merely claimed to be believers, but they were not.

The Bible writer Jude, the half-brother of Jesus and brother of James, also mentioned that this apostate man of lawlessness, the antichrist, had already infiltrated the assembly of the Church in the first century.

Jude 1:4

4 For some godless people have slipped in unnoticed among us, persons who distort the message about the grace of our God in order to excuse their immoral ways, and who reject Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord. Long ago the Scriptures predicted the condemnation they have received.

The actual Greek word translated here is παρεισέδυσαν. This is the definition of the term according to Strong’s Greek Lexicon:

3921 pareisdýnō (from 3844 /pará, “from close beside” and eisdyō, “enter”) – properly, enter alongside, i.e. secretly or under pretense. 3921 /pareisdýnō (“enter by stealth”) refers to people who appear to be true Christians, but in reality oppose the faith. 3921 (pareisdýnō) is only used in Jude 4 of those “posing to give help.”

It thus appears that such people were/are apostate Christians, rather than unbelievers who oppose from outside the brotherhood in Christ. In the first century era, many of the enemies of the church emerged from within, rather than an outside intrusion.

How did this occur in the first century church?

In What Ways Do Antichrists Reject Jesus Christ?

False teachings of Gnosticism and Docetism

1 John 4:2, 3

2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

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. (KJV)

Gnosticism is a prominent heretical movement that arose 2nd-century among those who professed to be part of the Christian church.

The oldest heresies in Christianity have been those that have denied that Christ actually had a fleshly, human body. Gnostics have been purveyors of this false teaching. Docetism is another. Docetism is broadly defined as any teaching that claims that Jesus’ body was either ‘absent’ or ‘illusory’ (not real).

The Docetists said that Christ appeared to be human but that he didn’t have real flesh and bones—he was human image without human substance. Since Gnostics and Docetists believed that Jesus’ body was not a real fleshly body, they were basically professed Christians who denied the bodily resurrection of Christ.

Their thinking and behavior fit the definition of the Greek word παρεισέδυσαν found at Jude 1:4. Gnostics and Docetists are people who appear outwardly as desiring to be true Christians, but in reality, oppose to true faith.

There are plenty of other examples of religious heresies. Time will not allow consideration of them all. Suffice to say, we must be constantly on guard.

Rejecting Jesus as Messiah

Which group of people in the first century does the Bible detail as opposing Jesus as Messiah? Was it not his own kindred?

Remember that initially, the New Covenant arrangement was founded entirely among Jewish converts. While the Jewish religious leaders outright opposed Jesus Christ, many of the Jewish converts believed but had mixed feelings. On one hand, they admired Jesus and believed to a certain extent. But on the other hand, they were desirous of a Messiah/leader who would break the Roman yoke that they were under and would reestablish the national sovereignty. They had nationalistic ambitions that were diametrically opposed to the Heavenly kingdom. There was continuing conflict between the teachings of Christ and the teachings of others who taught about a restoration of natural Israel and the keeping of the Law.

This is borne out by what happened when Jesus performed a mighty miracle when he fed a multitude of 5,000 with just five loaves and two fish. What happened when they witnessed this miracle? It is recorded in the Book of John.

John 6:

14 When the people saw the sign He had done, they said, “This really is the Prophet who was to come into the world!”

15 Therefore, when Jesus knew that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He withdrew again to the mountain by Himself.

For these, the restoration of the Jewish State was their means of salvation. They wanted a messiah, a king to lead them to that end. And since Jesus didn’t do that, many ultimately rejected him.

It did not change the fact that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and the only hope of salvation. Those who have held fast to Judaism and Zionist ambitions, to this day still reject Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah as they look instead to ritual worship and nationalism salvation.

 

Summary

The antichrist is not a single person. The antichrist is not some half human, half demon spawn as presented in motion pictures and fantasy tales. The prefix ‘anti’ with the word ‘Christ’ defines someone or something that is in hostile opposition to Jesus Christ. We need to look into the Bible to find the answer to the question: “Who is the antichrist?”

Remember what the apostle John taught:

“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist”. (2 John 1:7)

And

1 John 4:2, 3

2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

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. (KJV)

This is the true identity of the antichrist.

Upcoming soon: “That woman Jezebel” Can You Identify Her?

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The Coming and the Revealing of the Antichrist

Posted by Brother John Jones on December 4, 2020
Posted in: Antichrist, apostasy, Religion. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

The Coming and the Revealing of the Antichrist

The King Who Calls Himself God

Daniel 12:36-45

36 “‘The king will do as he pleases. He’ll exalt and magnify himself above every god, speaking amazing things against the God of Gods. He’ll succeed until the indignation is completed, because what has been determined must be carried out.

37 He’ll recognize neither the gods of his ancestors nor those desired by women(most likely referring to Tammuz)—he won’t recognize any god, because he’ll exalt himself above everything.

38 He’ll glorify the god of fortresses, a god whom his ancestors never knew, honoring him with gold, silver, valuable jewels, and treasures.

39 He’ll take action against the strongest fortresses. With the help of a foreign god, he’ll recognize those who honor him, making them rule over many, and he’ll parcel out the land for a profit.

40 “‘At the time of the end, the southern king will oppose him, and the northern king will overrun him with chariots, cavalry, and many ships. He’ll invade countries, moving swiftly and sweeping through.

41 He’ll enter the Beautiful Land, and many will fall, even though these will escape his control: Edom, Moab, and certain Ammonite officials.

42 He’ll extend his power over other countries, and even the land of Egypt won’t escape.

43 He’ll capture treasures of gold, silver, and all the treasures of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites at his feet.

44 However, reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he’ll march out in great anger, intending to destroy and to desolate many.

45 When he pitches his royal pavilions between the seas facing the mountain of holy Glory, he’ll come to his end, and no one will help him.’” (ISV)

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

The Lawless One

1 Now we ask you, brothers, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, and our gathering together to him,

2 not to be so quickly upset or alarmed when someone claims that we said, either by some spirit, conversation, or letter that the Day of the Lord has already come.

3 Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, for it will not come unless the rebellion takes place first and the man of sin, who is destined for destruction, is revealed.

4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god and object of worship. As a result, he seats himself in the sanctuary of God and himself declares that he is God.

5 Don’t you remember that I repeatedly told you about these things when I was still with you?

6 You know what it is that is now holding him back, so that he will be revealed when his time comes.

7 For the secret of this lawlessness is already at work, but only until the person now holding it back gets out of the way.

8 Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy with the breath of his mouth, rendering him powerless by the manifestation of his coming.

9 The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the power of Satan. He will use every kind of power, including miraculous signs, lying wonders,

10 and every type of evil to deceive those who are dying, those who refused to love the truth that would save them.

11 For this reason, God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie.

12 Then all who have not believed the truth but have taken pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned. (ISV)

What are the identifying characteristics of the Lawless One? It would be good at this point for a Bible student to carefully read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. Read it several times, perhaps in different translations, to thoroughly familiarize themselves with the passage.

Once a Bible student has thoroughly read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, it is possible for them to isolate certain tell-tale attributes of this diabolical force, and work toward a solution as to the identity of the “man of sin.”

Traits of the Man of Sin

Consider the following factors.

The Man of Sin and The Apostasy

The Man of Sin is the ultimate result of the falling away from the faith (v. 3).

The expression “falling away” translates the Greek term apostasia. Our English word “apostasy” is an anglicized form of this original term.

In the Bible, the word is used of a defection from the religion ordained by God. As a noun, it is employed of departure from the Mosaic system (Acts 21:21), and, in this present passage, of defection from Christianity. The verbal form of the term is similarly used in 1 Timothy 4:1 (Hebrews 3:12).

Note also that the noun is qualified by a definite article (the apostasia). A definite movement is in the apostle’s prophetic vision — not merely just the principle of defection.

The Man of Sin Was Yet to Be Revealed

This sinister force, from a first-century vantage point, was yet to be revealed (verse 3).

This appears to suggest that the movement had not evolved to the point where it could be identified definitely by the first century Church. It awaited future development.

The “Man of Lawlessness” and “Son of Perdition”


This persecuting power was designated as the man of sin (verse 3), because sin was its “predominating quality”. This character, referred to in both neuter and masculine genders (verses 6-7), is the son of perdition (verse 3), because its end is to be perdition, i.e., destruction, by the Lord himself (verse

.

The Lawless One


This opponent of God is called the lawless one (verse

. This power has no regard for the law of God. One cannot but be reminded of that infamous “little horn” in Daniel’s vision:

“[H]e shall think to change the times and the law” (Daniel 7:25).

Man of Sin: Opposes God, Exalts Himself, and Sits in the Temple of God

The Man of Sin opposes God and exalts himself against all that is genuinely sacred (verse 4). He feigns godly devotion, but his true character reveals that he is diabolic. His activity actually is according to the working of Satan (verse 9).

In some sense, the Man of Lawlessness will sit in the temple of God (verse 4). The “temple” is not a reference to the Jewish house of worship. The Greek word is naos, used by Paul eight times. Never does he employ this term of the Jewish temple.

In fact, after the death of Christ, the Jewish temple is never again called the temple of God. Rather it is used of the Christian’s body (1 Corinthians 6:19) or of the church as God’s spiritual house (1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; Ephesians 2:21).

The implication of Paul’s warning is this. This unholy being is viewed as being a “church” character.

The expression “sitteth” may hint of unparalleled arrogance. The wording of the text describes the Man of Lawlessness as attempting to exact “divine homage” from people only to be given the Almighty God.

Moreover, this Son of Perdition sets himself forth as God. The present participle (“sets forth continually”) reveals that this presumptive posture is characteristic of the Man of Lawlessness.

This person represents himself as God, either by making claims that belong only to deity; by receiving adoration reserved exclusively for God; or, by usurping prerogatives which only God can accomplish.

Clearly, the Man of Sin is an ecclesiastical character, relating to the Christian Church or its leadership. Recall the description of John’s lamb-like beast in Revelation 13:11?

“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; he had two horns like a lamb, but he sounded like a dragon”. (HCSB)

The Man of Lawlessness Deceives with Lying Miracles

“He deceives those who love not the truth, by virtue of the lying wonders he effects” (verses 9-10).

These “pretended miracles”. These “wonders” are not real in the category of the miracles that Christ performed.

In identifying the Man of Sin, one must thus look for a post-apostolic movement that claims to prove its authenticity by miracles.

Restraining Force to Be Removed

The restraining force eventually would *be taken out of the way”, or, more correctly, “be gone.” And so, the Man of Sin, in “his own season,” would be revealed openly (verses 6, 7).

One must remember that the “little horn” of Daniel’s fourth beast only rose to prominence after three horns were plucked up to make room for it. (Daniel chapter 7)

Too, the earth-beast of John’s vision came into full power after the sea-beast had received a death-stroke but was healed. And so here, the restraining power will give way to the horrible revelation of the Man of Lawlessness.

Man of Sin Continues Until Second Coming

The Man of Lawlessness, though having roots in the world of ancient Christianity (verse 6), would nevertheless endure, in some form or another, until the end of time, i.e., until the Second Coming of Christ.

At that time, he will be destroyed by the Lord’s word of Judgment (verse 8; see also Revelation 19:15). In view of this, the Man of Lawlessness cannot be some persecuting enemy that faded into oblivion centuries ago.

Identity

Some have argued that the Man of Lawlessness is Satan himself. This view cannot be correct. Satan was not a part of “the falling away” (verse 3), and this “lawless one” is said to come “according to the working of Satan” (verse 9), which obviously distinguishes him from Satan personally.

Some allege that no specific power or person(s) are in view. Rather, the apostle merely has personified a principle or idea of evil, which may appear in various forms in different historical periods as an opponent of truth. It may be manifest as Islam, Fascism, Communism, etc.

But this concept does not fit the specific descriptions in this chapter. The text tells of a particular movement, “the falling away” (verse 3). How could this possibly refer to Islam, Communism, etc.? It could not.

Moreover, there are too many personal references within the narrative to dismiss it as mere personification.

Those who contend that all Bible prophecy, including the Second Coming of Christ, was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem argue that the Man of Lawlessness was the “hardened, militant Jewish Zealots.

The concept is totally false. Judaism was no part of “the falling away”.

Moreover, Paul’s prophecy of the Second Coming was not fulfilled in A.D. 70, as evidenced by the fact that Christians were not “gathered together” unto the Lord in connection with Jerusalem’s fall. For this, we still wait in anticipation.

Millennialists (and some others) contend that the Man of Lawlessness “is an individual embodying anti-God power who is still to arise before the future day of the Lord”.

But Paul stated that the “mystery of iniquity,” characteristic of the Man of Lawlessness, was “already at work” (verse 7) in the first century.

The “little horn” mentioned in Daniel Chapter 7 and described in Daniel 12:36-45, Paul’s “Man of Lawlessness” mentioned in 2 Thessalonians, and “the beast” of the book of Revelation chapter 13 have much in common and seem to testify in concert regarding a force comprised of a group that have fallen away from true worship in modern times.
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Watchtower Organization Was Founded On Racist Beliefs

Posted by Brother John Jones on August 31, 2020
Posted in: Antichrist, Bible Standards, ex-jehovah's witnesses, faith, false prophet, God and Christ, governing body, Jehovah, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus, logic, mark of the beast, operation of error, pure religion, Religion, religion. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

Charles Taze Russell’s Racist Views Printed in Watchtower Publications

“It is generally believed that the curse which Noah pronounced upon Canaan was the origin of the black race. Certain it is that when Noah said, “Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren,” he pictured the future of the Colored race. They have been and are a race of servants, but now in the dawn of the twentieth century, we are all coming to see this matter of service in its true light and to find that the only real joy in life is in serving others; not bossing them. There is no servant in the world as good as a good Colored servant, and the joy that he gets from rendering faithful service is one of the purest joys there is in the world”.
(The Golden Age, July 24, 1929, p. 702)

The quote above is but one of many comments that can be found on the pages of Watchtower publications that reveal the racist beliefs of its founder and subsequent leaders.

 

Multi-cultural at its ase and middle, but exclusively anglo at the top.

While today boasting to have millions of adherents world-wide, the make up of its leadership at the top has alway been caucasian.

Its hard to believe that out of all these millions that either holy spirit or the Lord would not grace men of other races to serve in the capacity of leadership as the so-called governing body of ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses nor that of ‘President’

The information in this article can e easily verify by anyone who would care to investigate its factuality and validity.

Reprint of July\Aug 1988 Bethel Min. Newsletter

Blacks and the Watchtower

Randall Watters

By Randall Watters (exerpt)

(Randall Watters left the Jehovah’s Witnesses during the 1980 shake-up of the New York Watchtower Headquarters)

Few religious organizations have escaped being tainted by racial prejudice at one time or another. While the Watchtower has not been alone in its preferential treatment of the Caucasian, its history is perhaps a little more interesting and at times amusing in regards to the black man. It is all the more fascinating when you discover how few people really know what the Watchtower has taught regarding racial inferiority.

Taking a glimpse back in time to the beginnings of the Watchtower organization, we find more than just silent prejudice at work. Several statements were put in print regarding the alleged inferiority of the black man! Let’s examine a few of these statements from the past, and then we’ll examine their present view of blacks and even Hispanics in the Governing Body.

From the beginning, President C. T. Russell believed that the millennial kingdom was about to break upon mankind, accompanied by life in paradise and a restoration of the earth to the condition as found in the garden of Eden. Though in this present life the black man was found to be inferior, Russell argues, this will work to his advantage during the millennium. Humility, promoted by a position of inferiority, would breed strength of character to the “colored” if they are so rightly exercised by it (in other words, if they remain humble and not challenge the status quo). Note the following from the April 1, 1914 Watchtower:

“If nature favors the colored brethren and sisters in the exercise of humility it is that much to their advantage, if they are rightly exercised by it. A little while, and our humility will work out for our good. A little while, and those who have been faithful to their Covenant of Sacrifice will be granted new bodies, spiritual, beyond the veil, where color and sex distinctions will be no more. A little while, and the Millennial kingdom will be inaugurated, which will bring restitution to all mankind, restitution to the perfection of mind and body, feature and color, to the grand original standard, which God declared “very good,” and which was lost for a time through sin, but which is soon to be restored by the powerful kingdom of Messiah”.
(p. 105106)

All men privileged to live in that “new world” would return to man’s original state, including man’s original color and language. And what was that color and language? White and Hebrew, according to the Watchtower. Under the subheading, “CAN THE ETHIOPIAN CHANGE HIS SKIN?”, the Feb. 15, 1904 Watch Tower responds,

“We answer, No. But all will admit that what the Ethiopian cannot do for himself God could readily do for him. The difference between the races of men and the differences between their languages have long been arguments against the solidarity of the human family. The doctrine of restitution has also raised the question. How could all men be brought to perfection and which color of skin was the original? The answer is now provided. God can change the Ethiopian’s skin in his own due time”.

Prof. H. A. Edwards, Supt. of Schools in Slater, Mo., has written for the public press an elaborate description of how Julius Jackson, of New Frankfurt, Mo., a negro boy of nine years, began to grow white in September, 1901, and is now fully ninetenths white. He assures us that this is no whitish skin disease; but that the new white skin is as healthy as that of any white boy, and that the changed boy has never been sick and never has taken medicines”.
(p.5253)

The reason for printing such a story, of course, is to demonstrate that God can and will change the “Ethiopian” (black man) into a white man in the New World.

The obvious question to ask at this point is, Why does the black man need to change? The reason they gave revealed their true feelings, as we see from the following excerpts:

“…The negro race is supposed to be descended from Ham, whose special degradation is mentioned in Gen. 9:22, 25”.
(Zion’s Watch Tower, August 1, 1898, p. 230)

“Noah declared, prophetically, that Ham’s characteristics which had led him to unseemly conduct disrespectful to his father, would be found cropping out later, inherited by his son,and prophetically he foretold that this degeneracy would mark the posterity of Canaan, degrading him, making him servile. We are not able to determine to a certainty that the sons of Ham and Canaan are the negroes; but we consider that general view as probable as any other”.
(Zion’s Watch Tower, July 15, 1902, p. 216)

The change was needed as a sign of removal of the curse; black skin was a blemish, so to speak. Yet the skin color of the black man was not the only thing about him that was apparently cursed. In an article attempting to prove the bigots of the day to be in error, an article was written entitled, “The Negro Not A Beast.” The Negro was declared to be indeed human, yet with the following qualification:

“While it is true that the white race exhibits some qualities of superiority over any other, we are to remember that there are wide differences in the same Caucasian (Semitic and Aryan) family; and also we should remember that some of the qualities which have given this branch of the human family its preeminence in the world are not such as can be pointed to as in all respects admirable….The secret of the greater intelligence and aptitude of the Caucasian undoubtedly in great measure is to be attributed to the commingling of blood amongst its various branches; and this was evidently forced in large measure by circumstances under divine control”.
(Zion’s Watch Tower, July 15, 1902, p.215216)

In an effort to provide hope for the Negro, the following story was related in the Zion’s Watch Tower of October 1, 1900, p. 296297:

CAN RESTITUTION CHANGE?

THE ETHIOPIAN’S SKIN?

The following, from the New York World, is the third we have seen reported. These suggest and illustrate the process of restitution soon due. The item reads:

From Black to White He Slowly Turned

“Parkersburg, W. Va., Sept. 8.It has fallen to the lot of the Rev. William H. Draper, pastor of the Logan Memorial church, of Washington Conference, A.M.E. church, of this town, to give a living affirmative answer to the famous Biblical question, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots?”

Though once as black as charcoal, the Rev. Mr. Draper is now white. His people say that his color was changed in answer to prayer. Many years ago Draper was employed by a fairskinned man, and he was often heard to remark that if he could only be white like his employer, he would be happy. While in the white man’s service Draper `experienced’ religion.

From that day forward he prayed constantly and fervently that he might become white. Thirty years ago his prayer began to be answered. He first experienced a prickling sensation on his face, and upon close investigation found a number of small white spots scarcely larger than the point of a pin. He became alarmed, thinking he had some peculiar disease but he did not suffer and aside from the prickling sensation felt nothing unusual. Gradually the white spots became larger and extended themselves, until now, after the change has been in progress for over thirty years, Draper has not a single dark spot on his body”.

(Did this kind of thinking lead Michael Jackson, the famous deceased entertainer who was a member of ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses to ‘whitenize’ his skin? Did he feel inferior by having dark skin?)

The advantage of being viewed as inferior supposedly made one a good servant, and The Golden Age magazine (now Awake!), comments:

“It is generally believed that the curse which Noah pronounced upon Canaan was the origin of the black race. Certain it is that when Noah said, “Cursed be Canaan, a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren,” he pictured the future of the Colored race. They have been and are a race of servants, but now in the dawn of the twentieth century, we are all coming to see this matter of service in its true light and to find that the only real joy in life is in serving others; not bossing them. There is no servant in the world as good as a good Colored servant, and the joy that he gets from rendering faithful service is one of the purest joys there is in the world”.
(The Golden Age, July 24, 1929, p. 702)

Even as recent as 1952, the Watchtower extols the “teachableness” of the Negro:

“Really, our colored brothers have a great cause for rejoicing. Their race is meek and teachable, and from it comes a high percentage of the theocratic increase“.
(The Watchtower, Feb. 1, 1952, p. 95)

Segregation was practiced during the days of C. T. Russell and even into Rutherford’s term as president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. This excerpt is taken from The Watch Tower of April 1, 1914, p. 105:

“Recognizing that it meant either the success or the failure of the enterprise of the [Photo] Drama as respects the whites, we have been compelled to assign the colored friends to the gallery, which, however, is just as good for seeing and hearing as any other part of The Temple. Some were offended at this arrangement.

We have received numerous letters from the colored friends, some claiming that it is not right to make a difference, others indignantly and bitterly denouncing us as enemies of the colored people. Some, confident that Brother Russell had never sanctioned such a discrimination, told that they believe it would be duty to stand up for equal rights and always to help the oppressed, etc. We were obliged to explain the facts, assuring all of our loving interest in the colored people, and of our desire to do them good, and not injury. We again suggested that if a suitable place could be found in which the Drama could be presented for the benefit of the colored people alone, we would be glad to make such arrangements, or to cooperate with any others in doing so”.

Intellectual Ability

Even more fascinating is the Watchtower’s early view of the lesser interest and intelligence of the Black and Hispanic races concerning the deeper things of the Bible. The Watchtower of April 15, 1900 said the following regarding blacks not participating in the “pioneer” work:

“There are probably as many as a hundred colored brethren on the Watch Tower lists, some of them very clear in the truth, and very earnest in its service, financially and otherwise. We have received letters from several of these, who had intended engaging in the volunteer work, expressing surprise that in the call for volunteers in the March 1st issue we restricted the inquiry to white Protestant churches. They rightly realized that we have not the slightest of race prejudice, and that we love the colored brethren with just the same warmth of heart that we love the white, and they queried therefore why such a distinction should be made in the call. The reason is that so far as we are able to judge, colored people have less education than whites, many of them quite insufficient to permit them to profit by such reading as we have to give forth. Our conclusion therefore is based upon the supposition that reading matter distributed to a colored congregation would more than half of it be utterly wasted, and a very small percentage indeed likely to yield good results”. (p. 122)

The average Jehovah’s Witness today that is confronted with this information would probably excuse the organization of being in error because “the light was dim” back then but that now the “light has gotten brighter and brighter,” and those days are long gone. It is true that times and attitudes have changed. Yet we should not be too hasty in concluding that the Watchtower has fully abandoned their old mentality. It was made known to me in 1977 while I was in charge of the printing of the Watchtower’s large Bible encyclopedia, the Aid to Bible Understanding, that it was not translated and printed in Spanish partly due to the lack of interest of the Spanish brothers in the deeper things of the Word! The feeling was that all that work would only go to waste among Hispanics.

Typical of the “Watchtower amnesia” regarding their own past history, they act today as if they never taught any prejudicial views, and that only the churches of Christendom are guilty of such things. Yet even the Catholic Church surpasses them in this regard! The Watchtower of Oct. 8, 1977 states:

“Even up to a hundred years ago the Catholic Church held the view that blacks were cursed by God”.

Maxwell explains that this view “apparently survived until 1873 when Pope Pius IX attached an indulgence to a prayer for the `wretched Ethiopians in Central Africa that almighty God may at length remove the curse of Cham [Ham] from their hearts.”
(p. 29. See also the 2/8/82 WT, p.1415.)

According to what the Watchtower is saying, the Catholic Church dropped their official prejudice against the black man at least 40 years before they did! Of course, they are banking on the fact that few Witnesses really know the history of the Watchtower organization. As has been demonstrated earlier, they viewed the curse of Ham as applying to the Negro as late as 1929!

Have Old Things Really Passed Away?

The Watchtower of modern times prides itself on its supposed freedom from racial prejudice as an organization (it does acknowledge individuals who have problems from time to time). It takes great delight in quoting the news media as they observe and comment on the massive assemblies across the world each year, with peoples from all races attending in harmony.

One observer they repeatedly quoted was G. Norman Eddy, who comments on Jehovah’s Witnesses:

“I am struck with their genuine high regard for the people of all races. Unlike some who pay lip service to the doctrine of racial brotherhood, the Witnesses welcome all to their society, even to places of outstanding leadership without reference to color or feature”.
(Journal of Bible and Religion, as quoted in the Jan. 15, 1973 WT, p. 37)

It is true that the assemblies of Jehovah’s Witnesses are remarkable in this regard, but so are many modern church groups across the country, especially among the charismatic persuasions. Yet unlike the churches, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses has never had a non Caucasian in its membership, Negro, Hispanic or otherwise. (Samuel F. Herd was appointed to the governing body October 2, 1999 USA)

One non caucasian member in its entire history

Further, there are likely more subtle reasons behind the reluctance of the Governing Body to take in minorities. The unspoken requirements of serving as a member of the Governing Body apparently include having the same eccentricities and Victorian attitudes as the men already serving in such capacities, which are somewhat peculiar to certain older Caucasians of English-American descent. Any aspiring soul brother must put on the same attitudes in order to be trusted. While the Watchtower does have a few blacks in high position, including Circuit Overseers and members of the Service Department at Bethel, such ones have been promoted no higher, in spite of their adopting “white” attitudes. Perhaps with increased public pressure and the passing away of the older diehards, a black may be appointed to the Governing Body; time will tell. One thing for sure, they will have to lose their “soul” in order to do so!

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Why Was Jerusalem Likened To Sodom?

Posted by Brother John Jones on August 26, 2020
Posted in: Antichrist, apostasy, faith, God and Christ, Heaven, Jehovah, Jesus, operation of error, Religion, terrorism. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

“And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Revelation 11:8

 

Sodom was a city full of injustices written in their laws.

Sodomite laws were completely backward and rewarded wrongdoing.

Details can be found in the Book of Jasher, Hebrew: סֵפֶר הַיׇּשׇׁר‎.

The Book of Jasher is referenced In Joshua 10:13; 2 Samuel 1:18; And 2 Timothy 3:8.

The following are some examples of the perverted sense of justice of the inhabitants of Sodom.

When Abraham sent his servant Eliezer to Sodom, this is what occurred:

Jasher 19:12-22

12. And Eliezer went to Sodom, and he met a man of Sodom fighting with a stranger, and the man of Sodom stripped the poor man of all his clothes and went away.

13. And this poor man cried to Eliezer and supplicated his favor on account of what the man of Sodom had done to him.

14. And he said to him, Why dost thou act thus to the poor man who came to thy land?

15. And the man of Sodom answered Eliezer, saying, Is this man thy brother, or have the people of Sodom made thee a judge this day, that thou speakest about this man?

16. And Eliezer strove with the man of Sodom on account of the poor man, and when Eliezer approached to recover the poor man’s clothes from the man of Sodom, he hastened and with a stone smote Eliezer in the forehead.

17. And the blood flowed copiously from Eliezer’s forehead, and when the man saw the blood he caught hold of Eliezer, saying, Give me my hire for having rid thee of this bad blood that was in thy forehead, for such is the custom and the law in our land.

18. And Eliezer said to him, Thou hast wounded me and requirest me to pay thee thy hire; and Eliezer would not hearken to the words of the man of Sodom.

19. And the man laid hold of Eliezer and brought him to Shakra the judge of Sodom for judgment.

20. And the man spoke to the judge, saying, I beseech thee my lord, thus has this man done, for I smote him with a stone that the blood flowed from his forehead, and he is unwilling to give me my hire.

21. And the judge said to Eliezer, This man speaketh truth to thee, give him his hire, for this is the custom in our land; and Eliezer heard the words of the judge, and he lifted up a stone and smote the judge, and the stone struck on his forehead, and the blood flowed copiously from the forehead of the judge, and Eliezer said, If this then is the custom in your land give thou unto this man what I should have given him, for this has been thy decision, thou didst decree it.

22. And Eliezer left the man of Sodom with the judge, and he went away.

Imagine being legally forced to pay someone for assaulting you as if they had done you a favor!

One of their laws for instance, forbade its residents to offer assistance to travelers who passed through the city. If one was caught even giving a traveler a drink of water or a morsel of bread, the punishment was death. This is what happened to a daughter of Lot:

Consider Jasher 19:12-24-35

24 At that time the wife of Lot bare him a daughter, and he called her name Paltith, saying, Because God had delivered him and his whole household from the kings of Elam; and Paltith daughter of Lot grew up, and one of the men of Sodom took her for a wife.

25 And a poor man came into the city to seek a maintenance, and he remained in the city some days, and all the people of Sodom caused a proclamation of their custom not to give this man a morsel of bread to eat, until he dropped dead upon the earth, and they did so.

26 And Paltith the daughter of Lot saw this man lying in the streets starved with hunger, and no one would give him any thing to keep him alive, and he was just upon the point of death.

27 And her soul was filled with pity on account of the man, and she fed him secretly with bread for many days, and the soul of this man was revived.

28 For when she went forth to fetch water she would put the bread in the water pitcher, and when she came to the place where the poor man was, she took the bread from the pitcher and gave it him to eat; so she did many days.

29 And all the people of Sodom and Gomorrah wondered how this man could bear starvation for so many days.

30 And they said to each other, This can only be that he eats and drinks, for no man can bear starvation for so many days or live as this man has, without even his countenance changing; and three men concealed themselves in a place where the poor man was stationed, to know who it was that brought him bread to eat.

31 And Paltith daughter of Lot went forth that day to fetch water, and she put bread into her pitcher of water, and she went to draw water by the poor man’s place, and she took out the bread from the pitcher and gave it to the poor man and he ate it.

32 And the three men saw what Paltith did to the poor man, and they said to her, It is thou then who hast supported him, and therefore has he not starved, nor changed in appearance nor died like the rest.

33 And the three men went out of the place in which they were concealed, and they seized Paltith and the bread which was in the poor man’s hand.

34 And they took Paltith and brought her before their judges, and they said to them, Thus did she do, and it is she who supplied the poor man with bread, therefore did he not die all this time; now therefore declare to us the punishment due to this woman for having transgressed our law.

35 And the people of Sodom and Gomorrah assembled and kindled a fire in the street of the city, and they took the woman and cast her into the fire and she was burned to ashes.

Sodomites were completely and demonically backward in their reasoning or more accurately, their lack of reasoning.

Most people think of Sodom in terms of gross sexual immorality; and it was. But their sins were even more extensive.

Remember that God had condemned the City to destruction prior to the two angels arrival after which the men of the city demanded they be brought out to them.

Sodom, according to the Book of Jasher, was a city where adultery (wife swapping) was also a custom. Orgies seemed to big a favorite pastime.

They also tortured strangers when they would happen through:

Jasher 19:3-10

And by desire of their four judges the people of Sodom and Gomorrah had beds erected in the streets of the cities, and if a man came to these places they laid hold of him and brought him to one of their beds, and by force made him to lie in them.

4 And as he lay down, three men would stand at his head and three at his feet, and measure him by the length of the bed, and if the man was less than the bed these six men would stretch him at each end, and when he cried out to them they would not answer him.

5 And if he was longer than the bed they would draw together the two sides of the bed at each end, until the man had reached the gates of death.

6 And if he continued to cry out to them, they would answer him, saying, Thus shall it be done to a man that cometh into our land.

7 And when men heard all these things that the people of the cities of Sodom did, they refrained from coming there.

God and Christ compared Jerusalem to Sodom.

Jerusalem was never known as a city of gross sexual immorality. So on what basis was the comparison made?

God stated the sin of Sodom and it can be read at Ezekiel 16:49:

49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
Now we have a basis for comparison.

God declared that the sins of Judah, whose capital was Jerusalem were worse than those of the break away ten tribe kingdom to its north whose capital was Samaria. And that they were even worse than those of Sodom.

And Jesus made a similar comment regarding Jerusalem two times. Once when alive on Earth and a second time after his resurrection to Heaven.


When sending out the 70 disciples to minister ahead of his coming to the towns and villages, this is what he said:

Luke 10:1-14

1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.

7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:

9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,

11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.

And Christ did so again at the time he gave his prophetic vision to John. He then likens Jerusalem to Sodom:

Revelation 11:8

8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Many believe that the “great city” that is mentioned here is the same great city mentioned in Revelation 16:19, “Babylon the Great”. But it could not be. Why not?

He gives a clue that he is speaking of Jerusalem as he refers to it as the place “where our Lord was crucified”.

The crowd of Israelites who demanded the death of an innocent man in exchange for the release of a guilty murder is very reminiscent of the mindset and behavior of the Sodomites.

Matthew 27:15–18 records the events:

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”

“‘Which of the two do you want me to release for you?’ And they said, ‘Barabbas’”

Jesus had been accused of crimes that could not be proven and were in fact based on a false allegation.

Then there was Barabbas who was basically a terrorist.

The crowd chose a murderer over the one who brings the dead back to life.

They chose evil over the one who loves perfectly.

Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, but the crowds roared to free Barabbas and to crucify Jesus.

It is true that God used this travesty of justice to fulfill his will in that it provided an innocent, pure sacrificial offering to redeem mankind.

This did not relieve his murderers from guilt.

Consider for yourself in what ways the people of Israel (Jerusalem ) manifested a spirit and behaviors like those Sodom was condemned for and how its modern day counterpart is just as reprehensible.

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FINDING YOUR WAY THROUGH SATAN’S LABYRINTH

Posted by Brother John Jones on April 19, 2019
Posted in: Antichrist, Babylon, Babylonian confusion, Bible Standards, false prophet, God and Christ, governing body, Heaven, Jehovah, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus, logic, pure religion, Religion, the great harlot, tower of babel. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

 

“But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil”

Why sharpen your reasoning abilities now?

When you hear the words ‘Reason’ and ‘Logic’, what do you think?

Some people immediately are put off by the suggestion that we need to logically reason on matters. They somehow view logic as something foreign to “spirituality’.

The Bible teaches that God Almighty is a ‘God of Reason’. He is the One that designed us to have the capability to reason. Why would He create us with this ability if we were not to be expected to use it?

“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;”

1 Peter 3:15

How can a person make a defense of their Christian faith unless they have based their faith on clear evidence and have reasoned on that evidence?

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.”

Isaiah 1:18

Almighty God himself encourages reasoning; even reasoning with Him. God certainly does not discourage a person from using the power of reason.

“Put Me in remembrance, let us argue our case together; State your cause, that you may be proved right.”

Isaiah 43:26

Our beliefs should be tested. God challenges to us to “state our cause” and defend it.

“Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”

Acts 17:1-3

The earliest disciples of Jesus Christ reasoned with those they preached to, “giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead”. Evidence is found by ‘reasoning’ on facts.

“When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.”

1 Corinthians 13:11

Paul was not satisfied with his current state of personal and spiritual growth and continued to advance through life in personal and spiritual growth. He no longer continued, to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9

Since God’s thoughts are “higher” than our thoughts, it should be obvious that we need to sharpen what reasoning ability we do have, in order to appreciate the higher and more lofty thoughts of God.

“For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,”

Romans 2:14-15

Using the Holy Bible as a ‘test rod’ to determine whether our thoughts and behaviors are consistent with the will of God or they are not, will either defend our spiritual stance or condemn it. The above Scripture also points out that reason affects everyone’s life; including the unbeliever.

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. “If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land;” Isaiah 1:18-19

Here is a clear invitation by God to reason. Not just to ‘reason’; but to reason with Him.

‘mixing’ and ‘confusion’ are hallmark characteristics associated with Babylon

 

Babylonian Traits of Behavior

When examining the pattern of ancient Babylon and then comparing the traits found in modern “Babylon the Great”, the subject of ‘reason’ plays a significant role.

God put the workers of the Tower of Babel into a ‘confused’ state to break up their works and scatter them. Since they were no longer able to converse because their languages had been confused, they could not continue their plan. They were unable to ‘reason’ with one another.

God caused Nebuchaneezzar to think like an unreasoning beast

Later in Daniel’s time, God caused King Nebuchadnezzar to go and live as the ‘unreasoning’ beast of the fields for 7 years.

He exhibited the behaviors of like a ‘wild beast’ and he thought unreasonably.

Today, we see humankind on a grand scale behaving in a confused, unreasoning manner. They think and act as the unreasoning wild beast do. What occurred at the Tower of Babel and what occurred to Nebuchadnezzar is now happening to all who remain under a demonic spell that the devil has cast.

Many will claim that they have ‘escaped’ “Babylon the Great”. But reason says that that cannot be true. While many have escaped the clutches of false worship, they have not escaped the global-reach of Satan’s influence. His influence effects more than organized religion. Babylon the Great is a ‘world empire’ just a the nation of Babylon was.

It was not until King Cyrus came and overthrew the Babylonians that the captives were freed.

There is a big distinction between being ‘free’ from the corruption of the devil’s empire by “not touching the unclean thing”, and being out from under its global influence and its ability to affect you.

So, we remain physical captives of Satan’s global empire until the time the “Greater Cyrus” who is the resurrected, glorified Jesus Christ comes and breaks forever the Babylonian yoke of slavery.

A person cannot simply ‘walk’ out of “Babylon the Great” any more than one could simply walk out of Babylon. One cannot just simply, “get away”. Was that to be expected then? Think of Jesus words in the Revelation He gave to John.

In the vision Christ Jesus gave to John that is recorded as the Book of Revelation, it opens by stating that John was by Spirit, “put into seeing symbolic events that referred to the Day of the Lord, the Day of his Second Coming, the Last Days.

Revelation chapter 2

9 “I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of God’s word and the testimony about Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

So those involved in this messages Christ is giving are souls alive at this time. And also given that these are messages to the “angels” of the churches, then the condition apply to these body members of the church.

In His words to the church in Pergamum, Jesus describes their environment and their current living circumstances clearly.

Revelation chapter 2:

12 “Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum:

“The One who has the sharp, double-edged sword says: 13 I know where you live—where Satan’s throne is! And you are holding on to My name and did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days of Antipas, My faithful witness who was killed among you, where Satan lives.”

The Lord indicates an ongoing struggle against ungodly thinking and behavior in an extremely vulnerable proximity to the center of the devil’s operation. He did not instruct them to move somewhere else. Being under the dominance and control of the city-state world empire Babylon did not require one to be within the city’s ‘official’ walls where the throne of the king was. Being near the devil’s center of activity is no different from being on the far-flung edges of his empire Babylon the Great.

‘Babylon the Great’, the Demon-Controlled World Empire

Satan is the ruler of the present global system

3 But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4

Babylon the Great is a pervasive demon-inspired Global Culture. This demon-controlled World Empire controls governmental authority, exchange of goods, and set the ethical/moral/social norms.

That power continues to exist and exert itself on ALL of humankind. A key to it’s powerful hold is the element of ‘Blackmail’.

This scenario is well depicted in the Book of Revelation and it is quite recognizable. It is significant as its pattern is followed through, being acted out in the social behavior of human beings.

This form of ‘enslavement’ (the wild beast is enslaved to the harlot against its own will) exist throughout the world from top highest governmental relationships all the way through society to relationships among individual family members in the confined quarters of a single home. The whole world lies in the power of the “wicked one”.

The snare of entrapment centers on personal desire for immoral things and then the desire to hide one’s complicity (sin) so as not to suffer loss.

A person then falls into a baited trap: seduction, compromised interest, secrets that must remain secrets, and blackmailed into submission.

She holds these secret liaisons over the heads of the kings of the earth and then blackmail them into obedience.

As you look at the illustration, try to appreciate how pervasive and manipulative this wicked spirit has been and how widely blackmail is practiced today over millions, controlling great masses of people.

Surely, the wild beast has great cause to hate the mysterious Great Harlot that sits astride it’s back.

 

 

The “Wormwood” Effect

Wormwood is a result of mixing pure water (truth) with poison (lie). That is a process of adding something to something else.

The pure water is the knowledge from God received from accepting the Holy Scriptures as written. Drinking this knowledge itself requires no special powers of discernment. It only requires acceptance of what is written.

Wormwood is the adding of spurious teachings that distort the pattern of teachings one learns from reading God’s word the Bible. It results in a mixed ‘cup’ of knowledge.

Wormwood applies much more broadly than religious/specific teachings. Wormwood poisoning can be seen in all social settings humans engage in. The lacing of truth with lie is found everywhere.

The best admonition is that each person individually, pay attention to the ‘water source’ they are drinking from.

The pure knowledge of God will not make you doubt or be confused.

This poison water flows from out of the demonic kingdom of confusion, Babylon. Its purpose is to make a person question their own perception of reality and the foundation of their faith. Its purpose is to cause doubt, unsurety, and indecisiveness.

Two books offer the Watchtower’s most in-depth considerations of its interpretation of the Book of Revelation. These are “Babylon the Great has Fallen, God’s Kingdom Rules” and “Revelation-The Grand Climax is at Hand!”.

Watchtower study publications

The Identity of “Babylon the Great”

The identity and scope of “Babylon the Great” is being revealed as the unfolding of events and circumstance reveal it. The word ‘revelation’ literally infers an unfolding exposé.

What was once considered to be correct conclusions of Babylon the Greats’ identity and nature must now be reconsidered.

As a child studying the “Babylon the Great has Fallen” book (mid 1960’s), I wondered how man could get rid of all religious worship in opposition to the true God. It was taught for decades that the United Nations was the “wild beast” in the Revelation to John and it would destroy all false worship.

I could not imagine how a group of humans could possibly accomplish this feat and how long it would take them to do it.

How do you destroy false religion without destroying the people who practice it? False worship isn’t buildings like cathedrals. It’s people and their practices.

It would require a house by house search of the entire world!

Much religious is secretive and not practiced in open sight. As the Bible testifies, people have gone to great lengths to practice pagan rituals. They did so from roof tops to remote sites in the woods according to Scripture.

Recall that in early human history it was customary for individuals to keep personal idols to false gods upon their person and in their homes.

Think of what that would take to stop false worship globally. False worship is practiced in every inhabited place on earth!

The belief Jehovah’s Witnesses have that all false worship will be destroyed before the end comes, is based on the phrase they have heard repeated over and over again in their publications and talks: “Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion”.

This statement cannot be found in Scripture and makes Babylon the Great synonymous to and limited to organized false religious worship.

Given that mankind is on the brink of self-destruction, the vastness of the task of stopping false worship, and the time it would take to accomplish this feat if even possible…it seems quite implausible.

After the “beast” has turned upon it’s rider the Great Harlot, those remaining will still be worshiping the chief demon and his demon angels. This attack results only in a change in the hierarchy of demon authority and it’s control structure. Satan’s system is based on competition and a pyramidal scramble to it’s top.

In the Revelation, the dragon (Satan) gives his power to the beast and it this beast that is the object of worship.

4 They worshiped the dragon because he gave authority to the beast. And they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to wage war against him?” Revelation 13:4

It is not the rider, the Great Whore, who is the object of worship.

Since the beast has the power, the question arises: How does the harlot who sits astride the beast maintain control over it; the beast being more powerful?

It is by seduction, secrets, and blackmail.

So long as the demons are in power there will continue to be ‘false worship’.

That will not end until our Messiah, Jesus Christ, returns and cast the demons out of this realm of existence.

It would be good to re-examine your thoughts on this matter.

Failure to Grasp the Understanding of End Time Prophecy

You may be familiar with the Watchtower publication, “Revelation, Its Grand Climax At Hand!”. It was first published in 1984 and was offered to the public, as well as used as an internal study tool for over 20 years.

This book was being studied by Jehovah’s Witnesses in their weekly book study (book study is their choice of words) up until as recently as the year 2007.

So, attempting to prognosticate Biblical prophecy by the Watchtower is not something in the distant past as they are now claiming. They are simply attempting to cover over their past.

If you can obtain a copy of this book, you will probably be amazed at some of Watchtower’s interpretation of the Book of Revelation and its fulfillment.

Who are the “locust” mentioned in Revelation 9?

An example would be the interpretation of Revelation chapter 9 concerning the “locust” released from the abyss by a “falling star” or fallen angel (see Revelation 9:1).

“And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.”
Revelation 9:3

The Watchtower Society teaches that the locust described in Revelation chapter 9, were their spiritual leaders in 1919 A.D.

(See “Revelation Its Grand Climax At Hand!” pages 143-154)

Revelation 9:1 tells us that the locust were released by a “falling star” or a fallen angel. So, they are attributing their rescue from an “abyss of spiritual inactivity” in 1919 to a demon.

The locust were permitted to torment only those that did not have the “seal of the living God.”

If these locusts really pictured the anointed brothers of Christ, they would not have had to be instructed not to “harm” one another?

Fooled by as John puts it, “what ‘seemed’ to be gold crowns on their heads, the Watchtower leaders have assumed that the locust must be righteous. They saw these as the kingly crowns to be yet granted to the elect. (page 146)

They have based interpretations of Revelation chapter 9 on what is written later in Revelation chapter 20. That is a huge mistake. In Revelation 20, the circumstances have changed.

Revelation 20:1 refers to a later time when another angel is seen “coming down (not falling down) holding in his hand the key to the abyss”. At this time, that authority will have been returned to the One that has been given authority over all things at the End.

They teach that this latter angel is the same angel who has authority over the abyss in Chapter 9 (Abaddon, “The Destroyer”). That is an assumption.

Revelation chapter 9 is about fallen angels, jurisdictions under their control, and demonic activities. It has nothing at all to do with righteous activities direct by Christ.

Who are the Locust? What do They Do?

As noted in reading, Revelation chapter 9 foretells of the unleashing on humankind of ‘locust’ by a fallen angel called “the Destroyer”.

These demon spirits have been unleashed and they orchestrate anarchy by permitting people and groups of people to act out in anti-social, disruptive behaviors.

This is occurring on a global scale.

Today the grossly mentally ill wander the streets of community behaving in both bizarre and socially disruptive manners. Yet it is tolerated. Why? It is to plague and torment human society.

Criminals dangerous to society at large are released from prison unreformed back into communities. Yet it is tolerated. Plagued severely as the Revelation to John foretold, yet they refuse to repent and turn away from worshipping demons. Yet it is tolerated. Why? Again, it is to plague and torment human society.

It is obvious to most reasoning people that to allow these things is causing social disruption and dysfunction…the goal of anarchist. Their intent is to destroy the social fabric of humanity as Satan’s goal is to disrupt and destroy the fabric of creation.

Have they (the Watchtower Organization) been guided by ‘true’ spiritual light shed by Christ? Evidently not. He would not have led them to confusion and unholy acts.

Progressive understanding is much like a vision-scene that is crystallizing.

Increasing light as the day advances clarifies a dull image. What is in darkness appearing unclear, becomes solidly distinguishable in brighter light.

Example: If someone appears to be Abraham Lincoln in low light, bright light should not reveal that it was Donald Duck all along that they were looking at!

Increased understanding is not a totally new understanding.

When your views/beliefs morph into something different, that isn’t the light getting brighter at all; that is a change to something else unlike what you saw at first.

However this is the reasoning the Watchtower’s defenders use; which is the so-called reasoning used by all false prophets when their predictions fail to materialize.

Is the Bible all symbolism?

The Literal vs the Symbolic:

Is Armageddon a Real War?

Armageddon is God’s Holy war of Divine intervention into this realm. It is a supernatural event. Holy Scripture calls it, “the Great Day of God the Almighty”. Note Psalm 2:2

“The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together
against the LORD and against his Messiah.”
(Psalm 2:2)

This war is wage by spirit creatures against real creatures (angels) cast from that supernatural dimension of creation, Heaven and these fallen angel’s human subjects.

Armageddon is a war to rid creation of these creatures and their seed in fleshly, human form.

Falsely defining the nature of the “Great war of God the Almighty” as an internal struggle among elements currently present in this realm, denies the necessity of Divine intervention to overthrow the devil. It also denies the need for Jesus, who is also real and not symbolic, to come and set creation free.

Ask yourself: At the end of what you see and have defined Armageddon to be, where will Satan and his demons be standing?

How and at what point are these wicked angels fought against and conquered literally?

Symbolic speech is used to describe ‘real’ things. Symbolic speech is not for the purpose of creating more symbolism. At what point does one understand and accept what the Bible says literally?

The ongoing spiritual struggle is preliminary to battle of Armageddon and cannot bring what only Christ can bring by fighting and winning.

The demons desire that those seeking to follow the will of God to be unsure, doubtful and confused. The Bible warns to not be turned aside by some ‘new’ teaching or interpretation. But we are to keep with the true gospel that we received by Spirit at the first.

How many of us were taught or have believed that Armageddon is anything other than described in the Bible and here?

The devil and his fellow fallen angels were ousted from Heaven as a result of war. They had to be thrown out.

They are not liking to surrender or go quietly from this realm either; especially knowing what their final destiny to be.

Armageddon is a war involving real spirit creatures, angels, in real combat. It is not symbolic of something occurring internally amongst the affairs of man and it is not a war of words among human beings as some are teaching. It is not telling of truth to conquer lies.

Wormwood affects ALL available knowledge and it is not limited to religious matters alone.

Struggling Against Demonic Attacks and Demonic Influences

 

At this time just before the conclusion of the system of things, the chosen children of God are under extreme harassment by the chief demon, Satan the devil (Daniel 7:25). As the prophet Daniel saw, he would orchestrate events in such a way as to confuse and disorient the chosen ones so that they would not be perceptive as to where they stand in the stream of events and times according to God. That prophecy assures that he would have certain success in doing so for a period. But not for the complete period as it would be cut short and interrupted.

These things are concerning the last days or the conclusion of the system of things. That is borne out by the words of the following verses that could only pertain to the end times:

“He will speak words against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals and laws, and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.

But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away, to be completely destroyed forever.

The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’

“This is the end of the interpretation. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.” Daniel 7:25-28 HCSB

Satan’s deception is fully at work now and explains the many competing opinions of where we stand in conjunction with the End. Most people have either been waiting so long that they are unsure why things are “delaying”. While others have convinced themselves by their own observations that this or that needs to occur, so it couldn’t be now.

The Lord will catch them because it was that they relied on their own perceptive powers. They are inattentive and will be caught asleep. But God’s children are not like these.

Added to this are the torments that this wicked world inflicts on all who will not conform and submit to it and the devil.

The artifacts of the occult and demonology are embedded or emblazoned everywhere one can see. They are on all the high places as much today as they were in ancient times. Many items people innocently purchase or possess are branded with symbols related to the worship of false gods. There is a current U.S. television series that portrays the Nephilim as “victims”… as fallen angels who want to be “righteous” but the holy angels are hunting them down. So that the bad becomes good and what is Holy and righteous is cast as bad. This is purely debased and demonic reasoning.

There is a significant trend of mother’s instilling thoughts and teachings of witchcraft and homosexuality in the minds of children at a very early age. It is a type of programming or conditioning to ensure they develop these traits. It is a sort of ‘social engineering’.

Witchcraft has become socially acceptable entertainment under sleek packaging like “Harry Potter” which is ladened down with demon iconography. This book is a witchcraft ‘How To’ guide.

We do indeed have a wrestling not against blood and flesh but we are at war with wicked spirit creatures in heavenly place; there they remain unseen harassing God’s true servants. Nimrod was a hunter of men. They hunt like Nimrod all the loyal ones. They possess Nimrod’s spirit; which is the spirit of the Devil.

The fallen angels, have existed from before the beginning of human history. They just find and use different bodies to inhabit along the course of time.

 

“When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it roams through waterless places looking for rest but doesn’t find any. 44 Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ And returning, it finds the house vacant, swept, and put in order. 45 Then off it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that man’s last condition is worse than the first. That’s how it will also be with this evil generation.”

Matthew 12:43-45

You have brothers and sisters who are currently engaged in this struggle as the Devil more than anything else wants to corrupt the elect ones who have been chosen.

I ask that you include in your prayers your brothers and sisters who are involved in an intense struggle with wicked people and wicked angels in unseen places. Pray that they keep faithful and mindful that they fully discharge their obligation unto the Master, Lord Jesus Christ. And pray for yourself as well that you may not be seduced as Paul said.

“But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a complete and pure devotion to Christ”.

2 Corinthians 11:3

The combination of events that are now occurring should be enough let you to know what time it is and that NOW is the time.

May our Father’s grace and blessings flow to both of you and may Lord Jesus be your constant guide.

In Romans chapter 1, Paul explains why people act in ungodly ways. It is because they desire ungodliness. Paul states that God yielded them over to the spirit they were following. Paul details how both their thoughts and their behaviors would stink deeper and deeper into mental and spiritual darkness and unreasonabilty.

Jude 10 puts it this way,

“But these men revile (scoff and sneer at) anything they do not happen to be acquainted with and do not understand; and whatever they do understand physically [that which they know by mere instinct], like irrational beasts—by these they corrupt themselves and are destroyed (perish).” AMP

‘Unreasoning’ and ‘Confusion’ are traits associated with Babylon from the time of the tower build to the time of Nebuchadnezzer to this very day.

Hebrews 5:14:

“But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil”. (HCSB)

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