Tag: ANTICHRIST

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Daily Manna

THE GOSPEL OF CHRISTIANITY’S CHRIST VS ThE ‘GOSPEL’ OF ROME’S ANTICHRIST – (Part 2)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
July 20

THE GOSPEL OF CHRISTIANITY’S CHRIST VS ThE ‘GOSPEL’ OF ROME’S ANTICHRIST – (Part 2)

In his epistle to the early church in ROME, the capital city of the pagan Roman Empire at that time, apostle Paul boldly declares to all the churches and mankind itself, whether “Jew, Greek, or Gentile,” for “God is no respecter of persons,” and the universal sinfulness of man “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”—-that God’s antidote to the whole problem of SIN (the transgression of God’s law, 1 John 3:4) and His plan to meet the emergency sin had created, as well as the curse of death, which is “the wages of sin” is the GOSPEL OF CHRIST, the power of God to save the sinner from the power of Satan and yielding to his temptations to commit sin, and from suffering eternal death while “magnifying the law and making it honorable,” the exact opposite of “doing away,” “nailing to the cross,” or abrogating it by replacement with “grace.”

Notice:
“v 16 For I am not ashamed of THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST: for it is THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

“v 17 For therein [in the gospel of Christ] is the righteousness of God is REVEALED from faith to faith, as IT IS WRITTEN, the just [not the unjust] shall live by faith.

“v 18 For the wrath of God is revealed AGAINST all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men [the unjust] who hold the truth [of the gospel of Christ] in unrighteousness;

“v 19 Because that which may be known of God [as revealed in the gospel of Christ] is manifest IN them; for God has SHOWED it unto them [not veiled, obscured, hidden, or withheld].” Rom. 1: 16-19, KJV.

Read the whole chapter for broader context and know for yourselves the following:
1) the “gospel of Christ” is revealed so that man has no excuse to accept the counterfeit gospel of Antichrist

2) the “wrath of God” is also revealed: know against what and against whom

3) the “righteous judgment of God” is also revealed so that all may know how to avoid it—-by receiving and being saved by the “gospel of Christ,” not the counterfeit “gospel” of Antichrist, which results in perdition, not salvation!

(To be continued) Bless all truth-seekers, NMF

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Daily Manna

THE GOSPEL OF CHRISTIANITY’S CHRIST VS THE ‘GOSPEL’ OF ROME’S ANTICHRIST – Part 1

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
July 19

THE GOSPEL OF CHRISTIANITY’S CHRIST VS THE ‘GOSPEL’ OF ROME’S ANTICHRIST – Part 1

There is the gospel of Jesus Christ and there is the “perverted” version of it, which is “another gospel,” or “other gospels,” even as there are “other god” pretenders to the one and only true God. (Exo. 20:1-3).

We are blessed to believe and accept (in the fullest sense of these words) the former, and certainly “accursed” if we choose the latter for the former.

Here is what apostle Paul sternly warned the early Christian converts in churches in Galatia, many from Judaism, the national religion of the Jewish nation at Christ’s time (also called the religion of the Pharisees by Christ) who were still zealously trying to enforce literal circumcision prescribed in the ceremonial “law of Moses” under the Old Testament Jewish dispensation, which were done away with when shadow met the substance, type met antitype when Christ the Lamb of God was offered at Calvary, :
31 A.D.

Before Saul’s dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus and his name changed to Paul the apostle to the Gentiles, he was like them and worse for he zealous persecuted the first followers of Christ!, wrongly believing that he “was serving God.”

He warned them and all professed Christians today:
“I marvel [am astounded] that you are so soon removed from Him [Lord Jesus Christ, verses 1-5] that called you unto the grace of Christ unto ANOTHER GOSPEL: which is NOT ANOTHER; but there be some that TROUBLE YOU, and would PERVERT the gospel of Christ. But though WE [Paul and all the apostles], or an ANGEL from heaven, PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be ACCURSED [whoever preaches ‘another gospel’].

As we said before, so say I now AGAIN, If any man [particularly “the man of sin” and “son of perdition.” 2 Thess. 2: 1-17] preach any other gospel unto you than ye have received, let him be ACCURSED.” [Note: Both the preachers and the receivers of the “other gospels” are cursed, not blessed by God!].” Gal. 1: 6-9, KJV.

Paul continues: “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to PLEASE men? For if I get pleased men, I should NOT be the servant of Christ. [Note: If the hidden motive of anyone preaching the gospel is to please men, including himself, he is not God’s servant but the servant of the author of the counterfeit gospel, and therefore “accursed”].

But I certify you, brethren, that the GOSPEL which was preached of me is NOT after MAN. For I neither RECEIVED it of man, neither was I TAUGHT it, but by the REVELATION of Jesus Christ. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the JEWS’ RELIGION [the course of my past life and career as a overzealous Pharisee], how that beyond measure, I PERSECUTED the church of God [not the ‘synagogue’ of the Jews], and WASTED it: and profited in the JEWS’ RELIGION above many my equals in mind own nation [the Jewish nation], being MORE EXCEEDINGLY ZEALOUS of the TRADITIONS of my fathers.” Verses 10-14.

Now follows part of the genuine conversion process, change of mind, and realignment of his previously misdirected “righteous zeal” which was as dramatically manifested as his experience on the road to Damascus when literal layers of scales came of his eyes—scales of tradition and false teachings by the “fathers” that blinded him! He said:

“But when it pleases God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace [called by grace and response by grace, is saving grace], to reveal His Son to me, that I might preach Him AMONG THE HEATHEN [whom the proud Jewish nation looked down upon, cynically addressing them as low-life “Gentiles”], immediately I conferred NOT with flesh and blood [fellow mortals]: neither went I to JERUSALEM to them who were APOSTLES BEFORE ME [older and more senior in rank and knowledge]: but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus [in Syria].” Verses 15-17.
(To be continued). Bless all, NMF

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Daily Manna

TWO POINTS REGARDING ‘ANTICHRIST’ MADE CLEAR (The Great Divide between Protestantism and Catholicism)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

TWO POINTS REGARDING ‘ANTICHRIST’ MADE CLEAR (The Great Divide between Protestantism and Catholicism)

Edwardson says: “There were two arguments used against the position taken by the Reformers [regarding the Antichrist] which have puzzled many:
(1) It was claimed the Apostle John used two distinctions; ‘AN Antichrist’ to distinguish the false teachers of his day, and ‘THE Antichrist,’ referring to some superhuman monster of Jewish extraction that would appear just before Christ’s second coming.

“But on this point C. H. H. Wright truthfully remarks: ‘St. John, the only New Testament writer who employs the term [Antichrist], makes no distinction whatever between ‘AN Antichrist’ and ‘THE Antichrist.’ That distinction was in the main an INVENTION of the learned JESUIT interpreters.’ – ‘Daniel and His Prophecies,’ p. 166, London: 1906.
(2) The second objection was that while ‘THE Antichrist’ would deny the incarnation, for he would deny that ‘Christ is come in the flesh’ (2 John 7), the Pope does not deny this, therefore he cannot be the Antichrist. This argument has seemed so logical and conclusive that Protestants, to a large extent, have GIVEN UP the Protestant Doctrine that the Papacy is Antichrist, and have ceased to PROTEST.

“This argument however is based on a MISUNDERSTANDING caused by overlooking ONE WORD in this text. Antichrist was not to deny that Christ had come in the flesh, but was to deny that He had ‘come in THE flesh,’ in ‘THE SAME’ kind of flesh, as the human race He came to save. (See 1 John 4:3; 2 John 7, and Heb. 2:14,17).

“On this VITAL DIFFERENCE hinges the real ‘truth of the gospel.’
[Q]: Did Christ COME ALL THE WAY DOWN to make contact with the fallen race, or only part way, so that we must SAINTS, POPES and PRIESTS intercede for us with a Christ who is removed too far from fallen humanity, and it needs to make DIRECT CONTACT with the individual sinner? Right here lies the GREAT DIVIDE that parts Protestantism from Roman Catholicism. In order to understand this point clearly” we must consider the gospel of Christ vs the gospel of Rome! (From Facts of Faith, pp. 203-4).

To be continued. Bless all, NMF

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Daily Manna

IS ‘ANTICHRIST’ YET TO APPEAR OR IS HE HERE ALREADY? (Part XII)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

IS ‘ANTICHRIST’ YET TO APPEAR OR IS HE HERE ALREADY? (Part XII)

Please refer to the past 11 parts I have shared for your personal study, convenient files and reference. I hope and pray you will do your part as I strive to do mine. While this effort is a collaborative work, we all will be judged individually according to the light of present truth made available to us. To continue:FF 202.

“BIBLE PROPHECY OF ANTICHRIST IS PLAIN. The prophecies of the Bible regarding Antichrist are so plain that EVEN Roman Catholics cannot evade them all. The 7th chapter of Daniel foretells the rise of 4 world empires, which the Douay Bible [official Roman Catholic Bible] explains to the ‘Chaldean, Persian, Grecian, and Roman empires.’

The Roman Empire was broken up into 10 smaller kingdoms between the years 351 and 476 A.D. And among them there should grow up ‘another power,’ symbolized as a ‘LITTLE HORN.’

Of this the Douay Bible says: ‘ANOTHER LITTL HORN.’ THIS IS COMMONLY UNDERSTOOD OF ANTICHRIST. Dan. 7: 7, 8.’ [emphasis mine]. The Papacy is the only power that came up just at that time, and which FITS all the specifications of the symbol [of the ‘little horn’].

“We have seen [in the last parts] how clearly the Papacy is pointed out in 2 Thess. 2:3-7 [symbolized as ‘the man of sin’ and ‘the son of perdition’].

This prophecy states that the apostolic church would be GRADUALLY ‘falling away’ [apostatizing] until a ‘man’ would exalt himself to take the place of God in the church [referred here as ‘the temple of God’]. The ‘MYSTERY OF INIQUITY’ was already at work in Paul’s day, but something was holding it back (verses 6,7).

“As long as the Roman Empire was HEATHEN [the emperors were heathen, sun-worshippers], and persecuted the CHRISTIANS, there was NO INCENTIVE to join the church for WORLDLY [and political] GAIN.

“But during the time [and reign] of CONSTANTINE the church became POPULAR, and the worldly ambitions struggled for the HIGHEST ECCLESIASTICAL OFFICES, because of the great honor and emolument connected with them; and when finally the ROMAN STATE was abolished, the BISHOP OF ROME seated himself upon the THRONE OF THE CAESARS [heathen, Roman Emperors]. It was therefore heathen Rome that had to be ‘TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY,’ before the Papal Antichrist could come into power.

“Speaking of this point the CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA says: ‘The impediment is the Roman Empire; the main event impeded is is the ‘man of sin.’ – Vol. I, p. 580, art. ‘Antichrist.’ The Douay Bible says: ‘The Roman Empire …..was first to be destroyed, before the coming of Antichrist.’ – Note on 2 Thess. 2: 3.’ “ – Christian Edwardson, Facts of Faith, pp. 202, 203, Southern Publishing Asso., Nashville TN, 1943.

In Dan. 8:11-13 the “daily” symbolizes the pagan Roman Empire of the Caesars had to be first taken away before the “transgression of desolation,” the Papacy, the “little horn power” could replace it and ascend to power.

The word “sacrifice” was added by the translators to word “daily,” and must be eliminated.

Seek the truth and it will set you free! Bless all, NMF

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Daily Manna Devotionals

IS ‘ANTICHRIST’ YET TO COME OR IS HE ALREADY HERE? Part IX

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

IS ‘ANTICHRIST’ YET TO COME OR IS HE ALREADY HERE? Part IX

The Rev. Joseph Tanner, B. A., continues (emphasis mine): ‘It is a matter for DEEP REGRET that those who hold and advocate the Futurist system, PROTESTANTS as they are for the most part [the popular ‘Rapture’ doctrine is combination of Futurism, Zionism, and Literalism], are thus really playing into the hands of ROME, and helping to SCREEN the Papacy from detection as Antichrist.

It has been well said that ‘Futurism tends to obliterate the brand put by the HOLY SPIRIT upon popery.’ More especially is this to be DEPLORED at a time when the Papal Antichrist seems to be making an expiring [desperate] effort to REGAIN his former hold on men’s minds. NOW once again, AS at the Reformation, it is ESPECIALLY necessary that his TRUE CHARACTER should be recognized, BY ALL WHO WOULD BE FAITHFUL TO ‘THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS.’ – ‘Daniel and the Revelation,’ pp. 16,17. London: Hudder & Stoughton, 1898.

All who profess to belong to the commandment-keeping remnant church are under solemn obligation to understand and expose the Antichrist, the Papacy, it’s career, works, and role
In the great controversy whom Paul describes as “the man of sin” and “son of perdition” in 2 Thess. 2:1-9, KJV.

“All need wisdom carefully to search out the ‘mystery of iniquity’ that FIGURES SO LARGELY IN THE WINDING UP of this earth’s history….In the VERY TIME IN WHICH WE LIVE, the Lord has called HIS PEOPLE and has given them a MESSAGE to bear. He has called them TO EXPOSE THE MAN OF SIN who has made the Sunday law a distinctive power, who had ‘thought to change times and laws,’ and to oppress the people of God who stand firmly to to HONOR Him by KEEPING the only true Sabbath, the Sabbath of CREATION, as holy unto the Lord.” (Testimonies to Ministers, p. 118).

All the major Christian churches are preaching the LOVE of God but not the LOVE and OBEDIENCE to the Creator’s original, unchanged, immutable LAW of Ten Commandments! Make sure you know what the complete and comprehensive Angel’s message is!

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF

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Daily Manna Devotionals

IS ‘ANTICHRIST’ YET TO COME OR IS ALREADY HERE? Part VIII

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

IS ‘ANTICHRIST’ YET TO COME OR IS ALREADY HERE? Part VIII

The Jesuits Undermine the Truth Regarding the Antichrist.

Dr. Martin Luther, the godly and scholarly Roman Catholic priest whom God called and empowered to strengthen and drive the cause of the Protestant Reformation forward, clearly revealed in his time that Antichrist is the Papacy and that its various ecclesiastical orders (Dominicans, Franciscans, etc.) are his “disciples.” One of the most prominent of these is the Society of Jesus, Jesuits, in short.

“The Rev. Joseph Tanner, B.A. says: ‘So great hold did the conviction that the Papacy was the Antichrist gain upon the minds of men, that Rome at last saw that she MUST bestir herself, and try, by putting forth OTHER SYSTEMS OF INTERPRETATIONS to counteract the identification of the Papacy with the Antichrist.

‘Accordingly, towards the close of the century of the Reformation, TWO of her most learned doctors [theologians] set themselves to the task, each endeavoring by DiFFERENT means to accomplish the SAME end; namely, that of diverting men’s minds from PERCEIVING the fulfillment of the prophecies  of the Antichrist in the papal system.

FUTURISM & PRETERISM: ‘The Jesuit ALCASAR devoted himself to bring into prominence the PRETERIST method of [prophetic] interpretation…..that the prophecies of Antichrist were fulfilled BEFORE the Popes ever ruled in Rome, and therefore could not apply to the Papacy,

‘On the other hand the Jesuit RIBERA tried to set aside the application of these prophecies to the papal power by bringing out the FUTURIST system, which asserts that these prophecies refer properly not to career of the Papacy, but to that of some FUTURE SUPERNATURAL INDIVIDUAL, WHO IS YET TO APPEAR, AND TO CONTINUE IN POWER FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS. Thus as Alford says, THE JESUIT RIBERA, ABOUT A.D. 1580, MAY BE REGARDED AS THE FOUNDER OF THE FUTURIST SYSTEM in modern times.’ – ‘Daniel and the Revelation,’ pp. 16,17. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1898.” Facts of Faith, C. Edwardson, p. 201, Southern Publishing Asso., 1943.

Do we now see how greatly deceived are Christian evangelists, ministers, and pastors who teach their congregants and followers that the “antichrist” is yet to appear, and that he will rule the world for three and a half LITERAL YEARS (which is actually 1260 years, 538-1798 A.D.)!  

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF

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Daily Manna Devotionals

IS ‘ANTICHRIST’ YET TO COME OR IS HE ALREADY HERE? Part VII

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

IS ‘ANTICHRIST’ YET TO COME OR IS HE ALREADY HERE? Part VII

Fellow students of the Bible whoever and wherever you are and whatever Christian church or denomination you belong to or identify with, remember this:

“The Reformation did not, as many suppose end with Luther” [as is being actively promoted by busy papal apologists embedded in the churches and publishing houses of the world printing textbooks for the academe from primary to doctoral level end with Luther].

“It is to continue to the close of this world’s history. Luther had a great work to do in reflecting to others the light which God had permitted to shine upon him [at that time at the last half century of the Dark Ages of the supreme reign of the papacy in the Old World, 538-1798 A.D.] yet he did not receive all the light which was to be given to the world.

From that time to this [post 1844, the year ending the 2300-day/year prophecy of Dan. 8:14], new light [in the three angels’ messages of Rev. 14] has been continually shining from the Scriptures, and new truths have been constantly unfolding.” (Great Controversy, 1911 ed., pp. 148,149).

It was and is only the ones “who, by intelligent faith “follow the the Lamb withersoever He goeth,” tracing His steps from His ascension at Calvary as the victorious “Lamb of God” to His change of role, office and authority as the penitent sinner’s merciful High Priest, Intercessor, Mediator, Advocate, and finally Judge of all the earth before He returns in all His glory as King of kings and Lord of lords bringing His eternal rewards of either eternal life or eternal death that was determined by the book of records in heaven during Christ’s pre-advent judgment announced by the first angel’s message of Rev. 14:6, who see and understand the advancing light of the truth, specifically the unfolding and fulfillment of the “time of the end” prophecies (from 1798 and onward).

All the rest remain where they begun and never advanced with the truth though their numbers multiplied rapidly. That helps to explain why these are so many denominations and churches all claiming to be Christian yet have different and even conflicting doctrines, creeds, dogmas. Prophecy also revealed this sad and fearful falling away of the once-Protestant churches to soon become the “image of the beast” as spiritual harlot “daughters” of “Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and the Abominations of the Earth.” See Revelation chapters 13 and 17.

For all who profess to be members of the remnant church of prophecy (Rev. 12:17; 14:12; 19:10) please also remember this:

“The Reformers whose Protest has given us the name PROTESTANT felt that God had called them to give the light of the gospel to the world [in their time, at that stage and condition of the church according to the prophecy of the seven churches of Rev. 2 and 3], and in the effort to do this, they were ready to SACRIFICE their possessions, their liberty, even life itself.” (Patriarchs & Prophets, p. 627).

“We are engaged in an important and essential work, and must carry on an aggressive [not passive, only when-convenient or “seasonal”] warfare. We are to stand on PROTESTANT PRINCIPLES; for the POLICY OF THE PAPACY will edge their way into every possible PLACE to PROSCRIBE LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE.” (Vol. 5 Review & Herald, p. 540, Sept. 9, 1909).

Are we unconsciously functioning on Protestant principles or Papal policies? If we thoroughly “examine and prove ourselves whether we are in the faith” by “the law and testimony” (Isa. 8:20) we might be surprised to discover “dross” and “tinsel” mixed among the genuine articles that need to be discarded quickly lest they become permanent “fixtures” or worse,  stubborn “barnacles” so difficult to scrape away!

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF

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Daily Manna Devotionals

IS ‘ANTICHRIST’ YET TO COME OR IS HE ALREADY HERE? Part VI

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

IS ‘ANTICHRIST’ YET TO COME OR IS HE ALREADY HERE? Part VI

The godly reformer Martin Luther said this regarding the Pope being the Antichrist, and the dedicated efforts of papal apologists to obscure and deflect the bright search lights of prophecy away from exposing the “man of sin” and antichrist of prophecy:

‘But Papists want to divert this passage from themselves, and they say that Christ and Paul speak about the TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM, and that Antichrist sit there and rule; that will not do…..It cannot be understood otherwise than of the new SPIRITUAL temple, which he [Paul] says WE are.[See 1 Cor.3:16,17; 2 Cor. 6:14-16].

There shall the Pope sit and be honored, not above God, but above all that is called God….So also we see it before our eyes, many princes and the world regard his law higher and more than the commandments of God….Cannot be this rightly be termed exalting and honoring Antichrist above God?’ – ‘Luther’s Postil,’ ‘Gospels,’ 35th Sunday after Trinity, par. 24,25, Part 3, pp. 734, 735. Stanager, Norway: 1862. Luther further believes:

‘Therefore, let whosoever will doubt, God’s word and the proper divine worship convinces me sufficiently that the Pope is the Antichrist, and the ecclesiastical orders are his DISCIPLES, which DECEIVE the whole world.’- Ibid, Part 1, p. 379.” – Facts of Faith, C. Edwardson, p. 200, Southern Publishing Asso, Nashville, TN: (Revised) 1943.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF