|
Friends, according to the Apostle John, it may very well be our last hour. John said: Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father (1 John 2:18-24 New American Standard Bible). You see, we already know we live in the "last days." According to the Apostle Peter, the "last days" began when the Holy Spirit was first poured out on all flesh two thousand years ago (Acts 2:14-21). According to John, these "last days" will have their "last hour." And, we will recognize when that hour approaches by the appearing of anti-Christs among us. I don't have time to write more right now. However, I would encourage you to read the article I've linked to about this new pope's beliefs. Notice what he believes about the Jewish people being a covenant people who already have salvation. And, ask yourself what this means in relation to Jesus Christ coming in the flesh. Then, think about what John said. He said: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world (1 John 4:1-3). 04-20-2005
|