- Christians throughout church history have debated the
nuances of Eschatology. These debates will doubtless last until Jesus Himself
decides to end them. Until then, the theological battles extolling or condemning
premillennialism or postmillennialism, pre-tribulation Rapture or post-tribulation
Rapture, etc., will continue. To be sure, this column is not an attempt
to resolve or even argue these interpretations of Scripture. Let every
man be persuaded in his own heart. Personally, I don't think it's worth
arguing about.
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- Whether a Christian is premillennial or postmillennial,
whether he or she believes in the pre-tribulation Rapture or not is immaterial
to our responsibilities. We Christians have a duty to be the "salt"
and "light" of society until Jesus returns--whenever that is.
And, frankly, the time of His return is His business, not ours. If we would
concentrate on those matters that truly belong to us, we would be much
more effective. Arguing and battling between Christians over the nuances
of Eschatology only serves to advance the cause of the Enemy. It is counterproductive
and fruitless to anything worthwhile.
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- That being said, a brief reference to the belief that
a literal antichrist is yet to come is in order. Accepting this interpretation
of the Book of Revelation, there will come in the days of "great tribulation"
a Western World leader, known as the antichrist, or beast. Christians accepting
this interpretation believe that the antichrist will unite the Western
World, mainly Europe and the United States, and will implement a satanic
despotism.
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- Part of the antichrist's reign upon the Western World
(called, by some, The Revived Roman Empire) will be the demand that everyone
accept "the mark of the beast" in his hand or forehead. Of course,
the number Scripture uses is 666. Everyone who does not accept this mark
will be deemed to be an outlaw: unable to buy or sell, or contract normal
daily business of any kind. However, acceptance of the mark will also mean
rejection of God and salvation.
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- Premillennialists believe they will be "raptured"
to Heaven before these events take place. Some believe the church will
go through the "great tribulation," while most postillennialists
don't believe in a literal "tribulation" at all, but believe
these Scriptures are related to other events altogether.
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- Regardless of how one interprets the Book of Revelation,
I think most all believers will accept the Apostle John's warning that
the spirit of antichrist is already in the world. (I John 2:18; 4:3) Can
we not readily agree that anything that resembles antichrist is a form
of antichrist?
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- Accordingly, did not the German church have an obligation
to resist Adolph Hitler? Of course they did. However, at the end of the
day, out of over 14,000 pastors and church congregations in Germany at
the time, only 800 properly discerned the evil Hitler for who he was and
openly opposed him. The rest not only tolerated him, but openly praised
him, promoted him, and punished anyone who failed to do the same.
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- Yet, Hitler definitely personified the spirit of antichrist.
While publicly professing to be a Christian, he privately disdained Christians
and was caught up in secret societies and the occult. He was driven to
lead Germany into preemptive wars of aggression. He cast off Germany's
republican form of government and consolidated power unto himself. He implemented
a total surveillance society in the name of national security. He was so
completely accepted and adored by Germany's churchmen that German congregations
were told that in order to be good Christians they had to be good Nazis
and that to support any other political party than Hitler's was to fight
against God. He enacted strict gun control laws. Why did Germany's pastors
and Christians not recognize Hitler for who he was?
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- Can we not say that, in their own way, Germany's pastors
and churches accepted the mark of the beast? Sure they did. No, Hitler
was not THE antichrist, but he certainly exemplified the spirit of antichrist.
As such, he deserved to be resisted.
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- However, before we become too judgmental toward the Christians
of 1930's Germany, we should look in the mirror. Are not many Christians
in these United States behaving in the exact same manner? Have not many
of us already embraced the spirit of antichrist? And if so, have we not,
in our own way, already accepted the mark of the beast? Sure we have.
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- Many pastors and Christians embrace the authoritarian
policies of one George W. Bush with the same enthusiasm and blind loyalty
as Germans did Hitler. For example, according to White House insiders,
while publicly embracing conservative Christians, the White House is privately
said to have nothing but disdain for Christians. Mr. Bush acknowledged
being a member of Skull & Bones, a secret society with a dark history.
Others have reported that he is a member of Bohemian Grove, which, according
to some, is an occultist society of the most sinister variety. Yet, all
of this is rejected out of hand by most Christians today.
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- Plus, George W. Bush (as did Adolph Hitler) has led America
into a preemptive and aggressive war against a foreign nation without provocation.
Now, there is even talk at the White House of expanding the war in Iraq
with attacks against Iran and Syria, and maybe even Pakistan. In addition,
he is in the process of turning America into a Hitlerian surveillance society
where our every move, phone call, and email are being monitored by federal
police agencies.
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- Yet, conservative Christians are still so infatuated
with President Bush that they actually believe that anyone who resists
the President is resisting God. They further believe that if anyone votes
for any candidate who is not a Republican (Bush's party), they are fighting
against God. They gladly surrender their constitutional liberties and safeguards.
They enthusiastically support an unconstitutional war in Iraq and would
no doubt support expanding the war to wherever Bush decided. They happily
cede Bush the power to tap their phones, read their emails, or open their
mail (without warrant or court order, no less).
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- Regardless of one's politics or religion, the spirit
of Big Brother, the spirit of military aggression, the spirit of occultism,
the spirit of a police state mentality, the spirit of deception are all
part of the spirit of antichrist.
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- Therefore, whether one identifies himself as a premillennialist
or a postmillennialist or anything in between; whether we believe in a
Rapture or not; no matter what our understanding of Eschatology might be,
every Christian has a duty to "resist the devil" in any form
in which he reveals himself. And that certainly means that any political
leader, regardless of party, who embodies or exemplifies the spirit of
antichrist, must be resisted. Anything less means to accept, in a way,
the mark of the beast.
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- (c) Chuck Baldwin
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- http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2007/cbarchive_20070814.html
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