(97) Making a Name

After the global flood, Noah left the Ark. The very first thing that God said to Noah in Genesis 9 was, 

• 1 "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth."

And just a few verses later God reiterated this command when he said,

• 7 "As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it."

One of the commands from God that the human race was supposed to do was fill the earth. The only way to do that is if they started to migrate and move out to other areas. But as we read in Genesis 11 this is not what some certain pieces of the human race did. Some chose to settle in the plain of Shinar. That is part of the problem but what they did next is by far worse.

They were working together and they decided to build a structure that would reach to the heavens. They did this so that they would not be scattered over the earth. Their idea was in direct opposition of what God wanted. But there is even more to this story.

If we read deeper into this passage we know that this plain of Shinar is the Mesopotamia fertile crescent region. This is the land between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers. The main city between these rivers is what is known today as Babylon. Hence the Bible calls it Babel, which means "confused".

If we notice how the scripture here is laid out, this story lies between one story about Shem, a son of Noah, and his decedents in chapter 10 and another story about Shem in chapter 12.  Why is it in between?

Shem can be translated as "Name". Jewish people sometimes call God, HaShem, or "the Name". So, why is this surrounding this story at Babel? If we go back to Genesis 10:8-10 we see a man with the name of Nimrod. It says Nimrod's kingdom was in Babel. Nimrod can be translated as "rebellious". It can be assumed that he is the one who was starting this tower to reach the heavens since it was his kingdom. What was his rebellion? Notice what they said when they were building the Tower, "Come, let us build a city for ourselves, and a tower whose top will reach into the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves". In other words, the name of God is not what they were worshiping. They were going to worship their own name.  Nimrod is the first shadow of the anti-Christ, someone who tries to raise his name above God's.

They were one language and were doing this, so God in order so save humanity from itself divided them. Only the name of God should be worshiped.  When mankind thinks their name is higher or just as important as God we can see that all they have is confusion.

(77) The Anti-Christ, Part 2

Who is he?  Ask some people of history and they will say Nero, Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin or someone else who destroyed their world.  Ask more modern people like democrats they will say Ronald Reagan or GW Bush.  Republicans will say Clinton (Bill) or Obama.  Some will even say things like the Pope or Prince Charles.  Dr David Jeremiah says it the best.  He tells of a story that he has in his library a collection of all the people who have been considered or even accused of being the anti-Christ.  When he got done reading the list he compiled he was relieved his name did not make the list.  The point is we really won't know who this person is until half the world is gone and it is too late.  The half that will remain will be deceived and will never believe the person could be satan incarnate until they have made the ultimate wrong commitment.

The Bible says or at least hints at:

• a leader who rises up and becomes a world leader (Daniel 7:24-25,11:39-44)
• miracle performer (2 Thess. 2:9)
• will deceive the world (2 John 2:7, 1 John 2:22)
• will get rid of religion so he can be worshiped (Daniel 7:25,9:27,11:36-37; Matt 24:15; Rev 13:5-8)
• will have a false prophet go before him (Matth 24:21-28)
• will come back from a fatal head wound (Rev 13:3, 17:8)
• pretends to be a man of peace and prosperity (Daniel 9:27, Matt 24:15)
• rules for 7 years, 3 1/2 of peace, 3 1/2 of war (Daniel 7:25, 9:27; Rev 13:7)

The Bible also tells us signs of the time

• wars and rumors of wars (Matt 24:6)
• earth will go through pangs (Matt 24:7-8; Luke 21:25-27)
• people will be lovers of their own selves (2 Tim 3:1-4)
• people will be disobedient (2 Tim 3:1-4)
• people will listen to lies and not the truth (Matt 24:9-12)
• economic prosperity then economic hardships (James 5:1-3; Rev 6:6)

Where in any writings, "scriptures", legends, myths, or anything of the sort can be so clear and connected?  This will happen.  These writings of the Bible are spread out 600 years apart yet still connect a perfect story that will become reality.  The only question remains is when?  No one knows that answer or will know the answer.  All we need to do is look for the seasons and signs given to us and be prepared at anytime.

(76) The Anti-Christ, Part 1

Boo!  666!  Oooooh, so scary.  Only if you do not understand.  What is he?

 

If you look at the true definition you will get a better picture of what it encompasses.  Anti-Christ; Jesus Christ in Hebrew is Y'shua ha Messiach, or "The God-anointed One who saves".  So the term anti-Christ means the opposite of that.  In other words, "the self-appointed one who destroys".  Satan is here to destroy.  Jesus is here to save.  This is not to say that satan is the opposite as Jesus.  That would mean satan is equal to Jesus.  This only means that he is trying to destroy what Jesus has done.

 

There are a few ways that the word anti-Christ is used in the Bible.  One usage (1 John 4:3) shows that there is a spirit of anti-Christ which refers to the way the world is.  There is a Godly realm with believers of Christ share their faith and try to live by Godly values, hence a spirit of love, compassion, mercy, and hope.  And then there is the spirit of the satanic realm, a spirit of pride (notice the opposite of everything good is pride).  Another usage (1 John 2:22) shows there are actions of anti-Christ.  As opposed to helping, hospitality, teaching, and ministering, there is an opposite action of murder (in all sense of the word).  Yet another usage (1 John 2:18) shows there are people who are against the values of God and do the works of satan.  Hitler is a prime example.  He is not satan but did the work of satan.  There have been many people filling this definition.  They do not have to be famous.  They could be living next door, homeless, or leaders of nations.  But the one that people get scared about is the last usage (2 Thess. 2).  The one who will come to earth with satan incarnated.  The anti-Christ that is a person.

 

Some will say that this usage is not accurate and that the references to the anti-Christ is only symbolic.  That view however is flawed based on scripture.  Scripture specifically uses the same language structure for the anti-Christ as it does for Jesus Himself.  Look at the comparisons.

• Jesus is the Son of God, the AC is the son of perdition
• Jesus is the Son of man, the AC is man of lawlessness
• Jesus is the Lamb, the AC is the beast
• Jesus is the Holy One, the AC is the lawless one
• Jesus has a kingdom, the AC tries to have a kingdom

If someone says that the anti-Christ is only symbolic then they have to say the Jesus is as well.

 

In the end this man is not to be feared.  For greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.  He is just a man who has no power except for that which is given to him.  If Jesus is in you then you have already conquered him.  If Jesus is in you then you have already conquered his spirit; you have conquered his workers; you have conquered his works.  You, if Jesus is in you, are more than a conqueror.  You are a child of God.