The True Christ vs. Antichrist

1. The True Christ vs. Antichrist

3. TexasEagle

5. Who is this? Are you sure?

6. Who is this? Are you sure?

7. Who is this? Are you sure?

8. Had Lucifer really desired to be like the Most High, he would never have deserted his appointed place in heaven; for the spirit of the Most High is manifested in unselfish ministry. Lucifer desired God’s power, but not His character. (The Desire of Ages, pp. 435, 436)

9. The exaltation of the Son of God as equal with the Father was represented as an injustice to Lucifer, who, it was claimed, was also entitled to reverence and honor. If this prince of angels could but attain to his true, exalted position, great good would accrue to the entire host of heaven; for it was his object to secure freedom for all. But now even the liberty which they had hitherto enjoyed was at an end; for an absolute Ruler had been appointed them, and to His authority all must pay homage. Such were the subtle deceptions that through the wiles of Lucifer were fast obtaining in the heavenly courts.

10. There had been no change in the position or authority of Christ. Lucifer’s envy and misrepresentation and his claims to equality with Christ had made necessary a statement of the true position of the Son of God; but this had been the same from the beginning. Many of the angels were, however, blinded by Lucifer's deceptions. (Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 36, 38)

11. Personate: lay the part of (a character in a drama).• pretend to be (someone else), esp. for fraudulent purposes, such as casting a vote in another person's name. Impersonate: pretend to be (another person) as entertainment or in order to deceive someone: it’s a very serious offense to impersonate a police officer.

12. Antichrist: from anti (ajntiv) and christos (christos) ajntiv: against or in place of christos: anointed one

13. “ . . . the false Christ will appear through misrepresentationbefore he appears through impersonation, . . .” (R. Wieland, D. K. Short, 1888 Re-Examined, 1950 ed. p. 147) Elder Robert Wieland

14. I have been shown that Satan has not been stupid and careless these many years, since his fall, but has been learning. He has grown more artful. His plans are laid deeper, and are more covered with a religious garment to hide their deformity. The power of Satan now to tempt and deceive is ten-fold greater than it was in the days of the apostles. His power has increased, and it will increase, until it is taken away. His wrath and hate grow stronger as his time to work draws near its close. (Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, p. 277)

15. Satan has wrought with deceiving power, bringing in a multiplicity of errors that obscure the truth. Error cannot stand alone, and would soon become extinct if it did not fasten itself like a parasite upon the tree of truth. Error draws its life from the truth of God. The traditions of men, like floating germs, attach themselves to the truth of God, and men regard them as a part of the truth. Through false doctrines, Satan gains a foothold, and captivates the minds of men, causing them to hold theories that have no foundation in truth. (The Review and Herald, October 22, 1895)

16. Ahab Worship of Baal

17. Jezebel Promoted Baal Worship

18. It is assumed that the departure from truth was so obvious and strking as to make the Israelites of that day seem to us unusually obtuse and inexcusable. The facts are that Israel’s apostasy was gradual and unconscious, requiring about a century to assume the serious proportions Elijah recognized. (R. Weiland, D. Short, 1888 Re-Examined, 1950 edition, p. 152)

19. What astonishing deception and fearful blindness had, like a dark cloud, covered Israel! This blindness and apostasy had not closed about them suddenly; it had come upon them gradually as they had not heeded the word of reproof and warning which the Lord had sent to them because of their pride and their sins. (Testimonies for the Church, vol, 3, pp. 280, 281)

20. The track of truth lies close beside the track of error, and both tracks may seem to be one to minds which are not worked by the Holy Spirit, and which, therefore, are not quick to discern the difference between truth and error. (Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 202)

21. In spite of all the changing ideas through the years, ancient Babylon in the days of the Old Testament prophets still presents to the student a marvelous counterfeit of the revealed religion of God . . . In general plan, for instance, the temples of Solomon . . . Text

22. Not only were the Babylonian temples similar to that of Solomon, but striking similarities are found in their priesthood and ritual. Every great Babylonian sanctuary had its priests with a High Priest at their head. The priest was the mediator between the worshipper and his god . . . Animals without blemish were offered as sacrifices, and there were also meal offerings. The morning and evening sacrifice was conducted daily . . . A title of all that the land produced belonged to the priests as well as certain portions of the sacrifices . . . Text

23. Old Babylon had her sacred books . . . and the penitential psalms. The latter resemble somewhat the Psalms of the Old Testament. (Paul C. Heubach, The Prophetic Significance of God’s Judgments upon Babylon, thesis, SDA Seminar, pp. 6-14) Text

24. Baal = owner, Lord or husband

25. The present age is one of idolatry, as verily as was that in which Elijah lived. No outward shrine may be visible; there may be no image for the eye to rest upon; yet thousands are following after the gods of this world--after riches, fame, pleasure, and the pleasing fables that permit man to follow the inclinations of the unregenerate heart. Multitude have a wrong conception of God and His attributes, and are as truly serving a false god as were the worshipers of Baal. Many even of those who claim to be Christians have allied themselves with influences that are unalterably opposed to God and His truth. (Prophets and Kings, p. 177)

26. There never will be a time in the history of the church when God’s worker can fold his hands and be at ease, saying, “All is peace and safety.” Then it is that sudden destruction cometh. (Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 407)

27. For the last twenty years a subtle, unconsecrated influence has been leading men to look to men, to bind up with men, to neglect their heavenly Companion. Many have turned away from Christ. They have failed to appreciate the One who declares, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” (The Review and Herald, February 18, 1904)

29. Those who can so easily be led by a false spirit show that they have been following the wrong captain for some time--so long that they do not discern that they are departing from the faith, or that they are not building upon the true foundation. (Selected Messages, bk. 2, p. 25)

30. Baal Comes as thesecond person of the Trinity

31. The prophet, looking down the ages, had this time presented before his vision. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 208)

32. Council of Nicaea AD 325

33. Constantine

34. Athaasius

35. Athaasius of Alexandria, at that time a 27 year-old deacon, promoted the idea that Jesus was of the same (homoousios) substance of the Father.

36. Arius

37. Arius promoted the idea that Jesus was of similar (homoiousios) substance to the Father.

38. Homoousious or Homoiousios Just an iota different. Today we have the phrase, “Not one iota different!”

39. “three individual centers of intelligence” (Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology, p. 150)

40. Baal Comes as the God of Love

41. True love is a high and holy principle, altogether different in character from that love which is awakened by impulse and which suddenly dies when severely tested. (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 176)

43. In high school I had to start drawing on some of the moral courage that Mother had taught us to exercise. It wasn’t easy being a Sabbath keeper in a public school. Many students had been molded by the prejudics of the parents and looked upon Saturday as “that old Jewish Sabbath.” Actually, of course, the Sabbath was made and blessed by Christ himself over two thousand years before the Jews came into existence, and nowhere is it spoken of in the Bible as Jewish. Luke, a Gentile writer, referred to many things that were especially Jewish, such as “the synagogue of the Jews” and the “Passover of the Jews,” but never the “Sabbath of the Jews.” The Bible speaks of the seventh-day as “the Sabbath of the Lord,” “Lord’s Day,” or “My holy day.”

44. I soon found out, though, that my classmates actually respected my religious convictions. Many of them had sate by me from the first grade, and most of them knew of my teenage commitment to follow Christ fully. Knowing that I would not attend activities on Friday nights or Sabbath, they planned our class functions at other times. I was elected president of my Junior class, and was also an officer of the Senior Class.

45. But as graduation day approached, a bitter disappointment loomed on the horizon. I discovered that the school administration had set the commencement exercises for Friday night an that the invitations had already been printed. Word immediately spread that I would not attend. Classmates talked to the principal, and the principal called me to his office. He apologized for making the mistake of scheduling the service for Friday night, but pleaded with me to make an exception for this special program.

46. I explained my convictions and assured him that it was impossible for me to attend the graduation. Even though I deeply desired to graduate with the class I had known for eleven years, I still did not entertain the least serious thought of violating my conscience. At that time, my experience with Christ was so deep and wonderful that I never would have considered willfully breaking His commandment.

47. Other teachers were called in to use their persuasive powers, but to no avail. I felt sorry for Mr. Cude, the principal, because I knew he was genuinely sorry for the mistake and truly wanted me to be in the graduation. Finally he said, “Well, in order to get you to the program on Friday night, I must tell you that you have the Civitan Award.” That was the first intimation that I had won the coveted scholarship awarded each year to the best all-around student by the international Cititan Club.

48. Always the announcement was reserved for the Commencement night, and the surprised student was called to the front to be eulogized by the County Superintendent of public Instruction. The honored student was selected by the vote of fellow students, plus two votes by each teacher.

49. Pleased though I was by the unexpected honor, I patiently explained to the perplexed principal why I could not, under any circumstances, attend the graduation on Friday night. Finally he said, “We’ll just have to let the Superintendent explain why you are not present to accept the award.” I heartily endorsed that suggestion. Later my friends told me about the reaction of hundreds who listened to the award presentation speech. The Superintendent said,

50. “We do not condemn Joe because he is not here to receive this award. We are proud of him because he is not here. That is one of the reasons he is being honored tonight. He is true to his conscience and to principle. His Sabbath began at sundown tonight, and he would not violate his conscience to be here, as much as he wanted to graduate with his class.” I’m sure he gave a much better speech about me because I was not present, than if I had been there in person.