5 DECEMBER 2017 BODY OF CHRIST NEWS The Coming of The Antichrist As the nightly news searches for answers to the increasing violence and catastrophic events sweeping throughout our country, true believers in Jesus Christ will be ready, waiting, watching and ministering hope to this spiritually crippled gen- eration. 2000 years ago, Jesus gave a crystal clear description of what the world will be like just before He comes. Luke 17:26-37 teaches that people will be living just the way they were in the days of Noah and Lot. They were eating, drinking, marrying, buy- ing, selling, planting and building. Life as usual. At the same time, while many are rejecting the gospel of conviction and hope, people all around the world will be living in fear and absolute rebel- lion. "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedi- ent to their parents, ungratefull, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutile, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying it's power"(2Tim 3:1-5 NIV). As you know, the daily reports of violence, rape, murder, drugs, suicide, school shootings, mass murder, human trafficing... are increasing and the statistics are staggering. Many no longer have respect for the governing authorities while under- paid troops, first responders and police officers risk their lives each day for our freedom (Rom 13:1-3). IDOLATRY and fake news will be the main instigator of this godless rebellion and it will be shredding the minds of most. The rich and famous IDOLS will continue to have a burning desire to be noticed while setting a "ROLE MODEL" example for our already troubled generation. They will have an ongoing addiction to force feed their egos, while showing very little respect for those in authority and no appreciation for the one and only true God. Without realizing it, superstars are being used by Satan to draw the eyes and hearts off of our Creator and onto the creation leaving this generation of idol observers powerless over the works of darkness (Rom 1:18-32, Eph 6-10-16). Could the most resent protests of pro athletes "taking a knee" be linked with idolatry? After all, idols do want to be noticed. For what it's worth, all colors have endured hardships. Unfortunatily, there are those who feel that they are the only ones. What about Jesus Christ? Instead of taking a knee, He stepped up to the plate and on to the cross. He did not protest when His countrymen were being butchered and then fed to the wolves. Even though they beat Him to the point of death, He stood up and He took a STAND, only to carry the world on His shoulder. In His day, He did not place His right hand over His heart to express true apprecia- tion for the flag like most proud Americans do today. He spread out His hands so that they could be nailed. He then paid the ultimate price for freedom! We have all been born into a world filled with idolatry. According to modern day stan- dards, it's just a normal way of life. However, according to God's standards, its idolatry. What are the longterm side effects of a life filled with idols? Acceptance, rejection and the escape from reality. Recent med reports show that the US makes up about 4.6% of the world's population yet use's 80% of its opiods and 99% of its vicodin. Many are dying each day from the misuse and overdose of these simple pain releiving drugs! Now, is the "main line Christian church" making an impact on this hurting world? Another MAJOR SIGN OF THE TIMES! What message should the church be sending to the lost? Will this lost world listen to anyone in the church? Has much of the main line church lost its credibility? Are church leaders really reaching this hurting world with the love, hope and reality of Jesus? Are modern day Christians restraining the forces of evil? Are many entertaining their congregations on Sunday morn- ings while the nightly news continues to report bloodshed in the streets? When the broken come out from among the catastrophic devistations and into the main stream church for hope, comfort, salvation, and answers, are they really finding the "Way the Truth and the Life?" Twenty five years ago, preaching a hard core end time fire and brimstone message, " in love," along with biblical repentance was a weekly part of evangelism. Today, instead of preaching a gospel that saves, many are preaching a gospel that FEELS GOOD. I can just hear John the Baptist crying out in the wilderness," You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? (Matt 3:7). Noah, Lot and Moses were not trying to take up an offering when it came to warning the lost of the coming WRATH! Maybe we need to stand out on the steet corner with a sign that says," THE END IS NEAR!! What does Paul have to say? "But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Cor 11). Jesus teaches that there will be a great abandon- ment of the Christian faith in these very last days as much of the main line church loses its restrain- ing influence and God fearing presence. After the rapture of TRUE believers, Satan will come onto the scene in bodily form. While the main line news and experts continue to search for answers and hope, the antichrist will step onto the global stage as the world marvels over their new IDOL (2 Thess 2:9-10). The combination of a hurting world in need of hope and answers, a society that is rebelling against God and His governing authorities, a church that is focused on popular insperational speakers, and, a generation of people who are worshipping the creation, will for sure open the door for the antichrist to come forth (1Jn 2:18-29). God will then send a powerful delusion to those both inside and outside of the church who have fallen away and who have refused to love the truth. "Let no one deceive or beguile you in any- way, for that day will not come except the APOSTASY comes first, [unless the predicted great FALLING AWAY of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of law- lessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (2 Thess 2 Amplified). GREAT NEWS! In these very last days, there will be a faith- ful, God fearing remnant, the true restraining force of evil that will be preaching the TRUTH with urgency! They will NOT be deliberatly compromising or abusing God's grace and they will be in the continous pro- cess of allowing the Holy Spirit to remove the idola- trous plank from their own lives as they walk in a continuous life of repentance. They will be coming out from among the world as they wait patiently for their Lord to come. They will be reaching the broken and the lost with the end time TRUTH instead of FALSE HOPES! Compromise will be spit out of the mouth of Jesus when He comes and those preach- ing a milk toast gospel will be held accountable (Eze 33, Rev 3:7-11, 2 Tim 4:1-8). God is slowly lifting his hedge of protection off of this fallen world. As the record breaking earth quakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, devistating California forest fires, violence and wars continue to INCREASE and shake this planet, we can clearly see that Jesus is coming soon and that judgement day is approaching. Almighty God is now starting to get someone's attention? How many are seeking the Lord for the first time? How many are starting to brush the dust off of their Bibles? Now my friends is the time to be preaching not only peace, love and forgiveness, but fire and brimstone, turn or burn, get right or get left! "JESUS IS COMING SOON!" (2Pet 3, 2Tim 4, James 4, Matt 24, Luke 21). "For he will go before the Lord in the Spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready a people prepared for the Lord"(Luke 1:17). One day very soon, the world will understand what it means to take a knee. "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue con- fess that Jesus Christ is Lord"(Phil 2:9-10 NIV). Until next time. Jesus is coming soon. Are you going to be ready? Any questions. Call Michael 303-726-5585 Michael Forti END TIMES By Michael Forti According to modern day standards, it's just a normal way of life. However, according to God's standards, its idolatry. Will this lost world listen to anyone in the church? Has much of the main line church lost its credibility? Are church leaders really reaching this hurting world with the love, hope and reality of Jesus? Are modern day Christians restraining the forces of evil? Are many entertaining their congregations on Sunday mornings while the nightly news continues to report bloodshed in the streets?