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“If you love me, keep my commandments.” John 14: 15
Michael had set his alarm at 6:00 am today to get ready for the Men's Fellowship that is scheduled to be held before the general 8 am time for Campmeeting breakfast. He didn't need a shower today, but he always goes into the Multipurpose building restroom to shave, grab a cup of newly brewed coffee and chat with some folks that mingle in the cafeteria before breakfast. Because of the Men's Fellowship, it may be a little different.
And Michael's assumptions were correct. As he scanned the crowd, he noticed a face that was five years out of place. It was Brent Spentlike! He graduated the same year as Michael at CSU in computer science, but had decided to go to Berkeley for graduate work.
“Brent! It's nice to see you here!” shouts Michael as he practically sprints over to Brent's round table. “But you are a Jew! What brings you to our Campmeeting?” Brent stands at his chair and reaches to shake Michael's right hand as Michael carefully puts his travel cup of fresh coffee on the table with his left hand.
“Well, Michael, have a seat, and I will try, in less than 12 pages, tell you some of my history that will explain the 'whys'” said Brent.
“Okay, I'm ready” said Michael as he looked into Brent's eyes. Brent's facial expression and his eyes looked as sincere as Michael had ever seen before.
“It all started with a book by Joel Rosenberg. The name has 'Jew' stamped on it and one of the undergraduates offered me one of his books called Epicenter about Israel, and the Mideast. It looked interesting, so I took it as a loan for awhile to read through it. I did as I usually do on books that I need to read fast; I went to the back of the book to read the 'end of the plot,' or theory conclusions, or whatever the author figured should be at the end of the book.”
“Ha! I 'say' I don't do that, but that was a trick my mother did most of the time” blurted Michael.
“But God knew that in my situation. Towards the end of the book, is a part of frequently asked questions, and in it someone asked Joel about his 'spiritual journey. And in his journey he spends time reading Isaiah 53. A few verses are quoted. I was always 'saying' that I was familiar with Isaiah 53 when questioned by a Christian, but I couldn't keep on lying to myself, so I read Isaiah 53. And I read it again. And I pondered the words. Hmmmm.”
“I had heard stories about 'Messianic Jews' and then, it all clicked in! I delved into a web search about the Pros and the Cons of the Pope; the Catholic leader that Catholics look to for direction, rather that reading the Bible. It turns out that many Christians see him as an enemy of Christianity. He, a past Pope, claims to have the authority to 'change the Sabbath' from the Seventh day to the First day! With a little more of a web search, I found a group called 'Chosen People Ministry' of Messianic Jews! The change from a Jew to a Messianic Jew is ALL MENTAL! Your lifestyle practically stays the same!”
“Wow, so is Jesus, or rather Yeshua, in your heart now?” asks Michael.
“Hah! It's a 'fo shizzle! How can He NOT BE? The Holy Days make so much sense now. They were all in PREPARATION for Jesus!” shouts Brent.
“I did more study, and I read all of Joel's book, and by the way, Joel, along with most Mainstream Christians, is deceived by the Devil!”
“Yep, we read the same Bible, but reach conclusions that are miles apart!” chimed in Michael.
“I think Eric is ready to go for the Men's Fellowship! Let's get over to the corner that is setup for us!” mentioned Brent.
Brent and Michael grab their coffee cups and walk over to the corner of the Multipurpose cafeteria that is setup for the Men's Fellowship. Eric is the emcee and the speaker for the Men's Fellowship. “Glad that you all decided to come to our Men's Fellowship today! With all the troubles we have here in America, the Mideast and Hollywood, I will talk a little about the AntiChrist. Is the AntiChrist to be understood as symbolic as ideas and actions or as a person? Or can it be both? A person presenting ideas and actions that are against Christ?”
“Does PostModern television offer favorable ideas towards Christianity? Does Public School science offer favorable ideas towards the Bible? Do popular social ideas offer favorable ideas towards a Christian lifestyle?” asks Eric. Eric watches the small group of men in Men's Fellowship today. As he looks at the group of about a dozen men, he sees many frown, shaking heads and the general vocal response was “Nope!”
“When a young Christian man goes to school, with short hair, doesn't curse in his words, the school kids find out he doesn't watch TV, doesn't believe in an 'old earth' and won't have sex until he is married to a girl, he may not be the most popular kid at school! The antiChrist ideas like these occur more and more around the world! A single person is not responsible for such ideas. Many people around the world share these antiChrist ideas. How about a religion? Are any religions against Christ?” asks Eric.
“What does God say about that?” asks Eric.
“If you're not FOR me, you are AGAINST ME!” said George over at the second round table.
“You are correct George. If a religion is not FOR Christ, it is against Christ! Now, the first separation of religions is Christian religions and non
Christian religions. That includes Buddhism, Islam, most NewAge religions and one that is so close, it is almost a word game to see a difference: Judaism. Jews believe and worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But they do not believe that Yeshua, Jesus, is indeed, the Son of God, our Messiah! Therefore, my definition, they are antiChrist!
What about Islam? What is Jesus to a Muslim? From the Qur'an, we can see that Muhammad regarded Jesus as a Prophet, but not the Son of God, our Messiah. They don't even believe Jesus was crucified and resurrected! So, by Jesus' definition, Islam is an antiChrist. Does Islam have a main, central leader?” asks Eric as he looks to see any body language, nods or not and sees mostly eyebrows raised and signs of inquiry.
“Well, I see a silent answer of 'I don't know!' You are correct. Islam is similar to Christianity, in that it has a known past leader, but no one person now to lead the group. Christians have Christ to look to for leadership, but no person now, other than Catholics and their Pope, to look to for leadership. So that is why Christians have many, many, many small, large, and medium congregations reading and understanding the Bible in their own way.
But almost all Christian people and congregations are looking forward to the time when Jesus returns to be our leader. A time when living Christians will be 'changed in the twinkling of an eye' to a life for eternity. Past Believers will be resurrected to eternal life. I believe those alive that are not to an age of accountability, will be saved and taught about Jesus, the being that can save them into a life for eternity.
But many Muslims are looking for the '12th Imam' or alMahdi to bring justice and equity to them. The sects of Saudi Arabia and of Iran or Shia and sects of the same thought, are looking for alMahdi to 'set the record straight.'
The big Islamic group of Sunni are not looking for alMahdi. The Sunni group is present around the world. They are everywhere, and the Shia group focuses in the Mideast.
However, if someone, with the Devils help is able to rise and be known as the 'real alMahdi,' we may be in much trouble. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is said to have talked to the '12th Imam' to receive directions. Their President has all the right background to be 'talking to' the 12th Imam.
He was born and raised in Persia, and that is one of my petpeeves; by what authority does the UN think they have over history and the Bible? Iran
IS Persia! So as I talk about that land, I will call it as it was in history, Persia. So, anyway, Ahmadinejad is from Persia and a Shia Muslim. He has a strong belief in alMahdi as moreorless a Muslim Messiah! And this Muslim Messiah will probably have the general ideas of Islam, in that Jesus was a prophet, not a Savior and a Christian Messiah. So if alMahdi shows up, we can accurately call him a personalized AntiChrist.
So, to sum up the ideas of antiChrist, be it known that ANYTHING, idea, action, or thought that is not FOR Jesus Christ, by God's definition, is AGAINST Christ! An AntiChrist! So most of the stuff out of Hollywood is antiChrist, and some new Federal Regulations can be called antiChrist. For example, Canada brewedup some 'hatecrimes' like we have in America now. In years past, a Canadian Pastor was thrown in jail for teaching out of the Bible regarding homosexuality.
Also, if you try to teach science from the Bible, that means a 'young earth,' you can get in trouble. Teach adultery for what it is, regardless of 'consenting adults' or not; if they are married to someone else, it's adultery! So a homeschool teacher will be in trouble with government officials for teaching Biblical truths.
That's my general outlook of the antiChrist. Go ahead and finish up your breakfasts and I'll go for another cup of coffee.” said Eric as he grabbed his 'Made from OPEC petroleum' travel cup and took off to the cafeteria coffee pot.
Michael leans over to Brent, “This alMahdi guy that Eric mentioned makes a lot of sense Brent!” Brent looks back at Michael with his eyebrows raised “How so?”
“Well look at the dry summers we had the past few years. We have over a million Muslims in America right now. If Muslims wanted to start a few fires, we would be in trouble! And I think Iran HAS nukes now. They have missiles that can reach Israel. If they mounted nukes on those missiles, mounted them in cargo ships, which they can 'buy off' any other country, like Panama or Turkey, be barely still in International waters, which is what, 12 miles for America? If they coordinate the attack within a few hours, America could be in big trouble!” said Michael.
“Yeah, I guess so Michael. I never thought of it all that way. Then even if Muslims played the same terrorist roles that Muslims do in Israel, we would be in trouble too.” said Brent.
“You bet. If that Iranian President” Michael pauses “uh, his name starts with an 'A'.”
“Ahmadinejad. It's ahmahdinejad. Four syllables. And I'll do as Eric says, Iran becomes Persia, like the Bible says. Ahmadinejad is the President of Persia, and when, not 'if,' but WHEN someone, from the Devil, comes to be alMahdi, America is in big trouble!” shouts Brent.