The Five Crown Rewards for Grace-living (the Christ-life)

(Link to PDF of Chart)

Perhaps one of the greatest misnomers of Christianity is that Christians will receive rewards in the Kingdom Age for merely being good little boys and girls (because they do not live in sin). The fact is, Christians will receive rewards for fruit produced (souls won and disciples made) to the glory of God because they yielded their bodies to the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, Who then creates the Christ-life in their lives. This is what the Apostle Paul referred to in Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:11-13, and 12:1-2.

“¹⁷ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. ¹⁸ For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. ¹⁹ Whosoever therefore shall break {luo loo'-o; literally loosen; the idea is to teach a more relaxed, broader, more liberal interpretation} one of these least {in size or importance; i.e.; seemingly insignificant} commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case {double negative in Greek text; not at all or not by any means} enter into the kingdom of heaven {this is not referring to the final eternal state of existence, but is referring to the Kingdom Age because God-kind righteousness is required; i.e., justification “by grace through faith”}” (Matthew 5:17-20).

Notice, in Matthew 5:19-20, that there are three divisions of people divided according to their proper understanding and application of the union of Law and Grace; “¹⁹ Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

1. Those who will be “least” in the Kingdom Age (vs. 19a, the unfaithful; i.e., the spiritual legalist and liberal)

2. Those who will be “great” in the Kingdom Age (vs. 19b, the faithful believer who lives in the supernatural enabling of the Spirit and produces “fruit” to God’s glory)

3. Those who will not even “enter into the” the Kingdom Age (vs. 20, the lost)

The “kingdom of heaven” is the Kingdom Age, not the final eternal state of existence. The final eternal state of existence is called the Kingdom of God in the Word of God. There is a difference between these two kingdoms. The “kingdom of heaven,” or the Kingdom Age with still be part of the first and fallen creation, but dominion will be restored to mankind through the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. Rewards will determine the positions that glorified Church Age believers will hold for these 1,000 years of Christ’s rule on Earth. The parable of the “talents” in Matthew 25:14-30 explains that these positions will be determined solely on the basis of the fruit (or gain) that the yielding of our lives to Christ produces and the indwelling Spirit of God creates the Christ-life through us. Christ precedes His teaching on the parable of the “talents” with His parable of the Ten Virgins (five “wise” and five “foolish”) in Matthew 25:1-13. Which group of “five” do you believe REALLY believed that the Bridegroom was coming for them?

Secondly, The “kingdom of heaven” will last one millennium, or 1,000 years. It has events defining its beginning and events defining its ending. Part of the events defining its beginning is the Judgment (Bema) Seat of Christ where Christ will evaluate the ministry/service of believers during the Church Age. The faithful will be given “crowns” for various areas of faithful service that will also translate into varying degrees of responsibility of positions in the Kingdom Age as they rule and reign with Christ as His kings and priests. Matthew 5:19-20 is addressing these faithful individuals from the Church Age, their positions, and how the degrees of power or greatness of those positions will be determined.

The Word of God speaks of five different “crowns” given to faithful believers as rewards. All five crowns are determined by how faithfully a believer lives the Grace-life (Christ-life) in the enabling power of the indwelling Christ.

1. The Crown of Life

“Blessed is the man that endureth {faithfully continues under} temptation {the trying or testing of the reality of faith; James 1:2}: for when he is tried {dokimos ginomai, i.e., proven to be a regenerated person by his faithfulness to his love for the Lord} he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (James 1:12).

“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

The “crown of life” is NOT salvation. Salvation is not a reward for faithful service to Christ. Salvation is the salvation of our souls “by grace through faith.” The “crown of life” is the crown for living the Christ-life. The “crown of life” is Christ’s reward to the believer for being “salt” and “light” by living the Christ-life “by grace through faith” by yielding his/her body to the indwelling Holy Spirit. Therefore the “crown of life” is the Crown of the Christ-life habitually lived through the life of the yielded believer as described in Galatians 2:20. The “crown of life” is Christ’s reward to the faithful believer for the salvation of our lives (not our souls) by yielding our ambitions, abilities, and resources to the cause of Christ in evangelizing the world and in bringing glory to God.

“¹⁹ For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. ²⁰ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:19-20).

The “crown life” (the Christ-life) is given as a reward to the believer who truly lives out the testimony of his/her water baptism in the death to self and the commitment to live life in the resurrection power of the indwelling Christ.

Failure to keep the promise of daily dying to Self and being filled with the Spirit (putting on the Christ-life) that was made in water baptism will result in the loss of this reward and the position of ruling “over cities” that comes with the reward (Luke 19:11-17). Those who are not faithful in living the grace-life/Christ-life during the Church Age will hold a position of the castaway in shame during the Kingdom Age. The degree of rewards (greatness in positions of rule) during the Kingdom Age for glorified Church Age saints will be determined solely because of the spiritual fruit produced by the Holy Spirit through our lives habitually yielded to Him.

2. The Incorruptible Crown

“²⁴ Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. ²⁵ And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. ²⁶ I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: ²⁷ But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (I Corinthians 9:24-27).

The crowns awarded at the Greek Olympic Games were laurel wreaths. They would quickly wilt, turn brown, and crumble into dust. They were intended to be very temporal because they represented who was the champion in that particular event at that particular moment. On any other day, another of the competitors may win that crown. However, the “incorruptible crown” is an eternal crown because it is not given for one race. The “incorruptible crown” is given to a Christian based upon Christ’s evaluation of a believer’s whole life. The key to this reward are the words “temperate in all things” (I Cor. 9:25).

The word “temperate” is from the Greek word egkrateuomai (eng-krat-yoo'-om-ahee) and refers to the self-control of human appetites, carnal lusts, and/or worldly desires or ambitions. There are six things that God “hates.” Either the seventh, or having all seven, is an “abomination” (disgusting or abhorrent) to Him.

“¹⁶ These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: ¹⁷ A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸ An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, ¹⁹ A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:16-19).

Sin is like a spider web. Seldom is there but one strand. One sin connects to another that connects to another that connects to another. For instance, in David’s sin with Bathsheba, we see all seven of these abominations referred to in Proverbs 6:16-19. Pride led to lying that led to cover-up that created a situation of urgency that plotted to do evil that led to murder that brought God’s chastisement upon David, his family, and ultimately upon the nation of Israel. By David’s sin, he gave his children permission to do the same and the seed of spiritual discord was sown.

God does not leave us guessing about what constitutes intemperance or the failure in the self-control of the “flesh.” In Galatians chapter five, God tells us exactly how intemperance will manifest itself through a person’s life.

“¹³ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. ¹⁴ For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ¹⁵ But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. ¹⁶ This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. ¹⁸ But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, ²⁰ Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, ²¹ Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do {present, active, participle; i.e. are doing as the regular practice of their life} such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:13-21).

The “kingdom of God” is the final eternal state of existence provided only to those “born again” into God’s family “by grace through faith.” All true believers receive this inheritance. Therefore, the issue of unrepentant, habitual living in the “flesh” is also a manifestation of still being lost even though there may be a profession of faith in Christ.

The third Crown reward for living the Christ-life builds upon the previous two. We cannot earn the third Crown reward apart from having earned the first two in that producing a true disciple of Jesus Christ must be done in the power of the indwelling Spirit of God. Discipleship is a supernatural work involving progressive transfiguration (Rom 12:2).

3. The Crown of Joy or Rejoicing (the Disciple Maker’s Crown)

“¹⁷ But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. ¹⁸ Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. ¹⁹ For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? ²⁰ For ye are our glory and joy” (I Thessalonians 2:17-20).

This “crown” is often referred to as the Soul Winner’s Crown. However, I like to refer to it as the Disciple Maker’s Crown because there are three phases in the evangelization of a soul. These three phases (or steps, because they must follow in order or succession to one another) of evangelism are detailed in the Great Commission given by Christ to His Church (all “born again” believers).

“¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. ¹⁷ And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. ¹⁸ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. ¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:16-20).

1. The first phase of evangelism is preaching the gospel and leading a soul to a faith decision to be “born again.”

2. The second phase of evangelism is leading a “born again” believer to become a disciple of Jesus in daily dying to the “old man” and yielding himself to the indwelling Holy Spirit. The beginning of this second phase of evangelism is leading a person to be water baptized, which is a physical/outward portrayal of this spiritual/inward commitment. Water baptism is intricately connected to formal local membership and accountability to other members of the local body in living the Christ-life. There is no such thing in Scripture as a Lone Ranger Christian outside of formal membership to a local body of believers. Scripturally, such a person would be considered an anomaly and to be living contrary to the commands of God.

3. The third phase is teaching the “born again” believer, now committed to live the Christ-life, the Word of God and how to become a “doer of the Word” and not just a “hearer only.” The emphasis in the words “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” in Matthew 28:20 is upon the word “observe.” The idea of the word “observe” is to preserve or guard. The natural tendency is to lower or lessen God’s expectations. The believer is to live in such a way as to never let this happen. The high expectations of righteousness (and therefore righteous living) must be carefully guarded and passed on from one generation of Christians to the next with exacting specificity. This involves teaching the specificity of Bible doctrine and living the specificity of what we know.

This three-fold mission is what defines the ministry/purpose of the Christ-life and is what should define the life of the believer who hopes for the “crown of rejoicing.” Christ died for this purpose. This Crown of Rejoicing is the reward of rejoicing for the souls won to Christ and made disciples through YOUR “work of the ministry.” In His resurrection and ascension to the Father, Jesus sowed the Seed of the Holy Spirit of God into the bodies of every “born again” believer with the hope they each would begin to live His purpose; i.e., God-kind righteousness being miraculously produced through the lives of “born again” sinners. This same purpose must become the Disciple Maker’s sole purpose for living. When this spiritual “fruit of the Spirit” is produced inwardly in the believer, it will produce the fruit of souls won to Christ and disciples made of Christ to the glory of God. This Crown is the actual believers who are saved and discipled through your ministry.

“Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved” (Philippians 4:1).

“¹⁹ For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? ²⁰ For ye are our glory and joy” (I Thessalonians 2:19-20).

4. The Crown of Righteousness (the Crown for Keeping “the Faith”)

“¹ I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; ² Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. ⁵ But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. ⁶ For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷ I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept {to guard against loss by teaching and living} the faith {the jot and tittles of the Word of God}: ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (II Timothy 4:1-8).

The local church (made up of individual believers saved by “grace through faith,” discipled, and “perfect[ed] for the work of the ministry”) is the “pillar and ground of the Truth.” Every local church and every individual believer will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ according to two criteria regarding how we kept “the faith.”

1. The effort we put into learning the Word of God and the effort we made to teach the Word of God to others.

2. The effort we made to translate the Word of God into the language of living (“be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only”).

The Crown of Righteousness is for learning, living, and teaching the Word of God to others so that they might do the same (creating a continuum of “the faith”). Living the Word of God cannot be separated from teaching the doctrine of Grace, because no one can live the Word of God (be righteous) apart from the supernatural inner workings of the indwelling Spirit of God.

“¹ O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? ² This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ³ Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh” (Galatians 3:1-6)?

The Crown of Righteousness is the reward for yielding to the indwelling Holy Spirit, Who then produces God-kind righteousness through our lives. Apart from this work of Grace, the believer can never be anything but a sinner. The Spirit of God is the inner source of “living water” (God-kind righteousness).

“¹⁷ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ¹⁸ And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰ Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. ²¹ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (II Corinthians 5:17-21).

II Corinthians 5:21 refers to practical God-kind righteousness supernaturally produced by the Spirit of God through the regenerated believer. Christ having been “made . . . sin for us” opens the spiritual door for the Spirit of God to indwell the believer. “Made” in II Corinthians 5:21 is from the Greek word ginomai (ghin'-om-ahee). The idea is to become. I believe this goes beyond the imputation of righteousness “in Christ” to the potential of practical God-kind righteousness supernaturally produced through the believer’s life by the indwelling Spirit of God. This is exactly what Paul is saying in Romans 8:4; “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” This was never even a possibility prior to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the Age of Grace. “Now . . .in Christ Jesus” the fulfillment of “the righteousness of the law” is a possibility in the regenerated believer’s life if that believer will “walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” This, of course, refers back to what Paul has already said in Romans 6:11-13.

5. The Crown of Glory (the Faithful Pastor’s Crown)

“¹ The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: ² Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; ³ Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. ⁴ And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (I Peter 5:1-4).

The Crown of Glory is possibly the highest ranking crown of all. Rewards are given for faithfulness according to levels of responsibility of ministry given to people by the Lord. We must remember that Pastor’s will be held accountable for the lives under their ministry if they have not taught people properly and/or administrated the local church under their charge according to the directives given to us in the Word by the Chief Shepherd.

“⁷ Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. ⁸ Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. ⁹ Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. ¹⁰ We have an altar {the Lord’s Supper}, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. ¹¹ For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. ¹² Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. ¹³ Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. ¹⁴ For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. ¹⁵ By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. ¹⁶ But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. ¹⁷ Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:7-17).

All Five Crowns are referred to as “full reward”

“⁷ For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. ⁸ Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. ⁹ Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son” (II John 1:7-9).

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The Mark of the Beast & the Rise of the False Prophet (The Deceiver)

(Timetable is Shortly after Mid-Trib.)

“11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six” (Revelation 13:11-18).

The coming Antichrist will have his own PR man. The Antichrist’s agenda is defined by two simple words: deception and destruction. The central characteristic of this second “beast” is deception (Rev. 13:14). The word “beast” is from the Greek word therion (thay-ree'-on), referring to an animal that is a very dangerous, destructive threat. Revelation 19:20 calls this second “beast” the “false prophet.” He is the Evangelist of Deception and Destruction who will be the Antichrist’s Manager of the Mark.

“And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:20).

“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon {Satan, who gives power and a throne to the Antichrist; Rev. 13:2}, and out of the mouth of the beast {the Antichrist; a satanically empower human political leader}, and out of the mouth of the false prophet {the Antichrist’s Evangelist of Deception and Manager of PR}” (Revelation 16:13).

A main part of the false prophet’s program of deception will be his attempt to deceive people to follow him in worshiping the Antichrist (Rev. 13:12). The Antichrist will rise up out of the “sea” of humanity, but the “false prophet” will come “up out of the earth” (Rev. 13:11). There are a couple of possible meanings here.

1. This second “beast” could merely be a demon that possesses a man.
2. “The earth” may simply mean the land referring to the land of Palestine.

This latter explanation would fit the pattern of deception. It seems probable that the false Messiah (Antichrist) would choose a Jew (as did Christ) to direct people to him (Rev. 13:12). The false prophet will be the Antichrist’s evangelist. Even though he will come looking like a believer, his message will reveal him for what he really is. Revelation 13:11 says, “and he spake as a dragon.” He will have the meek appearance of a sheep (“two horns”), but will speak with the political power and authority of a dragon. He will speak the same blasphemous philosophies of the Antichrist (Rev. 13:6).

Revelation 13:12 says the False Prophet “exerciseth” the authority of the “first beast.” He will have the same agenda and will have authority over who lives and who dies. This is going to be another Inquisition. “Causeth” (vs. 12) can mean to force someone to do something. From the context of Revelation 13:16-17, requiring this mark appears to be exactly what will happen. If a person refuses to worship the Antichrist by refusing the “mark,” that person will be killed outright or he will be starved to death. Therefore, “causeth” means people will either take the mark or they will die without the government’s provisions (Socialists call this ministry).

No one will be excluded from the requirement of the Mark. To be allowed to be part of this new One World global society (“buy” or “sell”), a person will have to take the “mark.” Without it, he will be denied the very necessities of life such as food, clothing, shelter, and medical attention.

Our new world society is rapidly moving towards a radical new kind of socialism. It is also moving towards a cashless, computerized society. The technology already exists where a computer chip can be embedded under the skin that can contain a person’s whole history.

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip. They are also referred to as Nano Particles. These microscopic computer chips have a 128-bit ROM for storing a unique 38-digit ID number. They are small enough to be injected through the needle of a syringe and can be used to locate the person by satellite that they are injected into.

The technology of these microchips is rapidly advancing. They can contain social security numbers, bank account balances, medical history, employment history, and even any criminal history. The chip can be updated each time it is scanned. The chip can record every transaction a person makes in moving funds from one account to another, making purchases, and all of this can be recorded in a central database. Every transaction a person makes can be recorded. Without that chip, no one could receive money (payment or wages) or make a purchase.

Revelation 13:13 tells us that a “great sign” will be his method of deception. He will direct his deception centrally at the Jews (Rev. 13:13-14). We know this because of the nature of his “wonder” (or sign). Revelation 13:13 says, “he maketh fire come down from heaven.” Perhaps this will be the Star War’s Laser Technology that the USA and others have been developing since the 1990’s. The Jews are looking for Elijah to accompany the coming of Messiah.

“5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse” (Malachi 4:5-6).

Even today, when Jews celebrate the Passover, they leave a vacant seat at the table for Elijah. Of course, he and Moses will have already come in the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3-12, but they will be rejected because they preached Jesus as the Messiah. On two occasions, Elijah called fire down from heaven.

1. To consume the sacrifice, the water, and the rocks to prove that God was the real God and discredit the priests of Baal and king Ahab (I Kings 18:17-41).
2. When king Ahaziah sent three sets of fifty men each to bring Elijah back (two sets of fifty were consumed by fire, the third Elijah went back with; II Kings 1:10-14).

In Revelation 13:14-15, this deceiver will create an “image” and the appearance of life will be given to the image. I believe this will be some type of three dimensional computer generated holograph that will be able to be projected into any home or work place where the Antichrist will be able to communicate directly with people. This may be something as simple as digital TV or an image through internet. The advancements in Virtual Reality technology is rapidly making this possible. This holograph will be able to communicate with voice-activated commands. It will be able to answer questions and give instructions. It will probably be the final stage of the giant inter-net computer link that will connect every home and work place to the control of the Antichrist. The “mark” will be the means of access to that network (Rev. 13:16-17).

Almost every item bought or sold today has a computer access code in an RFID chip embedded in it or in a Bar Code on it. In the shipping industry, every individual item shipped from anywhere in the world can be tracked by a RFID chip attached to the shipments. There are debit cards that will transfer funds to and from accounts directly without ever exchanging any money. Your cell phone has a GPS locating device built into it. Many of the new cars have a GPS locating device built into them. Soon, every Passport and state Driver’s License will have an RFID chip embedded in it. The RFID chip will provide the same technology to be later implanted just under your skin.

(Omni-RFID Cashless Society) There is presently available an RFID chip manufactured by Omni Industries that will enabled the whole world to go cashless and be on an international currency of which the value can be updated at any moment. This way, the item prices in the store will remain the same, but the currency’s value will be changed at will according to the fluctuations in the Global Economy. The majority of crime today is cash related. Income tax is difficult to manage because it is hard to trace income and expenditures. One day you will no longer file tax returns. Every transaction of income and expenditure will already have been recorded in your international database. Your income tax will be removed directly from that account. All that technology is already available. The majority of this whole system is already in place ready to be implemented.

This is implemented by the world cartel on the International Banking System that controls the Federal Reserve System in every country in the world. This is what drives the whole New World order. It’s a one-world economy controlled by a handful of fiscal elitists. The root of all evil is finally bearing its ultimate fruit: world dominion.

“6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow {pursue} after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (I Timothy 6:6-11).

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Three False Messianic Views Regarding Kingdom Theology

"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds"(II John 1:7-11).

The world population as of 2009 is about 6.8 billion people. This populace is composed of 7 main religions http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html (Chart)

1. Christianity (all branches) - 2.1 billion
2. Islam (all branches) - 1.5 billion
3. Secular/Non-religious/Agnostic/Atheist - 1.1 billion
4. Hinduism – 900 million
5. Chinese Tradition religions (mainly Confucianism & Taoism) – 394 million
6. Buddhism – 376 million’
7. Primal-indigenous (a very broad category alternatively termed “tribal religionists,” “ethnic religionists,” or “animists,” estimates range from 100 million to 457 million. (457 million is the combined total for “Ethnoreligionists,” “Animists,” and “Shamanists”)

Judaism (the 12th) is actually a very small percentage at about 14 million (although Judaism is a small percentage of the world’s population, its impact on world history and modern world politics makes it a predominant influence upon eschatology)
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The world’s three most influential religious groups upon world politics are ALL looking for a coming political Messiah. Yet, the Word of God defines each of these three religious groups as Antichrist. All three of these apostate religious groups are Theonomic in their worldviews. Theonomy means that each group believes that their political Messiah will usher in a political Kingdom on earth where their religious views (Laws) will be those that are forced upon the governance of the world where their religious leaders, along with their political Messiah, will govern the world.

1. Roman Catholicism and her “harlot” daughters of Reformed Ecumenicism are looking for a Political Messiah and his Prophet to usher in a utopian society on earth. In their view of the end-times, this new Messiah and his Prophet will rule the world from Rome.

We have a number of historical examples of the Theonomy of Roman Catholicism and Reformed Theology (Reformed churches that came out of Romanism). We have the Inquisition of Roman Catholicism extending from 1232 A.D. to 1820 A.D. Estimates of the numbers of people murdered by Romanism are between 50 million to 150 million souls. This does not include the innumerable host that were crippled and maimed by the unspeakable horrors of the physical tortures of the Inquisition. The Inquisition is Romanism’s historical example of Theonomy. This is pure Fascism.

John Calvin also gives us a view of Reformed Theology’s utopian ideology of Theonomic governance as the epitome of Legalism in its forced Asceticism for social reform as he sought to establish the Kingdom of God on earth beginning at Geneva, Switzerland beginning in 1541 A.D. Henri Daniel-Rops , in his The Protestant Reformation, vol. II, gives us a short synopsis of Calvin’s (and Reformed/Covenant Theologies) Theonomic worldview.

“Geneva at this period experienced a moral dictatorship such as has scarcely a parallel in history. It had begun at the time of Calvin’s return in 1541, but it went on perfecting itself all the time. The police or ‘guardians’ watched everything, even the most intimate details of men’s private lives. Anyone thinking evil thoughts or doing evil things was punished with brotherly ferocity.
There was prison for those who liked dancing . . . enjoyed drinking . . . cardplayers . . . Barbers were forbidden to tonsure priests passing through the city, and jewellers prevented from fashioning chalices. Both these offences were punishable by hanging. It was regarded as a confession of blasphemy and heresy to murmur ‘rest in peace’ over the grave of a dear departed . . . Two small children were beaten with rods for having eaten two rounds of cake on leaving Church, and another young ragamuffin was nearly beheaded because he returned a box on the ears given him by his mother . . . It is common knowledge that dictatorships inevitably end by seeking to regulate every single thing.”

This was (and is) the uptopianistic ideology of the vast majority of Covenant Theology churches. It is another form of Fascism. It was exemplified in the Anglican Church of England, the Lutheran Church in Germany, and in most of the other State Churches of Europe in varying degrees. Protestantism’s and Romanism’s practical Theonomy were especially grievous towards Jews and Anabaptists (those who refuse to recognize infant baptism as legitimate baptism). Philip Hughes in his book A Popular History of the Reformation gives some details of this.

“There were, of course, the five weekly sermons which all must attend . . . The fashion of dress and of shoes . . . was regulated, and the women’s hair styles also . . . Needless to say, every least sign of the old religion was most rigorously forbidden . . . Anabaptists were banished, with death as the penalty should they return. The rare atheist . . . was put to death, tortured and beheaded. The heretic was burned . . . Few crimes were more swiftly and decisively punished than that of contradicting the master’s teaching. Intellectual give-and-take had no place in Geneva . . . Even to say that Calvin was not a good preacher could mean prison . . .Naturally there was a censorship of books - even Bullinger, Against the Anabaptists, was forbidden . . . Real sins, of course, were dealt with mercilessly . . . And the inquisition dreamed of from the beginning became a reality. Twice a year a commission of ministers and elders descended on every house in the town to see that all was well and godly . . . All this was entered in a huge register, with notes against the name, ‘pious,’ ‘lukewarm,’ ‘corrupt.’ . . . Add to this the immense body of the pious who voluntarily spied on their neighbours and even drew them on in talk until they tripped.”

Luther’s hatred for the Jewish people was recorded in his book On the Jews and Their Lies written in 1543 A.D. It was certainly the foundational theological heresy that fueled the hateful and murderous German Holocaust of Hitler’s Nazism. The following is a synopsis of that book :

“In 1543 Luther published On the Jews and Their Lies in which he says that the Jews are a ‘base, whoring people, that is, no people of God, and their boast of lineage, circumcision, and law must be accounted as filth.’ They are full of the ‘devil’s feces ... which they wallow in like swine.’ The synagogue was a ‘defiled bride, yes, an incorrigible whore and an evil slut ...’ He argues that their synagogues and schools be set on fire, their prayer books destroyed, rabbis forbidden to preach, homes razed, and property and money confiscated. They should be shown no mercy or kindness, afforded no legal protection, and these ‘poisonous envenomed worms’ should be drafted into forced labor or expelled for all time. He also seems to advocate their murder, writing ‘[w]e are at fault in not slaying them.’ ” (Granted Luther would later in his life make more loving remarks towards Jews, his book On the Jews and Their Lies reflects the general consensus of all State Churches of Medieval times.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_and_antisemitism

2. Islam is looking for their Messiah. His full name will be Al Mahdi Al-Muntadar (the awaited Savior). Muslims more commonly refer to him simply as the Mahdi. He is the universal hope of both Suni and Shite. For the Muslims, they are looking for their Mahdi who will lead the nation of Islam in the great Jihad when, upon His victory, he and the nation of Islam will rule the world from Mecca.

Mahdism is becoming a dominant influence upon world politics at this point in history predominantly through the nation of Iran and its President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Islam’s worldview sees Theonomy ushered in through the coming of the Mahdi and the implantation of Sharia Law in the governance of the whole world. Sharia Law is what we see in the vast majority of Muslim nations already. Sharia Law involves public floggings (pic). It also commands the brutalization and execution of unfaithful women by burying them alive and stoning them to death (pic), public beatings/floggings, cutting off the noses of disrespectful women (pic), sexual mutilation, and even murder if the husband believes he has been shamed.

Sharia Law also demands the slaughter or execution of infidels (non-Muslims). (pic) Those who refuse to convert to Islam are to be killed (executed) by the sword (beheading). Those who criticize Mohammad or Islam in any way are to be killed.

Shite Muslims believe there were twelve Imams who were descendants of the prophet Muhammad’s cousin (and also his son-in-law) and that those twelve Imams were endowed by Allah with divine abilities to be supernaturally enabled to lead the Shiites into world dominion. The twelfth Imam, Muhammad Al-Mahdi, mysteriously disappeared in 941 A.D. Since that time, the Shiite believers are commanded to await his eminent return. The Mahdi is often referred to as the Hidden Imam who rules in government matters through the Shiite senior clerics. The nation of Iran is predominantly Shiite and all that we see them doing now in the political arena is steeped in Mahdism.

Muslims believe in Jesus. However, they simply believe He was a created human being and is not God (Surah 3:59). They believe Jesus is just another prophet of Allah (Surah 2:136, 2:84). They believe Jesus will return with the Mahdi, but will die 40 years after his return (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 37, Number 4310). Therefore, the nation of Islam, especially the Shiites, is predeceived for the coming of the Antichrist and his false prophet.

3. Judaism is looking for their Messiah. In most cases, they are still looking for a Messiah who will restore their nation under the Mosaic Covenant, rebuild their Temple, and establish Jerusalem and Israel as the nation that will rule the world.

Israel and the Jewish people have a wide and varied view of their Moshiach (the Jewish Messiah, meaning Anointed One). Many in Israel believe in two Messiahs; one to be the king of Israel who will lead the nation of Israel into world dominion (the Kingdom on earth) and the other to be the High Priest of Israel who will lead in rebuilding the Temple of God and reinstitute the sacrifices and the Mosaic Covenant. However, the predominant view of Moshiach ben David (son of David) is that he will be merely human and not God incarnate. This view is a form of deception that will lead Israel to accept the Antichrist and his accompanying false prophet. Judaism is divided into almost as many sects as Christianity from strict literalists to complete liberalism. Many Jewish people are unbelievers connected more to the real estate of national Israel than they are to the Promises of God.

These three apostate religious groups are pre-prepared for deception by their own false beliefs. They will readily accept the Deceiver as he appeals to each of their false beliefs and hopes. The rest of the world is looking for a Redistribution Messiah. They are looking for a political leader who will make all things equal; everyone will have an equal share of everything. They want this so desperately, they will be willing to trust a politician’s promise to give it to them. Another word for a politician’s promise is the word lie. This is the main tool in the deceiver’s toolbox! The easiest person to deceive is the person that already believes what the Deceiver will say before he says it. These people are pre-deceived.

“3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (II Thessalonians 2:3-12).

(If you want the Power Point for this along with the teacher's script, send me an e-mail and I will forward the files to you free of charge)

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