Author: Christian ambassador (Shawn Brasseaux)

Grace and peace! What a privilege to be an ambassador for the risen Christ here on WordPress! I am a Pauline dispensationalist Christian saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus plus nothing! My goal is to "have all men saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:3,4). I seek to preach Jesus Christ crucified for our sins, buried, and raised again for our justification as the only way to salvation. Also, I seek to edify and perfect the saints using dispensational Bible study and the Authorized Version King James Bible!

A Papal Prophecy? #8

Thursday, March 7, 2013

“And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time” (2 Thessalonians 2:6 KJV).

The recent resignation of Benedict XVI as pope is being greatly discussed within “Christian” circles in light of eschatology. Are we seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled today, or is this simply the (usual) failure to “rightly divide the word of truth?”

Firstly, why is the antichrist in Scripture?

3. To demonstrate that God is far wiser and far more powerful than Satan and sinful man whom he controls.

God created a very special cherub (an angelic-like creature) named Lucifer. He was “full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty” (Ezekiel 28:12). In fact, the LORD said of him, “Thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret hid from thee” (verse 3). Lucifer—Latin for “the light-bearer”—was to lead creation in worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ. This radiant creature was brilliant: his purpose was to devise various ways to glorify his Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ. Lucifer’s body had built-in musical instruments, and his clothing was precious stones (verses 13,14).

God speaking to Lucifer: “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee…. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee” (verses 15,17). Lucifer became prideful because of his qualities and capabilities (1 Timothy 3:6): he thought he should be worshipped instead (cf. Isaiah 14:12-15).

The Lord Jesus Christ commented, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10:17). Lucifer was cast out of the third heaven: he has since polluted the second heaven (outer space) and planet earth with sin (rebellion against God). Thus, his name was changed to Satan (Hebrew for “adversary”). For 6,000 years now, Satan has been trying to overthrow God intellectually, to replace Him with himself, or with some other sinful creature (Romans 1:25). The antichrist, the personification of Satan’s original plan, is the devil’s final desperate attempt to replace God with a creature….

A Papal Prophecy? #7

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

“And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time” (2 Thessalonians 2:6 KJV).

The recent resignation of Benedict XVI as pope is being greatly discussed within “Christian” circles in light of eschatology. Are we seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled today, or is this simply the (usual) failure to “rightly divide the word of truth?”

Firstly, why is the antichrist in Scripture?

2. To deal with the nation Israel: to separate the believing Jews from the unbelieving Jews.

When the antichrist is assassinated by sword halfway through the seven-year Tribulation (Zechariah 11:15-17; Revelation 13:3-5,12,14), his soul will go to hell and remain there; however, Satan will heal that physical body, and re-animate it via devil possession (!). This is the antichrist’s transformation from “the man of sin” to the even more nefarious, “son of perdition [damnation]” (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

John explains in Revelation 17:8: “The beast [antichrist] that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.” The antichrist “was” (alive) “and is not” (killed); he “was” (alive), “is not” (dead), “and yet is” (alive).

This “resurrection” will cause the whole world to worship the antichrist (Satan) (Revelation 13:3-18), albeit believing Israel will not. Their refusal of the antichrist’s mark and/or number and/or name will cause them to be destitute of food, clothing, and shelter, and eventually they will be imprisoned (Revelation 13:16-18; cf. Matthew 25:31-46).

As in Christ’s day (Matthew 13:37-43), during the Tribulation, many Jews will claim to be following JEHOVAH. Jews who accept the antichrist will be exposed as Satan’s counterfeit Jews (Hebrews 10:25-39; 1 John 2:18,19; 1 John 4:1-4). Believing Jews will prove their faith by rejecting the antichrist and his religion, and suffering the penalty—being beheaded (Revelation 20:4; cf. Revelation 6:9-11). Hence, James writes of believing Jews visiting “the fatherless and widows in their affliction” (James 1:27), and Peter mentions “suffering as a Christian” (1 Peter 4:12-19; 1 Peter 5:6-9).

A Papal Prophecy? #6

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

“And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time” (2 Thessalonians 2:6 KJV).

The recent resignation of Benedict XVI as pope is being greatly discussed within “Christian” circles in light of eschatology. Are we seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled today, or is this simply the (usual) failure to “rightly divide the word of truth?”

Firstly, why is the antichrist in Scripture?

2. To deal with the nation Israel: to separate the believing Jews from the unbelieving Jews.

The Romans destroyed Israel’s Temple in A.D. 70, but the antichrist will rebuild it and re-institute its ceremonies and rituals. He will institute a false religious system, although, deceptively enough, it will resemble the Mosaic Law. According to Daniel 9:27, it will involve animal sacrifices and oblations, which God had commanded Israel to offer in time past (however, the antichrist is operating under Satan’s control, so it is now devil worship).

At the midpoint of the seven-year Tribulation, “he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Daniel 9:27). Halfway through the seven years, the antichrist will desecrate that rebuilt Temple, forbid those animal sacrifices, and demand that Israel worship him instead (2 Thessalonians 2:4; cf. Daniel 11:36,37; Revelation 13:5-18).

The antichrist, a political leader, will have an assistant, a religious leader, the “false prophet” (Revelation 19:20), who will encourage people to build an image (idol) to the antichrist. Those who will refuse to worship the image—that is, believing Jews—will be executed. Jesus Christ described this graphic persecution in Matthew 10:16-42 (God’s encouragement to those believing Jews). Contrariwise, unbelieving Jews will eagerly receive the antichrist’s religious mark and worship his image—thus, instantly sealing their fate in everlasting damnation (Revelation 14:9-11).

Unbelieving Jews and believing Jews will be thus differentiated, as Jesus Christ explained in Matthew 10:32,33: “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”

A Papal Prophecy? #5

Monday, March 4, 2013

“And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time” (2 Thessalonians 2:6 KJV).

The recent resignation of Benedict XVI as pope is being greatly discussed within “Christian” circles in light of eschatology. Are we seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled today, or is this simply the (usual) failure to “rightly divide the word of truth?”

Firstly, why is the antichrist in Scripture?

2. To deal with the nation Israel: to separate the believing Jews from the unbelieving Jews.

Most Jews today are lost, spiritually blinded, and ignorant of Jesus Christ: they reject the New Testament Scriptures, so they are still waiting for their Messiah to come (the first time) as promised in the Old Testament Scriptures. Israel has already rejected the authentic Messiah (the Lord Jesus) as fraudulent; in the future, the antichrist (the counterfeit Messiah) will come, and ironically, Israel will accept him as genuine. Jesus Christ warned Israel: “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive” (John 5:43). Jesus is referring to the antichrist!

As in biblical times, the nation Israel today still longs for peace in her Promised Land, for the Arabs, the Palestinians, and their sympathizers still relentlessly hassle her, hoping to “drive [her] into the sea” and possess her God-given land (Psalm 83:1-18). The Jews long for their Messiah to come and rescue them, and usher in that peaceful kingdom promised by the Old Testament prophets so long ago.

One day, the antichrist will come “peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries… and such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries” (Daniel 11:21,32). The smooth-talking, double-talking antichrist will promise Israel a peace treaty, just like the Old Testament spoke of (Jesus) Christ’s peaceful kingdom. “He [the antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week” (Daniel 9:27). Halfway through that seven-year Tribulation period, the antichrist will betray Israel’s trust, and he will side with Israel’s enemies by killing those (believing Jews) who refuse to worship him as God (Revelation 13:5-10,15; Revelation 17:12-14). This persecution will sort believing Jews from unbelieving Jews.

A Papal Prophecy? #4

Sunday, March 3, 2013

“And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time” (2 Thessalonians 2:6 KJV).

The recent resignation of Benedict XVI as pope is being greatly discussed within “Christian” circles in light of eschatology. Are we seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled today, or is this simply the (usual) failure to “rightly divide the word of truth?”

Firstly, why is the antichrist in Scripture?

1. To be a literal, spiritual, and physical counterfeit Jesus Christ: he is anti(against)-Christ, the ultimate embodiment of Satan’s lie policy aimed at destroying God purpose and plan for creation.

God’s purpose and plan for creation is to exalt His Son, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:9,10; Colossians 1:13-20). However, Satan desires that worship, and sinful mankind under his influence joins him in “changing the truth of God into a lie, and worshipping and serving the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever” (Romans 1:25). This lie program encompasses everything that Satan has done these last 6,000 years. However, there will be one world ruler who will be the culmination of Satan’s evil world system and his policy of evil—the antichrist.

The antichrist will “oppose and exalt 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” (2 Thessalonians 2:4; cf. Daniel 11:36,37; Revelation 13:5-18). Just as Jesus Christ claimed to be God, the antichrist will claim to be God and desire worship that only God deserves.

Additionally, the antichrist’s “coming is after the working of Satan with power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish…” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). Just as Jesus Christ performed miracles, the antichrist’s devilish regime will produce supernatural phenomena, causing the antichrist (and thus Satan) to be worshipped (Revelation 13:5-18). Even as Jesus Christ was resurrected, the antichrist will be assassinated and “resurrected” (Zechariah 11:15-17; Revelation 13:1-4,12). No wonder Jesus described the Tribulation as, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24).

There is more….

A Papal Prophecy? #3

Saturday, March 2, 2013

“And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time” (2 Thessalonians 2:6 KJV).

The recent resignation of Benedict XVI as pope is being greatly discussed within “Christian” circles in light of eschatology. Are we seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled today, or is this simply the (usual) failure to “rightly divide the word of truth?”

Firstly, why is the antichrist in Scripture?

1. To be a literal, spiritual, and physical counterfeit Jesus Christ: he is anti(against)-Christ, the ultimate embodiment of Satan’s lie policy aimed at destroying God purpose and plan for creation.

Satan desires worship that only the God of the Bible deserves (Matthew 4:8-10; Luke 4:5-8). Before his fall from heaven, Lucifer declared, “I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:14). Ezekiel 28:17a says to Lucifer, “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty;” his sin was pride (1 Timothy 3:6). Satan wants all of creation to ignore Jesus Christ, and worship everything else—him, mankind, nature, and so on.

Daniel 11:21 introduces us to the coming world ruler, the antichrist, the personification of Satan’s rebellion: “And in his [the antichrist’s predecessor’s] estate shall stand up a vile person [the antichrist], to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.” When he is to be “revealed in his time” (today’s Scripture), the antichrist will assume his office of global domination by deception and smooth talking—he is a classic politician!

Daniel 9:27 continues: “And he [the antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [seven-year Tribulation]: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease….”

The antichrist will mimic Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ’s kingdom is one of peace; the antichrist will speak peace unto Israel by making a seven-year peace treaty. In the middle of that week, the antichrist will turn on Israel, he will desecrate Israel’s newly rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem, and he will institute a religion that worships himself (Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:5-18): like Jesus Christ claimed to be God, so will the antichrist. The counterfeits continue….

A Papal Prophecy? #2

Friday, March 1, 2013

“And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time” (2 Thessalonians 2:6 KJV).

The recent resignation of Benedict XVI as pope is being greatly discussed within “Christian” circles in light of eschatology. Are we seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled today, or is this simply the (usual) failure to “rightly divide the word of truth?”

Firstly, why is the antichrist in Scripture?

1. To be a literal, spiritual, and physical counterfeit Jesus Christ: he is anti(against)-Christ, the ultimate embodiment of Satan’s lie policy aimed at destroying God purpose and plan for creation.

The book of Daniel contains three specific prophecies of future world empires (Daniel wrote approximately 600 B.C., so, except for the latter two kingdoms, these empires are history to us). Let us briefly summarize the dreams (and their interpretations) in Daniel 2:31-45, Daniel 7:1-14, and Daniel 8:1-25.

In Daniel’s lifetime, Babylon was the world empire. Circa 539 B.C., the Medes and Persians defeated and replaced Babylon as the world empire. The Greek Alexander the Great defeated and replaced Media-Persia as the world empire circa 331 B.C. Upon young Alexander’s death (323 B.C.), his four generals divided his Greek Empire amongst themselves. Scripture speaks of another coming world empire, one stemming from that ancient (northern) Greek Empire, out of which will come the antichrist’s government. The Bible then discusses yet another world empire, Jesus Christ’s millennial reign, which will overcome and replace the antichrist.

Every world empire that has existed up to the present-day has been one of man’s founding. They have all brought glory to man and Satan instead of to Jesus Christ. None of them were based on the Bible’s teachings. Gentiles whose heathenism and ignorance ruled, instead of Jesus Christ, developed them. Hence, Satan rightly offered to give Jesus Christ the world’s kingdoms and “the glory of them,” if Christ would simply worship him (Matthew 4:8-10; Luke 4:5-8). Consequently, the Bible speaks of “this present evil world” (Galatians 1:4) and Satan as “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Ephesians 2:1,2 explains that lost mankind blindly follows Satan’s evil world system. The antichrist will be the ultimate, flesh-and-blood personification of this, everything that Satan’s lie policy promotes….

A Papal Prophecy? #1

Thursday, February 28, 2013

“And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time” (2 Thessalonians 2:6 KJV).

Today’s resignation of Benedict XVI as pope is being greatly discussed within “Christian” circles in light of eschatology. Are we seeing Bible prophecy fulfilled today, or is this simply the (usual) failure to “rightly divide the word of truth?”

Ever since the Bible—especially the book of the Revelation—was completed nearly 2,000 years ago, many have offered wild speculations regarding the identity of the antichrist. Before we attempt to tackle the issue of who he is, let us first ask and answer, “Exactly what is the antichrist and why is he even in the Bible?” The books of Daniel, 2 Thessalonians, and Revelation deal with him in detail more than any other Bible books, although brief, implicit references to him can be found elsewhere in the Old and New Testament Scriptures (Exodus, Psalms, Isaiah, the Four Gospels, 1 John, et al.).

In the next several studies, we aim to look at some of the most important Bible passages regarding the antichrist. There is much ignorance about him, his purpose, his plan, his origin, his reign, and his inauguration. We want to set aside our denominational biases, and the secular input from the lost Bible critics who sell their alleged “prophetic” books and television programs, and we desire to simply see what God’s Word actually says about this man, the “antichrist.” By the way, today’s Scripture is excerpted from a passage (verses 3-12) that provides one of the most graphic portraits of him found in the Holy Bible.

Firstly, we can briefly list at least three reasons why the antichrist is in Scripture:

  1. To be a literal, spiritual, and physical counterfeit Jesus Christ: he is anti(against)-Christ, the ultimate embodiment of Satan’s lie policy aimed at destroying God purpose and plan for creation.
  2. To deal with the nation Israel: to separate the believing Jews from the unbelieving Jews.
  3. To demonstrate that, in the end, God is far wiser and far more powerful than Satan and sinful man whom he controls.

Let us examine these three points in greater detail….

We have recently uploaded to YouTube the final part of 3 home Bible study videos that introduce dispensational Bible study, and specifically Pauline dispensationalism. Click here to watch it.

An Open Mind and an Open Bible

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

“The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going” (Proverbs 14:15 KJV).

Indeed, have an open mind… but have an open Bible too!

Not long ago, I attended a professional scientific presentation that involved a recent environmental issue—the 2010 Gulf of Mexico BP oil spill—and the news media distorting scientific information for the sake of sensationalizing. Newspapers and television newscasts hyped up the public, and their biased reporting caused an already scientific-illiterate public to become even more uninformed. They shied away from reality, choosing rather to focus on “worst-case scenarios.” As the news industry knows, sensational reporting sales more magazines, newspapers, and television programs.

The lecturer did a great job explaining the issue and the media’s intentional distortion of facts. However, he did not have spiritual eyes: he failed to understand that the media does not only deceive the public concerning scientific news, but also regarding political, economic, social, and more importantly, spiritual news.

Beloved, remember, the mainstream media is just as much an element of Satan’s policy of evil as the religious, economic, educational, and social systems. They are all anti-God and anti-Bible, for Satan is “the god [ruler] of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). This arrangement and the time period it dominates is “the course of this world” (Ephesians 2:2): the deceptive, anti-God system that has ruled the world ever since man’s fall in Genesis chapter 3, will continue until Christ’s Second Coming.

Today’s Scripture says, “The simple believeth every word.” The word “simple” here means “silly, seducible, foolish”—one who is naïve, unwise, who believes anything and everything he or she reads or hears. This is contrasted with the “the prudent man” who “looketh well to his going.” Being “prudent”—acting with the future in the mind—he is cautious about what he believes (and how it affects him in the long-term).

Be open-minded, but have an open Bible too! “Prove [test] all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). That which disagrees with the King James Bible rightly divided is of Satan’s policy of evil. Be ye prudent… and vigilant!

We have recently uploaded to YouTube part 2 of 3 home Bible study videos that introduce dispensational Bible study, and specifically Pauline dispensationalism. Click here to watch it.

Israel, Hope in the LORD

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

“Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities” (Psalm 130:7,8 KJV).

Today’s Scripture is a great hope of the nation Israel….

In Psalm 130, a believing Jew urges Israel to remember her faithful God, Almighty JEHOVAH: “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.”

Israel, from her earliest days, was repeatedly unfaithful to JEHOVAH. He alone provided for her every need, but she ignored Him and praised and worshipped the pagan idols of the Gentiles. Even today, JEHOVAH offers to the whole world salvation from hell through Jesus Christ, but the vast majority ignores it. However, the psalmist, who represents the believing remnant within Israel, has not forgotten the faithfulness of JEHOVAH. Yes, Israel has been a horrible nation, but God’s grace and forgiveness can still overcome her wickedness—she simply needs to wait on Him to provide a solution to her sin problem (at the time of Psalm 130, Jesus Christ has not died yet).

In Jeremiah 31:31-34 (cf. Hebrews 8:8-13; Hebrews 10:15-17), God promises Israel the New Covenant via Christ’s shed blood: “for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” When Jesus Christ returns (His Second Coming), He will inaugurate this New Covenant, and “all [believing] Israel shall be saved… when [He] will take away their sins” (Romans 11:26,27; cf. Acts 3:19-21). As today’s Scripture indicates, Israel just needs to hope in the LORD and His Word.

We have recently uploaded to YouTube part 1 of 3 home Bible study videos that introduce dispensational Bible study, and specifically Pauline dispensationalism. It can be watched here.