#1 - By Their Fruits

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Nationally, we have observed this person for the better part of 10 years. Of course, there are many people who have been watching him for much longer, but, as a national figure, he has demanded our attention for about 10 years. O Course, I’m referring to Donald J. Trump.

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I believe that he is an antichrist.

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I hope you notice that I did not say that he is THE antichrist, but he is AN antichrist.

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The apostle John wrote in his first letter:

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1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 

1Jn 2:19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be seen that they were not all (true members) of us. 

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The real danger that an antichrist poses is the deception that they spread by implying that they represent God, or that God sent them. This deception is so pervasive that many people will follow this person almost as if this person were the second coming of Christ.

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On Wednesday, August 21, 2019, President Donald Trump turned from reporters, looked to heavens and proclaimed, “I am the chosen one.” (Premier Christian News  Donald Trump: ‘I am the chosen one.’)

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 This was supported by conservative commentator Wayne Allyn Root. Root described him as the King of Israel and the second coming of God saying, “…like he’s the King of Israel. They love him like he is the second coming of God...” (Premier Christian News  Donald Trump: ‘I am the chosen one.”)

 

I believe that this deception comes from an antichrist spirit. The apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the church at Ephesus (near the western coast of modern-day Turkey):

           

Eph 6:12  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. 

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In other words, our enemy in this struggle is not a person or even all the people who enable this person. Our enemy here is a spirit, one of the “spiritual forces of wickedness” that Satan sends to defeat those who follow the Lord Jesus and the Father.

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That is a profound statement. How can we possibly justify such a sweeping indictment? The apostle Matthew reports in his gospel that Jesus said:

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Mat 7:15  "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 

Mat 7:16  "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 

Mat 7:17  "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 

Mat 7:18  "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 

Mat 7:19  "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 

Mat 7:20  "So then, you will know them by their fruits. 

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That being the case, then what are the “fruits?” According to the apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Galatia (central Turkey today) there are two kinds of “fruits.” There are the fruits of God’s Spirit, and there are the fruits or deeds of the flesh.

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Gal 5:19  Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 

Gal 5:20  idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 

Gal 5:21  envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

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Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

Gal 5:23  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

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If it is “by their fruits” that we will know those that are tools of an antichrist spirit, then I believe it's clear that our current leaders are being controlled by an antichrist spirit.

 

At the same time, the followers of this “beast” and its minions are also espousing a form of christianity. At every Trump rally there are always signs and flags announcing, “God, Guns, and Trump.”

 

Make no mistake. They do not represent God.

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This movement claims that Trump is sent by God, and that they are following God’s plan in supporting him, and yet, their lives are exemplifying the “deeds of the flesh,” including the constant stream of lies, hate, rage, accusation, retribution, vengeance, and threats of violence against prosecutors, judges, news outlets, journalists, universities, law firms, congressmen, senators, governors, and absolutely anyone who dares to speak out against the "dear leader."

 

This also does not represent God.

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The apostle John also wrote in his book of Revelation to the church while he was a prisoner on the island of Patmos and speaking about the final judgment:

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Rev 21:4 and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." 

Rev 21:7 "He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. 

Rev 21:8 "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." 

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This promise is both a wonderful and a terrible thing.

 

I pray daily and constantly that God will so illuminate our world with His presence that everyone’s eyes will be opened, everyone’s ears unstopped, and everyone’s minds unveiled, and everyone will recognize what is true, and what are lies, and then choose.

 

Choose whether they will repent of the works of darkness and turn to the truth in God’s light or choose to turn away from the truth back into the darkness of deception.

 

I pray that God will do this in such a way that as many people that can be redeemed will be redeemed.

 

I pray these things fervently, not only for others, but also for myself and my loved ones.

 

No one is above falling into deception, not me, not you, not anyone.

 

O Lord, You are our only hope in this dark day.

Save us Lord, err we perish.