WE ARE NOT OF THE NIGHT OR THE DARKNESS
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from Afrikaans: “Ons is nie van die nag of duisternis nie”
Someone wrote to me and asked me as follows: “Are we going to be able to see the Antichrist before the rapture?”
As I understand the Word, all those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, will surely no longer be here, when the, to put it this way, great induna of the Antichrist makes his appearance. Because remember, that the Antichrist has already been in the world from the beginning of Christianity, and of course is still here – and I share with you two examples from the Word/Bible, but I could have used even more:
1 JOHN 4:3
3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus [acknowledging that He has come in the flesh, but would deny any of the Son’s true nature] is not of God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world.
2 JOHN 1:7
7For many deceivers [heretics, posing as Christians] have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge and confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh (bodily form). This [person, the kind who does this] is the deceiver and the antichrist [that is, the antagonist of Christ].
So, to answer the question, as I see it:
No, the disciples / followers of Jesus are not going to see the great doom of the Antichrist of the end times and all his, so to speak, mess and/or experience the accompanying events.
I explain to the best of my ability and then I want to start by saying: It is amazing to me personally how many Christians have a fear of what is to come – precisely because we will not even be here to experience it. Now it is also natural that we should not have a fearful spirit in us about these things either.
ROM 8:15
15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “Abba! Father!”
I can only attribute it to ignorance. In other words, due to lack of knowledge. Lack of the necessary knowledge of the Word has been many a Christian’s death toll from satan. No wonder then that our Lord wrote for us in His Word:
HOSEA 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of My law, where I reveal My will]. …
You see – of us, – all who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, it is written regarding the end times:
1THS 5:9-10
9For God has not destined us to [incur His] wrath [that is, He did not select us to condemn us], but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died [willingly] for us, so that whether we are awake (alive) or asleep (dead) [at Christ’s appearing], we will live together with Him [sharing eternal life].
We, who have converted ourselves and our lives to Jesus, expect with a certain knowledge that Jesus will come and get us before the time, so that we will not be part of the wrath of our Lord that will come over the whole world. Paul writes – and it also applies to you and me:
1THS 1:9-10
9For they themselves report about us, telling what kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10and to [look forward and confidently] wait for [the coming of] His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, who [personally] rescues us from the coming wrath [and draws us to Himself, granting us all the privileges and rewards of a new life with Him].
If you have settled your case with our Lord, in other words, if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and keep walking in His ways, you can face the judgment day with great boldness. This is not what I say, this is what our Lord tell us in His Word:
1JHN 4:16-17
16We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him. 17In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world.
I close this writing to you with the following from the Word, namely:
1THS 4:16-18
16For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the [blast of the] trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain [on the earth] will simultaneously be caught up (raptured) together with them [the resurrected ones] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord! 18Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words [concerning our reunion with believers who have died].
1THS 5:1-5 The Day Of The Lord
1Now as to the times and dates, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. 2For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the [return of the] Lord is coming just as a thief [comes unexpectedly and suddenly] in the night. 3While they are saying, “Peace and safety [all is well and secure!]” then [in a moment unforeseen] destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains on a woman with child, and they will absolutely not escape [for there will be no way to escape the judgment of the Lord]. 4But you, believers, [all you who believe in Christ as Savior and acknowledge Him as God’s Son] are not in spiritual darkness [nor held by its power], that the day [of judgment] would overtake you [by surprise] like a thief; 5for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We do not belong to the night nor to darkness.
Sakkie