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CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL
St.
Paul--originally
called Saul-- from Tarsis, was by origin an extremely
zealous Farisee who was a most ardent persecutor of Early Christians.
He left no stone unturned to harass, jail and even murder them!
In about 45 AD when he was on his way to Damascus to imprison Christians
there, he had a very dramatic lifechanging conversion experience. He
saw a bright light and was instantly blinded and thrown of his horse.
He heard a voice speaking to him, saying: "Saul
Saul! Why do you persecute me?"
He answered: "Lord who are you?"
The voice answered: "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting!"
He said: "What shall I do?"
Jesus answered: "Go into Damascus, and there shall
be shown thee what you shall do!"
He was helped to Damascus, where a Christian laid hands on his eyes
and healed him of his blindness. He was baptised and filled with the
Holy Spirit!
Paul became the most on-fire
witness and Apostel of all and he almost single-handedly preached the
Gospel to virtually the entire Roman Empire. He died in Rome, at the
hands of Nero, who had him decapitated in about 90 AD.
Paul also received revelations
from Jesus about the future, which he shared with his Early Church followers
in epistles. They also concern the rise
of the Antichrist and Endtime conditions of the World in the Future!
NOW!
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THE COMING OF CHRIST
In about 70 A.D., the Apostle Paul wrote to his followers
at Tessaloniki Greece, who were expecting Jesus' return any day...that
Jesus' Return could not take place, until there would be "a
falling away first" from the faith,
and that "the
man of sin would be revealed!"--The
Antichrist! He predicted that the Antichrist will eventually announce
to the World that he himself is God!--sitting in the Temple!
So, first comes a falling away from the faith--apostasy--by people who don't really believe, and second the AC will be revealed. Then...and only then...can Jesus return!
7 For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way.
So the "mystery of sin" was already working in Paul's days! The plot and conspiracy was already in the making in 90 AD, during the Roman Empire!
8 And
then shall that Wicked [one] 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.
So, here it is spelled out pretty clearly, that the AC will be Satan's
channel. And that the Lord allows the AC to test mankind, whether they
will love the truth or prefer to believe a lie!
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BIBLE: 2 THESSALONIANS 2:
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there comes a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing 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 withholds that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now lets 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.
2Timothy 3:4 "This know also, that in the last days perilous
times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves,
covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural
affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers
of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of
godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn
away. 2Tim3:1-4
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