The birth of Christ which we celebrate at who is jesus christ time means a lot of things to a lot of people. It can mean the babe in the manger with all the things that Christmas carols speak of. It can of course mean a celebration of gift-giving and all the trimmings from a world point of view. It can also mean a remembrance of something even bigger.
Apart from the real meaning of Christmas which is the birth of the Savior who came to wipe away the sins of the world through His death and resurrection, it also means the beginning of a 2-fold Redemptive plan. One of the world, one individual at a time, and one of the world, one nation at a time.
The first fold was the birth of the traditional Christmas celebration where God sent His only begotten Son that whosoever shall believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life – just because He loved the world so much. He came in person to win the hearts of men whom He had created.
The second fold is the second coming of the Son of God who will return in power and might at the end of this age to end the misery that man’s rebellious nature has produced. This Son of God is God Himself, mind you, taking up human form to be with His created children. (See John chapter 1, verses 1-5 and 10 to 14).
Many folks at Christmas think about “the little Jesus” in a manger. I think of the great and mighty God who will be coming back. But I also think of what will take place before He returns. And, although it is not all pleasant, it has a triumphant victory in the end for all the nations:
“… if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:17-23) (All scriptures are from the Old King James version).
One of the sufferings of these present end times of increased calamities and violence is the coming of the prophesied anti-Christ. Although there’s always been anti-Christs throughout history, there is a political leader who will emerge on the world scene just before the return of the true Christ (Jesus Christ) – the One who’s birth we celebrate at Christmas.
The Good Book warns us of the whole of the history of mankind that is taking place, from Genesis to Revelation. The Bible also gives us a picture of the false Messiah who will come in the end times imitating the true Messiah. Many who are awaiting the Messiah will be deceived by his cunning and deceitful entrance as a man of peace. (2 Thessalonians).
He will come at a time when the world will be desperate for a leader who will make peace with the nations around the world and especially in the Middle East. He will make a seven-year covenant with the Jewish people, enabling them to rebuild their temple. But it will be short-lived. He will break the covenant mid-term and bring upon the Jewish people great tribulation like never before and never will be. (The Book of Daniel, chapters 7, 8, 9; Matthew 24:21).
Most people will not know him as the anti-Christ until he reveals himself as more and more outrageously arrogant, self-centered and demonic. He will perform great signs and wonders and require all people to receive a mark so that no man will be able to buy or sell without it. (Daniel chapter 11; 2 Thessalonians; Revelation 13).
