The coming antichrist should be a Jew and certainly not a Muslim or Christian. At least, that was one of the views in a conversation about the antichrist. The reason for that was that the Jews would only accept him if he came from 'the house of David'. But what if the Jews were deceived?
A day in Jerusalem
My first - and to date only - trip to Israel took place a few years ago. Before that I had the idea that Orthodox Jews are serious about the Old Testament, even though they do not read the New Testament and they still do not accept the Lord Jesus as Messiah. But one day in Jerusalem drastically changed this picture.
At the Temple Institute
First, a visit to the Temple Institute (see here and definitely here too). Interesting to see how the construction of the temple was prepared there, taking into account the biblical data. This gives the impression that the entire Old Testament is taken very seriously. But who can describe my surprise when during the tour of the Institute it appears that all kinds of completely unbiblical views are held about subjects where the Old Testament is really not unclear. For example, the following is answered to questions from visitors.
- The rock where the Dome of the Rock (see here) built over is the place where God began creation; a rock from which the whole earth arose. And the little rock next to the big rock would be the place where God made Adam and Eve.
- Evil spirits? They don't exist at all; there are only good angels. Satan and demons are fabrications.
- It is important that the temple be rebuilt because it will be the only place on earth where all people (not just the Jews) can come into direct contact with God.
What became clear to me is that Orthodox Jews deal selectively with their Bible. They take some things literally and very seriously, and on many other subjects they are just as happy to hold completely different views (as in Christianity, by the way). For me that was quite a shock, because it was so contrary to what I had thought before.
At the Wailing Wall
The second thing that happened that same day was a conversation with two young Israeli men at the Wailing Wall. They were dressed modernly and not Orthodox.
In the corner at Wilsons Arch (see here) they began to question me about temple building and the coming of the Messiah. They wanted to know what I thought of that. At one point the conversation also discussed sacrificial service and the usefulness of making sacrifices. It was nice to be able to tell them in that special place about the great Sacrifice that God Himself has brought and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. I urged them to read the New Testament anyway, especially the letter to the Hebrews, which speaks of the 'better sacrifice', which was offered once for all.
What particularly stuck with me after that conversation was the relationship they made between the coming of the Messiah and the building of the temple. Without saying so directly and in so many words, they gave the firm impression that they believed that the one who would see to it that the temple was rebuilt would be the Messiah for them.
Whoever would see to it that the temple could be rebuilt again would be the messiah for them!
I was happy that I could tell them about the Lord Jesus, but on the other hand I was also shocked that they will soon accept their false messiah, the antichrist. He will make it possible for them to once again perform their temple service and serve their God. At least that's what they think. If they had read and believed their Old Testament, they would have known that that 'messiah' cannot be the true Messiah. How true is the word that the Lord Jesus spoke:I have come in My Father's Name, but you do not receive Me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him(John 5:43).
Let's assume that it is indeed the case that the one who will soon make the temple building possible will be seen by the religious Jews as the messiah. Then it will not surprise us that they will be completely enthusiastic, when this antichrist will show himself in that same temple and let himself be worshiped as God. “Don't let anyone mislead you. (…) the man of lawlessness, the son of perdition, the adversary, who also exalts himself above all that is called God or is worshiped as God, so that he sits as God in the temple of God and pretends to be God” (2 Thessalonicenzen 2:3-4).
Truth and lie
It became clear to me again that deception by Satan is only possible when we disregard God's Word and do not hold on to it. As it was in the beginning – 'is it really so that God has said?' (Genesis 3:1) – so it is now and so it will be in the future. Also for the people of Israel.
It is only by holding on to the whole Word of God that we are kept from error and deception.
Then it is not so surprising that in the part from the 2th letter to the Thessalonians quoted above, so emphatically there is the opposition between falsehood and truth.
The people are sucked into the great deception because they “have not received the love of the truth in order to be saved ... have not believed the truth” (2:10,12). Who in this current besotted world still knows what is truth and what is lies? Isn't it bizarre that 'fake news' is such a big theme? It is Satan's work, of the 'father of lies' (John 8:44), but at the same time it is what God disposes of in the end times for people who disobey Him. “Therefore God will send them strong delusion, that they may believe the lie” (2:11). That will happen soon, but we are already seeing the signs and are already seeing it developing like never before.
Then it's fixed brothers
It is wonderful that Paul then writes the Thessalonians (and us) these encouraging words:
“(…) brethren, beloved of the Lord, that from the beginning God hath chosen you unto salvation, in sanctification in the Spirit, and faith in the truth. To this he has called you by our gospel to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Stand firm then, brethren, and hold fast to the traditions in which you have been taught by our word or by our letter. And may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and work.” (2 Thessalonicenzen 2:13-17)
Just think about what it actually says here and thank God our Father for what was in His heart for us:
- Loved by the Lord
- Chosen by God from the beginning
- The Spirit who sets us apart (sanctifies) and gives us strength to (continue to) believe the truth
- To give us the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ soon!
- Eternal comfort and good hope of grace bestowed upon us by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God the Father, who loved us
- … all this comforts our hearts and gives strength in word and work.
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