The First Seal: Antichrist - Part 3 - The Contrast of Christ and Antichrist

Temple Baptist Church - 10-18-2020

Revelation 6:1-2

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Over the past two weeks, we have seen:

 

1.  The Preparation of Antichrist. 

 

a)  The Conditioning of the Pulpit, the Pew, and the People in general. 

 

b)  This world is ready for Antichrist’s entrance.  He will be their “saviour.”

 

2.  The Prophecy of Antichrist. 

 

a)  The Seed of the Serpent.

 

b)  Probably an Israelite, possibly of the Tribe of Dan.

 

3.  The Person of Antichrist.

 

a)  He will be a Pretender – He comes on a white horse.  The “good guys” wear the white hats and ride on a white horse.  His acceptance relies on pretense.

 

b)  He will be a man of Peace – He will bring a pseudo peace that the world looks for.  He comes with a bow but no arrows in hand.  This world in general is desirous of peace, not war and look for someone who can bring it.

 

c)  He will be a man of Position – He will be given a crown.  Not take a crown.

 

d)  He will be a man of Power – He will go forth conquering.

 

e)  He will be a man of Purpose – He will desire to conquer this present world.

 

B.  To understand the differences between the true Christ and the false “christ” is to understand the meaning of “antichrist.”

 

C.  “Anti” – the prefix “anti” means (1)  Opposed to  (2)  Against.

 

D.  The Biblical Definition is one of revelation and stark contrast.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;  (4)  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

 

1.  Antichrist will “oppose God.”

 

2.  Antichrist will “exalt” himself above God.

 

3.  Antichrist will attempt to “shew” himself as God.

 

E.  When Antichrist comes on the world scene, he will portray himself as “good”—“behold a white horse and he that sat on him”—but he will be spiritually and morally bankrupt—called “that Wicked” in 2 Thessalonians 2:8.

 

F.  Antichrist—a stark contrast to the true Christ.

 

1.  Jesus Christ is from heaven - John 3:13  And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

 

Antichrist is from hell - 2 Thessalonians 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (Perdition-spiritual loss, eternal)

 

Revelation 11:7  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

 

2.  Jesus Christ came in His Father’s name - John 5:43  I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

 

Antichrist will come in his own name - John 5:43  I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

 

It amazes me that Antichrist will not be disguised, Satan incarnate and will be accepted by the world.

 

3.  Jesus Christ came in humility - Philippians 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

 

Antichrist will exalt himself – 2 Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

 

A public individual who takes the “center stage.”

 

4.  Jesus Christ was despised and rejected by men - Isaiah 53:3  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

 

Antichrist will be worshipped by men - Revelation 13:3-4  And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.  (4)  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

 

No matter what he does, how he acts, how wicked he is, he will be worshipped.  Look at our politics today: baby killers, lovers of sodomy, anarchists, and no one seems to care.

 

5.  Jesus Christ will be highly exalted by the Father - Philippians 2:9-10  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  (10)  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

 

Antichrist will cast into hell by the Father - Revelation 19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

 

6.  Jesus Christ will do the will of the Father - John 6:38-39  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.  (39)  And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

 

Antichrist will do his own will - Daniel 11:36-37  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.  (37)  Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

 

7.  Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners - 1 Timothy 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

 

Antichrist will come into the world to destroy sinners - Daniel 8:24  And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

8.  Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd - John 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

 

Antichrist will be the idol shepherd - Zechariah 11:17  Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.

 

9.  Jesus Christ is the True Vine - John 15:1  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

 

Antichrist is the vine of the earth - Revelation 14:18  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

 

10.  Jesus Christ is the Truth - John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

Antichrist will be a liar - 2 Thessalonians 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

 

John 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

 

11.  Jesus Christ was a man of purity -  2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

Antichrist will be a man of sin - 2 Thessalonians 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

 

12.  Jesus Christ was the mystery of godliness - 1 Timothy 3:16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

 

Antichrist will be the mystery of iniquity - 2 Thessalonians 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

The Fruit Of The Spirit: Meekness

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-18-2020

Galatians 5:22

 

Introduction:

 

A.  The Fruit of the Spirit is one fruit that manifest itself in 9 different aspects.  3 Inward—love, joy, peace—3 Outward—longsuffering, goodness, gentleness—3 Upward—faith, meekness, temperance.

 

B.  Man is a trichotomy and a dichotomy.  A trichotomy in the image of God—soul, body, spirit—and a dichotomy—the natural man and the spiritual man.

 

C.  This morning, I want to look at meekness, a virtue that is missing in many people.  In days of a humanistic view of life (you are your own “god” and responsible mainly to self), I find little biblical meekness in this world.

 

D.  Meekness is our reaction to what others do to us.

 

E. The Opposite of Meekness is Pride:

 

MEE'KNESS,  Softness of temper; mildness; gentleness; forbearance under injuries and provocations.  In an evangelical sense, humility; resignation; submission to the divine will, without murmuring or peevishness; opposed to pride, arrogance and refractoriness.

 

PRIDE,   Inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others.

 

Romans 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

 

F.  I want to look at meekness in two areas:  Meekness toward the Lord and Meekness toward Men.

 

1.  Meekness before the Lord.  A recognition of who and what we are.  Micah 6:8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?  (Meekness comes through humility.  Paul, who could have had much to glory in displayed meekness.) 

 

a.  Paul did not think that he was someone special-- 2 Corinthians 10:1  Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

 

b.  Paul did not think that he was spiritual —1 Corinthians 15:9  For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

 

c.  Did not think the was even a great Christian -- Ephesians 3:8  Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

 

d.  Knew that what little he had accomplished was by the grace of God – 1 Corinthians 15:10  But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.  (May the Lord help us as God’s men to have a meek attitude!)

 

b.  Meekness comes through ssubmission – James 4:6-7  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  (7)  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 

c.  Resignation – acceptance of the will of God.  James 5:10-11  Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.  (11)  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

 

1 Timothy 6:6-8  But godliness with contentment is great gain.  (7)  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  (8)  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

 

2.  Meekness toward Men.

 

Ephesians 3:8  Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

 

Philippians 3:4-10  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:  (5)  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;  (6)  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.  (7)  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  (8)  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  (9)  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  (10)  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

 

a.  We Should Not Have To Be Recognized - Luke 14:10  But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

 

b.  We Should Not Have To Be In Charge - 1 Corinthians 6:4  If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

 

c.  We Should Not Have To Have Our Own Way - Philippians 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

 

d.  We Should Remember What We Were And We Would Be If It Were Not For The Grace Of God - Ephesians 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.  (May the Lord help us as Christians to have a meek attitude!)

 

Conclusion:  Things that meekness will do.

 

1.  Meekness Will Keep You Satisfied - Psalms 22:26  The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

 

2.  Meekness Will Keep You In The Will Of The Lord - Psalms 25:9  The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.  (The proud know it all and cannot be taught.)

 

3.  Meekness Will Give You An Internal Peace - Psalms 37:11  But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.  (You have nothing to prove.)

 

4.  Meekness Will Elevate You In God’s Time - Psalms 147:6  The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

 

5.  Meekness Brings You Favor With The Lord - Psalms 149:4  For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

 

6.  Meekness Brings Joy In The Lord - Isaiah 29:19  The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.  (We are nothing and He is everything.)

 

7.  Meekness Brings Rest - Matthew 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

The First Seal: Antichrist - Part 2 - The Prophesy of Antichrist

Temple Baptist Church - 10-11-2020

Revelation 6:1-2

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Last week, we looked at the conditioning of this present evil world before the introduction of Antichrist.  Like anything else, to introduce something so drastic and dramatic with no preparation or conditioning would bring about rejection.  There needed to be a conditioning or “getting used to the dark” by the unbeliever.

 

1.  The Conditioning of the Pulpit of the local churches.

 

2.  The Conditioning of the Pew of the local churches.

 

3.  The Conditioning of the People without the local church.

 

B.  The First Seal is the introduction of the Person of Sin, Antichrist.

 

1.  He will be a Pretender – He comes on a white horse.  The “good guys” wear the white hats and ride on a white horse.  His acceptance relies on pretense.

 

2.  He will be a man of Peace – He will bring a pseudo peace that the world looks for.  He comes with a bow but no arrows in hand.  This world in general is desirous of peace, not war and look for someone who can bring it.

 

3.  He will be a man of Position – He will be given a crown.  Not take a crown.

 

4.  He will be a man of Power – He will go forth conquering.

 

5.  He will be a man of Purpose – He will desire to conquer this present world.

 

C.  Tonight, we will take a short look at the Prophecies of Antichrist’s coming.

 

1.  The Seed of the Serpent.

 

Genesis 3:13-15  And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.  (14)  And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:  (15)  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

 

2.  The Judge of His People.

 

Genesis 49:16-18  Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.  (17)  Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.  (18)  I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.

 

3.  The Wicked Prince of Israel.

 

Ezekiel 21:25-27  And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel (Jewish Birth), whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,  (26)  Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.  (27)  I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give

 

4.  The Little Horn.

 

Daniel 7:8  I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

 

Daniel 8:9-14  And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.  (10)  And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.  (11)  Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.  (12)  And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.  (13)  Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?  (14)  And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

 

By Interpretation, Antiochus (The Illustrious One) Epiphanes (The Mad Man).  Prophetically, Antichrist.

 

Antiochus Epiphanes – a Syrian King came with peace but destroyed 80,000 men—women—children and sold 40,000 into slavery.  He was a God hater and a Jew hater who sought to destroy.  It is a matter of historical record as to the desire of Antiochus to destroy the Jewish nation and their religion. When Antiochus set up the image of Jupiter in the Holy Place in Jerusalem and desecrated the sanctuary and its holy vessels, he was unwittingly portraying a future defilement. Daniel referred to this incident as the “abomination that maketh desolate” (Dan. 11:31; 12:11). Jesus linked this event to Matthew 24:15 when he declared: “When ye therefore shall see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand).”  It is said by some that he offered a sow on the altar of the Temple.

 

5.  The King of Fierce Countenance.

 

Daniel 8:20-25  The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media (Darius) and Persia (Cyrus).  (21)  And the rough goat is the king of Grecia (Alexander the Great): and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.  (22)  Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.  (23)  And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.  (24)  And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.  (25)  And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

 

6.  The Prince of the People.

 

Daniel 9:24-27  Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.  (25)  Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.  (26)  And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.  (27)  And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

 

Daniel 11:36-38  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.  (37)  Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.  (38)  But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.

 

7.  The Man of Sin … The Son of Perdition … That Wicked.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:3-10  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;  (4)  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing 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 withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.  (7)  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth 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.