Satan sits in all worship places, which are churches for Christians, shows himself as the Lord Jesus Christ, deceives Christians and is worshipped as God. “2 The 2:4 … so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
The true God is the creator of everything. But people throughout the world create their own gods and worship them. There is Satan, a created angel called Lucifer, who desires to be worshipped, luring people, shows himself as god with different names to different people and is worshipped. God allows this and gives people the option to choose.
Christianity is one of the world’s largest religions. It has many denominations. Every denomination accepts the Bible as the inspired word of God, just for the saying. In fact they do not believe the word of God. Christians believe their preachers more than they trust the Bible. Preachers interpret (twist) the Bible in order to accommodate their own doctrinal beliefs as well as to attract the crowd. By doing this, churches stray away from Jesus Christ. Even though they are away from Christ, they put up a show as if they are worshiping Christ. Most churches modify and improve the method of worship, in order to attract more people and they are successful. They become famous. But, Jesus Christ says: “Matt 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” God says that they worship in vain. God does not accept their worship, but the devil does. “2 Thess 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.”
1. Messiah in Old Testament
A. God became Man Jesus
‘God the Word’ who created man, himself became a man (flesh). “John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,” He became less in status than the angels. “Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death,” He did not maintain his godly status and power, but became a mere man with no reputation as God. “Phil 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” But he knew where he came from and what for did he come. “John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” He was in communion with ‘God the Most High’ always, and called him Father. He obeyed God always. “John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.”
B. God’s Men in the Temple
The Temple at Jerusalem was God’s house. When the people wanted to offer any kind of sacrifices to God; they went to the altar in the temple. There was a laver for the purification of the Priests. The Holy place and the Most Holy place were in the temple. The Ark of the Covenant was in the Most Holy place. God’s glory has descended on the temple. This temple was the hope of God’s people. The Levites, Priests, Sadducees, Pharisees, Scribes and the High Priest were the servants in the temple. The temple was their life, in the sense that without the temple, their positions meant nothing. The people came to the temple to worship God. And their God was their strength and their hope.
C. Jesus Visited the Temple
‘God the Word’ who was Jehovah became a man. This man visited the temple. “John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” He said that the house of God, which should be ‘the house of prayer’, was made into a den of thieves. He accused the temple merchants as thieves and reviled them. “Matt 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Looking at the life of the Scribes and Pharisees, he pronounced woe to them. “Please read : Matt 23:13-38″ Looking at the city of Jerusalem, he pronounced his displeasure. “Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! 35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate:”
D. God’s Men Killed Jesus
God’s people were waiting for the coming of Christ for their own redemption. Even though they were regularly reading the Scriptures, they had no understanding of how God would come into the world. So when Christ came, the chief priests, captain of the temple, elders, and the high priest joined together and crucified the Son of man who was the Christ. Of course they did it unknowingly. We like to think that such a mistake will not happen again.
2. Will History Repeat Itself?
At the first coming of the Messiah, the jewish people made a mistake because their teachers were blind men leading the blind. They did not expect God to become a man who was the Lamb of God. They were expecting him to come as the Lion of Judah. Lack of understanding caused eternal death for many people. Now the same Jesus will come again, but not as a man, but as a Lion of Judah, as the Righteous Judge. “Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” His judgment will not be based on whether we are Christians or jewish people or Heathens. God is not a respecter of persons. His judgment will be strictly on the basis of what we have done in our life according to the commandments of God. Are we ready to receive him as a Righteous Judge? Are you a spiritual criminal, who commit sin? If so, you are not ready. Will history repeat itself?
Have we built our houses on the rock of obedience to the sayings of Jesus Christ OR have we built our houses on the sand of Christian clichés which is the rhymes of our mouth and not the obedience to the sayings of Jesus Christ? “Matt 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:… 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:”
3. Christ in New Testament
A. Leaders in the Churches
Let us look inside the Church, which should be the body of Christ. The Apostles planted Churches. However, even in the first century, the enemy was beginning to take over the churches. Even the very apostle, who found the church, was not received in the church. “3 John 1:9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.”
B. Messages of Evangelism
The main thrust of evangelism is church growth. All kinds of workers, including evangelists, are involved in this. In order to bring more members to the churches, all kinds of messages are preached. The purpose of evangelism should be to convert the souls and to teach them to follow the life of Jesus Christ, if not we are not doing evangelism. False workers are turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, to help the people to live the way they desire rather than to help them to live in obedience to the Lord, which is denying the lordship of God, which is actually denying Jesus Christ. Accepting his lordship is to submit oneself as a servant to him in obedience. However, people are taught to call him Lord with their lips and to live their own way, in disobedience to God. The Holy Spirit says that these ungodly men are ordained to the condemnation of God. “Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
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Chris
United States
