Rev. Jusak Widjaja Hendra - GPTKK, Malang
Matthew 24:15 is the prophecy about antichrist.
We have to be careful such that we will not be the same as antichrist or become
antichrist’s target, who will be left on God’s second coming.
Matthew 24:15
24:15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’
spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever
reads, let him understand),
Antichrist’s appearances:
- As the abomination that causes desolation
- As a wicked man who want to be worshipped
- As a wild beast.
Who is antichrist?
- people who come out from us since they do not really do their ceremony and service to the Lord, they become lax (1John 2:18-19).
- liar = people who deny Lord Jesus Christ; lie is the starting point of denial to Jesus Christ.
- people who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.
Ad. 3. people who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh
2John 1:7-8
1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
1:8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
The proof that Jesus as coming in the flesh:
Jesus is a human who was born, experienced death, resurrection, until eternal
glory.
2Timothy 2:8
2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel,
Matthew 22:42
22:42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “ The Son of David.”
People who do not want to confess Jesus as coming in the flesh are still hardening their heart.
Why do Jesus as coming in the flesh?
- To become the Deliverer, the Savior of all people
Matthew 1:21
1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Human without sins, is needed to save the sinful people.
Jesus does not sin, but He has to be sacrificed and die on a cross to save the sinful people.
The practice of claiming Jesus as the Human/ the Savior is repentance; so there is equality in word and practice.
Repentance = stop doing sins and come back to the Lord.
2Peter 3:9
3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
If at this moment God has not come for the second time yet, it means that there is still God’s patience so we can come to repentance.
Many God’s children start to waver about God’s second coming. But there is only one definite answer if God has not come yet until this time, i.e. God’s patience for us so we can come to repentance.
Antichrist is a God’s servant but he does not repent.
Even somebody follows God, serves Him, but if he does not repent then he will become antichrist.
Example: Hofni and Pinehas.
1Samuel 2:12, 16-17, 22
2:12 Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the LORD.
2:16 And if the man said to him, “They should really burn the fat first; then you may take as much as your heart desires,” he would then answer him, “No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force.”
2:17 Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
2:22 Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
Hofni and Pinehas denote priests and kings who serve with unyielding (unclean and wicked), they did not repent, i.e.:- Doing the things that degrade God’s sacrifice
- Serving in their way, not according to God’s law.
2:23 So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.
2:24 No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the LORD’s people transgress.
2:25 If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?” Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the LORD desired to kill them.
The consequence of life who does not want to repent is at one moment he will not be able to repent anymore.
1Samuel 2:29
2:29 Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?’
Priest Eli denotes a pastor, but he did not act with courage. The causes were:- honoring his sons more than Lord
- giving advices not according to the Word of God
The consequence is ichabod = loss of the glory = being naked.
2:21 Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
2:22 And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.” - To become the High Priest for us
Hebrews 2:17
2:17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
If Jesus had not been a human, He would not have been able to feel what people feel.
The practice of claiming Jesus as the High Priest is our heart’s being in peace always.
Do not serve God with a bitter heart!
Matthew 5:23-24
5:23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
5:24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
No peace in heart happens because there is something not good in the heart about somebody else, then we have to reconcile, i.e. confessing our sins each other and forgive each other, starting from inside the marriage at home. After confessing the sin, we should not do the sin anymore. After forgiving the others’ sin, forget it.
Peaceful heart = salty salt.
Mark 9:49-50
9:49 “For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
9:50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”
The results of being salty salt:- There is no decay. The sins virus will not be able to decay our heart,
such that there is no more hatred or decay.
Mark 9:47-48
9:47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire—
9:48 where ‘ Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’ - Giving nice taste, i.e. the service becomes a blessing to the others.
Example : Esau
Hebrews 12:15-17
12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
12:16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.
12:17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.
Esau served with a bitter heart, not in peace.
The starting point is Esau has a sexual immorality desire, i.e. frequently forsake the spiritual things to get one morsel of food (physical things, unimportant things).
Consequently, the birthright was taken by Jacob, such that Esau held a grudge (has a bitter heart) against Jacob.
Genesis 27:41
27:41 So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
Thus, we have to ask for God’s wisdom such that we will not be hindered in serving Him.
The consequence of losing the birthright (like Esau) is life in tears, in curse of hell. - There is no decay. The sins virus will not be able to decay our heart,
such that there is no more hatred or decay.
- To become the Bridegroom of Heaven
Not all churches understand this, even not all churches can accept this.
Actually, knowing Jesus as the Bridegroom is the climax of our knowledge to Him.
If we only know Jesus as a Physician, then we will only need Him when we are sick, and maybe will leave Him after we are healed.
If we know Jesus as the Bridegroom, then we will not be separated, because there is marital relationship: Husband with wife. The Head and the body cannot be separated.
Why do we have to know Jesus as the Bridegroom? So that we can become one flesh with Jesus.
Ephesians 5:31-32
5:31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
5:32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Ephesians 5:25-27
5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
5:27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
The practice of claiming Jesus as the Bridegroom is real through experiencing the purification and the renewal of life through the Word which is sharper than any two-edged sword.
The first sharpness is to purify.
The second sharpness is to renew our life.
The climax of the purification and the renewal of life is being as glorious as the Lord Jesus Christ, such that we can be God’s Bride, together with Jesus as the Bridegroom.
Antichrist is a life who is not purified and renewed, still remains as a fleshly
human.
Example: Judas.
The indication is wicked heart, having the desire of money.
Matthew 26:23-25
26:23 He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.
26:24 The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”
26:25 Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.”
Judas was overcome by the desire of money.
John 12:3
12:3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
The indications:
- Stinginess, do not want to spend money or time in the service to the Lord
- Greediness (become a thief), stealing God’s and the others’ possessions. If we owe to the others, it has to be well accomplished.
Acts 1:17-20
1:17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.”
1:18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.
1:19 And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)
1:20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘ Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘ Let another take his office.’
The consequence of being like Judas in the service (being stingy and greedy) is losing the ministry, and being replaced by Matthias, so that he cannot serve anymore, until he finds destruction.
2 John 1:7-8
1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
1:8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
Therefore, such that we will not lose our ministry, we have to serve the Lord
with repentance, peace, and renewed life.
The results are:
- receive everything for our needs (daily until future), and get His help
for the impossible problems
Romans 8:32
8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? - change us to become as glorious as the Lord in His second coming, and entering
the marriage supper of the Lamb until the eternal Kingdom of Heaven
Philippians 3:20-21
3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
3:21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.