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Body Of Antichrist

Part VI

 

 

 

 

 

In Part V of the present study, we moved through the early generations of Esau, whose descendants became known as the Edomites, as they hosted a perpetual enmity against their relatives, the Israelites.

 

 

Over multiple generations, through repetitive intermarriage with the Canaanites and the various groups descended from Ishmael (who became the father of the Arabs), the ethnicity of Esau and the Edomites became indistinguishable from the Gentile families of the Middle East.

 

 

Thus, from a Spiritual perspective, the Edomites represented the Flesh and Blood "body" that was filled with the spirit that was committed to oppose the Spirit and the will of the Lord. It is intriguing to realize that although Esau and company existed in the BC Old Covenant timeline as Gentiles, New Testament verses can accurately be used to describe the spiritual presence that was resident in them.

 

 

For example, to the Gentiles at Colosse, the Apostle Paul eloquently described the deeds of the Edomites:

 

 

"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them" (Colossians 3:5-7).

 

 

In other words, there was no difference between the Gentile Edomites, and the Gentile Greeks at Colosse, before the Colossians were Spiritually Born Again as Christians. What was different was the fact that many of the Colossian Gentiles had experienced the Spiritual new birth through the ministry of JESUS CHRIST, and their existence was translated into eternal Life in the kingdom of God.

 

 

In fact, along with the Jews who were moved by Christ's ministry, we have indications in Scripture that some of the Edomites – then called Idumaens – also came to Christ, and were welcomed into the Spiritual family of God in Christ's kingdom.

 

"A Great multitude from Galilee followed [Jesus]. And from Judaea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him" (Mark 3:7, 8).

 

 

This was all a part of God the Father's Spiritual plan to form one new man out of the two bodies of Jews and Gentiles. Once again writing to the former Gentiles that had become new creatures in Christ (this time in Ephesus), the Apostle Paul described how God had placed believing Jews and Gentiles together in Christ, and formed a "new man" in the heavenlies.

 

 

"Remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh…that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel…but now in Christ ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ…for he is our peace, who hath made both one…to make in himself of twain one new man" (Ephesians 2:11-15).

 

 

We have previously noted that the addition of "a new creature…in Christ" (II Corinthians 5:17) profoundly changed the alignment of the factions in Israel. Prior to the incarnation, ministry, death, and resurrection of Christ, and under the Old Covenant, there were two primary factions, consisting of Jews and Gentiles.

 

 

Under the Old Covenant, the Jews considered themselves special as God had clearly indicated He had chosen them to be a special people.

 

 

"For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all the people that are upon the face of the earth" (Deuteronomy 7:6).

 

 

Conversely, the Gentiles were not chosen, but individuals could attach themselves to Israel if they obeyed the law, were subject to the Lord's ordinances, and were compliant to the priesthood.

 

 

As Israelite behavior deteriorated throughout the BC Old Testament timeline, and they repeatedly turned away from the ways of the Lord, their hypocrisy generated much disdain among the Gentiles, so there was little appeal to the Gentiles to join them. God's judgment soon followed, and Israel was conquered by consecutive Gentile military powers.

 

 

After regaining independence from wars in which they were alternately ruled by the Syrians and the Egyptians (in the period following Alexander the Great's Grecian Empire), a succession of short lived rulers came to power in Judaea, even as the might of Rome was rapidly rising. As political instability increased, the Pharisees gained more power and influence.

 

 

Eventually, a capable military leader named Antipater, who was approved of by Caesar, came to power in Jerusalem – but Antipater was an Idumaen.

 

 

The Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus, notes the following:

 

 

"Indeed Antipater had contracted a friendship with the Roman Emperors" (Antiquities of the Jews, Flavius Josephus, Book XIV, Chapter IX).

 

 

One of Antipater's sons was Herod, and thus began the dynasty of the Herodians – who were Idumaens. Although there were Jews who resisted the regime (even complaining to Caesar), it was to no avail. A group of Jews even approached the remnant of the last royal line of Jews:

 

 

"Dost thou not see that Antipater and his sons have already seized upon the government?" (Antiquities of the Jews, Flavius Josephus, Book XIV, Chapter IX).

 

 

After consolidating his power in Judaea, Antipater issued a political decree that all Idumaens (as descendants of the Edomites) must be counted as Israelites! This fulfilled the long standing desire of Esau to undo his foolish forfeiture of his birthright. This also made for an uneasy relationship with the Sanhedrin (the council comprised of the Sadducees and the Pharisees), but the backing of Rome kept the power of the Herodians intact.

 

 

Antipater required the Idumaens to follow the laws of Moses and be circumcised. Thus, the political power of the Idumaen/Edomites – although retaining a façade of legitimacy to the Old Covenant, entered into the ranks of Israel through their own devices, contrary to the Scripturally revealed will of God.

 

 

The evil that was resident within the Edomite/Idumaeans, was mingled with the genuine Jews, who had already been corrupted during the Seleucid-Ptolemaic wars between the Syrians and the Egyptians, long before the time of Antipater.

 

 

We have previously noted that during the regime of the Syrian despots who ruled Jerusalem, the chief Jews had sent a delegation to Antiochus the king, and indicated they wanted to abandon the covenant that was made through Moses, and be fully integrated into the Gentile way of life.

 

 

"[The Jews] retired to Antiochus and informed him, that they were desirous to leave the laws of their country, and the Jewish way of living according to them, and to follow the king's laws, and the Grecian way of living" (Antiquities of the Jews, Flavius Josephus, Book XII, Chapter V).

 

 

Eventually a successor to Antiochus I, known to history as Antiochus Epiphanes (the notorious madman who severely persecuted the Jews), came to power. By the time of Antipater and his son Herod, the Jews were actually somewhat relieved to have the Idumaeans in charge, as the Edomite desire to be counted as Israelites was useful to the Jews who wished to preserve their special status which was obviously in disrepute.  

 

 

Fast forward to centuries later in the AD Christian era, when the Christian church (particularly in England) was in disarray. The prevailing view at the time is called Historicism. This view was also deeply enmeshed in politics, as the Protestants were battling the Catholics for primacy.

 

 

The Historicist view taught that the Pope was the Antichrist, and since the office of the Papacy was over 1,000 years old by the 19^th century, they thought that the return of Christ in a literal Millennial Reign was about to begin. In a lengthy series of failed prophecies in which many Christian historicists predicted dates when Christ would return (based on their calculations of the tenure of the papacy), leaders in the church became worried they had lost credibility.

 

 

It was at this point the Rapture doctrine entered the Christian church. Although they resisted it, Christian leaders were relieved that the new theology was attractive, so the Rapture Cult began to restore credibility to Bible Prophecy, in contrast to the many failed prophecies of the Historicists.

 

 

Since the Prophetic Parallels/Twin Timelines revelations are not the primary thrust of The Body of Antichrist series, we must at least note that this amounts to a Sequential Recapitulation of the relief of the Jewish leaders, when the Beast government decree of the addition of the Idumaens to Israel occurred.

 

 

It's instructive to point out that at every step in the history of Israel, the body of Israel has always been the target of the schemes of Satan, who sought to diminish the faith of the individuals chosen by God – whether they existed in the BC timeline of the Old Covenant, or the New Testament AD era as Spiritual Israelites.

 

 

The Lord has established His acceptable method of salvation in Scripture, and when man, thinking he is doing God service through his efforts, applies his earthly inspired plans to "help" God, the results are usually fatally flawed.

 

 

"Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2).

 

 

When considering the statements of Christ concerning what will happen in the future, it's useful to apply them to all the timelines – BC, AD, and the Era of Antichrist.   

 

 

"They shall put you out of the synagogues [or the churches]: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, or me" (John 16:2,3).

 

 

Although we would not routinely refer to the spirit opposing God's will in the BC timeline as the "Spirit of Antichrist," it is the same entity that now seeks to coerce the earthly vessels to move contrary to the will of God.

 

 

"Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience" (Ephesians 5:6).

 

 

As Jesus taught us "Ye shall know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:16), the Lord has revealed the Body of Antichrist (revealed as the Image of the Beast in Scripture) identifies itself by exporting the spirit of Death to those who resist its influence.

 

"…that the image of the beast should…cause that as many as would not [be assimilated into the Body of Antichrist] should be killed" (Revelation 13:15).

 

 

Conversely, the body of Christ seeks to give Life to those who join it:

 

 

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of Life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of Life freely" (Revelation 2:7, 22:17).

 

 

It is our prayer that all will respond favorably to the Holy Spirit within the body of Christ, whose role is to lead all those who hear His voice to Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

- James Lloyd

To Be Continued