December 2021 – Light from the Word

The Lineage of the Antichrist

This writing can be very controversial, but also very insightful. I hope you will take the time to consider the facts presented in this study.

Will the antichrist be Jew or Gentile?

“And the people of the prince who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary” (Daniel 7:27). We know through history that the Romans were the people that destroyed Jerusalem and the sanctuary. Therefore, we understand from Scriptures that “the prince who will come” will be from Rome. Does it imply any nation from the Roman Empire of those days, since the Roman Empire included all the nations that bordered the Mediterranean Sea, Britannia and more, or that imply only to Rome of today in its revived stage?

According to the teachings of Hippolytus, the most important theologian from the third century, the antichrist would be a Jew. He based his teaching on Deuteronomy 33:22, where Moses described Dan as a lion’s whelp that leaps forth from Bashan; Bashan was a place where the flock of sheep would feed. Let’s look at the meaning of a whelp according to Webster’s dictionary. It is the young of any of various flesh-eating animals; name that defines voracious animals. Micah 5:8b describes a whelp this way: like a young lion among the flocks of sheep which, when it goes through, treads down and tears in pieces, and there is no deliverer. This is how Daniel describes the fourth beast: terrible, powerful and dreadful, and exceedingly strong, and had great iron teeth; it devoured and crushed and trampled what was left with its feet (Daniel 7:7). When Moses identified Dan as a lion’s whelp, was he prophesying about Dan’s position in the far future?

In the words of Jacob before he died found in Genesis 49:16-17, he said of Dan, Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. To judge according the Webster’s dictionary is, to hear and pass judgment on people and in Jewish history is to govern; they ruled for over four centuries after the death of Joshua. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, a horned snake in the path that bites at the horse’s heels, so that his rider falls backward. A serpent carried the devil’s plan and became the symbol of Satan, the deceiver. A serpent is therefore the symbol of the devil and his craftiness; a deceiver of mankind, as we see in Genesis 3:1, Now the serpent was more subtle and crafty than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made.

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A Watchtower and a Flock

What links these two in their commonality? I would like to bring to you the most amazing story known to the entire world, not like you have heard before, but according to facts hidden from translations. When we hear about the Birth of Christ story we think shepherds, star, manger, sheep, goats, donkeys, the three wise men, and their gifts. It is a story of light and angels singing; a story of hope of salvation. We understand that and we rejoice that our Savior has been born. “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). However, there are specific insights missing in this wonderful story hidden from us in the past, but now revealed. Thanks to those dedicated students of the Bible. These are specifics of great significance that confirms the divinity of our Savior, YAHSHUA, and His role as the Lamb of God. I have written about this before just in passing, but now I want to bring this story to you in its entirety and meaning. Perhaps you will never celebrate the birth of Christ the same way as before.

The book entitled The Life and Times of Jesus Messiah by Alfred Edersheim (1899) reveals that the Jewish belief and conviction were not only that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, but that He was to be revealed from Migdal Eder- the Tower of Flock. This tower was not a watchtower for the ordinary flocks, which pastured on the barren sheep ground beyond Bethlehem, but these lay close to town, on the road to Jerusalem. They were destined for temple sacrifices and those shepherds who watched over them were not ordinary shepherds either. These watchtowers were like forts from where the shepherds would observe their flocks from the second floor. In the occasion of births, the shepherds would wrap the newborn lambs in swaddling clothes for their protection, keeping them without blemish and then laid them in a manger.

The beauty of this story reflects the report of YAHSHUA’S birth, which we read in Luke 2: 6-12: And while they were there, the time came for their delivery, and she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn; and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room or place for them in the inn. And in that vicinity there were shepherds living in the field, watching over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone all about them, and they were terrible frightened. But the angel said to them, do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people. For to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord! And this will be a sign for you: you will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. This language was familiar to those shepherds. But they did not associate the Messiah to be the Sacrificial Lamb of God for the sins of the world.

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A Lamb Among the Lambs

A decree from Caesar Augustus which was sent out to the entire Roman Empire to have all registered, caused Mary and Joseph to go to their own town. They went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David (Luke 2:4).

What seemed a problem to them, supposedly, when there was no room anywhere else for them to lodge, it was providential for them to lodge at a place where sacrificial lambs were cared for. These lambs were without blemish, perfect for the atonement of sin at Passover time. That was the place where only these types of animals were found. Joseph and Mary were not aware of the deep meaning of that place in relationship with their new-born Son- the Lamb of God.

Thirty years later, John would shout in the wilderness introducing Him to the world: Behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!

Not far away there were shepherds tending their flock by night. That night of October became the most significant night in the history of humankind. No one knew what was happening that night. The world was asleep, while the Son of God came in the form of a baby. That was not just a baby, but no one knew, except His mother and Joseph. That quiet night soon became festive with celebration from angels. They were an army of the troops of heaven praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased (Luke 2). The shepherds were the first recipients of the hidden message of salvation found in the new-born Baby. “For you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Messiah the Lord!” God’s providential purpose of His Son to have been born in that place served as a sign to the shepherds. The angel told them: This will be a sign for you [by which you will recognize Him]; you will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger (Luke 2:13). Sure that any other baby born that night was found wrapped in swaddling clothes. The clue was He was to be found “lying in a manger.” This unusual way to find a baby certified the message and sealed the truth the angel had told the shepherds. Identifying Himself with the sacrificial lambs, YAHSHUA took His position of a lamb in a symbolic way and was born among them.

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But Thomas Did Not Believe

Just before His trials and afterward His death, YASHUA spent time alone with His disciples comforting and instructing them, preparing them for what was coming. He spent His last hours with them alone to say good-bye in a sense. Disregarding what was ahead of Him, when He had to go through much suffering, His focus was now on the needs of the disciples. His three-year ministry had come to an end; the time had come when He was going to experience death and resurrection to accomplish the will of the Father, for which He had come. Subsequently, His exit from the earth was approaching. But these were news the disciples couldn’t digest for not being able to understand the meaning of it all. It seemed that they stayed in the dark of their understanding, until the Lord’s resurrection, when the He revealed plainly the meaning to two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus: YAHSHUA said to them, O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe everything that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary and essentially fitting that the Christ should suffer all these things before entering into His glory? Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He went on explaining and interpreting to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning and referring to Himself (Luke 24:25-27).

Do not let your hearts be troubled, He starts, you believe on God, believe also on Me (John 14:1). The days ahead were going to be days of uncertainties for all the disciples, with the absence of their Messiah from among them. Believe on God; believe also on Me, because the future holds the promise of deliverance and hope. I will not leave you orphans; I will come [back] to you (vs. 18) … And when I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also; and where I am going, you know the way (vs.3,4). Thomas then asked a leading question in the middle of the Lord’s words of hope. He said, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” which opened the door for YAHSHUA to declare Himself as the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 14:5,6). He is the Way to heaven, and to the heavenly Father; He is the Truth that sets the sinners free, He is the Life eternal. The definite article, the implies that He is the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life.

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God Is Working Salvation in the Midst of the Earth

“Timely spoken words are like apples in the platter of gold!” Invisible, but certain, is the work God is performing to save us. Faith applied in these days, when confusion has taken its seat with loud noises, leading many astray, is the most necessary feeling for peace. The tangible things we embrace, hoping to bring relief to the mind of our troubled soul, is just transitory in its existence, they are just things; not able to bring the spiritual comfort and hope we long for. Our cries increase while turmoil continues day by day. We ask, “O God, why do You cast us off forever?” In a desperate cry, with sobs that reached the soul in our anguish for deliverance, we remain in the presence of our God. The invasion of demons has taken over the earth, engulfing many with fear and terror; no longer a comfortable world to live in. The end, perhaps. The end has come and we are not prepared to believe the truth. Longing for the old times, when there were peace and order, and respect for others; when fear laid low, when oxygen was what we breathed in and carbon dioxide was what we breathed out, when we laughed and sang and danced to the tune of the songs we liked; when children were desired and protected; when the food we ate was natural and GMO free. In these thoughts we remain solitary pondering the outcome of all things.

Like the Psalmist however, when his nation was going through difficulties, we must find a song in our darkest night in remembrance of God’s goodness and faithfulness in the past. He said, I will earnestly recall the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember the wonders of old; I will meditate also upon all His works and consider all His deeds (Ps. 77: 11). Therefore, the soul of men must rest in the fact that God is consistently faithful to His Words and will perform that which He promised. Valleys and deserts are places to connect with God in faith and hope, and not to connect to fear and despair. We will see “the light at the end of the tunnel” when our eyes will be directed to God’s promises and strength, even in face of a storm. As the psalmist says, Yet God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth (Ps. 74:2). Many a night we will still face troubles that will make us scared and fearful; many days will come with trouble beyond our control; that will be our way of life until the consummation of all things takes place. However, there is a place of sure peace and security right now near to the heart of God, where we will remain emotionally stable and secure; where we will not be afraid of the terror of the night, not of the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday (Ps. 91).

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