(Disclaimer: This transcript is auto-generated and may contain mistakes.) Amen. Well, if you're looking for the women to get ripped on this evening, it's not gonna happen. So I think they're doing great So, you know You men need some work, but the title of the evening sermon is Antichrist Absalom Antichrist Absalom and Absalom is a very interesting character in the Bible he represents a lot of different things and Oftentimes when I look through the Bible, I'm I'm kind of trying to find like the good Archetypes the good stereotypes, you know people that are picturing Christ and people are picturing good things and good prophets but we also have some people that foreshadow evil people wicked people and Absalom specifically has a lot of devilish attributes a lot of devilish symbolism and I think it's a good Study for us to kind of look at Absalom now We can't look at everything about Absalom just because his life is pretty long in the Bible There's a lot of stories about Absalom a lot of things that he deals with But to give you kind of an idea of where we're at in the Bible Absalom when you first get introduced to him we find out he had a sister His sister gets taken advantage by his other brother Amnon then for a couple years He lay silent then he ends up slaying his own brother Then he goes into exile then he's kind of returned back from exile he's kind of friends with Joab except for he lights his field on fire and Essentially we get introduced to Absalom here in chapter 15 where He's kind of jealous or he's envious. I guess a better word. He's envious of his father's power He's been exiled, but his father doesn't really see him he's been returned, but they don't really necessarily have a close relationship, but he's still present and We see in the very beginning of this chapter He's trying to kind of usurp the authority of his father. He's trying to gain the hearts of the people He ultimately just wants power. He wants authority. He wants recognition That's the kind of person that Absalom is and he's gonna go by any means that he can to get that power But I like your let's read a few first few verses. It says here And it came to pass after this Absalom prepared him chariots and horses and 50 men to run before him I like how words this because this is so true of wicked leadership Wicked leadership likes for other people to do the dirty work And in fact, even when Amnon has killed his brother, it's not Absalom that does it He sends his men to do it. He sends other people to do it He gets other people to do his dirty work You know, there's no new thing under the Sun most of the hitmen today They have other people do their dirty work more than the politicians today. We could name some names Hillary. I'm sorry I'm just kidding. They don't want to do it themselves, but they'll for sure hire other people to do it, right? They'll get other people involved. They'll let them run before him and we see Absalom here. He's no different He's very wicked, but he's gonna get other people to do his dirty work for him, isn't he? Now a good leader He's out leading the charge He's going out before the people he's coming in after the people. That's what the Bible says about David. That's why they loved him What is Absalom doing? Well, let's get 50 guys to kind of give me a buffer from the enemy, you know Let's get 50 guys in here. They don't really know my name If the authorities get called on I didn't do anything. I didn't touch it Why cuz he's gonna blame it on these other people but says in verse 2 and Absalom rose up early and stood beside the way of the gate and it was so that when any man had a Controversy came to the king for judgment then Absalom called unto him and said of what city Arked out and he said thy servant is one of the tribes of Israel And Absalom said on him see thy matters are good, right? But there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee Absalom said moreover. Oh that I were made judge in the land that every man Which hath any suit or cause might come unto me and I would do him justice now notice here No matter what person comes to Absalom. He says hey, you're right, buddy He just tells them what they want to hear and wicked people will tell you what you want to hear That's why sometimes whenever you're around somebody's just a yes, man Are you just telling you everything you like you ought to be careful and I fall victim to this myself You go and you're looking for to hire somebody beware of the guy that just says yes to every question. Can we do this? Yeah, how about this? Sure. No problem. We got it. Don't worry about it. Not a big deal You're like why you just keep saying yeah, I mean you even even heard what I'm gonna say Hey, can we do this? Sure It's like what I didn't even explain it to you, you know the wise and prudent person He's not gonna just swear to you. Yes, when he doesn't even know what it is that you're asking You ought not be the type of person that just like hey, whatever. I'll just do it. Let me let me hear it first Let me understand it first. Let me count the cost. Does Jesus Christ expect you to have blind faith. No, he says count the cost Consider things be diligent be a man of your word. So if we're gonna say something we ought to actually mean it What does absolutes do? Oh, whatever you got. I know it's right. Let me come help you brother And he says I wish I was King David. I wish I was the guy in charge I wish I was the one control I would do justice. This makes me think of somebody go to Isaiah chapter 14 Isaiah chapter 14 keep your finger there because we come back but go to Isaiah chapter number 14 When you get into the major prophets after the Song of Solomon Isaiah chapter number 14 Let's Look at another person have this attitude look at verse 12. How art thou fallen from heaven O Lucifer Son of the morning, how art thou cut down to the ground which didst weaken the nations for thou hast said in thine heart I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God I will sit also among the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north I will ascend above the heavens of the clouds. I will be like the most high Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell to the sides of the pit notice that the devil wants to be like God He wants to sit in the throne of God and judge like God and be worshipped like God and you know Absalom wanted the same thing. Oh, I wish I was David. I wish I was sitting in that throne I would do justice. Does he really care about doing justice? He said everybody's matters are right. How does that work? How are you for everyone? Everyone's right How's that? I love everybody. This is the politicians today. Oh, I'm for everyone. They will go and literally contradict themselves They'll be for party a that's against party B. They're on both sides They're on everybody's side except for in office, you know their side on whoever's giving the money They don't actually have an opinion. They don't actually care and Absalom's not any different. He wasn't gonna do justice What is justice doing that which is right? Condemning the wicked and exonerating the just the righteous but Absalom's not really interested in that He just wants to be like the Most High he wants David's seat. So we see that attributes of Absalom are already resembling who the devil The heart that was in the devil that wants to be like the Most High and it's good thing You have a King James Bible in your hand because here in verse 12 or yeah in verse 12 It says Lucifer, you know, all the modern versions take the word Lucifer out, you know The only place you'll ever find the word Lucifer is in your King James Bible right here in this verse Now the only other version I think actually still contains it is the New King James But they put a footnote there and say well something else really it's day star whatever, you know There's like a whole Christian ministry called day star publications day star ministries and that's what they substitute Lucifer for How does that work? But then they'll sometimes they'll do it well it calls them day star But it was like they were mocking the devil with a good title It's like what in the world and that's the title you want to name your company after It makes a lot of sense the prince of the power of the air Go if you would back to second Samuel go back to second Samuel Interesting the prince of the power of the air just seems to control all the airspace waves the television waves radio waves Every I mean everything that's going on with the waves the devil likes to have his little fingers in doesn't he? The message says day star the NIV is way more blasphemous It says morning star, which is clearly the title given to the Lord Jesus Christ Yet some people that look all the Bibles are the same. Oh They're all God's Word. Just everything's God's Word. Well, how is it that you call the devil the same title as the Lord? Jesus Christ, can we just play name swap? Can we just swap devil with Jesus and Peter and Paul and just name things whatever we want and just say well David killed Goliath, but so did Elhanan the son of Jorgham He slew Goliath too if I have an NIV except for the King James says that Elhanan the son of Jorgham slew the brother of Goliath so it's not a contradiction in your Bible because the King James Bible is God's Word without error If you believe that all the Bibles are God's Word, you might as well just throw them in the trash and go home Let me help you out the people that believe this they don't do anything for God. They're not going out preaching the gospel They're not championing God's Word. They're not making any difference in anybody's life today. They're weak They're lame. They're watered down. They're not doing anything for the Lord the people that actually do things for the Lord They actually believe his word They actually be preserved his word He's gonna use his word that his words have power if you think that the NIV is God's Word Then you believe God's Word has no power because the NIV is powerless The NIV is garbage all the other modern versions sound like trash too. How can you believe the message is God's Word? That thing is just so diluted. It's so perverted You can't even figure out what verse you're in because it just says like this is just generally like 10 through 15 or you know 15 to 20 somewhere or whatever. See they hide the fact that they're taking verses out Even though the NIV literally reads like 37 to 39 Oh, it's God's Word. He just doesn't know how to count apparently. Why would you have a Bible like that? Oh, they're all the same. Nope. They're not the same. That's why we burn the false ones says in verse 5 of second Sam with 15 Says and it was so that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance He put forth his hand and took him and noticed this and kissed him He kissed every single guy that came up to him now Look when we study the Bible It's crystal clear that even amongst David's mighty men or his small groups. There was menabellum There was bad and wicked people. There was evil people Absalom's kissing these guys as always everything you say is right How can you just love everybody and love every single person because you don't love anyone? Except for yourself because he's a flatterer Absalom is a flatterer and flatterers are always wicked people They always just want to say things not because they actually mean it but they're trying to get something from you they're trying to take advantage of you and Absalom wants to take advantage of these people and notice he's kissing them. Well go if you would to Luke chapter 22 Luke chapter 22 We're talking about Antichrist Absalom. How is he like the Antichrist? Well, pretty much everything that has to be associated with the devil or betrayal or wickedness. I mean Absalom. He's just all in one case But let's look at Luke chapter number 22 this interesting foreshadowing because David pictures Christ in the Bible and when Absalom is kissing these men now when we when he is saying that it's not saying in like in a perverted way It's just saying like he's just trying to get favor from them as a friend It's just a common courtesy in some cultures even today. It's a part of their greeting. So he's just greeting these men He's just friendly to these men But we see even in Jesus time. That was still a cultural thing. It's not America. Praise God, but you know what? In other cultures it is it says in Luke 22 verse 47 It says and while yet spake behold a multitude and he that was called Judas one of the twelve went before them and drew near Unto Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said unto him Judas betrayest thou the Son of Man With a kiss notice, how did Judas betray the Lord Jesus Christ with a kiss? But you know what? We already knew that was gonna happen because how did Absalom betray David with kiss? He would kiss all the men and he stole the hearts of the men Why because he wanted to usurp the authority of David who was representing that of Christ None of these things are coincidental accidental. You think the Bible is just telling Oh Absalom He he betrayed David by it with kisses. Guess what Judas did he betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ with a kiss Now, let's keep reading this story. Look at verse number six and it says and on this matter did Absalom to all Israel That came to the jet the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel So notice they're coming to David. They want to go see David They want a judgment from David and Absalom is basically taking them aside Going underneath the wing David doesn't know what's going on. He's giving them the greetings. He's giving them the betrayal kiss Oh everything you say is right. Let me give you a judgment buddy Let me tell you how great it would be if I was king and how wonderful as I was king And you know what? It always works the same way Wicked people will draw people aside Without the sight of the leadership and they'll be like wouldn't it be great if I was in charge What if I was your buddy what if I was the deacon what if I was the pastor What if I was the one in charge? They always try to draw people unto them and try to usurp the authority above them that's what Absalom was like and you know what the devil works the same way and So did the Antichrist keep your finger and go to Daniel chapter number 11. This is an attribute of The Antichrist now Daniel is after some of your major prophets Ezekiel Daniel Say Ezekiel, what's that book about? Some of these major prophets Isaiah Jeremiah limitations Ezekiel Daniel some of these major prophets We actually have a dark story and Daniel chapter 11 is it's probably one of the hardest chapters of the Bible to be understood, but My belief and and I think a lot of other people believe this is Daniel chapter 11 has an immediate fulfillment of a Prototype or basically an archetype of what the Antichrist is going to be like but it also Foreshadows things of what the Antichrist is gonna be like in the future. So if you've ever heard of this doctrine called preterism Preterism is basically a belief that all of the entire Bible was fulfilled in 70 AD Like the Lord Jesus Christ literally returned in 70 AD and we already went through the millennial reign of Christ And hey, we've already entered into eternity Except for I guess there's still sin So, I don't know how that worked out and I don't feel like God's dwelling with us in Israel And I think we missed a couple of things in the book of Revelation. So preterism is stupid But here's the thing a lot of the things that they teach are right because they'll say well if you read Daniel chapter 11 We had all these events take place and a lot of the things that Jesus said actually were fulfilled in 70 AD They are but the Bible can also have other future fulfillments It can be fulfilled in five years ten years fifty years five hundred years It can be fulfilled multiple times over and over and in fact Even when Babylon is destroyed and you look at Jeremiah 51 and 52 a lot of the things that they say I don't think really happen in that immediate fulfillment But we can look at them and they're gonna picture fulfillments that are gonna happen in the future So when we look at Daniel chapter 11 Basically, we find that before the time of Christ There was a type of Antichrist a lot of people point to a guy named Antiochus Epiphanes a Tychus Epiphanes is in the Gentile He came and he had a bunch of wars it kind of details a lot of it here in this chapter But then he came and desecrated the Jews for a while He set up an abomination of desolation basically some false image in the temple He was declaring himself God his money literally said that he was God on the dollar You know were coined that they had or whatever currency they had at that time So this was a type of Antichrist and a lot of these things are fulfilled, but why would the Bible give us this chapter? It's not just for historical benefit In fact when we read the New Testament the New Testament tells us Explicitly that all the Old Testament stories were for in samples for now They were teaching us about how we should live our life now and things that are going to be coming in the future And so this story is not just for historical reference. It's also to teach us what the Antichrist is going to be like And when we look at the story of Absalom you say what's the point of that sir? Well, it tells us about Judas, but that already happened It tells us a lot of things about like the devil's like but you know what it tells us a lot of what the Antichrist Is going to be like and we look at Daniel chapter 11 look at verse number 21 the Bible says and It is a state shall stand up a vile person to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom But he shall come in peaceably and obtain the kingdom by flatteries So the Bible actually teaches that the Antichrist even though he's going to be in a man of war He's going to come in and enter in peaceably How's he gonna do that by flattery he's gonna come in just campaign promises galore Oh, everybody's right all your matters are good. Oh, everything's I mean, you know, I'll give a kiss to everybody I'll kiss the Pope and I'll kiss, you know, Kim Jong-il and I'll kiss You know Putin and I'll kiss the American president and I'll just tell them they're all right and I'll just flatter them and he'll just Come in peaceably just like Absalom and ask them. What does he do? Same thing Absalom didn't go to some great war to obtain the kingdom He just usurps the authority sneaks in he steals the heart of the people The people are with them and then David has to flee David has to get out of there So it's an interesting illustration that we have here where Absalom is really giving us some insight of what the Antichrist is gonna be like now, let's focus on this point of betrayal because The fact is that even though the Antichrist is very wicked person he's being Manipulated by the devil and so is Absalom and many people can be manipulated by the devil saved and unsaved alike But let's go to John chapter number 13 John chapter number 13. Let's see another person who was manipulated by the devil himself John chapter number 13 It says in verse number one It says now before the Feast of the Passover when Jesus knew that his hour was come That he should depart out of this world unto the Father having loved his own which were in the world He loved them unto the end and some are being ended the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot Simon's son to betray him. So notice the really bad idea that Judas got came from the devil The devil is the one that put it in his heart for him to betray The Lord Jesus Christ and even the Antichrist himself. He's gonna be a pawn of the devil He's gonna fulfill the devil's will it's the god of this world that has blinded the minds of them which believe not and even like Absalom, I believe Absalom was clearly persuaded by the devil to do the actions that he's doing but I bet you if I asked Absalom hey, did you sell your soul to the devil? He wouldn't think that He doesn't know the Bible says evil men and seducers. So acts worse and worse deceiving and being deceived I honestly believe the majority of wicked people today The majority of your most wicked false prophets and teachers and infiltrators bad people. They don't know that they're wicked They're deceived. They're deceived by the devil the devil plants wicked thoughts into their heart And they don't even realize how wicked they are Judas when he finally realizes how wicked he is. He kills himself When he finally ripped I I betrayed innocent. What the heck did I just do? I betrayed and said run then he kills himself Where'd he get the bad idea? Well, he was opening himself up to the devil and Obviously unsaved people they're taken captive by him at as well Okay, but even say people can have the devil plant a bad idea in your heart And so it's important to understand because here's the thing people see a wicked person and They'll be like he just seems so sincere. I Know this person. I mean he just it just seems like he really believes his false doctrine. Yeah a lot of them do I Think Absalom just sincerely thought he would be a better judge, but he was deceived Judas, you know, he just loved money so much and he didn't really believe Jesus was the Son of God So why not betray him? He just thought well this guy's a liar a fraud or whatever and I'm just gonna ride this gravy train until I can't ride anymore And then once he thought well, you know, let's just I'm not gonna get any more money out of this guy So I might as well just betray him for the 30 pieces of silver and be done And then he was like, whoa, that wasn't the Son of God. Well, that was innocent blood. Oops Now I'm damned to hell forever Even Absalom, you know, I don't think that he necessarily Just Would realize how wicked he is in his own heart even though he does a lot of very wicked things So just because someone sincere don't let that trick you Don't let that deceive you If someone's wicked get away from them have nothing to do with them have no fellowship with him have no Sympathy for them have no pity for them even when it's your best friend. It just seems like he was a sincere guy Yeah, but he's sincerely wrong Yeah, he's sincerely influenced by the devil yeah, he's sincerely unsaved Sincere intentions still lead to hell There's a lot of sincere Catholics out there. They're gonna split hell wide open A lot of sincere Christian so-called and they're gonna split hell wide open So we ought not let sincerity be the dictator of whether or not someone's good or bad We ought to see what their actions are where their heart is what they believe It says in Luke chapter 8 go backwards in your Bible just a hair Luke chapter number 8 That's why it's so important to be saved so the devil, you know can't just possess you I mean cuz later whenever the sock whenever the Judas Takes the Lord's Supper and he's unworthy because he's unsaved the Bibles of the devil just enters his body and then he goes out And betrays him and you know, even the Antichrist is going to be possessed by the devil and who knows I mean, we have a lot of examples of Old Testament people doing wicked things. Perhaps the devil wasn't, you know, possessing them We don't know for sure We have Pharaoh we have other wicked people who knows, you know, how much influence the devil really had in their lives says in Luke chapter number 8 It says in verse number 12 those by the wayside are they that hear Then cometh the devil and taketh away the word out of their hearts lest they should believe and be saved So notice accepting Jesus in your heart won't save you So he says oh, he has to be saved except Jesus in your heart Well, these people have the Word of God in their heart and what's the Word of God Jesus Christ? Look accepting the fact that the Bible is true won't get you saved Accepting the gospel is a true statement won't get you saved Well, you have to do you have to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ You have to actually place your faith in the gospel in order to be saved That's what it means to believe on and a belief in someone we don't just believe things exist We don't just believe Jesus exists. We don't just believe that Jesus did those things. We're trusting them to save us We put our faith in those to save us and the Bible says there's some people they hear the Word of God They could even accept that it's true But unless they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ the devil could come in take that word that's sown in their heart lest they believe And be saved so you can accept the Word of God all day long. It won't save you There's plenty of people I've met they say the believe the Bible is the Word of God they're not saved So we must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and notice the devil is active and trying to get people to stop Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ the devil's coming into the unsaved and ripping things out of their heart So it's a danger go if you would to Jeremiah chapter number 17 Jeremiah chapter 17 now, we're looking at some unsaved people let's just Also talk about the fact that it can happen to save people Save people can be influenced by the devil even the you know disciple Peter The Bible says the devil desired to sift him his wheat Planting bad ideas telling Peter. You know hey Peter. Let's let's not have Jesus die on the cross and What is what does Jesus say to Peter get behind me Satan? He's talking to the same person So even say people can be influenced by the devil so not just you know Unsaved the Bible says in Jeremiah chapter number 17 Pretty famous verse look at verse number 9 the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it You know your your heart and your flesh is at least is very wicked And who knows when the devil comes in and starts planning ideas in your heart and trying to expose your heart and get you to Do the most wicked things what you'll do Obviously somewhere in Absalom's heart it was in his heart to take the kingdom over from his dad And so we have to be careful about the desires of our own heart Let me go to one more place go to Matthew chapter 13 Matthew chapter number 13 So now obviously someone who's saved can never be the Antichrist Someone who's saved could never be Judas I I heard a horrible Sunday school sermon one time about how we're all like Judas at times And we need to learn from Judas example, and I was like that guy's a devil in the beginning So we're not going to be Judas we're not going to be You know Absalom but we can still be influenced by the devil and we are not get so high-minded and think that only the unsaved can be Influenced by the devil we can as well the Bible says in Matthew chapter number 13 look at verse 22 He also that receives seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word and the care of this world in the deceitfulness of riches Choke the word and he becometh unfruitful the devil would love to sow covetousness into your heart and get you off the things of God and Get you away from the things of God and we notice that that seed was planted in the heart of Absalom Absalom coveted power Absalom coveted his dad's throne, but that seed could be planted into a safe person's life Coveting something that you don't really deserve coveting something. That's not yours coveting something That's wicked and we see the danger here now Let's go back to second say let's go back to our story and kind of get back on track But I wanted to at least focus on that for a second and say Just because we see that betrayal doesn't mean that even say people can't betray Doesn't Peter deny Christ three times He did didn't he that's a type of betrayal we see that Judas betrayed with the kiss, but Judas was dealt from the beginning and Absalom I believe is an unsaved person as well He represents that which is wicked and we'll get more into that why I believe that but you know We see that there's this danger here. It says a verse number 12. Look at second Sam of 15 verse 12 and Absalom sent for a hit the fella Gilead night David's counselor from his city even from Gila While he offered sacrifices and the conspiracy was strong for the people increase continued with Absalom You know some people say all y'all are bunch of conspiracy theory guys. All right back conspiracy well, you know the word conspiracies found your Bible a lot and There's constant conspiracies so then here's my viewpoint for conspiracies some have to be true and some are not true Guess what Elvis is dead Bigfoot not a thing Okay, but then you start talking about some things like 9-eleven if you think the official story of 9-eleven is true. You're an idiot Building seven, okay. Oh You're a bunch of consumers. Is that bet Bible? No, but the Bible says the thought of foolishness is sin. And if you think that jet fuel You know brought those towers down in a perfect controlled demolition even in building seven where there was no airplanes and no jet fuel Just office fires and it just fell in seven seconds flat. That's a sin because the Bible says the thought of foolishness is sin You're an idiot Everything in the entire airplane was destroyed, but we found their ID It was paper It's like what are you talking about? But here's the thing. I'm not gonna go on some like, you know campaign for 9-eleven truth Look, I could convince people all day long 9-eleven is true and they're still going to hell What's the benefit there, but we see that conspiracies actually happen in your Bible This is a real conspiracy and you know what real conspiracies happen in governments today Cues and all kinds of struggles for power and all these different things and The ultimate coup is going to be the Antichrist trying to supplant the Lord Jesus Christ. That's the ultimate conspiracy And so we I not get afraid of the word conspiracy. Oh you believe in conspiracies Some of them not all of them That's what I usually get hurled. You just believe every you know conspiracy. No But we see there's a conspiracy and guess what? There's a conspiracy the New Testament Let's go back to a familiar friend Judas go to Matthew chapter 26 go to Matthew chapter number 26 We see a lot of the elements of Absalom are reflected in Judas. It's a foreshadowing of Judas. What happens? Well, we see the betrayal of the kiss we also see the conspiracy of The Pharisees against the Lord Jesus Christ just like Absalom and his men's conspiracy to supplant David to supplant the picture of Christ it says in Matthew 26 look at verse number four And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety and Kill him notice that the Pharisees wanted to take him by subtlety and kill him What does Absalom and his men want to do to David? They want to take him by subtlety and they want to kill him same story. Look at verse 14 It says then one of the twelve called Judas Iscariot went unto the chief priests and said to them What will you give me and I will deliver him unto you and they covenanted with them for thirty pieces of silver and from that Time he sought opportunity To betray him notice. He has already betrayed him, but he's waiting for the right time He's waiting for the right opportunity and Absalom. He's already gotten his heart. He wants to supply date. He wants to supplant David He's just waiting for that opportunity Go back to second Samuel chapter 15 what happens? Well Absalom gets his opportunity They come in with the men the conspiracy strong David has to flee. What is this a picture of? It's a picture of Jesus Christ the fact that what he's betrayed of the kiss. There was the conspiracy and what happens? Well, the Lord Jesus Christ must needs first suffers what the Bible teaches and Jesus Christ Where does he go Before his you know betrayal and during his betrayal Goes to the Mount of Olives now, that's interesting go to second Samuel chapter number 30 second Samuels chapter 30 looks at and David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet and Wept as he went up and had his head covered and he went barefoot and all the people that was with them covered every man His head and they went up weeping as they went up Notice that when David is betrayed and he has to flee he's weeping on the mount all of that Now keep your finger there, but go back to Matthew chapter 26. We're just kind of flipping back and forward We're testing your sword skills. All right Matthew chapter 26 Look at verse number 30 The Bible says and when they had sung in him they went out into the Mount of all you think that's a coincidence Oh wait, it's not because the Bible is God's Word. We see David. He went to the Mount Olivet to weep What did the Lord Jesus Christ do he went to the Mount of Olives to plead and to beg his father that take this cut? from me Before his betrayal that's where he gets betrayed We see it's all foreshadowing of the betrayal of the Lord Jesus Christ because Absalom is also an archetype for Judas He's an archetype for that which is wicked look at verse number 38 Then sayeth he unto them my soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death tarry here and watch with me We see the Lord Jesus Christ was sorrowful He's being betrayed. He's about to be crucified. He's about to be killed And now when we go through this story, it's not like everything just fits like a glove But we see a lot of the foreshadowing we see a lot of the same characteristics We see the sale the exact same location That's pretty impressive Now go back to the circuit salmon, but let's go to chapter 16 second salmon. Look at chapter 16. Look at verse 21 The Bible says and hit the fells said unto Absalom go in unto thy father's concubines Which he hath left to keep the house and all Israel shall hear that thou art a horde of thy father Then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house and Absalom went in unto his father's Concubines in the sight of all Israel and the council of Ahithophel Which he counts in those days was as if a man had inquired at the Oracle of God So was all the council of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom. So we see here with Absalom he's being abhorred of his father and really He's doing one of the most detestable things something that's very gross the Old Testament law tells us that it's an Abomination for a man to lie with his father's wife or with anybody that's near of kin unto him And so what Absalom is doing is very abominable. It's very grotesque and this is like the devil This is like the Antichrist. The Antichrist is ultimately gonna set the abomination of desolation He's gonna be abhorred of God. He's gonna be abhorred of the father the same as Absalom look at verse 2 of chapter 17 just down the page It says and I will come upon him Well, he is weary and weak-handed and will make him afraid and all the people that are with himself Lee and I will smite the king only notice That Ahithophel wants to kill David now, here's the thing It's an extreme sin for a man to want to kill his own father That's the loss of natural affection and when you study second Timothy chapter number three and it's talking about Reprobates, it's talking about those people that are wicked It says that they're without natural affection somebody that's willing to kill their own father That's an extreme sin. The sins of Absalom are extreme. He's supplanting David. He's willing to kill his own father I mean this guy is in my opinion a reprobate now obviously we don't know everything about him, but In my opinion, I mean willing to kill your own father. That's egregious Look at Ephesians chapter 6 go to Ephesians chapter number 6 the Bible teaches you're supposed to honor thy father and my mother and Absalom is the exact opposite of Solomon Solomon is also a son of David, you know what Solomon did he honored his father and his mother He loved David. He followed David's commandments. He had high esteem for David's commandments. What does Absalom have? He wants to be a horde of his father He wants to kill his father a very wicked person says in Ephesians chapter number six Look at verse number one Bible says children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right honor thy father and mother which is the first command with promise That it may be well with thee and now mayest live long on the earth notice when you obey your parents children You're gonna have a long life When you disobey your parents guess what the opposite is and the young life You're gonna lose your life. The implication is if you want a long life You ought to obey your parents children. God may kill you you say where's your proof? Absalom Absalom abhorred his father's commandments despise his father and guess what happens to Absalom he dies as a young man Go to Proverbs go to Proverbs. I wonder how many of these proverbs that when Solomon's writing He was thinking of his brother Absalom Go to Proverbs chapter 13 Proverbs chapter 13 You know obviously when we think of Bible passages we apply them to who Ourself our spouse our friends our neighbors our friends, right? It's pretty common It's pretty natural to just think of the people in your life that these are fit to You don't think that Solomon was sitting here thinking like these apply a lot to have some That wicked brother might add a nice job that other brother that I had look at Proverbs chapter 13 verse 1 a wise son Here are this father's instruction, but a scorner here is not rebuked notice that is important to follow your your father's instruction if you want to be wise a Unwise person will reject his father's instruction, and I honestly personally believe that it doesn't matter how old you are I Don't care how old I get or my father gets I still think it's important to harken under the instruction of my father and my Mother now here's the thing at the end of the day My final authority is the King James Bible and all matters of faith and practice So if my father gives me instruction that goes against the King James Bible my loyalties ultimately to God It's ultimately to the Bible to God's Word But you know what if my dad gives me instruction, and it's not violating anything in the Bible I think I should do my best to try and honor that Nothing they were supposed to leave and cleave to our spouse don't get me wrong I'm just saying that we should still honor and fear our parents and have reverence towards our parents, and you know what your parents didn't Lose their wisdom just by you becoming an adult in fact They still have gone through a lot of life Experiences that you haven't they've gotten a lot more wisdom a lot more hindsight and hindsight is a good teacher a Lot of lessons that I think back. I'm like I wish I have the knowledge I have now when I was going through that experience what it saved me a lot of heartache Look at chapter 15 look at verse 5 chapter 15 verse 5 Says the fool despised of his father's instruction, but he that regardeth reproof is prudent Notice if you despise your father's instruction you're a fool We ought to esteem their instruction as wise go to Proverbs 20 Proverbs chapter 20 Verse 20 you say pastor Shelley my father's not even saved An unsaved person can still have you know some carnal wisdom they can still have learned life lessons They can still give good heed a lot of times. They still love you, and they can give you good. You know advice Obviously, I'm not saying we should you know forsake God's Word forsake his commandments But you know what his commandment is to honor thy father and mother So it's actually following God's commandments to take heed to the advice. They give you Now again, maybe you have a really wicked parent You know and you can't really take heed to a lot of their advice, but at the end of the day you should try You should try doesn't Proverbs 20 verse 20 What does the Bible say whoso cursed his father his mother his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness oops Absalom You forgot to read that one He cursed his father he wants to be a horde of his father He wants to kill his own father. What happens to him look at verse number 21 inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed You know what Absalom is gonna get all that inheritance in the twinkling of an eye, but you know what it's not gonna be blessed It's gonna be ripped from him with his own life for the price to pay go back to second Samuel chapter number 18 second Samuel chapter 18 So we can learn a lot of things from Absalom more so we're learning from his bad example, and you know what bad examples are just as good to learn from his good examples Hey, that's a good thing not to do. That's a good person not to be like I don't want to be like Absalom I don't want to flatter people. I don't want to desire things that are not mine I don't want to go around just saying everybody's right. I don't want to just instantly say yes Whatever you want yes, I Mean this is like King Ahab There's some wicked King of Assyria or King of Syria coming up, and he's just saying like everything. That's pleasant in your eyes I'm just gonna take it's like sure you know He's just at first I think that was the where he drew the line He was very saying like hey, I'm gonna take your wives and all your children all these things It's like sure and then he's finding like everything that's good in your side I'm gonna take to it. He was kind of like how it hurts That one can I ask the Prophet what he thinks about that one, and he's like hey You're gonna go out and leave the charge and kill this guy. He's like who you are even a have But I don't know I was going with that let's go to second sandwich after 18 verse 18 Says now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar Which is in the Kings Dale for he said I have no son to keep my name in Rembrandt And he called a pillar after his own name and is called into this day Absalom's place now I've been kind of going through and we've seen other examples. He's kind of like Judas He's kind of like the devil we see a lot of wicked things you called the sermon Antichrist Absalom Well, here's where we're gonna get some strong Antichrist symmetry symmetry or symbolic symbolism But basically we have here that Absalom sets up a pillar an image After himself that reminds me of somebody makes me of the Antichrist image that he's gonna set up look at verse 14 Says in verse 14 then said job I May not tarry thus with thee and he took three darts in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was Yet alive in the midst of the oak and ten young men that bear Joab's armor compassed about and smote Absalom and slew him and job blew the trumpet and the people are turned from assuming after Israel for job had held back the people so we find out that guess what happened to him he died And what happens with David he returns now again? Let's let's think about our imagery for a second Okay, we have Christ being betrayed Then we have Christ suffering we have David suffering right David's betrayed David suffers David has to leave then after the destruction of his enemies David returns David comes back and comes back to the land now That's the same imagery of the Lord Jesus Christ What happens with the Lord Jesus Christ with the Lord Jesus Christ betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ has to suffer the Lord Jesus Christ has to Leave okay, then what's going to happen though? We haven't had it experienced it yet, what's gonna happen well, there's gonna be the abomination of desolation There's gonna be the false image. That's gonna come then what's gonna happen that guy's gonna declare himself God What did Absalom do he's declaring himself King? He's going into the concubines He's gonna be the king then what happens Absalom's destruction, and then what happened? Well the Christ is gonna come back isn't he he's gonna return back unto the throne It's the same picture, and it's the same imagery, but let's look at a few verses to prove this go to 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 It's interesting to me how when you study the life of Absalom and David. It's gonna give us the same Events that we're gonna have with the Antichrist 2nd Thessalonians chapter number 2 the Bible says in verse 1 now He beseech you brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him that you be not soon shaken in mine or be troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us as That the day of Christ is at hand let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come A falling way first and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition so according to the Bible the Lord Jesus Christ cannot come back until there's a falling away and the man of sin is Revealed well the same thing happens with Absalom What was the falling away? Oh? Yeah? He's getting all these guys on his side. He's got the conspiracy He's stealing the hearts of the men we see that falling away. What's gonna happen with the Antichrist? He's gonna steal the hearts of people today and draw them away from the Lord There's gonna be a strong drawing away from the things of God From the Lord Jesus Christ from the Bible there's gonna be a great falling away before his return Then that man of sins gonna revealed eventually the conspiracies not just gonna be conspiracy is gonna happen Just like Absalom really game in he laid with his father's ten concubines. He really tried to take the throne He was really in control. He's in the holy place. He's there declaring himself the king now now Absalom's the king Well the Antichrist is gonna do the exact same thing go if you would to math keep your finger here Because we're gonna come back go to Matthew 24 Matthew chapter 24 Matthew 24 look at verse 14 the Bible reads and This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then shall the end come When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophets stand in the holy place who so readeth let him Understand so we notice that the ends gonna happen when the abomination of desolation is set up Just like Absalom had set up a pillar in his own name didn't he go back to 2nd Thessalonians and Let's look at or no. I'm sorry go to Revelation chapter 13. I want to actually get more information there about this image Revelation chapter 13 And Look at verse number one It says and I stood upon the sand of the sea and saw a beast rise up out of the sea Having seven heads and ten horns and upon his horns ten crowns and upon his heads the name of blasphemy So we have in Revelation chapter 13 the Antichrist we actually have the beast being risen up and it says in verse number 11 and I've held another beast coming up out of the earth and he had two horns like a lamb and he spake as a dragon and He exercises all the power of the first beast before him and cause of the earth and them Which dwell therein to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed and he doeth great wonders So he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men and deceiveth in that dwell on the earth By the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast Saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast Which had the wound by a sword and did live and he gave power and he had power to give life under the image of the beast and that the image of the beast should both speak and Cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed now. This is a very interesting, you know Prophecy of what's going to happen in the future that now this first beast is being risen up You kind of have like beasts and beasts what's going on? Well, the first beast that's being risen up is like a picture of the Antichrist, but it's more of his kingdom It's more of like the nation that's gonna be giving him his power and when we see another beast reading up That's like the person that's like the actual Antichrist and he says he has two horns and he speaks like a dragon He looks like a lamb. Oh He's so nice, I mean Absalom, you know, it's you know, what's interesting about Absalom he's considered very good-looking Absalom's a very attractive guy, you know is also attractive the devil You know some people think that wicked people they're just gonna come in they look gross. They smell gross They act gross. No, they're really wicked people according the Bible. They look good They sound good. They're silky smooth. Everybody likes them. They tell everybody that they're right They obtain a lot of favor carnally. That's what the devil's really like That's what his minions are really like that's what the Antichrist is really like, you know, they have these movies the Antichrist He looks really devilish and he's got like the red eyes I Want power now the Antichrist he's gonna look good You know when we hear his words as a Bible believing Christian, it's gonna sound like the dragon. It's gonna sound wicked It's gonna sound evil. But when we listen to the devil speaking in the Bible, you know, it's interesting. He quotes the Bible He just uses it out of context He misquotes it. He uses it to his own advantage. You know, a lot of the wicked people the Bible they're using the Bible Absalom he's one of David's sons He's not somebody you're suspecting to be the worst person and so you got to be careful. You don't know who's an Absalom You don't know who the Jew the Judas was one of the disciples The devil is the anointed cherub He's the one that God created to be so beautiful the most beautiful creation the devil Absalom such a handsome guy. So you got to be careful about who's really wicked and Carnal means a lot of times the most wicked people are people that you would like in the flesh The you would you'd be drawn to in the flesh and we see here that the Antichrist is going to make an image just like Absalom made an image didn't the image the image here is going to be the abomination of Desolation graven images are very wicked according to the Bible idolatry and if we go back to 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 go back We're going to see the purpose of this image with the Antichrist is To teach everybody that he's God to try and to convince people that he's God. I mean this image is speaking and talking That's pretty I mean most idolatry today is pretty stupid I mean, you know, it's a dumb rock that they're pouring milk on and they're trying to spoon feed It's just falling out and you're like, what are you doing? I mean this image is talking That's pretty, you know impressive. It says there's gonna be special miracles by the devil So, you know, they're gonna be so believable that even the saved would believe it was possible what the Bible says 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 look at verse 4 now It says who opposed and exalted himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he as God Sitteth in the temple of God showing himself that he is God just like Absalom going in. Hey, I'm king buddy That's what the Antichrist is gonna do. He's gonna go in and say I'm the king. I'm Jesus Christ. I'm whatever you know whatever he's gonna call himself by says in verse number 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 notice that it's a quick end for the Antichrist just like it was a quick end for Absalom Absalom wasn't in power for that long and Antichrist is going to continue for 42 months with the Bible says and then the the Lord Jesus Christ is gonna come He's gonna destroy him. He's gonna be thrown in the lake of fire He's one of the first guests the Antichrist the Beast and the False Prophet they get there They get to warm it up for us or not for us. I'm sorry. They get to warm it up I mean just for in general They're gonna warm it up for all those that are thrown in the lake of fire Whose names are not written in the book of life. Okay, if you believe in Lord Jesus Christ You're not gonna touch the lake of fire. All right, you're not gonna be heard of the second death. Let me make that clear He's gonna warm it up, but we're not gonna touch it. All right, and if we go go to Revelation chapter 19 go to Revelation chapter 19. We're gonna see this destruction of the Antichrist But I just think it's interesting when I read that story about Absalom how much it pictures the actual Antichrist So let's think about Absalom. Okay. Well, he hates his father. He tries to kill his father He's doing some of those wicked abominable sins. He pictures Judas. He pictures the Antichrist. I don't think the guy's saved. I Mean I Don't know see I'll see how he could be saved but I mean that's that's just my personal opinion I don't have a verse that I could really point to but we have a lot of wicked people in the Bible And we can learn from them as well. Look at Revelation 19 verse 17 Says and I saw an angel standing in the Sun He cried a loud voice saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven come and gather yourselves together under the supper of the great God that you may eat the flesh of Kings and the flesh of Captains and the flesh of mighty men the flesh of horses and of them that sit on them and the flesh of all men both free and bond both small and great and I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make War against him that sat on the horse and against his army and the beast was taken and with them the false prophet that wrought miracles before him With which he deceived them that I 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 Now here's the interesting thing about Absalom, how did he die? Oh Yeah, he went to battle He went to battle against David and then what happens Joe abs men find him and then they slay him and throw it job ends Up throwing darts through his heart because the devil doesn't really care about Absalom The devil doesn't really care about the Antichrist the devil doesn't care about anybody but whoa And that's always the wicked people What was the image that has been set up always myself? It's all about me being in the throne, it's all about me being King we see this covetous wicked heart and evil people You know, what did the Lord Jesus Christ do when he was here always steam mother better than himself? He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He humbled himself He put on art. He put on flesh so that he could save us. So you see the exact opposite attitude What was David's attitude for becoming King? Did he just really want to be king? He just really want to be king or is he just trying to lead the people that were with him The you know, so you have to look at the motivation of why is somebody wanting to come into power? It's someone wanting to come into power. Just I'm pastor Jonathan Shelley Hi, did you see I have the word pastor in front of my name now? It's so impressive I'm just such a wonderful person. You have to ask what's the motivation of you being a pastor? You actually love people do you actually care for people or do you just want that title President of the United States. Do you really care about the United States or people or Policies or doing judgment or you just want that position the most powerful man on earth Why did Absalom want to be in that position of authority? Did he did we see after he became an authority? Oh, then he started lining up all the people and giving right judgment and restoring the land He didn't care about that he just wants to squash David he just wants to kill David He just wants to go after David. That's his motive You look at wicked people Let me bring up a name. How about like Tyler Baker? Now let me ask this question about Tyler Baker is his sermons about soul winning reaching the lost You know turning people to the Lord or is it about let's hate pastor Anderson and hate pastor and some more And if you like pastors and you're wicked and more against pastors and what's that motivation again? Oh It's all about him I Just want that name pastor, you know, I was so biblically ordained by my daddy, you know, my daddy's not a respected persons He ordained me in six months Okay, I'm sure that your dad will just ordain anybody in six months, right? So you got to look at people and say okay What's your motivation to be in that position and then what are you doing after you get that position? Are you serving the people are you still just trying to kill David? He's still just trying to attack people and hurt people now. Look we need to call out false prophets We need to call out wicked people and preach against them. But what's the motivation? Is it to warn people against them and warn about their false doctrine and try to help people go to Revelation chapter 21 last place I want to look Revelation chapter 21 I Preach a sermon about Absalom. Well, first of all, I think it's cool It increases my faith in the Bible, I mean just to see all the pictures and the symbolism I like it secondly Absalom's are gonna exist in this world It's gonna be a lot of wicked people. Also. We need to learn about the Antichrist and We need to just be careful that we don't have the same type of attributes of these type of wicked people Realizing that the devil can also influence us that he can put bad things into our heart look at Revelation chapter 21 verse 7 Says he that overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be as God and he shall be my son I'm gonna go back go back to verse number one I'm sorry go revelation chapter 21 verse 1 and I saw a new heaven a new earth For the first heaven the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea and I John saw the holy city new Jerusalem Coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband and I heard a great voice out of heaven saying Behold the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be With them and be their God and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying Neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away and he that sat upon the throne said behold I make all things new and he said unto me right for these words are true and faithful And he said unto me it is done. I am alpha and omega the beginning in the end I will give unto him that is a thirst of the fountain of the water of life Really he that overcometh shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my son Notice that at the end of the day God wins notice at the end of the day David wins and basically the one application I want to give you is At the end of the day Absalom is always gonna lose and David's always gonna win and there's gonna be David's and Absalom's in your life and You have to say well, it just seems like you know Absalom's got the upper hand right now. Don't worry Absalom's gonna lose David's gonna win. Oh this guy is going against his parents. It seems like he's winning. No, he's gonna have a short life Gotta measure your life in decades not in moments You're gonna have up and down moments and you're gonna see people getting away which seems that is wicked is wrong You're gonna look at people doing wrong things and you think they're getting away with it. Why can't I be like them? Look, they're gonna get what's coming Absalom's gonna get what he's coming the devil's gonna get what's coming the Antichrist can get what he's coming and you never want to ride the Absalom train There's people that got carried away with Absalom. They get destroyed too good people There's good people that get carried away with the next guy Adonijah Joab now Joab's a weird guy, but I don't think he's that good but he gets carried away with Adonijah He didn't fall for Absalom, but he fell for Adonijah and maybe he didn't fall for Absalom But maybe you're gonna fall for Adonijah You got to be careful because guess what Absalom and Adonijah have the same fate You want to be on David's team? You want to stay and stick with David you want to consider the faith of those that are going before you? You don't want to go get carried away with Hymenaeus and Philetus. You want to stick with Paul? You don't want to get carried away with Judas you want to go stick with Peter You want to stick with the right guy now Peter had some bad moments Seemed like Judas. Oh, you just got some money Judas is going out on top. Well Judas God was coming to him So whenever you're thinking about your Christian life think of the times when you say hey, there's an Absalom here And there's a David here, you know, or at least figure out who is the Absalom who is the David? I gave you a lot of good indications Who's concerned about themselves and you're concerned about others and follow the David's in your life Follow the people that are doing that which is right and I try to identify who the Absaloms are Because ultimately we're not going to follow the Antichrist, but we could follow a wicked person We could follow a wicked leader. The Bible says that you know Let's go let's go to one more place we'll finish on this thought. Okay, go to 2nd Timothy Go to 2nd Timothy chapter 2 2nd Timothy chapter number 2 Look at verse number 15 the Bible says study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing The word of truth, but shall shun profane and vain babblings for they will increase in a more in godliness This is the part that I want to focus on and their word will eatest of the canker of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus Who concerning the truth of aired saying that the resurrection is past already notice this and overthrow the faith of some So the Bible says that wicked people will oftentimes draw good people away with them And you know, I hope that we're filled of all good people here But the problem is sometimes a bad person will come in and they'll draw you away Absalom will come and kiss you and tell you how great you are and how wonderful you are But guess what? He's doing it in private The conspiracy is strong Beware of the guy that's not doing it in public is Jesus Christ Ministry private. He's saying what I tell you in private preach that ye upon the housetops Be careful the people that come into your lies and are whispering things in your ear and it's not private information Hey, let me pull you aside and talk to you. No, I'm not interested in Absalom No, I'm not interested in Hymenaeus and Philetus. I don't want my faith to be overthrown I want to be in a good church for the rest of my life. I want to be with David and Serving with him. Let's go some prayer. Thank you father so much for your word Thank you for giving us good and bad examples. Thank you for giving us our your word so that we would know who's right Who's wrong so that we could test things that we wouldn't just believe every spirit, but we try the spirits whether they're of God I thank you that you ultimately give us the victory that we'll get to inherit a new heaven a new earth with you and That we'll get to serve you and I pray that when the Absalom's come or the Adonai just or the Judas is or whoever That we'll be able to identify them and withdraw ourselves and cling unto David Which is a picture of Christ cling unto God's Word and his promises in Jesus name we pray. Amen