I. Who Is the Temple of God Today?
- 1 Corinthians 3:16 – “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
- Ephesians 2:21–22 – “…in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
- The New Testament temple is the Church—not a building, but the body of believers.
II. The Man of Sin: Religious, Not Secular
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 – “…the man of sin… who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God… sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”
- This figure rises from within the Church, not from the world. He appears spiritual, but replaces Christ.
III. The Papacy and the Claims of Godhood
- “The leader of the Catholic Church… takes the place of the Second Person of the omnipotent God of the Trinity.”
— John Paul II, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, p. 3, 1994 - “The Pope… is Jesus Christ Himself, under the veil of the flesh.”
— Evangelical Christendom, Jan. 1, 1895, pg. 15 - “The Pope… is as it were God and the vicar of God.”
— Ferraris Ecclesiastical Dictionary - These quotes fulfill Paul’s warning directly—this is not misrepresentation, but self-exaltation.
IV. The Son of Perdition — Judas’ Legacy
- John 17:12 – “None of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.”
- Judas was an insider—trusted, familiar, but deceiving. So is the man of sin.
V. The Spirit of Antichrist in Other Religions
- 1 John 2:18–22 – “Even now many antichrists have come… he who denies the Father and the Son is antichrist.”
- Mormonism: Prophet’s words override Scripture.
- Islam: Denies Jesus as God; elevates Muhammad.
- Jehovah’s Witnesses: Only their organization may interpret Scripture.
- Any system that replaces Christ or redefines Him carries the spirit of antichrist.
VI. Religious Titles and the Danger of Elevation
- Matthew 23:9 – “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.”
- Elevating leaders with titles like “Father,” “Most Holy,” or even “Reverend” can distract from Christ’s authority.
VII. The Right Posture of a Church Leader
- Romans 1:1 – “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ…”
- 1 Peter 5:2–3 – “Not as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”
- Church leaders are to serve under Christ—not rule in His place.
VIII. The Real Christ Must Sit on the Throne
- Acts 4:12 – “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
- John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
- No pastor, pope, prophet, or system can replace Jesus.
CLOSING CHALLENGE:
Who sits on the throne of your heart?
If it’s any man, title, church, or system—it’s time to repent.
Christ is coming—not to share His throne, but to reclaim it.
Let every man step down.
Let every system be exposed.
Let Jesus be Lord alone.
Full message: