JU9-8: The One Key Characteristic Of The Anti-Christ’s Rule That This Verse Reveals

“Avimelekh was chief over Isra’el for three years.
-Judges 9:22

So we’re told exactly 3 years passed before trouble started brewing between the wicked Avimelech and the Shechemites he was ruling over.

This shouldn’t surprise us.

Because pig vomit always rises to the surface.

Any man capable of murdering 69 of his brothers in such a cold and callous fashion just to fulfill his own personal ambitions can never be trusted…even by the very people who crowned him king.

Because trust and love is not the foundation of such a relationship.

So it wasn’t long before conflict started arising in Avimelech’s camp.

Actually, it appears Avimelech didn’t directly rule Shechem but instead appointed a governor named Zebul to rule over the people.

We’re also told the trouble that arose was due to the Lord sending a demon to cause discord between Avimelech and the ba’als or “lords” of Shechem.

That’s right folks.

The Lord ordered an evil spirit from Satan’s kingdom to attack Avimelech’s kingdom.

This shouldn’t surprise us because although we’re told Satan and his minions have great power in this world, at the end of the day they’re still under the God’s control.

So as a result of this demonic attack (again at the Lord’s command), we’re told the leaders of Shechem began to get all riled up and began plotting against Avimelech.

Of course, they had no idea their ill feelings toward Avimelech was because they were being riled up by an evil spirit.

In their minds there were very practical reasons why they were upset with Avimelech’s rulership.

The demon was simply poking the dissatisfaction that already existed inside the hearts of the people.

There’s a lesson here folks.

We get a peek at how the devil goes about doing his dirty work.

It’s not so much that he plants a brand new sinful thought into our minds (although he can do that too). 

It’s more like he agitates the sinful and dark thoughts already lying resident within our hearts and minds.

Onward.

So verse 24 tells us the main reason why the Lord sent the evil spirit.

“This came about so that the crime against the seventy sons of Yeruba‘al might be avenged and the responsibility for their bloody death be placed on Avimelekh their brother, who murdered them, and on the men of Sh’khem, who helped him kill his brothers.”

Do you recall which God-principle was established in the Torah concerning murder?

The Torah says when unjust killing takes place in the land, the land itself becomes spiritually polluted.

It’s as if the very soil in the ground itself becomes contaminated with sin and wickedness.

And so the only way to purify this spiritual contamination is by executing the murderer.

The blood of the killer must be spilled to cleanse the land of its current sinful state.

So the Lord had no choice but to take matters into his own hands during this lawless era in order to bring the murderer Avimelech and the thugs who supported him to justice.

I think the takeaway for today is pretty obvious and I think it can be summed up by the common saying “Ye shall reap what ye sow”.

The wicked deeds perpetrated by evil men can be hidden for a time, but soon enough the Lord will bring to light the sins men commit in the dark.

That’s why it’s so important to repent of your sins now while there’s still time.

There’s one other interesting point I don’t want you to overlook.

You know how I keep talking about how Scripture lays down certain patterns that once established continue to repeat themselves throughout history.

Well, notice that exactly 3 years passed before the people of Shechem came to their senses and realized they were being ruled by an evil man. 

So let me ask you this?

To what other future king does this exact 3-year timeline apply to?

We’re told the world will make this man ruler over the whole world and he’ll be ushered into office by an adoring public who will turn all authority and power over to him.

But then 3 years will pass before this ruler’s true wicked intentions will be exposed.

Have any idea who this might be?

If you said the anti-Christ, you nailed it baby!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.

If you wanna know the future, simply study the past.

Or to be more specific, study the unbreakable and unchanging patterns the Lord has established in His Word.

If you do that, you’ll be miles ahead of understanding what’s going on in our world today compared to the average person and even most politicians.

Over and out.