Jesus’ Footstool

“But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.” Heb. 10:12-13. “For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.” 1 Cor. 15:25.

This footstool is the Antichrist, that man of sin who exalts himself. Jesus humbled himself. Phil. 2:5-8. Every spirit of pride and everyone who admires what is highly esteemed in the world is Jesus’ enemy. These people will all be gathered into one in the Antichrist. We read about the beast in Revelation 13:6-8; “Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

When the time comes that all worship the beast, then all pride—all the enemies of Jesus—will be gathered into one person, the lawless one. Jesus’ footstool will then be complete, and the time will have come for the lawless one to take his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. But the time will also have come for Jesus to place His foot on the footstool. He will consume the Antichrist with the breath of His mouth and destroy him with the brightness of His coming. 2 Thess. 2.

The development of Jesus’ footstool is clearly evident today. Everything is being gathered into one; everything has to be “great.” To avoid being drawn into this development along with everyone else, you must strive to remain in lowliness, as Paul exhorts us in Romans 12:16. This is the only way you can avoid being gathered together with Jesus’ enemies as His footstool.

You can see this development very clearly in the business world. Small businesses can no longer survive; everything is being merged into big corporations. Individual countries no longer have sole control over the import and export of their own goods. Countries must make trade agreements with each other. They must unite as a bloc to have any influence.

It’s the same situation in politics. Individual countries can no longer make independent political decisions. No matter what political ideology they profess, they are obliged to make allies with other countries in these blocs. Since World War II, the world has basically been divided into two blocs: East and West. All countries must align themselves with either the East or the West. After the war, politicians began to talk about one united world. This is what these two blocs are working toward. This will come to pass under the Antichrist, Jesus’ footstool.

“And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.” 2 Thess. 2:6-7.

Jesus came to fulfill the law. The law is fulfilled in all those who walk according to the Spirit. Rom. 8:4. Therefore, all lawlessness is Christ’s enemy and will be gathered into one in “the lawless one.” “And now you know what is restraining . . . .” The most important restraint is the conscience. But there are powerful forces at work today to do away with it. Every possible means is used to portray the conscience as an assortment of old-fashioned complexes produced by Christianity. These forces try in particular to undermine the moral principles that have been handed down to us in God’s commandments and that have been a safeguard for the individual, the family, and the nation. Teachers, radio, television, and producers of pornographic literature are working deliberately to break down the protective restraint of the conscience. This is the lawlessness that draws all other lawlessness along with it. It characterized the time of Noah and Lot, and it is also characteristic of our time. It is ripening the world for the coming of the Antichrist and for the wrath of God.

“He who now restrains . . . .” It is the church that builds up the body of Christ, He who said, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matt. 5:28. Lawlessness has advanced to such an extent that women have lost their sense of modesty. They make it a point by the way they dress and act to get men to lust after them. The so-called Christians follow the same development, and they have also lost their sense of modesty. They are all being drawn into the footstool as enemies of Jesus. Paul warned strongly against the sin of immorality because of which the wrath of God is coming upon the children of disobedience. “Therefore do not be partakers with them.” See Ephesians 5:3-7 and Colossians 3:5-6.

It is obvious that almost all Christian movements are influenced by the spirit of Antichrist, by “him who exalts himself.” Think of the Pope, who at his inauguration is carried on an elegant throne at the head of a long procession. Church buildings have to be ornate, adorned with all the glitter and pomp of this world. Other religious denominations build their churches in the same style, as far as their means permit. And of course they have to have high platforms where the pastor and elders sit on display. No matter how small the flock is, they must have a figure to look up to. If any of these leaders publish an article, it has to include their photograph. All of these things are part of this spirit “who opposes and exalts himself.” Their development consists of being gathered into the footstool, the Antichrist.

It is very significant that it says, “He who opposes.” They are genuine opposers of the fulfillment of the law, the obedience of faith. They call it bondage. They are fervently opposed to humbling themselves and living in lowliness. They love what is highly esteemed in the eyes of men, which Jesus said is an abomination to God. Luke 16:15.

Religious groups are doing exactly the same as politicians and businessmen; they gather into one. They say they are being ecumenical, and they believe they are fulfilling Jesus’ prayer that we might be one. They do not understand that they are being gathered into one in the footstool, the enemies of Jesus. It is also significant that it is called “the mystery of lawlessness.” How amazing that the development of the Antichrist as Jesus’ footstool is so hidden.

Praise God for the few who continue to restrain; they are being united in Christ and built up as His body. I want to especially exhort young people: Wake up! Put on the spirit of zeal and fight the good fight of faith! Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called. Purify yourselves from every vestige of pride, immodesty, and immorality, just as He is pure! 1 John 3:3; 1 Tim. 6:11-12. This is the only way to avoid being gathered with Jesus’ enemies in the footstool that He will tread under His feet when He returns.