- Jesus was also tempted by offers from people and Satan to take a position in the World System – Political, Economic and Religious.
Satan, the devil, took Jesus to a high mountain and showed Him the kingdoms of the world and what they have produced, their glory. And these kingdoms were those under the Roman Empire at that time.
`Again, the devil took Him (Jesus) up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ` (Matt. 4: 8)
Satan had influenced man in organizing how these kingdoms operate. He proudly showed Jesus the Temples built to honour their gods; the structures like the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Caesar’s Palace; the aqueducts and roads throughout the land; gold, silver and precious stones made into intricate jewellery and for commerce. The world system built to honour man and his accomplishments.
Satan then told Jesus the cost of being ruler over all that `glory.`
`And he said to Him, “All these things I will give to You if you will fall down and worship me.” (Matt. 4: 9)
Satan desired Jesus to not only rule the kingdoms but to worship him. If Jesus did then the people of the world would also worship Satan. Thus, Satan would have Jesus as his High Priest.
Then Jesus said to Him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, `You shall worship the LORD you God, and Him only shall you serve.`” (Matt. 4: 10)
Jesus rejected Satan`s offer of religious leader of his World System.
The False Prophet receives the offer of Religious leader.
In the tribulation a man will receive the offer of religious leader of the World System. He is called the False prophet, and causes all to worship the World leader, (the beast).
`And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, (Global Leader) telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.
He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. ` (Rev. 13: 14 & 15)
