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Chapter 15: The Antichrist
The Antichrist will be the personification of evil. He will in effect be, the devil in a human body. The name Antichrist comes from the book of first John. 1 John 2:18 "Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour." The Antichrist and the False Prophet will come on the scene with the promise of bringing peace to the world, but the time of peace will be short lived. Jeremiah 14:13 But I said, "Ah, Sovereign LORD, the prophets keep telling them, 'You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place.'" Jeremiah 28:9 But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the LORD only if his prediction comes true." Jeremiah 8:11 & 15 They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. "Peace, peace," they say, when there is no peace. We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time of healing but there was only terror. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. Isaiah 48:22 "There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked." There is nothing wrong with people and nations being at peace with their neighbors, in fact scriptures say "blessed are the peacemakers". The problem comes when the price of peace is to worship a man as if he were God, or to worship idols. Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Psalms 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure. Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. There have been many attempts by Satan in the past to bring into being a world government ruled over by one man, but God has prevented it from happening because it was not the proper time yet. The Antichrist cannot be permitted to come to power until 5,993 years from the creation of Adam have been completed. One of Satan’s future attempts will succeed, when we are seven years away from the 6000 years being completed. (or slightly less than 6000 years, see chapter two) (5993+7=6000) There is a chain of command in heaven, just like there is in armies, businesses and governments on Earth. Our God is not the God of the lazy. everyone in his kingdom has their own area of responsibility and their own particular job to perform. The order of authority in heaven is; God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and then the general of the armies of heaven, Michael the archangel. It is Michael’s job to prevent Satan from bringing the Antichrist to power until the Lord permits it. Michael has dominion over Satan and his angels because the Lord has given him delegated authority. But, this does not prevent Satan from resisting and putting up a fight. Revelation 12:7-9 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the Earth, and his angels with him. There is spiritual warfare going on continuously in this world that most of the people living on the Earth are unaware of. Ephesians 6:12 KJV "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." When it is the proper time, the Lord will command Michael to cease his restraining work and allow the devil to bring the Antichrist to power and wreak havoc on the Earth. God will allow Satan to have a field day on the Earth for a few years because the majority of mankind refuses to believe the truth and serve the Lord, even after the truth has been presented to them. Because of this God will allow Satan to deceive mankind with signs, wonders, and counterfeit miracles. 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 "For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness." During Paul’s time some false teachers were troubling the church by saying that the first resurrection had already taken place. In addressing their fears Paul tells them not to worry, that the resurrection cannot occur until after the Antichrist has been revealed. Paul also gives us a description of some of the things that the Antichrist will do when he comes to power 2 Timothy 2:18 Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. At the proper time Michael will cease his restraining work and allow the man of sin to be revealed. Daniel 11:36 & 37 "The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every God and will say unheard- of-things against the God of Gods. He will show no regard for the Gods of his fathers nor will he regard any God, but will exalt himself above them all." The Antichrist will falsely proclaim himself to be the Lord, the most high God. This has been Satan’s desire ever since the time he rebelled against God, and he will try to live out his dream vicariously through the Antichrist. Isaiah 14:12-14 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the Earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." He will not succeed for long though, his plan will only prosper for six years, and then the judgment of God will begin to fall upon him. Daniel 11:36 NAB He will prosper only until divine wrath is ready, for what is determined must take place. The seven bowls of God's divine wrath described in chapter sixteen of Revelation, will be poured out on the Antichrist, his kingdom, and those who are left on the Earth after the first resurrection has taken place. At God's pre-determined time it will be unleashed upon the world. Now that we have seen an overview of the Antichrists reign, we will take a look at the future event that Jesus and Daniel called the "abomination of desolation." In the middle of Antichrist’s seven year pact, he will go into the temple of God and claim to be God, and demand to be worshipped. Matthew 24:15 So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel, let the reader understand: Jesus said that one of the signs that would precede his second coming would be the sign of the "abomination of desolation." Paul in speaking about the signs that will precede the rapture, tells us clearly what this event will be. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Paul calls the Antichrist the "man of lawlessness," and tells us that the Antichrist will set himself up in the temple of God, proclaim himself to be God, and demand to be worshipped. This will be the event known as the "abomination of desolation." After this happens in the middle of the seven year pact, Christians and Jews will be persecuted and martyred for refusing to worship the Antichrist. Note: signs and wonders in the heavens accompanied the birth of Jesus Christ, and it would not be surprising if Satan, the great imitator, provided signs and wonders in the heaven for the birth of his Antichrist. The author has been watching since 1973 and has not yet detected a sign in the heavens that would signify the birth of Antichrist. but it would seem he must be alive today if the 6000 years are almost completed. The only reference to a type of a virgin birth was when Princess Diana was medically certified to be a virgin before her marriage to prince Charles. It may be interesting to watch the progress of the young princes William and Harry. |