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Chapter 17: The Kingdom Of Antichrist
Revelation 13:1 And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw the beast coming out of the sea. The sea represents the nations that include in their populations a large number of descendants of Abraham. Genesis 22:17 & 32:12 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted. Hebrews 11:12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. The dragon, Satan, will call his servant, the Antichrist from out of the sea of the nations where Abraham’s descendants are living. This beast is symbolic of the worldwide empire that the Antichrist will control. Revelation 13:1 He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. The ten horns are ten kings that will be in power in the world during the reign of Antichrist. This is explained to John in chapter seventeen. The seven heads may represent seven economic zones that will exist during this time period. Revelation 17:12-13 The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. The ten kings, or rulers, who are in power during this time period will give their power to the Antichrist, and create a new world order, a one world government. Their "new world order," will only last for a short time, symbolically called "one hour," in the prophecy above. Revelation 13:2 "The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority." God, in the bible, uses animals to symbolize the characteristics of kingdoms and nations. They show what type of kingdom it will be and what personality it will have. The lion, the bear and the leopard all symbolize a fierce and violent kingdom, which is what the kingdom of Antichrist will be. The book of Daniel describes the ancient kingdom of Alexander the great as being like a leopard kingdom because of Alexander’s ability to swiftly accomplish his military objectives. The book of proverbs describes a ruler who is like a lion or a bear. This is a good description of what life under the rule of Antichrist will be like. Proverbs 28:15 "Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked man ruling over a helpless people." Daniel also had a vision in which he saw the future kingdom of Antichrist portrayed as a great beast, called the fourth beast. Daniel was given the following explanation of this beast by the angel who was speaking with him. Daniel 7:23 "He gave me this explanation: `The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on Earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole Earth, trampling it down and crushing it." From this verse it is clear that the Antichrists dominion will be worldwide. Any country that refuses to submit to his demands will be attacked and have war made upon them. The kingdom of Antichrist will be the greatest world power of all time. The book of Daniel states that the Antichrist will overthrow three of the kings of the nations he presides over. Daniel 7:7-8 & 24 While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that spoke boastfully. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. This little horn is the Antichrist. He will uproot and subdue three kings who have a disagreement with him. This will be the cause of the war that we read about when the second seal was opened and the red horse came out to take peace from the Earth. After this war the Antichrist will be the most feared and respected leader that has ever come upon the world scene. Almost everyone will be afraid of him and will give him the worship he demands. Revelation 13:4 They also worshipped the beast and asked, `Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?'" Daniel 7:25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and a half a time." Revelation 13:5-6 "The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven." The Antichrist will persecute and kill the saints who will not worship him as God almighty. A time, times and a half a time and forty two months both mean three and one half years. |