The Anti-Christ
What can we know about him?
I, for one, have considered that the anti-Christ might not be a man,
but perhaps a POLITICAL SYSTEM, but when I go to "The Source",
God's Holy Word, the facts just do not add up that way.
John the apostle defined “anti-Christ” as anybody who denies
that Jesus is God in the flesh. (I John 4:2-3) That makes whole
groups of people and some religions “anti-Christ.” They were in
the world then, and they are in the world now. This is in fact
the correct interpretation of "John's spirit of anti-Christ”.
However, there is a person who comes on the scene at
the end of the age who personifies John’s spirit of
anti-Christ. So many personal pronouns are used of
him, that it’s impossible to see him any other way.
Daniel called him "The Coming Prince". Paul called him
"The Son of Perdition" and "The Man of Lawlessness",
and to John, he’s "The Beast", but the world
thinks of him as "the anti-Christ".
I’ve been told that there are 42 titles
in the Bible that refer to the anti-Christ!
The actual phrase “anti-Christ” comes from 1 John 4:3 and
refers to a spirit of the denial of Jesus. It’s far from the
best description of him. Pseudo Christ or false Christ
would be better, since he presents himself as "The Christ".
In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, Paul spoke of “A Man of Sin,
The Son of Perdition” as a man who would stand
in the Temple and proclaim himself to be God.
He was referring to the anti-Christ.
In Revelation, the anti-Christ is called "The Beast"
(Revelation 13:1-10, Revelation 17:12-18),
and the context of the passages indicate
a man rather than a spirit.
In Revelation 19 we read where the beast is cast alive into
the lake of fire. Again, the frequency of personal pronouns
used in reference to the beast make it obvious. He is a
man. He controls a system and enforces its administration
world wide, but first and foremost he’s a man indwelt by Satan.
In the Greek language the word for king and kingdom are the same. We
have to look at the context to find out which is in view. The abundance of
personal pronouns in Revelation 13:1-10 have led scholars to conclude that
the first beast is a person, not a kingdom. Also the Greek word translated
beast, although symbolic, points toward a living being, not an inanimate entity.
Beginning in Revelation 13:11 John wrote about another beast, referred
to by many as the false prophet. There are two Greek words that can be
translated “another”. One is allos and means another of the same kind,
and the other is heteros and means another of a different kind.
In Revelation 13:11 the Greek word he used is allos, meaning the 2nd beast
is another of the same kind as the 1st one. Therefore if the first beast was
a kingdom, the second beast would have to be a kingdom as well, and visa versa.
For those of you who are gathering information from the Seventh
Day Adventists, I realize there are different "degrees" of Seventh
Day Adventism. Some Seventh-day Adventists believe identically
to orthodox Christians, other than believing that worship should be
held on Saturday. And if that were the only differences, then yes,
a person could be a Seventh-day Adventist and still be a true believer
in the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember, only Jesus knows our hearts.
However, most Seventh-day Adventists believe
in much more than a Saturday Sabbath.
Seventh-day Adventists believe in the annihilation of the wicked (that
believers who die enter into a state of soul sleep), instead of an eternal hell.
They believe that a person must observe
the Saturday Sabbath in order to be saved.
They believe that Jesus entered a second phase of His redemptive
work on October 22, 1844, as "prophesied" by Hiram Edson.
And a big problem is their belief in Ellen G. White, the founder of
Seventh Day Adventism. They hail her as a true prophet of God,
even though so many of her prophecies failed to come true.
We know that God does not send us confusion, and there
are more than enough potential doctrinal issues to make
attending a Seventh Day Adventist church questionable at best.
So, here is what we can know about
the anti-Christ from the Bible.
From Daniel
He is the little horn (Revived Greece).
Daniel 7:8; Daniel 7:20; Daniel 8:9
He uproots 3 of the Revised Roman kings.
He has the eyes of the man.
He has a mouth speaking great things.
He corrupts by flatteries.
Daniel 11:21; Daniel 11:32; Daniel 11:34
He enters peaceably.
Daniel 11:21
His look is more stout than his fellow associates.
He makes war with the saints and prevails against them
until the Father comes to the earth to give the promised
kingdom to His saints. Daniel 7:21-22; Daniel 7:25
He is diverse from the other kings in
a 10-nation confederacy. Daniel 7:24
He speaks great words against
the most High. Daniel 7:25
He wears out the saints of the most high.
He thinks to change times and laws.
He continues for 3 ½ years.
He is a king of fierce countenance.
Daniel 8:23
He understands dark sentences.
His power comes from Satan.
Daniel 8:24
He destroys the mighty and holy people.
By peace he destroys many.
Daniel 8:25
He shall stand up against the Prince of Princes.
He shall be broken without hand.
He shall confirm the covenant with many
(Israel) for one week (7 years). Daniel 9:27
In the midst of the week (after 3 ½ years)
he shall break the covenant.
He causes the daily sacrifice to be taken away.
Daniel 8:11-12; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:31
He commits the abomination of desolation
(to sacrifice a pig on the alter in Jerusalem).
Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:31; Matthew 24:15
He corrupts the Jewish high priest.
Daniel 11:22-23
He will work deceitfully.
Daniel 11:23
He shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his
father’s fathers (give money to Israel). Daniel 11:24
He will scatter among them the prey, spoil, and riches.
He will devise plots against strong holds.
He shall come against the king of the south (Egypt)
and prevail. Daniel 11:25; Daniel 11:40
It is in his heart to do mischief.
He speaks lies at the conference table.
He shall return to his land (Syria) with
great riches (from Egypt). Daniel 11:28
His heart is against the holy covenant - with indignation.
He shall do exploits and (then) return to his land.
He will pollute the sanctuary of strength.
He will cause many to fall (by the sword,
flame, captivity, and spoil). Daniel 11:33
He will do according to his will.
Daniel 11:36
He will exalt himself.
He will magnify himself above every god.
He will speak marvelous things against the God of gods.
He will prosper until his time has run its course.
He will not regard the God of
his fathers. Daniel 11:37
He will not regard the desire (delight)
of women. (a homosexual?)
He will not regard any god.
He shall magnify himself above all
(the pride of his father, Satan).
He shall honor the god of forces/fortresses
(light) with gold, silver, precious stones, and
pleasant things. Daniel 11:38; Daniel 11:43
He shall acknowledge and increase with
glory an alien god (mammon, the Syriac
god of money). Daniel 11:38-39
He makes money to rule over many.
He divides the land for gain.
At the time of the end the king of the north (the Antichrist)
counterattacks the king of the south (Egypt) like a whirlwind; and
enters in, overflows and passes over it with chariots, horseman,
many ships. Daniel 11:25; Daniel 11:40; Daniel 11:42
He also enters Israel and overthrows it
and many other countries. Daniel 11:41
But Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon
escape out of his hand (it is in these 3 areas - Jordan - that
the remnant of Israel is hidden during the wrath of God.)
Revelation 12:1; Revelation 12:6; Revelation 12:14
He exercises dominion over the gold, silver
and all the precious things of Egypt, Libya
and Ethiopia. Daniel 11:38; Daniel 11:43
He is troubled by activities out of the east
(Iraq and the kings of the east) and out of the
north - Turkey and/or Russia, who wants the
money of Daniel 11:38 & Daniel 11:43.
Therefore, he goes forth with fury to
destroy and make away many. Daniel 11:44
He breaks his covenant with Israel and enters the
temple in Jerusalem. Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:44
Yet he shall come to his end, and none shall
help him. Daniel 11:45; Revelation 19:20
He is called the beast out of the sea
(of diverse peoples - Revelation 13:1). Daniel 7:3
He has seven heads (the demonic force which has
controlled the seven world kingdoms which have or will
rule Israel, six in the past: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon,
Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome; and one which is
yet to come: Revised Rome.) Revelation 17:3
He has ten horns (a 10-nation confederacy).
He has upon his horns ten crowns
(the kings of these kingdoms/nations).
Upon his heads is the name of blasphemy
(name, not names). Revelation 17:3
He was like a leopard (Greece.
Revelation 13:2) Daniel 7:6
He had feet as the feet of a
bear (Medo-Persia). Daniel 7:5
His mouth was as the mouth of
a lion (Babylon). Daniel 7:4
He receives from the dragon (Satan) his
power (might), seat (throne), and great
authority (dominion). Revelation 13:2
He had one of its heads wounded to death (the mortal
wound Rome gave to Greece; the Antichrist will likely
also receive a mortal wound). Revelation 13:3
His deadly wound was healed (out of the Revised
Roman Empire will come the Revived Grecian
Empire of the Antichrist, Revelation 17:8-14,
he may also be raised from the dead).
He is wondered after and worshipped
by all the world. Revelation 13:4
Many will have both the desire to
and the inability to fight him.
He was given a mouth speaking great
things and blasphemies. Revelation 13:5
Power was given him to continue 42 months.
He opened his mouth in blasphemy against God,
to blaspheme His Name, His tabernacle, and
them that dwell in heaven. Revelation 13:6
It is given him to make war with the saints,
and to overcome them. Revelation 13:7
Power is given him over all kindreds, tongues, and
nations (peoples is missing, as Israel is in the wilderness,
Revelation 13:7) Revelation 12:6; Revelation 12:14
He is worshipped by all upon the earth whose names
are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain
from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8
He is revealed to the Church when a Syrian executes
a seven year peace treaty with Israel. Daniel 9:27
He is revealed to the world when he breaks
that treaty (by desecrating the temple in
Jerusalem) after 3 ½ years. Daniel 9:27
He opposes and exalts himself above all that is called
God, or that is worshipped. 2 Thessalonians 2:4
He sits in the temple of God (the rebuilt temple
in Jerusalem), showing himself that he is God.
His revelation is presently being restrained
by an unseen force (Michael, the archangel
over Israel, Daniel 10:13; Daniel 10:21
Daniel 12:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7
The Hinderer of Lawlessness).
He is called the mystery of iniquity.
He shall be consumed with the Spirit of
the Lord’s mouth. 2 Thessalonians 2:8
He shall be destroyed with the
brightness of Jesus’ coming.
He was (was the demonic presence ruling
nations before John’s time: the prince of
Grecia - Revelation 17:8). Daniel 10:20
He is not (had ceased from ruling during John’s day).
He ascends out of the abyss (the bottomless pit).
He goes into perdition (destruction).
He is the wonder of all the earth except
those names were written in the book
of life from the foundation of the world.
He yet is (during John’s day this fallen angel
was incarcerated in the abyss until his time
again comes to be loosed in the earth:
the prince of Grecia.) Daniel 10:20
He is the demonic presence which shall rule
the eighth world kingdom (revived Greece):
that of the Antichrist. Revelation 17:11
He is of the seven previous world
kingdoms which have ruled Israel.
He receives for a short space all of the power
and strength of the 10-nation confederacy
of Revised Rome. Revelation 17:12
He brings sorrow, fear, and hard
bondage to Israel. Isaiah 14:3
He is referred to as the King
of Babylon. Isaiah 14:4
He ruled the nations in anger.
Isaiah 14:6
He is cast into hell.
Isaiah 14:9
He makes no impression on anyone
else that is also in hell. Isaiah 14:16
He made the world a wilderness.
Isaiah 14:17
He is called the Assyrian.
Isaiah 14:25
His yoke is destroyed and his burden removed
because of the Anointing. Isaiah 14:25
Through the voice of the Lord,
the Assyrian is beaten down. Isaiah 30:31
|
