The Coming of the Antichrist
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Introduction: Who will explain away the millions of people that disappeared off the face of the earth? Someone is going to have to supply a reasonable explanation. I believe that person will be Dr. Fauci (No, I’m only joking). But it will be someone like Dr, Fauci that the world will believe. The Bible tells us that the Antichrist will have a mouth that speaks great things. The Antichrist will have a good explanation as to what happened to all the people who vanished.
What happens after the Rapture here on earth? According to Martin R. De Haan II, “the next event the Bible tells about is the rise of a false Christ to world prominence. He is called Antichrist.” Jesus called him the “Psedokhistos” (the False Christ) in Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22.
On the Got Questions website, one reads the following about the Antichrist - “The rise of the Antichrist. After the church is taken out of the way (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8), a satanically empowered man will gain worldwide control with promises of peace (Revelation 13:1; Daniel 9:27). He will be aided by another man, called the false prophet, who heads up a religious system that requires worship of the Antichrist (Revelation 19:20). (What is the End Times Timeline).
Jesus predicted that another would come in his name and that the Jews would receive him (See John 5:43). Who will be the one who comes in his name? I believe that it will be the Antichrist.
What does the word “Antichrist” mean?The prefix “anti” may be used either in the sense of “instead of” or “against.” It can also mean, the false messiah. The Antichrist will be someone who seeks to take the place of or will stand against THE CHRIST.
Something else that is interesting is that the word “Antichrist” occurs only in the epistles of John. It is used 5 times in four verses:
· John 2:18 - Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
· John 2:22 - Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
· 1 John 4:3 - and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
· 2 John 7 - For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
In this chapter I want us to look at what the Bible teaches us about the Antichrist, and then we will conclude by looking at the destruction of the Antichrist. Let’s jump into our study.
I. What the Bible teaches about the Antichrist.
I. What the Bible teaches about the Antichrist.
As we begin, I want to say that I am very in debt to Dr. Dwight Pentecost for much of my understanding of the Antichrist.
So, then, what does the Bible teach us about the individual who will appear in the end times as the head of the Gentile powers in their ten-kingdom federation (Possibly the revived Roman Empire). His person and activity are presented in Ezekiel 28:1-10; Daniel 7:7-8, 20-26; 8:23-9:26-27; 11:36-45; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10; Revelation 13:1-10; 17:8-14. As we look at those scripture passages (and many others) they will reveal the following facts concerning the activities of the Antichrist.
I am going to be sharing a lot of information, and I hope that you are not lost in the details. Try to follow along to the best of your ability. Use the outlines and notes provided in your bulletin.
1. The Antichrist will appear on the scene in the latter times” of Israel’s history.
· Daniel 8:23 - “And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes.
2. The Antichrist will not appear until the Day of the Lord has begun (after the Rapture).
· 2 Thessalonians 2:2 - not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
3. The Antichrist’s manifestation is being hindered by the Restrainer.
· 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 - 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.
Question: Who is the Restrainer? Bible teachers have different ideas, but most believe that the restrainer is either the church or the Holy Spirit. Once the church and the Holy Spirit are removed it’s open season for the Antichrist.
4. The Antichrist's appearance will be preceded by a departure.
· 2 Thessalonians 2:3 – Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
Question: What is meant by the word “falling away”? The Greek word used here can be translated as “departure.” This may be interpreted either as a departure from the faith or a departure of the saints to be with the Lord (See 2 Thessalonians 2:1).
5. The Antichrist is a gentile since he arises from the sea.
· Revelation 13:1 – Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
Most evangelical Bible teachers agree that the “sea” depicts the Gentile nations (Revelation 17:15), he must be of Gentile origin. Some in Church history believed that he would be a Jew and that perhaps he would arise from the tribe of Dan.
6. The Antichrist rises from the (Revived) Roman empire since he is a ruler of the people who destroyed Jerusalem.
· Daniel 9:26 - “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
It was the Romans who destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
7. The Antichrist is the head of the last form of Gentile world domination, for he is like a leopard, a bear, and a lion.
The Book of Daniel teaches us that these were the nations of Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. The leopard speaks of speed, the feet of the bear of power, and the mouth of the lion speaks of aggression.
· Revelation 13:1 - Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
See Daniel 7:74; Revelation 17:9-11). As such he is a political leader. The seven heads and ten horns (Revelation 13:1; 17:12) are federated under his authority. Bible teachers believe that this is the rise of the revised Roman Empire. Note: Daniel called him a “dreadful beast.”
8. The Antichrist’s influence is worldwide, for he rules over all nations.
· Revelation 13:8 - 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.
The Antichrist’s influence comes through the alliance that he makes with other nations (Daniel 8:24; Revelation 17:12). Can this happen? Yes, why even in the news this past week the WHO (World Health Organization) was meeting to discuss the implementation of a Worldwide Treaty that would give them sole authority as to how nations would handle future pandemics. Worldwide power one day will be easy to obtain.
9. The Antichrist will eliminate three rulers in his rise to power.
· Daniel 7:8 – I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.
· Daniel 7:24 - The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings.
10. The Antichrist’s rise will come through his peace program.
· Daniel 8:25 - “Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means.
11. The Antichrist personally is marked by his intelligence and persuasiveness.
· Daniel 7:8 - I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.
· Daniel 7:20 - and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.
· Daniel 8:23 - “And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes.
He will be subtle and crafty (Ezekiel 28:6) so that his position over the nations is by their consent (Revelation 17: 13).
12. The Antichrist rules over the nations in his federation with absolute authority.
· Daniel 11:36 - “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.
The Antichrist is depicted as doing his own will. This authority is manifested through the change in laws and customs (Daniel 7:25). Consider this in the light of certain world dictators today. They claim they have ultimate authority.
13. The Antichrist’s chief interest is in authority and power.
· Daniel 11:38 – But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things.
14. The Antichrist will be the head of a federated empire, and he will make a seven-year covenant with Israel.
· Daniel 9:27 - Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”
Take note that this covenant is broken after three and one-half years.
15. The Antichrist will introduce idolatrous worship.
· Daniel 9:27 – Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”
He will break the covenant when he goes into the rebuilt Jewish temple and desecrates it by setting himself up to be god. (Daniel 11:36-37; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:5).
The Jews have witnessed this type of event in history twice. The first time in Antiochus, who called himself “Epiphanies” (meaning “illustrious one” or “god manifest”). In 167 B.C. he entered the Jewish temple and set up an altar to Zeus, and over the altar of burnt offering, he sacrificed a pig. The second individual is Roman General Titus, who in 70 A.D. entered the Jewish temple and set up heathen images and standards in the temple courts.
In Revelation 13, the False prophet erects a statute of the beasts and requires all people to worship it. I believe that the statute will be erected in the Jewish temple.
16. The Antichrist bears the characterization of a blasphemer because of the assumption of deity.
· Ezekiel 28:2 - “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Because your heart is lifted up, And you say, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, In the midst of the seas,’ Yet you are a man, and not a god, Though you set your heart as the heart of a god.
You might also check out these passages: Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:1, 5-6.
17. The Antichrist is energized by Satan.
· Ezekiel 28:9-12 - “Will you still say before him who slays you, ‘I am a god’? But you shall be a man, and not a god, In the hand of him who slays you. You shall die the death of the uncircumcised By the hand of aliens; For I have spoken,” says the Lord God.’ ” Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
· Revelation 13:4 - So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
The Antichrist will receive his authority from him and is controlled by the pride of the devil (Ezekiel 28:2; Daniel 8:25).
18. The Antichrist is the head of Satan's lawless system.
· 2 Thessalonians 2:3 – Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
The Antichrist says that his claim to power and deity is proved by the signs wrought through satanic power (2 Thessalonians 2:9-19). Satan is the great copycat.
19. The Antichrist is received as God and as a ruler because of the blindness of the people.
· 2 Thessalonians 2:11 – And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
Do people believe lies today? Sure, they do. They believe the alphabet news channels on television (the Fake News Services), and the talking heads of politicians. The Antichrist will make so many things believable.
20. The Antichrist becomes the great adversary of Israel.
· Daniel 7:21 – I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them,
Also look at Daniel 7:25; 8:24; Revelation 13:7.
21. The Antichrist will have an alliance turn against him.
· Ezekiel 28:7 - Behold, therefore, I will bring strangers against you, The most terrible of the nations; And they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom, And defile your splendor.
· Daniel 11:40-42 - “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
This alliance will contest his authority.
22. The Antichrist will gain control over Palestine and adjacent territory.
· Daniel 11:42 – He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
The Antichrist will make his headquarters in Jerusalem (Daniel 11:45). Understand that Jerusalem is the real capital of Israel. President Donald Trump moved our U.S. embassy to Jerusalem to acknowledge Jerusalem’s rightful position.
23. The Antichrist at the time of his rise to power is elevated through the instrumentality of the harlot.
· Revelation 17:3 – So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Who is the woman? She is a picture of the corrupt religious system, which will eventually seek to dominate the Antichrist. It’s always about power and control.
There will be a day when religions will come together, and they will promote total unity. Exalting the Antichrist’s rise to power. This is what I believe COEXIST is all about today. Surely it is what the ecumenical movement is all about – let's set aside doctrine and all come together. The harlot will prepare people for a one-world religion.
24. The Antichrist will destroy this religious system so that he may rule unhindered.
· Revelation 17:16-17 - And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
The Antichrist will turn against the religious system. He cannot have anything in his way.
25. The Antichrist will become the special adversary of the Prince of Princes.
· Daniel 8:25 - “Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means.
He will assist him with his program (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 17:14), and his people (Daniel 7:2 25; 8:24; Revelation 13:7).
26. The Antichrist will continue in power for seven years (Daniel 9:27), and his satanic activity is confined to the last half of the Tribulation period (Revelation 12-19).
· Daniel 7:25 - He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.
· Daniel 9:27 – Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”
· Daniel 11:36 - “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.
· Revelation 13:5 - And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
27. The Antichrist’s rule will be terminated by a direct judgment from God.
See Ezekiel 28:6; Daniel 7:22, 26; 8:25; 9:27; 11:45; Revelation 19:19-20) This judgment will take place as he is engaged in a military campaign in Palestine (Ezekiel 28:8-9; Revelation 19:19), and he will be cast into the lake of fire.
· Revelation 19:20 - Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
· Ezekiel 28:10 - You shall die the death of the uncircumcised By the hand of aliens; For I have spoken,” says the Lord God.’ ”
28. The Antichrist’s judgment will take place at the Second Coming (Advent) of Christ.
· 2 Thessalonians 2:8 - And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
· Daniel 7:22 - until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
The judgment of the Antichrist will constitute a manifestation of Christ’s Messianic authority (Revelation 11:15).
29. The Antichrist’s kingdom will pass to the authority of the Messiah and will become the kingdom of the saints.
· Daniel 7:27 - Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’
II. The Destruction of the Antichrist – Revelation 19:20, 20:10
II. The Destruction of the Antichrist – Revelation 19:20, 20:10
I find it very interesting that almost every passage that refers to the activities of the Beast (the Antichrist) that it also includes a notice of his final destruction (He is doomed). It must occupy a large place in the program of God. His end is seen in the following passages of Scripture:
· Ezekiel 21:25-27; 28:7-10
· Daniel 7:11, 27; 8:25; 9:27
· 2 Thessalonians 2:8
· Revelation 17:11; 19:20; 20:10
From the lists of verses above I only want to direct our attention to two verses:
· Revelation 19:20 - Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
· Revelation 20:10 - The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
God will destroy the evil that seeks to overthrow Him. Dr. Pink writes the following about the destruction of the Antichrist,
"Scripture has solemnly recorded the end of various august evil personages. Some were overwhelmed by waters; some devoured by flames; Some engulfed in the jaws of the earth; some stricken by a loathsome disease; some ignominiously slaughtered; some hanged: some eaten up by dogs; some consumed by worms. But to no sinful dweller on earth, save the Man of Sin, "the Wicked One," has been appointed the terrible distinction of being consumed by the brightness of the personal appearing of the Lord Jesus Himself. Such shall be his unprecedented doom, an end that shall fittingly climax his ignoble origin, his amazing career, and his unparalleled wickedness."
Conclusion: The Man of sin and the son of perdition is coming. But we as believers do not need to be afraid, or even concerned. He has a role to play in God’s End Times Scenario. He will not be allowed to do anything without God’s permission. What he does do God will use to bring both Jews and gentiles to Himself. Finally, the Antichrist is on the losing team. Just as sure as he will come on the world scene one day, the day of his final judgment is also secure. Hell will be the Antichrist’s eternal address.