SS - The King is Coming - WHO IS THE ANTICHRIST? (part 2)

Turn to 2 Thess. 2.

Last week, we started laying the groundwork in an attempt to answer the question - “WHO IS THE ANTICHRIST?”

We commenced with the warning to Christians, from 1 John 2 -

That, it is the last time - speaking of the last days in Bible Prophecy.

And the reminder within these last days, that that antichrist shall come; amongst the presence of MANY antichrists already present and accounted for!

Thus - we should ALL be able to have a basic understanding of THAT STATED FACT!

The evidence is all around us today - we need not look very far or very hard!

2 Timothy 3:1 -“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”

2 Timothy 3:2 - “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”

2 Timothy 3:3 - “Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,”

2 Timothy 3:4 - “Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;”

2 Timothy 3:5 - “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

And therefore, we concluded that the stage is currently being set - for what is about to take place on such a grand scale in the Great Tribulation Period!

We can witness and testify to the characteristics of the antichrist as -

Being a CHARISMATIC LEADER

Practice MIRACULOUS DECEPTION

Exhibit OPPOSITION TO GOD

Practicing GLOBAL AUTHORITY

Because the many antichrists today are doing such on a limited small scale!

HENCE - the WARNING to BEWARE!

Many who have sat in church pews of GOOD, FUNDAMENTAL, BIBLE-BELIEVING, INDEPENDENT BAPTIST CHURCHES -

Have been deceived and won over by the likes of such antichrists!

And the MODUS OPERANDI should go to prove the SAME CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ANTICHRIST, to come, on a much grander scale!

From 1 John 2 and the Apostle John’s Warning, we moved to 2 Thessalonians and Paul’s Warning About THE ANTICHRIST!

Paul had just written all about the rapture, and what to expect from such, in the last chapter of his first letter to the Thessalonians.

And no sooner had Paul finished his letter, and false teachers began spreading seeds of deception with FALSE DOCTRINE!

Hence the ABSOLUTE DIRE NECESSITY for Paul’s second letter - 2 Thessalonians!

And we read, last week, in 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3 - “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”

Whereby, we see the clarification that the Apostle makes to clear up confusion, and contents the anxiety with the TRUTH of what is to come!

BEFORE THE TRIBULATION BEGINS & THE LORD JESUS CHRIST RETURNS IN THE 2nd COMING - FOR THE RAPTURE WILL HAVE TAKEN PLACE ALREADY:

There WILL be A FALLING AWAY - THE GRANDEST FORM OF APOSTASY EVER, not just a garden-variety apostasy!

AND - THAT MAN OF SIN BE REVEALED, the son of perdition - THE ANTICHRIST!

I NEED TO PAUSE ONE MOMENT - TO MAKE A CORRECTION FROM LAST WEEK, THAT I STATED (I FOUND IT IN MY NOTES):

Last week, I made the CLAIM - that the Antichrist IS Satan.

THAT IS A MISSTATEMENT, & I APOLOGIZE!

The Antichrist is NOT Satan, but is rather infiltrated & heavily emboldened by Satan, and as his title represents - he strongly “opposes & exalts himself above all that is called God... shewing himself that he is God.”

He is rather part of the unholy trinity: Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet - as we will see later on!

PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR GIVING THE WRONG INFORMATION!

With that in mind - Let’s Take a Look Into What The Bible Says About THIS MAN - THE ANTICHRIST:

HIS NAMES. - Notice in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 - “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”

For the Record, I believe along with OTHER BIBLE COMMENTATORS - that we CANNOT know 100% for sure - WHO THE ANTICHRIST TRULY IS! (TURN OVER TO JOHN 17)

There are those, who can strongly speculate, and maybe even can give Bible assurance as to WHO, this dastardly devilish man is, but I cannot not - YET!

On the contrary, I will say that I lean with many, who have made the statement that the Antichrist MAY be Judas Iscariot, reincarnated - under this sole premise!

In John 17 - we have on record the High Priestly Prayer, from the Lord Jesus Christ - Our Great High Priest, unto God the Father.

Notice, one particular verse, denoting what the Lord Jesus Christ had to say about the antichrist’s description - being that of the son of perdition!

John 17:12 “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.”

Dr. Bo Wagner says, “Christ was thinking about and praying for His disciples in the immediate moments after Judas left to betray Him.”

We could go all the way back to the Psalms, as some have suggested, where David prophesied a portrayal of Judas to come -

Dr. Charles Ryrie notes what David said in Psalm 41:9 “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, Which did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me.”

Therefore, we can surmise from the verse following our commencement verse last week -

1 John 2:18–19 - “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

As I alluded to last week, my Pastor-friend Dr. Bo Wagner - used this illustration concerning THE SON OF PERDITION -

The Antichrist is THE SON, not a son, but THE SON of Perdition!

Brother Bo illustrates that there is ANOTHER Bo Wagner that is alive on this earth!

THAT BO WAGNER is a jazz musician.

My pastor-friend is A Bo Wagner, but not THE BO WAGNER!

If my friend was the ONLY BO WAGNER alive, then he could be referred to as THE BO WAGNER!

The Antichrist is THE SON, not a son -

This man is THE SON,

He is THE ONLY ONE,

There is NO ONE ELSE who can claim this name, or title

Consequently, just as the title implies -

THE Son of Perdition - meaning ruin or loss, absolute destruction, evidences what he causes and what will happen to him!

Psalm 41:9 - “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, Which did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me.”

Acts 1:25 further confirms, “That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.”

John 17:12b - “I kept them in thy name: and those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, BUT THE SON OF PERDITION”. (TURN BACK TO DANIEL 9)

According to Dr. Lee Roberson, the Word of God DOES give us other descriptions for this man, named the Antichrist -

Daniel 9:26 - “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”

Daniel 11:36 - “And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.”

Revelation 13:1 - “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.”

THESE ARE SOME OF THE NAMES GIVEN TO THE MAN OF SIN, THE SON OF PERDITION, THE ANTICHRIST!

His Characteristics and Work. - I found Dr. David Jeremiah’s Book, “The Book of Signs” very helpful pertaining to the Antichrist.

The UPCOMING ANTICHRIST Will be Charismatic - as we touched on briefly last week! - Daniel 7:7–8 “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.”

You see, NOT ONLY, does the Antichrist obtain great power; but he also possesses great charisma.

He will not overthrow the three horns, or other world leaders, by force; but rather but out-maneuvering them, by wit!

He will enthrall the people of this world with eloquence, good speaking and smooth intonations!

Think of those world dictators, in the beginnings of their quest for world domination.

Most rationalize Adolph Hitler, and thought him to be the Antichrist.

He was smooth with the tongue, in the very beginning of his quest, and therefore, led many astray through verbal deception!

But that was NOT ALL that Hitler, and consequently the Antichrist will, excelled at!

The Antichrist Will Be Cunning! - Daniel 11:21 - “And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.”

Satan knows full well just how to entrap mankind - he has had thousands of years to hone his expertise!

And one way to entrap mankind, is by way of power.

People are enamored with those who possess great power and potential!

One Bible commentator defines the cunning ability of the Antichrist. He will be a political genius, a masterful diplomat, and a clever leader.

And within time, Satan will further harness that individual, along with his vast followers, in an outright attempt against Almighty God!

Of course, we know for sure - WHO WINS!

The Antichrist is Charismatic, Cunning, & Cruel. - Daniel 7:25 - “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall ‘wear out’ the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”

This speaks of a time of harsh extreme persecution, from the Antichrist!

It is a time of persistent wearing away, little by little, slowly, methodically persecuting the people of God.

When we think of such savagery, our minds remember the cruel torturous treatment to many of the apostles during the reign of Nero.

Dr. David Jeremiah relates a commentary from Dr. Chuck Colson describing the terrors of the Nazi regime under Adolph Hitler.

“The First Nazi concentration camp opened in 1933. In one camp, hundreds of Jewish prisoners survived in disease-infected barracks on little food, and gruesome, backbreaking work. Each day the prisoners were marched to the compound’s giant factory, where tons of human waste and garbage were distilled into alcohol to be used as a fuel additive. Even worse than the nauseating smell was the realization that they were fueling the Nazi war machine. Colson would go on to say that as a result of the humiliation and drudgery of their lives, ‘dozens of the prisoners went mad and ran from their work, only to be shot by the guards or electrocuted by the fence. Hitler and the Nazis did not annihilate the Jews all at one; they deliberately and systematically wore down their souls.”

The Antichrist is Corrupt with Blasphemies. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 - “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

We understand from reading Daniel’s 70th Week -

That at the midway point of the Tribulation Period -

The Antichrist will invade the Temple, will remove all religious worshipful objects, and erect an image for all to worship!

He will not only remove that which pertains to the One, True God; but to all religion as well!

He will tread all religion under his feet - and,

He will desecrate what was to be reverential unto Almighty God, and replace with worship unto himself, as God!

That is what he wanted originally, and caused his ejection from Heaven!

The Antichrist Will Champion As a Man of War. - Revelation 13:7 - “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”

That is scary and intimidating to think about!

Satan has chosen this individual to head up the armies of this world through deceptive charisma, cunningness, cruelty, and corruption!

It is no wonder that this accumulation and intensification will prove towards intimidation of the population of the entire globe in the very near future!

And they will stop at nothing, in one final attempt to overthrow the KING of kings and LORD of lords -

But Armageddon will be the inevitable Waterloo for Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet!

This is not only scary to think of, but sobering to comprehend!

How Could ONE Person Be SO Endowed With Power to Rule the Earth!

There have been many who have tried and failed!

Again, we return our attention to the likes of Adolph Hitler -

Who, by cunning ability and craftiness to deceive -

Initiated a massive following from just a humble amount of loyalists!

And he took over a nation of millions!

CURRENTLY - we have many nations that harbor ATOMIC weaponry and ballistic bombs!

And I shutter to think just how explicitly it all will end!

WAIT! I won’t be there to see how THAT PART ENDS!

The Antichrist’s Coming Conqueror is the LORD JESUS CHRIST! - turn with me, as we close, to Rev. 19.

HERE IS WHERE OUR HERO COMING CHARGING IN ON HIS WHITE HORSE TO SAVE THE DAY!

Revelation 19:11 - “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.”

Revelation 19:12 - “His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.”

Revelation 19:13 - “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.”

Revelation 19:14 - “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.”

Revelation 19:15 - “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”

Revelation 19:16 - “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Revelation 19:17 - “And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;”

. Revelation 19:18 - “That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.”

Revelation 19:19 - “And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.”

Revelation 19:20 - “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

Revelation 19:21 - “And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.”

Revelation 20:1 - “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.”

Revelation 20:2 - “And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,”

Revelation 20:3 - “And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.”

Revelation 20:7 - “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,”

Revelation 20:8 - “And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.”

Revelation 20:9 “- And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.”

Revelation 20:10 - “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”

IN CONCLUSION -

ARE YOU READY?