The Time of the Enemy

Introduction

Body

(1) A Time of Influence (v. 11, 23-25a)

a. Influence through Power

b. Influence through Deception

i. Man of Sin (Lawlessness): 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4: Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (ESV)

ii. The Beasts: Revelation 13-14. There are two beasts, one from the sea and one from the earth. Both are given their authority by “the Dragon” (Satan). The goal of both beasts is to demand worship and deceive others into following them.

c. Influence through Predecessors

i. 1 John 2:18- Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

- [The 10 Kingdoms Before the Little Horn] “The goal of the antichrists is to foreshadow the coming of “The Antichrists”. Just as “The Antichrist” seeks to deceive others, oppose Christ, and exalt himself, so do the many antichrists who are already present on the earth. Just as Paul warned the believers at Thessalonica and John warns these same believers later in chapter 4, the spirit of the antichrist is already at work.”

Application:

Mark 13:21–22 ESV

And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.

(2) A Time of War

a. A War of Words (v. 25a)

i. Blaspheme against God

ii. Cause Departure

- 1 John 2:19- They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

b. A War of Persecution (v. 21, 25b)

c. A War of Change (v. 25c)

i. Change the Seasons

- Prevent anything that calls for the people to observe God

ii. Change the Law

- Illustration: Darius the Mede and Daniel

III. Change the Truth

- We see this in three prominent movements today: The Prosperity Movement (monetizes the scripture), The Progressive Movement (denies the authority of and demoralizes the scripture), and the Political Movement (Censors the Scriptures). Their goal is to paint Jesus in a way that contradicts what Scripture teaches about him. In hopes of leading people away from the church.

Application:

Revelation 13:10- If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

Revelation 13:18- This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

(3) A Time of Defeat

a. Defeated through Judgement (v. 26)

b. Defeated through Humiliation (v. 27)

c. Defeated through Destruction (v. 11b)

Conclusion