The Antichrist

THE ANTICHRIST Spring Valley Mennonite; February 3, 2019; Revelation 6:9-11, 13:1-10; Daniel 7:7-8, 24-25; 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 It is a challenge to understand how all the events of the Tribulation fit chronologically but we can begin by understanding that there are seven seals that Christ breaks on the scroll of His inheritance, the title deed to His earthly Kingdom. The Lord’s judgment on evil and Satan is contained in the seven seals, the first four of which we discussed last week. There are two more seals described in Revelation 6: martyrdom and a great earthquake, and then the seventh seal is introduced in chapter 8. But the seventh seal of judgment represents and contains seven individual further catastrophic events, each introduced by a trumpet blast; and the seventh trumpet represents seven bowl judgments. The judgments build in intensity and effect and are almost unbelievable in the extent of their destruction. God’s wrath is being poured out on a wicked and unbelieving world, which will be ruled by a dictator known as the Antichrist. This wickedness and evil will be increasingly evident as we study the Antichrist and his program of world domination and how the world comes to worship him. The Tribulation is divided into two parts, each 3 ½ years long. The first part will be less intense than the second part, although only by comparison. Even these first years will not be a pleasant nor calm time upon the earth. Jesus discussed these judgments in Matthew 24, and said that the events in the first half are like “the beginnings of birth-pains” which will grow increasingly intense. We discussed the first four seals last week, along with a general outline of the end-time events. We touched on the rise of the Antichrist, Satan’s counterfeit world savior, who will begin consolidating his power soon after the Rapture of the Church, most likely coming to power in the political and economic chaos that will result from that event. The Book of Revelation progresses roughly in a chronological manner, but often there are interludes in John’s narrative which interrupt this chronological progression. These interludes introduce personalities or groups of people who are important during the seven years. These actors on the final stage of the Day of the Lord include Satan (called the Dragon), Israel, the Antichrist, his lieutenant the false prophet, a special group of 144,000 Jewish believers, the two prophets, an entity called “Mystery Babylon” (also called ‘the harlot’) and the multitude of Tribulation martyrs. There are two currents of activity in operation during these seven years, God’s activity of judgment which will bring about the earthly Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and Satan’s final attempt to cause the world to worship him. The earth becomes the scene of the final battles in this conflict between good and evil, God and Satan. This morning, we will skip forward to one of the interludes, to Revelation chapter 13, for it is here that John was given insight into the Antichrist, the world ruler empowered by Satan. Since Antichrist will operate throughout the seven years, finally to be defeated at a final battle of Armageddon, it makes sense to study him now, and how he comes to be the dictator of the whole world. I. THE BEAST THAT COMES OUT OF THE SEA Turn to Revelation chapter 13. Read Rev. 13:1-2. The “he” of verse 1 is Satan, going back to chapter 12, verses 7-9, which identify him (READ). Satan is viewed as standing on the seashore and watching a beast emerging from the waters. The waters of the sea represent the gentile world—listen to Rev. 17:15: “And he said to me ‘The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues”. The beast which comes from the gentile nations had ten horns and seven heads with ten crowns. This figure is the Antichrist, a man who will come to be the ruler of the whole world. We need to go back to Daniel chapter 7 to get the meaning of these symbols: turn to Daniel 7—Read vv. 2-8. Daniel is given a vision of four beasts representing four world empires which would come, the fourth empire-beast was especially terrifying. Daniel saw the first two empires during his lifetime, but the other two came hundreds of years after he died. Daniel tells us that Antichrist, the “little horn”, will arise from the roots of the fourth beast, some have termed this “a revived Roman Empire”, most likely centered in Europe, with the center of power in Rome. He also gives us the meaning of the leopard, bear and lion: In Daniel’s vision these represented the empires of Babylon, Persia and Greece—but Antichrist’s empire will be more extensive and powerful than all these empires put together! None of these empires extended over the entire world like the future kingdom of the Antichrist. The “little horn” which arises among the ten horns is the Antichrist. This is further explained in verse 24-25 (READ). Note that this “little horn” will make great boasts, and will speak out against God, make war against the Jews, and will make changes in how we calculate time (probably days of the week and months), and will institute new laws. The ten horns of the beast are ten kingdoms or perhaps, ten world-wide administrative units with a King or ruler over them. Apparently, Antichrist will eliminate three of these rulers, and take control over the rest. His greatest influence will be during the final three- and one-half years. The Antichrist will be given great power and authority and headship of the world government by Satan. This agrees with Paul’s description of the Antichrist in 2 Thessalonians 2. The church was upset because they had heard that the Day of the Lord had begun; and having been taught about the Rapture, they were understandably concerned! Paul gives them several signs to watch for. Follow along, beginning in 2 Thess. 2:1 (read through v. 5). Preceding the beginning of the Tribulation Period, the Day of the Lord, there will first be a great falling away from the truth, or apostacy. Churches and professing Christians will turn from the truth of scripture and will flock to those who tell them what they want to hear. Churches will compromise with the world’s view of what is right and wrong and will fall away from the truth of the Gospel. Does this sound like what we hear concerning main-line churches in America? Of our own denomination??? I believe we are living in these days of the falling away of the truth, especially in North America. Then, after this preparatory time of apostacy, during which much of the organized church loses its credibility, the “man of lawlessness”—the Antichrist—will be revealed, the son of destruction, who will come to oppose all other religions. At the mid-point of the Tribulation, he will take his seat in the temple of God and proclaim himself to be God. Daniel also spoke of this, as did Jesus in Matthew 24:15: “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the Holy Place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains…” Daniel 9:27, speaking of Antichrist, says, “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” The actual beginning of the Seven Year Tribulation is when a treaty is made with Israel, bringing peace to the Middle East. Think of all the attempts over the last number of years to settle the conflict between Israel, the Palestinians, and the Arab nations. The Antichrist will accomplish it. A Greek ruler, Antiochus Epiphanies, also defiled the Jewish Temple in 167 B.C. setting up an altar to Zeus in the Temple in Jerusalem. He also sacrificed a pig on the altar. This event was known as the “Abomination of Desolation”. Like many prophesies, this one predicted by Daniel, had a near and a far fulfillment. Note that the Jewish Temple will be rebuilt; I have read that all the building materials and furnishings for inside the Temple have already been gathered and await only the permission to rebuild. I could be wrong, but I believe this treaty made at the beginning of the seven years will give such permission. Let’s continue to verse 3: II. THE DEADLY WOUND HEALED READ V. 3. Verse 14 tells us that the deadly wound made with a sword was healed; whether the wound was fatal, and Satan brought Antichrist back to life, or if some sort of deception is involved, the intent is clear: this is Satan’s counterfeit death and resurrection of a would-be world savior! And the result from this supposed resurrection is a world-wide following! This seems to mark a transition in the influence of Satan and the Antichrist, as all the world begins to worship both Satan and Antichrist. Antichrist is exalted to supreme power; look at verse 4 (read). The world agrees that no-one can stand against him. One might ask, “How could the people be so willing to follow such a leader? In our day, Nations are so independent and there are so many who do not want to follow anyone.” A couple of observations from 2 Thessalonians 2: Verse 6-12 (Read). These verses speak of one who restrains or holds back this “man of lawlessness” presently. That “restrainer” will be “taken out of the way”, allowing the Antichrist to come to power. It makes the most sense to believe that this restrainer is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. When the Church is raptured, the Holy Spirit Who indwells all true believers will in some sense “step aside” and a deluding influence will be sent from God; the result? “That they might believe what is false”. Add this deluding influence to the chaotic conditions brought about by the disappearance of hundreds of millions of Christians, and you have a situation ripe for exploitation by one known as Antichrist. Consider next: III. THE BEAST’S AUTHORITY Read vv. 4-10: The whole world, as a result of this seeming resurrection, falls at the feet of Antichrist in worship, and things in Satan’s plan to establish his earthly kingdom rapidly accelerate: • Satan gives great authority and power to Antichrist—One point from history: remember in the wilderness temptations of Christ at the beginning of His ministry how Satan led Jesus to a high mountain and offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world-- if Jesus would worship him? Jesus never disputed Satan’s right to grant such a world-wide kingdom. Satan now gives that authority to Antichrist—"over every tribe and people and tongue and nation”. Satan’s puppet becomes the Supreme World Leader with unlimited power. • Antichrist is “given a mouth” to blaspheme the Name of God, a platform of world-wide prominence and power, and he openly begins to persecute the Jewish nation. Remember that one of God’s main purposes for this time is to create belief in Israel. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 describes this blasphemy: “Who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.” Having broken the Covenant he made with Israel, Antichrist symbolically takes his seat of authority in the Jerusalem Temple. Great persecution breaks out against the Jewish people. Jesus advised when Antichrist takes his authority to flee Jerusalem. IV. SO, WHAT HAPPENS TO BELIEVERS IN THESE DAYS? These will be terrible days for anyone resisting the authority of Antichrist. Martyrdom will be the fate for most of those who fail to worship and follow this dictator. Those who follow the Word of God will stand a strong chance they will face either prison or martyrdom. The fifth seal of Revelation 6 tells of such martyrdom; turn back there and follow as I read: (Rev. 6:9-11). The first four seals describe conditions during the first half of the seven years. During these first three- and one-half years there will be many who will die from the wars (of the second seal), the famines that result (the third seal) and the violence, starvation, disease and “wild beasts” of the fourth seal. But it looks like world-wide and intense religious persecution resulting in widespread martyrdom will not come until the second half of the seven years when Antichrist institutes a world-wide purge of believers. When these martyrs, “under the altar”, cry out for vengeance, they are told to be patient, vindication will come, but not until all the number of martyrs would be completed. The advice to believers alive and going through this time is to endure and remain faithful. Not everyone will die; some will survive. We are out of time, but next week we will examine another powerful leader called the False Prophet, who will institute a world-wide economic system which will control all business world-wide, limiting who can buy and sell. Along with Satan and the Antichrist, this False Prophet will complete an unholy trinity. The False Prophet is the one who institutes a world-wide identification program called “The Mark of the Beast”.