08-21-2022 - The Antichrist Agenda

OPENING

There is an Antichrist Agenda that is beginning to take shape in our world today. The Antichrist Agenda is not something new. The details are recorded in the Bible and have been known for at least 2,000 years. However, the pieces of the puzzle are coming together in our day today and the picture of The Antichrist Agenda is lining up just like the Bible said it would in the last days.

What do the current climate change crisis, emergence of digital currency and universal identification, governmental mandates, and geopolitical uncertainty all have in common? They are all part of The Antichrist Agenda and are indicators that we are Living in the Last Days!

SCRIPTURE

2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 NKJV

1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 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 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, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 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. 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. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

MESSAGE

The Bible says that in the last days, during the time referred to as the 7-year Tribulation period, that there will be a one-world political, economic, and religious system that will be under the rule of a single dictator, called the Antichrist.

1 John 2:18 NKJV

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.

There have been many antichrists since the time of Jesus Christ, but there is coming a final Antichrist that will arise in the last days.

There has been a lot of interest surrounding the Antichrist and countless attempts have been made to try to determine his identity, but all have failed. The Bible doesn’t give us a specific name, but does give us a lot of information about the type of man he will be and his agenda.

The Political Antichrist Agenda

In the last days, the political Antichrist agenda will be to unite the world under a one-world governmental system. Various dictators throughout history have tried to “take over the world,” but all have failed. However, God will allow the Antichrist to succeed, for a limited period of time, during the 7-year Tribulation.

In the book of Daniel, God gives Daniel a vision of this future kingdom under the rule of the Antichrist and how it will come to pass. In Chapter 7, Daniel is given a prophecy concerning four beasts, that represent four kingdoms. The four beasts in Daniel represent four successive empires or kingdoms that would rule the earth.

The first beast (which was a lion) represented the Babylonian Empire. The second beast (which was a bear) represented the Medo-Persian Kingdom. The third beast (which was a leopard) represented The Greek Empire. The fourth beast (nondescript) is different from the other three. Here is how Daniel describes the fourth beast:

Daniel 7:7–8 NKJV

7 “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 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.

Fortunately, we don’t have to guess what the beast and the horns represent. God gives Daniel (and us) the interpretation:

Daniel 7:23–25 NKJV

23 “Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast shall be A fourth kingdom on earth, Which shall be different from all other kingdoms, And shall devour the whole earth, Trample it and break it in pieces. 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. 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.

The fourth beast is a yet future kingdom that will be ruled by a dictator that is referred to as the “little horn.” This leader takes control of the other 10 nations and, in effect the entire world, for “a time and times and half a time.” This phrase is a Hebraic way of saying three and a half years (a time = one year, times = two years, and half a time = a half a year). This period of time of three and a half years is repeated over and over again throughout the book of Revelation as the duration of the Great Tribulation and the duration of the Antichrist’s dominance over the world. Take a look at John’s vision in the book of Revelation and how it parallels Daniel’s vision of the four beasts:

Revelation 13:1–8 NKJV

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. 2 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. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 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?” 5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 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.

So the “little horn” of Daniel 7 is none other than the Antichrist. The ten horns on this fourth beast and the ten heads and ten crowns on the beast in Revelation represent 10 kings or world leaders that will lead a revival of the Ancient Roman Empire. But the “little horn,” which represents the Antichrist, will “uproot” or subdue three of these leaders and take control of this end times kingdom.

The Antichrist will initially come on the scene as an intelligent, charismatic leader who will seem to have the answer to all of the world’s problems. He will initially come in as a man of peace. In fact, the Antichrist will broker the greatest peace agreement that this world has ever seen and that some people would consider impossible. The Antichrist is going to confirm a 7-year peace agreement between Israel and her Islamic enemies. In fact, this event, the signing of this covenant is what will mark the beginning of the 7-year Tribulation, not the rapture of the church.

For the first three and a half years (time and times and half a time), the Antichrist will be a man of peace, but he will be setting things in place to reveal his true nature and agenda. At the midpoint of the 7-year Tribulation, three and a half years into the peace agreement, the Antichrist will break the covenant by committing what is referred to in Daniel and by Jesus in Matthew 24 as The Abomination of Desolation.

Daniel 9:27 NKJV

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.”

Speaking about the abomination of desolation, Jesus says:

Matthew 24:21 NKJV

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

The Abomination of Desolation will usher in the last half of the 7-year Tribulation which is referred to as The Great Tribulation.

The Religious Antichrist Agenda

The Abomination of Desolation also reveals the religious agenda of the Antichrist. At the midpoint of the 7-year Tribulation, three and a half years after the 7-year peace agreement with Israel has been confirmed, the Antichrist will enter the Holy of Holies in the Temple, desecrate it, and set himself up as a god to be worshipped. The Antichrist will desecrate the Temple by stopping the daily sacrifices in the Temple and perhaps offering some sort of forbidden sacrifice.

Daniel 11:31 NKJV

31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.

This was prefigured by a Greek leader by the name of Antiochus Epiphanes in the second century B.C. Antiochus Epiphanes raided the temple in Jerusalem, set up an altar to Zeus, and sacrificed a pig on the altar. So it is likely that the Antichrist will repeat some sort of sacrifice that desecrates the Temple in addition to setting himself up as a god to be worshipped. Although Antiochus Ephiphanes prefigured the Abomination of Desolation, we know that he was not the ultimate fulfillment and that there will be a yet future Antichrist figure since Jesus prophesied this event in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.

If you are tracking along with this you might be thinking, how can the Antichrist desecrate the Temple and set himself up in the Temple as a god to be worshipped if there is no current Temple in Jerusalem? Well, that is a great question because the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Romans. So the answer is that these biblical prophecies cannot be fulfilled unless the Temple in Jerusalem is rebuilt. You might ask, well how is that even possible, isn’t the Islamic Dome of the Rock built on top of where the Jewish Temple once stood?

The answer could be related to the 7-year peace agreement that the Antichrist will confirm with Israel. It is possible that the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple could be part of the negotiations of this peace agreement. We know from other prophecies in the Bible that there will be a Temple in Jerusalem during the Millennial Kingdom, so we know a 3rd Temple must be built at some point.

There are several organizations in Israel right now that already have architectural plans to build the 3rd Temple. They have already replicated things like the brazen altar and all of the instruments needed to perform all of the sacrifices and Temple activities. They have successfully bred a perfect red heifer. They have identified Jews today who would meet the bloodline requirements to be considered a priest in the line of Aaron. They have everything in place to build a new Temple and could do so very quickly. They are just waiting on the place to build it.

Could it be that the Antichrist, initially coming on the world scene as a man of peace, could figure out a way to negotiate peace between Jews and Muslims that would allow the new Temple to be built? Of course it would be with the plan to ultimately desecrate and take over the new Temple at the mid-point of the 7-year Tribulation.

Once the Antichrist has declared himself as a god to be worshipped, he will unite all of the religions of the world under a one-world religion. He will require all of the world to worship him as god.

Revelation 13:8 NKJV

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.

It is quite likely that many of those who stand for Jesus during the Great Tribulation will be martyred for their faith. John saw many souls under the altar in heaven that had been killed for their faith during the Great Tribulation.

Revelation 6:9–11 NKJV

9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

Although there are many who will miss the rapture and be saved during the Great Tribulation, this is going to be a very difficult path. If someone is not willing to live for Jesus now while things are relatively easy, they will not be willing to die for Jesus later when things are much more difficult.

The Economic Antichrist Agenda

The Antichrist will setup a one-world economic system. This would have been difficult in years past, but now with digital currency, this has become very feasible. The Bible refers to the Antichrist’s economic system as the Mark of the Beast.

Revelation 13:16–18 NKJV

16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

The Bible says that no one will be able to buy or sell anything without having the Mark of the Beast, or his name, or the number of his name. The Antichrist will move the world toward a cashless society and to a digital currency so that every single transaction can be monitored, traced, and audited. No one will be able to have a job without having the Mark of the Beast because salaries will be paid in the Antichrist’s digital currency. No one will be able to buy gas, pay bills, own a home, buy a car, order at McDonald’s, buy seed to plant a garden from the feed store, go to the doctor, or be treated at the ER without the Mark of the Beast.

But the main issue with the Mark of the Beast is not that no one will be able to buy or sell anything. The main issue with the Mark of the Beast is that it is connected to the worship of the beast, the Antichrist. And, as a result, the Bible says that anyone who takes the Mark of the Beast has doomed their soul to hell for eternity.

Revelation 14:9–11 NKJV

9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

CLOSING

The Spirit of Antichrist is Already in the World

We know for sure that we are not in the 7-year Tribulation and the Antichrist has not risen to power yet. However, the spirit of antichrist is already in the world and has been since the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

1 John 4:3 NKJV

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.

We are beginning to see a shift in the political, religious, and economic systems of this world that are lining things up for the emergence of the Antichrist and the Antichrist Agenda to unite the world under a globalist society.

Look no further than the World Economic Forum. The World Economic Forum is global organization based out of Davos, Switzerland that links the world’s richest private companies and leaders with the governments of the world. The World Economic Forum was created in 1971 by Klaus Schwab.

The World Economic Forum’s agenda for 2021 was something they call “The Great Reset.” You’ve probably heard this phrase in the last couple years. Or maybe you’ve heard the phrase “Build Back Better” or “Agenda 2030.” These all refer to the same thing. The World Economic Forum believes that the major infrastructures of the world (social, political, economic, industrial, environmental) need to be reset. They believe that the Covid-19 pandemic presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to completely reset our society. They say:

“The pandemic represents a rare but narrow window of opportunity to reflect, reimagine, and reset our world. The societal upheaval unleashed by Covid-19 will last for years, and possibly generations…Many of us are pondering when things will return to normal. The short response is never…In short, we need a Great Reset of capitalism…for global leaders to shape the future state of global relations, the direction of national economies, the priorities of societies, the nature of business models and the management of global common interests.”

Basically, the World Economic Forum believes that capitalism is a plague that needs to be eradicated from society and replaced with Globalism, Socialism, and Marxism. They want to take away individual rights and put it into the hands of the global elite (their own hands). And they are using the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, racial and social division, economic downfalls, and political instability throughout the world to call for a change in global systems.

All that is needed is for an organization, perhaps a federation of nations, for the sake of argument let’s say ten nations, to align themselves under the influence of the World Economic Forum to champion the greatest humanitarian cause and the greatest reform to global society in the history of mankind known as the Great Reset. Then perhaps an intelligent, charismatic leader, let’s call him the “little horn” could step forward out of that ten nation federation who can lead this group to fulfill the goals of the Great Reset and be an example for the rest of the world to follow. In order to solve mankind’s greatest challenges, we need a leader who can unite the world under a single political, religious, and economic system that offers universal fairness and happiness for everyone. That scenario doesn’t seem as far fetched today as it did just a few years ago, now does it?

What Can We Do?

If we go back to our original text in 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul gives us some “do not” statements to encourage us in these last days:

Do not be soon shaken in mind or troubled

2 Thessalonians 2:1–2 NKJV

1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 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.

We do not have to allow the things that are happening now and the things that are coming on the world cause us fear or to shake our faith. Fear is part of the Antichrist Agenda. If the government or if a ruler or leader can instill panic and fear in a group of people, then they can be controlled. We got a taste of this during COVID-19. Fear led us to unquestioning compliance. We essentially shut down the world and wrecked the world economy because fear led us to compliance. But COVID-19, I believe, was just a trial run. Keep your eyes open. The supposed climate crisis, looming economic crisis, and any other crisis that they can manufacture are all intended to instill fear and produce compliance to whatever demands they come up with.

Do not be deceived

2 Thessalonians 2:3 NKJV

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,

Deception and false teaching is going to continue to increase in the last days. The Bible warns that many are going to be deceived by the Antichrist Agenda. It even says that, because they reject the truth, God is going to send them a strong delusion and they are going to be condemned. That is why it is important to know what God’s Word says about the end times and why I am preaching this series of messages. I’m not preaching all this to scare you. I’m preaching all this to prepare you. When you see these things beginning to come to pass and biblical prophecy being fulfilled, you will not be deceived into believing the lie of the Antichrist Agenda!

Do not forget God’s Prophetic Promises

2 Thessalonians 2:5 NKJV

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?

God’s Word warns us of the evil that is to come. But God’s Word also encourages us of His exceeding great and precious promises that are yet to be fulfilled. God will never leave us or forsake us! God has a place prepared for us in Heaven. Jesus is coming back, just like He said! God has not appointed us to wrath, but to salvation through Jesus Christ! Let God’s Word encourage you today to place and keep your faith in Jesus Christ, to keep sharing the Gospel, to keep drawing closer to God every day, to not allow current events in the world to discourage you, distract you, or deceive you, and to get ready and stay ready for His return!

ALTAR CALL