Rise of the Antichrist

• 1^st – The Beast… vs. 1-8
  • 1^st – His Origin… vs. 1
    • The Deception…
      • The VISION of John continued – transitioning from the WAR in Heaven…
      • To the DECEPTION that will take place at the SAME time here on the EARTH…
      • Parallel passages: Daniel 7 and 11 – I Thessalonians 5:1-11 – II Thessalonians 2:1-12
    • Sea of Humanity…
      • Then I stood on the sand of the sea – and I saw a beast rising up out of the sea!
      • John stood on the edge of the SEA – a reference to the people of the earth – SEA of humanity…
      • Daniel saw a parallel VISION of the SEA of humanity – Daniel 7:2-3 also Revelation 17:15
      • And out of this SEA of humanity – will rise a BEAST!
      • BEAST [θηρίον] 16x in this chapter – generally referring to a WILD animal…
      • Animal [beasts] do NOT have a SPIRIT – only MEN do – Genesis 2:7
      • The idea being this BEAST has no SPIRIT [not saved] – it is like a wild ANIMAL!
    • Revived Roman Empire…
      • Having seven heads and ten horns – and on his horns ten crowns! 
      • Do NOT miss the similarity to the description of the DRAGON – Revelation 12:3
      • SEVEN heads speak of his RULE – the COMPLETE [seven] world…
      • TEN horns – in the Bible speak of power – TEN powerful leaders [crowns]
      • When Daniel was given a similar VISION – they were interpreted as TEN kings!
      • Daniel 7:24 – “The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another [king] shall rise after them… and shall subdue three kings.”
        
      • There are several thoughts as to whom the TEN horns represent:
      • FIRST – they could refer to TEN regions of the world – popular with Left Behind Series!
      • SECOND – they could be TEN nations within the European Union [revived Roman empire]
      • From 1981-86 – there were only TEN nations in the EU [prophecy buffs went crazy]
      • The problem is – they kept adding nations – and there are now 27 member nations in the EU…
      • A good REMINDER not to get too excited about current events – WAIT and WATCH!
      • THIRD – they could be TEN nations who rose to power SINCE the fall of Rome [476 AD]
      • Rather the HORNS being TEN nations at once – they are TEN nations over time…
      • Over the centuries – many nations have tried to rebuild ROME: Spain – France – Italy…
      • But the last THREE of those nations – HORNS – will be displaced by the rise of the BEAST…
      • There are THREE great European powers that still stand today – England – France – Germany!
  • 2^nd – His Name… vs. 1
    • On his heads a blasphemous name!
      • Written on all SEVEN heads – was a BLASPHEMOUS name…
      • What is the NAME of the BEAST – there are MANY titles given to him in the Bible…
      • The Man of Sin – II Thessalonians 2:3 – my personal favorite is the big mouth – Daniel 7:8
      • We most often refer to him as the Antichrist – speaking of his role as a false messiah!
      • I John 2:18 – “Little children it is the last hour – you have heard that the Antichrist is coming.”
    • The Antichrist…
      • He will be a leader who will rise out of the Revived Roman Empire [EU]
      • There is a good chance he will have Jewish heritage – God of his fathers – Daniel 11:37
      • It is possible he will be homosexual [worth noting in our current culture] – Daniel 11:37
      • He will present himself to the world as the Messiah – John 5:43
      • He will make PEACE by offering to rebuild the THIRD Temple for Israel – Daniel 9:27
      • There is a good chance that this man is alive today – waiting for the right time…
      • Because he cannot be revealed until the church is removed [the Rapture]
      • If he showed up now – spirit filled Christians would recognize him – II Thessalonians 2:7
  • 3^rd – His Power… vs. 2
    • Kingdom of Men…
      • Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard.
      • His feet were like the feet of a bear – his mouth like the mouth of a lion!
      • When God gave Daniel his FIRST vision – he showed him FOUR beasts – Daniel 7:4-7
      • FRIST – beast was like a LION – Babylonian Empire [605-539]
      • SECOND – beast was like a BEAR – Medo-Persian Empire [539-331]
      • THIRD – beast was like a LEOPARD – Grecian Empire [331-168]
      • FOURTH – beast Daniel could not identify [terrifying] – Roman Empire [168-present]
      • It is made up of PARTS of all the EMPIRES that came before it – BEAR – LION – LEOPARD!
      • Daniel 7:7 – “A fourth beast – terrifying – dreadful – and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth and trampled their remains beneath its feet.”
    • Kingdom of satan…
      • The dragon gave him his power – his throne – and great authority!
      • The POWER behind the BEAST – and the GOVERNMENT he will control – is the DRAGON!
      • When God created the WORLD – He gave it to MAN to oversee – Genesis 1:26
      • But when Adam and Eve sinned – they gave the WORLD to satan – II Corinthians 4:4
      • When satan tempted Jesus – he offered Jesus the kingdoms of this WORLD!
      • Luke 4:6 – “All [the kingdoms] I will give You… for this has been delivered to me – and I give it to whomever I wish.”
      • Satan will give the Antichrist – the FALSE christ his POWER – his THRONE…
      • Which means the BEAST will have unlimited [μέγας] AUTHORITY…
      • He will be the UNDISPUTED leader of a FALLEN and SINFUL world!
  • 4^th – His Resurrection… vs. 3-4
    • Second best…
      • I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded – and his deadly wound was healed!
      • The BEAST was KILLED [σφάζω] to DEATH [θάνατος] – it was not just a WOUND…
      • We are told the death blow came from a SWORD [knife] – Revelation 13:14
      • But he does NOT stay dead – he is miraculously HEALED [passive]
      • This is NO accident – it is a PICTURE – he will be a RESURRECTED messiah…
      • Because satan is NOT very creative – he tends to just COPY what the Lord has done…
      • Then he tries to convince us that his way is – GOOD enough – we do NOT need the Lord!
      • God created marriage – satan tries to convince us that living together is GOOD enough…
      • God created us to worship Him – satan tries to get us to worship anything but the Lord…
      • He tries to convince us living for money – pleasure – fame – is GOOD enough!
      • But everything satan does is only a counterfeit – a COPY of God – SECOND best…
      • It is the Chinese imitation of the genuine product – looks similar but it does not last!
    • The Result…
      • [Then] all the world marveled and followed the beast.
      • 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 whole world will MARVEL [passive] – they will believe he was MORE than a MAN…
      • Therefore they will WORSHIP the DRAGON [satan] – who gives power to the BEAST…
      • And they will also WORSHIP the BEAST – because no one can FIGHT [war] him!
      • It may seem EXTREME to say the world will WORSHIP satan…
      • But there are MANY in the world is already WORSHIPING him today…
      • If we put our faith in ANYTHING other than Jesus [evolution] – we are worshiping satan…
      • And many in the world today already offer the EXCUSE – who can FIGHT it…
      • They say SCIENCE is too convincing – the Bible must be WRONG…
      • Never stopping to ASK – who is the POWER behind the DECEPTION they are believing!
  • 5^th – His Time… vs. 5
    • He was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies.
      • The BEAST will be GIVEN [passive] a MOUTH to speak GREAT [μέγας] blasphemies…
      • Because he is controlled by satan [passive] – to say things against the LORD!
    • He was given authority to continue for forty-two months!
      • The BEAST will be GIVEN [passive] AUTHORITY [ἐξουσία] for 42 MONTHS…
      • He is allowed by God [passive] – to say blasphemous things for ONLY three and half years…
      • The LAST half of the SEVEN years of TRIBULATION!
      • When we think of the Antichrist – we think of a terrifying all powerful leader…
      • But the better picture of him would be a PUPPET…
      • He can only say what he is TOLD – for as long as he is ALLOWED to!
  • 6^th – His Words… vs. 6
    • Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God.
    • To blaspheme His name – His tabernacle – and those who dwell in heaven!
    • The BEAST will open [aorist] his mouth – a specific EVENT!
    • In the middle of the TRIBULATION – 42 months after signing the treaty with Israel – Daniel 9:27
    • The Antichrist will enter the recently completed THIRD temple – into the Holiest of all…
    • The footstool of God – where the Ark of the Covenant once stood [FIRST temple]
    • There he will BLASPHEME God – His Name – His Temple – and those in Heaven…
    • He will claim he is God – and demand to be worshiped!
    • Matthew 24:15 – “When you see the abomination of desolation – spoken of by Daniel the prophet – standing in the holy place [whoever reads let him understand] run…”
    • This is the official marker of the MID point of the TRIBULATION…
    • From this moment – we can count 1260 days – 42 months – or THREE and half years…
    • To the very MOMENT Jesus will come riding out of heaven – Revelation 19:16
  • 7^th – His War… vs. 7
    • It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. 
    • The BEAST will be GIVEN [passive] – the ability to go to WAR with the SAINTS [ἅγιος]
    • Who gives the BEAST this ability – it would seem the God will ALLOW it…
    • And ALLOW the BEAST to have VICTORY [νικάω] over the SAINTS…
    • Not that they will DENY Jesus – but they will be KILLED for their FAITH – Revelation 20:4
    • The CHURCH have been given incredible promises as it pertains to our enemy…
    • The gates of hell will not prevail against the CHURCH – Matthew 16:18
    • We have overcome all the power of the enemy – nothing will harm us – Luke 10:19
    • Yet the Antichrist is given power to overcome these SAINTS – those who believe in Jesus…
    • Either there is a contradiction in the Bible – or these saints are NOT the CHURCH…
    • They are TRIBULATION saints who come to FAITH after the RAPTURE of the CHURCH!
  • 8^th – His followers… vs. 7-8
    • Worship the Beast…
      • Authority was given him over every tribe – tongue – and nation.
      • All who dwell on the earth will worship him…
      • Whose names have not been written in the Book of Life 
      • The BEAST will be GIVEN [passive] authority [ἐξουσία] over the whole WORLD…
      • Over ALL [πᾶς] of the TRIBES [φυλή] – TONGUES [γλῶσσα] – and NATIONS [ἔθνος]
      • And ALL [πᾶς] of them will WORSHIP [προσκυνέω] the BEAST…
      • If their NAMES are NOT written [passive] in the BOOK of LIFE!
      • II Thessalonians 2:10-12 – “Because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. For this reason GOD will send them strong DELUSION that they should believe the lie – that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
      • The WHOLE [πᾶς] world will be DECEIVED – and WORSHIP the BEAST…
      • Because they do NOT want the TRUTH – they do NOT want to be saved…
      • They would rather believe the LIE – so they can continue in their SIN – John 3:19
      • BUT even now – there will be SOME who see the LIGHT – and CHOSE Jesus…
      • Those whose names are WRITTEN [perfect] in the BOOK of LIFE!
    • Worship the LAMB…
      • Of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world!
      • If we knew that making a decision would cost you your life – would we still do it!
      • God knows all things – He sees the end from the beginning – Isaiah 46:10
      • God knew that by creating man – it would mean He had to die – Isaiah 53:7
      • The Lamb of God slain before the foundations of the World!
      • Romans 5:8 – “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
      • How much does God love us – so much He created us knowing it would cost Him His life!
        

• 2^nd – The persecution… vs. 9-10
  • 1^st – Everyone LISTEN… vs. 9
    • If anyone has an ear – let him hear!
    • John recognizes the WEIGHT of what he is SEEING…
    • The whole world at the CROSSROAD – who will they WORSHIP…
    • But the CHOICE to WORSHIP Jesus – would come with SEVERE consequences…
    • Therefore – SINCE [indicative] everyone has an EAR – they MUST [imperative] listen!
  • 2^nd – Eternal Hope… vs. 10
    • He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity.
    • He who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword.
    • Here is the patience and the faith of the saints!
    • For those who CHOSE to WORSHIP Jesus – it will mean TWO things…
    • If they are ARRESTED – they need [indicative] to go to PRISON…
    • If they are to be EXECUTED – they need [indicative] to DIE…
    • This will be the EVIDENCE of the PATIENCE [ὑπομονή] and FAITH [πίστις] of the SAINTS!
    • Those who BELIEVE in Jesus are NOT to FIGHT against the Antichrist…
    • They are to ACCEPT their FATE – either PRISON of DEATH…
    • In doing so they show the WORLD – it is NOT about this LIFE…
    • Their HOPE is in what comes AFTER – their HOPE is in HEAVEN!

• 3^rd – False Prophet… vs. 11-18
  • 1^st – Satanic trinity … vs. 11-12
    • Three in one… vs. 11
      • Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth.
      • He had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon!
      • Then John saw ANOTHER [ἄλλος] BEAST [θηρίον] coming up from the EARTH [sea]
      • He looked like a LAMB – but he SPOKE [imperfect] like the DRAGON…
      • Who is the SECOND beast – he is the FALSE prophet – Revelation 16:13
      • Matthew 7:15 – “Beware of false prophets – who come to you in sheep clothing – but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
    • Worship the beast… vs. 12
      • He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence.
      • He causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast…
      • Whose deadly wound was healed!
      • Just like the HOLY spirit – who draws all men to Christ – John 16:14-16
      • The PURPOSE of the FALSE prophet is to get the world to WORSHIP the Antichrist [beast]
      • The RESURRECTED [healed] Antichrist – who is the FALSE hope of this world!
      • As we have SEEN – satan love to imitate God – this includes having a SATANIC trinity…
      • Satan – the Antichrist – and the False Prophet!
  • 2^nd – Signs and wonders… vs. 13-15
    • Convincing signs… vs. 13
      • He performs great signs… 
      • So that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men!
      • The FALSE prophet can do MIRACLES – great [μέγας] SIGNS [σημεῖον]
      • Like ELISHA – or the TWO witnesses – he can also call down FIRE from heaven!
      • When Moses came before Pharoah – he have him SIGNS he was from God – Exodus 7:8-13
      • Aaron cast down his ROD – and it became a SERPENT…
      • But the magicians of Pharaoh [Jannes and Jambres] – duplicated the SIGN – II Timothy 3:8-9
      • Allowing Pharoah to IGNORE the SIGN of Moses – and HARDEN his HEART! 
    • Deceiving the world… vs. 14-15
      • He deceives those who dwell on the earth…
      • By those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast…
      • Telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast…
      • Who was wounded by the sword and lived…
      • He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast…
      • That the image of the beast should both speak!
      • Through these SIGNS [σημεῖον] – the FALSE prophet DECEIVES the WORLD…
      • And he tells EVERYONE to make an IMAGE [icon] of the BEAST…
      • And he has [passive] the POWER to make the IMAGE [icon] speak!
      • Presumably this IMAGE will be set up in the HOLIEST of ALL…
      • This will be the ABOMINATION – that DESOLATES the HOLY Place – II Thessalonians 2:3-4
    • Death penalty… vs. 15
      • And cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed!
      • What does the STATUE of the BEAST say – kill the unbelievers…
      • It calls on all the FAITHFUL to wipe out the CHRISTIANS!
      • This is NOT come computer generated AI…
      • This is a SIGN so convincing – if possible it could deceive believers – Mark 13:22
      • Which is why there is a very real danger to following SIGNS and WONDERS…
      • Satan can – and will – imitate God – he can look just like the real thing!
      • II Corinthians 11:14 – “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.”
      • The only way to know the truth is by being men and women of the Word
      • Jesus Word is the Truth – it is how we know the truth from a lie – John 17:17
      • II Timothy 2:15 – “Study to show yourself approved unto God – a workman that does not need to be ashamed – rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”
  • 3^rd – The Mark… vs. 16-18
    • Universal… vs. 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!
      • The FALSE prophet requires EVERYONE [πᾶς] – to receive the MARK…
      • MARK [χάραγμα] 8x in Revelation – a stamp or imprint on the RIGHT hand of FOREHEAD!
      • There has been a LOT of speculation as to what this MARK might be…
      • Some say it could be a BAR code – which happens to use SIX [three times] as delineators…
      • Others say it could be a RFID chip – implanted under our skin!
    • Monetary system… vs. 17
      • No one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast.
      • Or the number of his name!
      • The MARK will be used as the MONETARY system during the TRIBULATION…
      • Those who do NOT have the MARK – cannot buy or sell anything!
      • We live in a day when more and more the MONEY we spend – it DIGITAL…
      • I can use my credit card in ANY country – in ANY currency – to buy ANY thing…
      • The ONLY down side is what if we LOSE our credit card…
      • The solution – put the NUMBER on our HAND [or forehead]
      • Do not limit it to just MONEY – it is our PASSPORT – MEDIAL record – our LIFE!
    • Number of the beast… vs. 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!
      • Here is WISDOM [σοφία] – count the NUMBER of the BEAST…
      • His NUMBER is the NUMBER of MAN – 666 [χξϚ]
      • There again has been a LOT of speculation about this NUMBER…
      • In Greek [and Hebrew] all letters of the alphabet have numerical values [α = 1]
      • Some people try and count up the VALUE of certain names – Hitler the pope…
      • Others suggest it is again a picture of an UNHOLY trinity…
      • The number of God is SEVEN – therefore 777 – is the HOLY trinity…
      • The number of MAN is SIX [day of creation] – therefore 666 – is an UNHOLY trinity!
      • But we are NOT going to know WHO the BEAST is – II Thessalonians 2:7
      • And BAR codes – and RFID chips – are NOT the MARK in of themselves…
      • Just as God will MARK those who follow and worship Him – Revelation 7:3
      • The MARK of the BEAST – is WORSHIPING and saying they belonging to satan…
      • Which is why – even if it means NOT being able to BUY or SELL…
      • NEVER take the MARK – because it means there is no hope SALVATION!

Revelation 14:11 – “The smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever… who worship the beast and his image – and whoever receives the mark of his name.”