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Rise of the Antichrist
- 1st – The Beast… vs. 1-8
- 1st – 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!
- The Deception…
- 2nd – 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
- On his heads a blasphemous name!
- 3rd – 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!
- Kingdom of Men…
- 4th – 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!
- Second best…
- 5th – 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!
- He was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies.
- 6th – 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
- 7th – 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!
- 8th – 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!
- Worship the Beast…
- 1st – His Origin… vs. 1
- 2nd – The persecution… vs. 9-10
- 1st – 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!
- 2nd – 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!
- 1st – Everyone LISTEN… vs. 9
- 3rd – False Prophet… vs. 11-18
- 1st – 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!
- Three in one… vs. 11
- 2nd – 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.”
- Convincing signs… vs. 13
- 3rd – 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!
- Universal… vs. 16
- 1st – Satanic trinity … vs. 11-12
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.”
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