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The gospel presents us with a Jesus, not meek and mild, but One come to set the world on fire...
Prophecy Sign #10: The Antichrist is revealed.
AKA The Abomination of Desolation
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Sign #10 The Antichrist is revealed. AKA The Abomination of Desolation |
Matthew 24:15 (NIV) 2 Thessalonians 2:4 (NIV) |
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What it looks like |
Antichrist proclaims himself God in the rebuilt Temple. Sets up an image of himself and demands global worship. This is the most significant and specific sign we will see. Exactly half way into Daniel’s 70th week, at the 3 ½ year mark, the Antichrist will walk into the rebuilt temple, in Jerusalem, on the Temple Mount and proclaim himself God. This is the pivotal event the Bible warns us about. From this point on, Satan will reign through the Antichrist for another 3 ½ years. It will be the most horrible period of history that has ever occurred. |
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Current Status |
NOT FULFILLED |
Antichrist MUST appear before Christ's coming for the Church. In the precise middle of Daniel's 70th week, (the final seven year period of Gentile domination over the nation Israel), The Antichrist will break his seven year covenant with Israel. He will place an image of himself in the temple in Jerusalem (not yet built).
The Book of Daniel issues the challenge to believers who encounter the Antichrist during the End Times:
Daniel 11:31-35
[31] His (Antichrist's) armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. (Antichrist, who allowed the temple to be rebuilt, and allowed the re-institution of the daily sacrifices, will break this part of his covenant) Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. (Antichrist will declare himself God in the rebuilt temple and set up an image of himself to be worshiped)
[32] With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, (Antichrist will reward those who set aside their worship of the God of Israel and submit to his false religion) but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. (Perhaps this is a reference to those special times when the Holy Spirit fills us with such power that He give us the words to resist the power of evil. See Matthew 10:19-20 ("But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.")
[33] Those who are wise (those who understand what is occurring through their knowledge of the prophetic scriptures) will instruct many (believers must warn others of Antichrist's wicked ways, and direct people to faith in Jesus), though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered (Antichrist will persecute and martyr those who are wise in the Church).
[34] When they fall (undergo severe suffering), they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them (Beware of those who falsely join the resistance against Antichrist ¾ like Judas, the End Times Church will contain many who would betray it to Antichrist).
[35] Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. (During this difficult time, Antichrist's persecution will serve to refine and purify those who cling to their faith in Christ ¾ the martyred will infuse the body of Christ with the strength to endure to the end.)
Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise (those who possess great understanding of the prophetic events that are occurring in the End) will shine like the brightness of the heavens, (these prophetic scholars will emerge as courageous leaders of the resistance to Antichrist ¾ their knowledge will be a light to the Church as they explain and elucidate the confusing events of Daniel's 70th Week. Remember, this is the ultimate purpose of the Book of Revelation; to prepare the Church for this time of intense persecution) and those who lead many to righteousness, (these teachers will convert many to Jesus because they will be able to make clear Antichrist's agenda of evil, predict and describe the details of the catastrophic end-times events, and enlighten many that the Second Coming of the Lord is very near) like the stars for ever and ever (this noble and wonderful army of evangelistic soldiers will shine as bright as the stars in heaven on the darkest night).
Daniel 12:10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand (the prophecies ¾ Christians have a distinct advantage over unbelievers as we have the prophecies of God to guide us during this period), but those who are wise will understand (the prophecies - and take action by leading many to Jesus!).
Many of those who are wise will be purified through the cleansing fire of the last days. Remember, like Peter, soldiers of Christ are not without weakness ¾ to be sure, many will falter and stumble when faced with the overwhelming persecution of Antichrist, particularly those members of the Church living in first-world countries who have not previously experienced such religious intolerance (such as America and Europe). Indeed, it is likely that the initial leaders of the rebellion against Antichrist will emerge from parts of the world that have long endured true spiritual warfare (such as southeast Asia, Russia, or parts of Africa) or from ethic groups that understand and are on alert for religious persecution (such as the nation Israel and the Jewish people). However, Revelation teaches us that, as long as we do not betray Christ or take the Mark of the Beast, our weakness will be refined, and like coal under pressure becomes a diamond, we will become fierce End Times warriors for the Lord.
Remember, Antichrist's rise to power will be astoundingly sudden, in three and a half short years, he will conquer the entire world, establishing his religious and economic New World Order. This is why we must remain vigilant, and we must prepare ourselves in advance to recognize the signs of Antichrist's rise to power.
The Apostle John's Beast out of the Sea
Revelation 13:1 And the dragon (Satan) stood on the shore of the sea (the Mediterranean Sea ¾ the Roman Lake. Antichrist's kingdom will arise from the various nations and the many peoples that are located around the Mediterranean Sea, each of which was a part of the former Roman empire). And I saw a beast (Antichrist) coming out of the sea. He had ten horns (representing the ten kings/nations that will constitute Antichrist's End Times Empire. See Dan 7:24) and seven heads (representing the seven Satanic Empires that have existed throughout human history and sought to destroy the Jewish people: Egypt; Assyria; Babylon; Medo-Persia; Greece; Rome; and most likely Nazi Germany. See discussion of Rev 17), with ten crowns on his horns (the crowns represent the ten kings that will give power to the beast and make up the ten nations of Antichrist's End Times Empire. See Rev 17:3.), and on each head a blasphemous name. (Antichrist's ten-nation confederacy will blaspheme God, Israel and the Church).
Thankfully, God has given us a lot of facts regarding the identity of the Antichrist. The Book of Revelation gives us a description of the Antichrist in the 13th chapter. It does not say the Antichrist will be Muslim (though it is certainly possible he may be). He does not have Christ-like appeal, he is ANTI Christ, against the teachings of Christ, openly rejecting who Jesus said he is - the Son of God, the only way to the Father (again, supporting the idea he may be Muslim). He will promise peace and safety, particularly with Israel and the Muslim nations surrounding her. Upon rising to power he will try to destroy the nation Israel as he proclaims himself God in the rebuilt temple. This will probably be connected with him being a "Messiah" like the Twelfth Imam which Muslim believes will destroy Israel, Jews and the United States. His kingdom will be associated with the revived Roman Empire in the Middle East and Europe, not the United States.
Here are some other facts regarding the identity of the Antichrist: He will be energized by Satan. Daniel's 70th week (the final seven years before Jesus returns) will be the time when he attempts to overthrow the Kingdom of God, Israel and the Church. He will be the final world-wide Gentile ruler asserting his authority in the last 3 ½ years of Daniel's 70th week. He will demand the worship of men and inflict martyrdom on those who remain loyal to Jesus. He will be a part of the former Roman Empire and will arise from ten of the various nations located around the Mediterranean Sea. His kingdom will be a composite of three former Gentile kingdoms that historically persecuted Israel; His kingdom will rise with the leopard-like swiftness of Alexander the Great (modern day Greece, Turkey, Syria and Egypt). It will demonstrate the bear-like crushing power of Medo-Persia (modern day Iran). It will possess the lion-like ferocity of Babylon (modern day Iraq). He will receive a deadly head wound and this mortal wound will be healed. The entire world will be astonished and follow him. Once he rises to power he will proclaim himself God in the rebuilt temple and will abolish the daily sacrifices. He will then set up an image of himself to be worshipped. He will be given authority to reign 3 ½ years. He will make war with the Saints. And those who are wise and know their God will resist him.
