By: Evangelist Donald Perkins
The Word of God gives a space of seven years for the total reign of the Anti-Christ".
"I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name him ye will receive." (John 5:43)
In this one verse our Lord prophesied, that one day a false Messiah would come on the scene and that Jews would receive him as their Lord, Jesus stated, "him ye shall receive..."
Besides our Lord Jesus Christ, the anti-christ is the only other man in the scripture, who has been prophesied about with such clarity and detail. It is as if the Lord really wanted us to know in detail what this man would do when he comes on the scene.
The scripture has prophesied that there is coming a time in the near future, called the Great Tribulation Period. During this time a man called "Anti-Christ" would be revealed. Throughout history many have tried to name the Anti-Christ, some have named the Pope the Anti-Christ, some have even called the former President Ronald Reagan the Anti-Christ. This is truly an exaggeration of the scripture. The Word of God does not give the actual name or identity of this man, and trying to speculate who he is, is a waste of precious study time. The Word of God is very clear concerning this man and what he will do.
The term Anti-ChristAnti means: 1.) one that is opposed, 2.) opposed to, 3.) against, 4.) exerting energy in the opposite direction or pursuing an opposite policy, 5.) one that is opposite in kind to, 6.) opposing in effect or activity, 7.) opposing or hostile to in opinion, sympathy or practice, 8.) combating or defending against.
The Anti-Christ will be just the opposite, in every way of our Lord Jesus Christ. This definition makes it clear that what the Anti-Christ will do will be totally against Christ, in energy, pursuit, effect, activity, opinion, sympathy, practice and defense.
Marvin J. Rosenthal, in his article entitled "The Anti-Christ is coming," states about the term "anti" in this manner:
"The Anti-Christ is coming, and he will be the enemy of the true Christ. The Greek prefix "anti" means two things: 1.) against an in place of. That prefix describes perfectly the true motive of the false Christ. He will oppose Christ; therefore, he will be against Him, he will be a counterfeit Christ; therefore, he will seek to be in place of Him. Satan, through the Anti-Christ, wants for himself the worship of men that properly is due only to the true Christ."
The Scripture bears testimony to this fact: IIThessalonians 2:4,Verse 4: "Who (Anti-Christ) opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped: So that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."
Some names given to the Anti-Christ
1.) Anti-Christ: I John 2:18 -
"Little children, it is the last time; and as ye have heard that anti-christ shall come, even now are there many Anti-Christs; whereby we know that it is the last time."
2.) Man of Sin, Son of Perdition, That Wicked:IIThessalonians 2:3, 8 -
3: "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;..."
8: "And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming."
3.) The Beast:Revelation 13:4, 15:2, 16:2, 10, 19:19, 20 -
20: "And the Beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image these both were cast alive into a Lake of Fire burning with brimstone."
4.) The White Horse Rider:Revelation 6:2 -
2: "And I saw, and behold a whte horse: and He that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer."
5.) The Little Horn. Daniel 7:8, 8:9 -
8: "I considered the horns, and, behold there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and, behold in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things."
6.) King of Fierce Countenance:Daniel 8:23 -
23: "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up."
7.) The Self will King: Daniel 11:36 -
36: "And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall propser till the indignation be accomplshed: for that is determined shall be done."
The length of his reign
The Word of God gives a space of seven years for the total reign of the Anti-Christ. This is revealed in the Prophecy of Daniel's Seventy Weeks, which are 70 weeks of years, prophesied against Daniel, Daniel's People, (the Jews), and Daniel's city (Jerusalem). These 70 weeks of years figure out to be 490 years of judgement, of which 483 years have been completed. Starting with the command to rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25), in 445 B.C. by King Artexerxes, all the way to the cutting off of the Messiah (Jesus Christ), Daniel 9:26. Leaving one week of year, judgement, left to be fulfilled. This last week of years judgement will be headed by that man the Anti-Christ. Daniel 9:27 -
27: "And he (Anti-Christ) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: (week of years) and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consumation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."
This last week of years will be the seven years of the Great Tribulation Period. According to the Scripture, the Anti-Christ will form a seven year pact or covenant with Israel.
1.) Where does the period begin and end in Scripture?
The Great Tribuation begins in the book of Revealtion, chapter 6:2, under the loosing of the first Seal Judgement. In this first seal, the Anti-Christ is loosed into the earth, (represented here as the white horse of chapter six). The ending of this seven years is found in the book of Revelation 19:17-21, at the demise of the Anti-Christ's Kingdom.
The government of the Anti-Christ
The book of Revelation chapters 13 and 17, reveal a very complex and detail system of government of the Anti-Christ. This system of government will be the climax of all major Gentile kingdoms that have come against Israel. To better understand these prophecies, we must look in the book of Daniel, and then proceed into the book of Revelation chapters 13 and 17.
1.) The dreams and visions of the prophet Daniel:
The prophet Daniel lived during the time of King Nebuchadnezzar. This king received a supernatural dream (Daniel 2:1-49). The prophet Daniel received prophetic insight into this dream. This dream dealt with five Gentile kingdoms that would come against Israel. The King's dream revealed:
Daniel 2:31-49 -
A.)THE HEAD OF GOLD: Daniel 2:32, 38
represented Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar) 606 - 536 B.C.
B.) THE BREAST AND ARMS OF SILVER: Daniel 2:32, 39
repesented by the Medo-Persia, 536 - 330 B.C.
C.) THE BELLY AND THIGHS OF BRASS:
Daniel 2:32, 35, 39
represented by the Grecian (Alexander the Great)
323 - 30 B.C.
D.) THE LEGS OF IRON: Daniel 2:33, 40
represented by the Romans, 30 B.C.
E.) THE FEET AND TEN TOES: Daniel 2:33, 41-44
represented by the Revised Roman Empire
(The Anti-Christ) Future
Now the prophet Daniel received some prophetic dreams himself that revealed the same parallel as the king's dream. Both revealed the Gentile Kingdoms that would rule over Israel. Daniel's vision is found in Daniel 7:1-8. The prophecy started with Babylon and ended with the kingdom of the Anti-Christ, (The Revised Roman).
A.) THE LION: Daniel 7:4, 17
Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar) 606 - 536 B.C.
B.) THE BEAR: Daniel 7:5, 17
Medo-Persia (Darius) 536 - 330 B.C.
C.) THE LEOPARD: Daniel 7:6, 17
Grecian (Alexander the Great) 330 - 30 B.C.
D.) THE DREADFUL AND TERRIBLE BEAST: Daniel 7:7,8
Roman 30 B.C.
E.) THE TEN HORNS: Daniel 7:8
The Revised Roman Empire (Anti-Christ) Future
Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar dreams and the interpretation of Daniel's Beast dreams both start with the Babylonian empire, even though there were two other Gentile kingdoms that ruled Israel first (Egypt and Assyria), which we will cover later in our study. But both (Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar) visions end with the futurist kingdom of the Anti-Christ.
2.) Now let's compare Daniel's visions and dreams with the book of Revelation, chapters 13 and 17, to reveal this complex government of the Anti-Christ.
Revelation 13:1, 2, 3 -
1: "And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon the horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the names of Blasphemy."
2: "And the Beast which I saw was like unto a Leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a Bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion: and the dragon gave him his power and his seat, and great authority."
3: "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death: and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the Beast."
A.) The prophet John saw a Beast coming out of the sea. This represented a sea of people (example Revelation 17:15, symbolic type.)
Verse 15: "And he saith unto me, the waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues."
Daniel 7:2, 3 -
3: "And the four great Beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another."
As we had explained already that the Beast of Daniel's vision represented, Gentile kingdoms, so in Revelation chapter 13, this Beast system will rise up from peoples, nations, multitudes and tongues.
B.) The Seven heads of John's vision, Revelation 13:1 -
Now in John's vision he sees seven heads on the Beast. What does this represent?
1.) The seven heads represent seven kingdoms of Gentile nations that would rule over Israel.
Revelation 17:9, 10 -
9: "An here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads and seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth."
10: "And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space."
The Seven Kingdoms are:
1.) Egypt 1300 or 1290 B.C.
2.) Assyria 721 B.C,
3.) Babylon 606 B.C.
4.) Medo-Persia 536 B.C.
5.) Grecian 330 B.C.
6.) Rome 30 B.C.
7.) The Revised Roman Empire (Futurist)
Now in verse 10, the prophecy goes on to say:
"And there are Seven Kings: five are fallen,..."
At the time of John's vision, five of the seven Gentile kingdoms had fallen. These were:
1.) Egypt
2.) Assyria
3.) Babylon
4.) Medo-Persia
5.) Grecian
The prophecy goes on to say:
17: "...and one is..."
This gives reference to the kingdom that was in power as John sees this prophecy. This kingdom was:
6.) Rome
The prophecy goes on to say:
17: "...and the other is yet to come;"
This gives reference to the kingdom that will come in the future, and this kingdom will be:
7.) The Revised Roman Empire
The Scripture tells us that this kingdom will continue for a short season. It will be of this kingdom that the Anti-Christ will rise to power in the last day Great Tribulation Period.
C.) The Eighth Kingdom, Revelation 17:11.
It will be from this Revised Roman Empire that the Anti-Christ will rule and even set up an eighth kingdom.
11: "And the Beast that was, and is not, even he is the eight, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition (Hell)."
Here the Scripture reveals that the Anti-Christ will set up his kingdom within the Revised Roman Empire, but he will go into peridition or Hell. His kingdom will be like the eighth, but is of the seventh.
Marvin J. Rosenthal, in his article entitled "The Anti-Christ is coming," states:
"The Anti-Christ is coming...he will arise out of the seventh empire which lasted for a little time and was as, it's predecessors, a persecutor of the Jews. To those facts must be added the truth that the Anti-Christ will literally be the raised ruler of the seventh kingdom that lasted a little while, as such, he will establish the eighth of Revised Roman Empire."
D.) John's vision of the Leopard, Bear and Lion.
Revelation 13:2 -
2: "And the Beast which I saw was like unto Leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a Bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion..."
The kingdom of the Anti-Christ will comprise of the Gentile kingdoms of the past as revealed in this portion of John's prophecy.
As we examine Daniel's Prophecy and Revelation, we see a striking parallel in the Beast Kingdom. Here we see traces of the kingom of Babylon, represented by the: "...mouth as the mouth of a lion...", we see the kingdom of Meso-Persia, represented by the: "...and his feet were as the feet of a Bear...", and then we see the kingdom of the Grecian, represented by the: "...Beast which I saw was like unto a Leopard,...". In this parallel, we see that the kingdom of the Anti-Christ will have traces of hints or even same make-up as it's predecessors. All were persecutors of the Jews!
E.) The Beast kingdom that was healed:
Here in Revelation 13:3, we see something very interesting about this Beast kingdom.
Revelation 13:3 -
3: "And I saw one of the heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the Beast."
Some have misinterpreted this passage of Scripture, to claim that the Anti-Christ will be a man resurrected from the dead, because of the wound to the head, and that deadly wound being healed. Careful study will reveal an amazing truth.
As we stated earlier, the seven heads of the Beast represent seven kingdoms. The prophet John is revealing that one of those kingdoms would be destoyed unto death, but it would be healed, and the world would wonder at it's healing. The head (kingdom) that was healed here was:
The Roman Empire.
This kingdom will come back into world history, as the Revised Roman Empire, healed.
Marvin J. Rosenthal, in the article entitled "The Anti-Christ is coming," states concerning this Revised Roman Empire:
"The Anti-Christ is coming, and he will rule over a revised Roman Empire, this coming empire is called by some 'a western Confederation of nations.' It will, to a substantial degree, conform to the geographic boundaries of the ancient Roman empire at it's zenith of power in 127 A.D."
F.) Where will the Anti-Christ arise from?
To best answer this question, we must go back to the book of Daniel and look at an amazing prophecy. Daniel 8:1, 2, 5-8. This is the prophecy of the He-Goat and the Ram. As we focus in on the He-Goat, we will get a geographical boundary as to where the Anti-Christ may come from.
Daniel 8:5, The He-Goat -
5: "And as I was considering, behold, an he-goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes."
Here, the He-Goat represents the kingdom of Greece headed by Alexander the Great, the notable horn of this Beast represents Alexander the Great.
Daniel 8:8, the He-Goat -
"Therefore the he-goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven."
This represents the greatness of Alexander the Great and his swift power was strong, but in the height of his power he died (some say the age of 32 years.) This is the breaking off of the notable horn between his eyes.
After the death of Alexander, the prophecy tell us that four other notable horns arose out of the he-goat. This reveals that four of Alexander's closest generals arose up in power and divided up the Grecian kingdom. These four generals were:
1.) Cassander - Greece, Macedon
2.) Lysimachus - Asia Minor (Turkey today) Thrace
3.) Seleucus - Syria, Babylonia
4.) Ptolemy - Egypt
Daniel 8:9 states -
9: "And out of one of them came forth a little horn (The Anti-Christ), which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land."
Here the Scripture reveals that from one of the four divisions of the fallen Grecian Empire, the little Horn or Anti-Christ would arise. So in other words, the Anti-Christ may come out of: Greece, Turkey, Syria or even Egypt and from there, he would go toward Israel, the (Pleasant Land).
Some things the anti-Christ will do
Here we will examine many of the specific prophecies of the Anti-Christ and what he will do:
A.) He will form a seven-year covenant with Israel.
Daniel 9:27
B.) He will break his covenant with Israel.
Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15-21
C.) He shall deceive many by false peace.
Daniel 8:25, Revelation 6:2
(White horse rider representing peace.)
D.) He will magnify himself.
Daniel 8:11, 25 11:36, 37 IIThessalonians 2:4
E.) He will speak great things against God.
Daniel 7:8, 20, 25 11: 36, Revelation 13: 5, 6
F.) He will wear out the tribulation Saints.
Daniel 7:21, 25 Revelation 13:7
G.) He shall not regard God or any god.
Daniel 11:37, IIThessalonians 2:4
H.) He shall receive power from Satan.
Revelation 13:5
I.) He shall receive worship from man.
Revelation 13:4, 8
J.) He shall sit in the temple of God.
IIThessalonians 2:4
K.) He shall set up the Mark of the Beast.
Revelation 13:13-18
L.) He will stop the Jewish sacrifice during the Great Tribulation Period.
Daniel 9:27, 12:11 Matthew 24:15-21
(This is called the abomination of desolation.)
The mark of the beast
Today many are concerned about the Mark of the Beast. Some have received their driver's license of license plates with numbers 666 on them and thought they had received the Mark of the Beast. The Scripture will help us to understand this coming Mark.
Revelation 13:15-18 -
15: "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed."
16: "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:"
17: "And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."
18:"Here is wisdom. Let him hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred threescore and six."
The Scripture teaches that the Anti-Christ will institute a mark of identifying those who form an alliance with him. Here we will receive wisdom as to the purpose of this mark.
A.) The Mark of the Beast will come on the scene during the middle part of the Great Tribulation. Revelation chapter 13 is in the middle of the seven year period.
B.) The Mark will be placed in the right hand or in the forehead.
C.) Without this mark no man will be able to buy or sell anything.
D.) There will be three different marks that the Anti-Christ is to use:
1.)The Mark (logo or badge)
2.) The name of the beast (his physical name)
3.) The number of the beast (666)
Now the Scripture only reveals the number of the beast, which is six hundred threescore and six (666), verse 18.
The Anti-Christ's demise
Just as the Word of God was so detail concerning the Anti-Christ's beginning, the Word of God goes on to reveal the end of this man. Note the prophecies of his demise.
The Anti-Christ's fall.
1.) IIThessalonains 2:8 -
"And then shall that wicked (Anti-Christ) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with spirit of His mouth ans shall destoy with the brightness of His coming:"
2.) Revelation 17:14 -
"These (the Anti-Christ and his host) shall make war with the Lamb (Jesus Christ), and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful."
3.) Daniel 7:26 -
"But the judgement shall sit, and they shall take away his (Anti-Christ) dominion, to consume and to destoy it unto the end."
4.) Daniel 8:25 -
"And through his (Anti-Christ) policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destoy many: he (Anti-Christ) also stand up against the Prince (Jesus Christ) of Princes; but he (Anti-Christ) shall be broken without hand."
5.) Daniel 11:45 -
"And he (Anti-Christ) shall plant the tabernales of his palace between the seas (the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea in Jersusalem) in the glorious holy mountain (Israel); yet he (Anti-Christ) shall come to his end and none shall help him."
6.) Daniel 2:34 -
"Thou sawest till that a stone (representing Jesus Christ) was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet (the feet of this image represents the kingdom of the Anti-Christ) that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces."
7.) Daniel 2:35, 41-45 -
"Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver and the gold (the kingdom of the Anti-Christ) broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone (Jesus Christ) that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth (reference to the Millennium Kingdom of Christ)."
8.) Revelation 19:11-21 (The Battle of Armageddon)
19: "And I saw the beast (Anti-Christ), and the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war against Him (Jesus Christ) that sat on the horse and against his army."
20:"And the beast (Anti-Christ) was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the Mark of the Beast, and them that worsipped his image. These both (the Anti-Christ and false prophet) were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."
As we have seen from the Word of God, the Anti-Christ, his government, his host, and strength shall all come to a prophesied end. His end is certain. Praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ!
