SPELLING EDITED
The purpose of this study in God's word is to show my readers and seekers of the truth of the whole word of God what the signs and the characteristics of the FINAL Antichrist must be in order that they will know who is NOT the Antichrist. The first and second-century church knew who the last Antichrist must be directly from the Bible alone. The early church was looking in the correct direction, but the church today is speculating that every man who even seems to meet just one of the conditions of prophecy about the antichrist is THE Antichrist as opposed to “AN” antichrist.
WHO IS THE ANTICHRIST?
What are the signs of the Antichrist? What are the CHARACTERISTICS of the Antichrist? How can we know the IDENTITY of the Antichrist? Is there more than just ONE antichrist?
We will answer these questions and many more in this study by compiling a list of all the signs and characteristics of all the antichrists throughout history and then separate out the signs and characteristics that ONLY the FINAL Antichrist MUST have. I will give you a numbered list with the Bible references of the verses that specifically describe that characteristic and sign of the antichrists and their kingdoms or their systems so that we can clearly identify THE FINAL Antichrist that shall appear right before the second coming of Jesus. Please understand that SOME of the signs and characteristics of the FINAL Antichrist also apply to the many antichrists throughout history. But this commonality will help us ELIMINATE who is NOT the Antichrist in the last days right before Jesus returns. You will understand what I mean by this as you continue this study in God's word, but first, we must know the sound Biblical definition of the word “antichrist”.
SOUND BIBLICAL DEFINITION
Throughout the history of the church, there have been many SPECULATIONS as to who THE Antichrist will be and thus all these different opinions have brought some confusion to the body of Christ, the church. Much of this confusion comes from not discerning that there will be MANY antichrists throughout the history of the church and some have made the error of ONLY applying part of the prophecies to try and identify the FINAL Antichrist and his kingdom or system. In other words, in order to correctly identify THE final Antichrist, who MUST appear first or before the second coming of Jesus so that Jesus can appear at his appointed time. Then we must understand that there are MANY antichrists hidden within the prophecies of the FINAL Antichrist. Thus the many antichrists will fulfill PART of the prophecies while the FINAL Antichrist must fulfill the remaining part of the prophecy that can only apply to him. The Bible teaches us in first and second John that there are many antichrists or deceivers that have already entered into the world even in the early New Testament church is John's day. There are only five short verses so I will quote them all.
1 John 2:18.
“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, EVEN NOW there are MANY antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.”
1 John 2:22.
“Who is a LIAR but he that DENIES that Jesus is the CHRIST? He is an antichrist, that DENIES the Father and the Son.”
1 John 4:3.
“EVERY spirit that confesses NOT that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come, and EVEN NOW now already is it in the world.”
2 John 1:7.
“For MANY DECEIVERS are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is a DECEIVER and AN antichrist.”
So then, from these verses in first and second John the Bible ITSELF gives us the sound Biblical definition of what the word “antichrist” means and that there are MANY antichrists that have already entered into the world even in John's day. #1. The antichrists are defined as DECEIVERS. #2. The antichrists are defined as having a “spirit” that DENIES that Jesus is the Christ, the SON of the living God. John goes on to say that in order to have eternal life we must have BOTH the Father AND the SON and if we do NOT have the SON then we do NOT have the Father. #3. The antichrists DENY that Jesus was ANOINTED by Almighty God the Father by falsely teaching that the SON OF Almighty God is Almighty God himself. In other words, if one DENIES that Jesus is the ANOINTED one of Almighty God, then they are also DENYING Almighty God the Father himself By this sound Biblical definition, even the Jews have a spirit of antichrist, because they DENY or reject that Jesus is their Messiah. The Muslims also have the spirit of antichrist because they as well DENY that Almighty God has a SON. Both the Jews and the Muslims believe that Jesus existed, but neither the Jews nor the Muslims believes that Jesus is the CHRIST and thus both are antichrists. Please see the study “JESUS THE CHRIST” for a deeper understanding of the sound Biblical meaning of the title of “CHRIST” that is given to Jesus. FALSE CHRISTS
The antichrists are also defined as being DECEIVERS so we need to take a look at what Jesus said about “false Christs” or false anointings and even false messiahs because the Jews were looking for their Messiah and many others around the day of Jesus claimed that they were the Messiah. Keep in mind that the word “Christ” not only means “Messiah”, but also means “ANOINTING”. Again please read the study “JESUS THE CHRIST” for a deeper understanding of how Jesus was ANOINTED of God to do the mighty works men saw Jesus doing because God was with him by dwelling in him as opposed to Jesus being Almighty God himself. So then, in a like manner in which the Spirit of the Father dwelling in Jesus did the mighty works so also will it be the spirit of Satan who possesses the FINAL Antichrist and will give power to the Antichrist in the last 1260 days right before Jesus returns. In other words, it will be by the power of Satan that the final Antichrist will be able to perform many signs and wonders to DECEIVE the people into worshipping the image of the beast and worship the dragon which we know to be Satan. However, THEY will not know that they are worshipping Satan because Satan has taken another NAME in order to DECEIVE them to worship him. Again, there are only a couple of verses where Jesus warns us of many false Christs and false prophets that shall arise so I will quote them both.
Matthew 24:24.
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, THEY shall DECEIVE the very elect.”
Mark 13:22.
“For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to SEDUCE, if it were possible, even the elect.”
Now, another whole teaching could be devoted to the subject of false Christs, false prophets, and false teachers but for now, I want you to see that the Bible itself teaches us that there will be MANY antichrists throughout the history of the church age. And their purpose is to DECEIVE and SEDUCE all of mankind away from the TRUTH that Jesus is the ONLY way to the Father to obtain eternal life in the world to come. And this DECEPTION will be so great in the very last days right before Jesus returns that IF it were possible, then even the very ELECT would be deceived by the FINAL Antichrist. Please read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-15 with this in mind while you read this passage of scripture. Paul begins his letter to the church in chapter 1 by comforting them about the persecution and tribulation that they are enduring for the sake of Jesus and the Gospel of TRUTH. Obviously, they were wondering if Jesus was about to return because of their persecution and tribulation that they were enduring. Then Paul assures them that Jesus could NOT be returning YET because TWO SIGNS have not yet occurred.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-15.
“Now we beseech you (Or we implore or beg you to hear what we have to say), brethren, by (Or about or concerning) the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by (Or about or concerning) our gathering together unto him, 2. That you are NOT SOON shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. (In other words, Paul is saying calm down and do not be troubled or worried that the coming of Jesus is just about to occur because of the reason of your persecution and tribulation) 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; (To say this another way Paul is saying that Jesus will NOT be REVEALED from heaven UNTIL TWO things happen FIRST. And those two things are #1. There will be a FALLING AWAY or a great APOSTASY FIRST, and #2. The final Antichrist must be revealed and made known to God's people the Jews and the Christians and whosoever of all of mankind who will hear and obey the TRUTH so that they will NOT take the MARK of the BEAST religious system. And one of the signs of this Antichrist will be a man of sin) 4. Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5. Remember you not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? (Or do you not remember that when I was with you last time that I already told you all of this before? Well if not before you know now! Or) 6. And NOW you know what withholds (The coming of Jesus) that he (Jesus) might be revealed in his time. (AFTER these TWO things come to pass and we know the TRUE identity of the final Antichrist and his religious beast system that will be DECEIVING many, right before Jesus returns and gathers us to himself.) 7. For (Or for you see dear children of God) the mystery of iniquity is already working: only he (Satan the one behind the scenes working SECRETLY) who now lets will let, (Or who is presently hindering will continue to hinder) until he is taken out of the way. (Or until Satan is cast down out of the MIDST of the heaven or the air as the principality and ruler of darkness) 8. And THEN (Or then at that time when Michael shall stand up with his angels and fight against the Dragon and his fallen angels to cast them out of the midst of the air down to the surface of the earth) shall that Wicked be revealed, (In other words, the absolute true identity of THE FINAL Antichrist will absolutely and positively be made KNOWN to the wise at the time when Satan is cast down to the earth as we are taught in Revelation chapter 12 and he knows that he only has a SHORT time left. So he will give his power to a MAN who is already a leader of a people that will go into perdition to seek to destroy God's people the Christians AND the JEWS being led by this man of sin) whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that PERISH (at the second coming of Jesus); because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (This means that many of the Islamic Muslims will NOT receive the gospel of Jesus being the CHRIST, the SON OF the one true living Almighty God being preached to them in LOVE while THEY are killing the Christians who love not their own lives unto death so that they can preach the true gospel of LOVE that God so LOVED the world that WHOSOEVER will BELIEVE in his SON will NOT PERISH but rather they will have ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come) 11. And for this cause (Or for this reason of those REJECTING Jesus as the CHRIST, the SON OF the living God) God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (Right before Jesus splits the eastern sky at his coming he will say, “ He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” This means that once THEY see Jesus COMING in great clouds of glory it will be TOO LATE for them to receive ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come to RULE and REIGN WITH Jesus over the MORTALS dwelling on the earth because the RAPTURE of the RIGHTEOUS who are BELIEVERS IN Jesus and their Lord and Savior will just have taken place seconds before THEY see Jesus coming in the air with his armies from heaven.) 12. That they all might be damned (to suffer the WRATH of Almighty God) who believed NOT the truth (BEFORE the coming of Jesus) but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 13. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.”
In other words, stand fast to NOT deny the TRUE faith by taking the MARK of the BEAST system by being converted to ISLAM. Yes, dear children of God, I personally believe that ALL of the sound Biblical evidence points to ISLAM and their coming Mahdi as being the final antichrist system being led by their Mahdi who will be possessed by Satan to do signs and wonders before the Muslims to DECEIVE them that their Mahdi is Allah in the flesh.
WEIGHING THE EVIDENCE
Now, ALL the evidence from the Scriptures points to the Antichrist and his kingdom as being a RELIGION that is not accepted by the one true and only Almighty God. In other words, the antichrist's religious system is against God's people both the Jews and the Christians. And all the evidence points to this religious system severely persecuting BOTH the Christians AND the Jews by beheading them during the last 3 1/2 years right before Jesus returns, where, this last 3 1/2 years, is specifically and clearly identified as being 42 months or exactly 1260 LITERAL 24 hour days of the week. You will see this truth as we continue this study in God's word. Some early Christians discerned this truth that the antichrist was a religious system long ago in church history during the Reformation, but I want my readers and seekers of the truth of the whole word of God to know and understand that there are MANY antichrists and antichrist religious systems. So, therefore, we need to consider them all in order to find that commonality between all the antichrists and their antichrist systems so that we can correctly discern the FINAL antichrist. In other words, there is more than just one religion or belief system in the world that is an antichrist system. But since we can only talk about them one at a time let us begin with one of the three most popular views of who the antichrist will be.
WHICH ANTICHRIST SYSTEM IS IT?
Again some Christians during the call for reformation pointed to the Roman Catholic Church or more precisely the Roman Catholic PAPACY as being the antichrist. And this belief has not only remained with some in the church to this day but this belief that the Papacy is the Antichrist has grown and is now pointing to the LAST POPE as being the Antichrist. Here are some of their arguments:
#1. Roman Catholicism teaches that the Pope is the VICAR of Christ which means Christ on earth or God on earth since the Roman Catholic church teaches that Jesus is Almighty God himself. #2. Roman Catholicism teaches that the Pope is infallible and therefore must be obeyed. #3. Catholics REVERE the Pope. Some Catholics even bow down to him and kiss his foot. #4. The Vatican has great political power with the leaders of the world. #5. The Roman Catholic church has great wealth. #6. The Cardinals wear SCARLET and PURPLE garments which are the colors of Mystery Babylon in Revelation chapter 17. #7. And in the past, the Roman Catholic church persecuted AND shed the blood of the saints during the Inquisition and the early Reformation. Thus some Christians believe that the final Antichrist will be the REVIVAL of the sick sadistic practices of the Papacy of the past during the inquisition to once again severely persecute all other Christians who reject the Roman Catholic church as the ONE TRUE church.
These particular Christians quote Martin Luther one of the first reformers of the great Reformation of the church who came out of the Roman Catholic church as having said the following:
“...nothing else than the kingdom of Babylon and of the very Antichrist. For who is the man of sin and the son of perdition, but he who by his teachings and his ordinances increases sin and perdition of the soul in the church; while he sits in the church as if he were God? All these conditions have now for many ages been fulfilled by the papal tyranny.” Martin Luther, First Principles pages 196,197.
Please see the study “IS THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH THE ANTICHRIST?” for all the sound Biblical reasons why the last Pope is NOT the antichrist. Now, this is not to say that the Roman Catholic church is not “an” antichrist religious system, but rather I am saying that neither the Catholic church nor the Papacy fulfills ALL the prophecies that give us the identity of THE FINAL Antichrist that must appear no less than 3 1/2 years or 1260 literal 24 hour days right before the second coming of Jesus.
The other two remaining popular and most widely accepted views as to who the antichrist will be are: #1. The revival of the Roman Empire which teaches the rise of a ONE world government in the last days, and #2. The Islamic Muslim religion of Islam.
Now I myself believe that ALL the sound Biblical evidence points to the Islamic Muslim religious system or belief system of ISLAM as being the antichrist system where THE final Antichrist will arise from among them being of Syrian descent. In other words, the prophecies of THEIR belief system speak of an IMAN or great teacher called the MAHDI and the prophet Jesus who they call “ISA” arising who will unite them and point to Islam as the one true faith to DECEIVE many. Also, it is quite interesting to note that THEIR prophecies of TWO people arising are just the opposite of what the Bible prophecies concerning the lamb with TWO horns being the Antichrist and the FALSE prophet. In other words, their religious or holy books, to them, have what the Bible says will be the antichrist as being THEIR great leader. To say this another way, their prophesied great leader and prophet Isa is what the Bible itself teaches us as being the Antichrist and the false prophet. The only other way I know to say this is that their Isa who THEY will see as being Jesus pointing to Islam as being the true faith is, in fact, the FALSE prophet spoken of in Revelation chapter 13 that will cause many to receive the MARK of the beast system to worship the beast and his image. That is to say, we as Christians have TWO people prophesied to come whom we are looking for as being THE Antichrist and his FALSE prophet. And ISLAM has TWO people in THEIR prophecy whom THEY are looking for as their Messiah or great leader and his prophet Isa or Jesus. And THEIR two people FULFILL what all the prophecies in the Bible ITSELF say will be the characteristics and signs of the final Antichrist and his belief system. Now, the reason that I no longer believe in the revival of the Roman empire and the one-world government theory is the same reason why the Roman Catholic church or Papacy CANNOT be THE Antichrist during the last 3 1/2 years right before the coming of Jesus, and that reason is that NEITHER of these theories fulfills ALL the characteristics and signs of THE FINAL Antichrist and his beast system. Again this is not to say that the one-world government theory and the Papacy theory do not play a PART in the final antichrist kingdom. To say this another way, the last and final antichrist must fulfill ALL the prophecies which DESCRIBE him.
LIST OF THE SIGNS OF THE ANTICHRIST
Here is a list of what the Bible itself teaches us as being the IDENTITY, the characteristics, and the signs that the final Antichrist will bear. I will list them all first with some of the Bible references that you may look up later on your own. And then I will take them one by one quoting only the verses relating to that particular description. Then at the end of this study, I will quote the whole passage of those scriptures keeping then in the CONTEXT in which they are found. This way you can do your own study if you find my conclusion to be in disagreement with what you have been taught by your church denomination. So then, let us begin this section of this study in God's word by listing all the characteristics and signs identifying the antichrists and the final Antichrist that I myself have found.
#1. THE Antichrist is described as a LITTLE HORN coming out from among the TEN HORNS to be the FINAL kingdom right before Jesus returns. (Daniel 7:8 and Daniel 8:9 speaks of the LITTLE horn and Daniel 7:7,20,24; Revelation 12:3; 13:1; and Revelation 17:3,7,12,16 speak of the TEN horns which are ten KINGS that have not yet received a kingdom.)
#2. He will be cast down out of HIS sanctuary. (Daniel 8:11, Revelation 12:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:7.)
#3. His power will not be his OWN, but rather Satan will give him POWER. (2 Thessalonians 2:8,9, Revelation 13:1-18; 17:12,13.)
#4. He will reign 42 months, 1260 days, a time times and half a time right before the second coming of Jesus. (Revelation 11:2 and 3; 12:4 -6; 13:5: 12:14, Daniel 7:25.)
#5. Jesus will fight AGAINST this antichrist kingdom at his second coming. (Zechariah 14:1-5, Zechariah 2:8,9: Psalm 83:1-18, Isaiah 31:4,5, Isaiah 63:1-6; Isaiah 66:15,16, Daniel 7:20-22; 9:26, Joel 3:1-8, Micah 4:3, Revelation 19:9-21.)
#6. He will stand up against the Prince of princes and fight against Jesus at his coming. (Daniel 12:25, Revelation 17:14; 19:19.)
#7. He will be destroyed AT the coming of Jesus. (2 Thessalonians 2:8, Daniel 2:34,35,45.)
#8. He will be given to the burning flame. (Daniel 7:11, Revelation 19:20; 20:10,14,15.)
#9. He MUST rule the LAST kingdom right before the second coming of Jesus. (ALL of the Scriptures given above)
#10. He is called the man of LAWLESSNESS in some translations of the Bible or man of SIN, the son of PERDITION in other Bibles and he MUST be REVEALED no less than 1260 days before the coming of Jesus. (2 Thessalonians 2:3,4, Revelation 17:8-11.)
#11. He exercises all the power of the FIRST beast that had a wound and was healed meaning that he comes AFTER the other antichrist kingdom before him. (Revelation 13:12.)
#12. He shall PERSECUTE God's people BOTH the Jews and the Christians and SHEDS their BLOOD. (Revelation 16:6; 17:6; 18:24, Revelation 11:7, Psalm 14:4; 53:4; Isaiah 3:12,15; 52:4,5, Joel 3:2, Micah 3:3, Zephaniah 2:8.)
#13. The Antichrist kingdom LOOKS harmless at first, like a LAMB, having eyes of a MAN. (Revelation 11:13 and Daniel 7:8)
#14. He shall speak BLASPHEMES against the most high God. (Daniel 7:8,11,25: 11:36, Revelation 13:6.)
#15. He shall rule in the same area as the Grecian Empire. (Daniel 8:9,23.)
#16. He does great wonders so that he makes fire come down from heaven. (Revelation 13:12,13.)
#17. He will be given power over ONE-FOURTH of the earth. (Revelation 6:8.)
#18. He DECEIVES his followers to make an IMAGE of the first beast. (Revelation 13:14.)
#19. He causes the image to SPEAK. (Revelation 13:15.)
#20. He causes the people to take the MARK of the beast in their FOREHEAD or the RIGHT HAND and they cannot buy or sell unless they take the MARK of the beast system. (Revelation 13:16-18.)
#21. He shall cause them to WORSHIP the beast. (Revelation 13:16-18.)
#22. He will have an army of 200 million. (Revelation 9:16.)
#23. His conquering will be primarily in the Middle East and his focus will be on Israel to wipe Israel off the face of the earth, but he will also kill Christians. (Daniel 11:40-45, Psalm 83, Isaiah 14:25; 19:23, Micah 5:5, Revelation 6:8. Revelation 11.)
All of the above signs and characteristics are a MUST for the FINAL Antichrist and his beast system, but some also fit the many antichrists and their antichrist systems throughout history beginning with the rise of the Roman Empire to conquer the Grecian Empire to the east. Please read the study “A NEW LOOK AT THE 2300 DAYS OF DANIEL!” for all the scriptures showing that the 2300 days represent 2300 years which began when the Roman Empire began to expand its empire to the eastern province of the Grecian Empire. The list of signs and characteristics below fit the antichrists and their antichrist religious systems BEFORE the final Antichrist, but SOME also apply to the FINAL Antichrist as well. I will highlight those is yellow. The ones that are highlighted in green only apply to the antichrists in HISTORY and thus those prophecies have already been FULFILLED in history which in my own opinion cannot and will NOT apply to the final Antichrist.
#24. He takes away the DAILY SACRIFICE. (Daniel 9:27; 8:11-13; 11:31; 12:11, 1 Kings 9:7,8. 2 Chronicles 7:20,21, Isaiah 64:10,11. )
#25. He destroys Jerusalem and the TEMPLE. (Matthew 24: 1,2, Luke 19:43,44, Daniel 9:26. Isaiah 64:11,12. Jeremiah 19:8.)
#26. He sits in the temple of God and exalts himself above all that is called God proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3,4, Ezekiel 28:1-10, Daniel 11:36, Revelation 13:6.)
#27. He will NOT be like his fathers. (Daniel 11:24)
#28. He will NOT regard the God of his fathers. (Daniel 11:37.)
#29. He will NOT have REGARD of women. (Daniel 11:37.) #30. He will SEEK to change the LAWS. (Daniel 7:25: 11:31; 12:11.)
#31. He will SEEK to change the TIMES. (Daniel 7:25)
#32. He will distribute or scatter the spoil, the loot, the plunder, and the riches among the people. (Daniel 11:24
#33. He will have a stout look or a FIERCE countenance. (Daniel 7:20; 8:23, Isaiah 10:12.)
#34. He will have arms on his side or an army. (Daniel 11:31, Luke 21:20. Revelation 17:11-14; 19:19.)
#35. He is the rider of the four horsemen of Revelation Chapter 6. (Revelation 6:2-9.)
#36. He shall understand DARK SENTENCES. (Daniel 8:23; 11:30.)
#37. He shall have INTELLIGENCE on his side. Daniel 11:30.)
#38. He comes in PEACEABLY. (Daniel 11:21,24; Jeremiah 9:8.)
#39. He shall destroy man by PEACE. (Daniel 8:25.)
And the last sign or characteristic below MUST fit the FINAL Antichrist, but also will fit SOME of the antichrists and their antichrist systems throughout history.
#40. He MUST be of ASSYRIAN descent. (Isaiah 10:24; 30:30.31; Micah 5:5.)
There are others who understand the Scriptures to KNOW that THE FINAL Antichrist will be a Syrian or of Assyrian descent just as Antiochus Epiphanes IV was a Syrian, who was a man that some Christians think the final Antichrist’s policy and traits will closely parallel based upon the similarities between how the antichrist and the final Antichrist are described by Daniel and how Antiochus Epiphanes FIT some of these prophecies. Please see Daniel 8 and Daniel 11, but for now please know and understand that THE FINAL Antichrist right before Jesus returns MUST be a Syrian or have Assyrian descent. In other words, he must come out of the region of the ancient Assyrian Empire.
MANY ANTICHRISTS THROUGHOUT HISTORY
Again, there are MANY antichrists that have persecuted God's people Israel. And SOME of these antichrists have persecuted and shed the blood of BOTH the Christians AND the Jews. But the first antichrist persecuted only the JEWS because the church did not yet exist. The antichrists throughout history seemed to go back and forth from persecuting the Jews and the Christians. There was a time before the church began that obviously only the Jews were persecuted. Then there was a time when BOTH the JEW and the Christians were persecuted. Then there was a time that persecution was lifted from the Christians, but the JEWS were still yet persecuted. But in the last days, BOTH the JEWS and the Christians will be persecuted by the FINAL Antichrist and his beast system. And HIS reign over ONE-FOURTH of the earth will take place during the 1260 days right before Jesus returns. Also, he must reign in THAT region of the world where ALL seven previous world Empires ruled over in that part of the world. Therefore, since Jesus has NOT yet returned, then ALL the speculations of all the previous antichrists cannot be THE Antichrist. And since the United States of America is NOT a kingdom in THAT part of the world, then it is NOT possible for America to be MYSTERY BABYLON spoken of in Revelation chapter 17. NOR is any American president going to be the Antichrist, unless Barack Obama turns out to be a Syrian or be of ASSYRIAN descent.
A SUMMARY OF THE 2300 DAYS OF DANIEL
The following is a summary of what I have come to believe after searching through the many speculations of who the Antichrist may be. I myself am seeing that the 2,300 days spoken of in Daniel chapter eight is prophetic language representing 2,300 YEARS. I am also seeing that God has HIDDEN the EXACT starting date from us because the 2300 years will end at the second coming of Jesus and God does not want us to know the EXACT year of our Lord's return. We can know the season being in the FALL of the year and we can even know the time of our Lord's return AFTER certain SIGNS have appeared. Please read the study “A NEW LOOK AT THE 2300 DAYS OF DANIEL! ”. Some prophecy teachers hold to the theory of a GAP that is placed BETWEEN the 69th and the 70th week of Daniel, while other Christian argue that there is NO GAP and that the whole seventieth week of Daniel has already been fulfilled. But what if we take a FRESH NEW look at Daniel's prophecy of the seventy weeks and compromise using a little truth from BOTH sides of the controversy between Preterism and Futurism? What I mean by this is that we begin seeing that the GAP is actually placed between the FIRST HALF of the seventieth week and the LAST HALF of the seventieth week. In other words, the ENTIRE MIDST of the week is the almost 2000 year GAP BETWEEN the first and last half of the seventieth week of Daniel where the FIRST half of the 70th week has already been fulfilled by the church preaching the gospel of salvation to the JEWS ONLY. To say this another way, the 70th week of Daniel BEGAN four days before Jesus was crucified and the FIRST HALF of the 70th week ENDED when God turned to the GENTILES, which then STARTED the MIDST of the week. The MIDST of the week will not end until the abomination of desolation, which is Jerusalem being surrounded by Islamic Muslim armies seeking to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. This all-out war against Israel will BEGIN the 1260 days of the great tribulation upon the land of Israel. Now, Jacob's time of trouble actually EXTENDS past the time of great tribulation to INCLUDE the WRATH of God, which will be a time which has never been before or ever shall be again. But we, the church, are NOT APPOINTED to God's WRATH. So all who ARE CHRIST'S at his coming will be RAPTURED or caught up into the AIR and then gathered together by the angels to be taken to MEET Jesus in the AIR over the place called Armageddon to help Jesus execute the WRATH of God upon the ungodly and the disobedient to the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ. Thus the church WILL go through the entire period of great tribulation to preach the gospel unto the END of this present world. So then, with this fresh new look of the MIDST of the week being between the already fulfilled FIRST HALF and the yet still to be fulfilled LAST HALF of the seventieth week of Daniel, we can clearly see the MANY antichrists throughout the history of the church preaching primarily to the Gentiles.
A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE 2300 DAYS
Starting before the 70th week we see the rise of the Roman Empire beginning to expand their empire to the east where there is no specific single date that can be pinpointed as a starting date for the 2300 days of Daniel. Then out of this same Roman Empire, we see Antiochus Epiphanes IV arise, who changes the LAW of the land that temporarily causes the daily sacrifices to end. And we also see him exalting himself as a god in a like manner as many of the Caesars of the Roman Empire did to stand as one of their Pagan gods. Later, still under the Roman Empire, we see the BEGINNING of the seventieth week of Daniel. And just four days after the seventieth week began, we see the Messiah being cut off or crucified to confirm the NEW COVENANT in his shed blood and thus spiritually end the Old Covenant of offering sacrifices in the eyes of Almighty God. Then 3 1/2 years later we see God turning to the Gentiles after the gospel of salvation was FIRST preached to the JEWS ONLY. So then, when God turned to the Gentiles this ENDED the FIRST HALF of the seventieth week of Daniel to BEGIN the MIDST of the 70th week of Daniel. Right at that point in time, the JEWS began shedding the blood of the saints, which was just one of the signs of being an antichrist, but antichrist nonetheless. Next, we see the Roman Empire destroying the city of Jerusalem and destroying the temple in 70 AD to permanently END the offering of animal sacrifices in the Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount. Around 100 years later the Jews wanted to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and the Temple, but their plans were crushed when the Roman Empire restored the city and renamed it Colonia Aelia Capitolina. This early Roman antichrist also built a temple to the Roman god Jupiter on the temple mount. This caused another revolt by the Jews which in turn caused their being exiled and to be eventually scattered around the world. The antichrist kingdom of the Roman Empire then brought persecution to both the Jews and the Christians. Later Constantine came to reign in the Roman Empire and sympathized with the Christians thus ending the Christian persecution by the Romans. He named Colonia Aelia Capitolina to be the Holy City and built a church for the Christians, but the Jews remained exiled and could only visit the city one time a year on a holiday called TrishB'Av. And it appears that this exile from Jerusalem with the penalty of death also included the Jewish Christians as well because they were CIRCUMCISED in the flesh. Also, the graves of burial sites in Jerusalem during this time of the Byzantine age were all Greek or Gentile Christians. Here is a quote from another website giving the historical Roman decree:
The Romans thereafter limited, and then banned, Jewish access to the city, with the decree: "It is forbidden for all circumcised persons to enter or stay within the territory of Aelia Capitolina. Any person contravening this prohibition will be put to death."
This is some historical proof that the Gentile Christians did NOT become circumcised in the flesh to keep the law of Moses as some seventh day of the week Sabbath keeping Christians claim that all Christians kept the law of Moses. Next on the historical horizon was the rise of the prophet Muhammad and the beginning of ISLAM which later led to the building of the Dome of the Rock upon the Temple Mount in Jerusalem after the Arabs conquered the city from the Roman Empire. This building of the Muslim shrine of the Dome of the Rock has prevented the Jews from rebuilding the temple unto this present day. And to some Christians, the Dome of the Rock is the abomination SET UP in a place where it ought not to have been set up or built that will be a CAUSE of the destruction of Jerusalem in the last days. God brought his people back to the land of Israel in 1948 and the new state of Israel reclaimed their Holy City during the Six-Day War in 1967.
WHAT IS NEXT ON THE HORIZON?
So then, the next big event on the horizon will be the ENDING of the MIDST of the 70th week of Daniel with Jerusalem being surrounded with Islamic Muslim armies seeking to wipe Israel off the face of the earth in an all-out war between Israel and a united TEN nation confederacy made up of ten Islamic Muslim countries. This event is what Jesus clearly identified as being the ABOMINATION that CAUSES DESOLATION. This event will BEGIN the LAST HALF of the 70th week of Daniel. The 1290 days of Daniel will begin 30 days BEFORE this event of 3 1/2 years of great tribulation to start the 1260 days or the last half of the 70th week of Daniel. IMMEDIATELY AFTER these 1260 days of the great tribulation, there will appear fearful SIGNS in the SUN, the MOON, the STARS and a great shaking in the heavens and the earth quaking. These dreadful and fearful signs will usher in the coming of Jesus in great clouds of glory and power to execute the WRATH of God. But right before Jesus executes the WRATH of Almighty God upon the ungodly and those who obey NOT the gospel the RAPTURE of the church will occur. The 1335 days of Daniel will also begin when the 1260 days of great tribulation begins at the abomination that causes the desolation of Jerusalem, which is the Islamic Muslim war led by THE Antichrist. This whole period of 1335 days is Jacob's time of trouble, which extends past the great tribulation to INCLUDE the WRATH of God. The time of great tribulation is NOT the WRATH of God. Please read the study “THE WRATH OF GOD VERSUS THE GREAT TRIBULATION!” which gives you all the scriptures that prove beyond any shadow of a doubt that the wrath of God is NOT the time of great tribulation and that the church will go through the ENTIRE period of the great tribulation.
EXPLAINING SOME OF THE PROPHECIES
In this section, we will cover some of the signs and characteristics of what they may or may not mean. In other words, the following explanations are opinions, speculations, and INTERPRETATIONS of what some of the prophecies might mean. For example, the Antichrist coming in PEACEABLY and destroying many BY PEACE could mean that at first, the antichrist system will appear to be harmless and will deceive many by CLAIMING to be a religion of PEACE.
#38. He comes in PEACEABLY. (Daniel 11:21,24; Jeremiah 9:8.)
#39. He shall destroy man by PEACE. (Daniel 8:25.)
When we read Daniel 11:21,24 in their context I myself find no hint of a peace TREATY being signed. Please read Daniel 11:21-25.
“And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, (Another meaning of the Hebrew word translated as peaceably also means that this vile person will come in CARELESS. Some of the meanings of the word “careless” are inconsiderate to the kingdom and others, not mindful, lack of thought, unstudied, having no concern for what results, recklessness and thoughtless action without consideration for others,) and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. (To portray something as favorable, advantageous or better. The Biblical meaning is to obtain by LIES and DECEIT) 22. And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. 23. And after the league made with him, he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. 24. He shall enter peaceably (or carelessly) even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strongholds, even for a time. 25. And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army, and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.”
Now if one insists the peaceably is the only correct translation then this antichrist system coming in peaceably does fit the Muslim crying out that they are a religion of PEACE. Keep in mind that PEACEFUL Muslims do NOT give honor to the RADICAL Muslims as being a true part of their kingdom. We are now witnessing in our day the rising again of the Islamic Muslim Ottoman Empire to overtake the same area of land once ruled by the Roman kingdom. And the Muslims, at FIRST, came in PEACEABLY as refugees. But after they become a dominant force whether it be only in a small community or a whole country they then seek to change the laws of the land to their Sharia law. Let us now read Daniel 8:25 in its context to see if it agrees with the interpretation of Muslims claiming that Islam is a religion of PEACE.
Daniel 8:23-25.
“And in the latter time of THEIR kingdom, when the transgressors have come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 24. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25. And through his policy also he shall cause craft (Or deceitful lies of being a peaceful religion) to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes, but he shall be broken without hand.”
To ME, all the references surrounding the phrase, “by peace he shall destroy many” speak about the antichrist and his beast religious system deceiving by craft and deceit which will CAUSE many to convert to Islam. And also for peaceful Islam to convert to RADICAL Isalm. This great apostasy will cause many to PERISH at the coming of Jesus. In other words, the great DELUSION prophesied in the Bible is Islam causing many to NOT believe the TRUUE Gospel of Jesus Christ by people converting to Islam. Even when Muhammad first received his revelation, he wondered if it was an evil spirit talking to him. Let us examine a few more prophecies describing the Antichrist.
#28. He will NOT regard the God of his fathers. (Daniel 11:37.)
Many, if not most Muslims in the Middle East, are direct descendants of Abraham through his son Ishmael and some being the descendants of Esau. Thus they are Jews but they are not of the seed of promise. In other words, they are not of the seed of Isaac. So to me, Daniel 11:37 is saying that even though Muslims sincerely believe that they are worshipping the God of Abraham they are NOT worshipping the one true God of their father Abraham. But rather they are worshiping another god whom they call Allah. Please read the study “IS ALLAH THE ONE TRUE GOD?” for a deeper understanding that Allah is NOT the God of Abraham.
#29. He will NOT have REGARD of women. (Daniel 11:37.)
Some interpret this verse as the antichrist being homosexual and thus not having any sexual desire of women. But I myself see this verse as saying that the antichrist and his beastly religious system will hold women to be lower-class people and treat them like property to be owned. Some of the meanings of the word “regard” are to respect, to admire, to have great affection for, and to esteem. So NOT to have REGARD of women is just the opposite, And without a doubt, the description of the Antichrist fits Islam to the letter. #30. He will SEEK to change the LAWS. (Daniel 7:25: 11:31; 12:11.)
As I said earlier when Muslims become the dominant force in an area no matter how small they seek to change the law of the land to their Sharia law. At first, they will live peaceably with those who are non-Muslim within their community, but they will tax them with what they call a Jizyah tax. Over time the tax becomes a burden for the non-Muslim and they are given the choice to leave or become a Muslim. In some cases, the non-Muslims are not allowed to buy or sell unless they become a Muslim. This Muslim policy is becoming more forceful among Radical Muslim communities and the properties of Christians are being stolen from them not allowing them to sell their properties as they are being forced to leave.
#31. He will SEEK to change the TIMES. (Daniel 7:25)
There is a movement among Muslims to change the time zones to Mecca. Another interpretation is that Muslims seek to change the “times”, as in, to change the practices of the people. For example to revert back to the Old Testament “times”.
#32. He will distribute or scatter the spoil, the loot, the plunder, and the riches among the people. (Daniel 11:24.)
This verse is teaching us that the Antichrist will differ from the antichrists before him, in that, he will take the bounty of the Jizyah tax, the plunder of war stealing money from the banks of the lands they conquer and spread it among the people. The question remains will the people be the POOR people or will the people be only those who turn from peaceful Islam to fight for the cause of Allah?
#33. He will have a stout look or a FIERCE countenance. (Daniel 7:20; 8:23, Isaiah 10:12.)
When one searches just a few videos on YouTube related to Muslim boasting that they will dominate the world it becomes quite clear that the look of Radical Muslims is stout and they have a fierce countenance. Now again, many of these characteristics can be applied to other interpretations like the Roman Catholic church being the antichrist religious system and the last pope being the Antichrist. Or America being Mystery Babylon because of her wealth and New York being the center of world trade. But only Islam fulfills ALL the prophecy. I will deal with the reason of WHY the Roman Catholic church cannot possibly be the Antichrist in the study called “IS THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH THE ANTICHRIST?”.
Thanks for reading and may God bless you as you continue to seek the truth of the whole word of Almighty God. Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
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