Antichrist: The Fierce Beast Series

Last week, we have discussed two different chapters in the book of Daniel. In chapter two, Daniel interpreted the dream of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had in his dream; the construction of the statue was interpreted as the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and the Roman Empire. We also touched on the coming Revived Roman Empire under Antichrist. In Daniel chapter seven, we saw last week the four kingdoms illustrated in the figures of a winged lion, a humpbacked bear, a winged leopard and at fierce beast.

This week, we will begin examining this figure, Antichrist.

Over the centuries, many people have been mistakenly identified as the person identified in 1 John as Antichrist. Some have said Charlemagne was. Others have said certain popes of the Roman Catholic Church. Yet others stated it was Nero, or Domitian, Napoleon, Hitler, President Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev, President Bill Clinton and now even President Barack Obama.

Obviously, these men were not Antichrist. Some have been antichrists, which we will discuss further in a few days, and some have been wrongly labeled as such. I remember back in the 1980s, before I was saved, I thought President Reagan was Antichrist because his name--Ronald Wilson Reagan--came out as 666 (six letters in each name). Hey, I was unsaved, what can I say? But antichrists do exist, and we will touch on that fact this week.

It is important to remember, first and foremost, that if you are saved you will not know whom Antichrist is. Antichrist will not be revealed until after the rapture of the church, and we will also discuss how this is the case.

Where will Antichrist come from? Daniel chapter seven shows us where.

What will Antichrist be like? Let's look to the scriptures.

Dan 7:8 I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.

If you will remember, last week we talked about how the "great sea" is the Mediterranean Sea. These ten horns represent ten nations that will arise to power from that region--the region in which the Roman Empire once stood strong. In the time of the Tribulation, there will be a ten nation confederation--consisting of European countries--that shall control the world.

Now you might look at this and scoff. However, there is already in place. Ever heard of the European Union or the Common Market? The Roman empire has never really gone away. It still exists, though in a more dormant form.

Today all of the pieces are in place for the resurrection of the Roman Empire. On March 25, 1957, the Treaty of Rome was signed into existence by six European nations: France, West Germany, Luxembourg, Italy, Netherlands and Belgium. The European Economic Community was born, which we know today as the Common Market. Since that signing, the members have grown to include Greece, Great Britain, Denmark, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and others. These nations have a common trade status with no tariffs, and the Euro dollar has come into being as a means of trading with member countries and countries outside the Common Market.

The ten horns represents 10 countries around the Great Sea--Europe. While there are more than 10 countries in the Common Market, if you look at a map with all of the member countries you could see how these countries could become more consolidated into just ten. How?

Look at what 9/11 did to our country. If the terrorists' original plan of as many as a dozen airplane strikes would have been carried out instead of four our economy would have collapsed. All it would take in some of these smaller countries is to have a well placed nuke explode and not only would the area around it be destroyed but the country's economy would be also. Other countries in the Common Market would come to their aid, and absorb them into their nation.

This vision by Daniel is interpreted later in the chapter:

Dan 7:24 The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings. (NKJ)

Also, in Revelation another vision that John had that shows us the same:

Rev 13:1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. (NKJ)

In the near future, 10 European countries--perhaps the Common Market--will be in charge of the entire world. And, they will be give their authority to and be ruled by what the Bible calls the Beast--the Antichrist.