Antichrist, Fact Or Fantasy? Series

"Antichrist, the Man of Sin!"

"Left Behind" series Part 3 of 4

Text: Rev. 13:1-9 & Selected

Cross Creek Community Church

Pastor Dave Martin - Jan. 21, 2001

www.crosscreekcc.org

God’s Word is Powerful, Relevant, and Life Changing!

Remember some years ago when you used to hear on TV, "Look, up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, no it’s Superman"? On our televisions, we would watch a super human perform amazing feats as the people stood in awe. In the third book of the best selling series, "Left Behind" entitled "Nicolae" tells the story about a powerful leader who comes upon the world scene during the seven-year tribulation period. The Bible speaks much about this end time world leader. He is introduced in Revelation in 6:2, I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown (authority), and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. He is riding a white horse, signifying peace, a global peacemaker. His weapon is a bow with no arrows, signifying he gains victory by diplomacy or bloodless tactics. He comes as the superman of the human race to bring peace to the Middle East by signing a seven-year treaty with Israel (Dan. 9:27). He goes into the world as a conqueror bent on total conquest - total domination of the world. This morning we are going to look at this leader, the "Antichrist - the Man of Sin".

Rev. 13:1-9 And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. 4Men worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?" 5The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. 6He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. 8All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. 9He who has an ear, let him hear.

Background of the Antichrist

* The Bible records over 20 different names for the Antichrist, such as:

Is. 14:4 "King of Babylon", Is 14:12 "Lucifer", Dan 7:8, 8:9 "Little horn", Dan 8:23 "King of fierce countenance", Dan 9:26 "The prince that shall come", Dan 11:36 "The willful king", 2Thes 2:3-8 "Man of sin", "Son of perdition"; "That wicked one", 1Jn 2:18 "Antichrist", Rev 13:1 "Beast"

* He will arise as a result of the rapture vacuum. 2Thes. 2:6-7

2 Thes. 2:6-7 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.

* His nationality will possibly be a gentile with Jewish blood. (Dan 11:36-37; 8:8-9; 9:26; Rev 13:1)

Daniel 11:36-37 "The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. 37He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all.

* The "Little Horn" of Daniel - He will rise up out of the revived Roman Empire (today’s European Community). Dan. 7:3-8

God tells us about four major world powers in the book of Daniel:

1) Babylonian (lion / gold - Nebuchadnezzar),

2) Media-Persian (bear / silver - Darius),

3) Grecian (leopard / bronze - Alexander the Great),

4) Roman (dreadful, terrible, different from all the others / iron - Revived Roman Empire with a little horn arising up out of the ten nations. (European Union today - ten toes mix of iron and clay)