The anti – Christ is a man who comes to world power in the end times. After the rapture of the church, there will be a world leader who will make a peace treaty with the Nation of Israel. In Daniel 8:25 he is described as one who shall destroy many through peace. According to Daniel 9:26 and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The people that destroyed the Jewish temple in 70 AD were the Romans. The prince in this verse is a reference to the coming anti-christ. This tells us that the prince and the people are related or they are of the same nationality. The anti-christ will be of Roman origin. Daniel 9:27 goes on to tell us that: He, the prince, the anti-christ shall confirm a covenant with many of the Jews for one week, or seven years, the time period of the tribulation, and in the middle of the seven year covenant he will break the covenant, stop the Jewish sacrifice and demand to be called God, this is called the abomination of desolation. Daniel 11:37 establishes the fact that the anti-christ will be a Gentile and not a Jew, for it reads: he shall not regard the gods {heathen deities} of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. This verse tells us that he will not regard or worship the Jewish Jehovah, God.
In the epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians he confirms what was recorded by the prophet Daniel and said: Let no man deceive you by ant means, for that day shall not come except that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition: 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. Here we have a picture of the anti-christ sitting in the temple in Jerusalem demanding to be worshiped as God. Paul goes on to say: Then shall that wicket one be revealed {in God's timing} whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming. Only the Lord Jesus the Christ will have the power to defeat the anti-christ.
There is a great mistake in identity found in Revelation 6:2 which reads. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow, and a crown was given him; and he went forth conquering and to conquer. Most people identify the rider on this horse as Jesus the Christ, but the fact is that this is a picture of the anti-christ coming to power at the beginning of the tribulation. This cannot be Christ for the rider is given a temporary victor's crown, whereas Jesus is pictured wearing many crowns as King at His second coming. Jesus is pictured carrying a sword not a bow. Jesus Christ will come at the end of the tribulation and will bring peace, the rider before us appears at the beginning of the tribulation bring destruction.
In the book of Revelation chapter 11 we read about two prophets that will minister during the first half of the tribulation. Verse 7 tells us: when they, the two prophets, shall have finished their testimony, ministry, the beast that ascended out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them and kill them. Here the anti-christ is referred to as the beast. This is a very ferocious individual. We are told in Revelation 13:4 and they {humanity} worshiped the dragon {Satan} which gave power to the beast; and the worshiped the beast, saying, who is like to the beast? Who is able to make war with him? Satan offered Jesus this same power in Luke 4:5, 6 And the devil taking Jesus up into a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, all this power would I give You, and the glory of them; for this is delivered to me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. Jesus turned it down; anti-christ will accept it.
And power was given unto him to continue forty and two months, or three and one half years. The exact time of the tribulation.
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints of the tribulation {it is possible to get saved during the tribulation but it may cost you your life} and he overcame them; and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nation. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, except those whose names are written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. The anti-christ will rule the world during that period of time called the tribulation.
The bible goes on to tell us that the anti-christ is going to cause all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads; that no man might buy or sell except he has the mark, or the number of the beast, or the number of his name. The mark, possibly a small computer chip placed just under the skin that can be read by a super market scanner. We are told to count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred threescore and six, or 666.This is also called the mark of the beast. No one knows the name of the anti-christ, but we do know that whatever his name is it will have a numerical value of 666. What will be the fate of this evil villain? We are told in the Revelation 19:20 And the beast, or, anti-christ was taken, and with him the false prophet that worked miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and that worshiped his image. They both were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. Amen.
Bernard Jones brobern737@bellsouth.net
