The Antichrist And False Prophet

The Antichrist

The most mentioned end times character in the Word of God, besides the Lord Jesus Christ, is the Antichrist. The book of Daniel records the great majority of the information given about this wicked and notorious enemy of God beginning with king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who is a type of the Antichrist.

He, Nebuchadnezzar, had an image built and demanded the then known world to bow down and worship the image or be put to death:

“Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falls not down and worships shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” (Daniel 3:4-6)

This same tactic will be utilized by the Antichrist and implemented by his worship enforcer the false prophet:

“And he [the false prophet] had power to give life [spirit/breath] unto the image of the beast [the Antichrist], 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.” (Revelation 13:15)

The Antichrist himself is also literally introduced in the book of Daniel:

“I considered the horns [ten horns of the fourth beast/Roman empire], and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” (Daniel 7:8)

The “little horn” who comes up among the ten horns of the fourth beast is the Antichrist. His rise, rule and subsequent ruin are thoroughly detailed beginning here in chapter seven:

“I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.” (Daniel 7:11)

Daniel inquires of the meaning of what he saw in this vision, focusing upon the fourth beast, the ten horns and the little horn:

“Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast…And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.” (Daniel 7:19, 20)

Daniel continues to look:

“I beheld and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.” (Daniel 7:21, 22)

He then receives a full, specific answer to his inquiry:

“The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another [the little horn/Antichrist] shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they [the saints] shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But, the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom, under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.” (Daniel 7:23-28)

Daniel’s first vision provides specific and detailed information concerning the three phases of the Antichrist’s time upon earth:

I. The Rise of the Antichrist (Daniel 7:7, 8, 11)

1. He rises from the fourth beast/Roman Empire.

2. He rises after the ten horns/kings.

3. He is called the "little horn" and "the beast".

4. He has eyes like a man and mouth speaking great things.

5. He comes up among the ten horns/kings.

II. The Rule of the Antichrist (Daniel 7:8b, 21, 24, 25)

1. He subdues three of these ten kings.

2. He speaks great [boastful] words against the most High.