Take note that the Antichrist is not necessarily the man who
initially establishes the peace treaty, but rather he is the one who
confirms it. As part of the peace treaty, Israel will be able to
rebuild the temple and begin sacrificing once again.
(A note about the temple. The Muslim mosque, the Dome of the Rock,
currently sits atop the temple mount. Either this will be destroyed
or through an amazing treaty, this mosque will be removed. For a
better understanding of how this may occur, see my article on Gog and
Magog.)
What do we know about the Antichrist? He will appear to be the best
the world has to offer in speech, military genius, economics, and
philosophy. A sinful world will be extremely welcome to his ideas
and his leadership. Of his personality we know he will be:
A great orator and demagogue – Daniel 7:8
A speaker with regal authority – Revelation 13:2
A philosopher of distinction who traffics in deception – Daniel 8:23
A clever and persistent politician – Daniel 8:25
A deceiver who will use the false religious system to gain power –
Revelation 13:1-18
A military genius – Daniel 7:8, 24 Revelation 6:1-2
A man different from other men – Revelation 13:4, Daniel 7:7,19,23
A highly intelligent man – Daniel 7:8
A perfection of unholiness "666" – Revelation 13:18
A man who will look more imposing that other rulers – Daniel 7:20
Revelation 13:3-4, 17:8
A last wonder of the world – Revelation 13:3-4
Of the Antichrist's moral character, it is safe to assume that he
will be extremely ungodly. Just like Judas Iscariot, the man will be
directly influenced by Satan. He will be:
A materialist – Daniel 11:38
A blasphemer extraordinaire – Revelation 13:1, 5-6, 2 Thessalonians
2:4
The greatest antinomian (against the law) 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8,
Daniel11:36
The exhibition of selfish ambition – Daniel 11:36-37
Where does the Antichrist come from? While he is just another man,
he has many ties to history and Satan.
His economic origin is from social chaos – Revelation 17:5 with 13:1
His political origin is from the Revived Roman Empire – Daniel chp's
2, 7, & 8
His national origin is Roman – Daniel 9:26
His spiritual origin is of Satan – Genesis 3:15, Revelation 13:2,
16:3
His providential origin is of God – Daniel 8:2, 8; Revelation 6:1-8
What must happen for the Antichrist to come to power? How can the
world be so blind to a man under the direct influence of Satan? The
reasons are as follow.
He will be the product of iniquity – 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 7-8
He will have an inconspicuous beginning – Daniel 7:8; Revelation 6:1-
2
He will enter into a covenant with many – Daniel 9:27
He will strengthen the Ten Nation Confederacy – Revelation 7:8, 20,
24
He will be the world power by the middle of the covenant – Revelation
17:12-13
He will destroy the false religious system – Revelation 17:3, 16-17
He will slay the Two Witnesses of God – Revelation 11:3-13
He will persecute Israel and Tribulation saints – Revelation 7:9
On top of these things that he will do, he will be aided by several
things:
Chaotic world conditions, "Beginning of Birth Pains" – Mark 13:5-13
False religion – Revelation 17:1-5
Satanic deception – 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10; Revelation 13:2
Divine permission and help – Psalm 75:6-7; Revelation 6:1-2; 2
Thessalonians 2:11
Economic and military sanctions – Revelation 13:15-17
Men who worship him and blaspheme God – Revelation 13:8, 16:10-11
Military might – Revelation 13:4
Rest assured that even though the Antichrist may have dominion over
the world for a short time, God is still ultimately in control and He
will triumph over the Antichrist. At the end of the tribulation, the
Antichrist will fail
His campaign against the Lamb of God ends with the Battle of
Armageddon – Revelation 16:12-16, 17:4, 19:17-19
His capture takes place along with the False Prophet – Revelation
19:20
His spirit is cast into the lowest Sheol and his body will have no
grave – Isaiah 14:9-10
His body is cast into the Lake of Fire – Revelation 19:20
His continuous and conscious torment will go on forever – Revelation
20:10
The signs point to the fact that the Antichrist may be alive on this
earth this very day. But we will not know who he is until he
declares himself. By then, the church will be safely raptured away.
But those saved after the rapture may know his identity immediately
once he confirms a 7 year treaty with Israel and allows sacrifices to
begin again on the temple mount.
The Middle East is a tinder box ready to ignite. Never has there
been such a loud
for peace as there is today. There will be one
man who promises and actually delivers it. But it will be a false
peace. Real peace will come when the Prince of Peace