the Antichrist

[amoni]

By Mike Stine
(lists compiled from a sermon by Robert Conway)

2 Thessalonians 2:3-10 NASB

3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the
apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son
of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-
called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the
temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember
that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6
And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be
revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only
he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8
Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with
the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His
coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the
activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and
with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because
they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

2 Thessalonians speaks of a man of lawlessness who will appear on the
earth in the end times. Who is this man of lawlessness? He is given
many names in the Bible, but the one most commonly associated with
him is the Antichrist. However, there are numerous references to him
from the beginning of the Bible until the end. He is referred to as
all of the following:

The Serpent's Seed – Genesis3:15
The Wicked Man – Psalm 10
The Assyrian – Isaiah 10:5, 12
The King of Babylon – Isaiah 14:4
The Oppressor and Aggressor – Isaiah 16:4
The Little Horn – Daniel 7:8
The Profane King – Daniel 7:25-27
The Stern-faced King – Daniel 8:23-25
The Coming Prince – Daniel 9:26-27
The Worthless Shepherd – Zechariah 11:11-16
The One Who Comes in His Own Name – John 5:43
The Man of Lawlessness – 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 8
The Antichrist – 1 John 2:18
The Beast – Revelation 13:18, 17:12-17, 19:19-21
There are many who think that we are living in the end times today
and that Jesus Christi could come at any time to take His church away
to be with Him. If this is true, then the Antichrist would be alive
and on the earth today. However, we should not be quick to name the
Antichrist if he is alive on earth today for it would be foolish.
The Antichrist will rise suddenly and out of obscurity.

7 Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast, terrifying,
dreadful, and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with
huge iron teeth and trampled what was left beneath its feet. It was
different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns. 8 As I
was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among
them. Three of the first horns were wrenched out, roots and all, to
make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a
mouth that was boasting arrogantly. (Daniel 7:7-8). NLT

It is my belief that the church will not discover the identity of the
Antichrist as we will be raptured before he is revealed. However,
when a seven year covenant of peace is confirmed with Israel, those
on earth may know who he is.

establishes His
kingdom on earth.

[amoni]

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