Who is the antichrist?...01/20/2013 Rev 13
Some of us remember years ago when you used to hear on your black and white TV, "Look, up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, no it’s Superman"
This man was a super human who could perform amazing things. ****He was able to leap tall buildings in a single bound…more powerful than a locomotive…..always saving Lois Lane at the last second.
He was my hero back in the 50’s as a young boy…never missed a episode ….after watching Superman one Saturday morning…I got one of my Moms bath towels off the cloths line …tied it around my neck jumping and leaping and wondering why I couldn’t fly….
I headed for the feed barn …climbed up the ladder to the loft and jumped…you might have guessed…even with my sweet Moms big ol bath towel I couldn’t fly and hit the ground….Lord was with me though…not a broken bone or scratch…but, my Mom left strips on Supermans legs for getting her towel dirty.
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There is coming a powerful leader during the seven-year tribulation period.
The Bible says much about this world leader.
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John introduced this man in Revelation in 6:2: And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer
He is riding a white horse, signifying peace-- a world peacemaker. His weapon is a bow with no arrows, signifying that he gains victory by politics or worldly 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 and the surrounding nations according to (Dan. 9:27).
He goes into the world as a conqueror with one thing in mind
To be a world emperor.
He is "Antichrist - the Man of Sin".
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Folks the world is desperate for a Saviour these days…but, one who will rescue them from all their self-inflicted problems.
Many have rejected and many more will continue to reject Jesus as their Saviour.
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It’s obvious that our country has turned its back on the God we serve….the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob …the living God that came to this Earth as Jesus Christ the one who Apostle Paul said in Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
But not only America is blinded by their own self-centered pride but, leaders all over the world look for an answer and then blame each other if something doesn’t work.
The constant threat of war, economic uncertainty, terrorism, disease, we need some kind of healthcare that would be fair and affordable to everyone.
They say it gets harder and harder to do world trade because of the different in the value of currencies in all countries.
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All the problems of the world are preparing to accept what will be its last great human world leader…the antichrist…which the Bible describes in detail.
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We won’t have time tonight to go through every detail but, we will look some things about him…...
his character …where he comes from and maybe part of his plan.
Lets start in Revelation chapter 13 and verse 4…and lets look at the antichrist character first.
Revelation 13:
4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
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We see in verse 4 that he has the character of Satan because that’s who gives him the power…
This man will be filled with the spirit of Satan….possessed you might say….a human filled with the spirit of the Devil.
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Verse 4 also says they will worship the dragon….which is Satan because he gave his authority to this beast the Bible calls him.
They worshipped the beast, saying, who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?.....he is a very smooth talker.
This is a great time for Satan….he is enjoying every minute of it.
The whole world is going to worship him during this time….the world of unbelievers at that time might think….this is great
***Christians talked about having faith and worshiping someone we can’t see but, now we have someone we can see and he is powerful…the whole world is his friend because he has super powers…he is our superman…..super hero….but, all that changes very quick.
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Verse 5 says this man will be given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and authority to continue forty and two months…..or 3 ½ years…..
Remember that the tribulation is 7 years and the last half which is 3 ½ years is the great tribulation.
This man will bring peace to the Middle East like no other leader in history and even sign a peace treaty with Israel ….but he will break the treaty in the middle of that 7 years and there will be a time of trouble like the world has never seen Jesus said …nor will it happen again.
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This guy will be the greatest politician that the world has ever known…he will be given powers by Satan to speak great things…..but, God will still have His hand on this world….nothing gets out of hand ….nothing goes on that God does not allow.
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God is giving this man that’s filled with Satan’s spirit 3 ½ years to act as a world ruler.
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God even will allow him to blast His holy name
He will let Satan have His rage against Him just for a short time..
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Keep in mind that “the beast” is a counterfeit Christ. The world would not receive Christ, but it will receive Antichrist
Jesus said Himself in John 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive
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The world would not believe the truth, but they will believe the lie.
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Jesus spoke and still speaks grace, mercy and of salvation, but folks will listen to the blasphemous words of “the beast.”
The world will not worship the Christ, but they will bow down to Antichrist.
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He will also be identified by the number 666 during the tribulation.
Revelation 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
The Antichrist will be recognized by 666.
**********People have always speculated who he might be but, no one knows and Gods people will not be here to find out for sure
To those who are left behind his identity will be plain and the meaning of that number will be very clear to them.
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Some of you may have heard this but, you can look at the 6th book of the New Testament the 6th chapter and the 6th verse and the 6th word…..interesting…6 is the number of man the Bible says….in Rev 13:18 it works with a KJV…its Romans 6:6..6th word..man
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********2 Thessalonians 2: 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition
for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first,
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Here is another of the antichrist character….Paul calls him “the man of sin…..the son of perdition”….
***Interesting...Perdition/ per-dish-uh n…means: a state of final spiritual ruin; loss of the soul; damnation
Paul knows this mans finial destiny is to be thrown into the lake of fire.
I think the man of sin sums him up pretty well also.
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There is for sure a falling away ……world turning their back on God….falling way from the truth….accepting a lie…. then the antichrist will be revealed.
Sounds like we are in that time don’t it?
****Falling away from God doesn’t happen overnight…most of the time it’s a process …little by little by compromising Gods word….and that’s true with an individual or a nation.
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The antichrist will be revealed only after the church has been removed….the church is those that are saved…not the building.
Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
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Also you can backup to… I Thessalonians 4:17-18 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.*****
****I Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
So we the saved will not be here during the start of the tribulation and that’s when the antichrist will be revealed.
I always like to say that if you find out for sure who the antichrist is …..then you have missed the Rapture.
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Where will this man of sin come from?….some think that Obama is the antichrist….some say the Pope….some even say Hilary Clinton….George Bush.
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But, Biblical evident say he will come out of the revived Roman empire that will be put back together in the last days
…….so let’s look at some of the evident.
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In Daniel chapter 11 Daniel was revealed a future king by the name of Antiochus IV Epiphanies ....he was the king of Syria….or king of the north the Bible calls him….he was a faint image of the coming antichrist….why is that believed?....
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Because Daniel is given in detail by an Angel the description of Antiochus IV Epiphanies to describing the antichrist starting in verse 36 of chapter 11 of Daniel.
**** Daniel was given amazing facts about the future of Gods people and we can read it in our history books and see that it has passed with great detail.
But, then starting in verse 36 of chapter 11 of Daniel….we see the future in our time….and I’m sure it will come to past just as all of the prophesy God has allowed us to read about.
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Daniel chapter 11 and verse 36 describes the antichrist…listen to the description compared to the one in Revelation 13 :4 in our study tonight……
Daniel chapter 11 and verse
36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
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If you read on till the end of chapter 11 it tells how he will take countries and they will give over to this man of sin because he is a smooth talker…. a deceiver…a liar…a promise breaker.
He will put together what is called at the end time…the revived Roman Empire and that’s the reason most of the evident points to him coming from that area ….
*****There is much speculation as to the area but, most believe Antichrist will come from the Eastern part of the Revived Roman Empire ***Babylonian, Persian and Grecian Empires.
These are essentially the Islamic nations of the Middle East and Africa, and include Syria, Libya, Iraq, Iran, Turkey and so on.
I believe personally he will come from Syria because in Daniel chapter 11 you read that Antiochus IV Epiphanies is the king of the north or modern day Syria.
His plan is to dominate to world and the world bow to him.
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By the way…….nowhere in the Bible is America mentioned so ….maybe it has been destroyed ….fell apart from within like the old Roman Empire…no one knows and God doesn’t tell us.
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Why did God leave all this information about the future of the world?...
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God sends out a warning to the non-believer with prophecy.
***He validates His word with prophecy..
***Gods prophecy to us His children show His grace and how He not only saves us from this terrible time to come….but, gives us assurance that His promises to us will come to pass.
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The angel told Daniel in….
Daniel 8:19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.
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The world can vote in another world ruler just as they did hundreds of years ago…..but God says for at the time appointed the end shall be.
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Satan will blast our Lords name but for at the time appointed the end shall be.
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People can plan their future without God…they can reject His plan of salvation and His love for them. But…for at the time appointed the end shall be.
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Our Lord is not pacing the floor of heaven wondering what will happen next……our God is always in control.
…..It’s just that…… for at the time appointed the end shall be.
Love in Christ Jesus, Ronnie Miller
www.themillersbiblestudy.com
