Understanding The Antichrist - Part I



by Jerry Robinson JerryRobinson.org

"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion:
and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 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?"
(Rev. 13:1-3)

Much confusion and misinformation surrounds the biblical teaching of the coming Antichrist (Greek= 'ho antichristos'). The following outline contains information that I have gathered from several different cited sources over the last few months for study purposes. Consider it an working outline. It should be read as such.

Facts About the Biblical Antichrist

  • The Antichrist is a man who will rule a global empire at the end of the age.
  • He will make a peace treaty with many nations, including Israel, for seven years.
  • He will eventually set up his kingdom in Jerusalem.
  • He will instigate the final battle of the ages called Armageddon.

    The Antichrist will be a master of war. He will use WMD's in order to control entire nations. Those who do not convert to his camp will be beheaded and others will be forced into starvation. (See Rev. 13:15-17, Rev. 20:4).

    Around 90 A.D., the apostle John penned his 3 epistles. He used the term Antichrist 4 times.
    (See 1 John 2:18; 22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7)

    Now the antichrist spirit existed in John's day but the Bible says that at the end of days, one man will appear who will be the prince of darkness, a son of perdition, who is identified as 'the Antichrist.' In 2 John 1:7, the Greek uses the definite article, 'ho antichristos', meaning 'The Antichrist'

    According to 1 John 2:22, the spirit of antichrist and 'The Antichrist' always deny three things:

  • Both deny the deity of Jesus Christ
  • Both deny that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
  • Both deny the relationship between the Father and the Son.

    To the Jew: Jesus was simply a man of history who formed a new religion
    To the Muslim: Jesus was one of the prophets of Allah
    To the Christian: Jesus is the son of the living God, Savior of the World.

    The Bible gives several different names to the Antichrist:

  • The Little Horn (Dan. 7:8)
  • King of Fierce Countenance (8:23)
  • The Prince that shall come (9:26)
  • The willful king (11:36)
  • The Man of Sin (2 Thess. 2:3)
  • The Son of Perdition
  • The Beast (Rev. 11:7)

    Daniel's Four Beasts (Four World Empires):

  • Babylonian Empire
  • Medo-Persian Empire
  • Grecian Empire
  • Roman Empire

    Interestingly, these former world empires shared some common elements:

    1) All four empires ruled the Mediterranean sea area.

    2) All four invaded and controlled Egypt

    3) All 4 were involved in dealing with the Jews and Israel

    4) All 4 were involved in dealing with Jerusalem and the Temple

    5) All 4 were gentile empires with gentile rulers

    6) 3 of the 4 ruled from Babylon

    The Fourth Empire was the Roman Empire. History tells us that eventually the empire split and and became a dual empire with a one capital in Rome, and another in Constantinople.
    This explains why Nebuchadnezzar envisioned this particular empire as the two legs of a tall metallic statue. Both the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation make it clear that out of this Fourth Empire will emerge the final empire of prophecy. This final empire is described as a beast with 10 horns that represent 10 kings ruling over 10 kingdoms that will form and unite at the end of days. (READ DAN. 7:7, 24; READ REV. 17:12, 16)

    Similarly, the book of Daniel explains that the two legs of iron (Roman Empire) would eventually produce 10 toes which are the same 10 kings and kingdoms identified by both Daniel and Revelation.

    Note: The Roman Empire brings to most people's minds the countries of Italy, France, Germany, etc. Rarely do people consider and factor in these nations listed below as also belonging to the ancient Roman Empire:

  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia
  • Libya
  • Morocco
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Syria
  • Iraq
  • Turkey

    In essence, a major part of today's Middle Eastern countries belonged to the Roman Empire and therefore were part of Daniel's Fourth Beast.

    Daniel prophesied that the Antichrist would subdue three kings on his rise to power (Dan. 7:24) Early church documents show that the early church fathers believed these three kings to be: Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia.

    For example, consider the following quote from The Treatise of Christ and Antichrist by the early church father, Hippolytus: "That three horns are plucked up by the root by him (antichrist), viz., the three kings of Egypt, and Libya, and Ethiopia"

    Of course, this agrees with completely with scripture (SEE DAN. 11:43) All three of these nations have a strong radical Islamic element that is leading to a strong anti-West, and anti-Israel stance.

    In The Days Of Those Kings...

    Before this becomes too much doom and gloom, let's gain some overall perspective by considering the final outcome of this man-made disaster.

    "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." -Dan. 2:44 (KJV)

    In the days of what kings? The final 10 kings. This scripture tells us that when these 10 kings are setting up their kingdoms on earth, Christ will be preparing his final plans to set up his visible kingdom in Jerusalem! Rejoice!

    Simliarities found in the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation

    1) Both saw a final period of 7 years

  • Dan. 9:27= 1 week
  • Rev. 42 months + 42 months

    2) Both saw a final 42 months of world history

  • Dan. 12:7 = Time, times, dividing of time
  • Rev. 12:6 = 1,260 days (3 1/2 yrs)

    3) Both identify the Antichrist as a beast

  • Dan. 7:7 = Fourth beast rising
  • Rev. 13:1 = Beast rising from the sea

    4) Both reveal a time of great trouble on the earth

  • Dan. 12:1 = Time such as never was or ever shall be
  • Rev. 12:7-10 = Time of wrath & trouble

    5) Both saw Michael the archangel

  • Dan. 12:1 = Michael stands up at the time of trouble
  • Rev. 12:7 = Michael warring Satan in heaven

    6) Both saw 10 kings that would arise at the end of days

  • Dan. 7:24 = 10 horns are 10 kings
  • Rev. 13:1 = Beast with 10 horns represting 10 kings

    7) Both saw the return of the Lord at the conclusion of the tribulation

  • Dan. 7:13,14 = Everlasting kingdom
  • Rev. 19:11 = Lord Jesus Christ returning to make war


    Read Part II: Calling Al Mahdi, Understanding the Antichrist Part II

    References

    (1) Unleashing the Beast by Perry Stone, Jr.

    (2) A History of the Jews by Solomon Grayzel