Antichrist–A brief overview of what the Bible says (By Pastor Ray)

Notd below is a link to a teaching from Pastor Ray  on the topic of THE ANTICHRIST.    The brief study presents an overview of what the Bible says about the nature, work and fate of the Antichrist.

This teaching is presented by Restoration Church. Restoration Church.  Please visit  www.RestorationChurchCamano.com  for links to writings and video teachings on Prophecy,Discipleship and The Gospels.

The Antichrist

   Defining the term antichrist:

^7 .…many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.   2 John 7

³ …every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.  1 John 4:3

           The timing of his coming:

• The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons   1 Tim. 4:1         False teachers are already here. The Antichrist is likely a human alive today, but has not yet revealed himself or come to power. This can not happen until the prophecy noted below (2 Thess. 2:3, 7-8) is fulfilled.
• ³ Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed…For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back [the Holy Spirit] will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way [a reference to the Rapture]… And then the lawless one will be revealed,  2 Thess. 2:3, 7-8   
• He will confirm a covenant for 7 years – Daniel 9:27

         His character/nature:

• ⁹ The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. There will be displays of power, signs and wonders that serve the lie.      2 Thess. 2:9
• The antichrist will be preceded by 7 kings or rulers. He will be the 8th king. He will also be “of” the 7  (Rev. 17:11 / Daniel)                                   
• The antichrist will be a man – Daniel 7:24-25
• He will have a fierce countenance – Daniel 8:23
• His look will be more stout than his fellows – Daniel 7:20.         This can have several meanings. It could mean the antichrist will be larger in size than others, will be older than others, will have more   of a “following” than others, is of  higher military or political rank than others, or is more qualified than others.  

• He will speak of great things. Very boastful – Daniel 7:8
• He will be unusually wise and cunning – Daniel 8:23
• He will prosper in everything that he does – Daniel 8:24  
• He will not regard the desire of women – Daniel 11:37
• He will speak blasphemous  things against the God of gods – Daniel 11:36
• He  will sit in the temple of God, and claim to be God – 2 Thessalonians 2:4

           Peculiar aspects to his rule:

• He will be  exalted by a miracle-working religious partner (the false prophet) – Rev. 13:11-12
• He will cause craft to prosper – Daniel 8:25        It is interesting to note the definition of the word “craft” here. The word in the original text is mirmah (meer-maw’), meaning deceiving; fraud, deceit, false, feigned, guile, subtly, and treachery. 
• He was, and is not, and yet is – Rev. 17:8     Many believe this to be a reference to overcoming an apparently fatal wound. Some believe this is referring to political power. That is, the antichrist will have ruled, but then be taken out of power, only to rise again to power as head of the One World Government.

• ³ One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast.  Rev. 13:3

            The early part of his rule

• He will rise among 10 kings – Daniel 7:8  (Daniel 2)
• He will oversee a 10 nation union – perhaps a form of a revived Roman Empire – Daniel 2:44
• He will uproot 3 kings from the 10 nations noted above – Daniel 7:8
• He will ascend to power on a platform of peace. By peace, he will destroy many – Daniel 8:25
• His 10 nation union will merge into a world government which he will dominate – Rev. 13:1-2
• He will rule a mighty and strong kingdom – Daniel 7:7
• He will have power over all kindreds, tongues and nations – Rev. 13:7
• His kingdom will devour the whole earth – Daniel 7:23
• A great military power that will stand behind him, to enforce his laws – Daniel 11:31
• He will plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain – Daniel 11:45    Perhaps the Antichrist will setup small “fortifications” in between the sea and Jerusalem, to help keep control over things in distant areas  . 

           The latter part of his rule

• He apparently assumes world dominating power 3 1/2 years after he confirms the covenant. He then will continue to reign for 42 months – Rev. 13:5

• Setting up the Abomination of Desolation is the event that signals the beginning of this final 42 months         – Daniel 9:27
• He will have an image made after him – Rev. 15:2
• He will take away the daily sacrifices from the temple – Daniel 11:31
• He will seek to control the ability to buy/sell, and force worship unto himself, via the  mark of the beast       - Rev. 14:11
• All that dwell upon the Earth will be forced to worship him, or face death    – Rev. 15:2

• During this time, the antichrist will scatter the power of the holy people – Daniel 12:7
• He will continue warring against God’s people for 3 1/2 years – Daniel 7:21, 25;  Rev. 13:7

• He will wage war in the campaign of Armageddon – Rev. 17:14
• The focus of his warring will be God’s people, Israel and Jerusalem:  Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when …the nations [will]  gather against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle…  Zech. 14:1-2

         His fate

• He will stand against the Prince of princes – Daniel 8:25
• The Lord will consume him with the spirit of his mouth (which is the Word of God) – 2 Thessalonians 2:8
• He will be cast alive into the lake of fire – Rev. 19:20
• He will be tormented day and night for ever and ever – Rev. 20:10