THE ANTICHRIST: PART THREE

Just as Satan comes to deceive wearing the disguise of an angel of light, those who are his, including the antichrist, are disguised as well, being "transformed into ministers of righteousness" (2 Cor. 11:14-15). Satan is called the father of lies (Jn. 8:44). The antichrist lies, pretending to come in peace, and all-the-while, his intent is to enslave the world (Dan. 8:25; 9:27; 11:21).

Looking up "deceive" in the New Testament, I found the word appears in thirty-six verses. We are warned to be careful that we are not deceived by men (Matt. 24:4), by false Christs (Matt. 24:5), by false prophets (Matt. 24:24), by sin (Rom. 7:11), by good words and fair speeches (Rom. 16:18), by the antichrist (2 Jn. 1:7), by miracles (Rev. 13:14), by sorcery (Rev. 18:23), and by Satan (Rev. 20:8).

It is clear that man is more susceptible to being fooled by Satan into submission, than he is to being forced. Millions will die as martyrs rather than submit to the antichrist:

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9-14).

Just as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is reluctant to reveal that it teaches that God was once a man, and the Masons do not reveal to prospective members that their name for God is Lucifer, neither will the antichrist reveal his league with Satan, his thirst for world power, and his hatred for the God's chosen people, Israel. And while mankind is constantly being misled by the enemies of God, the one who is man's greatest enemy when it come to deceit, is man himself (1 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 6:3; Jam. 1:26; 1 Jn. 1:8)!

Lord willing, tomorrow I want to focus upon the antichrist as revealed in the Book of Daniel.