THE ANTICHRIST AND HIS PROPHET

There are two individuals in the Scriptures that are called "the son of perdition":  Judas Iscariot (Jn. 17:12), and the Antichrist (2 Thes. 2:3).  "Perdition" is translated from the Greek ἀπώλεια (apōleia), which means "destruction" or "ruin."  It is actually translated "destruction" five times (Mt. 7:13; Rom. 9:22; Phil. 3:19; 2 Pet. 2:1; 3:16).  Another translation of ἀπώλεια is very telling; it is translated "waste" in reference to the "waste" of money at the anointing of Jesus (Mt. 26:8; Mk. 14:4).  According to Judas, the spikenard was worth 300 pence (about a year's salary - cp. Jn. 12:3-5 w/ Mt. 20:2-13).  While I cannot prove this, I am convinced that it was not until Judas became possessed by Satan that he actually became "the son of perdition" (Jn. 13:27). 

We seem to see the same thing occur to the Antichrist following his "mortal head wound"; notice we are told it is the wounded Beast that has been empowered by Satan (Rev. 13:1-4).  Perhaps it is this very "possession" that marks the turning point in Daniel's Seventieth Week (Dan. 9:27).  The Antichrist arrives on the scene in Revelation 6:2, and for three and a half years, he protects Israel (Dan. 9:27a; Mt. 24:3-14; Rev. 6 - 11).  But in Revelation 12 - 13, three and a half years later, suddenly he is described as blasphemous, anti-Israel, and he commits the Abomination of Desolation (Dan. 9:27b; Mt. 24:15-28; Rev. 13:1-10). 

Last night, Pastor was teaching about another sudden change which occurs.  He was teaching on the difference between how the "kings of the earth" felt about the woman called "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (Rev. 17:5; 18:2), before she was "destroyed," and after.  [Note:  In addition to her name, Babylon the great, we know "she" is the same person by comparing the description of her in the two chapters (Rev. 17:4; 18:16)]. 

Pastor described "her" as being the Laodicean Church, the one-world church made up entirely of the "tares" following the Rapture of the true Church (Mt. 13:24-30, 36-43; Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Thes. 4:16-17; Rev. 3:14-22).  The "kings of the earth" hate her (Rev. 17:16).  But in the following chapter, "she" is represented as having to do with the world economy, and when "she" collapses, the "kings of the earth" mourn her "passing" (Rev. 18:9).

That "got me to a-thinkin'," what one character in Revelation has to do with both the control of the world religion (the worship of the Beast - Rev. 13:12), and the world economy (the mark of the Beast - Rev. 13:16-18)?  It is the False Prophet!  Could the "fall" of the religion of the Antichrist be the destruction of the Vatican, and the destruction of the world economy be the destruction of the very city in which the Vatican stands today:  Rome?

Just some thoughts of an old man; Happy Feast of Trumpets!