THE ANTICHRIST

THE ANTICHRIST

Daniel 9:26-27 - "And after threescore and two weeks (a total of 69 wks, or 483 yrs.) shall Messiah be cut off (killed), but not for Himself (He will be crucified for the sins of the whole world - 1 Jn. 2:2): and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.  And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week ("Daniel's Seventieth Week" or 7 yrs.): and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."

[Note:  The "people of the prince that shall come" have to be Romans, since it was Rome that destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in A.D. 70.  Therefore, the "prince" will have to come from the territory once controlled by the Roman Empire.  He will "confirm the covenant" for seven years, but will break it half way through it (1260 days - Rev. 11:3; or 42 months - Rev. 11:2; or "time, times, and an half a time" - Rev. 12:14).  For the first half of the "week," Israel believes he is their long-awaited Messiah.  He is "Antichrist," (1 Jn. 2:18), meaning an impersonator of Christ.  For the second 3 1/2 years, he is "The Beast" (Rev. 13:1-10), meaning "against Christ" when he is empowered by "The Dragon" (Satan Rev. 13:2; 20:2) This becomes clear to Israel when he declares himself to be God, and blasphemes God (Mt. 24:15; Rev. 13:1-10)]!

THE BEAST

Revelation 13:1-10 - "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?  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.  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.  If any man have an ear, let him hear.  He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.  Here is the patience and the faith of the saints."

[Note:  Nearly every student of end-time prophecy, understands that there will be a Temple built by Israel prior to The Beast committing the Abomination of Desolation.  And yet, notice that he blasphemes God and His "Tabernacle" (v. 6).  The Greek word translated "tabernacle," is  σκηνή (skēnē), which occurs 20 times in 20 verses in the Greek concordance of the KJV.  Nineteen of those times, it refers to "a tent, tabernacle, (made of green boughs, or skins or other materials), the well- known movable temple of God after the pattern of which the temple at Jerusalem was built."

Thank God the Church will be in heaven when this all takes place

(Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Cor. 15:50-54; 1 Th. 4:13-18)!