WHO IS THE ANTICHRIST?

ANTICHRIST

DAN GREENUP

TABLE OF CON TENTS

GEOGRAPHY ETHNICITY RESURRECTION INVASION PERSECUTION DESTRUCTION

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GEOGRAPHY The Antichrist is known by many names. One of these names is the Assyrian (Micah 5:1-6). Well, the Assyrian Empire was based in Syria and Iraq, which means the Antichrist will have some kind of connection to this geographic area. On top of that, the Antichrist is called the King of the North (Daniel 11:36-45). This title described the leaders of the Seleucid Empire, which was also based in Syria and Iraq (Daniel 11:1-21). The Antichrist is depicted as a little horn rising out of the Seleucid Empire, growing in power to the south, to the east and toward Israel (Daniel 8:9, 19-25). In other words, he must come to power in the western portion of Syria, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, if he’s going to conquer to the south, to the east and toward Israel.

BOTTOM LINE The Antichrist will rise to power in Syria.

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ETHNICITY Although the Antichrist will rise in Syria, he won’t be ethnically Syrian. In fact, he’s going to be a foreign leader (Daniel 11:2122). To determine the Antichrist’s specific ethnicity, let’s look at another one of his names: Gog (Ezekiel 38:1-17). Gog will come against Israel during the end times (Ezekiel 38:17), and when he is defeated, the survivors of Israel will know the Lord forever (Ezekiel 39:22). Gog is of Magog and the head ruler of Meshek and Tubal at the time of the end (Ezekiel 38:2). Since these three gentlemen are listed as sons of Japheth, one of Noah’s sons, Magog, Meshek and Tubal are referring to people groups, not places (Genesis 10:1-2). This prophecy is for the end times, so where did these three people groups eventually settle? While they settled in lots of places, all three of them have strong connections to Russia. Magog is commonly associated with Slavic-speaking peoples, Meshek is commonly associated with Moscow, and Tubal is commonly associated with Tobolsk in the Siberian region of Russia. Hodge, B. The Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2013), p. 179-180.

BOTTOM LINE The Antichrist will be ethnically Slavic, and the ruler of Russia at the time of the end.

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RESURRECTION In his vision, John saw a beast with seven heads and ten horns (Revelation 13:1; 17:9-11). One of the heads looked as if it had been mortally wounded, but his deadly wound was healed and the whole world followed the beast (Revelation 13:3). Earlier in his vision, John saw a Lamb as if it had been slain (Revelation 5:6). The Lamb is Jesus and He didn’t just appear to be dead. He really died and rose again. Since the same ‘as if’ phrase is used of the Antichrist, he’s also going to die and rise again. When the Antichrist’s deadly wound is healed, the world will worship him (Revelation 13:4). Now, many people argue that the healing of the deadly head wound refers to the resurrection of a past empire. Yet, the seven heads represent seven heads of state (Revelation 17:10). The Antichrist is described as the beast who was and is not, and is himself an eighth head of state like the other seven (Revelation 17:11). Empires come and go, but people don’t rise from the dead very often. What’s more likely to inspire worship, the regathering of a group of nations or a legitimate resurrection?

BOTTOM LINE The Antichrist is a coming head of state who will live, die, and miraculously come back to life.

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INVASION After seizing Syria, a massive military force will come against the Antichrist, but he will defeat them (Daniel 11:21-22). The military force will include Israel (Daniel 11:22). After the conflict, an alliance will be made with the Antichrist (Daniel 11:23). This will be the seven-year covenant Israel and many other nations make with the Antichrist that begins the countdown to the Day of the Lord (Daniel 9:27). Well, after his resurrection, the Antichrist will lead a massive, multi-national force against Israel (Ezekiel 38). This will occur halfway through his seven-year covenant (Daniel 9:27; 11:31). He will sit in the Temple and declare himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4). This event is known as the Abomination of Desolation. It begins a period of violent persecution of Christians, known as the Great Tribulation (Daniel 11:31; Matthew 24:9-21). The Antichrist’s invasion will begin a war that lasts until the end (Daniel 9:26). This war will be finished at the Battle of Armageddon (Ezekiel 39:8, 17-21; Revelation 16:16).

BOTTOM LINE Halfway through the Antichrist’s seven-year covenant with Israel, he will invade Jerusalem, desolate the Temple, declare himself to be God and begin violently persecuting Christians.

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PERSECUTION At this point, the Antichrist will have complete economic and religious control over the world (Revelation 13:7). Everyone will have to take his mark on their right hand or forehead to buy and sell (Revelation 13:16-17). Likewise, everyone will have to worship his image, or they will be killed (Revelation 13:14-15). The Antichrist will have authority for 42 months to violently persecute Christfollowers and overcome us (Revelation 13:5-7). The Great Tribulation will require faithful endurance on the part of Christians (Revelation 13:10).

BOTTOM LINE The Antichrist will have authority to violently persecute Christians all over the world for a short time.

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DESTRUCTION At the appointed time, God will rescue His followers (Revelation 7:9-17). This is what Jesus meant when He explained that the Great Tribulation would be cut short by His appearing to gather His followers (Matthew 24:22-31). This is popularly known as the Rapture. After this, God will pour out His wrath upon the Antichrist during the Day of the Lord (Revelation 8-9; 11:15-19; 16). Eventually, the nations of the earth and the Antichrist are going to join forces against King Jesus. They will oppose Him at the Battle of Armageddon, and they will be destroyed (Revelation 16:16; 19:19). The Antichrist will then be tossed into the Lake of Fire, where He will be tormented for eternity (Revelation 19:20; 20:10).

BOTTOM LINE Satan and the Antichrist lose. Jesus and His followers win.

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