The Antichrist (The fake or false Christ)
Intro: Connecting both sermons (timeline illustration)
The 70 weeks of Daniel
- 7 (49 yrs) – decree to rebuild until completion by Nehemias (Nehemiah 2:1-8)
- 62 (434 yrs)– from then until Jesus “the anointed one” is crucified and the city destroyed (70 AD)
- Total of 69 weeks of years = 483 years)
- Emphasize the precision in dates – March 14 445 BC – Nehemiah 2:1-8) -
Writer Robert Anderson – The Coming Prince = 483 years after March 14, 445 BC {360 lunar calendar} = April 6, 32 AD = Nissan 10, 32 AD = until a ruler, the Anointed One, comes. (Precise arrival of the messiah in Jerusalem – the triumphal entry). - The day they select the sacrificial lamb for passover = The triumphal entry)
Luke 19:41-44 - New Living Translation
Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem
41 But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. 42 “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. 43 Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. 44 They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.[a]”
- What are WE missing out? Would Jesus tell us a similar message?
- Emphasize the time in which we live now - just before the final week (70) – The Church ERA – explain.
- This is our time and it is running out – to do things with everlasting or eternal impact
- The 70th week is the tribulation when the antichrist will reign, govern.
The Antichrist (The fake or false Christ)
–Lets go to the Bible
John wrote Revelation 96 ad in Patmos
1 John 2:18 – to a wide circle – universal epistles – wide circulations. Writes this before Revelations – he emphasized that they knew the Antichrist was coming –
1 John 2:18 - New Living Translation
Warning about Antichrists
18 Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come.
- 4 mentions – all by John (3 mentions in 1 John, One mention in 2 John) Why?? It was common in the NT church teaching.
2 Thessalonians 2:5-10
New Living Translation
5 Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? 6 And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. 7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.
9 This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.
- What was the source material for the NT church? – The Old Testament
- +100 passages that describe the Antichrist (enough reasons to care about the topic)
- Daniel 7 – 4 beasts V.8 - Last beast 10 horns – the little horn that replaces 3 horns (Rome)
Daniel 7:8 - New Living Translation
8 As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly.
Daniel 7:21 - New Living Translation
21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against God’s holy people and was defeating them,
Daniel 7:23 - New Living Translation
23 Then he said to me, “This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling and crushing everything in its path.
Daniel 8:23-25 - New Living Translation
23 “At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. 25 He will be a master of deception and will become arrogant; he will destroy many without warning. He will even take on the Prince of princes in battle, but he will be broken, though not by human power.
Daniel 11:37 - King James Version
37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
Daniel 11:37 - New Living Translation
37 He will have no respect for the gods of his ancestors, or for the god loved by women, or for any other god, for he will boast that he is greater than them all.
Rev 13:11-18 brings it all together
Revelation 13:11-18 - New Living Translation
The Beast out of the Earth
11 Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, but he spoke with the voice of a dragon. 12 He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and its people to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching. 14 And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life. 15 He was then permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die.
16 He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. 17 And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. 18 Wisdom is needed here. Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man.[a] His number is 666.
- Religion plus politics – the spirit of Babylon in Europe – Constantinople (Istanbul)
1. His Titles:
In the Bible, the Antichrist is referred to by various titles or descriptions, including:
The Antichrist: This term is explicitly used in the Bible to denote a figure who opposes Christ and embodies evil.
1 John 2:18 - "Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour."
The Man of Lawlessness: This title emphasizes the Antichrist's rebellion against God's law and order.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 - "Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,"
The Beast: This symbolic title highlights the Antichrist's monstrous and destructive nature.
Revelation 13:1 - "And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads."
The Little Horn: This title is used in the book of Daniel to describe a powerful and boastful ruler, the Antichrist.
Daniel 7:8 - "I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things."
The Man of Sin: This title emphasizes the Antichrist's sinful and rebellious nature.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 - "Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,"
The Son of Perdition: This title emphasizes the Antichrist's destined destruction and judgment.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 - "Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,"
The Adversary: This title highlights the Antichrist's opposition to God and His people.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 - "who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God."
2. His Nature
the Antichrist is a figure prophesied in the Bible, particularly in the New Testament, who opposes Christ and embodies evil. The characteristics of the Antichrist are described in various biblical passages, including:
Deceptive Nature: The Antichrist is described as being deceitful and capable of leading people astray with false teachings and miracles.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 - "The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved."
Fake Trinity (Satan (dragon), His son the antichrist (The beast) and his false prophet) His mediator – assistant – Rev 13:11; the false prophet
Blasphemy: The Antichrist is known for blasphemous speech against God and His followers.
Revelation 13:5-6 - "And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven."
Opposition to Christ: The Antichrist is characterized by his opposition to Jesus Christ and His teachings.
1 John 2:22 - "Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son."
Persecution of Believers: The Antichrist is predicted to persecute and wage war against believers in Christ.
Revelation 13:7 - "Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation."
Prideful and Self-Exalting: The Antichrist exalts himself above all, even to the point of proclaiming himself as God.
2 Thessalonians 2:4 - "He opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God."
Worldly Authority: The Antichrist gains significant political and worldly authority, often leading to widespread influence and control.
Revelation 13:7 - "And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation."
Miraculous Abilities: The Antichrist is associated with performing false signs and wonders to deceive people.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 - "The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders."
Temporal Reign: The Antichrist's reign is temporary and will ultimately be defeated by Jesus Christ.
Revelation 19:20 - "And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur."
3. When would he come?
2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 - New Living Translation
6 And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. 7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way.
- He could be alive now – Gary Frazier – Signs of the Coming of Christ
- Are we ready for a new world order?
- How can we interpret the current events in Israel?
4. What are we to do today?
- Are you an antichrist?
- Now is the time to know the real Christ
Revelation 13:8 - New Living Translation
8 And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made.
