THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ANTICHRIST

Grace unto you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Today we continue to write to you all concerning the Man of Sin, called the Antichrist, who also our Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth and the brightness of His coming on that day, even the great day of the Lord God ALMIGHTY.

In the general sense, anyone against Christ is anti-Christ so that going by this reasoning, there are many antichrists out there (1 John 2:18, 22, 4:3, 2 John 7). Yet still, the Antichrist who is also called the Man of Sin, a mortal man who also will gather the nations of the earth together in the time of the end against Christ and His saints, is a specific man that is yet to come. Does the Lord know who this man is? Yes. Can he reveal who this man is to His prophets (Amos 3:7)? Yes, if He (the Lord) chooses. The Lord Himself chooses what He reveals to men, and also who He reveals to, and no one can question Him ‘why’ for He only is the Lord. So then, is it possible to know who the Antichrist is? Yes. Does the scripture speak concerning him? Yes, for this is how we come to call him the Antichrist. He is called the Antichrist (1 John 2:18), the Assyrian (Isa 10:20-27, 14:24-27, 30:18-33, 31:4-32:20, Micah 5:3-15), the King of Babylon which is literal IRAQ (Isa 14:4), the Spoiler (Isa 16:4), the Little Horn (Dan 7:8, 24, 8:9, 23), the Prince that Shall Come (Dan 9:26-27), the King of the North (Dan 11:5-45), the Man of Sin (2 Thess 2:1-12), the Son of Perdition (2 Thess 2:1-12), the Wicked (Isa 11:4), and the Beast (Dan 7:11, Rev 13) amongst many others. So with all these names, we all do agree that much is said concerning him in the Holy Scriptures.

So then, when shall he arise from his place? The phrase when the transgressors are come to the full in Dan 8:23 reveals clearly the time of his coming into prominence. He will come in the last days when sin and iniquity shall abound and the time has come for transgressors on earth to be dealt with and put down (Dan 8:23, 7:21-22, 9:27, 11:36-45, Matt 24:4-26, 2 Thess 2:3-12, 1 Tim 4:1-8, 2 Tim 3:1-13, 4:1-4, Rev 13:1-18, 16:1-17, 18:2-3, 24). It is this present times we are in. This will be after the rapture of the church which is to come shortly (2 Thess 2:7), and after the last 10 kingdoms (confederacy) to rule the world are formed inside the old Roman Empire territories (Dan 7:23-24). He will come at the beginning of Daniel’s 70 th week (Dan 9:27, Rev 6:1-2), during the fulfillment of all events of Rev 4:1-19:21, and just before the Second coming of Christ (1 Corinth 15:24-28, Eph 1:10, Rev 19:11-21).

He will arise from ancient Assyria ( Isa 10:20-27, 14:24-27, 30:18-33, 31:4-32:20, and Micah 5:3-15) and shall have a kingdom in IRAQ which is also called BABYLON. He is the future King of Babylon (Isa 14:4). This we have already written to you most recently. He will become prominent in the world for 7 years. Within the first 31/2 years he will conquer and rise to power over 10 future confederacy to be formed inside the old Roman Empire territories about the Mediterranean Sea in the Middle East (Dan 7:23-24, 11:36-45), and during the last 31/2 years he shall rule over them (Rev 13:5). He will reign from Babylon (Iraq) during the first 31/2 years during his rise to power (Isa 14:4-17) and from Jerusalem in Israel during the last 31/2 years (Dan 9:27, 11:45, Matt 24:15, 2 Thess 2:3-4, Rev 11:1-2). According to the word of the Lord, he shall tread the holy city under foot for 42 months and shall practice and prosper until that which is determined is poured upon the desolate. In those days, the city of Jerusalem shall be as Sodom. This is according to the word of the Lord (Rev 11:8).

The Antichrist will have control over great riches of the East (the Middle East) in the time of the end (Dan 8:25, 11:38-43, Rev 13:17, 19:11-19). With this, he will gain power over the world. What great riches are in the east today some may say? Oil & Gas. This is one most important commodity in the world today and it shall stay that way for many days. According to 2003 international oil and gas reports, the Middle East alone by itself has about 65% of the World’s total oil & gas reserves. This is enormous. Saudi Arabia alone has about 25% of this 65%, which makes her the most important country in world energy today. In same manner, Iraq 's proven oil reserves, estimated at about 110 billion barrels, are the world's third largest after Saudi Arabia and Canada. And not only so, 32% of the 68 million barrels+ of daily world’s oil production comes from the Middle East. This makes the Middle East the single most important oil producing region in the world today. God’s words are always true. It does not need to be proved by science or facts. That some part of science agrees with the bible means that part of science is true. It has nothing to do with proving God’s word to be true for God’s words needs no human proof. It is true by itself. This is the mind to which we have been endowed. Why do we say all these? Because God promised to Hagar that He would bless Ishmael, make him fruitful, multiply him exceedingly, and that his descendants shall be great upon the earth (Gen 16:10, 17:20, 21:18). This exactly is what God did to the Arabs to testify of His faithfulness. All the Arabs descended from Ishmael and Esau. The 12 nations from Ishmael occupied all the Arabian Peninsula from Egypt to the Euphrates (Gen 25:18). Now they are rich in Oil & Gas such that the whole world depends on them for this commodity. This has been prepared from the very beginning so that the Man of Sin might rule over these riches in the latter end. Behold, we have already told you before it happens, so that in the days that these things come to pass, he that readeth may understand and believe.

But firstly, he shall make a 7-year peace treaty with Israel at the beginning of the 70 th week of Daniel (Dan 9:27) during which time he is rising into world prominence. This scripture alone clearly suggests that Israel will need some form of peace just prior to the time the Antichrist will arise. Now we all know that the Palestinian intifada began towards the end of the 20 th century. Since then, Israel has known no true peace with the Arabs. Now, today, what do we see? We even see one of the arch enemies of Israel in the Middle East, HAMAS, coming into power in Palestine. Whether they will recognize Israel in the days to come or not, the days shall declare. Though Israel knows no peace today, even the days come quickly when there shall be a great craving for peace in that region. Then shall the Antichrist make this peace, a truce that shall not last. But yet, God’s counsel must stand and His Word must yet come to pass.

It is written in Matt 24:15 “ When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)”. The abomination of desolation marks the starting point of the middle of Daniel’s 70 th week when the Antichrist will break his 7-year covenant with Israel and enter Judea to take over Jerusalem and the future Jewish Temple as his capital building (Dan 9:27, 11:40-45, 12:1, 7, 2 Thess 2:4, Rev 11:1-2, 12:1-17, 13:1-18). Isa 33:8-9 clearly states that he will break the covenant and stretch forth his hands against the nation. In Micah 2:13, he is called the breaker, which literally means someone making a breach. This again is the time he breaks the covenant and commits the abomination that makes desolate, in same manner as Antiochus Epiphanes. What exactly is the abomination of desolation? It refers to the Antichrist and his image in the Jewish temple at Jerusalem during the last 42 months of this age (Dan 8:9-14, 9:27, 11:45, 12:1, 7, 11, Rev 13:1-18, 14:9-11, 20:4-6). Why does it bring desolation? Because it is idolatry, this thing that God hates.

How shall he do this ? Dan 8:11-14 clearly reveal that the daily sacrifice will be taken away by the Antichrist and the place of his sanctuary will be cast down (Dan 8:11, 2 Thess 2:4, Rev 11:1-2). The place where sacrifices are offered is the altar of the temple. It will be destroyed and taken away, and the image of the beast will be set up in its place to be worshipped ( Rev 13:11-18, 14:9, 15:2, 16:2, and 20:4). Again, this is idolatry. The sacrifices refer to the daily offerings and animal sacrifices that will be carried out in the Jewish temple that shall stand in Jerusalem (Num 4:16, 28:24, 29:6, Ezra 3:4, Ezek 45:23, Dan 11:31, 12:11). Are these things not also written in Dan 9:27, 12:11, Matt 24:15, Rev 13:1-18? This prophecy will be fulfilled when the Jewish people have a temple in Jerusalem and begin to offer such sacrifices again (intense plans are currently ongoing today by the Jewish Sanhedrin to build this temple). As it is written, so shall it be.

It is written in Isa 10:24-27 “… thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. 25 for yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction… 27 and it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing ”. Like most prophecies from God to Israel, this prophecy also centers on the dealings of God with Israel when they dwell in Zion which is literal Jerusalem(Isa 30:19, 28:16, Zech 9:9). Israel must be dwelling in Jerusalem during the time this word is to be fulfilled. Today, Israel dwells in Jerusalem but this was not so until June 1967. Praise be the name of the Lord. The word rod in the scripture above is used of chastening and of the future tribulation when Israel will undergo the greatest trouble the world has ever seen or ever will see (Dan 12:1, 7, Matt 24:15-22, Rev 6:1-19:21).

It is also written in Isa 10:32-33 “ As yet shall he remain at Nob that day: he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem. 33 Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.” Nob, a city of priests is mentioned in the scripture above. Today, this city is a few miles north of Jerusalem. It seems this city will be the headquarters of the Antichrist when he shall stretch forth his hands against Jerusalem in the days to come, to take it (Zech 14:1-5, 14, Luke 21:20-24, Rev 11:1-2).

Interestingly, there is a strange scripture in Dan 11:41 wherein the word of the Lord says that Edom, Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon shall escape him (the Antichrist). Why is this strange? Because Edom and Moab today is the modern country of Jordan. How shall the country of Jordan escape the Antichrist who is just miles away in Jerusalem, who also has conquered all the neighboring countries including mighty Egypt? Are these things not written in Dan 11:42-43? So then, why would Jordan escape him? Why would he let Jordan escape when he shall stretch forth his hands upon the countries roundabout? Think on this and let the Holy Spirit minister unto you all.

It is written in 2 Thess 2:9-13 “ Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness”. This scripture clearly states that his (Antichrist) preparation and revelation shall be the work of Satan. He will be endued with satanic power (2 Thess 2:8-9, Dan 8:24, 11:36-39, Matt 24:24, Rev 13, 16:13-16, 19:20). He will come with every cunning art and wicked practice that men and demons can engage in order to deceive men who reject the truth (2 Thess 2:10-12, 1 Tim 4:1-8, 2 Tim 3:5, 4:1-5). Verse 11 of the scripture cited above states the reason why God will permit such strong deception at that time: because the people had rejected His truth. If men reject God’s mercy and truth and follow their lustful passions, is God responsible? Surely No. God is not responsible for men choosing to damn their own soul.

What then is the utter end of the Antichrist ? 2 Thess 2:8 states that the Antichrist will be consumed at Christ’s second coming. The Greek word used for consume in this scripture is analisko, which means to kill, to destroy. Dan 7:11, 8:23-25, 9:27, 11:45, and Isa 11:4 all speak of the Antichrist being slain by Christ at His coming. These scriptures does not contradict Rev 19:20, for this passage only shows how that, after he is slain, he will be cast into conscious and eternal torment along with others (Matt 25:41, 46, Rev 19:20, 20:10). He will die a physical death and his soul cast into the Lake of fire. This is his utter destruction and it shall be at the end of the indignation (tribulation) which is to come. The Antichrist will not be assassinated and resurrected from the dead as taught by many. This is contrary to scripture and therefore false. Rev 13:3 clearly reveals that it is one of the heads on the beast that is wounded to death and is healed, not the beast himself, for the heads of the beast represents kingdoms and they are different from the beast himself. We shall write to you concerning this in the days to come if our Lord tarries. More so, resurrection power belongs to the LORD alone. Only the LORD has the power to resurrect men from the dead. Is this not the foundation of our faith? That HE (the Lord) IS RISEN from the dead? The Antichrist shall die once and never to be resurrected. This is the counsel of the Lord and it shall be done.

The Antichrist and the False Prophet will be mortal men killed at Armageddon ( Rev 19:20, Dan 7:11, Isa 11:4, 2 Thess 2:8-9). Their bodies will be resurrected and cast into the Lake of Fire ( Rev 19:20, 20:10, Dan 7:11). Isa 14:18-20 states that though ordinary kings who die in battle lie and sleep in honor in their own tombs, but the Antichrist will not be buried in honor. Rather, he will be cast out like the common dead. God himself swore an oath in Isa 14:24-25 that He will destroy the Antichrist and break him in the land of Israel. Is it not written concerning these things in Isa 14:26-27, that this is that which is purposed concerning the whole earth? Antichrist’s armies at Armageddon will be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming (2 Thess 2:8-9), by angels (2 Thess 1:7-10), by Saints ( Rev 19:14, Jude 14, Zech 14:5), by great hailstones ( Rev 16:21, fire and brimstones, and Christ’s sword ( Rev 19:15, 21, Isa 11:4). All armies of the nations that come against Jerusalem will be destroyed when Christ comes to take over the kingdoms of this world.

Where is the place of death of the Antichrist ? It is written in Isa 30:30-33” And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall show the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones. 31 for through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod. 32 And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it. 33 for Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it”. The Assyrian who also is the Antichrist shall be destroyed in Tophet. It is a deep valley on the southeast of Jerusalem, celebrated in ancient past as the place of idolatry and worship of Moloch, an idol.

Again, we have already told you these things before they happen, so that in the days that these things come to pass, he that readeth may understand and believe that this is the word of the Lord. Therefore having the knowledge of all these things which shall shortly come to pass, we all ought to continue in steadfastness in the Lord, knowing that we truly seek an eternal reward from the Father. That none should fall away but that all should remain pure and holy unto Him to the end, being filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. For this reason we give thanks to God for you brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth whereunto he called you by His gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught according as it is written in the word of the Lord. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good work to the end. Know that the Lord cometh shortly. Prepare, Watch, and Be Ready. May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.