Latest Prophecy Question
Characteristics of the Antichrist: Will he be a religious or military/political leader?
Recently, I have been hearing more and more chatter as to who the future Antichrist might be. Most have been pointing at US President Barack Obama, some at England's Prince Charles, and few at a spiritual leader called the Maitreyea. Even the Pope has come up as a candidate.
I have run across a few prophecy websites whose very existence depends on a particular political figure turning out to be the Antichrist. Two rather large websites that surfaced within the last fifteen years declared that US President George Bush and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Javier Solana would be the future Antichrist. As of this writing, George Bush has finished his terms as US president and Javier Solana has retired from political life.
Many seem to believe that they will be able to identify him by his characteristics before the rapture of the church. Personally, I do not believe the Bible supports that the Antichrist will be identifiable before he is revealed. II Thessalonians 2:3-7 leads one to believe that the falling away must occur first then the Antichrist will be revealed. I believe the falling away to be the rapture of the church, but we will save that argument for another time. It is generally believed by most Bible believing scholars and teachers that the Antichrist will come on the scene at the start of the first seal judgment. He will bring peace to the Middle East and this peace accord will begin the seven-year tribulation period. It is at this time, I believe, that the first chance of identifying the Antichrist (Revelation 13:18) will exist.
Here's an interesting question. At this time, does Satan know who his Antichrist will be? For the complete answer go to:
Question# 971:Will The Antichrist Be A Vessel For Satan's Use Or Will He Make A Deal With The Devil?
Question# 972:How The Antichrist May Come To Power; When Satan Could Control Him.
Getting back to the article. I'm not going to discount any of these individuals. Frankly, it could be anyone with strong military and political power. I don't' believe the Bible supports that it will be a religious figure (the false prophet will fulfill that duty) or a make believe king. This man will have real, terrifying world power. This is what the Bible has to say about this future world leader:
Daniel 9:25-27 says, " And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: 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: 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."
Daniel 7:23-:24 says this future world leader will possess a ten kingdom empire with the might of a major military power:
"Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings."
Here again in Revelation 13, describes a world leader that will be ferocious and will conquer the known world:
"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? (V. 4)
"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." (v. 16 & 17)
Daniel 8:23-25 says that the future Antichrist will be a "king of fierce countenance" who "through peace shall destroy many" and shall "stand up against the Prince of princes [Jesus]":
"And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand."
This description of the Antichrist rules out all religious figures. In my estimation, it could only be a major world figure who has control over a great army (NATO or EU for example), has vast military technology, and possesses advanced nuclear weapons. Certainly, one could say, with Satan in control, the Antichrist could defeat any nuclear power, whether he had a great military or advanced nuclear weapon technology. That's true, but it doesn't match the series of events that are outlined in the afore mentioned verses. According to the Bible, he will come on the scene with the goal of world peace. In the name of peace, he will conquer many. When peace fails to be established through his peaceful efforts, war breaks out and one-quarter of the world's population will perish (Revelation 6). In the process of this great world war, he will have to defeat three nations within his own kingdom. One other thing, Daniel 8:25 states, "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand". According to this scripture, he will have the power to alter the global financial markets. Today, markets rise and fall based on mere rumors by world leaders. It will be by his policies that the world economy will prosper. If a man of this stature were to come forth in this day and time, and heal our global economy, he would rise to near godlike status. Truthfully, with all scriptures considered, I don't see how the future Antichrist could come out of any other arena but a military/government arena.
Terry Malone
Calvary Prophecy Report
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