The various prophecies of the Antichrist seem to lend itself to sharp differences of opinion among theologians and laymen prophecy students alike. The divergence of views is divided into two main categories. On the one hand you have the view that puts the Antichrist in the distant past, while the other view regards his advent as a future, end-time fulfillment. The purpose of this article is to propose a solution by which you can unravel the difficulty with understanding end-time prophecy and identify this last-day enemy of Christ.
The best way to understand the different utterances from the various prophets, especially Daniel and John, is to coordinate their testimonies and identify the points of convergence. By the coordination of the different end-time prophecies the Bible has always made itself plain in its description of the Antichrist. Here are some of the specifications of this individual:
• He speaks against God (Rev. 13:6) • He persecutes the saints of God (Dan. 12:7) • He change the laws of God (Dan. 7:25) • He has no desire for women (Dan. 11:37) • He will rule for 1260 days (31/2 years)(Rev. 13:7) • He will deny that Christ is come in the flesh (2Jn. Vs. 7) • He will exalt himself above every god and all that is worshipped (2Thess. 2:3, 4)
Having religious authority Among the things that are clearly implied in the prophetic word in relation to the Antichrist is the fact that he will be a religious leader exercising religious authority. It is through the exercise of this authority that the world will be plunged into apostasy. It will be on account of his supremacy that the mark of the beast is issued and the image of the beast set up. This will be a new religious system that will be foisted upon the world in the latter days.
The Antichrist's association with Mystery Babylon In the seventeenth chapter of the book of Revelation, we are told about a woman sitting on a seven-headed beast. This woman is clearly a symbol of a church system. Woman as a biblical symbol represents a church, but since this woman is said to be a whore, she must be an apostate church. The association of the Antichrist with Mystery Babylon seems to be a clear indication of his spiritual leadership on the global scene imposing this apostate religion on the world.
Who then is the Antichrist The reference to Mystery Babylon as that city that sits upon seven mountains is a clear identification of the city of Rome, which is the only city in the world that fits that description. It, therefore, means that the Antichrist will not only come from Rome, but will be a close associate of the religion of Rome! Are we not told in the parallel prophecies of Daniel that Rome will be the final world kingdom before the Second Coming?
So who is this end-time enemy of Christ? Here are the four major specifications that will help you to unravel the prophecies of the Antichrist:
• He has no desire for women; he is celibate. • He is a religious leader. • He is associated with the religion of Rome. • He assumes titles that belong only to God.
Who is he? I leave it up to you to make you own judgment.
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