Bible Study Week 12
Part 2
The Reign of the Antichrist
A forceful political leader, usually called the Antichrist, will come forth to dominate world leadership during the Tribulation. He will have much help in the person of the false prophet, who will be the world religious leader. A world system of government under one head will envelop the political, religious, and economic areas of life.
>>> Why do you think even non-Christians have heard about the Antichrist?
Deep in the heart of every person is an impulse to be in right relationship with God. Even unbelievers have heard of the Antichrist because he will play such a key role in the end times.
1. The Antichrist
Second Thessalonians 2:3-10 describes this evil leader, calling him the "man of sin". It further teaches:
* "The son of perdition, that man of sin will be revealed".
* He will oppose God (verse 4).
* He will exalt himself above God (verse 4).
* He will sit in the Temple, showing himself as God (verse 4).
* He will be destroyed by the Lord Jesus at Armageddon (verse 8).
* Satan will empower him with signs and lying wonders (verse 9).
* He will deceive those who do not love the truth (verse 10).* God will allow those who do not love the truth and are deceived by the Antichrist to believe a lie and be damned (verses 11-12). Revelation 13 describes him as a "beast" rising up out of the sea.
* The dragon (Satan) will give him his power and authority (verse 2).
* The one-world system of government will be, in some sense, a revival of the old Roman Empire (verse 3).
* The people will worship the Beast (verse 4).
* He will have total power the last three and a half years of Tribulation (verse 5).
* He will blaspheme God, His name, and the heavenly dwellers (verse 6).
* He will make war against those who turn to God during this time (verse 7).
* He will cause all to receive a mark in the right hand or forehead in order to buy or sell (verses 16-17).
* His number is 666 (verse 18).
2. The False Prophet (Religious Government)
Revelation 13 also describes a religious leader in the Tribulation who works Closely with the Antichrist. He will assist the Antichrist in attaining world supremacy. The false prophet is mentioned three other times (Revelation 16:13; 19:20; 20;10). According to Revelation 13:
* He will exercise great power (verse 12).
* He will cause the people to worship the Antichrist and submit to the world system (verse 12).
* He will perform miracles by the power of Satan (verse 14).
* He will be a deceiver (verse 14).
* He will have an image of the Antichrist made (verse 14).
* He will give life to the image and cause the image to speak (verse 15).
* He will put to death all that will not worship the image of the Beast (verse 15).
3. The Antichrist System of Political Government
The ten toes of the image Nebuchadnezzar and the ten horns of the Beast in Revelation 13:1; 17:12, and Daniel 7:7, 24 are a confederation of ten nations that will constitute a world power in the last days. These nations will help the Antichrist come to power and sustain that power for some years. Their authority will be lessened by the Antichrist after he has used them to gain world power. This confederation will probably develop into a powerful economic bloc, which will give them great influence in the making of a world leader. This bloc will be greatly dominated by a world religion, which Revelation 17 describes as a great harlot drunk with blood of saints and martyrs. This harlot will ride the beast until the beast kills her. The political- economic system will destroy the false world church, taking its power and wealth.