2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sits himself up in God’s Temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
Yesterday, we began a study on Eschatology which is the study of the End Times. The next event to happen on the Eschatology timeline is the Rapture of the Church. At some point after the Rapture of the Church, the Antichrist will make his way on the scene.
The Antichrist will be a man empowered by Satan. He will gain worldwide attention as he promises peace for everyone. In the Word of God, the Antichrist has several names but the most common are the man of lawlessness, the man of sin, the lawless one, and the son of perdition.
The word antichrist means one who is against (anti) Christ. The Apostle John wrote about the “spirit of the Antichrist” which refers to a demonic spirit that causes people to be against Christ. These people are not the Antichrist but operate in the spirit of the Antichrist. There is a distinct difference and when studying the Word of God we must be mindful of this. (John 1:4:1-3; 1 John 2:22; 2 John 1:7)
The person of the Antichrist is spoken of in the Book of Daniel. At the Temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. (Daniel 9:27)
The Apostle Paul also writes about the Antichrist in his letter to the Thessalonians. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sits himself up in God’s Temple, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
In the 13th Chapter of Revelation, John wrote of his vision of the Antichrist. He described him as a horrible beast. Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. (Revelation 13:1-2)
The Antichrist will be evil in nature and wicked in every sense of the word. He will be a Gentile empowered by Satan. His goal will be for all people to worship him and not Jesus Christ. Many will be deceived and follow him but in the end, the Antichrist and the false prophet with him will be destroyed. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20)
All born-again believers in Jesus Christ will not be alive on Earth when the Antichrist comes into power. They will have been Raptured earlier. This is why our Salvation is of utmost importance. No one wants to be left behind at the Rapture of the Church. Therefore, place your full faith and trust in the Finished Work of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary and tell everyone you can about the Love of Christ and the Message of the Cross.
Many in the Church today are searching for the Antichrist and wondering who he might be. Although this may be interesting, let us not focus on him but let us keep our eyes on the Prize! Jesus is coming for us soon and we must be ready.
The Rapture of the Church will……….turn the tide……….in this world.
My eyes are on the Prize! Doreen
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