10.01.2011

Who is the Antichrist?


There is much speculation about the identity of the antichrist. Some of the more popular targets are Vladimir Putin, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Pope Benedict XVI and other popes

In the United States, the former Presidents Bill Clinton  and George Bush, and our current President Barack Obama are the most frequent candidates. So, who is the antichrist, and how will we recognize him?

The Bible really does not say anything specific about where the antichrist will come from.
Many Bible scholars speculate that he will come from a confederacy of ten nations and/or a reborn Roman empire. 


Daniel 7:19-25 say's,

19 “Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet; 20 and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows. 21 “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. 23 “Thus he said:
   ‘ The fourth beast shall be
      A fourth kingdom on earth,
      Which shall be different from all
other kingdoms,
      And shall devour the whole earth,
      Trample it and break it in pieces.
      
24 The ten horns are ten kings
      
Who shall arise from this kingdom.
      And another shall rise after them;
      He shall be different from the first
ones,
      And shall subdue three kings.
      
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
      Shall persecute
the saints of the Most High,
      And shall intend to change times and law.
      Then
the saints shall be given into his hand
      For a time and times and half a time.


Revelation 17:7
7 But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

Some scholars see him as being a Jew since he would have to be in order to claim to be the Messiah. It is all just speculation since the Bible does not specifically say where the antichrist will come from or what race he will be. according to the bible, one day the antichrist will be revealed. 

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 say's, 
3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

The above passage tells us what we should look for in identifying the antichrist. It is likely that most people who are alive when the antichrist is revealed will be very surprised at his identity. The antichrist may or may not be alive today.

Martin Luther was convinced that the pope in his time was the antichrist. Others who have lived in the past few hundred years have been equally sure as to the identity of the antichrist. So far, they have all been incorrect. We should put the speculations behind us and focus on what the Bible actually says about the antichrist. 

Revelation 13:5-8 declares, 
The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months. He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world."

If we should begin to see a popular world figure blaspheming God, making war against God's people, being given authority over the whole world, and everyone worshiping him as god, then this would be our indicator. Many also believe that by this time the church will be raptured and this won't even be something that a Christian would have to worry about. This could be the case, and it is what I would hope for. 

The bottom line is, we don't know what tomorrow holds, but there is a way that you can know the One that holds tomorrow in His hand! The very best way to safeguard yourself against the uncertainty of the future is to make Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior today. The Bible say's, "...today is the day of salvation", so won't you choose Him today? Consider this today and read this next blog. God bless!