ANTICHRIST, by Russell Earl Kelly, PHD

By RUSSELL E KELLY, PHD

OCTOBER 17, 2016

A Christian View of Antichrist

The Bible predicts that the final end times will be preceded by a person who will claim to be Jesus Christ and come to earth as the Hebrew Messiah. He will be the “Anti-Christ” as one who takes the place of the real Messiah. Yet he will come with the power and authority of Satan and will perform the will of Satan.

Anti-Christ will appear after the fall of the Roman Empire. In chapter two of Daniel’s prophecy, a stone from heaven hits a great image of a man in its feet of iron and clay. Since the Bible names the first three kingdoms as Babylon, Persia and Greece, the fourth kingdom of iron must be Rome. Following the end of Rome a fifth weaker Rome-like empire will arise (iron and clay). “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” (Daniel 2:44). This event is yet future because Jesus Christ, the Stone (Messiah) will not return to destroy Anti-Christ until after the emergence of the weaker kingdom of iron and clay (Rev 17:12).

The Anti-Christ will probably pretend to be the Hebrew Messiah. Daniel 11:37 teaches that he “will not regard the god of his fathers.” This is because he will eventually sit in the (rebuilt) temple of God in Jerusalem and demand to be worshipped as God (2 Thess 2:4-9). Yet in Daniel 9:27a he appears “confirming” a final prophetic seven-year covenant (of 490) with Israel ---something only a fellow Hebrew could accomplish (compare Dan 9:24 with 9:27).

During the first 3 ½ years of Anti-Christ’s presence he will (1) copy Christ’s coming on a white horse (Rev 6:2; compare Rev 19:4) and come as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14). (2) He will take advantage of great turmoil in a weakly re-united Rome-lie empire (of Western Europe?) and replace three of 10 kingdoms (Dan 7:24). (3) He will confirm a 7 year covenant of peace with Israel (9:27a). (4) He will allow the temple in Jerusalem to be rebuilt (Rev 11:1-2).

The kingdom of iron and clay and Anti-Christ’s reign will both be short (Rev 17:10-12). The entire planet is in convulsions. It is the time of God’s wrath mentioned 13 times in Revelation. Since God promised that believers have already been “delivered from the wrath to come” (1 Thes 1:10), many believe that the Church will be in heaven during Anti-Christ’s reign (1 Thes 4:14-17; Rev 4 and 5). The last 7 years is called the Tribulation and its final 3 ½ years is called The Great Tribulation (Rev 7:14).

The final 3 ½ years of Anti-Christ’s reign will include (1) great signs and miracles to deceive unbelievers (Revelation 13 all). (2) Noticeably, those that had previously heard and rejected the gospel will not be saved (2 Thess 2:7-12). (3) A great false prophet will perform great miracles and assist Anti-Christ (Rev 13:11-18). (4) Anti-Christ will make war with and prevail over Israel (Dan 7:21, 25). (5) He will “oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thess 2:4). (6) Israel will flee and hide in the mountains (Rev 12:6, 13-17). Note texts on the final 3 ½ years: Dan 7:25; 9:27b; 12:6-7; Rev 11:1-3; 12:14 and 13:5.

Anti-Christ will use false religion which rejects His Word until he is fully exposed as Satan’s tool. Deceived followers will eventually destroy his own false church system (Rev 17:16) because God has never lost control (Rev 17:17). Anti-Christ, his armies and his followers will be destroyed when Jesus Christ personally returns in glory in Revelation 19 (also 2 Thess2:8). The long-promised literal Messianic kingdom will spread to the entire earth for 1000 years (Jer 31:3-36; Dan 2:44; 7:27; Rev 20:1-5).

This article has been assembled from class notes by Russell Earl Kelly, PHD who teaches at the Victory Baptist Church Bible Institute in Washington, Georgia. This is a free school and all are welcome. Call for information.