Tribulation Special Lesson 5  The Antichrist Pt. II

	From our last lesson--

	1. Birth -by a Jewish mother, and Satan his father. 
	2. Nationality is “Babylon the Great” (Rev. 17:5)
	3. Rises to rule in this  “Babylon the Great.”
	4. Moves to rule over Rome II. 
	5. A seven-year treaty is made with Israel
	6. The temple will be built. 	
	7. The antichrist goes to war with the three southern 			kingdoms probably led by the Mahdi. 	
	8. It is during this time, he appears to have suffered a 			mortal wound and “miraculously” recovered. 
	9. The world begins to follow him and worship the 				dragon (Satan) and the beast. 
	10. He conquers the southern kingdoms, he moves to take 		over Israel. 
	11. He will unilaterally cancel the seven-year treaty.
	12. He takes his seat in the temple, his image is set up and 	worship is demanded. 

	Rise Over the World

	Now that Rome II is under his control, the antichrist, with Satan’s backing is in a position to take the next major step in his plan. With the second beast the false prophet, the antichrist (Rev. 13:11-18) with Satan’s power, will implement his plan to preempt Christ’s kingdom rule over the earth by taking the throne himself in the tribulation temple.  

	Now that the antichrist has politically maneuvered himself to the seat in the temple, he will continue to institute major changes from his current policies to those centered on him and his worship. 

	Dan. 11:31  “Forces from him will arise, profane the 			fortified sanctuary, abolish the regular sacrifices and set up 	the abomination that causes desolation. 

	Dan. 11:32  And those who are acting wickedly toward the 	covenant, he will corrupt with flattering words.  But the 		people who know their God will be strong and take action. 

	The central place of worship is at that image, in the temple in Jerusalem. An idol of the antichrist becomes the object of the world’s worship. This idol, which no doubt will be huge and deemed as beautiful will further inspire people to see this antichrist as the all-powerful, all-knowing and eternal ruler. 
	We can expect him to use his skills of intrigue, deceit and falsehood to be implemented through flattery, reward, control and appeal to pride by association. Those who worship him feel that they have it right. 
	No doubt his lies will promote his abilities to give wisdom, eternal life and prosperity. 

	He will have a service system where his loyalists will seek to capture and destroy any and all opposition. He will have phenomenal success at this. Most of the world will fall for his 
demonically inspired religion and view that as the only way to 
blessing and prosperity. 
	After all, he is “God” among them, dwelling in the central place of worship in the most important city in the world. 

	The False Prophet  Rev. 13

	After the beast-antichrist is called up from the sea by the dragon-Satan, the second beast-false prophet will rise from the earth. He too appears to be descended from Satan or another demonic seed because he too goes directly into the lake of fire bypassing the final judgment (Rev. 19:20; 20:10). He does several major things to promote this antichrist and his worship besides being the lead false prophet or teacher.  

	Rev. 13:11 Then I saw another beast coming out of the 			earth. He had two horns like a lamb but he spoke like a 		dragon. (12) He exercises all the authority of the first beast 	on his behalf and he makes the earth and those who inhabit 	it worship the first beast whose mortal wound was healed.
	(13) He performs great signs, even making fire come down 	from heaven to earth in front of people,(14) and, by the 		signs he was allowed to perform on behalf of the beast, he 		deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make 	an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and 	yet lived.

	As a lamb with just two horns, he imitates Christ who had appeared with seven (5:6). Though he may partially imitate Christ, he speaks like a dragon (Satan). He speaks powerfully instilling fear and awe to the listeners. The false prophet is the primary promoter, enforcer and propagandist for the beast antichrist. 
	The false prophet has “miracle-working power” albeit for deceitful purposes. Most remarkable is his apparent ability to give life to the image. 

	Image of the Beast
	
	Idol images were representative of the god that was behind them. So worshipping the image was worshipping the god. In this case worshipping the image was worshipping the antichrist. Still referring to the false prophet--

	13:15 And it was given to him to give breath [pneuma—life]
	to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast 		could speak and could cause all those who do not worship 		the image of the beast to be killed.

	Knowing that only God can give life, the idea of a false prophet being given the ability to give life (a spirit) to a lifeless image is quite remarkable. How much more would believe his false teaching with this kind of miracle? The language indicates that it comes to life, similar to if not like a human. It has body, has an image and then is given life. Further evidence is that it speaks and moves about and even kills those who refuse to worship him. 
	This is the “abomination that causes desolation” that both Daniel (Dan. 9:27; 11:31;12:11) and our Lord spoke of (Matt. 24:15). 

	The Mark

	13:16 He (the false prophet) also caused everyone small and 	great, rich and poor, free and slave to be given a mark on 	their right hand or on their forehead. (17) so that no one 	can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of 	the beast or the number of his name.

	This mark to be given to everyone is for identification and control. Whether a tattoo, a stamp or something similar, it is visible and permanent. Here it marks one as loyal to and a worshipper of the antichrist and the image. Taking the mark amounts to final rejection of Christ.
	It is used to enforce the policy of beast worship. Without the mark, one can not do business or buy basic necessities of food and drink.  

	His Number

	13:18 This is wisdom. Let him who has understanding 	calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of	man and his number is 666.

	The number of his name would be the total numerical value of the letters of his name in a gematria system, where the letters of the alphabet also stood for numbers. This is true in both Hebrew and Greek. It would be Greek since that is the original language of the original text here. 
 
	Musk  Musk

	M=40   u=400    s= 200  k=20     = 660

	Mu     Upsilon  Sigma    kappa

	Here we see more means of the beast control. Through this required mark and through economic control.

 	If you do not worship the beast or do his bidding, the beast through his means of enforcement would prevent one from getting their basic needs through normal means. 

	This would be true of all Christians and those not loyal to the beast. This would contribute to the affliction on believers. 
	Writing of those conditions, Paul writes--

	2 Thess 1:6  If indeed, it is right for God to pay back those 		who are afflicting you with affliction (7) and to give relief to 	you who are being afflicted along with us, at the revelation 	of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his mighty angels (8)  		with flaming fire inflicting vengeance to those who do not 		know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
	
	This affliction, the persecution, this required worship towards the beast and the now living image will be for 1290 days (Dan. 12:11). 
	The 1290 extends some 30 days after the tribulation. So it is probably during this massive cleanup, burial time and construction period that the image is permanently removed and all signs of beast worship.   				                              15

	The Great Tribulation

	Jesus himself described this second-half tribulation period as a “great Tribulation” (Matt. 24:21). It is during this time the worst of the judgments will fall upon the earth-dweller with the bowl judgments but also a period of great persecution for believers. Satan with his two hybrid beasts of evil, including the image will be out to wipe out every remnant of faith upon the planet. 
	But it will not go that far. For the Lord will return before it reaches that point. 
								                                                         
	War on Israel

	In Rev. 12:1-6, a woman is introduced symbolizing Israel who is pregnant. Satan is a red dragon symbolized as Rome   standing by with a third of the fallen angels ready to devour the child symbolizing Christ, who would rule the nations and escaped Satan by being caught up to God to his throne.  The woman however flees into the wilderness. 
	During Rome I, Satan tried to destroy Christ but Christ resurrected ascended to heaven and was seated at the right hand of God. During Rome II, Satan will pursue the woman (Israel) to destroy her but she flees to the wilderness. 

	In Rev. 12:7-12, we have what will happen at the mid-trib. point. Michael, a chief prince or archangel (Dan. 10:13; Jude 9) led the holy angels to oust Satan and the rebellious fallen angels out of heaven but they fought back and were permanently expelled from heaven and thrown down to the earth. 
	Satan goes from accusations towards believers while in heaven to full blown attack on believers on earth. The great persecution and slaughter of believers by the antichrist and his armies now concentrate on the destruction of  Christians— to wipe them off and their testimony off the earth. 
	There is rejoicing is over the faithful who remain so until the end. 
	
	Rev. 12:12 Therefore, rejoice you heavens and those who 		dwell in them! But woe to the earth and sea, for the devil 		has come down to you having great wrath, knowing that he 	has a short time. (13) And when the dragon realized that he 	had been 	thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman 	who had given birth to the male child.

	But woe to the earth and sea, The two places from 			which the two beasts arise (13:1,11). While there is rejoicing in heaven-- the opposite -- woe to the earth and sea. 

	The antichrist and his forces lead the way on behalf of the dragon-Satan to destroy the woman-Israel. 

	12:14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great 	eagle so that she might fly into the 	wilderness, to her place 	where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a 	time away from the presence of the serpent.

	Believing Israel escapes and is taken out of the line of fire for most all the second half of the tribulation. Believing Israel’s escape signal was when they saw the abomination which causes desolation go up in the temple (Mat. 24:14).
	So believing Israel in Judea gets out. They are not to delay.
Satan’s pursuit is frustrated by God (12:15-16). In fury he turns his rage towards “the rest of her offspring” which is all believers who remain obedient and faithful (12:17).

	Once the antichrist’s image is set up in the temple, those believers in Judea (Jerusalem and vicinity) are to flee the area. 
The two witnesses, Moses and Elijah have been executed, risen to life and transported to heaven. 
	Though there will probably be a number who have rejected the beast as god besides believers, believers are the primary targets because of their witness. Like Moses and Elijah, the antichrist regime will seek to wipe them out. 

	The Great Persecution

	This is sparked by the remnant of believers in Israel slipping through the fingers of the dragon-Satan and his antichrist forces. Once the antichrist demands worship, he will enforce a  persecution policy for all who refuse to worship him. 

	Believers around the world are on notice that their lives are in immediate danger. It is probably the case that the most difficult place to live would be in and near Jerusalem as a believer and then as news of the policy got out then the heat would turn up on believers world wide. 

	False prophets, false teachers-- the false clergy will be instrumental in seeing that believers get reported and turned in to the authorities. 

	Remember the first order to believers is to flee-- be strong and take action (Dan. 11:32).  This at least means to get out of the line of fire. Avoid capture. What that means individually would vary to a great degree. We will look at this more later. 

	Many scriptures warn of this intense period of world-wide persecution of believers. Jesus warned about several things that could happen to the believer in a general way as we have seen throughout the age of the church (Matt. 24:4-8). But the tribulation will take it up to another level and universalize it through the antichrist’s policy of capture and kill all non-worshippers (Dan. 7:21; 8:24; Rev. 6:9-11;13:15;14:13).  

	Dan. 11:33 Those who have insight among the people 		will give understanding to the many yet they will fall 		by 	sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder 			for many days. 

	Some of the learned Christians will alert and teach the people what is really happening. Many will die by “sword and flame”, others taken captive. 

	Rev. 13:10 “If anyone is meant for captivity,
				   into captivity he goes.
				   if anyone is to be killed with the sword,
				   with the sword he must be killed. 
				   Here is the endurance and faith of the saints 

		The antichrist’s anti-God policies have no limits. Neither does his anti-christian policies. 

	Dan. 11:36  Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will 	exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak 		extraordinary things against the God of gods; and he will 		succeed until the indignation is finished for what is decreed 	will be done
			
	The antichrist continues to rule until the indignation is over. This is decreed as God’s plan. 
			                                                                    
	Dan. 11:37  He will show no respect for the God of his 			fathers and the one god desired of women (any gods) and for 	any god; for he will magnify himself above all. 

	Dan. 11:38  But in its place, he honors a god of fortresses 		—a god which his fathers did not know; he will honor it 		with gold, silver, precious stones and treasures.

	With a super powerful military force supported by near endless wealth (11:38,43), it appears that nothing can stop him (11:39).	

	The persecution of believers continues on until our Lord’s return (Dan. 12:1). 
	
	Matt. 24:22 “And if those days had not been cut short, no 		life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect 		those days will be cut short.
	
	The Lord Jesus Christ himself will come to put an end to this persecution of believers at his Second Coming. 

	2 Thess. 1:6  If indeed, it is right for God to pay back those 	who are afflicting you with affliction (7) and to give relief to 	you who are being afflicted along with us, at the revelation 	of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his mighty angels . . .
								                                                         
	His End and Judgment 

	We have already seen at the end of the Rome II study that the antichrist and the false prophet go down with the destruction of Rome II. 
		
	19:19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and 	their armies, assembled to make war against him who sat 	on the horse, and against his army.

	19:20 Now the beast was seized, and along with him the 	false prophet who had performed the signs on his behalf
	by which he deceived those who had received the mark of 		the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two 		were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with 			sulphur. 

	19:21 And the rest were killed by the sword that came out 	from the mouth of the one who rode the horse, and all the 	birds gorged themselves with their flesh.

	So ends the antichrist and this lesson.