I consider myself a student of the Bible. In fact, I have a Bachelors’ degree in
Theology and am I test away from a Masters’ degree in Theology. For over 20 years I have read, studied, and
meditated on God’s Word consistently, but there are things that still confound
and confuse me.
There are many mysteries
in the Bible (not my word, God Himself calls them mysteries). One thing that always seems to intrigue
people is the Book of Revelation.
The Book of Revelation details what will happen in the last
days. One of the key people in this
explanation is the Anti-Christ. Though
never identified by name or specific details (wouldn’t that have been nice) we
can understand quite a bit about him.
To gain an understanding of the Anti-Christ, we need to look
at another book in the New Testament, the book of Second Thessalonians, chapter
two. Let me quote the text below:
2:1 ¶ Now
we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our
gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be
troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the
day of Christ is at hand.
3 ¶ Let no man deceive you by any means: for
that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man
of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all
that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the
temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with
you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he
might be revealed in his time.
In verse
number 3, we find the Anti-Christ by two other names, the “man of sin” and the “son
of perdition.” Notice that the text
states very clearly that there will be a falling away and then the man of sin
will be revealed. Then again in verse 6,
we find that the Anti-Christ will be revealed in his time.
We can
surmise that something happens that sets the stage for the Anti-Christ to be
revealed. Some catastrophe occurs that
creates the perceived need of strong humanistic leadership. We don’t know what this event or events may
be. Some have speculated that it would
be a global war, terrorism, or an economic collapse that creates such an
atmosphere. Regardless of what the
circumstances may be, the Anti-Christ will step up and say that he has the
answers, he can save everyone.
Notice with
me verse 4 is a description of the Anti-Christ’s attitudes. He opposes all that is of God; he exalts
himself above all that is called God. He
sits in the temple of God, as if he was God. What does all this mean? The Anti-Christ views himself as above God or
the notion or idea of worshiping God.
He would say that worshiping God is outdated or old fashioned, that
holding to the Christian faith is not necessary or prudent during this day and
time (during the great crisis). The
Anti-Christ will set himself up as having the solutions to all our problems.
How will
people respond to the Anti-Christ? With
disdain and angst? With disbelief and
heartache? To find out, we will look to
Revelation 13
Re 13:4
And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they
worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make
war with him?
5 And there was given unto him a mouth
speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue
forty and two months.
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against
God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And it was given unto him to make war with
the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds,
and tongues, and nations.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall
worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain
from the foundation of the world.
Notice that
in verse 4, the people worshiped the dragon and the beast (the
Anti-Christ). In verses 5 and 7, power
was given to the Anti-Christ and in verse 8, we see that all the earth will
worship him. The Anti-Christ becomes a
world leader whom all adore and worship.
All that is, except those whose names are written in the Book of
Life—those who are born again Christians.
People
respond to the Anti-Christ willingly. If
we were to continue studying in Revelation, we will see that the Anti-Christ
proceeds with giving the people the mark of the beast. The scriptures tell us that people cannot buy
or sell without the mark. People will
surrender their basic civil liberties for the Anti-Christ, because he will save
us all.
One of the
questions I always ask myself is how can this transpire? How can we, freedom loving Americans,
willingly surrender our rights and liberties to the Anti-Christ? As I study the book of Revelation, I see no
prophetic mention of the United States.
This tells me that we as a nation must surrender to the Anti-Christ readily
early after he is revealed.
Considering
recent events, I have learned some things.
I have learned that the citizens of the United States will for the most
part fall into line when someone says that “this is for the greater good.” I have learned that the American people are
easily panicked and will look for a strong voice in times of distress—any
strong voice and that strong voice will become an overnight idol in the hearts
and minds of countless thousands of people.
Why will the
world turn to welcome the Anti-Christ?
Because it is in our nature to do so.
We, as humans, have a need for a strong leader. When one rejects God and His Saviour, that
leaves your heart open for someone else to fill that need. As the Beloved Apostle John tells us, we
ought to try the spirits to see if they are of God. Not all strong voices we are hearing these
days are Godly.
