The Rise & Fall of ANTICHRIST
Introduction: Do you know who the Antichrist is? He is not a cartoon character, rather he is described as a hideous beast, a man in human flesh that will deceive the whole world. How is the Antichrist described in the Bible?
How will he take control of the world? Will he appear to be satanic? Evil? How will he have solutions to the world’s economic, political, and religious woes that we are facing today? Will people follow this demonically-driven leader? What and Who will bring him to his end? Are things being set in place presently in order for him to rise on the scene? How close are we? The book of Daniel, along with Revelations, as well as a few other New Testament books, give us incredible insight concerning these questions.
Here are five steps that the Antichrist will take to control the world:
1) The Antichrist will take a step of military power!—“And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces” (Daniel 11:36-38).
In a prophetic description of five historical leaders who have risen and fallen including Ahasuerus, Alexander the Great, Antiochus, and Antiochus Epiphanes, Daniel sees one more leader who will rise in the future, namely the Antichrist (Daniel 11:1-35).
Reports are coming out of China that they have the capability to produce over a million-man army. It appears that this massive buildup of soldiers from the East will be lured by demonic forces to cross the Euphrates River.
Along with other armies of the world, they will meet in the valley of Jezreel to attempt to stop Jesus Christ from conquering the world and implementing His Government. While this futile attempt will fail miserably, the King of Kings—Jesus Christ will inaugurate His governmental rule on earth, otherwise known as the Millennial Kingdom. Isaiah prophesied this, “The Government of this world shall be upon his shoulders” (Isaiah 9:6-7). John writes of how Jesus will defeat the Antichrist and his armies, “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Revelation 19:15).
2) The Antichrist will take a step of political power!—“He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon” (Daniel 11:41). “And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time” (Daniel 7:24). See also Revelation 13.
There are nations and governments in our world today that seem to be influenced by deceiving and manipulating evil spirits. Greed, power, lust, and control are the driving forces of governmental leaders. Meanwhile, Zechariah the prophet describes how Jerusalem will become the center of conflict. “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem” (Zechariah 12:2).
3) The Antichrist will take a STEP of ECONOMICAL POWER!—“He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps” (Daniel 11:42-43). See also Revelation 18.
After confirming a covenant—a false peace plan, with the Jewish People, which starts the time clock ticking for the seven years of duration of the tribulation (Daniel 9:27), the Antichrist will seek to control the world as described with the four horse riders of the apocalypse. War, Death, and the Mark of the Beast will characterize the tribulation.
Subsequently, Jesus will rain down terrible judgments upon the earth in the form of seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven vials. According to Revelation Chapter 6—one fourth of the population will die, and according to Revelation 9—one third of the population will die. This is over one half of all the people on earth. Does this sound far-fetched? Not hardly, when one calculates the number of deaths that have recently spread across the world due to Covid-19 (almost five million), and other deadly causes. The Antichrist will seek to control by setting up a one world government.
4) The Antichrist will take a step of ecclesiastical power!—“But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many” (Daniel 11:44). See also Revelation 13:11-18. Next, the Antichrist will gain a religious following by partnering with the false prophet. Together, they will form a one world religion—apostate church, which will merge with the government. This false religion is described in Revelation 17 as “mystery Babylon,” and is depicted as a harlot riding on the back of a beast. This beast, the Antichrist, will use the false religion for his sordid gain. Ultimately, he will turn and devour the false religion. According to John’s epistle, anyone who denies that Jesus Christ is God, or that He died for our sins, or denies that He was resurrected from the dead, or denies that He will come again, has the spirit of the Antichrist (1 John 1:18-22).
5) The Antichrist will take a step of final power!—“And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him” (Daniel 11:45). See also Revelation 19:16-18. The Antichrist will meet his final demise. No one can help him. Jesus Christ who created the heavens and the earth, and who created all the angels—both elect and evil (Colossians 1:16), will war against the Antichrist and the false prophet. This event will happen at the second coming of Christ, which follows the seven years of tribulation. Keep in mind, prior to the tribulation, Jesus will return for His Church in the rapture as noted by Jesus, Paul, James, Jude and John. It is referred to as the “snatching away.” Immediately, the dead (bodies) shall be raised from their state and believers will be joined together with them in the clouds to meet Jesus in the air. What a promise! What a glorious homecoming reunion!! Are you ready? This is the Christian’s blessed hope!
Conclusion: Just as sure as you are reading this, the Antichrist will rise up but will be overthrown by the Lord Jesus Christ. The message of the Bible should bring peace and comfort to those who have a personal relationship with Jesus because of His redeeming blood. To those who do not, you can turn from sin and turn to Jesus for forgiveness and receive Him as your Lord and Savior.
For more teaching on Bible prophecy, visit New Rocky Creek Baptist Church’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/newrockycreekbaptistchurch.