Who Is The Antichrist?

WHO IS THE ANTICHRIST?

Original posed on: 12/29/2014

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been rewritten and edited on 7/11/2018.  The original post contained information that I no longer consider relevant i.e. I have changed my prophetic belief system.

The word “antichrist” only appears in the letters of 1 John and 2 John.  It is never used in the Revelation although many, if not the vast majority, of modern prophecy aficionados refer to “The Antichrist” as an end-times ruler/potentate/dictator responsible for conquering the world, eliminating the majority of inhabitants, and declaring himself as a messianic figure standing within a rebuilt Jewish temple. 

The Antichrist is generally considered the first beast that rises from the sea in Revelation 13.  His renown is thought to be bolstered by the actions of the second beast who rises from the earth and is referred to as the “false prophet” beginning in Revelation 16:13 and two additional places

Who is the antichrist?  What are his characteristics; his personality; or his purpose?  When he makes his appearance:  people will be astounded (NET); will marvel (MLV)

will be amazed (NLT); shall wonder (RHB).  The beast will apparently make a huge impression. 

The Beast was/is the Holy Roman Empire

The beast arising from the sea is the same as the “little horn” of Daniel 7.  Daniel viewed four beasts arising from the sea.  These beasts correspond with the four sections of the statue dreamed by Nebuchadnezzar which are:  Babylon; Medo-Persia; Greece; and the Roman Empire.  The “little horn” arising from among the ten horns on the head of Daniel’s fourth beast represents an extension of the Roman Empire. 

When the civil western part of the Roman Empire expired, the Vatican with a hired army attacked and conquered three divisions of the ten divisions of the civil Empire and renamed itself the Holy Roman Empire, because it now had territory and could be considered an empire.  After Napoleon conquered the Holy Roman Empire and imprisoned the reining Pope, it then became the Roman Catholic Church.

Several theories by various commentators have been presented as to why people will be astounded.

1.   Because his initial military advances and destruction will be so impressive and have such a supernatural flair that people will say, “Who can make war against him.”

This is due to the military aspects that projected the Church into a territorial empire.

2.   Because many people will recognize the identity of the beast who ascends from the bottomless pit (abyss).  Rev 17:8 appears to state that the beast existed at one time, but then ceased to exist, but now is here again.

Napoleon took the reining pope captive and placed him in a French prison where he died.  At a later date, Napoleon desired to be crowned as Emperor of his conquered European territory and decided he needed a pope to perform the crowning ceremony.  Thus the papacy was reinstated but with no empire and severe monetary restrictions.

Scripture teaches that the beast existed at some point in time; during John’s vision, he was no longer alive; but the beast will exist again by ascending from the abode of the dead or the bottomless pit. Because he was wounded to death and then appeared to return to life.  Rev 13:4  appears to indicate that people recognize the dragon (perhaps Satan) gives ruling authority to the beast

One of the beast's heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement; they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: "Who is like the beast?" and "Who is able to make war against him?"  (Revelation 13:3-4 NET)

The pope, dying in prison and then being reinstated by Napoleon ascended from the bottomless pit (Hades, abyss, abode of the dead) in a metaphoric manner. 

The beast you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss (bottomless pit) and then go to destruction. The inhabitants of the earth -- all those whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world -- will be astounded when they see that the beast was, and is not, but is to come. (Revelation 17:8 NET)

2 Thessalonians 2:3-11 NET (3) Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day (the return of Jesus Christ) will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction. (4) He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and as a result he takes his seat in God's temple, displaying himself as God. (5) Surely you recall that I used to tell you these things while I was still with you. (6) And so you know what holds him back, so that he will be revealed in his own time. (7) For the hidden power of lawlessness is already at work. However, the one who holds him back will do so until he is taken out of the way, (8) and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy by the breath of his mouth and wipe out by the manifestation of his arrival. (9) The arrival of the lawless one will be by Satan's working with all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders, (10) and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved. (11) Consequently God sends on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false.

3:  That day is the return of the Lord, Jesus Christ, to begin the Millennial Kingdom of God

4:  Various popes have written decrees contradicting the Word of God thus displaying himself as God or above God.  After the New Covenant and the Pentecostal partial filling of the Holy Spirit within a believer, God’s temple is presently within the believer.  The pope takes his seat in the temple of each Catholic believer.

5-7:  The destruction of Mystery, Babylon is happening now.  The Papacy/Vatican system, which is connected to the Rothschild’s international banking system is a far greater threat that anyone imagines.  Read the following post for much more information concerning the Vatican and the Rothschild’s:  THE CROWN: THE ROTHSCHILD’S & THE VATICAN  The Crown . 

8:  The secrets of the Papacy/Vatican will be revealed at the end, or immediately after, the final assault of God against Mystery, Babylon.

9-10:  This verse is basically a condensed version of Revelation 13 and 17 which speaks of the two beasts.

11:  God has blinded the eyes of the Church people and the vast majority cannot understand the truth of prophecy, Mystery Babylon, and current events as they relate to prophetic scriptures.

Other articles that may provide more information concerning the sea beast, earth beast, and the beast system in general can be found at the following links:   The Beast From The Sea   The Earth Beast   The Beast System   Beast Kingdom Dissolved