Anti-Christ, Beast- Why He will eventually come to Power

Who is the Anti-Christ? The Scripture uses the term in two different ways. The first way uses in a general fashion applying it to any individual who opposes God and denies Jesus Christ (I Jn 2:22, II John 1:7). The Greek word specifically implies it is someone who comes to take the place of Christ. In this sense, there are many Anti-Christs in the world today. Jesus said many would come in his name claiming to be the Christ. The second way the term is used refers to a specific world leader who will rise to power in the time of the End. In this sense, the Anti-Christ has yet to appear on the world scene. He is restrained from rising to power for three simple reasons. Free-will People must first be prepared to embrace him, the devil must empower him, and God must be willing to hand the world over to him. All three of these factors will eventually transpire, if people are not careful. Let me explain why.

The Antichrist will arise to Power because people will embrace him.

The only thing needed for evil to prosper is for people to first cooperate with it. The Antichrist to come will be a stern faced leader and a master of intrigue. He will be a vile person, to whom is not bestowed the honor of royalty. He will have no regard for the desire of women. He will have no regard for the God of his Fathers. He will first come proclaiming peace and confirm a covenant with many for seven years. He will come in on a white horse promising to rescue people from their problems. Those looking for big government to solve all their problems unknowingly move society in this direction. The Anti-Christ will make you think He is a good guy when He is really a beast. People will be deceived because they do not love the truth. The Beast will tell them what they want to hear. He will give them a political bone to chew in exchange for their liberty. He will redistribute the plunder and wealth among his followers. People desperate for change will embrace him not knowing what that change will really mean. After coming to an agreement, He will act deceitfully and with only a few people rise to power. He will get in bed with the political establishment for a time. When the richest provinces and people feel secure, He will invade the kingdom and destroy many. He will seize power through intrigue. He will conspire against the strongholds and the establishment and accomplish what none of his forefathers before him could do. Who says that Character does not count when it comes to leadership? As a friend of mine would say, Don’t drink the Kool Aid. Elect only trustworthy leaders with good morals that demonstrate those morals in their record and actions.

The Anti-Christ will prosper because He will be fully empowered by Satan

The Anti-Christ will become very strong but not by his own power. The beast will honor with silver and gold a god of Fortresses; a god his forefathers did not know. Because the Anti-Christ will sell himself out to the devil, the dragon will give the beast his power and his throne and great authority. The coming of the lawless one will be according to the working of Satan with all power, signs, and lying wonders. A sword shall be against his arm and against his right eye; his arm shall completely wither; and his right eye shall be totally blinded. He shall be wounded by the sword and yet He shall live. It will be as if He was mortally wounded and his deadly wound will be healed. He will ascend from the bottomless pit. He will open his mouth in Blasphemy against God, his tabernacle, and those who dwell in Heaven. He will cause sacrifice and offering to cease in God’s temple and have an abominable image erected there in his Honor. A false prophet will perform many miraculous signs on behalf of the beast. He will give breath to this image that it might speak and even call fire down from heaven in the sight of men. Everyone whose name is not written in the Lamb’s book of life will worship the beast and the dragon who gave him such power. At this point, truth shall be thrown to the ground. The Religious frenzy surrounding this event will incite those who refuse to worship the beast to be killed. He will cause astounding devastation. For this reason, the bible refers to this event as the abomination that causes desolation. He will prosper in everything He does. The beast will make war against the two witnesses and kill them. He will make war against the saints and overcome them. He will achieve what neither his fathers nor forefathers achieved. Authority will be given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. He will force everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or their foreheads that they may not buy or sell unless they have this mark or the number of his name. By doing this, He will force everyone to make a do or die choice. He shall force conversions and honor those who forsake their covenant with God. Those who refuse to take the mark or worship the beast will be beheaded.

The Devastation caused by the Anti-Christ will be allowed by God.

The Anti-Christ will do all this with the full permission of God. For the moment, the beast is restrained from coming until the time of the end. Only after wickedness has reached it’s fullness will the king arise. God will grow weary of sheperding the flock marked for slaughter and hand them over to their desired king. If Men will not seek God’s face, He will leave them to their own devices in wrath. It is only a matter of time before man’s sin will reach it’s fullness. God will say ‘I will not feed you. Let what is dying die, and what is perishing perish. Let those that are left eat each other’s flesh.’ At the opening of the first seal, the beast will ride out as a conqueror bent on conquest to perform all that is written of him. God will agree to grant the beast his power until all His words are fulfilled. The Beast will deceitfully conspire with the religious and political establishment only to later destroy them. God will no longer spare men from the hour of trial that will come upon the whole world. God will allow this strong delusion, that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Everyone who takes the name of the beast or the number of the beast will be marked for slaughter. Anyone who worships the beast or takes his mark shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and the lamb. The smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever. They have no rest day or night who worship the beast and his image and whoever receives the mark of his name. This hour of trial will become a do or die choice for Christians. Those who try to save their life by taking the mark will lose it for eternity. Those who lose their life for Christ’s sake, will find it in the afterlife.