When you see movies about the antichrist and people speak of him, you get a pretty evil demonic image. However, when he first comes on the scene, who are most people going to think he is?
People are not going to look at the antichrist when he first comes on the scene as the devil. They are going to look at him as dynamic, charming, diplomatic, and successful. He is going to have fantastic worldly things to say that will make those on earth ooo and ahhh.
He’s going to have the answer for peace with Israel and the Islamic nations. Therefore Israel is going to see him as the messiah and Islam is going to view him as their leader that is to come, whom they are waiting for.
Once again the Jews are going to think he is their messiah because he is going to bring peace. That’s why they rejected Jesus. They feel He couldn’t have been the Messiah because He didn’t bring peace and then He died.
Many of those who call themselves Christians and do not go in the rapture will believe the antichrist is divine.
So why is he portrayed as being so evil?
Daniel 9:27 – 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.
Half way through the 7 year peace treaty with Israel, we have a change of behavior.
Revelation 12:9 – 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
Revelation 12:12-13 – 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”
13 When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.
So Satan is cast down to the earth and is filled with fury because he knows his time is short. What’s next?
Revelation 13:2-3 – 2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast.
The dragon, which is the devil comes down and brings back the beast to life that appears to have died from a fatal wound.
Revelation 13:4-7 – 4 People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?” 5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. 7 It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.
The floodgates now open and Mr. Charisma and the peace monger is no longer in charge but Satan himself. Daniels speaks much about this.
Daniel 11:31-32 – 31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
Daniel 11:36 -37 – 36 “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 – 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 – 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie,
Ultimately we know that the beast of the earth will demand that the beast of the sea be worshipped and take his mark or be killed. You see Satan has always wanted to be like God. He wants to sit in the place of God and demands to be worshipped as god. If you don’t, you will die.
Revelation 13:11-17 – 11 Then I saw a second beast, coming out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb, but it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. 13 And it performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people. 14 Because of the signs it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived the inhabitants of the earth. It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. 16 It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, 17 so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.
However, God makes it clear that if you take it, you will perish forever and hell awaits.
Revelation 14:9-10 – 9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.
If you’re left behind, you can’t take the mark unless you want to end up in hell. The choice between Christ or antichrist will become a test of your life. Lose it for serving Christ’s or prolong it, take the mark and enter eternity in torment when you die.
Who will you choose? Jesus predicted His rejection and the acceptance later on of the antichrist.
John 5:43- 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.
Choose Jesus as King and make Him your everything now. However, if you’re reading this after the rapture, choose Him and don’t take the mark. It will cost 98 percent of those their earthly life who can’t hide, but taking the mark of the beast is giving one’s allegiance to Satan and that is unforgivable.
The antichrist when he comes on the scene will be hailed by the world and those who reject Jesus as their savior. He will be loved. Don’t buy it. Three and a half years into the 7 year peace treaty with Israel, no man in the history of the earth will ever have been, as evil as he will be.