| |
He will be controlled by and receive power from Satan. His power will be awesome. Satan gives him power. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 calls him the "son of destruction" and the "lawless one." His major sin, however, is that he denies the Father and Jesus Christ. He will deny that Jesus, who is God, became a human and lived among us. This individual will deny that Jesus is equally God and man (2 John 7).
| |
Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. (NASB) 1 John 2:22
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist . . . (NASB) 1 John 4:2-3 |
An American? Scripture tells us the old Roman Empire will return to power (see the study Rapture & Prophecy). The leader of this revived Roman Empire is the Antichrist. Revelation 13:1-10 calls him the beast (see the study Rapture & Prophecy).
| |
And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; and they worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?" And there was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies; and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them; and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. (NASB) Revelation 13:3-7 |
Notice the dragon or Satan (Rev. 20:2) gives him power. This agrees with 2 Thessalonians 2:8-10. Revelation 13:3-7 says that he speaks "arrogant words and blasphemies and authority to act for forty-two months." The forty-two months refers to the last half of the tribulation which is 3.5 years. The phrase "arrogant words and blasphemies" describes his attitude and includes his actions in the temple. Scripture teaches us that the Roman Empire will return to existence in a different form just before Jesus' second coming. When scripture refers to a nation, it is almost always referring to its people. Israel refers not just to the land, but to the descendants of Abraham. When scripture spoke of the Babylonians, it referred to the people who lived in the area. When scripture mentions Assyria, it oftens names people.
When scripture refers to the revived Roman Empire, it could be referring to European ancestors. Europe was the area the old Roman Empire occupied. Since many of the American population are of European ancestry, America could be part of the revived Roman Empire and the Antichrist an American. Scripture does not give us this answer. This is only a possiblity.
Conclusion: Just before the tribulation, all Christians will be removed from the earth and will not see the suffering that follows. So those Christians may never know the identity of the antichrist. To escape suffering in the tribulation is a gift of mercy from our Lord Jesus. Not only has He forgiven us, but He will keep us from this time of suffering. The only christians who will experience this time of suffering are those who come to Christ during the tribulation. Sometimes when life becomes difficult, we think God does not care if we suffer. But that is not the heart of our God! He does not enjoy seeing us suffer. We can thank Him for His mercy and grace! |
|
