In this post I would like to continue from where I left off in my previous post. You can read that one
here.
We have been looking at the Abomination of desolation as the event that signals the start of what is known as the "great tribulation." This event was foretold by the prophet Daniel, Jesus in the Olivet discourse, and Paul the apostle in his second epistle to the Thessalonian Church.
It is at this point that the Wicked is revealed: the man of lawlessness or Antichrist. Previously, he has subtly risen to a place of power (Daniel 11:21-23). He confirms a covenant of some type with many (Daniel 9:27). This is probably something that will allow a temple to be built on the temple mount in Jerusalem. Quite possibly a temple alongside the dome of the rock, and the Al Aqsa mosque.
I have had people ask me why would God want a temple? After all, Jesus has procured salvation for us by His sacrificial death and resurrection. The short answer: the Jews have been without a temple and sacrifices for close to two thousand years now. They desire it, as they cannot practice Judaism without it. Remember, outside of their Messiah Jesus, they are still under law. It is prophecied that this temple will be desecrated by the Antichrist when he breaks this covenant, starting his assault upon Israel. So if scripture is right (of course it is), a temple will someday exist again. Ultimately, God will use all of this to turn the hearts of His chosen people (Israel) back to Him.
I would like to now look at some scriptures describing similarities between the Antichrist and Satan.
In the previous post we looked at Daniel 8. I would like to quote a few verses from there once again.
And out of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
Daniel 8:9-10 KJV
Those two verses apply to the Antichrist. Now compare this to Revelation 12, where we read of a war in heaven,
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.
And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she had a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.
And prevailed not; neither was there place found any more in heaven.
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which decieveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhibiters of the earth and if the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
And the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 12:1-17 KJV
A brief description is needed here. I think a lot of people are confused by a few things in this passage.
The woman represents Israel, the dragon represents Satan, and the man child is the Messiah, Jesus.
The vision tells of Satan's desperate attempt to thwart God's plan to bring forth one who would reverse the curse of Genesis chapter three. This is the one who would ultimately crush the head of the serpent (see Genesis 3:15).
So when is Satan cast out of heaven? Many believe this must have happened some time in the pre- creation past. But if you carefully look at this, he has access to heaven where he is accusing the brethren even now ( see also Job 1:7-13, 2:1-7). The context of verse 10 makes it impossible for this to have occurred some time in the past. The reference to Israel's flight into the wilderness for 1,260 days in Revelation 12:6, and again in verse 14, where it is referred to as a "time, times, and half a time" place this at the mid point (3 1/2 years in, and 3 1/2 years left) of the seventieth week of Daniel. This is when the abomination of desolation occurs, this is when Jesus says to flee, as the time of great tribulation is now here.
Compare the dragon who sweeps a third of the stars to the ground, with the little horn who is said to cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground and stamp on them, before magnifying himself and removing the daily sacrifice (Daniel 8:19-11). They are both described as casting these stars to the gound. Now compare the dragon who is described as a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns with the description of the beast found in Revelation 13:1-3,
And I stood up on the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth if a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.
This beast is a composite of the beasts of Daniel's vision recorded in Daniel 7:3-8. It is made up of the kingdoms represented by a lion, bear, and a leopard. This is the dreadful beast with iron teeth that was diverse from the first three, and it has ten horns (Daniel 7:7).
Notice the similarities between this beast and the dragon. Seven heads, and ten horns. Also, in Revelation 17:3 we see this same beast again. This time we are also told it is a scarlet beast. Now, one thing should be noted here. When the Bible refers to the beast, it can refer to either the kingdom, or the head of the kingdom, the Antichrist. For example the seven heads stand for seven mountains (mountains represent kingdoms), but also refer to the seven kings of those kingdoms (Rev 17:9-10). So this seven headed beast with ten horns, that comes out of the sea, is the unification of ten kings under the rule of the little horn, or Antichrist. In other places, we will see the Antichrist himself refered to as "the beast".
Throughout history, Satan has used kingdoms to thwart God's plan of redemption: specifically seven are represented by the seven heads of this beast. The crowns on the seven heads of the dragon signify this. When we see the beast rise out of the sea, the crowns are now on the ten horns, this shows us that this is the final end time assault of Satan, through this beast. Compare this with the ten toes on the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2,
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
Daniel 2:44 KJV
When this kingdom is destroyed, that is it. Jesus is back, and His kingdom will endure forever.
It gets interesting as we continue on. Strangely, non of this ever makes a Sunday morning sermon, or a mid week Bible study. For whatever reason, people tend to leave much of this alone, but I think it's vital for us get a grasp on these things. Someday these things will begin to occur, and I wouldn't want to be taken by surprise if they were to happen in my lifetime. So I would encourage everyone to get into the Bible and begin to study these things for themselves.
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
And worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make war with him?
And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
If any man have an ear, let him hear.
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and faith of the saints.
Revelation 13:3-10 KJV
Apparently something happens to this individual. It would seem that he is killed, and then supernaturally raised from the dead. It must be pretty spectacular, as we see the world go after this man with amazement. In fact, he will be worshipped by all, that is, those whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life.
The timing of this event has to be somewhere around the middle of the final seven year period that starts with a covenant made with this man. So he rises from the dead, invades Jerusalem, puts a stop to the daily sacrifice, takes his seat in the temple, and declares himself to be God. The text tells us that Satan gives this beast his power. We are also told that his authority will last forty two months, or three and one half years. Just as Jesus has warned us, now there will be tribulation such as has never been, nor will ever be again.
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake like a dragon.
And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and then which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men.
And decieveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by the sword, and did live.
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Revelation 13:1-15 KJV
We are introduced to another beast, one who has the same authority as the first beast or Antichrist. This beast is elsewhere called the "false prophet" (Rev 19:20). This beast directs the worship of everyone towards the Antichrist, who receives the fatal wound but then comes back to life. This, along with all of the miracles and signs this false prophet performs, will be a source of great deception in these days. This is in line with what we read in 2 Thessalonians 2:8-11.
What an unholy trinity we see in these verses. We have the dragon (Satan), the beast or Antichrist, and the false prophet. Satan will always have his counterfeit. We have just read of a man rising from the dead, receiving Satan's power, seat and authority. The Devil will imitate all things holy in order to exalt himself, and deceive the world.
The truth is, Jesus died for the sins of the world, that includes your sins and mine. He was vindicated by His resurrection from the dead, ascended back to the Father's right hand where he now sits highly exalted, waiting to return and establish His righteous rule. He alone is worthy of our worship.
Meanwhile, for those alive during these days of tribulation, it will take great faith and endurance. Jesus said that the one who endures to the end will be saved (Matt 24:13). Remember, a great falling away is occuring during this time also (2 Thess 2:3). The deception will be strong, and the persecution severe. It is at this time what is known as the "mark of the beast" will be implemented. Without it no one will be able to buy or sell (Rev 13:16-18). There will be a choice to make. And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death (Rev 12:11).
There are some teachers who believe that the deadly wound that is healed does not refer to an actual resurrection from the dead, but a "reviving of one of the previous empires that Satan has used in the past. The Bible does indeed teach that the final end times beast empire is a renewed kingdom, a modern version, of a previous kingdom. However, I take the healing of this mortal wound literally. I believe that is what will happen, and that is a huge reason why the world wonders after this beast, as he declares himself God. It is one thing to be shocked when out of the blue a powerful empire comes into existence, and quite another to see a man who has just come up out of the abyss along with all of the other miraculous deceptions, demanding, and receiving worship.
We see this beast again in Revelation 17:1-18. And again, it is a mirror image of Satan the dragon. It is a scarlet beast upon which a great whore sits. The beast has seven heads and ten horns, and it is full of names of blasphemy. The woman that rides this beast has a name written on her forehead,
Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots, and abominations of the earth.
Now here comes the bottomless pit or abyss,
And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
And here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
And there are seven kings: five have fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
There it is in verse 8. The beast was, is not, and ascends out of the bottomless pit. We read that the seven heads represent seven kings (and their respective kingdoms). John received a riddle, but it can be figured out. Five of these kings had fallen, meaning they were in the past. One existed in John's day. The seventh king was yet to come. They beast that was, and is not, and goes to destruction is the eighth. This is the Antichrist and his empire. He is the king who receives the deadly wound and is resurrected out of the bottomless pit ( Rev 17:9-11). I will place a link to a post where I discuss who these seven kingdoms represent at the end of this post.
So does Satan get cast out of heaven at the same time this beast receives his fatal wound? All of this is happening around the middle of the seventieth week of Daniel. Does he enter the bottomless pit, take possession of the slain Antichrist and come up, take his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God? Is it the Antichrist that does this, Satan that does this, or both of them as one?
There is a passage of scripture found in Isaiah that used to puzzle me. It is speaking about the king of Babylon, but ultimately pointing to Satan and his rebellion. I believe this passage makes the point I am trying to make.
The passage I am referring to is found in Isaiah 14. The previous chapters have been foretelling of the future deliverance of Israel from the oppression of her enemies. Chapter 13 specifically speaks of the destruction of Babylon. The language of 13:6-13 specifically places these events at the time of the end; the day of the LORD. Chapter 14 follows this same train of thought. Remember, originally there were no chapter or verse divisions found in the books of the Bible. So what we are about to read flows seamlessly from the events surrounding the destruction of Babylon at the return of Christ.
For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.
And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall rule over their oppressors.
And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,
That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! The golden city is ceased!
The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the scepter of the rulers.
He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger is persecuted, and none hindereth.
The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.
Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.
Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? Art thou become like unto us?
Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.
How thou art fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken nations!
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?
This is not about Nebuchadnezzar, or some other Babylonian king from ancient history. This passage is referring to the end time Antichrist who ruled without mercy. He is the man who caused the earth to tremble and shook kingdoms. At his destruction the whole world is now at rest. We read even the trees rejoice. The devastation at this time will effect everything, and now it is over. The little horn who magnified himself up to the heights of heaven has been brought low to the grave.
Suddenly we see a switch, and it is Lucifer who has fallen. Satan, the one who weakened the nations, who exalted himself, who boasted that his throne would be above that of God's, has been brought down, and hell awaits. This is exactly what the Antichrist does when he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God.
But those that see him ask, "Is this the man that made the earth tremble, that shook kingdoms, made the world a wilderness and destroyed cities?" Notice how this is going back and forth between this "king of Babylon" and Lucifer.
This is the mystery of iniquity, Satan taking full possession of a man. This is as evil as it gets. When this has run it's course (42 months), Jesus returns, destroying the Beast, and the false prophet, and binding Satan for a thousand years (Rev 19:19-20:3). Ultimately they will spend eternity in the lake of fire. The mystery of godliness prevails, as Christ sets up His kingdom that shall never be destroyed.