The Seventy Weeks of Daniel (Part 7, The Time of Jacob's Trouble)

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

                                   Daniel 9:27 KJV

As I explained in my previous post, Israel has been lulled into a false sense of security by an individual who confirms a covenant with her enemies. What will this covenant look like? Look for something that guarantees Israel's right to exist in the land, and to restart the sacrificial system, and build a temple. However this plays out, Israel will be found living securely without walls or gates. This is something that is hard to imagine today (see The Seventy Weeks of Daniel Part 6). 

We do know from scripture that at the mid point of this final seven year period something changes, and catches Israel completely off guard. Two things happen, an invasion of Israel by a coalition of Middle Eastern and North African nations (Ezekiel 38:1-16), and the placing of what is referred to as the abomination of desolation. This event is foretold by Daniel in several places, as well as the apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, and John in Revelation 13:6, 12-15. For the sake of time and space I will not quote all of these passages. Please read them for yourself. I have linked all of these passages so you can read them as you read this post.

In Daniel 8:9-11 we read of a little horn, another term for the Antichrist, who stops the daily sacrifice, and desecrates the newly built temple. As Gabriel explains the vision recorded in this chapter we discover that this little horn will be a king of fierce countenance, who will have a power outside of himself that will enable him to destroy the holy people, and prosper in what he does for a season. This king will magnify himself in his heart, even standing up to the "Prince of princes" who we know as Jesus (Daniel 8:23-25).

And in Daniel 11:21-31 this same "little horn" is referred to as a vile person who gains a kingdom through flattery. This individual makes a league with others, but afterwards works deceitfully in building a coalition of nations. Just as the term "little horn" is representative of a small leader, this man, starts small and gains power as he goes along.

He reaches a point where he becomes enraged at the "holy covenant" (Daniel 11:30), and at this point he invades Jerusalem, takes away the sacrifice, and places the abomination of desolation, the beginning of a period of intense persecution leading up to the time of the end.

Just as we read in Daniel chapter 8, this king will magnify himself above every god, even God Himself. He will do as he wills, and prosper until the determined time set by God to accomplish His divine purpose (Daniel 11:36).

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book.

                                    Daniel 12:1 KJV

Compare to Jeremiah 30:6-9

6. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? Therefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?

7. Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

8. For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:

9. But they shall serve the LORD their GOD, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.

Jesus refers to this time of Jacob's trouble in Matthew 24:15-21. He warns that when the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet takes place, those in Judaea must flee. This is the time of Jacob's trouble, or in the words of Jesus, "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the begining of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."

We have the witness of three men, Daniel, Jeremiah, and Jesus. They are all speaking of the same event, which starts with the invasion of Jerusalem ( see also Luke 21:20-22), and the placing of the abomination of desolation. This time of tribulation will be unlike anything that the world has seen up to now. As Luke records, For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled (Luke 21:22).

This unequaled time of tribulation will last for a "Time, times, and a half" until the scattering of the power of the holy people is accomplished (Daniel 12:7)

In Revelation 12:2-17 we read that the dragon ( Satan) persecutes the woman (symbolic of Israel), who flees into the  wilderness for 1,260 days (Rev 12:6), and verse 14 refers to this same time period again as a "Time, times, and half a time. Revelation 11:2 tells us that Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles for forty-two months, and we read in Revelation 13:5-7 that the beast ( Antichrist) will have power to rule for forty-two months. During this time he blasphemes God, and makes war with, and overcomes the saints. 

All of these passages are speaking of the same event. The invasion of Israel beginning with the placing of the abomination in the temple will start a reign of terror that the world has never seen the likes of. This period of time will last three and one half years. During this time period the nation of Israel will face incredible devastation. Zechariah records that in the land of Israel, two third of the Jewish people will be cut off and perish, with one third left who will be refined as silver is refined and gold is tried. This is what is referred to as the scattering of the power of the holy people, what is meant by the saints being overcome. At the point of their absolute helplessness and hopelessness, when rock bottom has been reached, they will call on the LORD, and he will hear (Zechariah 13:8-9).

I am emphasizing the persecution of the Jewish people during this period of time. By no means do I intend to leave the impression that Christians will be gone from the earth at this time in history. Revelation 7:9-27 records that a great multitude comprised of people of every nation will come out of the great tribulation. How do they come out? They are martyrs, they were killed for their faith. My intention here is to dig into the seventy week prophecy of Daniel, which refers primarily to his people, the Jewish race, and what they will go through to bring them back into covenant relationship with their God. 

If we look back at the purpose statements found in Daniel 9:24, we see that the restoration of Israel is the conclusion of this prophecy.

1. Finish the transgression.

2. Make an end of sins.

3. Make reconciliation for iniquity.

4. Bring in everlasting righteousness.

5. Seal up vision and prophecy.

6. Annoint the most holy place 

At the conclusion of the seventy weeks, we must see the national salvation of Israel, and the triumphant reign of Christ. There is a thread throughout scripture that foretells this. As I finish up these posts on Daniel's seventy weeks, I would like to look at the future restoration of Israel to the bond of the eternal covenant.

Two Opposing Mysteries (part 2)

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.

To read my post on the identity of the seven heads click on the link The Beast in Revelation

You can also check out Outline of Daniel (Formation of the Beast Kingdom)

Two Opposing Mysteries (part 1)

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

            1 Timothy 3:16KJV

The incarnation of Jesus Christ was the ultimate display of perfection seen by the world.

The Word that existed with God and as God from eternity past took on flesh and dwelled among men (John 1:1-2, 14). In Christ the fullness of God dwelled in bodily form (Colossians 1:15, 2:9).

The apostle Paul writes that Jesus emptied Himself, took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death by crucifixion. As a result, Jesus was highly exalted, given the name above every name (Philippians 2:6-11).

What a mystery. God coming to earth clothed in flesh, living a sinless life, perfect in every way. Facing the things that we face, tempted as we are tempted except for the fact that He never fell, never sinned (Hebrews 4:15 1 Peter 2:22). 

Jesus came and modeled self sacrificial love openly in front of a wicked world. He was the just, righteous one dying for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18). While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). This is the highest possible act of love that the world has been shown (John 15:13). Jesus, God in the flesh, sinless and undefiled, was betrayed, arrested, faced an unjust trial and put to death in one of the most horrendous ways to die ever invented by cruel men. He went through this for you, for me, because of love (John 3:16).

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

                               Romans 1:3-4 KJV

By His resurrection from the dead, Jesus has been vindicated. Everything He said, everything He claimed is true. He has been exalted to the highest. At His name every knee will one day bow. The gospel has gone out into the world, and millions have surrendered their lives to His service down through the centuries. One day He will return to reign, and judge the wicked. This is where the next mystery will come into focus.

The world has yet to see evil reach it's fullness. While history has recorded horrendous events of man's cruelty to man, what will someday unfold will be something unlike anything we have experienced up to now. This is the mystery of iniquity, Satan taking full possession of a man.

I would like to begin this next section by quoting from Paul's second epistle to the Thessalonian Church. They apparently were concerned that they had missed the second coming of Christ.

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him.

That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit,  nor by word, nor by letter as from us, that the day of Christ is at hand.

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the Son of perdition;

Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Remember ye not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

                            2 Thess 2:1-10 KJV

Paul, in encouraging these believers assured them that two things must happen before the day of Christ, that is, the day of His return and gathering of His saints. A great falling away, and the revealing of the Antichrist must occur before this day comes.

Jesus mentions this in His olivet discourse, "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." (Matt 24:12)

"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 

Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

Let him which is on the houstop not come down to take anything out of his house:

Neither let him which in in the field return back to take his clothes.

And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."

                            Matt 24:15-22 KJV

This event that Jesus refers to as "the abomination of desolation" is the event Paul has in mind in the passage written to the Church in Thessalonica. Jesus refers us back to Daniel the prophet. Daniel has much to say about the coming of the Antichrist, and it makes good sense to study what is prophecied there. 

Daniel refers to this individual as the "little horn." We read in Daniel chapter seven of three beasts (empires) that arise upon the earth. Then a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, quite different from the three beasts that preceeded it. It had ten horns (Daniel 7:1-7).

Daniel continues,

I Considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

                                    Daniel 7:8 KJV

I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body was given to the burning flame.

                                   Daniel 7:11 KJV

Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which stamped the residue with his feet.

And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

Until the Ancient of days came, and judgement was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

                           Daniel 7:19-22 KJV

What Daniel sees in this vision is the end times beast empire. A conglomerate of the first three beasts mentioned in this chapter, more fierce and dreadful than the previous three (see Rev 13:1-2).

        

This empire is ruled by the "little horn" who we can also refer to as the "man of lawlessness", or Antichrist. Ten kings give their allegiance to him, three apparently by force (see Rev 17:12-13). 

This man of lawlessness speaks arrogant, boastful words against God Himself, and makes war against the saints for forty two months (3 1/2 years). 

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 the 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.

                       Revelation 13:5-7 KJV

Daniel, and the book of Revelation are in agreement. A beast empire led by an individual who has an absolute hatred of God and anything holy. He will unleash a persecution unlike anything the world has ever seen. According to what Jesus states in Matthew 24:15, an event known as the abomination of desolation is what signals the start of this time of unequaled tribulation that lasts for 3 1/2 years.

Back to Daniel we read further,

And out of one of them came 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.

Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.

And a host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered.

                                Daniel 8:9-12 KJV

Daniel chapter 8 records another vision that Daniel was given. In it a ram (Medo -Persia) is defeated by a shaggy goat (Greece, the actual word is Yavan, an ancient country including what is known today as Turkey). 

 

This conflict results in the breaking up of an empire into four nations. Out of one of these, a little horn appears. This horn grows strong and eventually conquers the "beautiful land" (Israel). He causes the daily sacrifice to end and somehow defiles the temple. Daniel 7:13 calls it the transgression of desolation. 

Many commentators place the fulfillment of this vision in the past. They apply is to the conquest of the Persian empire by Alexander the great, the subsequent breaking up of the Greek empire into four sections, leading up to the arrival of Antiochus Epiphanes an individual who is no doubt a type of Antichrist. They claim that the little horn of chapter seven is a different little horn from chapter eight.

I disagree with this interpretation for several reasons. First, the visions in the book of Daniel build upon each other. Chapter 7 builds upon Nebuchadnezzar's dream in chapter two, chapter eight builds upon chapter seven, and chapters nine through twelve build upon that. All of them terminating in this same little horn as the end times Antichrist. To introduce the little horn in chapter seven, and then in the very next chapter introduce a little horn again, but expecting your audience to know they are two different individuals is a stretch in my opinion.

The most compelling reason to look at this as being fulfilled at the very end however, is because the text actually says that.

So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell on my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of  man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.

                                   Daniel 8:17 KJV

Again, this is repeated in Daniel 8:19, referencing the end times as the time of the indignation. So, however you look at this chapter, it must terminate in the desecration of the temple, by the Antichrist, in the very last days before Christ returns. 

And in the latter time of  their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and destroy the mighty and the holy people.

And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

                              Daniel 8:23-26 KJV

Compare to 2 Thessalonians 2:9. He comes by the working of Satan. And in Revelation 13:2 we read that the dragon (Satan) gives him his power, seat, and great authority. This man reaches the culmination of evil as Satan's puppet. In fact, as I will labor to show, he is possessed by Satan himself.

There are a few more mentions of the abomination of desolation found in Daniel 9:27, where we see this man confirm a covenant for seven years. This covenant quite possibly paves the way for a temple to be built in Jerusalem, and the sacrificial system to resume. However, three and one half years into this covenant, he puts and end to the sacrifices and places the abomination of desolation that Jesus refers to in the Olivet discourse.

Daniel 11:31 mentions the desecration of the temple, the end of the daily sacrifice, and the placing of the abomination that makes desolate by the king of the North, who has to be the Antichrist because Daniel 11:40 places these events at the time of the end. And again, in Daniel 12:11 we see this event mentioned one last time. Again, it is placed at the end of time, somewhere in the middle of the final seven years of this present age.

This has been a long post, and I have a lot more to say. Many people avoid this subject for a variety of reasons. However, the Bible gives us great details about these coming events. It is up to us to learn and understand so that we are aware of what is happening when these days come. 

I will continue this post, where I will explore the idea of the "incarnation" of Satan, the mystery of iniquity.

The Spirit of Antichrist

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come (1 John 2:18 ESV).

Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son (2 John 8-9 ESV).

From the dawning days of the Church and continuing through the present day, attacks on the person and work of Jesus Christ have been rampant. 

In John's day gnosticism was prevalent, and his epistles to the early Church confront this error head on. The gnostic teachers held that spirit was good and flesh was evil. Therefore they taught that Jesus as divine, could not have taken on flesh in the incarnation. They twisted the truth as it relates to who Jesus is, fully God, yet fully man, and in effect preached a "different" Jesus (2 Cor 11:4 ).

Attacks on the deity of Christ have abounded in various forms throughout the centuries, and will persist until Christ returns. The teachings of the Jehovah's witnesses are one example of this, and the teachings of Muhammad or Islam is another. The latter is what I would like to look at in this post today.

Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son (1 John 2:22 ESV).

Two things are mentioned here, the denial of Jesus as Messiah, and the denial of the Father and the Sonship of Jesus.

Muslims believe in the existence of Jesus. He is mentioned in the Quran, they consider Him a prophet in a line of prophets ending with Muhammad. They believe He did miracles, and even look for Him to return to the earth in the last days. However their idea of what He does when He returns and what the Bible states stand in opposition to each other.

They will claim that Jesus (Muslims refer to him as Issa) is indeed the Messiah. Perhaps a messiah is a better way of putting it. They have a different concept of what is meant by the title Messiah. To a Muslim it means little more than Jesus was merely a prophet. They reject the Biblical description of Jesus as Israel's savior and king. They also reject the idea of Jesus as savior from sin and death. 

In the Hadith (the sayings of Muhammad) it is taught that preceding the day of judgement the Muslims will wage war against the Jews and exterminate them. In fact the rocks and trees will cry out "There is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him." At this time one whom Muslims call the Dajjal (their version of the antichrist) will come and the Jews will go to him for deliverance, yet prophet Issa will ultimately destroy him at the battle of Armageddon.

This scenario is backwards from what the scriptures actually teach. In the last days Satan mounts one final assault against the Israelites through the antichrist and his kingdom. Jesus as Israel's Messiah returns and delivers them from their enemies,  destroying this final Satanic empire, and setting up His universal reign. 

This is a denial of Jesus being the Christ, or Messiah. Instead of coming to deliver the Jews in the time of their tribulation and setting up His righteous kingdom, Islam teaches that Issa will destroy the Jews and Islam will rule the earth.

The other aspect of Christ's mission is the deliverance from sin and death. This He accomplished on Calvary when He was crucified and then arose from the grave three days later. However Islam teaches that Jesus was not crucified, in Quran 4:157 it states, That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Apostle of God";-but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not. 

According to this, the crucifixion of Jesus was only an illusion. Some say that Judas was actually crucified, his face miraculously appearing as the face of Jesus. Anyone who believes otherwise is filled with doubts and has no knowledge. This Satanic lie has kept millions of people in spiritual darkness for some 14 centuries, a denial of the heart of the gospel, what Jesus ultimately accomplished for the salvation of mankind.

Islam also denies the Father and the Son. The god of Islam, Allah, is not a father, and has no son. Again quoting from the Quran, Yusuf Ali translation, we read, No Son did God beget, nor is there any God along with Him: (if there were many gods) behold, each god would have taken away what he had created, and some would have lorded it over others! Glory to God! (He is free) from the (sort of) things they attribute to Him! (23:91)

Quran 17:111 also states, Say, praise be to God, who begets no son, and has no partner in (his) dominion: nor (needs) He any to protect Him from humiliation.

So according to this Allah stands alone, free from all that Christians attribute to Him. Bear in mind that Muslims consider Allah to be the same God as the God revealed in the Bible. They teach that Christianity has corrupted the Bible. Therefore, God is not a Father, and has no Son. Notice how the deity of Christ is attacked in this verse. As Christians we understand when Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, He was referencing His deity. Yet we see that Islam teaches Jesus was not God's son, therefore He was not divine. The above Quranic verse makes sure we understand there was no other God along with Allah. No doubt a counter against the Christian concept of the triune God.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 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. This is the spirit of the antichrist , which you heard was coming and now is in the world already (1 John 4:1-3 ESV).

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is a deceiver and the antichrist (2 John 7 ESV).

Here we see the spirit of antichrist. Did Jesus, the divine Messiah, come in the flesh? Islam says no. God would never stoop so low to take on flesh, becoming human to identify with us. That is beneath his dignity. They are repulsed by the concept of the incarnation. 

I would like to pause here and make a few things clear. I do not wish to insult Muslims. I personally know many Muslims, and love them as a people. They are lost in a false religion that keeps them from knowing the truth that can save their souls. As Christians we have a duty to reach the lost, and there are 1.8 billion Muslims in the world today. That is 24% of the world's population trapped in Islam. So first of all let's love them and seek to see them embrace Jesus as Lord and God.

Yet it is vital to us as Christians to be wise and understand the times. While many eyes are looking for some kind of European antichrist empire to arise, we must understand that the Bible points over and over again to Middle Eastern and North African nations who will rise up united against Israel in the last days leading up to the return of Christ. It is important to note that these nations are Muslim majority nations. These are the nations to watch as we approach the day of the Lord.

The Beast in Revelation

Revelation 13:1-3 describes the final "beast kingdom that will usher in the 42 month period known as the great tribulation.

 First of all compare this beast with the serpent (Satan) of Revelation 12:3.

They both have seven heads and ten horns. The crowns are on the heads on the serpent, and on the ten horns on the beast. The beast is made up of the various kingdoms Satan has used throughout history to prevent the coming of the one who would crush his head (see Gen 3:15). His strategy has been to persecute the line of Israel through whom the Messiah was to come, and to whom He will come again to set up His kingdom. The crowns on the seven heads represent seven particular nations that Satan has used in his war against God. We will look at them later.

The beast also has seven heads and ten horns. The seven heads represent the same nations Satan has used in his attempt to prevent the coming of the Messiah Jesus. The crowns however are on the ten horns. These horns represent the ten kingdoms who unite under the Antichrist in one final assault against the people of God, and in fact Jesus Christ Himself at His return. The crowns on the horns show that Satan's final tool is the beast.

I want to draw attention to Rev 13:2. This beast has a body like a leopard, feet like a bear, and a mouth like that of a lion. We see these beasts in Daniel 7:1-8. In my last post which you can read here I identify them as,

1. The lion is Iraq.

2. The bear is Iran.

3. The leopard is Turkey.

4. The terrible beast with ten horns is the final beast Satan will use, the revived Islamic caliphate. Again, as I stated in my previous post, we should be looking for the Antichrist to to come out of the middle east, as this final kingdom is middle eastern at its core.

In Revelation 17:3-13 we see this beast again. Here we find out who the seven heads represent. Verses ten and eleven give us a clue. These heads represent seven kingdoms, and seven kings. Five have fallen. Most commentators agree that those five are,

1. Egypt.

2. Assyria.

3. Babylon.

4. Medo-Persia.

5. The Greek Empire.

One now is. The kingdom that was in power when John received the Revelation was the Roman empire. So far we have accounted for six of the heads. 

The other has not yet come, but when he does he must remain for a little while. This kingdom is represented by the legs of iron in Daniel chapter two. It is this kingdom that extends to the ten toes on the statue that represent the final revived end time beast kingdom. It cannot be Rome as many believe, that kingdom is the sixth head, not the seventh. I identified the fourth kingdom in Nebuchadnezzar's vision as the Islamic caliphate. This corresponds with the seventh head on the beast.

And the eighth is the beast which once was, now is not, and is yet to come. This is the Antichrist, and the beast empire, the dreadful beast of Daniel 7, with ten horns. It is the revival of the Islamic caliphate which was broken up in 1923. The ten horns represent ten kings who give their authority to the beast. These kings and the kingdoms they represent will be made up of middle eastern and north African Muslim majority nations surrounding the nation of Israel. It will be through this empire that Satan makes his final assault against Israel, and ultimately makes war against the Lamb.

Outline of Daniel (Formation of the Beast Kingdom).

In this post I would like to make an outline of key passages in the book of Daniel pertaining to the rise of the Antichrist and his kingdom. There is a lot of information packed into these chapters concerning end time events, and it is vital for us to get a grasp on the things revealed here as they form a basis for many of the prophecies found in the book of Revelation.

Daniel chapter 2 contains the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. He dreams of a statue with a head of gold, chest of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and toes made of a mixture of iron and clay. Finally he saw a stone strike the feet of iron and clay, then become a great mountain that filled the earth.

 Each segment of the statue represents a kingdom that succeeds the Babylonian kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar.

1. Head of Gold- Nebuchadnezzar (Babylon)

2. Chest and arms of siver- Medo-Persian empire

3. Belly and thighs of bronze-

Greek empire

4. Legs of Iron- Islamic caliphate

5. Toes of iron mixed with clay- revived Islamic caliphate.

6. The stone represents Jesus Christ who destroys the "beast" at His coming, and sets up His kingdom which shall have no end.

It may surprise many that I did not mention Rome as the legs of iron. Although Rome was a powerful empire by the time of Christ, and was responsible for the destruction of Jerusalem and persecution of Christians throughout the empire, they did not succeed the kingdoms represented in Nebuchadnezzar's statue. History has proven that the next kingdom to rule the area that is represented in this dream was a united Islamic caliphate which ruled in various forms from 632 AD until the breaking up of the Ottoman empire in 1923.

In chapter 7 Daniel records a vision of four beasts rising from the sea. He also saw a "little horn" rise up and come to power until the fourth beast was destroyed. We also get a glimpse of the second coming of Christ to set up His kingdom. 

These beasts follow the order of the empires represented in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, however they are future versions of these empires.

1. Lion with eagles wings- Babylon (Iraq).

2. A bear with three ribs in it's mouth- Medo-Persia (Iran).

3. Leopard with four wings and four heads- Greek empire (Turkey)

4. Dreadful beast with ten horns- a revived Islamic caliphate.

5. The little horn- the Antichrist 

6. The ten horns- ten kings (kingdoms) who make up the final beast empire. They submit to the rule of the Antichrist ( see Rev 17:12-13).

7. The Son of Man and Ancient of days - here again we see the destruction of the Antichrist and his kingdom at the return of Christ to establish His kingdom.

Revelation 13:1-3 describes this beast as it rises out of the sea. It is a composite of the first three (lion, bear, and leopard) with seven heads and ten horns.  It would be wise to keep our eyes on this portion of the world as the end times beast kingdom will rise up out of the middle east, not Europe like so many teach. 

Daniel 8 records the vision of the ram and goat. Similar events to the ones foretold here have in a sense happened when the Greek empire under Alexander the great defeated the Medo-Persian empire. Yet we see that this vision is for the time of the end, so we see it is yet to come (Daniel 8:17, 26). Looking back at the Greek conquest of the Persian empire can give us an idea of what may happen as these events unfold. Let's identify the various symbols in this vision.

1. The ram with two horns- the kings of Media and Persia (Iran).

2. The goat with a prominent horn- the king of Greece. The actual word translated Greece here is Yavan, a country made up of what is now known as Turkey, and Greece. 

3. The prominent horn broken off- something happens to the leader of Yavan after his victory over Persia.

4. The four horns- the dividing up of the future "Greek empire".

5. The horn coming out of one of the four horns- this is the Antichrist as he rises to power. 

In this vision the ram (Iran) attacks its neighbors to the west, north, and south. They are defeated by Javan (Turkey) however. Soon after this victory something happens to the leader of Turkey and the newly enlarged kingdom is divided into four parts. Out of one these sections a small horn (the Antichrist) rises. As he gains power he unleashed it on the beautiful land (Israel), causing devastation and destruction of the holy people. Ultimately he will be destroyed but not by human power.

Again, one should look to the middle east, particularly Turkey, possibly Syria for the emergence of the Antichrist. A Roman empire led by the man of lawlessness does not fit the biblical narrative.

Chapters 10-12 give an account of the struggle between the kingdoms formed after the "prominent horn " of the goat in chapter 8 is broken off. In these passages we read of war between the king of the north (Seluicid empire, the Levant)and the king of the south (Ptolemaic, Egypt). To a degree this can be applied to the events leading up to the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, the seluicid ruler who mercilessly persecuted the Jewish people. He is a foreshadowing of what is to come. Yet as we read on we see the prophecy telescope to the end when the Antichrist comes on the scene and the tribulation begins. Again, I would look to the middle east, as this is where we will see the wars and rumors of wars that will lead up to the return of Christ.

This was a brief outline of key facts concerning the end times as found in the book of Daniel. I would like to go into deeper details in future posts.

 

The Restrainer, the Dragon, and the Beast

      Christians have long sought to understand the identity of the restrainer mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. Paul is addressing an issue that the Thessalonian church was facing. It seemed that they were under the impression that the day of the Lord had already taken place. Naturally, this had shaken their faith, and Paul seeks to remind them of what he had previously taught them. 

     A common view of this passage is that these Christians had somehow come to believe that the rapture of the church had already taken place, and they had been left behind. This passage has been used as a proof text by those who promote the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. Therefore, Paul, attempts to show them that they have not missed the day of the Lord. 

     Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thess 2:3-4 NKJV).

     Now this passage is telling us that the coming of Christ, and our gathering to Him (2 Thess 2:1) will not occur until there is a great falling away from the faith, and the man of sin (Antichrist) is revealed. This already causes a problem for a pre-trib position, as they hold that the church is gone at the start of the final seven- year period known as the tribulation. 

     Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way (2 Thess 2:5-7 NKJV).  

     The question becomes that of, "Who or what is the restrainer?" Again, a common view is the Holy Spirit. I quoted these verses out of the New King James Version, where they capitalize the pronoun He, to show deity. However, did the NKJV translators impose their belief system into the text in this verse? 

     Pre- trib theology holds that the restrainer is the Holy Spirit, indwelling the church. Once the church is raptured, the Holy Spirit is absent from the earth, allowing the man of sin to be revealed. But Paul has just told us that the day of the Lord will not come until the antichrist is revealed, not before. The Holy Spirit within the church cannot be the restrainer according to what Paul has just stated. This causes a problem for a pre- trib rapture theology. Many Christians lament the fact that the Thessalonian Christians knew the identity of the restrainer (2 Thess 2:6), but Paul never mentioned him by name in this epistle. But is the Bible silent about the restrainer? Is there something the Thessalonians knew that we could know as well?

     It is helpful to understand that the early church was steeped in the Old Testament writings. The New Testament books and epistles were in the process of being written and passed around, but had not yet been formulated into what we now know as the Bible. When one studies prophecy it is crucial to look at the Old Testament prophets as well. Perhaps the one book that is absolutely necessary to a proper understanding of end time events is the book of Daniel. His visions of the end time events are referred to by Jesus, and form much of the background for the book of Revelation. 

     In Daniel chapter 12 we read of a time of trouble coming upon the world. Such trouble the world had never seen up to this point (compare Jesus' statement in Matt 24: 21).

     "At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Daniel 12:1-2 NKJV)

     And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?" Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished (Daniel 12:6-7 NKJV).

     Daniel links the start of the great tribulation with the standing up of the arch angel Michael. What Michael does is not apparent here, but there is a link non the less. I also quoted verses 6 and 7, highlighting the words "time, times, and half a time". This phrase is found elsewhere in prophecy, and is interchangeable with forty two months, and 1260 days. What is revealed here, is that the time of the great tribulation is to last three and one half years. 

     Note also the mention of the resurrection of the dead. The various scriptures that mention the return of Christ, and the gathering of His people, also refer to the raising of the dead at the same time (1 Cor 15:52; 1 Thess 4:16-17). Notice here in Daniel 12 that the resurrection is placed at the end (see also Daniel 12:13). Again, this does not fit the idea of a pretribulational rapture. 

     We read in Revelation 12 of a war in heaven,

     And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon: and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time." 

     Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev 12:7-17 NKJV).

     In this passage we read of a point in time when Satan is thrown out of heaven. I don't have all the answers, but apparently Satan has access to heaven (Job 1:6), but at some point he is defeated by Michael and his angels and cast out for good. He is filled with great wrath and pursues the woman who represents Israel (see Rev 12:1-6). Revelation 12 uses the symbols of the woman and a dragon with seven heads and ten horns to show how Satan has sought to destroy the male child (Jesus, the Messiah) through various empires throughout history, The time frame of this final assault is the last three and one half years of this age, when Satan is cast down to the earth. Notice again the reference to a time, times and half a time. This is the same reference as we saw in Daniel chapter 12, where Daniel prophecies of a time of trouble unrivaled in world history, We see here that a remnant of Israel finds protection in the wilderness, so the Devil, in his anger, seeks out her offspring who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. This group of people refers to Christians who will also suffer persecution on the earth at this point in history.

     We read of a beast, a mirror image of Satan, arising out of the sea in Revelation 13,

     Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority (Rev 13:1-2 NKJV).

     This is the emergence of the man of lawlessness and his kingdom. He receives his power and authority from Satan himself. Daniel has a vision of four kingdoms rising out of the great sea. In the Bible this refers to the Mediterranean sea. These kingdoms are represented by a lion, a bear, a leopard, and a dreadful beast unlike the others before it. (Daniel 7:1-7). This beast, in Revelation 13, is the fourth beast with ten horns, and is a conglomeration of the first three. Again, it is a mirror image of the dragon (Satan), with one difference. The dragon has crowns on his seven heads, while this beast has the crowns on it's ten horns. This signifies that this beast is the final world empire, consisting of ten united nations, under one wicked ruler. (Daniel 2:41-45; Rev 17:12-13). The world marvels after this beast,

     And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshipped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"  And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty two months. then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev 13: 3-8NKJV).

     This is the start of the great tribulation, We read here that the beast's authority is to last forty two months (Time, times, and half a time). He speaks blasphemous things against God. Daniel 7 records that a "little horn" rises out from among the ten horns on the fourth beast speaking arrogant words (Daniel 7:7-11). This horn makes war with the saints, and prevails against them for a time, times, and half a time, until the Ancient of Days comes and makes a judgement in favor of His saints (Daniel 7:19-27).

     This is the man of sin referred to in 2 Thessalonians 2: 3-4 who sits in the temple, exalting himself above God. This is also what Jesus refers to as the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet (Matt 24:15; Daniel 9:24-27). The restrainer has been removed, and the Antichrist is revealed. This is the midpoint of the 70th week of Daniel, also commonly referred to by many, as the seven year tribulation. 

     To sum up, something is restraining the man of lawlessness, but it cannot be the Holy Spirit through the Church. Paul clearly links the coming of the Lord and our gathering to Him, with the "Day of the Lord." He states that that day will not come until a great falling away from the faith occurs, and the man of sin, who exalts himself above God in the temple of God, is revealed. We see the activity of Michael linked to the start of the great tribulation (the final 3 and 1/2 years) in Daniel 12, and also of the war in heaven between Michael with his angels, against the Devil and his angels. Satan is cast down to the earth where mounts an unprecedented assault, through a beast empire against the people of God. At the head of this unholy empire is the Antichrist who has authority given to him by Satan, which is to last for 3 and 1/2 years.

     Is Michael the restrainer? I am not dogmatic about it; I believe he has something to do with this, but I do not claim to have all the answers. I do know from reading Paul's second epistle to the Thessalonians however, that the Church will see the revealing of the Antichrist, when the restrainer is removed (2 Thess 2:3-8). There are abundant scriptures showing the presence of Christ's followers upon the earth, through the tribulation (Rev 7:9-17), until Christ's glorious appearing to gather His own, and destroy the lawless one (2 Thess 2:8).

      

.

    

     

     

    

     

Tribulation

"Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, 

and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

At that time many will fall away and will betray one another 

and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will

mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most

people's love will grow cold. But the one who endures

to the end, he will be saved." (Matt 24:9-13 NASB)

When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice

of the fourth living creature saying, "Come."

I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it

had the name Death; and Hades was following with him.

Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth,

to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence

and by the wild beasts of the earth. 

When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath

the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of 

the word of God, and because of the testimony which they 

had maintained. (Rev 6:7-9 NASB)

     This is most likely at the mid point of the "70th week of Daniel" (Dan 9:25-27), where the Antichrist breaks a covenant he makes with Israel, and unleashes his fury against them. Other passages that correspond to this point in time are found in Daniel 7:7-8, 20-21, 24-25, which speak of the rise of the "little horn" who persecutes the saints of the Highest One for "a time, times, and half a time" (31/2 years). This is also mentioned in Daniel 8:23-26, and Daniel 11:31-36, where we see the abomination of desolation is set up, something Jesus warns us about as well in Matthew 24:15-22, as the point when the great tribulation begins. According to Jesus, this period of time will be a horrific time unlike any other that has been, or will be (Matt 24:21-22), and for the sake of the elect, it will be shortened.

     We read in Revelation 12:7-17 of a war in heaven, where the serpent, also called Satan, is cast down to the earth. This results in a time of terrible persecution against Israel, and upon Christians as well (see Rev 12:17). Again, in verse 14, we read that this time of tribulation lasts for a time, times, and half a time. Just like we read in Daniel 7, it is for a time frame of 3 1/2 years. 

     Revelation 13 speaks of the rise of the "beast", which is not only the Antichrist, but also his kingdom, made up of ten nations. It is my belief that at the point Satan is cast down to the earth, he enters this Antichrist and uses the "beast" as an agent of his wrath. 

     Here we read of the beast given a mouth speaking blasphemy (see also 2 Thess 2:3-6), and authority for 42 months, or 3 1/2 years (Rev 13:4-7). Just as we saw in Daniel's prophecy, this beast will make war with the saints and overcome them, and just as Jesus stated, It will be the one who endures to the end who will be saved (Matt 24:13).

     Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, 

"Now the salvation, power, and the kingdom

of our God and the authority of His Christ

have come, for the accuser of our brethren

has been thrown down, he who accuses them

before our God day and night.

And they overcame him because of the 

blood of the Lamb and because of the word 

of their testimony, and they did not love 

their life even when faced with death."

Revelation 12:10-11 NASB.

     

     

The Birth Pains

      In the Olivet discourse found in Mathew 24 and 25, Jesus puts forth a timeline of events leading up to His second coming. He refers to false Christs, wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes and famines in various places, as "birth pains." He tells us not to be frightened, as the end is not yet (Matthew 24:4-8). 

     The opening of the seven seals in Revelation 6 follow this timeline remarkably. The rider on a white horse is representative of the emergence of a leader who will ultimately be revealed as the Antichrist (Rev 6:2). This leader will be a deceiver, and will usher in an age of deception that the world has not yet seen (Matt 24:4-5, 24). 

     Wars and rumors of wars (Matt 24:6-7), are those conflicts solidifying the beast kingdom of the Antichrist. The opening of the second seal (Rev 6:3-4), unleashes war and conflict upon the earth. Although it is true that we have had countless wars throughout the ages, the conflicts mentioned here will be those conflicts taking place within the final seven year period known as the great tribulation, and to be more specific, those conflicts taking place within the first 3 1/2 years. 

     Jesus mentions famines in various places (Matt 24:7). This corresponds to Revelation 6:5-6, where a rider on a black horse is released at the breaking of the third seal. This rider is carrying a pair of scales in his hand. A voice is heard saying, " A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine." A denarious was the equivelant of a days wages. Take your paycheck, and figure out what you make in one day. Imagine paying that amount for a quart of wheat?  The breaking of this seal releases economic collapse, and famine, at least to a certain extent into the world.

     Could it be that the conflicts taking place at this time in the middle east effect the oil trade?  Something of this nature could have a devastating impact on the economies of many nations. And could something like this set up the emergence of the Antichrist system, where the only means of trade will be by taking a mark (Rev 13:16-17)? At any rate, we see the devastation that war creates in our world today. Displaced people, starvation, poverty, are all inevitable results of war. 

     Jesus states that these things are merely the birth pains, and as a pregnancy is nearing its end, the labor pains intensify, which leads us to the next seal, the rider on an ashen horse (Rev 6:7-8).

     

Wars and Rumors of Wars.

 Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard

one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come."

I looked and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; 

and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering

and to conquer.

When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature

saying, "Come."  And another, a red horse, went out; and to him

who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men

would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.

Revelation 6:1-4 NASB

     Jesus tells us that prior to His return, we will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but the end is not yet. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, however these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs (Matt 24:6-8). Famine is also mentioned in this passage, however for this post I will focus on some biblical prophecies concerning wars surrounding the emergence of the Anti-Christ.

     The old testament prophets have much to say about the last days, perhaps more than most of us realize. Daniel foretold much of what is to come, and anyone studying biblical prophecy soon discovers that much of what Jesus teaches, and much of what is revealed in the book of Revelation, has its roots in the prophecies of Daniel, 

     For the sake of brevity I will highlight some passages from the old testament prophets, and save further elaboration for future posts. 

     In Daniel 7, Daniel receives a vision of four beasts rising out of the great sea. One has the appearance of a winged lion, one a bear rising up on one side, one a four headed leopard, also with four wings on its back, and finally a dreadful beast unlike anything preceding it. Many scholars agree that these beasts correspond to the kingdoms represented in chapter 2, where Nebuchadnezzar has a dream of a large statue, made up of differing metals. The kingdoms here represented are that of Babylon, which was conquered by the Medes and Persians, who were them defeated by the kingdom of Greece. I agree with this, and I also believe that these kingdoms are also represented by the first three beasts Daniel saw in chapter 7. However this vision is not a repeat of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, but concerns the re-emergence of these same kingdoms in the future. 

     The fourth kingdom in king Nebuchadnezzar's dream is commonly believed to be the Roman empire, which re-emerges as the beast kingdom (represented by the ten toes on the statue, and ten horns on the beast of chapter 7) in the latter days. I disagree with this view, and briefly here is why. This vision is concerning the kingdom of Babylon, and what happens to it. Each of the successive kingdoms swallow up the previous kingdom, always having control over Babylon itself. Rome, although a dominant empire on the world scene, never conquered Babylon, or Persia to the east. the eastern Roman empire had its capitol in what is now known as Istanbul Turkey, but their dominance did not fulfill the dream of Daniel chapter 2.

     The next major kingdom on the world scene, which also defeated the eastern portion of the Roman empire is that of the Islamic caliphate. This is a much better fit, and the Bible has a lot to say prophetically about the lands that are Muslim majority nations today. This caliphate dominated all of the countries that made up the former Babylonian, Persian, and Greek empires for centuries. While the caliphate is now broken up, these countries still have the potential to unite once more as a dominant world power. This is what I believe the Bible teaches, and I hope that future posts can clarify this further. 

     This is where the wars and rumors of wars come into play. Right now in the middle east and north Africa we see many nations, some get along with each other, many do not. For a final kingdom to emerge on the scene, made up of ten of these nations, something has to happen. 

     Daniel 8 records a vision of a ram and a goat. This vision is for the time of the end (Daniel 8:17). It has not been fulfilled yet, although the defeat of the Persian empire by Alexander the great fits this, and can be looked at as a type of what is to come. The Ram represents the kings of Media and Persia, and the goat Greece (Dan 8:20-21). The actual word translated Greece in our English Bibles is Yavan. Yavan was an ancient country that was made up of a part of what is present day Greece, and what is now known today as Turkey. The modern country of Iran would represent what was formerly called Persia. Briefly, the Ram (Persia), will arise and attack countries to the west, north and south, but is ultimately, and swiftly defeated by the kingdom of Yavan (Turkey).  After this, the king of Yavan suddenly dies, and his kingdom is divided into fourths. The "little horn" (Anti-Christ) emerges from one of these kingdoms (Dan 7:7-8, 8:9-12). Could this be foretelling a coming mid eastern conflict between Iran and Turkey? It is something to consider and watch for.

     Daniel 11 gives further details of the power struggle this divided kingdom will go through. It ultimately comes down to two kingdoms, the North, and the South. Historically these events played out in the Syrian wars between the Seleucid empire (North), whose capitol was in Antioch Syria, and the Ptolemaic empire (South), which was Egypt. Historic events between these two kingdoms took place, leading to the emergence of Antiochus Epiphanes, his invasion of Egypt, and the destruction and misery he inflicted upon the land of Israel. Yet these are only partial fulfillments, shadows once again, as the events are again set for the future days as Daniel 12 shows. Antiochus Epiphanes is a type of the coming Anti-Christ, and what is applied to him in Dan 11 is ultimately fulfilled by the coming beast (Dan 11:21-45). 

     Dan 11:42-43 speak of His conquest of Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia (Sudan). Could this be the three horns uprooted by the little horn in Daniel 7:8? Isaiah prophecies of this in chapter 19. Again, the setting is the end, the return of Christ is referenced in the first verse (Isaiah 19:1). Remember Jesus' statement in Matthew 24, "Nation will rise against Nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom?" in Isaiah 19:2 we see a similar statement made where Egyptian will be against Egyptian, each against his brother and neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom. Was Jesus making reference to this passage of scripture? Then we see Egypt fall to a cruel task master, the wicked ruler of Daniel 11 (Isaiah 19:4).  The good news is this. We see Egypt in their hour of need, cry out to the Lord, turn to the Lord, and find deliverance in Him (Isaiah 19:19-22).

     There are many more prophecies concerning the last days and the middle eastern nations found throughout the Bible. I would keep my eyes open to the events happening in that part of the world, and when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, and begin to see these events unfold, understand that this might be leading up to the return of Christ, and the inaugeration of His kingdom.