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(2
Thes. 2:3-4). Since we know the difference between the many
antichrists and the Anti-Christ, let’s look at Scripture to
identify ten characteristics of the Anti-Christ. Some theologians say
that there are up to 37 characteristics of the Anti-Christ.
1.
He Will Blaspheme God
Many
of these same characteristics of The Anti-Christ are also held by
many antichrist’s. One of the greatest of these characteristics is
that He will blaspheme the holy name of God. (Revelation
13:6) says, "And he opened his mouth in blasphemies
against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those
who dwell in heaven." Many unbelievers blaspheme God too when
they use God’s name as a swear word. This includes the vain use of
Jesus' name as it is written in (Exodus 20:7)
"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the
LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." Jesus
warned that every idle word that men and women speak they will have
to give an account for in the Day of Judgment. Every idle word! That
includes every word used with God's name in useless, vain or even
casual speaking like "Oh my God!"
2.
He Claims to be God and is Worshiped
A
strong characteristic is that the Anti-Christ will seek to be
worshiped like God. Paul writes, 'Don’t let anyone deceive you
in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and
the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He
will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God
or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple,
proclaiming himself to be God.' (2 Thes. 2:3-4)
This Anti-Christ is identified as the 'man of lawlessness' and will
not appear until the 'rebellion' occurs. (Rev
17). This man comes to power during the Tribulation and he
will set in the temple of God to proclaim himself as God.
3.
He Will Display Miraculous Powers
Paul
knew the man of lawlessness would dazzle those who are deceived and
many will worship him. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
"The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how
Satan works. He will display all sorts of power through signs and
wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives
those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the
truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful
delusion so they will believe the lie and all will be condemned
who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness."
People will be so far removed from knowing Jesus Christ that they
won't recognize the true God from the false one. (Revelation
13:13) as he "performed great signs, even causing fire to
come down from heaven, to the earth in full view of the people."
Jesus never performed miracles to draw attention to Himself but to
glorify God. The Anti-Christ will try and draw glory to
himself with miracles as people seek signs and wonders (John
4:48).
4.
The Anti-Christ Comes Back to Life
Jesus
Christ died on the cross and was resurrected, The
Anti-Christ will recover from what was considered a mortal wound.
After this he 'orders them to set up an image in honor of the beast
who was wounded by the sword and yet lived' (Rev.
13:14). A feat that will cause many to be motivated by the
sight of this 'fatal wound [that] had been healed'; so much so that
many will worship him. (Rev. 13:12).
This is imitating Jesus Christ again, Even the disciple Thomas
doubted Jesus could recover from the death of His crucifixion but
when he saw the resurrected Christ he confirmed that Jesus was Lord
and God. (John 20:28).
5.
Anti-Christ Rules in Full Authority
The
Anti-Christ, again mimicking Jesus sovereignty, will rule for 42
months over the earth. For 3.5 years he "is given
authority to continue 'making war' for forty-two months" (Rev.
13:5). The Anti-Christ "is given authority over every
tribe, people, language and nation" (Rev.
13:7) The Elect are not
deceived they know Jesus is Lord of all and has been given all
authority in heaven and on earth. The Anti-Christ thinks he has
power but he is given only as much power as God allows him to have.
All this mans power is within the sovereign plan of God; as God can
even use evil for good.
6.
The Anti-Christ Will Control the World’s Economy
Whoever
rules the world’s goods rules
the unsaved world. This being will "enforce
all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to
receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads. So they
could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of
the beast or the number of its name." (Rev.
13:16-17). When people are hungry, they will do almost
anything to keep from starving. Even submit to an ungodly ruler.
He causes everyone to receive a mark so that they can’t even buy
food or goods unless they have his mark upon them. This also mimics
the sovereign God who gives to all, great and small, the sustenance
to survive. The Anti-Christ makes everyone receive his mark but
this mark comes with a great price.
7.
The Anti-Christ Desecrates God’s Temple
(Daniel
11:31) "Armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple
fortress and abolish the daily sacrifice. They will set up the
abomination that causes desolation. The 'daily sacrifice is
abolished' (Dan 12:11) "He will
invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it
through intrigue. An overwhelming army will be swept away before
him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed. After
coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with
only a few people he will rise to power. When the richest provinces
feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what his fathers
nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and
wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of
fortresses-but only for a time" (Dan
11:21-24). He is a liar and a thief of thieves. He
makes an agreement and promises peace but then breaks his promise and
deceives many.
"Therefore,
when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the
prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him
understand), let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of
his house. And let him who is in the field not to back to get his
clothes. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing
babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter
or on the Sabbath, For then there will be great tribulation, such as
has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no nor
ever shall be' " (Matt 24:15-21).
8.
The Anti-Christ’s Attempted Destruction of Israel
Satan
and all of those under his rule have always sought the destruction of
the Jews. The end times see this brought to fruition. (Daniel
11:40-41) "And at the time of the end shall the king of
the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against
him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many
ships. And he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and
pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land Jerusalem and
many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of
his hand, Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children
of Ammon." This happens after another treaty is broken. At
first he promises to help be Jerusalem's savior but he, is a liar and
the truth is not in him (Dan. 9:27). He
breaks one treaty after another and makes one promise after another,
breaking them all. His power comes from the father of lies, the
Devil.
9.
Causes Earth’s Armies to Fight Against Christ
The
Anti-Christ makes an unwise decision, showing that pride comes before
the fall. John records that he "saw the beast and the kings of
the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the
rider on the horse and his army." (Rev.
19:19). He is so deluded by power and by pride that he
actually believes that he can even defeat Jesus Christ but he
sorely miscalculates (Rev 19:20-21).
Power not only corrupts but it also blinds a person to logic and
common sense. What makes this man think that he can destroy God
Almighty in the Person of Jesus Christ? That will be the last
decision that Anti-Christ makes and it will be a fatal one for he is
cast alive into the lake of fire where he can deceive the nations no
more.
10.
All Anti-Christ’s Final Destiny
All
of the little “a” antichrists and the Anti-Christ are headed to
one place; the lake of fire. If you are denying Jesus Christ is God
and that He came in the flesh and lived a perfect, sinless life, that
He died for sinners, and was raised again and today sits at the right
hand of God, and that He is coming again to judge the world in
righteousness, then you are also an antichrist (little "a").
There is nothing that is not forgivable except not believing in Jesus
Christ as the Son of God (1
John 1:9). If you do not believe in Jesus
Christ then you are an antichrist and you stand condemned unless you
repent. (John 3:18).
There
is still time to repent if you are reading this
(Revelation 20:19-20),
"And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies,
gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and
against His army. Then the beast was captured, and with him the false
prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those
who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.
These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with
brimstone." [They were
cast into the lake of fire alive!]
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