STUDY FOURTEEN – OTHER BIBLE REFERENCES ABOUT THE ANTICHRIST!
INTRODUCTION
The scriptures we cover in these studies will be from the books of Daniel and Zechariah in the Old Testament and Second Thessalonians and Revelation in the New Testament which contain vivid references to the Antichrist, his behaviour, and his nature. The Bible shows us that when the Antichrist finally steps onto the world stage to take the leading position, he will falsely lead the world to believe that the long-awaited, one-of-a-kind, unique, marvellous leader has finally emerged to lead society universally into a new age. But 42 months later — or about three and a half years into the Tribulation — is when he will begin to show his true colours.
“The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones and shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. ‘But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’” (Daniel 7:24-27)
In Daniel 7:24-27, we read about a vision in which the prophet Daniel saw the rising up of the Antichrist at the end of the age. Much of this text is similar to what is found in the book of Revelation. This passage prominently speaks of the Antichrist as one who will subdue other kings and kingdoms and speak blasphemous and atrocious words against the Most High at the end of the age.
THE ANTICHRIST WILL BE DIVERSE
We first learn from this passage that the Antichrist will be “diverse” or “different”. In this verse, the word “diverse” pictures that which is altered or changed. In the original text, this word brings to mind what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:14: “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” In Daniel 7:24, Daniel employed the verb form of “diverse” (KJV) in the masculine, signifying changing outward forms. Interestingly, writers also often used this word in some form to describe a changing of garments. The “diversity” Daniel wrote about concerning the Antichrist describes a game of “bait-and-switch.” In this frustrating game, the characters appearance, from the outside in, conceals a devastatingly corrupt core!
Attempting to keep up with the Antichrists relentlessly deceptive changing of outward forms will lead to a wearying irritation — or the “wearing out of saints” (see v. 25). His “diversity,” or ability to change outward forms and appearances, will wear down his subjects and thereby make the peddling of his agenda to circumvent truth much easier. He will be gaslighting — deception — of the highest order!
In some way, the Antichrist will be different, or he will seem to be miraculously transfigured and transformed into a kind of leader that’s different than all the others. Since Satan is able to transform himself into an angel of light and Satan is the one empowering and energizing the Antichrist — perhaps this suggests the Antichrist will in some way appear especially bright and shining to the masses.
THE ANTICHRIST WILL SUBDUE KINGS
Daniel 7:24 also says that the Antichrist will “subdue kings.” In the original text, the word “subdue” means, in effect, to bring low, to humiliate, or to sink. In context, the Antichrist will bring low, humiliate, and sink three other kings. This word carries the concept of a person rising higher by means of callously stepping on someone else. Hence, we find that the Antichrist will spitefully abase and bring to naught other kings or world leaders and then use that occasion to push himself forward and more greatly magnify his own position.
THE ANTICHRIST WILL SPEAK POMPOUS AGAINST THE MOST HIGH
In Daniel 7:25, the phrase “great words” is interpreted from a word that depicts words that are pompous. Daniel brilliantly used this word to describe the Antichrist’s tactic to dastardly mislead the world via speech. Indeed, the Antichrist will cunningly frame his words as standing “on the same level with” God’s.
From this, we know the Antichrist will unleash this scheme, presenting his own words as having equal weight to God’s words. Furthermore, the Antichrist will be prompted to say that God is seemingly offering no answers to the destruction that is overwhelming the entire world. On the contrary, the Antichrist has the “solution” — therefore, he eventually argues that his words have far more relevance than those of a distant, disinterested, and aloof God.
THE ANTICHRIST WILL WEAR OUT THE SAINTS
Daniel 7:25 tells us that the Antichrist will “wear out the saints of the most High.” In Hebrew, the words “wear out” mean to afflict, destroy, devour, engulf, persecute, ruin, or swallow up. This word is used in the Old Testament to picture devastating calamity that leads to utter consumption or obliteration. The word “saints” means sacred, and it refers to both the people of Israel, whom the Antichrist will wage war against in the second half of the Tribulation, and to those who come to Christ during the Tribulation and who refuse to worship the Antichrist.
Thus, we find Daniel prophesied that the Antichrist will aggressively intentionally try to free the world of all remnants of the law of God and past moral codes as he attempts to change the season to become a world free of God’s Word.
THE ANTICHRIST WILL HAVE TIMES AND LAWS IN HIS HAND ‘UNTIL A TIME AND TIMES AND THE DIVIDING OF TIME’
Daniel 7:25 tells us that the Antichrist will have “times and laws… given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” Here, Daniel strangely stated that the Antichrist will take advantage of his season, attempt to alter all known existing moral codes, and abuse God’s people until “a time and times and the dividing of time.”
In the original text, the words “shall be given” not only mean to be given, or given over to, but also to be burdened. Most scholars believe that the word “they” in verse 25 refers both to the people of God and to the times and laws the Antichrist will dominate over during his rule. The phrase “a time and times and the dividing of times” refers to the last three and a half years of the Tribulation when the Antichrist will rule the most ruthlessly. Thus, for a limited period of three and a half years, it will seem that this exact season, along with all law and God’s people, will be delivered into his hands.
THE ANTICHRIST WILL BE JUDGED, HIS DOMINION WILL BE TAKEN AWAY, AND HE WILL BE CONSUMED AND DESTROYED
Daniel 7:26 tells us that the Antichrist’s “judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.” Here, Daniel stated that the court of Heaven has rendered a final judicial judgment against the Antichrist. It is important to note that the Greek word “krisis” is where we derive the English word crisis, and it is certain that when the court of Heaven finally carries out its verdict against the Antichrist, it will be a great moment of crisis for this evil individual.
Even more, Daniel 7:26 states the court of Heaven will take away his dominion “to consume and to destroy it unto the end.” The word “consume” means to annihilate, decimate, destroy, exterminate, obliterate, perish, or to completely wipe out until not a shred of it remains. On top of that, Daniel added the word “destroy,” which means to destroy, to be completely lost, or to utterly waste.
THE ANTICHRIST WILL UNDERSTAND DARK SENTENCES
“And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes.” (Daniel 8:23)
Daniel 8:23 also tells us that the Antichrist will be a man “understanding dark sentences” or “understands sinister schemes”. In the original Hebrew, the words “dark sentences” carry the idea of one who deals in secrets. The word “occult” also has to do with dark and hidden things. Since the Antichrist will be empowered by Satan himself, the words “dark sentences” could be a reference to dark spiritual activity. The Antichrist will introduce dark things to the world during the seven-year Tribulation period. He will so deal in darkness that a time will come when he even enters the Holy of Holies in a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem to exalt himself.
THE ANTICHRIST WILL BE A VILE PERSON
“And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honour of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably and seize the kingdom by intrigue.” (Daniel 11:21)
Daniel 11:21 tells us that the Antichrist will be “a vile person.” In Hebrew, the word “vile” means contemptible, despised, disdained, or to be scorned. Although the Antichrist will project himself as the progressive leader of a new world order — and the world will laud his appearing, the Hebrew word used here means God deems him as one who is contemptible, disdained, and insignificant.
THE ANTICHRIST WILL DO ACCORDING TO HIS OWN WILL
“Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.” (Daniel 11:36)
Daniel 11:36 tells us that the Antichrist “shall do according to his will” In Hebrew, the words “shall do” mean to carry out an act. The words “according to his own will” depict one who acts in accordance with his own delight or pleasure.
This lets us know that the Antichrist will focus on doing whatever he wants or on carrying out that which brings him the maximum pleasure or the goal that be wishes to obtain. In context, we find he will be one who is chiefly concerned with himself and executing his own wishes.
THE ANTICHRIST WILL EXALT AND MAGNIFY HIMSELF ABOVE EVERY GOD
Daniel 11:36 tells us that the Antichrist “shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god.” In Hebrew, the word “exalt” means to be highly lifted up. This brings to mind the original sin of Lucifer, who was lifted up with pride because he shined so brightly.
Recalling that the Antichrist will be empowered and energized by Satan, it should not surprise us that, like Satan, he will highly elevate himself in the eyes of the world. The word “exalt” is frequently used in both the Old and New Testaments to depict the highly elevated status of God, but here it pictures how the Antichrist will highly exalt himself.
But the verse additionally states that he will “magnify” himself. The word “magnify” is usually used to denote magnifying God, but in this verse we discover that as time passes, the Antichrist will promote and magnify himself even “above every god.” The word “above” means against, above, beyond, and over.
THE ANTICHRIST WILL SPEAK BLASPHEMIES AGAINST THE GOD OF GODS
Daniel 11:36 tells us that the Antichrist “shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods.?” In the original text, the words “shall speak” carry a range of meanings, including one who speaks authoritatively or one who converses, declares, promises, subdues, or threatens. This tells us that the Antichrist will authoritatively speak and make declarations that are blasphemous with the intention of subduing and threatening God himself.
The original word translated “marvellous things” interestingly means to speak extraordinarily marvellous and wonderful things that distinguish one thing from another. In this context, as the Antichrist exalts and magnifies himself above every god, he will be one who speaks extraordinarily marvellous and wonderful things about himself in order to distinguish himself as being more highly exalted and greater than God Himself with the purpose of causing the world to stand in awe and wonder of him as the new Savior. It implies that he will marvellously exalt himself way above, beyond, and over God himself. It is clear that when Paul stated in Second Thessalonians 2:4 the Antichrist will exalt himself “…above all that is called God, or that is worshipped…”
