The Last Days Of Great Peril And The Rise Of Antichrist

by LESSONS FROM THE LAST DAYS | Category: General | Nov 1962

The things which must surely come to pass have been revealed to us in the "whole counsel" of God (Acts 20.27).

To the subject of unfulfilled prophecy there are many facets and we purpose to concentrate on that which concerns the rise of the Antichrist, and the subsequent effect which this will have upon those who hold the testimony of the Lord in that day.

The Lord, the Messiah of the people of Israel, came in His Father's Name and was rejected. In contradistinction, the Lord said that if another should come in his own name, him they would receive (John 5.43). This "another" is the Antichrist of whom John wrote, "It is the last hour: and as ye heard ... Antichrist cometh" (1 John 2. 18).

Paul writes of the time when he shall be manifested, and reveals this coming ruler in his true colours, as the man of sin, the son of perdition, the opposer of God, the lawless one (2 Thessalonians 2.142). His coming is in the time of the end (Daniel 12.4).

We do well therefore to pause and consider in terms of precision, as the disciples did of another matter' future to their time, "When shall these things be ? " (Matthew 24.3). The times of the Gentiles (when world government is in the hands of the Gentiles) had their beginning in Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, about 600 B.C. These times will be brought to an end by the coming of the Lord as Son of man to set up His kingdom (Luke 21.24-28).

The last to reign in the times of the Gentiles as world emperor will be the beast, the Antichrist, who will be aided by ten kings who will be subject to him (Revelation 17.11-18).

It is noteworthy that the reference to the beast as the king of the north (Babylon) in Daniel 11.40 is explained more fully in Revelation 17.1, 5 and 11, in that he will be one of the seven kings who shall reign over a future Babylon, the foundations of which are not as yet laid.

Daniel, who saw the beginning of Gentile dominion in Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 1. 1) predicted the end of it. The key which unlocks many prophetic mysteries is used time and again by Daniel. We direct attention to chapter 9.24-27. The revelation of the angel Gabriel to Daniel concerning the 70 weeks (of years) was to the effect that these were decreed upon the nation Of Israel, and upon the holy city. Such a period stretches from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem until vision and prophecy would be sealed up. The seventy weeks were weeks of years not days.

Three Gentile monarchs were involved in the commandment respecting Jerusalem, namely Cyrus, Darius (Hystaspeg) and Artaxerxes (Longimanus). The rebuilding of the house of God was completed in the reign of Darius but evidently the completion of repairs to the city of Jerusalem was not realized until Nehemiah went up by commandment of Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 2.1-9).

The division of this period of time is stated with precision. From the commandment regarding the rebuilding of Jerusalem until the Anointed One (Messiah) was to be seven weeks (49 years) and sixty-two weeks (484 years) a total of 488 years. This was a year of crisis for the whole world when Daniel's prophecy was fulfilled, as stated here, when Messiah was cut-off, i.e. crucified (verse 26).

There is yet another week (7 years) of unfulfilled prophecy, Daniel's seventieth week.

By that time the saints of this dispensation will be at home with the Lord, even as Enoch, the seventh from Adam, was translated before the judgement fell in the days of Noah. Some time following the Rapture there will be an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in terms of Joel 2.28-82, when whosoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.

The gospel of the kingdom, concerning the soon-coming Messiah will be proclaimed again. Believers of that day, both Jew and Gentile (for many Gentiles will believe the gospel message (Revelation 7. 9, 14), will be comprised in the term "the holy people" (Daniel 12.7). The use of the term "people" clearly indicates a corporate testimony for the Lord. The sending of the two witnesses, one of whom will be Elijah (Malachi 4. 5), will greatly fortify the faith of Jewish believers in that day. The word will once again be confirmed by the signs which follow (Revelation 11.3-12). The extent of their witness-bearing will be 1,260 days, obviously the first 3 1/2 years of the fateful seven (Revelation 11.7)

Before his manifestation as the Antichrist (for the beast shall deal wilily and shall obtain kingdoms by flattery), the man of sin will wield great political power, and in this garb he will make an agreement with "many" of the Jewish nation, to grant them for a period of seven years what we might term religious freedom (Daniel 9.27). For it is evident that a temple is in being, and sacrifices are being offered as of old.

Whilst the holy people are increasing during the 1,260 days, the first 3 1/2 years, as the gospel continues to be proclaimed, a matter of tremendous importance is revealed, the Beast was "slain unto death" (Revelation 13.3, A.V and R.V.M.), that is, one of the heads (kings).

As depicted here in chapter 13 the Antichrist is presented as one of the seven heads of a composite beast or system bearing the characteristics of the leopard, the bear and the lion (Revelation

13. 2; Daniel 7.4-6) of previous world empires, Grecian, Medo-Persian and Babylonian.

On dying, the beast (the man) went down into the abyss, and we are told that his death-stroke was healed. How this will be done we cannot say, but his re-emergence to the scene of military operations will cause great wonderment in that day (verse 8). This will happen, it would appear, after the first 3 1/2 years, for at that time

the middle of the week-he will slay the two witnesses. This is the beginning of travail, the time of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30.7).

The Antichrist is here revealed in his true character. As energized by Satan (who has been cast out of heaven) and aided and abetted by the false prophet (Revelation 13.11-18), the man of sin, as emperor of the last Gentile empire, a kingdom which is only partly strong, an admixture of iron and clay (Daniel 2.42), will pursue a policy of utter ruthlessness against the saints of the Most High.

His well-marshalled forces will overflow into the glorious land and compass the holy city, Jerusalem. The Antichrist is bent on a course of aggression against all and everything that savours of Messiah's Name.

The terms of the covenant are rudely set aside (Daniel 9.27); the permission of the Jews to sacrifice will be withdrawn. An unholy alliance with the false prophet will be made, and an image of the Antichrist shall be set up by men, possibly of scientific ability, who shall seek to copy the work of the Omnipotent Creator (Genesis 1.26). This abomination which maketh desolate will be set up in the precincts of the Temple in a public place. This act ushers in the period of universal worship of the beast and his image.

The Lord utters a warning to believers of that day, that, when this transpires, they should flee for refuge to the mountains (Matthew 24. 15-22). Some will escape and find asylum in the neighbouring countries of Edom and Moab or Ammon, but many shall fall by the sword. In his evil machinations the work of Antichrist will have no bounds.

His authority will be exercised over many Gentile nations also (Revelation 13.7), and his lust for power will be equalled by his expression of hatred against the saints whom he shall seek to wear out.

A rationing system will be introduced such that only those who have the mark of the beast will be able to buy and sell. We shudder as we contemplate this scene of undiluted lawlessness (Revelation 13.16, 17).

For the disciples it will be 3 1/2 years of great privation and suffering, tribulation of such magnitude, as the Lord Himself warned, the world had never known.

The prayer of the disciple seeking his daily bread will be lisped the world over (Matthew 6.9-13). A cup of water given to the persecuted saint shall not go unrewarded (Matthew 10.42).

The object of the man of sin is to blot out from the face of the earth every vestige of testimony which bears any witness to the knowledge of the true God. He, the Antichrist, claims the veneration of mankind-such blasphemy! (2 Thessalonians 2.4).

His malicious campaign against the Lord's followers, it appears, will be crowned with success, yet we know that some will be saved unto the Lord's millennial kingdom (Matthew 24.13). The furnace of affliction will have refined them as silver is purified. The flicker of the lamp of faith has not died out, for they remember the word of their Redeemer and Deliverer, "Look up!

The Lord Jesus will come in power and great glory to render vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus" (2 Thessalonians 1.8). That day will cause great mourning and also great joy. "Every eye shall see Him" arrayed in glorious majesty (Revelation 1.7).

For the true and the tried there will be great reward (Psalm 19.11). As we consider the issue of their lives shall we not imitate their faith?

LESSONS FROM THE LAST DAYS | Nov 1962
General