The Antichrist’s Reign

Daniel 9:24-27 tells us God has designated four hundred ninety years specifically for working with Israel.  “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.  Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.   And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.  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.” 

Christ would be executed after the first four hundred eighty three years, leaving a seven year period when God worked with them again.  Israel didn’t even exist as a nation from 70 AD until 1948 AD.  At some time in the future there will be a seven year period where God works with Israel one more time.  Half way through that seven year period, the Antichrist will turn on Israel in one final effort at genocide, as described in Daniel 11:33-35.  “And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.  Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.  And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.” During this period, there will be teachers in Israel trying to turn them back to God.  This will include the hundred forty four thousand of Revelation 7 and the two witnesses of Revelation 11.  Many of them will be killed for their testimony of Christ and God.  Things will get so bad some even give up on God.

Daniel 11:36-39 describes the arrogant attitude of the Antichrist.  “And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.  Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.  But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.  Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.”

Though he comes from a religious background, and uses religion to control people, making huge donations to religious organizations, the Antichrist will not recognize any authority above his own.   The only thing he really respects will be power, and considers himself above the moral principles God has established, indulging in homosexuality and transgenderism.  He will establish his own religion, setting himself up as god, using the Temple in Jerusalem and the ancient traditions to deceive the people.  He will form his own priesthood, headed by the False Prophet, to persuade other groups to join his religion, using what seem like miraculous signs to convince people of his miraculous powers. 

Just as people begin to think he really is a god, some of those groups he has defeated, especially those of Islamic background will rebell and he will put down their rebellion forcibly, although unable to completely wipe out the opposition, as Daniel 11:40-42 describes.  “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, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.  He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.  But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.”

The violence of his efforts to quell the rebellions will spark further rebellions, leading to even more draconian efforts on his part until finally, he loses control, as Daniel 11:44-45 describes.  “But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.  And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.”

When mankind finally realizes that they cannot control the world and fix the problems, even with all the power and knowledge of Satan to help them, God will finally intervene. Unwilling to give up their power, they will still fight him.