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Within the pages of Scripture, we find the story of a charismatic -- but evil -- individual who will soon rise to the forefront of world affairs. He is known by many names in the Bible, but perhaps the one most familiar is that of "Antichrist." 

At first, this individual will conceal the monster that he truly is. He will solve the Arab-Israeli conflict, thereby ending the threat of Islamic terrorism and the specter of World War III. In return, the masses will fall in love with this "diplomatic superhero" and exalt him as the greatest peacemaker who ever lived. He will be showered with praise and deference everywhere he goes. In fact, the heads of state of Europe -- ten prime ministers or chancellors -- will give him control of their military forces as a reward for his accomplishment.

However, within a year of achieving this spectacular "peace," the Antichrist will begin to drop the facade and the demon that he truly is will start to emerge. The Beast (as he is called in Revelation 13) will plunge the nations into a series of horrific wars that will cost billions of lives and ruin the planet's ecosystem. For two and a half years, the nations will reel under the violence of the Antichrist and the first fourteen judgments of heaven. The ensuing economic chaos, pestilence, and food shortages, will bring the world to its knees.  

At that very moment -- and quite ironically -- the Antichrist will then offer to bring the situation under control by insisting that he be given the position of United Nations secretary-general, along with sweeping emergency powers to enact his policies for ending the bloodshed. In desperation, the nations will acquiesce  to his demands.

However, the Antichrist is just getting started. Blasphemies, Two Witnesses, Abomination of Desolation, 666, Final  Solution, more wars, 3 1/2 years, final judgments from God, Armageddon.

A FEW UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

Most people have heard of the Antichrist, also known as the "Son of Perdition." They know, either by sermon or personal study, that this individual will eventually dominate the planet as Satan's final ambassador. They are familiar with the above scenario and realize that our generation is the one destined to see the these events begin to unfold. 

But exactly what kind of person will this Antichrist be? Where will he come from? And is it possible to identify him before he comes to power?

SON OF SATAN

First and foremost, the Antichrist is the "seed" of Satan, the biological offspring of the devil (Gen. 3:15). He will therefore exhibit virtually ever wicked character trait that belongs to his father. He will be the greatest liar who ever lived (REF). He will be a murderer and a truce-breaker (REF). His soul will be bent on getting all mankind to worship him (REF). He will be the ultimate human enemy of Christ, and the one who will lead the nations against the armies of heaven at the Battle of Armageddon (REF). etc, etc, etc,

PRINCE OF ROME

The next question is: Where will the Antichrist come from? Despite what many prophecy teachers have said, the Antichrist will not come from Turkey, Israel, Syria, Iraq, or Iran. He will not be a citizen of Russia or America. And he will not be a Muslim or a Jew. Instead he will come from the continent of Europe as the final prince of Rome (Dan. 9:xx).

etc., etc., etc.

CAN WE KNOW?

Now we come to the final question: Is it possible for the Church to learn the identity of the Antichrist today? Can we know who the Antichrist is before we leave planet earth at the Rapture?

Here is the answer: There is no guarantee we will learn the Antichrist's identity before the Rapture. However, the Bible never rules out the possibility. Instead, Jesus repeatedly tells the Church to study the book of Revelation before he comes back for her -- and the range of that command necessarily includes Revelation 13:xx: "The one having wisdom (HCSB). 

I realize there are some who might disagree with my stance on this issue. But let me ask: Why would the Lord command us to study this verse, if not to encourage us to at least make the attempt to solve it?

Indeed, far from concealing the details of the Antichrist, the Bible reveals a host of attributes concerning the Man of Sin that can be used right now to identify him. In fact, dozens of gifted authors have expounded on these very characteristics and shared their insight regarding these passages.

So my next question is this: If it's true that "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16), then is it not possible that the Church is supposed to try to identify the Antichrist?  the verses concerning the Antichrist were meant to be solved  intended to help us purify our lives and reach out to the lost? And wouldn't that happen  much easier if as more than just a basis for academic discussion? Is there not a more practical purpose to these passages? Wouldn't these sections of Scripture be more useful if they helped us identify the Antichrist? and 

why should we treat the prophecies of the Antichrist as little more than an academic exercise with little practical application? how should we treat the scriptures concerning the Beast? How do we respond to all the God-given insight that has come through our pastors and scholars? Are we to treat these details and as little more than a set of academic facts that serve no practical purpose? What would be the point?

Here are just some of the traits that can be used to identify the Antichrist before he comes to power: 

• As the final Caesar of Rome (REF), he will be born somewhere in Italy to Italian parents.

• He will look like one of the first five emperors of the Roman Empire: Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, or Nero (REF).

• He will rise from the lower classes, not from the ranks of royalty (Dan. 11:2x).

• His name will somehow be an expression of blasphemy against the Almighty (Rev. 13:x).

• The letters in his name will add to 666 when properly spelled in Hebrew or Greek (Rev. 13:xx).

• As the product of a fallen angel (Lucifer) and a beautiful woman, he will undoubtedly be tall and physically attractive (Gen. xx:xx; REF).

• During his formative years and early career, he will stay out of the public eye. But his first vocation will be that of peacemaking (REF).

SOME GOOD NEWS

The Antichrist will bring unfathomable suffering and sorrow to the human race. His reign of terror will last for seven years and lead to the horrific Battle of Armageddon. But the good news for Christians is that we'll be caught up to heaven just before the Tribulation begins.

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• Immediately after the Rapture, he will step forward and announce the completion of the Arab-Israeli peace accord (Dan. 9:xx). This treaty will have the direct support of almost every nation on earth (the "many" of Dan. 9:xx), and its initial trial period will be set at seven years. But the Antichrist will clinch the deal by getting the military forces of Europe to guarantee Israel's safety and by convincing the leaders of Islam to allow the Jews to rebuild their Temple (REF). The Palestinians, on the other hand, will get to establish a sovereign nation within Israel's borders (REF).

• As a reward for achieving this incredible peace agreement (Rev. 6:xx), the Antichrist will be granted authority over a ten-nation European military force (Rev. 17:xx). I believe this force will be the so-called European Intervention Initiative (the follow-on to the 1948 Wetsern European Union). and its headquarters undoubtedly will be located in the city of Rome, a.k.a., "Mystery Babylon" (Rev. 17:xx), and the city of Seven Hills will once again become the center of all religious, military, and commercial affairs in Europe.

• Despite all the peace celebrations, however, this new Roman Caesar will launch his first war within a year of being appointed head of the EI2 (Dan. 11:xx). His target will be North Africa and its vast reserves of subterranean oil (Dan. 11:xx).

• This war will ultimately cost the lives of one-fourth of mankind and lead to famines and pestilences around the globe (Rev. 6:xx). Society will teeter on the brink of total collapse. Therefore, at around the Tribulation midpoint the Antichrist will offer to serve as secretary-general of the United Nations, and he will call for sweeping emergency powers. In desperation, the nations will acquiesce to his demands (Rev. 13:xx).

• As the de facto dictator of planet earth, the Antichrist will now deploy his forces to Israel under the guise of steadying the Middle East. However, once his troops are in place, the Antichrist will enter the Holy Land personally and commit the most arrogant act in all of history. He will go to the Temple in Jerusalem and proclaim himself God. He will then demand that every person on earth worship him, under threat of execution (Rev. 13:xx). No one will be permitted to buy or sell unless they have the Antichrist's name, mark, or the number 666, imprinted on their right hand or forehead (Rev. 13:xx).

• The Muslim community instantly will be outraged by this blasphemy. They will tear up the Antichrist's peace treaty and launch an all-out war for control of Judaea. The fighting will become desperate and will probably lead to a number of nuclear exchanges. This is the horrific conflagrations and disasters predicted in Revelation 16 (REF).

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