In our study of Revelation, we will see the appearance of the man of sin; the antichrist of whom we have heard so much about through the years. The book of Revelation is not the first mention of the man of sin. There are a few books in the bible that mentions him and talks some about him yet, the two books that we will focus the most on in the topic of the man of sin will be the books of Daniel and Revelation.
There have been many speculations in years past as to who this man of sin is, and the honest truth is believers; we do not know who he is, but we do know what he will do. The bible has given us details of his mindset, details of his character and details of who his allegiance is with. In order to address the antichrist and teach on him, we must go to the book of Daniel and the sister book, Revelation. These two-walk hand in hand.
The topic of the man of sin is going to hold quite a bit of history and as lengthy as it may be, I would admonish you to not take the teachings lightly. As always, we encourage you to take knowledge given and knowledge gained to the Master Teacher who is the Holy Spirit Himself whom Jesus advised would be our teacher during the church age.
In light of the many teachings given throughout the years on the man of sin, a great sadness comes because, despite the teachings, many will not realize who he is until it is too late. By this, we mean that many will be deceived by him and will follow him to their fatal doom. Many will make an allegiance with him, sealing their fate by taking a mark and worshiping an image to later realize; that a mistake was made, one of which there will be no recuperation or ability to change.
NOTHING NEW
The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. 9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.10 Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. ECCLESIASTES 1:8b-9
In our discourse on the antichrist, we will come to see that who he is and what he does will be nothing new. Because of whom he has an allegiance with please know this; that spirit has been around since the very beginning of time and what he does in the earth by way of evil is nothing new. The evils simply progresses or increases. There are more minds to deceive and more bodies to utilize and for this cause sin increases. The appetite and lust for sin increases and because of this increase it makes Satan appear to be an all-powerful spirit being even more powerful than his Creator. Why does it appear to be? Simply because God has not brought sin to its end and one of the reasons that he hasn’t is because there is still a remnant of souls that must receive the redemptive work of Christ and enter into the kingdom of God. The domination of sin and the many evils that we hear about and behold with our own eyes and the control that Satan is allowed to have in the earth seems to make God look like a wimp. For this cause the world looks at the believers as a bunch of lunatics for believing in a God who doesn’t seem to be in existence or is incapable of controlling the evils of sin that is running rampant. Please be advised: GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL. From the White house to the outhouse, God is in control. In every governmental office, God is in control. From the mountain tops to the valleys low, God is in control. Only those of them who has an eye to see are able to see the control of God. That which has the world twisted about the control of God is man’s very own concepts of the ways of God. In the minds of the world, God is a God that only does good and allows only good. With this mind set and unrepentant heart, man will never be able to see God. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. {Matthew 5:8} The justified hearts in this earthly dwelling are able to see God not with a natural sight, but through the Spirit. The justified heart is able to see the hand of God in the midst of all of the world’s chaos. We are able to see the mighty works of God and his righteous judgements. We are able to see the extents of his redemptive plan and are able to see the set up for the annihilation of sin. God’s timing is not our timing. If his timing was as ours there would be no one saved. God’s ways are perfect, and that perfection is based upon himself. Who can council and direct God? Who can tell him what should and shouldn’t be done, said, or even acted upon? Who can instruct God? Please know that the word allowed referencing Satan’s control, blatantly implies granted permission which suggests that someone higher than himself has given him the okay to do what he is doing. What??? Satan has a boss? Duh? He was created, he is not the Creator.
Apostle Peter in his second epistle or letter will sum up our introductory thoughts and we will move forward. The Amplified Bible reads:
3 Beloved, I am now writing you this second letter. In [both of] them I have stirred up your unsullied (sincere) mind by way of remembrance, 2 That you should recall the predictions of the holy (consecrated, dedicated) prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior [given] through your apostles (His special messengers). 3 To begin with, you must know and understand this, that scoffers (mockers) will come in the last days with scoffing, [people who] walk after their own fleshly desires 4 And say, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the forefathers fell asleep, all things have continued exactly as they did from the beginning of creation. 5 For they willfully overlook and forget this [fact], that the heavens [came into] existence long ago by the word of God, and the earth also which was formed out of water and by means of water, 6 Through which the world that then [existed] was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been stored up (reserved) for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly people. 8 Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape you, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish (pass away) with a thunderous crash, and the [material] elements [of the universe] will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up. 11 Since all these things are thus in the process of being dissolved, what kind of person ought [each of] you to be [in the meanwhile] in consecrated and holy behavior and devout and godly qualities, 12 While you wait and earnestly long for (expect and hasten) the coming of the day of God by reason of which the flaming heavens will be dissolved, and the [material] elements [of the universe] will flare and melt with fire? 13 But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness (uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with God) is to abide. 14 So, beloved, since you are expecting these things, be eager to be found by Him [at His coming] without spot or blemish and at peace [in serene confidence, free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts]. 15 And consider that the long-suffering of our Lord [is slowness in avenging wrongs and judging the world] is salvation (that which is conducive to the soul’s safety), even as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the spiritual insight given him,16 Speaking of this as he does in all of his letters. There are some things in those [epistles of Paul] that are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist and misconstrue to their own utter destruction, just as [they distort and misinterpret] the rest of the Scriptures. 17 Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard, lest you be carried away by the error of lawless and wicked [persons and] fall from your own [present] firm condition [your own steadfastness of mind]. 18 But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)!
Apostle Peter has written some powerful instructions in these passages of scripture, and he has revealed a characteristic of God that should have us always thankful, grateful, and deeply humbled by. God is LONG-SUFFERING. Long suffering is not a much talked about characteristic in our modern-day church age. We as believers should possess the same characteristics as does God and we certainly can possess his character through the power of the Holy Spirit. The problem that exists is our reluctance to yield ourselves to the Spirit to walk in the characteristics of the Most-High God. Long suffering in the bible is made up of two Greek words meaning “long and temper”. To be long suffering is to have self-restraint when you are stirred to anger. A long-suffering person does not immediately retaliate or punish. He or she has a long fuse and patiently forbears. One definition of long suffering that rejoices my soul is having or showing patience in spite of troubles, especially those caused by other people. Many to most of the problems that we as people have in our lives stems from other people, the children, the spouse, the boss and co-worker, the neighbor, and the list goes on and on. With all of the named people and positions of the people, testing times come and above all love, long-suffering and forgiveness should step to the forefront.
What I have seen in many Christians is not any of the forefront runners. I have heard Christians verbally demand respect. “I am a Christian and you will not disrespect me. (Yet God suffers long with our disrespect of him in many areas of our lives.) I am a Christian and I will not tolerate your attitude. (Yet God suffers long with the attitudes we give him in reference to instructions given by him.) I am a Christian and….. Really!!! Let’s not get it twisted now … there are limits that are drawn in some circumstances and situations but for the most part, many things simply require our patience, our prayers and the spoken word of God over it or them. Many of us have made the mistake of viewing circumstances, situations, and lives of others who are dealing with things in their lives especially from a child or a spouse, and we make a judgmental call of ” If that was me I would do this, that, or the other.” How do we know whether or not that person is suffering long with situations and doing what we should be doing: praying, setting that person or situation before God and waiting with patience and perseverance for God to move in that life or situation? What we can glean many times from other’s situations and circumstances is: What We Lack!” What We Have Need Of.” We can look at other’s situations and see where we have a lack of tolerance and patience, a lack of love in that we will not forbear or put up with for a split second the imperfections of another. Long suffering is a call to put you on the back burner. Others come before you. Pulling the contents of the following passage of scripture out of its original context; we will make it applicable to our thought. 13 No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends. John 15:13 (Amplified Bible) In other words we should have such great love and concern for our brethren and the souls of man that our wants, intents, comforts and goods doesn’t stand in the way of their coming to Christ. How many of you have had an individual say to you that your patience with them is what has help them the most? Your patience and your tolerance, your long suffering through their whining, their rebellion, their misconstrued ways of thinking, their immorality, their selfishness and anger, their deliberate hurtful words?
The believer in Jesus receives the very life of God. We, upon acceptance of Christ, receive the divine nature of God inwardly and this divine nature within us should produce the characteristics of God as we yield to the power of God within us. That power is the Holy Spirit who gives us the ability to walk in God and display God before man, angels, and fallen angels. The believer is more than human. Within the believers are two natures: the Adamic nature of sin and the Divine nature of righteousness. An insurmountable number of believers are yielded to the Adamic nature which should be inoperable or dead because of the existing divine nature of Christ. Jesus changed places with us through death, so we could possess and enjoy His divine nature. His indwelling divine and sinless nature empowers us to walk pleasing to God the Father as Jesus Himself did when He came to us as a man of flesh and to walk pleasing to God as He still does in His glorified state. In whatsoever state He is in whether fleshly or glorified, Jesus’ ultimate goal and accomplishments is to please the Father. “Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Philippians 2:5 . I especially love the way The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) says it: Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]
The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. 9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.10 Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. ECCLESIASTES 1:8b-9
King Solomon in his years of seeking the wisdom of the world, discovered that there is nothing new under the sun. Everything that is, has been and as long as the world stands things will continue to be. Stuff just simply goes around and around and through his discovery of this Solomon replied that all is worthless or futile. This is a mere expression of things being a bore. The world tries to appease boredom and this appeasement is only temporal. It doesn’t matter what the continual inventions are; boredom is its bitter results. This was what Solomon discovered.
” I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men! I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted. I thought to myself, “Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.”Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. {Ecclesiastes 1: 14-18} New International Version.
The results of the world right now are not new. The world has been in its chaotic state since the fall of man. The catatonic state of this world simply increases, and in this state, man finds himself simply existing and not really living. Man finds himself going through the motions of life and not really living life as was intended by God. The book of Daniel will show the state of man and the sovereign rule of God. It will show God’s sovereignty in what we consider as the high places in the land, presidency and governmental rule. We look at this world and think that man is in control. We chide and bicker about what goes on in the governmental systems of the world with human government yet many of us will not come under the rule and authority of God. Knowing that God is in control even in the places of authority should not find the believer chiding about the evils that are within it. We should know our God well enough to know that all that is taking place in the governmental system, God is allowing, and He is allowing for his purpose. Our prayers referencing the governmental systems should simply be “God let thy will be done on earth even as it is in Heaven. “The Most-High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. [Daniel 4:25] New International Version, One King or president had to learn this the hard way. For foolish reasons man runs around frantically during voting seasons thinking that he is going to change the world and the government with his vote. All the talk about we and we’re gonna and we. The honest truth is that we are only following the plan of God. WE have not chosen or placed anyone in the seats of authority. God has.
From the spoken word of God, the prophet Jeremiah began to forewarn the chosen people of God of a time when God’s long sufferings with their sins and rejection of him and his laws would come to an end and would lead to 70 years of captivity in a land where the people were not his, where the people did not acknowledge nor care to acknowledge God but the people were instruments in God’s hands to do exactly what he had and has purposed and planned. 70 years is a long time to pay the price for disobedience and rejection of the Lord, isn’t it? Jeremiah forewarned that God would use his enemies to chastise Israel for their continuous sin. Of course, the people laughed Jeremiah to scorn. Oh, how they reviled him and persecuted him for delivering what thus said the Lord.
5 This is the message that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah. This message came in the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah. The fourth year of his time as king was the first year that Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon. 2 This is the message that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah and all the people of Jerusalem: 3 I have been a prophet for these past 23 years, from the 13th year that Josiah’s son of Amon was the king of Judah. And from that time until today, I have spoken messages to you from the Lord again and again. But you have not listened. 4 The Lord has sent his servants, the prophets, to you over and over again. But you have not listened to them. You have not paid any attention to them. 5 Those prophets said, “Change your lives and stop doing evil! If you change, you can return to the land that the Lord gave you and your ancestors long ago. He gave you this land to live in forever.6 Don’t follow other gods. Don’t serve or worship them. Don’t worship idols that someone has made. That only makes me angry with you. By doing this you only hurt yourselves.” 7 “But you did not listen to me.” This message is from the Lord. “You worshiped idols that someone made, and that made me angry. And it only hurt you.” 8 So this is what the Lord All-Powerful says, “You have not listened to my messages. 9 I will soon send for all the tribes of the north.” This message is from the Lord. “I will soon send for King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He is my servant. I will bring those people against the land of Judah and against the people of Judah. I will bring them against all the nations around you too. I will destroy all those countries. I will make those lands like an empty desert forever. People will see those countries, and whistle at how badly they were destroyed. 10 I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and happiness in those places. There will be no more happy sounds of the brides and bridegrooms. I will take away the sound of people grinding meal. I will take away the light of the lamp. 11 That whole area will be an empty desert. All these people will be slaves of the king of Babylon for 70 years. 12 “But when the 70 years have passed, I will punish the king of Babylon. I will punish the nation of Babylon.” This message is from the Lord. “I will punish the land of the Babylonians for their sins. I will make that land a desert forever. 13 I said many bad things will happen to Babylon, and all of them will happen. Jeremiah spoke about those foreign nations. And all the warnings are written in this book. 14 Yes, the people of Babylon will have to serve many nations and many great kings. I will give them the punishment they deserve for all the things they have done.”
Notice what God said in reference to King or President Nebuchadnezzar. I will soon send for King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He is my Servant. We will see from the study of Daniel that the word servant referencing the King carries a twofold meaning.
Please follow us to the “Prophets…………………..