Anti-Christ
In our last rap, we discussed the great day that can come at any time, known as the Rapture. Of course, there are a lot of different thoughts about the timing of all that is going to happen in the end of days. I firmly believe that the rapture will occur before the tribulation period. There are two prophecies that give us some insight into what happens next after the rapture. We see this in the books of Daniel and Revelation. In Revelation chapter 13, we see the rise of a beast from the sea. Now I don’t have time to unpack all the symbolism, but I will say the sea represents the masses of the nations. The beast in verses 1-10 is the one called Anti-Christ.
Several characteristics are given to us about this character, but what we really need to know is that he will set himself up as God, and he will wage war against all believers during the tribulation period. We see this in verses 3-4;7, “I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; 4 they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?”
7 “It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.” The word tells us that his desire is to be worshipped by the whole world, and death awaits those who will not submit. This man will be the epitome of evil. Daniel tells us in chapter nine that this man will come across as benevolent but will eventually show his true colors and betray all, especially the Jewish nation. He will rise to power just as surely as the rapture.
What does this mean to us? It should make us more determined to win people to Jesus because we do not know when all of this is going to unfold. There will come a time when there will no longer be any peace; it will be hell on earth. If we love people, we do not want them to suffer through this time, nor face this evil one that is surely to come.
The good news is that we who are in Christ will not see these days, but for those who do not, it sends a shiver down my spine. If you think the devil is taking control now, we haven’t seen anything yet. Let us be faithful to the “Great Commission”, so that those we love will not have to face these days either.