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As the Antichrist invades Israel in the middle of the seven-year covenant, things begin to change. At the beginning of his reign he was merely a political figure. He didn’t even concern himself with religion. His ambitions were simply to expand his power. But now something changes him.
While the Antichrist begins his invasion of Israel on earth, an event takes place in heaven that unleashes Satan upon the world. John explains it in the form of a vision in Revelation 12.
In this vision a woman appears clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars upon her head. She brings forth a child who is destined to rule all nations. Standing before the woman is a great red dragon waiting to devour the child as soon as he is born. The child, however, is caught up to God and to His throne, while the woman later flees into the wilderness where she is protected for a time.
The meaning of the vision is relatively simple. We can understand it because this isn’t the first time the Bible has mentioned a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and twelve stars upon her head.
Genesis 37:9–10 shows that the same woman used in Revelation is already revealed as the nation of Israel. Isaiah 66:7–8 tells us her children are the saints. But most importantly, her firstborn is Jesus, who has been received into heaven and stands at the right hand of God the Father. Revelation 12:9 tells us directly that the dragon represents Satan, who wants to kill her children.
Parts of this vision have come to pass. Israel gave birth to Jesus. Jesus caused as many as would receive Him to become the children of God. And Satan has desired to kill as many of the saints as possible. One way he does that is by accusing us before God.
Revelation 12:6
6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
A thousand two hundred and threescore days is three and a half years. It isn’t hard to figure out that this is speaking of the last three and a half years of the tribulation. But if there is any doubt, Mark makes it clear:
Mark 13:14
14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
Jesus tells those in Judea to flee into the wilderness when the Antichrist sets up the abomination of desolation in the middle of the tribulation period, just three and a half years before the end. Those faithful Jews who watch and are aware of this will be safe during the great tribulation, protected by God.
Daniel 11:41
41 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.
These regions correspond roughly to modern Jordan, an area known for its rugged desert and mountain terrain. Those who flee there will escape from the hand of the Antichrist and be cared for through the great tribulation.
But the vision doesn’t end with the woman fleeing.
Revelation 12:7-9
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Revelation 12:12-16
12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
This is why the final three and a half years are called the Great Tribulation.
This is where the war in heaven spills over onto the earth. This is when the powers of darkness flood mankind. We see it happens at the beginning of the Great Tribulation. When the final three and a half years of Great Tribulation begin, it will be because of the wrath of Satan.
The Demonic Possession Of The Antichrist
This is when the Antichrist changes from just a man into a religious figure. The politician who has been unconcerned with religion suddenly becomes very religious. And the reason is purely demonic.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Revelation 16:13-14
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Suddenly he is empowered by demonic possession to perform miracles and deceive the world.
2 Thessalonians 2:9–10
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Satan himself is ruling the kingdom of men through the Antichrist. The political leaders of earth will bow to him, and all of the governments of the world will make war with the saints.
Revelation 12:17
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The persecution that follows against Christians worldwide is fueled by the direct hatred of Satan. And the Antichrist will be his puppet, even though he thinks he himself is God. Satan has deceived him.
The False Prophet
Every false god needs his false prophet. The Antichrist is a political figure. But he needs a religious figure to legitimize his religious authority as well. Satan isn’t just trying to rule the physical world of men. He wants to rule their hearts as well. That means he needs to rule through the Antichrist both in government and religion.
His empire must be a combination of state and religion. And anyone who knows history understands that is a deadly combination. Because it takes what is spiritual and mixes it with carnal minds. The result is a world where people feel spiritually justified for carnal sins.
The Bible doesn’t actually give us much information about the false prophet. He is only mentioned a few times.
Revelation 13:11-13
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
Remember that a beast is consistently a symbol of a world empire and its leader. In this case the beast is a religious world empire ruling at the same time as a political one. The two horns represent the leaders, the Antichrist and the false prophet.
This false prophet, who leads a false religion, is given the same amount of authority as the Antichrist, meaning he can enforce laws for religious reasons. And people are deceived into believing this is right because they see miracles being done, though these miracles are through demonic forces.
The Unholy Trinity
It’s important to make something clear at this point. The Antichrist and the false prophet are only the two visible public figures. There is a third character at play here that no one really sees. The dragon, the one called Satan, is over both of them. He is their god.
Revelation 13:4
4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
The false prophet points to the Antichrist as a savior of humanity. He declares him to be God’s divine leader. And the Antichrist doesn’t declare himself to be God. He actually honors another as god, even though he believes he is actually in charge. He honors the dragon.
Daniel 11:38
38 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.
Through this we can see the full picture. The Antichrist is a puppet and only a figurehead representing Satan himself. This world empire doesn’t belong to mankind as they believe. It belongs to Satan.
The Abomination of Desolation
We don’t know who the false prophet will be. We don’t know what religion he will represent. But we do know he will be the one who demands the world worship an idol.
Revelation 13:14-18
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
When the Antichrist places an abomination in the temple, it is most likely this image created to honor the beast (his world empire). This idol will speak and cause all who will not worship it to be killed. One method of enforcing that will be through a mark that he will cause people to receive, showing their loyalty to him.
All of this happens at the start of the Great Tribulation, three and a half years into the seven-year covenant that the Antichrist will break. From this point onward the Antichrist will rule as both a political and religious figure, bringing worship to Satan. For three and a half years the world goes to war against the saints as a result.
In the next study we will reveal the opening of the fifth seal, and the life of Christians during this time.
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