The Antichrist

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There is almost complete agreement that these events are nearly upon us. This presents a very sobering and arresting challenge to the reader. Where will he give his loyalty when this personage manifests himself? Could it be, is there even a remote possibility, that Christ himself could be mistakenly identified as the Antichrist? Could the most serious blunder of history be the opposing of the real Christ as the fabricated Antichrist? Is this not what happened at Jesus' first advent? Lest the reader dismiss the suggestion out of hand, we beg him to compare what the Scriptures reveal concerning Christ at his second coming on the one hand, with what many Christian expositors believe this evil despot, Antichrist, will do, on the other.

The Supposed Future Antichrist of Popular Exposition	The Christ of the Scriptures at His Appearing
Antichrist will appear suddenly.	Christ will appear suddenly.
"The way in which this dictator is going to step onto the stage of history will be dramatic. Overnight he will become the byword of the world. He is going to be distinguished as supernatural . . . "1	"For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth." (Luke 21:35)
Antichrist himself, or his chief cohort, the False Prophet, will be a Jew.	Jesus is a Jew.
"This person (The False Prophet), who is called the second beast, is going to be a Jew. Many believe he will be from the tribe of Dan, which is one of the tribes of the original progenitors of the nation of Israel."2 "Several other items lead Bible students to conclude that antichrist will be a Jew. It is hard to believe that Israel would receive a Gentile Messiah. No Gentile could pose as Christ with any success."3	"Where is he that is born King of the Jews?" (Matthew 2:2) Christ's immediate co-rulers will be Jews - the twelve apostles. "Ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matthew 19:28)
Antichrist will claim that he is the Messiah of Israel.	Jesus will exercise his appointed office of Messiah.
"The antichrist will actually pose as the Messiah, he will claim Messianic titles and privileges . . . The antichrist is a person who will attempt to convince Israel that he is their long-anticipated Messiah."4	"I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him." (Ezekiel 21:27) "And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." (Luke 1:33) "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." (Zechariah 12:10)
Antichrist will perform miracles.	Christ will perform miracles.
"With (sic) the counterfeit Christ arrives, he will perform miracles in order to convince Israel that he is the prophet like Moses. The man of sin sits as a priest in the temple and engages in a prophetic ministry."5 "In other words, Satan himself is going to give him fantastic power. He is going to be able to work all kinds of miracles. This is one reason that Christians should not get too excited when they see a miracle. It may not be a miracle from God. Satan is a miracle worker . . . "6	"Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert." (Isaiah 35:5,6) At Jesus' first coming the prevalent opinion was that there was some external being, Beelzebub, prince of the devils, who was responsible for the miracles of Jesus. (Matt. 12:24) This will be repeated when Christ returns for the second time.
Antichrist will reside in Jerusalem.	Jesus will rule from Jerusalem.
"Jerusalem . . . the capital and center of the world dictator's (i.e. Antichrist's) rule . . . "7	"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets . . . Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." (Luke 13:34,35) "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion." (Psalms 2:6) "For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:3)
Antichrist will rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem and be involved with the service therein.	Jesus will rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem and be involved with the service therein.
"The Antichrist will deify himself - just like the Caesar's did. He will proclaim himself to be God. he will demand that he be worshipped and will establish himself in the temple of God. (2 Thess. 2:4). There is only one place where this temple of God can be and that is on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, on the site where the Dome of the Rock and other Moslem shrines now stand. There are many places in the Bible that pinpoint this location as the one where the Jews will rebuild their Temple."8 "The Israelis will then be permitted to re-institute the sacrifice and offering aspect of the law of Moses. This demands that the Temple be rebuilt, because according to the law of Moses, sacrifices can only be offered in the Temple at Jerusalem. Apparently all this will be done under the protection of the Antichrist of Rome. (P.S. The Arabs are not going to like this idea of rebuilding the Temple one bit)."9	"After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things." (Acts 15:16,17) "And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both." (Zechariah 6:12,13)
Antichrist will form a covenant with the Jews.	Jesus will be a great leader and will reintroduce the Jews into God's true everlasting covenant.
"The Romans under Titus did the destroying, so the coming prince would have to be someone out of the Roman culture . . . (Others say that Antichrist must be a Jew, rather than someone of the Roman culture - see point 2. This shows the immense amount of unsubstantiated speculations that has been done.) This Roman prince will come to power just before the return of Christ. He will make 'a strong covenant' with the Israelis, guaranteeing their safety and protection. The word translated 'strong covenant' has the idea of a treaty or mutual protection pact."10 "It will be a covenant which will permit Israel to continue and renew her religious ceremonies including the building of a Jewish temple, and the reactivation of Jewish sacrifices."11	"And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins." (Romans 11:27) "Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people." (Isaiah 55:3,4) "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:" (Jeremiah 31:31) "For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days." (Hosea 3:4, 5)
Antichrist will somehow defeat Russia when it attacks Israel.	Russia will be defeated by the power of Almighty God at a time very close to, if not coincident with, Christ's return to commence his rule on earth.
"With the world balance of power dramatically in his favor and the world dazzled by Russia's defeat (in its attempt to invade Israel) the Antichrist will show his true colors. He will declare himself world dictator and move to crush all opposition."12	"Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD." (Ezekiel 38:23) The Bible shows that God, and not a human agency will destroy Russia when it moves south; the idea that some individual will do this is totally foreign to scripture.
Antichrist's rule will commence with a proclamation and those who refuse to submit to it will be crushed.	Christ's rule will commence with a proclamation and those who refuse to submit to it will be crushed.
"Ironically, the Mediterranean leader will begin his world government by proclamation. Using his consolidated position of power in the Middle East, he will promise a new day of peace and prosperity for all who recognize his leadership . . . This man's absolute control politically, economically, and religiously will give him power such as no man has ever had in human history. His brilliance as a leader will be superhuman for he will be dominated and directed by Satan himself. But during his 3-1/2 year rule, he will ruthlessly crush all opposition."13	"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (Revelation 14:6,7) "And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (Micah 4:3) "To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people. To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD." (Psalms 149:7-9) See also Daniel 2:44; 7:14; Psalm 72:7,11

You may well reflect at this juncture, "I clearly see the remarkable similarity between what the Bible says Jesus will do at his second coming and what modern writers say the Antichrist will do." You may have the following question: "How can I and my family tell the difference . . . and avoid finding ourselves opposed to the real Jesus Christ?" The answer is: Study the Word of God for yourself. Avail yourself of all the help you can get, but compare what you are told with the Scriptures.

WARNING: Do not leave it up to the leaders of the religious world. Their past history is not good.

1. They are confused on this matter themselves.
2. They (the leaders of the religious world) were confused the first time Jesus came . . . and crucified him.
3. They (the leaders of the religious world today) are the descendants of the leaders who gave us the children's crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, and innumerable other horrors, all in the name of religion.