The Antichrist

 

One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” (Revelation 13:3-4 ESV).

 

It should be noted that the word 'Antichrist' means both against and in place of. That is, the coming Antichrist, while hating Christ, will usurp the place of Jesus and even try to mimic the real King in some ways. We see this with “the fatal wound” that he received. The Greek word here translated fatal is thanatos which literally means death. There will be some type of “death and resurrection” event that will leave the whole world in awe and mesmerized by the Antichrist. This will be Satan's day and if you think people are easily swayed today, what is coming is on a whole different level.   

 

Notice also that it says that men will worship both the dragon and the beast. Remember again that the dragon is Satan. Men will worship Satan. Think about that! Everything will be twisted and turned upside down in the coming day. Satan will be revered, and the God of heaven despised. Satan will be seen as the good guy and Yahweh as the evil one. And the coming day will not have atheists. There will be a choice that all have to make as to who they will worship - God or Satan, Antichrist or Jesus Christ. And scripture says that the vast majority will marvel at the Antichrist.

 

A.W Pink writes of this character that he will be an intellectual genius, an oratorical genius, a political genius, a military genius, a commercial genius, a governmental genius and a religious genius. And when examining scripture, we see how this is all possible (Daniel 8:23-25). He will rise in leadership, yet be fierce, insolent and skilled in the dark arts. He will be mighty in power, yet not through his own power. He will prosper while destroying to an extraordinary degree everything he touches. He will succeed through deceit and shrewdness. He will bring peace, and destroy many while they are at ease. He will magnify himself while opposing even the Prince of princes. He will be finally broken yet not through human hands.

 

As terrifying as it appears, hope and victory are on the horizon! Jesus is coming soon to right this wrong once and for all!