God warns of a world leader who will soon rise and grow in power. This coming world leader has been given around 33 different names and titles in the Bible describing attributes (both in the Old and New Testaments). The best known of the names he has been given is the “Antichrist”...

“Little children,
it is the last hour;
and as you have heard
that the Antichrist is coming,
even now many antichrists have come,
by which we know that it is the last hour.”
(1 John 2:18)

He will rise rapidly in power ...

The Bible says this man will not be revealed until after the "Restrainer" (the Holy Spirit - including the body of believers alive at the time) is “taken away” during an event which we call the “Rapture” of the Church. This coming False Prophet (the Antichrist) will begin by first exerting control over ten nations which were once part of the ancient Roman Empire ...

He will initially take control over 10 Nations of the Roman Empire ...

"The ten horns are ten kings
who shall arise from (out of)
this kingdom (the Roman Empire)
And another shall rise after them;
He (the Antichrist) shall be
different from the first ones,
and shall subdue three kings (nations)"
(The end begins)
(Daniel 7:24)

He will be "different" in some way ...

We don't know what nationality this man will be or what might make him "different." In another verse he is described as the "Assyrian" (an area around Syria, Iraq, or Israel's Golan Heights). He may even be considered some kind of alien.

This man will quickly consolidate power over 10 nations which were once part of the Roman Empire, and then will rise in power over the whole world through treaties and war. God warns this man will be empowered by Satan. He will lead the world into the terrors of the Apocalypse.

This coming world leader (a False Prophet) has been given many names and titles in the Bible, including one of the best known, yet most misleading - the 'Antichrist.' Although he will be against believing Christians and will oppose God’s Word, the world will view him as a great leader and a man of peace.

He will be Satan’s COUNTERFEIT messiah ... a “Pseudo-Christ”

He will use powerful deception and lies to "spin" his web of deceit and to conceal his true motives. Prophecies tell us this man will not be fully revealed until after the Rapture, when the "Restrainer" is taken out of the way ...

"For the mystery of Lawlessness
is already at work;
only He who now restrains (the Holy Spirit)
will do so UNTIL He is taken out of the way.
And THEN the Lawless One (Antichrist)
will be revealed,
whom the Lord will consume
with the breath of His mouth
and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
The coming of the Lawless One (Antichrist)
is according to the working of Satan,
with all power, signs (miracles),
and lying wonders"
(2 Thessalonians 2:7-9)

"He who now restrains"...

The Bible says that all who believe Jesus Christ died for their sins, was buried, and raised from the dead, and receive Him as their Lord and Savior (who saves us from Hell) are "born again," and are then indwelt by the Holy Spirit. According to the Bible, you cannot separate the Holy Spirit from the believing Christian. This is God’s promise.

So, in order to remove "He who now restrains" (the Holy Spirit), God must also remove the body of believers who are alive at that time. This is why many believe the man some call the Antichrist cannot be revealed until after the Rapture. (See the Prophecies of the Rapture)

THE BEAST:

Satan’s Antichrist

The world will soon get the leader it seems to be longing and waiting for. A powerful leader who will be popular, attractive, charismatic, and a great talker whose many words will not be chosen for truth, but for deception.  A leader who will kill many Christians ...

“Then I stood on the sand of the sea.
And I saw a Beast (Satan’s Antichrist)
rising up out of the sea,
having seven heads and ten horns, (Later we will find Satan receives the same description)
and on his horns ten crowns,
(These represent 10 nations from the Roman Empire)
and on his heads a blasphemous name ...
The Dragon (Satan) gave him his power,
his throne, and great authority.”
(Revelation 13:1,2)

He will be indwelt by Satan and will perform miracles ...

“The coming of the Lawless One (Antichrist)
is according to the working of Satan,
with all power, signs (miracles),
and lying wonders”
(2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

He will demand to be worshiped ...

"Then the king (Antichrist)
shall do according to his own will:
He shall exalt and magnify himself
above every god,
shall speak blasphemies
against the God of gods,
and shall prosper UNTIL the Wrath (the Day of the Lord)
has been accomplished;
for what has been determined
shall be done. (The coming "Apocalypse"...)
He shall regard neither the God of his fathers
NOR the desire of women,
(he may promote the homosexual agenda)
nor regard any god;
for he shall exalt himself above them all."
(Daniel 11:36-37)

“The Son of Perdition, (another title of the Antichrist)
who opposes and exalts himself
above all that is called God or that is worshiped,
so that he (the Antichrist) sits as God
in the Temple of God, (a new Temple will be built)
showing himself that he is God.”
(2 Thessalonians 2:4)

He will rule over the whole world ...

“It was granted to him
to make war with the saints
and to overcome them
(he will slaughter millions).
And authority was given him
over every tribe, tongue, and nation.”
(A One-World Government)
(Revelation 13:7)

A physical description of the Antichrist ...

“Woe to the worthless shepherd, (another name of the Antichrist)
who leaves the flock! (Possibly Jewish?)
A sword shall be against his arm
and against his right eye;
His (the Antichrist’s) arm
shall completely wither,
and his right eye
shall be totally blinded.”
(Zechariah 11:17)
(This may happen when he receives his mortal head wound)

As noted, this man whom we call the Antichrist has been given many different titles in the Bible. The term “Antichrist” is somewhat misleading. Misleading in that even though this man will be against Christ, the world will see him as a “pseudo-christ.” This future world leader will be Satan’s counterfeit Christ. He will be very, very popular in the eyes of the world. The world will view him as a great leader and as a messiah.

We are told quite a bit about the coming Antichrist ...

- He will be indwelt and empowered by Satan
- He will rise in power over the whole world
- He will conquer through treaties and war
- He will be portrayed as “a man of peace”
- He will be very popular around the world
- He will be a great talker and speech maker
- He will likely be attractive (like King Saul)
- He will not regard the desire of women
- He will receive a seemingly mortal head wound
- His right eye may be blinded
- His arm may be completely withered
- He will appear to be “resurrected”
- He will enforce a 7 year peace plan (‘covenant’) with Israel
- He will require everyone to receive his ‘mark’
- He may help get a new Jewish Temple built
- He will stand in a new Temple to say he is ‘God’
(This event will trigger the Great Tribulation)
- He will execute millions of Christians
- He will lead the world into ... Armageddon

A SECOND Beast Will Rise ...

The Antichrist’s RELIGIOUS partner

“Then I saw ANOTHER beast
coming up out of the Earth,
and he had two horns like a lamb
and spoke like a dragon.
And he exercises all the authority of the
first beast (the Antichrist) in his presence,
and causes the Earth and those who dwell in it
to worship the first beast (Antichrist),
whose deadly (head) wound was healed.”
(Revelation 13:11-12)

A One-World Religion WILL Rise ...

The Antichrist will not be alone. Another man, also empowered by Satan, will rule alongside the Antichrist. This powerful and deadly religious leader or “beast” (as God sees him) will rise to world power with the Antichrist. In this prophecy God reveals some important information and details concerning this religious man of power ...

“Two horns like a lamb,” tells us he will emerge with Christian credentials or doctrine, but “Spoke like a dragon” tells us he will be a liar and a deceiver who is controlled and directed by Satan. This person, along with the coming religious system he will lead, is also referred to in the book of Revelation as “The Woman Who Rides the Beast.” We are warned this all encompassing, one-world religion will rise to power out of Rome (City of Seven Hills).

The IMAGE of the Beast ...

“He was granted power
to give breath to the image of the beast,
that the image of the beast (the Antichrist)
should both speak and cause as many as would not worship
the image of the beast to be killed.”
(Revelation 13:15)

This religious leader will create some sort of an “image” of the Antichrist. It may be something very miraculous, or it may be two-thousand year old vocabulary trying to describe some future technology such as robotics, animatronics, or virtual reality.

The MARK of the Beast ...

“He causes ALL,
both small and great,
rich and poor, free and slave,
TO RECEIVE A MARK 
on their right hand or on their foreheads,
and that NO ONE may buy or sell
except one who has the mark,
or the name of the beast,
or the number of his name.”
(Revelation 13:16-17)

This prophecy is crucial for those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and will be alive when this law is enacted and enforced.  This “mark” will show a person’s allegiance to this coming world leader. It may include some kind of tatoo, or implanted microchip with all of your credit card and banking information, we really don’t know right now.

It will not be easy to refuse this mark, whatever it is, for many of you will have families and children that will need to be fed. By taking this mark, you will have sealed your eternal fate and doom.

Study this passage ... people will receive a mark with his (the Antichrist’s) name or his number ... this way people are identifying themselves and placing their loyalties with him. There will be no turning back for any who take the “mark," "the name of the beast," or the "number of his name.”  In God’s eyes it will identify you with the Antichrist.

This mark will be a spiritual death sentence for all who take it.

We are told ALL who receive this mark will be cast into Hell with the Antichrist and Satan.

An Enigma ...

“Here is wisdom.
Let him who has understanding
calculate the number
of the Beast (the Antichrist),
for it is the number of a man:
His number is 666.”
(Revelation 13:18)

Next:

What DOES the Bible tell us about Satan?

The Bible has a lot to say about this creature, Satan.

Since we are told this coming world leader will be indwelt by Satan, we should learn a little bit more about Satan ...

God wants us to have knowledge of the enemy. God wants us to know Satan is real and he is powerful.  We are told he was the “Anointed Cherub who covers.” The diligent student of the Bible will discover that Cherubim (plural form of cherub) are at the highest level of rank and order of those created beings called angels. Cherubim are not pudgy little babies with wings as shown in some art. They are powerful! We only know of five that were created. Four now surround the throne of God and the fifth was once the head of this rank until he became filled with violence and pride.

We find in the Bible God goes out of His way to make sure we know Satan was created. We also find in the Bible that God, through the Holy Spirit, goes out of His way to make sure we know Jesus Christ was not created. As we are told in the book of John, “Jesus was the Word that became flesh, and the Word was with God and the Word was God and BY Him ALL things were created.”

God stepped out of Eternity and placed His Spirit into the form of man, as the Son of Man ... as the Son of God. Satan, with his many names and titles, is the most powerful creature ever created. Jesus defeated Satan at the Cross. The only “person” powerful enough to defeat Satan had to be God Himself, who created Satan. We are told Satan rules the Earth and will rule the Earth until Christ returns to take back that which He purchased with His blood. Don’t let anybody convince you Satan and Jesus are some kind of equals, but opposites (such as the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses now teach).

The Bible tells us Satan was CREATED ...

‘Thus says the Lord GOD:
“You (Satan) were the seal of perfection,
Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx,
and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold.
The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes
Was prepared for you
on the day you (Satan) were created
until wickedness was found in you.”
(Ezekiel 28:12-15)

The Bible clearly tells us WHO created Satan ...

“In the Beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word WAS God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through Him (Jesus Christ)
ALL things were made;
without Him nothing was made
that has been made.”
(John 1:1-3)

“The Son
is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn (head) over all Creation.
For in Him (Jesus Christ)
ALL things were created:
things in Heaven and on Earth,
visible and invisible,
whether thrones or powers
or rulers or authorities; (These are ranks of angels)
ALL things have been Created
through Him and for Him.”
(Colossians 1:15-16)

There are religions today that say Jesus and Satan were "brothers," or are somehow equal but opposites.  The Bible is very clear that Jesus created Satan, and that is why we are told that "He who is in us is greater than he who is in the World" (1 John 4:4).

 Satan:  "Prince of the Power of the Air"

Jesus called Satan the “Ruler of this world” and he is also described as “The Prince of the power of the air.”

He is a powerful force. His spirit directs leaders, nations, and people. Satan hates the Jews because they brought forth the Messiah and will be instrumental in His return. Satan hates believing Christians because they love and worship the Messiah. The Bible warns he will try to destroy both. We are told to beware of wolves among the sheep. He often uses those who call themselves Christians or Jews to destroy. This powerful angel is given many names and titles in the Bible ...

- Satan (adversary, enemy) ... (Job 1:6, Jn 13:27)
- Abaddon (Hebrew: Destroyer) ... (Rev 9:11)
- Lucifer (shining one) ... (Isa 14:12)
- Devil (slanderer) ... (Matt 4:1, Luke 4:2, 4:6)
- The ruler of the demons ... (Matt 12:24)
- The god of this age ... (2 Cor 4:4)
- The ruler of this world ... (Jn 12:31, 14:30, 16:11)
- Ruler of the darkness of this age ... (Eph 6:12)
- The anointed cherub who covers ... (Ezek 28:14)
- Apollyon (Greek: Destroyer) ... (Rev 9:11)
- The father of all lies ... (John 8:44)
- The liar ... (John 8:44)
- Lying spirit ... (1 King 22:22)
- The prince of the power of the air ... (Eph 2:2)
- The power of darkness ... (Col 1:13)
- Beelzebub (lord of the flies) ... (Mark 3:22)
- The wicked one ... (Matt 13:19, 13:38)
- The great red dragon ... (Rev 12:3)
- The dragon ... (Rev 12:4,7,13,17,13:2,4, 20:2)
- The great dragon ... (Rev 12:9)
- The murderer ... (John 8:44)
- The accuser ... (Rev 12:10)
- The serpent ... (Gen 3:4, 3:14, 2 Cor 11:3)
- That old serpent ... (Rev 12:9, 20:2)
- The angel of the bottomless pit ... (Rev 9:11)
- The Tempter ... (Matt 4:3, 1 Thes 3:5)

Satan, the great Red Dragon,

filled with unspeakable violence and evil,

will one day be cast down to Earth ...

“And another sign appeared in Heaven:
behold, a great, fiery Red Dragon (Satan)
having seven heads and ten horns,
and seven diadems on his heads.
His tail drew a third
of the stars (angels) of Heaven
and threw them to the Earth.”
(Revelation 12:3-4)

“So the Great Dragon was cast out,
that Serpent of old,
called the Devil and Satan,
who deceives the whole world;
He was cast to the Earth,
and his angels were cast out with him.”
(Revelation 12:9)

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood,
But against principalities,
against powers,
against the rulers
of the darkness of this Age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness
in the heavenly places.”
(These are ranks of angels and demons)
(Ephesians 6:12)

The Final Battle

Satan and his angels, the fallen ones, apparently one-third of all angels created, will be cast down to Earth. Before this they roamed both heaven and Earth. Satan and most of his angels are not currently confined in Hell. When Satan is cast down to Earth he will no longer have access to God or Heaven. We are told the Earth is already a spiritual battlefield.

The final battle will be fought on Earth.

Many think it will start very soon.

We can already feel the heat and stench of Satan’s foul breath as we look at the death, hatred, violence, lies, war, and disease spreading across the Earth.