Man of Sin — Antichrist – Baptist Education

Conclusions concerning the “Man of Sin,” as revealed in the book of Daniel

The Antichrist.

From Where He Will Come.
The Geographical Location
The Nation of Origin.
His Rise to Power
His Character
His Actions
His Policies
The Deceit
His Policy Concerning Religion
His Policy Concerning Israel
His End
Summary

The study of the Antichrist from the book of Daniel is very profitable. The prophecies of Daniel give facts concerning this man as to his character, origin, kingdom, activities, and ambition. A complete study of this man cannot be made from Daniel only; other Old Testament Prophets and the New Testament need to be included. Nevertheless, the foundations of other related prophecies are in this book. If there were no other prophecies given, Daniel would still be adequate for our general understanding of the end times and this man.

Who exactly is the Antichrist is yet unknown, nor can he be known until he is revealed, unveiled in his time (II Thess. 2:3). When he will appear is not precisely known, yet signs have been given of the season of his arrival. Since his arrival precedes that of Christ’s second coming, wisdom requires us to know the “signs.” Perhaps the most compelling sign is the “falling” (apostasy) away, 2 Thess. 2:3 “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.” Those who are living and “awake” at this time will recognize the Antichrist as the events unfold before them. If we are of the generation of the end and are “awake,” then we will know. But we can’t watch for something if we don’t know for what we are to be watching. So it is needful for us to learn the signs. We are not to be ignorant, to neglect, or ignore what has been revealed to us by God about this man. So we study to learn.

The terms “the man of sin,” “the abomination that makes desolate,” “the Antichrist,” and “the son of perdition” are titles applied to the Antichrist. His actual name we do not know. Here are similarities concerning names and titles. All indications are that this man is born into a nation at a predetermined time. He has a family lineage, which indicates a natural birth (Daniel chapter 11).

While we cannot at this time identify this man, we have been instructed much about him. His character is plainly given. Many of his actions are foretold. There is good evidence as to his nationality, or country of origin. So, as we summarize the details found in Daniel, we attempt to piece together the prophetic picture of him.

From Where Will He Come?

There are two points of origin helpful in identifying this man, i.e., the geographical region from which he comes, and his nationality. Both points are suggested in Daniel.

The Geographical Location of Origin

Evidence of the little horn in Daniel 7:8.

In Daniel chapter 7 a “little horn” rose up among the ten horns (ten kings and their kingdoms) which is the last presence of the Roman Empire (the Ten Nation Federation). Facts show that the revealing of this “little horn” is of the area specifically, Syria.

Evidence of the Geographical Location.

Taking into account the specific reference to Antiochus Epiphanes and the fact that he closely parallels the Antichrist, we are led to a very strong persuasion that both are of the same geographic location. The kingdom of Antiochus was Syria which at that time included Judea. This emphasizes that the Syrian origin is identified the Antichrist.

The Nation of Origin.

Daniel 9:26: “. . . the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. . ”

It was Titus’ army of the Roman Empire who destroyed both the city and Herod’s temple. So there is the conclusive evidence that this “coming prince” is a gentile. (Consolidating Daniel 9:26 with 9:27 the connection to the Antichrist is made sure.) He is not a Jew, but a gentile.

His Rise to Power.

Several accounts of his coming to power are given. This is the order of their occurrence.

He initially comes peaceably and obtains a kingdom by flatteries. He and his adversaries negotiate, but they speak lies to one other; neither side has any intention of keeping their commitments.
The “little horn” mentioned along with the ten of the final stage of the Roman Empire (Daniel chapter 7) comes as the eleventh horn. Somehow he arises among these kings as another king, but initially as inferior. This new king uproots three of the ten kings. In so doing, he utterly destroys them and any trace of them. They are totally eliminated and no remnant of them is left. Their kingdoms become a part of the kingdom of this “little horn.” This king accumulates great power as he progresses in his rise to supremacy. But his power is not that of his own. His strength comes from outside himself, Satan. “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,” (2 Thess. 2:9 KJV)
Libya, and Ethiopia will become independent followers of him. At some time he receives news from the north and east, which terrifies him (this may possibly be Babylon, or Iran). Could this possibly be the fall of Babylon (Revelation 14:8; 18:2, 10, 21)? It very likely is for the timing fits and the description. The Antichrist goes with great fury and destroys many and makes many to become devoted to him; giving him their allegiance

His Character.

Piecing together the information about the Antichrist we have a fairly good concept of his character. He is a person of remarkable intelligence and great oratorical powers, having a mouth speaking great things. He is audacious, arrogant and persecuting. There is no fear in him of God, whom he has not seen, nor of Jesus Christ, who he will see. Without hesitation he blasphemes (speaks against) “The God of Gods” and everything that men have come to worship (both the true and the false). The man is an egomaniac, for he exalts himself and glorifies himself even to the ranking of being above God. In this aspiration he will cause others to exalt him.
He will be skillful in enigmas or mysteries, having great intelligence in perplexing, difficult things. He is cunning and knows how to make his deceit to prosper (will cause it to be believed). All that he sets his will to do will flourish and prosper. The man is ambitious and tenacious, for he is very active and achieving, performing (practicing) many things. His presence (apparently his personal demeanor) is ferocious, violent, and savage. His strength and power is awesome and supernatural. He will have single–mindedness in that he has a clear policy, aim or goal to accomplish.
He will not have any regard or desire for the god of his fathers (the god which his heritage has worshiped), nor for any god (this places him apart from any loyalty to any existing religion or deity). Neither does he have any desire for women (literally the delight of women, most probably meaning of a sexual nature). He is a vile, cruel person! Above all else the man is a through-and-through liar.

His Actions.

This man’s rise to power is with cunning and ruthlessness. At first he comes peaceably and his attaining his throne is done through flatteries and deceitfulness. Afterward he takes control of three other nations. The indication is that this is a vicious act on his part. Further evidence of his warlike manner is seen when he destroys a northern and a southern nation. Some time after that he conquers with military force two more nations, one in the east and the other also in the north. Finally, we have the declaration that he makes “war” with the saints and overcomes them. He destroys wonderful things and mighty ones.
Paul tells that the Antichrist’s coming is after the working of Satan. He comes with the energy (lit. the inworking) of Satan and with signs and lying wonders. While it is said that he does all that he wills to do (for he grows exceedingly great), it is not to be inferred that he has no weaknesses. The three or four nations who come at him demonstrate a resistance.
Many have put forth the theory, while asserting it as fact, that the Antichrist will be a universal global dictator. This theory is false. There is no biblical evidence of this. Never at any time does the Antichrist rule the entire world. He may dominate much of the world in the area in which he exists but even then does not rule entirely. Consider, if he were a global dictator how then can Israel stand up to him and resist him? Why the necessity of a treaty? How can other nations make war against him? The fact is that there is no universal government, banking system—monetary system, commerce control, or one world military force. We cannot doubt that his influence will be asserted on many nations, perhaps even our own, and this will have meaningful consequences in the affairs of the nations. Some put forth the idea that all people everywhere (globally) be forced to take the mark of the beast. This is unlikely. Certainly those under his repressive rule will face this mandate.

His Policies.

During the course of his conquests he follows certain policies. Whether or not he purposely sets out in the beginning to destroy the nation of Israel is not clear, but he does adopt this policy at some time. Perhaps it occurs at the point when he and Satan become allied. He will think to change times and laws or at least will desire to do this. Through his policy he causes deceit to prosper in his hand. It is clear that his policy is deception and treachery . His deceit is a deceit of unrighteousness. In this policy he succeeds beyond the imagination.

The Deceit

What is this falsehood, this great lie, this deceit? Some say it is that he presents himself to the Jews as their messiah and that they come to accept this. But there is never any mention of this in the Scriptures. True, they enter into a covenant with him, but they do not offer their worship or the temple services to him. This the Antichrist takes by force! So what is the lie? Well, let’s see what he does.

He exalts himself above every god and above “The God of Gods.”
He glorifies himself and causes others to glorify him even to the measure of being a god.
He has no regard for the god which his forefathers have worshiped.
He magnifies himself above all.
He will cause the worship of Jehovah to cease in the Temple.
He will cast down the truth, and in so doing speaks monstrous things against God.
At the same time that he presents himself as god, he also sets up the worship of another god. He coerces men to worship this god and himself.
He practices all manners of evil and stimulates others to do the same. It becomes apparent that he does not represent himself as being any acknowledged deity, (Allah, Jehovah, the Messiah, etc.) but rather his aim is to supplant all deities with himself and Satan.

In all this we see his purpose of this great deceit. It is to turn men from the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to the worshipping of satanic workings, in reality Satan. His design is the same as Satan’s. There is no mercy, compassion, or limit to which they will go to accomplish their evil. They are prepared to destroy any and all who will not yield and give allegiance to this deceit. All who are under his control must take his mark upon themselves. The lie, the deceit, is, “Here is Your god!”

His Policy of Religion

To recap the previous observations we have seen one of the actions this man of sin is the setting up of his own religion. His own perverted “godhood” develops into a religion of worship of a god that he acknowledges. Satan is that “god.” In recognizing this “god” he honors and gives glory to him. Here is the quote, “In his (The Antichrist) domain, estate, (some translate, on his pedestal) he will honor the god of forces.” (Dan. 11:38) We know from the book of Revelation that a system of forced worship will be made to this god. To refuse will be punishable by destitution and or death. Thus, the kingdom of the Antichrist becomes a church–state, or more accurately a theocracy. If popular interpretations are correct about the “great whore” in Revelation being the Catholic Church, then it is evident that he has a religious war against her as he vents his wrath upon her. At the heart of all religion is the matter of worship and he will not tolerate any worship other than what he dictates.

His Policy Concerning Israel.

At some point after he has established himself as sovereign over his own country, he initiates a relationship with Israel. A seven–year covenant is made between him and Israel. Most likely it is a peace treaty, perhaps with concessions made concerning certain issues with Israel and her neighbors. In the middle of the seven–year covenant suddenly, abruptly, this false peace and security are shattered. There is a drastic reversal of conditions. It is not given the method which is used, but somehow the Antichrist enters Jerusalem and occupies the Temple. (Apparently during the first half of the “covenant,” the two witnesses of Revelation 11:2, are constantly warning the people of the concealed crises they are in.) By force he occupies the Temple and sets an armed guard at the Temple to discontinue the worship and service to God. It bears repeating for emphasis that he sets himself up as god, to be worshiped as god in the Temple of God. This is the abomination that makes desolate spoken of by Daniel and Christ. He will destroy many Jews. He will cause many of them to fall, and many of their leaders are said to apostate themselves. He will make faithfulness to God nearly impossible. He ruins the Temple by the filth of his presence. If the prophecies of the Antichrist are in keeping with those of Antiochus, segments of the Jews, from the priesthood and on, will be corrupted. Many will sell out for security, comfort, wealth, and to gain favor with the “antichrist.” It is declared that God has given the nation of Israel into his hands for this set prescribed time. The people, Jerusalem, and the Temple will all be trampled under his foot. The time is called “Jacob’s Trouble.”

His End.

The end of the Antichrist is made very clear and should not be misunderstood by any. His end and the end of his kingdom comes at the personal hand of God; Christ. When he is destroyed the complete image of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream will be broken into such minute pieces that no trace of them can be found. There is total annihilation of all the Empires represented in that idol. It is the end of the age of the Gentiles. Never again will the gentiles ever distress Jerusalem or Israel. That rock not made with human hands will break the image and its power. No man or nation will destroy the Antichrist, God will execute His own judgment against him. His destruction will come suddenly, overwhelmingly, and without pity or mercy. His destruction and of all that he has amassed (the people, the kingdoms, the wealth, his worship, his power, his lawlessness, his persecution, etc.) will be accomplished by Jesus Christ when he simply speaks the word. Not all the powers of Satan or any other forces of evil will be able to mitigate in the very least the power of Christ in this total devastation. The final fate of the Antichrist is that he will be cast alive into the “lake of fire burning with brimstone.” His cohort, Satan, will be bound in the bottomless pit for one thousands years. (Rev. 19:20, 20:2,3)

SummarySo much prophetic detailed evidence of the last days has been given that it stands only second in its magnitude to the first advent of Christ. We have been told of the most terrible time in the existence of man.

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matt. 24:21 KJV)

What are we to make of all this knowledge? Just what is at the heart of all these things happening at the “end?” Are there deeper implications other than just a terrible persecution against God’s people brought about by a man so wicked that he has no equal in history? By seeing the conclusion of what is coming (the destruction of satanic forces and the establishment of Christ’s Kingdom on earth) we are able to reason that the issues far supersede that of merely man’s existence. These things are not just about man, Jews or Gentiles, for all men are simply caught up in a conflict of epic proportions between God’s resolve to accomplish His objectives and Satan who is equally dedicated to oppose God for his own survival.

If Satan could destroy Israel before the arrival of the Messiah of Israel, then God’s promises, His covenants, and His prophecies will have collapsed. So the power struggle became focused on the Jews. Consider the bondage of the children of Abraham in Egypt. While the ordeal was not to destroy them, it was determined to dominate and restrict them from any participation with God. The story of Haman in the book of Ruth presents what is perhaps the first attempted genocidal persecution against the Jews. If Haman had succeeded in his plans, the lineage of Abraham and David would have been terminated. If that had happened then the prophecies and prophets would have been a sham. Also the promises that these people would have their King over them on earth and that they would be re-gathered from all the nations of the earth back to Judea would be meaningless.

It is not intended to limit God and His omnipotence by implying that God could not “resurrect” a whole other nation of Jews when needed. But this is not in keeping with the sense of the promises and prophecies He has made. Could it be justified in God’s word that there could be a gap of time in which no decedents of Abraham (through Isaac) would exist? No, it can’t be justified; all the scriptural evidence is against this.

The battle of the end of this “age” is nothing less than the battle over the last supreme Kingdom of this world. The battleground is here on earth, centered on Israel. Satan desires to establish his king and hence his kingdom; to utterly destroy Israel in the process. God, on the other hand, is about to establish His King and Kingdom. The horrific battle of Armageddon is the final determination as to who achieves their resolve. Awesome “spiritual” forces, beings, and powers are involved, and men are caught in the middle. On both sides of good and evil, suffering, torment, and death will be meted out. It is good and evil being in their most intense conflict, colliding with terrible resolve. But the victory belongs to God!

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” The Apostle Paul….

~~ Think on these things !

Return Home