Pulpit Speech II                                                KL Paulson
Preacher Silcox                                                  4-13-1999

The Person & Ministry of the Beast -- the Antichrist

REFERENCES: Ezekiel 28; Daniel 7-8; II Thessalonians 2; Revelation 13 & 17

INTRODUCTION: 

  -- FUTURE Antichrist (I John 2:18)
     [false messiah; a counterfeit of Christ]

  -- Other NAMES: Little horn; 
                  King of fierce countenance- Dan. 8:23; 
                  Prince that shall come; 
                  Man of sin- II Thes. 2:3; 
                  Son of perdition- II Thes. 2:3; 
                  The wicked- II Thes. 2:8 

  -- Antichrist refers to the man who will arise in the world to make one 
     final attempt to destroy Christ's work and people BEFORE Jesus returns 
     from Heaven (Rev. 13) 

  -- Activities     

  1. Appears in "latter time" of Israel's history (Dan. 8:23) 
     [The home-land of Israel was re-established in 1948.]

  2. His manifestation is being hindered by the Holy Spirit (II Thes. 
     2:6-7) 
     [restraining power of the Holy Spirit]

  3. Appearance will be PRECEDED by a "falling away" (II Thes. 2:3) 
     [Apostacy -- departure from revealed truth]
     [Unscriptural tradition]

  4. He rises from the Roman empire, since he is a ruler of the people 
     who destroyed Jerusalem (Daniel 9:26) 
     ["the city"]
     
  5. He is a political leader.
     The 7 heads & 10 horns are federated under his authority (Rev. 13:1) 

  6. His influence is worldwide, for he rules over ALL nations 
     (Rev. 13:8) 

     [The extent of his rule--ALL the world -- Rev. 13:7; Dan. 7:23
      He will rule ALL people, nations, religions -- Rev. 13:14-15
      He will rule the ENTIRE world economy -- Rev. 13:17 "buy or sell"]

  7. His rise comes thru his "peace" program (Dan. 8:25)
     [A peace pact with Israel -- Daniel 9:27]

  8. He personally is marked by his intelligence & 
     persuasiveness (Dan. 8:23) 
     ["understanding dark sentences"]
 
  9. His position over the nations is by their consent (Rev. 
     17:13) 

  10. He rules over the nations with absolute authority (Daniel 11:36) 

  11. His empire makes a 7 year pact with Israel.  
      This is broken after 3 1/2 years (Daniel 9:27) 
        ["the covenant"]
      [Rev. 13:5 -- 42 months]

  12. He initiates idolatrous worship & sets himself up as god 
      (Daniel 9:27; 11:36-37) 

  13. He is a blasphemer (Ezek. 28:2)
      [A hater of God -- Rev. 13:5-6]

  14. He gets his power from Satan (Rev. 13:4; Ezek. 28:2) 
      ["the dragon" is Satan]

  15. His claim to power & to deity is proved by "signs" wrought thru 
      satanic power (II Thes. 2:9-11) 
      [The devil can do miracles.] 
      ["lying wonders"]

  16. He is received as God & as ruler because of the blindness of the 
      people (II Thes. 2:11) 
      ["strong delusion"]

  17. He becomes the special adversary [enemy] of

      a. the Prince of Princes [Jesus Christ] (Dan. 8:25)
      b. God's program (II Thes. 2:4; Rev. 17:14)
      c. God's people (Dan. 7:21,25; 8:24)
         [war]

  18. His satanic activity is limited to the last half of the 
      Tribulation Period (Daniel 9:27) 

  19. His rule will be terminated by a direct JUDGMENT from God (Ezek. 
      28:6-10) 

  20. This JUDGMENT will take place as he is engaged in a military 
      campaign in Palestine (Ezek. 28:8-9) 
      [greatest confrontation in history of the world]
      [Where exactly?                        ]

  21. He will be cast into the "lake of fire" (Revelation 19:20) 
      [Suffer eternal torment]

  22. This JUDGMENT will take place at the 2nd Advent of Christ (II 
      Thes. 2:8; Dan. 7:21-22) 
      [Ancient of days = Lord Jesus Christ]
     
CONCLUSION: 

  -- Review the bold faced words above.