“WHO IS THE ANTI-CHRIST” - A Lecture by R.H. Kent. The searchlight of prophecy reveals to every earnest seeker for truth the meaning of our times. The prophetic beam reveals how wonderful it really is to be living today. This is the most thrilling period in all human history. But with the privileges such as we, who live in these momentous days, have, come great responsibilities. The Scriptures reveal that the characteristics of the Antichrist are identical with those of the “little horn” power of Daniel chapter seven. Please do not misunderstand the term “Antichrist”. This word Antichrist is composed of two Greek words, “Anti” and “christos”. Some people think that the word “anti” in this cast of the Antichrist means “against Christ”, just as Anti-Cigarette League means a league against the use of cigarettes. It is true that the word “anti” in some cases means “against”, but in the case of Antichrist the word “anti” means “in the place of”, or “in the room of.” This Greek preposition “anti” is used as a separate word twenty times in the New Testament and in every case, except five, it means “in place of”, or “in the room of”. Antichrist will appear as a Christian-power acting for Jesus Christ. Antichrist will have Christian names and Christian forms. In fact this power will claim to be the only true church of Jesus Christ. But it will be Satan’s masterful counterfeit. Here it is set forth in 2 THESSALONIANS 2: 3,4: “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; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” Notice, Antichrist will claim to be God on earth, and he will sit in the temple of God. He will sit in the church and set himself forth as God. Antichrist will claim to do the work of Christ. He will claim to hold the place of Christ on earth. He will claim to speak for Christ, but in reality he is Satan’s counterfeit for Christ. If the Antichrist were an open enemy of God and truth, there would be little danger that any Christian would be deceived by him. Perhaps it is not easy for some to understand that Satan, in opposing God’s cause, does not openly come out into battle. He works in disguise. He often parades in the garb of religion. See 2 CORINTHIANS 11: 14,15. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. Any method he can use to promulgate his plausible errors, thus diverting the attention of men and women from the truth of God, he will subtly employ. We shall discover today that our topic refers to the most powerful religious movement on earth – a movement which claims to follow Christ, to speak for Christ, and whose head claims to be Christ’s special representative. Yet at the same time it is a movement which follows doctrines and practices directly opposed to the Scriptures. Let us turn to DANIEL 7: 2,3 : “Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. “And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.” Now isn’t that plain? No need to guess the identity of the beasts. Clearly they are kingdoms – they are political powers. In studying our Bibles we soon recognize that throughout symbolic prophecy, when a beast is mentioned, it refers to a kingdom or government ruling over the lives of men. It is rather a striking fact that in using symbolisms today, we follow the same practice. For instance, the lion is used to represent Great Britain; the eagle is used to represent the United States. We think of the bear with reference to Russia. So we see, dear friends, however harsh the word “beast” may seem to the ear, our prophecy is merely a few bold strokes of the Master artist as He cartoons the rise and fall of nations and their relationship to the people of God and the truth of God. Now, what does “water” represent in symbolic prophecy? We read in Revelation 17: 15: “And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, ..are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. Notice how this fits into our particular prophetic picture. These nations, or kingdoms, arise from the vast populations of the earth. In modern speech and literature we frequently borrow the biblical metaphor when we use the expression: “A sea of faces.” Considering our third prophetic symbol, we find the Scriptures quite specific when they compare the “wind” or “whirlwind” to war, and strife, and bloodshed. (See JEREMIAH 25: 32: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. ISAIAH 21: 1,2: THE burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land. A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease. ZECHARIAH 7: 14: But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.) Thus we discover that it is war which causes these various nations to arise. From this windswept sea arise four great beasts. Let us notice DANIEL 7: 4: “The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.” Daniel’s prophetic portrayal here begins with the Babylonian empire. The lion represents strength, and the wings, swiftness. True to its symbolism, the wealthy and splendid Babylon conquered its far-flung empire in forty-three years of one man’s reign. Thus was strength combined with swiftness. A change, however, is seen. Weakness assails the lion, for a man’s timorous heart is given to him. The record of history reveals just such a change taking place in king Belshazzar’s time. Babylonian decadence was climaxed on that fateful night when the king, rather than being on the battlefield to head his mighty armies, joined his lords in drunken revelry. It was the night of the significant hand-writing on the wall. On that very night great Babylon fell, and the Medo-Persian realm, inferior though it was in material splendour, took over. Notice the Bible picture of the Medo-Persian realm: “And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.” DANIEL 7: 5 To begin with the Median power was predominant – hence the prophecy’s curious detail of the bear raising itself up “on one side.” The three ribs “between the teeth of it” certainly must represent the three provinces of Babylon, Egypt, and Lydia which were oppressed with special severity by Persia. Under the conquest and rulership of King Ahazuerus, a mighty empire arose from India to Ethiopia, comprising 127 provinces. In the process of time, however, as predicted in the prophecy, it fell to the Greeks. A vast army of Persians was defeated by 47, 000 Greek soldiers and a few cavalry. Thus did the “bear” go down, as the “leopard” beast arose: “After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.” DANIEL 7: 6 If two wings denote swiftness, four wings must certainly denote double swiftness. This characteristic is certainly applicable to Alexander the Great and his conquests. In one march of twelve years he became prince of all the surveyed. But here is written one of the unfortunate chapters of history. Young Alexander could control a world, but could not control his appetite. He died at the age of thirty-two in a drunken debauch. “One may assume the kingdom?” “The strongest,” replied Alexander. Within fifteen years of his death, four of his leading generals had divided the empire between them. Not eight – not seven – not six – not five – but just four, in harmony with the prophet’s unique picture of the leopard beast with four heads. I am glad that in the Bible we have a Book that we can depend upon, friends. Thousands of skeptics have been converted by the witness of prophecy. now let us turn to Verse 7: “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces…., and it was diverse from all the beats that were before it; and it had ten horns.” Here we find a change in the prophecy. No beast seems to fit the specifications of the fourth dominant empire – which was that of Rome. So a “nondescript” beast is used by the prophet. Please note that here we have ten horns depicting in still greater detail the ten segments into which the Roman empire was divided. Between A.D. 351 and A.D. 476 we find that the Anglo-Saxons, the Suevi, the Alamani, Franks, Burgundians, Lombards, Visigoths, Vandals, Heruli, and Ostrogoths, established themselves within the boundaries of Western Europe. But, someone is saying, we count only seven on the map today. Yes, you are right. They are England, France, Portugal, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and Italy. For the scriptures reveal that three were to be plucked up. Let me not turn to Daniel 7: 24: “And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.” Now, isn’t this clear? We learn that these ten horns represent ten kings or kingdoms that should arise. But while Daniel watched those horns he saw another little horn rise up after them, and in the process of rising, it subdued three of the former horns, or kingdoms. We should pay particular attention to the little horn, with the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great things. Whom, you ask, does this represent? The Bible indicates where this little-horn power will arise, when it will arise, what kind of a power it will be, and what it will do in the world. Certainly, when we put these facts together, we will have the truth regarding its identity. WHERE DOES THIS LITTLE HORN ARISE? “There came up among them another little horn.” DANIEL 7:8 The ten horns occupied Westen Europe, the ancient Roman Empire, and the little horn was to come up “among them.” Hence the territory of Western Europe is where we must look for the little horn or Antichrist development. WHEN WILL IT ARISE? “And another shall rise after them.” DANIEL 7: 24. The last of these ten kingdoms became firmly established about the year 476 A.D. Since the little horn came up after the ten, we may expect it to arise into full prominence after 476 A.D. WHAT KIND OF A POWER WILL IT BE? “He shall be diverse from the first.” DANIEL 7: 24 Here the prophecy says it shall be different from the others. The other horn powers were totally political, but as the prophecy unfolds we find that although this power has a state and a king of its own, it operates primarily in the field of religion. As to the nature of this power, we notice also that God says in DANIEL 7: 20 that this little horn was “more stout than his fellows.” In other words it would be a leading power among the nations of Europe. Put the specifications together and what do you have? This little horn, the Antichrist is some religious system, which would rise in Western Europe after the division of the Roman Empire about 476 A.D. and would gain the supremacy over the nations. There is only one power that has ever been known in history that answers to these specifications and that power is the Papacy. Notice how clearly the “American Catholic Quarterly Review”, April 1911, unwittingly refers to the fulfillment of such specification: “Long ages ago, when Rome through the neglect of the Western Emperors was left to the mercy of the barbarous hordes, the Romans turned to one figure for aid and protection, and asked him to rule them; and thus …… commenced the temporal sovereignty of the popes. And meekly stepping to the throne of Caesar, the vicar of Christ took up the scepter to which the emperors and kings of Europe were to bow in reverence through so many ages.” We noticed that the little horn plucked up three of the 10 horns by the roots. So we find in connection with the rise of the Papacy, three of the original ten kingdoms opposed the Papal dominion and were destroyed. Those three were: the Heruli in 493 A.D. , the Vandals in 534 A.D. , and the Ostrogoths in 538 A.D. What is outlined in this lecture is not in any respect unkind personal criticism of our Catholic friends. There are proportionately as many earnest Christians in the Church of Rome, walking in the light as they know it, as in any other communion. What is revealed here is a warning which the Scriptures give, and which is passed on in a spirit of understanding love, for the facts presented are vital in their importance. WHAT WILL THIS POWER DO? Let us notice four specifications which are set out in DANIEL 7: 25: “And he shall speak great words against the Most High,” “And shall wear out the saints of the Most High, “And think to change times and laws: “And they shall be given into his hand until a time, times, and the dividing of time.” 1. A BLASPHEMOUS POWER Both here and in the book of Revelation, this power is referred to as being blasphemous, “speaking great words against the Most High.” What is the Bible definition of blasphemy? In LUKE 5: 21: And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? and JOHN 10: 33: The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, maketh thyself God. we find blasphemy’s definition is twofold ( i ) claiming to be able to forgive sins and ( ii ) a man claiming to be God. We know of the claim of the Papal System to be able to forgive sins, but perhaps several statements might help us to understand the second claim. In the ‘Catholic National’ of July, 1895 - “The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ Himself Hidden under the veil of flesh.” Again, in Ferraris’ Ecclesiastical Dictionary, a standard Catholic work – “The Pope is of so great dignity and so exalted that he is not a mere man, but as it were God, and the vicar of God.” The Pope, in claiming to be the Vicar of Christ, is actually admitting that he is Antichrist. Antichrist is a Greek word, while vicar is an English word. Vicar of Christ put into Greek is Antichrist. 2. A PERSECUTING POWER William Leeky, in his History of ‘Rationalism in Europe, has written a Sober and realistic commentary: “That the church of Rome has shed more innocent blood than any other institution that has ever existed among mankind, will be questioned by no Protestant who has a complete knowledge of History.” Vol. 2, p 32 (1910 Ed.) During the Dark ages millions of saints were put to death by popish persecutors. 3. TO CHANGE TIMES AND LAWS The Douay, or Catholic Version of the Bible, translates DANIEL 7: 25 even more graphically than the King James Version. It says: “He shall dare to change times and the law.” Ferraris, in his ‘Prompta Bibliotheca”, says: “The pope is of so great authority and power that he can modify, explain or interpret even divine law…..” A comparison of the Ten Commandments in a Roman Catholic Catechism with the commandments as written in the Bible reveals that this is what the Catholic church has done. By omitting the second commandment, concerning image worship altogether, cutting down the fourth commandment concerning the Sabbath and dividing the last Bible commandment into two to make up the ten, this power has indeed dared to “change times and the law”. We do not have to read far in the word of God to understand the seriousness of this act. God has specifically forbidden any interference with His Holy Law, as we read in DEUTERONOMY 4:2: Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Jesus also made this clear in His sermon on the mount when He said: “..Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” MATTHEW 5: 18. Though there are ten precepts in God’s law, each is as important as the other. Notice what the apostle James says: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” JAMES 2:10. God’s law is the basis of His government and He has not left it to man to alter or modify it in any way. 4. TO BE SUPREME FOR 1260 YEARS. Finally we notice that the little horn would be supreme for a period called “a time, times and the dividing of time.” “A time” is a Jewish expression meaning “a year” and a Jewish year contained 360 days. A time - 1 year = 360 days Times - 2 years = 720 days Dividing of time - ½ year = 180 days 1,260 days We see a period of 1260 days outlined. This may be checked by comparing two texts in the book of Revelation. REVELATION 12: 14 tells of a time, times and a half a time, and in REVELATION 12: 6 we learn that it means a period of 1260 days. The Bible tells us that in prophecy a day represents a year (EZEKIEL 4:6), so the papacy was to continue in power for 1260 years. The Papal supremacy began when the last of the three opposing horn powers was uprooted. This took place in 538 A.D. By adding 1260 years to this date we arrive at the date 1798. According to this remarkable prophecy something should occur in that year that would vitally affect the Papal dominion of Europe. Right on time on 10th February, 1798, a French army entered Rome under General Berthier and took the Pope prisoner back to France where he died in captivity two years later. How wonderful are the predictions of God’s book. What human writer unaided by Divine direction could pen a description of the world’s history not to be the end. God foretold a restoration of this power again in the last days. In the closing scenes of earth’s history it will again dominate the world once more. Its power will be so great that all the people of the world will be deceived except a few who really follow God. Referring to the Antichrist, notice REVELATION 13: 8 “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” The only thing that will save us in the last tremendous days will be a personal and intimate acquaintance with Christ. By His sinless life and atoning death He has provided a perfect righteousness for all who will receive Him. Jesus offers to take away all our sins and give us in exchange His perfect righteousness. By His indwelling power we may then be overcomers and we may take hold of the wonderful promise in REVELATION 3:5: “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels.” Only by the power of Jesus can we be overcomers. He is all we need. For further info. or studies please phone :Errol Cell: 082 765 9498
Posted on: Sat, 31 Aug 2013 21:38:17 +0000
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