The Antichrist
1 John 2:22
9 Jan 2011 PM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
I.
Introduction (1John 2:22)
A.
God warns of a
world leader who will soon rise and grow in power.
B.
This coming
world leader has about 33 names and titles (which describe his characteristics)
in the Bible (both in the Old and New Testaments) ...
C.
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 'removed'.
D.
This coming
world leader will begin by exerting control over the world through ten nations
which were once part of the
E.
I am speaking of
“the antichrist!”
F.
Who is this
“man” and what are his plans?
G.
Tonight, let’s
carefully examine all the revelation in the Bible about this powerful being, and
let’s see if we can slow down his rise to power.
II.
Message
A.
A Fallen Christ
(Rev 13:1)
1.
A beast
2.
The son of the
fifth Cherub (Ezek 28:12-15)
3.
Has a lot of
history behind him
a.
Seven kings
b.
Ten kingdoms
4.
A blasphemous
beast – hates God
B.
An Integrated Christ
(Rev 13:2)
1.
2.
Has the
characteristics of three animals – three previous empires:
a.
Skin of a
Leopard – full of spots (Greek)
b.
Feet of a Bear –
strong, and capable of tearing in pieces (Persian,
c.
Mouth of a Lion
– roar, and devouring (
3.
Therefore he is
ROMAN – a product of the previous three world empires!!!
C.
A False Christ
(Rev 13:2b; Matthew 24:23-26)
1.
Empowered by the
DRAGON (Rev 20:2) by Satan himself! Not by God at all
2.
False Messiah –
a false deliverer/saviour
a.
This man comes
to take the place of Jesus Christ
b.
The whole world
would have accepted Jesus IF ONLY He had come to conquer the world’s problems
and kick out the Roman occupying army
c.
But because
Jesus would not fight, they rejected Him
d.
Well, another
“Christ” is coming, who WILL fight for you and your rights; who WILL stand up
for the oppressed and poor
e.
But he is a
FALSE Messiah!
3.
A Liar, Deceiver
– we will see this more in a few verses!
4.
As “anti”
Christ, he is…
a.
The Opposite of
Jesus the Christ
b.
A Hater of
Christ
c.
He is INSTEAD of
Christ
D.
A Counterfeiting Christ
(Rev 13:3,4; Isaiah 14:12-14; 2Cor 11:13-15)
1.
Rises from the
dead – just like Jesus did!
a.
Is “killed”
b.
Then is
resurrected (by the false prophet)
c.
Ends up with a
dark right eye and a shrivelled up right arm (Zech 11:17)
2.
Brings “peace”
(1Thes 5:2,3)
3.
Builds the
4.
Has a
“side-kick” like John the Baptist, who is called “the False prophet”!
5.
Accepts
worship!!!
a.
First he is
wondered after
b.
Then it turns to
worship!
c.
Isn’t is strange
how many people end up worshipping anything besides God?
1)
Money – love of
money
2)
Man –
accomplishments
3)
Musicians
4)
Movie Stars
5)
Moods – they
worship their feelings, and anything that gives them a good feeling!
E.
A Conquering Christ
(Rev 13:4b-9; 6:1,2)
1.
The anti-christ
is the FIRST horseman
2.
Appears right
after the Rapture
a.
Notice he is on
a white horse – looks like a good guy
b.
He has a bow and
no arrows – a man of “peace”
c.
He effectively
conquers without killing (yet)
3.
Will settle for
nothing less than absolute worship by the whole world
4.
No one will be
able to stop him from taking over!
5.
Jesus did NOT
fight (John 18:36)
6.
The anti-christ
TAKES Control
a.
Through fair
speeches
1)
By blaspheming
God – mocking God – it makes you popular!
2)
By mocking
Christianity – people in heaven are made fun of!
b.
Through blaming
believers – makes war against them
1)
Like Hitler did
with the Jews – made war against the Jews
c.
Takes control of
every nation! NO ONE has been able to do THAT yet, but this man will!!!
7.
Jesus invites!!!
8.
Everyone not
born again will worship this “man”
F.
A Helped-Out Christ
(Rev 13:11-17)
1.
Here is “another
beast”
2.
This “man” is a
helper of the anti-christ, a forerunner, like John the Baptist was for Jesus
3.
He is meek like
a lamb, but he speaks like the devil!
4.
He has all the
same powers of the anti-christ (the first beast)
5.
He is known as
the False prophet (Rev 19:20)
6.
His job is to
get everyone to NO LONGER worship God, but to worship the anti-christ!
7.
Some people
believe the pope is the anti-christ – not true. The pope is the false prophet
8.
How does the
false prophet get people to worship the Beast?
a.
By healing the
anti-christ
b.
By making fire
come down from heaven
c.
By doing
deceptive miracles
d.
By getting
people to make an IMAGE of the beast (an IDOL)
e.
And then by
giving LIFE to that image
1)
It will move and
live
2)
And it will
speak!
f.
By killing
everyone that won’t bow down and worship the image – how will they be killed? By
beheading (Rev 20:4)
g.
By taking
control of all economies (13:16)
1)
Linking up all
economies so he can control access to foods, and to distributions
2)
Tagging everyone
so that there is no more money – only numbers (credits)
a)
And the third
angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and
his image, and receive his MARK in his forehead, or in his hand, Rev. 14:9
b)
And the smoke of
their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor
night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the MARK of
his name. Rev. 14:11
c)
And I saw as it
were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over
the beast, and over his image, and over his MARK, and over the number of his
name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. Rev 15:2
d)
And the first
went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and
grievous sore upon the men which had the MARK of the beast, and upon them which
worshipped his image. Rev. 16:2
e)
And the beast
was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with
which he deceived them that had received the MARK of the beast, and them that
worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning
with brimstone. Rev. 19:20
f)
And I saw
thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the
souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of
God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had
received his MARK upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and
reigned with Christ a thousand years. Rev. 20:4
3)
Putting that tag
INSIDE people’s bodies – not just ON them like a tattoo
G.
An Exposed Christ
(Rev 13:17-18). God takes the time to tell us all about this “man”
1.
His Name
a.
He has a name
b.
It is a
part-Hebrew name
c.
His name at his
first coming was “Judas Iscariot” (John 6:70,71; 17:12)
d.
Muslims have
Ibraham or Mohammed or Abdul or Yusuf in the names
e.
The Jews have
Yacob, Aaron, David
f.
His name in the
Tribulation will be “
2.
His Number
a.
666 - Three
sixes
b.
It is the number
of his name
c.
Only a few
languages have numbers associated with their alphabet
1)
Hebrew
2)
Roman Numerals
d.
Ways this number
are put on people
1)
UPC symbol –
just getting us all ready
2)
Verichip
3.
His Mark
a.
A mark is an
identifying mark of ownership
b.
We are
spiritually marked
c.
Everyone in the
Tribulation will be forced to take the Mark of the name of the antichrist
1)
On the forehead
2)
Or on the right
hand
4.
His Nationality
a.
Part Jewish
b.
Part Assyrian
(Micah 5:5,6) – from
5.
His Plan and
Purpose
a.
To replace Jesus
Christ
b.
To get worship
(2Thes 2:3,4)
c.
To get the whole
world destroyed with him
d.
He KNOWS what’s
ahead, and only wants to bring you down with him
6.
His Power
a.
Great power
b.
Given to him by
Satan himself
c.
Just as Jesus
was given power by His Father
d.
Isn’t great
power what EVERYONE wants?
7.
His Time
a.
A sort time
b.
Seven years
c.
First 3 ½ are
arranging peace, and ascending to power
d.
The last 3/12
years are him crushing everyone under his rule
8.
His forerunners
a.
Nimrod of
b.
Pharaoh of
c.
Alexander the
Great
d.
Nero of
e.
Hitler of
f.
Stalin of
9.
His End (Rev
19:20)
H.
An Active Christ
– active right now (1John 2:18-22; 4:3)
1.
The spirit of
the antichrist is alive and well today
2.
Mocking Jesus
Christ
3.
Rejecting Jesus
as the only begotten Son of God
4.
Denying that He
is God
5.
WHY?
6.
So that people
would be ready to accept the anti-christ AS God
I.
He is a Finished Christ!
He IS and WILL BE Overcome (1John 4:4)
1.
Jesus defeated
the devil (Heb 2:14)
2.
Jesus will next
defeat the anti-christ (Rev 19:11-2)
III.
Conclusion
A.
God warns of a
world leader who will soon rise and grow in power.
1.
This coming
world leader has about 33 names and titles (which describe his characteristics)
in the Bible (both in the Old and New Testaments) ...
2.
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 'removed'.
3.
This coming
world leader will begin by exerting control over the world through ten nations
which were once part of the
B.
He is “the
antichrist!”
C.
We have learned
a bit of Who is this “man” is, and what his plans are
1.
That what’s
ahead for the world is dark days
2.
Thankfully,
Christians will disappear
3.
But the whole
world will have to endure this wicked man’s rule
4.
Are YOU going to
miss it?
5.
Is there anyone
you would like to help miss it too?Thankfully, child-like faith in the LORD
Jesus CHRIST can defeat him, and can even slow down his ascent to power!
D.
Let’s get busy
spoiling his plans, and winning more souls away from his grip!
E.
Until the
trumpet blows!