• About
  • God’s Plan of Salvation
  • Out of the Abyss

eyeofprophecy … watch and wait

~ "For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus" (Rev.19:10)

eyeofprophecy … watch and wait

Tag Archives: Nero

Who Is the Antichrist & How Will He Appear (Part I)

24 Saturday Jun 2017

Posted by garybowers in The Antichrist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Bottomless Pit, Nero

Modern-Day Preoccupation with the Supernatural

The 20th and 21st century obsession with the supernatural is simply astonishing.

Books, comic books, television, and particularly movies endow super heroes and super villains with mystical powers enabling them to transcend the natural and perform superhuman feats—both good and bad—that keep their fictional followers and real-life audience in awe.

For the most part, the good guys like Superman, Batman, Spiderman, and Wonder Woman are ordinary people who have been mysteriously gifted with extraordinary abilities to do battle with the bad guys and save the world (Superman’s amazing powers were possible only because he ended up on Planet Earth). Some of them come in teams, like The Fantastic Four. Most of the supernaturally imbued villains are people who have been transformed abnormally by demonic forces into twisted and perverted beings, or have ascended from the underworld, or have returned from the grave, or all of the above.

To you recall how Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Mummy made their entrance? In some fashion or another, they all returned from the dead. And since their debut, they keep coming back and back and back!

On June 9th, yet another remake of The Mummy was released by Universal Pictures, starring Tom Cruise, Sofia Boutella, Russell Crowe, and others. Though I may have missed a couple, in a brief online research of Mummy movies, I counted 14 of them. With four more spin-off films called, The Scorpion King. The original Mummy was played by Boris Karloff, followed by Lon Chaney, Jr., Christopher Lee, and others.

In the latest release, the Mummy is a woman, Princess Ahmanet—an ancient Egyptian goddess played by Sofia Boutella. The film includes another horror film character, Dr. Jekyll (and Mr. Hyde), played by Russell Crowe. And, of course, there are a few zombies wandering about. Yet, the underlying premise of The Mummy and other films like it is that the antagonist returns to earth in bodily form; albeit in some cases, going back and forth between the visible and invisible.

After using the example of the movie Rosemary’s Baby in Eye of Prophecy article, Satan in Bodily Form … When and Why? Part II (posted 11-19-16), I go on to say (excerpt in italics):

Later, came The Exorcist in 1973.

Then another box-office smash, The Omen; this time concentrating on the Antichrist and his infamous number, 666. Released in 1976 it featured Gregory Peck and Lee Remick, whose adopted child, Damien, wasn’t just bred by Satan. He was actually the Antichrist. Three more Omen movies followed the original.

Several TV shows are currently carrying this ghoulish torch of the paranormal, such as The Walking Dead and Salem.

Dozens, if not hundreds, of novels, films, and television shows and documentaries about Satan, demons, and the powers of darkness have been released during the last 70 years. Across the board, they are Biblically inaccurate and scripturally illiterate. Nevertheless, Rosemary’s Baby is somewhat on point concerning the ancient cohabitation of fallen angels with women on the earth before Noah’s Flood. In part, this was covered in last week’s article. As indicated, this unholy, depraved breeding was abruptly halted when the fallen angels were imprisoned in the Abyss.

No matter the degree of fantasy found in Hollywood or televised productions, the intriguing fact remains that the 20th & 21st centuries have seen an unprecedented rise in the portrayal of the supernatural, made progressively more fantastic through special effects. This includes many depictions of demons and Satan, himself, in a material visible body.

Writers, producers, directors, and actors are inadvertently grooming hundreds of millions left behind at the Rapture to view the paranormal as normal, the supernatural as natural, and the spiritual as physical….

We Were Meant to Know the Identity of Antichrist Because He Will Not Be a Modern-Day Born Man

The question posed in the first half of today’s title (Who is the Antichrist?) has been answered in great detail in my book, Out of the Abyss and subsequently through several Eye of Prophecy articles in the category of Antichrist. I ask it again mostly for the benefit and curiosity of those who may be visiting Eye of Prophecy website for the first time. This week’s article is also a refresher to those who have read the book and/or articles; to further affirm this amazing, but, nevertheless, historical and future fact. Therefore, I will repeat the answer to the question: Who is the Antichrist?

He is none other than the Roman Emperor Nero.

The second half of this week’s title (How Will He Appear?) also has been thoroughly covered in Out of the Abyss and several Eye of Prophecy articles. With the pivotal point mostly from where he will reappear—the Abyss; or the manner in which he will appear … suddenly rising from a literal sea (Revelation 13:1). Today the how of his arrival is focused on his actual bodily reappearance, with parallel Biblical examples given to demonstrate that Nero’s return from a 2000-year absence is not nearly as far-fetched as it may sound. That it is fact, not fantasy; such as a fictional Egyptian “goddess” returning from the grave.

Pretty much everything pertaining to identification and documentation (Scriptural and historical) that Nero was and will return as the Antichrist is covered in Out of the Abyss, published in February, 2011. Subsequent Eye of Prophecy articles about the Antichrist normally emphasize one passage (of several) or feature of the Antichrist. Scriptural references to the Antichrist (also called the little horn, ruler, king, man of lawlessness, and beast) can be found in Daniel Chapters 7, 9, & 11; II Thessalonians Chapter 2; Revelation Chapters 11, 13, 16, 17, & 19, with chapters 13 & 17 presenting convincing clues as to his biography and identity.

Today, we want to concentrate on the mind boggling, but true fact that Nero will return in his original body! A body that will be visibly scarred from the fatal wounds that killed him; nonetheless, that same body. We’ll look at Bible passages that demonstrate God’s power and plan of bodily resurrection, removal of two men from the earth without dying, and actual bodily appearance of Moses and Elijah with Jesus—in order to correlate and compare those miracles with Antichrist Nero’s continued existence in the Abyss. In conclusion, we’ll examine one other more obscure reference to Antichrist. It is found in the book of Zechariah; one that fits perfectly with Nero’s fatal wounds that ended his life on earth, only to be revived and placed bodily in the Abyss.

Here is another excerpt from the Eye of Prophecy article quoted earlier concerning most of those left behind at the Rapture and their reaction to the real-life return of the Antichrist beast who first appeared in the 1st century:

Instead of believing and, thereby, giving their loyalty and life to the true risen Messiah, Jesus; they will embrace a Roman Emperor (Nero) in what they perceive is his miraculous return from the grave. They will ignore or reject the real evidence prophesied 2000 years ago by John that their “superman” actually returns from the Abyss; having been struck down in his (perverted) prime of life by Christ. Then revived by the Lord and confined to the Abyss awaiting the time when God would release him. At about this same time, Satan will be permanently thrown down to earth in his real and tangible body, and will immediately extend his power and authority to Nero.

Those left behind at the Rapture will be mesmerized by a man who returns from the grave (as they see it … actually from the Abyss). Their initial incredulity will soon yield to the reality of what they are seeing; in part, because of the fictional fantasy images of paranormal phenomena being portrayed as almost routine in today’s New Age, literary, and entertainment circles.

Personally, I and millions of other believers firmly believe that the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God. There are verifiable reasons to make this unequivocal statement; not the least of which are hundreds of fulfilled prophecies and numerous miracles that are truly supernatural—performed directly by God the Father and Messiah Jesus the Son of God or through prophets, apostles, and angels.

“Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God” (II Peter 1:20-21).

To remind us that many of God’s sovereign plans for the human race are achieved through supernatural events—past, present, and future—and, therefore, not to be so skeptical about a two-thousand year old man (Antichrist Nero) returning to earth in the same body in which he departed, let’s look at seven remarkable facts (realities) that include God’s transcendent power and implementation of his providential will. They are presented only in summary form, as all of them are thoroughly covered in my book Out of the Abyss; as well as in some prior Eye of Prophecy articles.

Fact #1: The Antichrist Had Already Lived and Died Before the Book of Revelation Was Written

Regarding Bible passages relating to the Antichrist, I have quoted one more than all the others. Yet, it bears repeating for two main reasons: (1) unless we understand what the text is telling us, then the logical and natural—but inaccurate—view that the Antichrist is a modern-day born man will continue to dominate Biblical eschatology with two erroneous results; (a) to assume that no one can know the identity of the Antichrist; (b) on the other hand to continue pointing fingers at modern-day world leaders as Antichrist candidates. (2) To fully grasp that the Antichrist’s arrival soon after the Rapture will NOT be his first appearance on this earth; it will be a reappearance (from the Abyss).

“Why are you so amazed? The angel asked. I will tell you the mystery of this woman and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns on which she sits. The beast you saw was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he will soon (suddenly) come up out of the bottomless pit (Abyss) and go to eternal destruction. And the people who belong to this world (many of those left behind at the Rapture), whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made, will be amazed at the reappearance of this beast who had died” (Revelation 17:7-8, italics for emphasis, parenthesis mine).

Here is an excerpt from the last portion of my book commenting on the above passage:

“There is no question; the meaning of the verse is as irrefutable as anything can be. The beast had already died before John received this revelation. How else can this passage be understood? Is there any other way to see or read this verse? If some can’t let go of a contemporary Antichrist, then what will they do with this verse … and all the other passages that help refit the prophetic puzzle?

“John didn’t see the vision in the future; he saw it in the present—that hour of that day. The beast is past tense … no longer alive when John saw the vision. The beast isn’t born and doesn’t die in the future; he’s already dead. When will the beast become future tense? Correct: When he reappears from the Abyss. At the beginning of the Tribulation, the world will be amazed at the reappearance of the beast who had died. Will the beast die during the Tribulation? No, he died even before John saw him from Patmos.

“From there, it was a matter of some intensive research, study of Scripture, a lot of praying, and guidance from the Holy Spirit that reaffirmed the ironclad statement and meaning of this verse and of other verses that we’ve covered. However, when I discovered that many of our first, second, third, and fourth century brothers and sisters in Christ also tagged Nero as the man of lawlessness, the beast, and the Antichrist … well it’s like underlining, italicizing, and using bold print on a sentence that already has three exclamation marks!!!

“Invoking a comparison from a popular television program, we have refitted the prophetic puzzle and solved the mystery of the beast in the fashion of Cold Case files” (Out of the Abyss … Can the number of the beast be solved? Pages 271-272).

Fact #2: In Order to Come Up Out of the Abyss, the Antichrist Must First Be Confined to the Abyss

Despite its clear meaning, the following verse is often overlooked as pertaining to Christ and the Antichrist:

“Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming” (II Thessalonians 2:8).

Nero was revealed as the man of lawlessness when he unlawfully usurped the Roman throne as Caesar in 54 A.D. The ultimate cause and origin of Nero’s death was the command given by Jesus (breath of his mouth) … accomplished by his sovereign will. This was no different than several incidents in the Old Testament and a few in the New Testament (Ananias, Sapphira, and Herod Agrippa), in which the Lord prematurely (from a human viewpoint) struck down those who had crossed the divine line of God’s tolerance. On some occasions, the Lord directly and divinely shortened the life of the offender. Other times, he used natural means such as war or execution or disease.

(“Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God…” Acts 12:23).

In Nero’s case it was by the sword of his servant, as Nero couldn’t finish the job of doing himself in.

Because the Antichrist beast had died before John wrote the book of Revelation and because this same man would reappear from the Abyss, the following logical conclusion is exceedingly evident (italicized for emphasis): Jesus revived Nero and banished him to the Abyss soon after Nero died.

Since then Nero (and Satan) awaits his release from imprisonment to captivate the attention and allegiance of post-Rapture unbelievers. To this day, the burial site of Nero is a mystery to historians. Although on the opposite end of the good/evil scale of things, this is very similar to the death and burial of Moses, which we will get to later. Moses was the Law-giver. Nero was the ultimate Law-breaker … “the man of lawlessness” (II Thessalonians 2:3).

Fact #3: Only Embodied Beings Inhabit the Abyss

These beings are fallen angels who took on human form before the Great Flood. They were banished to the Abyss because of their excessively despicable and depraved behavior. (See Genesis Chapter 6).

“And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment” (Jude 1:6).

Most fallen angels (demons) are free to roam the heavens and the earth, but they are spirits … spiritual bodies in another dimension. Whenever they can—as allowed or even invited by people who delve into the occult—they will inhabit (possess) human beings. For the most part, they have learned their lesson not to take on human form. Donning human form is reserved only for the good angels; even that is infrequent.

As much as they would like to possess people, fallen angels absolutely dread the thought of being banished to the Abyss along with the grossly wicked angels already there.

Addressing the demon possessed man in the region of Gerasenes (east side of the Lake of Galilee):

“Jesus demanded, ‘What is your name?’

‘Legion’ he replied, for he was filled with many demons. The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit” (Luke 8:30-31).

Do you remember what happened next? Jesus granted their wish and let them enter into a herd of pigs!

Pigs? Yes, pigs … the demons would do anything to remain in a body or two, even pigs. So much for their wish. The demonic possession was too much for the pigs. They ran headlong into the lake and drowned!

In Out of the Abyss, I wrote:

“Reminder: the beast comes from the Abyss. The demon locusts are released from the Abyss with a body, albeit, a frightening one. Actually, other than being fearsome, the body of these beasts as described in Revelation 9 may be somewhat regal. Read for yourself the description given, and then decide about their appearance.

“In all of Scripture, there is only one reference to a human being coming from, therefore, having been placed into the Abyss. That man is the man of lawlessness, who is the Antichrist, who is the beast of Revelation. Such an honor!” (Page 232).

(Fairly accurate/realistic depiction of the demons described as locusts. Match up the imagery in Revelation Chapter 9 with the above painting)

Fact #4: The Bodily Resurrection of Messiah Jesus

The very heart of the Biblical Gospel of salvation is the (Virgin) birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection of Messiah Jesus in human form. Only a sinless man could provide the substitutionary sacrifice required by God, necessary to pay the ultimate price for atonement of sin and pardon of sin’s eternal penalty. And the fact remains that Jesus arose from the dead in his same body, albeit a body equipped to live forever. Jesus was the first to be given this wonderful everlasting glorified body (see I Corinthians 15). Yet, a literal body that can be seen, heard, touched, and recognized.

*Note: As a reminder, these facts (realities) are presented as precedents and parallels in order to demonstrate that Nero can and will return at the appointed time in the same body in which he lived, died, and was then revived by the Lord. Although many left behind at the Rapture are being prepared for such a staggering event through media bombardment with supernatural fantasies; they will, nevertheless, be astonished that it really could happen. They won’t be seeing some Hollywood illusion on a movie screen. Whether in person or via television and internet, they will be looking at the real thing—a Roman Emperor whose fame and figure will be right before their eyes.

His name is already undergoing a popular resurgence.

As indicated in three prior Eye of Prophecy articles, Nero’s name has been revitalized, advertised, propagandized, and otherwise paraded through numerous venues in just the past few years. See, The Beast and His Name (posted 10-5-13); Nero & The Remarkable Revival of His Name (4-1-17); Antichrist and Anzio … What Do They Have in Common? (4-29-17).

(One of many products or media productions that bear Nero’s name)

All seven of these Biblical truths (four already covered and three that will be postponed until next week’s article) are examples of bodily resurrection or preservation that will correspond to an astounding prophetic passage in Zechariah as alluded to earlier in today’s article. Which is: The Physical Wounds (That Leads to the Death) of Antichrist Nero Are Foretold by this Old Testament Prophet!

Personal Note Summary

My original intention was for this week’s Eye of Prophecy post to be one article, not a two-part series. Sometimes multi-part articles are intentional; other times they are spontaneously necessary when I realize there’s not enough space/time for that article to adequately cover the subject at hand. Of the 205 Eye of Prophecy posts to date, 65 are multi-part articles (about one-third).

The disadvantage of a two or more part article is the potential of disrupting the continuity (big-picture progression) of the main topic. Or for visitors to read only one of the parts.

The whole idea of editing is to, of course, make the content and style even better. Editing includes changes, clarifications, and corrections that are not only grammatical, but also entire sentence or paragraph modifications, deletions, or relocations in the article. I normally do three edits of my original draft. With the first two focused on content and the final edit on punctuation and proofreading. Sometimes there are still (minor) mistakes in the posted article!

I suppose the ultimate goal of editing is to shorten the article without significantly shortchanging the core content and theme. Alas, when I began editing of this week’s post, it kept getting longer! No choice but to make it Part I & II.

Please don’t miss next week’s article in which three more parallel examples will be given to illustrate comparatively that Nero’s actual reappearance on Planet Earth will be in the same body in which he died. As opposed to an imposter or some sort of virtual reality made possible by super technological special effects like holograms or whatever. Among other things, Nero will arrogantly flaunt the scars of his deadly wounds as proof of his return from the grave; in order to imitate and supersede the true risen Messiah Jesus who lovingly invited Thomas to see and touch the nail prints in his hands and the spear wound in his side.

In one of my very favorite scenes in all of Scripture, Thomas replied to Jesus’s invitation to touch the wounds:

Things to Ponder

As a prelude to next week’s Part II article, think about Enoch and Elijah. Both were taken from the earth while they were still alive.

Concerning Enoch:

“When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him” (Genesis 5:21-24).

“It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—he disappeared, because God took him. For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him” (Hebrews 11:5-6).

Regarding Elijah:

“When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.’

“And Elisha replied, ‘Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.’

‘You have asked a difficult thing,’ Elijah replied. ‘If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.’

“As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven” (II Kings 2:9-11).

Also think about Moses and Elijah appearing with Jesus.

“Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus” (Matthew 17:1-3).

You’ll see next week that they appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration in their original earthly bodies … how and why!

Likewise, Antichrist Nero’s reappearance from the Abyss (in his original body) will stun an unsuspecting world. Their amazement will result in actual worship of this wicked Roman emperor.

Believe me; better yet, believe the Bible: You don’t want to be left behind at the Rapture.

Some will choose the true Messiah Jesus over the false messiah, Nero; but will do so on pain of deprivation, torture, and death. Most will opt for the deceitful temporary enticement of a New Age Pax Romana type paradise promised to them by what will appear to be a superman savior. Only for the post-Rapture world to come crashing down around them through the most massive apocalyptic catastrophes of all time.

Jesus, himself said so:

“For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones” (Matthew 24:21-22).

Sudden Appearance of Antichrist … Why So Different?

21 Saturday Jan 2017

Posted by garybowers in The Antichrist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

beast of Revelation, Nero

Things That Suddenly Shake Us

There are some words and phrases in all languages that grab attention like no others. In English, one of them is sudden or suddenly, especially when combined with (suddenly) appeared.

A bolt of lightning that instantly splits a tree in front of us; a clap of thunder that deafeningly ruptures the air around us; a massive explosion or earthquake that rocks the ground beneath us; a malevolent monster that seizes an innocent victim in a scary movie; or a beautiful rainbow that radiantly appears from nowhere. We are both terrified and calmed by things that suddenly shake our senses.

Webster’s Dictionary defines the adjective sudden as: “happening or coming unexpectedly … marked by or manifesting abruptness or haste … made or brought about in a short time … prompt.”

In noun form, sudden is: “an unexpected occurrence: Emergency—all of a sudden: sooner than was expected; at once.” Suddenly is the more intense adverb form which almost always modifies an action verb, e.g. appeared.

In Bible Dictionaries and Lexicons such as the King James Dictionary, the Greek and Hebrew words translated sudden or suddenly mean, “in an unexpected manner, without preparation, instantly, swiftly, unforeseen, unaware, surprisingly, or a very short space of time.”

Some people like surprises. Others do not. Many tolerate the unexpected as long as it doesn’t jolt them out of their comfort zone too quickly or at all. Most people, like me, prefer not to be startled.

Surprises are okay, as long as they are not too surprising … like someone sneaking up behind me and saying, “Boo!” There are a few who love to be shocked; they like that rush of adrenaline that moves them out of the routine of every-day life.

Soon to come is a sudden earth-shaking, senses-shattering, life-changing, (eternal) destiny-altering event never before experienced in the annals of human history. Though foretold 2,000 years ago by Scripture, and foreseen by both believers and unbelievers (who are half way interested in such things) alike, it will still in “a very short space of time” stun everyone on planet Earth.

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever” (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).

the-rapture_2

As detailed in the Eye of Prophecy article, How the Rapture? (Posted 8-24-13), this phenomenal sequence of events will take several minutes, beginning with the (Lord’s) shout heard around the world, and culminating with the final blast of several trumpets.

“But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It (the actual transformation, not the preliminary events described in I Thessalonians 4) will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown … those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed” (I Corinthians 15:51-52, parenthesis mine).

However, that’s just the beginning of things that will be so very sudden. Soon, if not immediately, after the Rapture, another event will suddenly arrest the attention, seize the senses, and attract the allegiance of billions left behind when Messiah Jesus takes believers from this earth.

Wrote John in Revelation: “…There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns, and blasphemies against God were written all over it” (Revelation 17:3).

Later, the angel explained what John had just witnessed:

“Why are you so amazed? … I will tell you the mystery of this woman and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns on which she sits. The beast you saw was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he will soon (abruptly, suddenly) come up out of the bottomless pit … And the people who belong to this world … will be amazed at the reappearance of this beast who had died” (Revelation 17:7-8, parenthesis mine)

woman-rides-the-beast

A Dramatic Disclosure

The remarkable discernment given to me by the Lord in November, 2008 began with the above passage in Revelation 17, which led to my book, Out of the Abyss … can the number of the beast be solved? 666, published in February, 2011. And, yes, it was a sudden illumination from this passage (indeed the entire book of Revelation), which I had read numerous times without making the compelling correlation that: The Antichrist (beast) had already lived and died BEFORE John was given a vision of the beast.

This stunningly sudden reappearance of Antichrist from the Abyss will mesmerize virtually the entire world after the Rapture to the point of worship for one reason: His return from the grave (actually the Abyss).

“I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal would was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle (return from the dead after two thousand years) and gave allegiance to the beast. They worshipped the dragon (Satan) for giving the beast such power, and they also worshipped the beast. ‘Who is as great as the beast?’ they exclaimed. ‘Who is able to fight against him?’” (Revelation 13:3-4, parenthesis mine).

If you haven’t already, I would encourage you to get a copy of Out of the Abyss (Amazon or Barnes and Noble or WestBow Press), which contains definitive documentation of all Bible passages on the Antichrist coupled with 1st century history to support what I believe is unmistakable evidence: The Roman Emperor Nero is the Antichrist of I John 3; the little horn/king of Daniel 7; the ruler whose armies would destroy Jerusalem and the Temple as found in Daniel 9; the king of the north in Daniel 11; the evil shepherd of Zachariah 11; the man of lawlessness in II Thessalonians 2; and the beast/king of Revelation 13 and 17.

In the category of Antichrist, several Eye of Prophecy articles have been written to further elaborate on this crucial last day’s clarification (correction if you will) concerning the origin of Antichrist, including his very identity … which was meant to be known! Otherwise, why would the angel through John challenge believers to ascertain the identity of the beast, not once but twice, as clearly presented in Revelation 13:18 and 17:9?

The Bible paints a composite picture of Antichrist that matches the historical Nero—what he was and did during his ascent to and time as Caesar—and also his return to complete what he started, but on a truly global scale. In today’s article, we will concentrate on just one feature of the painting to demonstrate that all the other Bible passages prove Nero is the Antichrist, by disproving that the Antichrist will be a modern-day man.

Nero_pushkin

(Bust of Nero)

Our focus: His SUDDEN reappearance from banishment to the Abyss 2,000 years ago, as opposed to the mainstream prophetic view that the Antichrist will be a modern-day man; indeed, one who many believe is now among us. Later in today’s article, we’ll see that this sudden return also explains why he is so “different” than the ten kings (national leaders) who will give him their kingdoms (nations) to rule and reign over.

“Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them. He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time” (Daniel 7: 24-25, italics for emphasis).

For sheer interest and intrigue, let’s first look at some memorial events in Scripture that happened, suddenly! In so doing, I believe we’ll have a significantly better grasp of the “sudden appearance” of Antichrist to show that he is not a modern-day man.

The New Living Translation (which I quote from in my articles, unless noted otherwise, such as the New American Standard Bible) employs the adjective/noun sudden or the often used adverb suddenly … no less than 122 times in the Old and New Testaments. Although this number exceeds other translations, the NLT translators (scholars) have simply chosen the word suddenly more than other English synonyms that could be used to accurately translate the Hebrew and Greek words that mean the same thing. It’s apparently a matter of preference; but also, I believe, an enhanced emphasis to effectively express the Hebrew and Greek text.

There are several Hebrew and Greek words that convey (are synonyms of) the word or concept of sudden, unexpected, unforeseen, abrupt, surprisingly, swiftly (without warning), etc.

Examples/Events in Scripture

As contained in Scripture and as human experience bears testimony, sudden life-changing events can be horrendously horrifying or heartwarmingly happy or sometimes both.

There are dozens of Bible passages that use the term, sudden or suddenly. We’ll examine only eight of these significant episodes, three of which are joyful, four of which are terrifying, and one that is both good and bad. I’m guessing that most of you will immediately recognize or at least be familiar with each spectacular occurrence. Except, perhaps the last passage which will return our attention to how the ominous return of Antichrist takes place and why he (Nero) is so different than the ten kings of the ten kingdoms that will constitute his formidable coalition during the Tribulation.

Each passage contains the word suddenly (which will be italicized) and each passage will reflect one of the meanings of sudden or suddenly that best applies to the event, as noted by the captioned heading of that passage. Certainly, the synonyms could be interchangeable; in fact, you may prefer to match them up differently than I have. No problem with that, as the main purpose is to emphasize how the sudden appearance of someone or something in these passages is strikingly similar and perfectly parallel to the last passage examined … that of the Antichrist’s appearance.

Beginning with one of the joyful events, we will then alternate between the bad (for those involved) and the good incidents, followed by one that is both negative and positive; then conclude with the fourth portentous (bad) event that is the main subject of today’s article.

*Note: In the passages where suddenly modifies the verb appeared or something similar (like came), appeared will also be italicized.

Unforeseen

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them … the angel reassured them, ‘Don’t be afraid … I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” (Luke 2:8-11).

ec16f2f1356bbb12a3862285fe390834

This is undoubtedly the most “suddenly” recognized passage/event of all time, known by millions upon millions of believers and unbelievers alike down through the ages. Although prophesied long before he came, Messiah Jesus’ post-birth was first announced by a completely unforeseen appearance of angels to, of all people, lowly shepherds … not to kings or nobles.

Instantly

“So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. As Pharaoh and all of his officials watched, Aaron raised his staff and struck the water of the Nile. Suddenly, the whole river turned to blood! The fish in the river died, and the water became so foul that the Egyptians couldn’t drink it. There was blood everywhere throughout the land of Egypt” (Exodus 7:20-21).

When Aaron struck the Nile, it instantly turned to blood. This was the first of ten mighty miracles (plagues) that God inflicted on Egypt.

Unexpectantly

“As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus” (Matthew 17:2-3).

Obviously, Peter, James, and John did not realize what was about to happen to their Lord when he was transfigured into the splendor that he possessed before entering the world as a man—the same glorious essence he would bear upon his return to heaven in his Resurrected body. However, this was the first time that Jesus had taken only these three disciples with him, and I’m sure they anticipated something different or unique would happen. But they would never have expected Moses and Elijah to appear in bodily form.

*See Eye of Prophecy articles, The Two Witnesses, I, II, & III (posted 6-7, 6-14, & 6-21-14) that explain why and how these two mighty prophets appeared to Jesus in their earthly bodies and will do so again during the Tribulation before Christ returns.

Swiftly

“And Moses said, ‘This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things that I have done—for I have not done them on my own. If these men die a natural death, or if nothing unusual happens, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord does something entirely new and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them and all their belongings, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have shown contempt for the Lord.’

“He had hardly finished speaking the words when the ground suddenly split open beneath them. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the men, along with their households and all their followers … So they went down alive into the grave, along with all their belongings. The earth closed over them, and they all vanished from among the people of Israel” (Numbers 16:28-33).

korah-dathan-and-abiram

Although the majority of the Israelites often doubted or distrusted the Lord to take care of them in the post-Exodus journey through the wilderness, this was one instance in which a few of them actually rebelled against Moses, thereby showing contempt for the Lord. As a result, Moses told them (prophesied) what was about to happen to prove that the Lord had appointed Moses as his go-between leader of the people. As soon as Moses declared what the Lord would do, the judgment swiftly took place when the ground suddenly split open devouring the rebels.

Unaware/Unprepared

“That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them” (Luke 24:13-15).

The text of the entire passage is clear: the two men were deeply saddened by Yeshua’s death, and also perplexed over the incredible news they had heard—Jesus might have risen from the grave. While they were trying to process “everything that had happened,” Jesus suddenly came (appeared) out of nowhere … like he would later appear to his disciples in the closed, locked room. They were totally unaware that it was Jesus who was walking and talking with them!

The account continues: “By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged him, ‘Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.’ So he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!” (Luke 24:28-31).

Wow! They were utterly unaware that the man was Jesus until he had been with them for several hours. They were equally unprepared and startled that he would disappear in front of their eyes as quickly as he had appeared with them on the road. To disappear (vanish) is the same as suddenly appearing.

Surprise (Shockingly So)

“Many years later King Belshazzar gave a great feast for 1,000 of his nobles, and he drank wine with them” (Daniel 5:1).

“Suddenly, they saw the fingers of a human hand writing on the plaster wall of the king’s palace, near the lampstand. The king himself saw the hand as it wrote, and his face turned pale with fright. His knees knocked together in fear and his legs gave way beneath him” (Daniel 5:5-6).

As indicated, for these Bible passages in which something suddenly happens, I’ve chosen what I think is the most appropriate synonym for each incident. The surprise experienced by King Belshazzar and his “honored” guests gives an expanded meaning to the word. It was more like shock. In fact, the word surprise is derived from the words surpris and suprendre, which mean: “an attack made without warning; to capture by unexpected attack; to strike with wonder or amazement” (Webster’s Dictionary).

We all know what a “surprise attack” is. And many are familiar with the term “sudden death,” whether it’s someone actually dying or a sporting event.

This is such a well-known account in Scripture that, to this very day, nearly everyone has heard or used the phrase, “The writing on the wall.” The sudden image of a hand writing on the king’s wall terrified him and his guests. It gives a whole new meaning to being “caught off guard.” They were totally surprised (shocked) at not only the writing on the wall but also the immediate fulfillment of its prophecy that Belshazzar would be killed, and Babylon would be destroyed by the Persians … that very night.

The next passage reflects a combination of terror and joy. It is one that contains bad news and good news.

Brought About In A Short Space of Time (Sooner Than Expected), Then Immediately Stopped

“Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’

“Jesus responded, ‘Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!’ Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed, ‘Who is this man?’ they asked. ‘Even the winds and waves obey him!’” (Matthew 8:23-27).

jesus-calms-the-storm

It was bad news for the disciples who, despite several miracles that Jesus had already performed, had little or no faith in the very fact that Jesus was with them. Though they were terrified, they soon realized more than ever before who Jesus was and what incomparable power and authority he possessed.

Bad news: The storms of life all too frequently and suddenly appear and strike heavy blows.

Good news: So what? If you know Messiah Jesus as personal Savior, he is with you. He will either get you through the storm or command it to stop. Some of our Lord’s last words on earth were, “…And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

(One other “suddenly appeared” passage of note is II Kings 2, in which the prophet Elijah is taken to heaven by a chariot of fire that suddenly … appeared).

The Sudden Appearance of the Little Horn of Daniel (Antichrist … Nero)

Now that we have a handle on the idea of sudden or suddenly in the context of Biblical history, let’s look at another prophecy that, when correlated and compared with other Scriptural evidence, will demonstrate that Nero is the Antichrist beast who will return to the amazement of those left behind at the Rapture. It is the optimum passage to validate that it is not a modern-day man who will take on the role of Antichrist.

Read with me Daniel’s dramatic description of the man who would appear directly from the fourth world empire, Rome. We know this to be true because John in Revelation later wrote that this same man had already lived and died, as one of the five kings—Roman Emperors—who had fallen … died before John saw the Antichrist beast. (Revelation 17:10 … see Out of the Abyss for a detailed analysis).

(*Note: The Late Great Roman Empire is long gone. I have said this before: There will not be a “Revived Roman Empire” as so many have postulated. Just look at what’s happening in Europe. The European Union is unraveling at the seams. There is a rising populism and nationalistic movement (as opposed to international globalism) across the world. But as I stated in Out of the Abyss and prior Eye of Prophecy articles, there will be a Revived Roman Emperor (Nero). He will take full advantage of the global allegiance given to him as a result of his “supernatural” return from the grave, by consolidating ten powerful nations to do his bidding. See Eye of Prophecy article, “One Ring to Rule Them All…” published 11-21-15.)

“As I was looking at the horns (the ten horns who are the ten kings that will give their kingdoms to Antichrist during the Great Tribulation), suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly” (Daniel 7:8, parenthesis mine).

Once again, I’ve highlighted appeared. This is to stress that Nero’s introduction to our post-modern world soon after the Rapture will be exactly what this verse says it will be … a very sudden appearance. Actually, a reappearance, which Revelation 17:8 denotes.

This is of vital significance to comprehend. In fact, the implication is staggering once you get a handle on it. Here’s why.

Restating an observation: It’s only natural to assume that the Antichrist will be a man born in the last days who will rise to global power before and especially after the Rapture takes place. That is, under normal circumstances, the obvious way that all past tyrants achieved their pinnacle of power … in varying degrees, a gradual ascension to a position of wide-spread authority.

And, I get that.

With, however, a reminder: Beginning with the stupendous world-shaking event of the Rapture and continuing with miracle after miracle during the Great Tribulation, the last seven years of the earth as we know it will consist of ongoing supernatural happenings.

Notwithstanding the apocalyptic replacement of the natural with the supernatural during the last days, we also have a plethora of exceptional miracles that God and his Son have performed throughout the ages. Thus, why would it be such an incredible conclusion that Nero was revived soon after Christ struck him down (see II Thessalonians 2:8); then banished to the Abyss in his restored earthly body with the same wounds that killed him (see Zechariah 11 & Revelation 13); then given permission to return to this earth by rising from the Abyss (Revelation 17:8) which is beneath a literal sea—most probably the Mediterranean (Revelation 13:1).

To wit: If God could suddenly take Elijah to heaven (without dying) in a chariot of fire; if the Lord could instantly, without warning, snatch Enoch from this earth to spare him the Great Flood; if he could surprisingly split the Red Sea over a short space of time allowing his people to cross on dry land then swiftly return the waters to drown their pursuers; if God could unexpectantly provide food from heaven (manna), then make this food appear (new) every morning to feed his people for forty years in the wilderness … well you get the picture?

elijah-was-taken-up-into-heaven-in-a-chariot-of-fire-and-horses-of-fire

If the Lord can do all these things, not to mention create the entire universe and raise people from the dead; then is anything too hard for the Lord, or too inconceivable to consider, or too natural for God to set aside the laws of nature, as he has done time and time again. Thus, the sequence of events involving Nero, as described above, would be extraordinarily easy for God to do.

How he does what he does is beyond out finite comprehension. For that matter, so is gravity. We know it exists, but have no clue as to “how” it really works.

“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14). Go ahead, if you like: Think of something that’s too hard for God. But remember: whatever he does, whenever he speaks and acts, he does so with (his) perfect timing … when he’s ready and the time is right to accomplish his majestic plan for the human race.

Modern-Day Antichrist?

The prevailing view (which is sensible and historically the way of such things) is that the Antichrist will be or currently is in a position of prominence somewhere in the world when the Rapture will take place (any day now). A Prime Minister or President? From the United Nations or European Union? The United States?

That is not, however, the picture prophetically painted by the prophet Daniel. The sudden appearance (abrupt rise to prominence and power) of the little horn (Antichrist) is anything but gradual.

Here is an excerpt from my book, Out of the Abyss, to reinforce what Daniel predicted, and to best illustrate the means by which the Antichrist will dramatically step onto the global stage to the amazement of an unsuspecting, unprepared, unaware, surprisingly shocked left-behind population. In italics:

We also have information in Daniel that is absolutely stunning. It begins with the phrase, “suddenly … appeared” (Daniel 7:8). Did you catch that? Of course you did. I repeat for emphasis: suddenly appeared. In the NAS, we read: “While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them…” Though “came up” is less demonstrative that “suddenly appeared” as found in the New Living Translation, the NAS verse begins Daniel’s observation with the word “behold.” The meaning is unmistakable: The little horn (Antichrist) sprang up abruptly. An equivalent modern-day phrase would be, “He came out of nowhere.”

The word suddenly in Daniel 7 dramatically modifies, enhances, and further clarifies the appearing or reappearing of Antichrist as found in the New Testament. And the impact of this is crucial in realizing that the beast suddenly appears from the Abyss, as opposed to a modern-day man already in an influential political or administrative or even a military position. The contemporary view of the Antichrist is that, after the Rapture takes place, he will rise in prominence by asserting his positional influence, be that in or from the United Nations, European Union, or some other notable location.

Do you know of any past tyrant, dictator, or prestigious leader that tersely and unexpectantly arrived on the scene? All of the good and bad historical leaders were fairly well known by the time they came to ultimate power. That’s why the Antichrist depicted in Scripture does not fit the contemporary view. A modern-day leader would not abruptly appear on the scene. He would at least be known and recognized at some mid-level or already high-level political, social, or military position.

But the Antichrist is different. He arrives on the scene suddenly and surprisingly.

In fact, the New American Standard Bible states that this other king arises “after” the ten kings. Not before, not at the same time, but after. According to the view of those who hold to a modern-day Antichrist, he will be a chronological contemporary (born and raised in the same generation) of the ten kings with a simultaneous or near parallel ascent with those kings. This view is not supported by the language in Daniel (Out of the Abyss, pages 183-184).

There’s Different, and Then There’s Different!

In the verse quoted earlier in today’s article from that same passage in Daniel, we read: “…Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them” (Daniel 7:24, italics for emphasis).

Just how different is he? Well, we can start with the obvious: He is Nero Caesar, the ancient Roman Emperor who ruled the Roman Empire for fourteen years and persecuted Christians like no one before or after him. He will resume this onslaught against the Tribulation saints and also the Jews.

20120224-Nero torches Siemiradski_Fackeln

(Christians Used as Burning Torches to Light Nero’s Palace Garden)

Once again, please allow me to defer to an excerpt from Out of the Abyss.

The expression different is both intriguing and forceful. Why or how is the Antichrist different than the ten kings who yield their allegiance? Especially as utilized in the context, the word itself is too strong to suggest an intrinsic variation, such as being a more polished, captivating, charismatic, or powerful leader…

Different denotes different, in all that word means and implies. I think this is important enough to refer to Webster’s Dictionary. Different is: “partly or totally unlike in nature, form, or quality.” It is: “dissimilar (could hardly be more).” It is: not the same as.” In addition to dissimilar, other synonyms are: “distinct, unusual, special, diverse, divergent, and disparate.” It is: ‘unlike in kind or character.” The synonym diverse “implies marked contrast…”

The one thing that makes Antichrist (Nero) different from the other kings is that he is a living miracle, and they are not.

He has risen from the underworld, and they have not. The ten kings have a birth certificate, but the Antichrist does not. Nor will anyone, including crime scene forensic investigators be able to prove that he had died a short time before he arose, as there will be no autopsy, or death certificate; nor any fingerprint records, or dental records, nor any evidence of a crime scene, nor a coroner’s report, not a coffin or a grave.

We must remember the shocking fact announced by the angelic messenger: Antichrist died before John received the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Therefore, his initial sudden appearance to a post-Rapture world will be from the dead, which makes him dramatically different than the ten kings. There’s no way the beast can or will be born during the generation that experiences the Day of the Lord. (Pages 185-186).

Things to Ponder

Do you see the amazing connection between the Biblical examples provided in today’s article (seven of several dozen) and the Antichrist passage in Daniel that employs the term and concept of suddenly, especially with regard to a sudden appearance? This correlation is just one of many to support what I firmly believe is a correct re-fit of the prophetic puzzle regarding Antichrist … who he really is and how he will reappear from the Abyss.

Knowing the identity of the Antichrist will reduce and even eliminate the amazement of so many both now and after the Rapture, that will cause them to believe the lie that this despicable tyrant (Nero) is Messiah. Instead, some will realize that the Bible had predicted this long ago.

There is only one who has truly risen from the dead; the true Messiah, the One who is the only way, truth, and life.

“But very early on Sunday morning, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes …

“Then the men asked,

jesus-empty-tomb

Messiah Jesus has risen, indeed!

Antichrist’s Dreaded Arrival / First or Second Appearance?

02 Saturday Jul 2016

Posted by garybowers in The Antichrist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Daniel's prophecies, Nero, Roman Emperors

Antichrist … First or Second Arrival?

Many, including some notable students of Bible prophecy would say, “What kind of question is that?”

Why on earth wouldn’t the approaching arrival of the Antichrist be his first appearance? What is there in Scripture to suggest that he wouldn’t be a modern-day born man? What possible alternative is there, other than a man born in the generation that will experience the Rapture and the soon to follow meteoric rise of this man who would dare to oppose the Triune God … Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

Certainly, the most logical assumption is that the Antichrist would arrive on the scene of history no different than past dictators and tyrants, such as Adolph Hitler. Isn’t that the natural way of things?

Answer: Yes it is. But not entirely. According to the Bible, there are two exceptions, one good and one bad: Christ and Antichrist—who is the man of lawlessness (II Thessalonians 2); the composite beast of Revelation 13 & 17 who is also one of the seven heads (kings) of Revelation; the little horn of Daniel 7 and the ruler of Daniel 9.

God is Divine and Supernatural, right? Since when has he done everything the natural way of things? (Rhetorical!)

Last week’s article focused on the conclusive proof that Messiah’s soon arrival on this earth will be his second appearance—his return as the Lion from the Tribe of Judah in contrast to his first advent as the Lamb of God who died for the sins of the world. So, too, will Antichrist stun the world with his return from the grave (actually from the Abyss, Revelation 17:8). For that reason alone this deplorable man will capture the attention and allegiance of untold millions left behind at the Rapture (Revelation 13 and Revelation 17).

Several Eye of Prophecy articles have dealt wholly or partially with the Biblical evidence that the appearance of Antichrist in the final generation (The Omega Generation) will be his return to the earth, contrary to prevailing belief that this will be his initial arrival. For example, Modern-Day Antichrist? (Posted 9-7-13); followed by Antichrist … Is He Alive Today (9-14-13) which concentrates on Revelation 17. Also, The Legendary Return of Nero (published 4-4-15) that focuses on the 1st through 5th century A.D. remarkable belief by both Christians and secular Romans that Nero was still alive; or that he would return to his throne in Rome having been preserved for that appointed time.

Out of the Abyss … can the number of the beast be solved? 666, examines extensively all Biblical passages on the Antichrist and a study of 1st century history to demonstrate that he is none other than the Roman Emperor Nero.

Out of the Abyss

In today’s article, we will center attention almost exclusively on the same astounding prophecy in Daniel Chapter 9 that we examined in last week’s Eye of Prophecy post where we affirmed decisively that the exact time of Messiah’s first arrival matched the Palm Sunday triumphant entrance into Jerusalem by Jesus of Nazareth. Hence, the incontrovertible evidence that Messiah has already been to the earth—for the express purpose of being God’s final, once for all substitutionary sacrifice for our sins and the penalty of those sins. All who believe and receive this truth (Jesus is Messiah, the Son of God) will have eternal life.

For the Jews to realize that their Scriptures (Old Testament, as most non-Messianic Jews refuse to even read the New Testament, let alone believe that it, too, is inspired by God) specifically foretold the actual time of Messiah’s arrival and that Jesus fulfilled all of the prophecies including Daniel’s, is of utmost importance. As is the understanding for Gentile unbelievers that Messiah Jesus is salvation’s light to the whole world.

To flippantly brush aside the tremendous truth and fabulous fulfillment of Bible prophecies is to dangerously disregard the eternal consequences of what will take place when Antichrist, then Jesus Christ returns to this earth. If Jews and Gentiles reject that Jesus is Messiah and the purpose for his first appearance, it’s unlikely that they will choose Jesus over Antichrist Nero during the Great Tribulation.

Why?

Because the stakes will be incredibly high. To refuse to acknowledge Nero as divine will most certainly mean instant death. That will be too much for most people to handle. A few years into the Great Tribulation, those undecided (at first) will choose this man of lawlessness along with millions of others who have already worshipped him as their messiah.

One generation ago, it was Heil Hitler! In the near future it will be Hail Caesar!

x-01augus-jup

(Statue of Augustus Caesar, First Roman Emperor, Depicted Here as Jupiter, Chief Roman god; Nero Despised Religion Including the Roman gods. He Fancied Himself as God on Earth)

This same prophecy in Daniel 9 also shows convincingly that the ruler (Antichrist) would arise (soon) after Messiah was killed; that the armies of this ruler would destroy the second Temple. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey (as predicted by Zechariah) in April of 32 A.D; was crucified a week later, and arose from the dead three days after that. Then in 70 A.D. the Roman Legions sacked Jerusalem, utterly demolished the Temple, slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Jews, and instigated the dispersion of the surviving Jews (Diaspora) that would continue until Israel was reborn as a nation in 1948.

It was none other than Nero who personally commissioned Roman Generals Vespasian and Titus to launch the campaign to crush the Jewish rebellion that began in 66 A.D.

Daniel Chapter 9

Let’s read again this stunning prophecy, then refer in part to Out of the Abyss; to once again establish the absolutely correct application of this passage, particularly when correlated and connected to all other passages on this man of sin to show that Nero is the Antichrist.

Said the angel Gabriel to the prophet Daniel:

“Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler—the Anointed One—comes…” (Daniel 9:25).

Exactly 173,880 days (483 Jewish years) elapsed from the time that the Persian King Artaxerxes issued the command for Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem to the time that Jesus of Nazareth rode into Jerusalem and the people acclaimed him as Messiah.

Let’s look more closely at what would happen next.

“After this period … the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple…” (Daniel 9:26, italics for emphasis).

The reason that the translators of the New Living Translation, which I quote from most often, chose the wording shown above in italics is to acknowledge that the armies of the ruler were connected in time and space to the ruler. In contrast to the modern-day (erroneous) hypothesis that there will be a revived Roman Empire restored by a modern-day born man. Hence the armies (or people) of the ruler would be those (I suppose they are referring to Italians or other Europeans) who descended some 2000 years later from the Romans.

Although there’s no evidence that the translators and commentators who compiled the New Living Translation gave much thought to the historical evidence that it was Nero who ordered his generals to attack Israel and Jerusalem, they did recognize the obvious fact that the ruler who would arise would be directly linked to the (his) armies that destroyed the Temple.

The Possessive Power of Prepositional Phrases & Pronouns!

As both a means to encourage you to read Out of the Abyss, and also to best explain the staggering significance of the possessive prepositions and pronouns (“of” or “whose”) that directly connect the ruler (Antichrist) with the armies or people of that ruler in real-time (1st century AD), I’d like to quote from Out of the Abyss: (In italics)

In some Bible translations such as the New American Standard, we read, “…and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary…” (Daniel 9:26) … The perception of a Revived Roman Empire flows from the attachment or affiliation of the Ancient Roman Empire’s armies or people that destroyed the Temple to a modern-day Antichrist. But as we will soon see, this application contextually, grammatically, and prophetically stretches the connection to the breaking point.

The Hebrew word for “people” is am, which means people(s), people of a nation, members of one’s people, kinsman, or compatriots. This word is used 1,620 times in the NAS translation of the Old Testament. And, invariably, when relating people (am) to a nation, king, ruler, or to God, the word is employed in the logical and sensible Scriptural context of possessive, immediate, or generational relationship. For example, “After this presentation to Israel’s leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go…’” (Exodus 5:1). The people were none other than the Hebrews alive at that specific time, during the final stages of their Egyptian bondage.

(Note: The Hebrew word am is not the same as the English word, “am.” As in “I am going…” It is pronounced hahm or ahm … the “ah” sound with “m” at the end).

In a few Old Testament verses the Hebrew word more specifically applies to troops or armies … It’s apparent that the New Living Translation chose the word “armies” to more precisely delineate the actual fulfillment of the prophecy. (Then I refer to the Roman Legions destroying the Temple in 70 AD). In other words, “People” of the prince or ruler to come includes all of the prince’s country-men; but more exactly it was the armies (Roman Legions) of this people that fulfilled the prophecy.

But whose armies are they? Whose people are they? If you study the text carefully, there is a clear possessive correlation between the ruler and the armies or the people. The NLT simplifies the English to demonstrate this connection by stating that, “a ruler will arise whose armies.” Whose is possessive; meaning those armies or people specifically belonging to that particular ruler. Or, if you prefer the translation that says, “People of the prince,” the same possessive principle applies. The people directly affiliated, associated, or united with the prince destroyed the Temple. (Out of the Abyss, pages 254, 255).

This chapter from Out of the Abyss continues with the explanation that had Gabriel meant that the Temple would first be destroyed and then the ruler (of the people or armies that destroyed the Temple) would arrive (much later … which is now 2000 years and counting), then Gabriel would have made this clear by saying something to the effect that the armies of the ruler would have already (first) destroyed the city and Temple, then the ruler would come. But he didn’t say that; in fact he logically describes the chronological sequence the way it was sensibly intended. (First) a ruler would arise, (then) his armies would destroy the temple.

I then state that Gabriel emphatically emphasized the need for Daniel (all readers) to pay close attention: “Now listen and understand” he told Daniel. It would be the people of the prince (or more precisely, the armies that belonged to the ruler) who would destroy Jerusalem and the Temple. With the excessively strong implication that the ruler/prince didn’t live to see the conquest finished. Which, incidentally, but much more than coincidentally, is exactly what happened in 1st century history.

noifart18

(Roman Legions … One of the Most Formidable Fighting Force of All Time)

Nero ordered Vespasian and Titus to march on Israel. This campaign began in 66 A.D, but it wasn’t finished until August, 70 AD when Vespasian’s son, Titus, sacked Jerusalem and burned and dismantled the Temple stone by stone. In the interim, Nero died in 68 AD.

An amazingly exact historical occurrence to precisely fulfill Daniel’s prophecy!

Continuing in Out of the Abyss:

This is very true when reading history. Almost always, a historian (we speak in the same terms) will say that Alexander the Great conquered Persia, not Alexander and his armies. We fully understand what is meant; that Alexander the Great or Napoleon or whoever couldn’t have done it without their armies….

Yet, if a ruler dies, and his armies continue the battle or the war, we see, for example, that it was Genghis Khan’s armies or troops that did such and such after he died. “People of the prince who is to come” is a prepositional phrase that demands a possessive correlation. “People of the prince who is to come will destroy the city” neither prophetically or grammatically state nor even imply that the city would be destroyed before the prince arrived. In other words, this ruler and his armies are inseparably linked together in possessive relationship and in a real-time context.

Where have you ever read or seen or thought that a ruler of any era would be connected to armies or people hundreds or thousands of years earlier. All monarchs, both in Biblical and secular history, are linked directly with the armies of that particular time of the ruler’s life. Contextually and grammatically it makes no sense for Gabriel to tell Daniel that the ruler’s armies would destroy Jerusalem, but the ruler wouldn’t come until much later. If that were the case, then Gabriel would have told Daniel that the ruler’s ancestors (of long ago) would destroy the Temple, and then the ruler would arise. Conversely, the text clearly delineates and specifies that when the ruler comes, his people or armies would destroy the city.

And, as indicated, whenever the Hebrew word “am” is used throughout the Old Testament in conjunction with a ruler and a people, it is used to specify an immediate, real-time connection between the leader/nation and the people belonging to that leader … Why, then, should Gabriel and Daniel mean a far-off, time-warped differential between the Roman Legions and a prince that wouldn’t arrive on the scene for what is now a nearly two-thousand year gap? (Out of the Abyss, pages 255-256).

Here, I’ll condense what comes next in Out of the Abyss, by first quoting a part of our passage that immediately precedes, “…and a ruler will arise whose armies…”

“…the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing…” (Daniel 9:26, italics for emphasis).

This is another overwhelming corroboration that the ruler referenced by Daniel (Antichrist) arose shortly after Messiah Jesus was crucified (and arose from the dead). The text is emphatically evident: The ruler would arise during the time that the death of Messiah appeared to have accomplish nothing. Nero was born just 3-4 years after Christ ascended back to heaven. He would unlawfully assume the Roman throne in 54 A.D. at the age of seventeen. The Christian faith was still in its infancy; to many, the death of Jesus seemed to have been for naught.

Beginning in the latter part of the 1st century and continuing to this very day (interrupted in part by the Roman Catholic induced and dominated Dark Ages), the monumentally astounding accomplishments of Christianity are more obvious than any event or development in history. What Jesus Christ has accomplished through salvation of millions of people (true believers) and the remarkable impact of Biblical redemption personally and corporately on peoples, nations, hospitals, churches, charitable organizations, and much more is indisputable.

lakeside

(St. Luke’s Lakeside Hospital, Located in The Woodlands Division of Houston, Texas)

Thus, the ruler who Daniel said would arise (mentioned in the same verse as the death of Messiah, with the clear contextual connotation and plain understanding that it would be in the same time proximity that Messiah would be killed) had to have been revealed while Christianity was still inconsequential to many in the Roman Empire … “appearing to have accomplished nothing.”

Nero fits that 1st century time and space correlation far better than any ruler before or after him. One, because of the time-frame itself—born in 37 A.D., rose to power in 54 A.D, and died in 68 A.D. Two, because Nero instigated the first and most brutal agenda in all of history (sanctioned by his Roman Empire) to kill Christians.

His short-term evil plan: To blame the Christians for the great fire in Rome (which most historians are convinced Nero himself started or ordered it). The long-term diabolical agenda: To wipe out Christianity and put an end to worship of Jesus Christ over Nero. What better way to stop or preempt potential accomplishments of the Christian faith than to eliminate the followers of Christ.

Not only was Nero the man of lawlessness referenced by Paul (and will soon return as the Antichrist, the designation later used by the Apostle John), he was the most anti-Christ person who has ever lived. He threw huge parties in his palace gardens, with Christians hanging on poles slowly and excruciatingly burning to death (from ignited pitch or tar that covered them) to light the gardens at night. He ridiculed the Christians as they succumbed to such horrible deaths by saying, “Now you are truly the light of the world.” Which was also a malicious mockery and depraved defiance of Jesus Christ himself whom the Christians worshipped as the light of the world.

20120224-Nero torches Siemiradski_Fackeln

(Depicts Nero’s Golden Palace and Death of Christians for Entertainment)

Not until a few decades after Nero’s death did Christianity began to flourish and spread throughout the Roman Empire.

When Nero became Caesar in 54 A.D. the Apostle Paul had written only three of his epistles: Galatians and I & II Thessalonians (51-52 A.D.). It’s no coincidence that Paul only refers to the man of lawlessness (later called the Antichrist by the Apostle John and beast-king in Revelation) in II Thessalonians before Nero “lawlessly” ascended to the throne. As indicated in Chapter 21 of Out of the Abyss, I’m convinced that Paul knew that Nero was (would be) this man of lawlessness.

Later the book of Revelation would challenge 1st century believers and all believers thereafter to identify the Antichrist beast through Hebrew gematria, … the number six hundred sixty-six (Revelation 13:18). From the Greek name for Nero (New Testament was written in Greek) converted to the Hebrew method of counting by the Hebrew alphabet, Neron Kaiser (Greek for Nero Caesar) adds up to the sum of six hundred, sixty-six. (666).

Then perhaps the most astonishing passage of all concerning the infamous biography of Antichrist: John tells us the beast (Antichrist) that he just saw in another vision, “…was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he (the beast) will soon (abruptly) come up out of the bottomless pit (Abyss) … And all the people who belong to this world … will be amazed at the reappearance of the beast who had died” (Revelation 17:8, parenthesis mine).

By the time Revelation was written, Nero had already died in 68 A.D. As covered in great detail in Out of the Abyss, it was Jesus himself (at his command and providential direction) who saw to it that Nero was killed (while still a young man).

“Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming” (II Thessalonians 2:8).

Nero was “revealed” as the man of lawlessness who had been held in restraint by his predecessor Claudius (his step father), until Agrippina (Claudius wife and Nero’s mother), with Nero in complicity, murdered Claudius in 54 A.D. Paul knew that Nero was the man of lawlessness, but he didn’t refer to him as Antichrist. Years later, John the Apostle used that term in his first epistle. Even Revelation doesn’t use the appellation of Antichrist; rather it refers to him as a beast or one of the seven kings (Roman emperors). Paul knew that Jesus would strike down Nero but Paul did not know (wasn’t disclosed to him) that Nero would RETURN from the Abyss, as the beast-king of Revelation. That wasn’t revealed until later through John’s visions.

nero

(Bust of Nero)

To summarize Daniel’s prediction that the “rise” of the ruler would happen (soon) after Messiah was killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing (at the time) I quote again from Out of the Abyss:

To the populace of Israel, the Roman Empire, and world at large, the tragic death of Jesus of Nazareth seemed to have accomplished very little. To Jewish Zealots, Jesus’s death accomplished absolutely nothing … It took several centuries for Christians and the secular world to comprehend the increasing influence that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ had exerted on the world.

Thus, the rise of the Antichrist ruler predicted by Daniel HAD to have taken place during the first few years after Messiah (Jesus) was crucified. Just as the Messiah HAD to first appear (arrive) before the Temple was destroyed—by the armies of this same ruler … Nero.

Is all this amazing or what?!

A Few More Excerpts from Out of the Abyss:

Stating it bluntly: the Roman Legions of 70 AD could not be of, from, or belong to a ruler born some two thousand years later. This would stretch the chain that tries to bind the Roman Legions of 70 AD to a modern-day man to the breaking point. Remember again: this ruler or king originates directly from the fourth world power (Roman Empire) of Daniel Chapter 7. The ruler does not come from a future 7th empire, because there is no such empire in the book of Daniel…

The NLT translation is saying the same thing as, “People of the prince who is to come.” But the NLT precludes the tendency to forget or overlook the possessive prepositional phrase that is the linguistic and prophetic essence of this verse, in contrast to a ruler who will come long after his people destroy the city.

Daniel tells us that the ruler will come and the people of this ruler will destroy the city. He does not say that the Temple must be or is first destroyed before the prince arrives. But that’s the current hindsight application made by those who hold to a modern-day Antichrist and a Revived Roman Empire. Meaning that this “prince who is to come” must be born and rise to power after an enormous lapse of time (2000 years), with a 21st century result of an impractical and unrealistic time-capsule detachment from the armies that destroyed the city and Temple (Page 257).

Then picking up in the next chapter of Out of the Abyss:

Read again, if you will, the sequential syntax of Verse 26, which says, “…a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the Temple.” In which order do these things prophetically take place? Correct—the ruler arises, and then his armies destroy the Temple … To eliminate any misunderstanding as to when the ruler would arise, the angel would have told Daniel that when the ruler arrives, his armies would have already destroyed the city. But that’s not what Daniel says, nor did it happen that way in history.

Nor has any conquest, in ancient or modern warfare, been accomplished or even recognized by means of troops conquering a city or country, then the supreme leader (king or emperor) of that army born hundreds of years later or even a few years later. In fact, that makes no sense at all. The only way the armies can be connected to, belong to, controlled or ordered by their leader, is a direct result of the leader—by virtue of being alive—delivering commands to his subordinates; thus, for that ruler to be unequivocally associated with and attached to the people that do the conquering. Make sense?

So the angel Gabriel makes two clear distinctions in these verses. (1) Technically and actually the ruler’s armies would destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, not the ruler himself. Why: because the ruler wasn’t there to take or be given credit. (2) Even more importantly, the armies are of or belong to the ruler himself, by virtue of the possessive correlation clearly articulated in the passage. The passage does not state nor even imply a (far away) future ruler to the Roman Legions of the first century. Instead we see culpability by direct possessive association with and correlation between first century Rome and a first century Roman ruler.

The armies or people who destroyed the city and the Temple were Roman Legions that belonged to Nero, as ultimate Commander in Chief of all Roman legions. These legions are long gone, and couldn’t possibly be the people or armies of a modern-day born Antichrist. Again I will stress: the ruler and his armies of Daniel 9 are inextricably conjoined, coupled, and connectively linked by the possessive pronouns employed in the text, whether the translation is “of” or “whose.” (Out of the Abyss, page 264).

Summary

The main Biblical passages dealing with the Antichrist in order are: Daniel 7, 9, 11; Zechariah 11; Matthew 24 (false messiahs); II Thessalonians 2; Revelation 11, 13, 16, 17 & 19. With the geographical and biographical profile of the Antichrist most prominent in Daniel and Revelation 13 & 17.

To wit: He will originate from the fourth kingdom (Roman Empire), not a 7th kingdom (a so-called Revived Roman Empire). He will lead an alliance of ten Tribulation kings (nations), forcibly subduing three of these kingdoms. At the time of the revelations to John, the Antichrist had already lived and died on this earth. (Revelation 17:8). He would reappear from the Abyss; with the totally logical conclusion that he had to be first placed in the Abyss (which occurred after Christ struck him down in 68 AD).

He will make an unholy alliance with the vestiges of the Holy Roman Empire (Vatican), but will then turn on the “Woman” and pursue his malevolent ambitions with his ten-nation coalition (Revelation 17). Though hundreds of millions will give him their allegiance—including taking the mark of his name or number—there will not be a One World Religion or One World Government. Instead, many left behind after the Rapture will surrender their complete loyalty (to the point of worship) for one reason only: his apparent resurrection from the grave. They will be people from every nation, language, and race; which will be a counterfeit representation of the true Messiah (Jesus Christ) and his followers from people all over the earth—but without a kingdom as such until Messiah Jesus returns in power and great glory at the end of the seven-year Tribulation.

If you are seriously interested in knowing everything that God has given us through his Word about this man of sin (including his very identity), you need a working knowledge and understanding of these passages. And you also need at least a cursory grasp of 1st century Church and secular history, especially the Roman Emperors. All of these things in great detail are presented in Out of the Abyss … can the number of the beast be solved? Also in several Eye of Prophecy articles like this one, including most of the articles found in the category of Antichrist and/or The Rapture.

Yet, it is Daniel Chapter 9 (the focus of our attention last week and this week), that most thoroughly predicts and explains the first arrival of both Messiah and anti-Messiah at the exact time God intended. That and the fact that both would return (reappear) to complete the final epic struggle between God and Satan, between Christ and Antichrist, between good and evil.

Christ was the first to appear. Yet his Second Coming will be after the return of Antichrist Nero.

Thus, just as the Scriptures say: Messiah Jesus is The First and the Last! Alpha and Omega! The Beginning and the End!

992b3a3a270c8d84af53ce5a09ad3de9

Here is one more citation from Out of the Abyss:

Where did the Roman Legions camp and prepare for the march on Jerusalem in 70 AD? Answer: Megiddo. Who ordered this campaign against Israel? That’s right: it was Nero. Where will the final conflict of Revelation be decided? Right again … Armageddon. Who will be leading these armies against Israel, then against Messiah himself? Easy answer: Antichrist. A chilling connection don’t you think? Do you think this and all the other correlations between Christ and Antichrist (Nero) are a bit more than coincidental?

As already indicated, I’m sure that Nero’s premature death both stunned and infuriated Satan. For sure Satan had read Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians; that Jesus would kill the man of lawlessness, “with the breath of his mouth.” Yet Satan assumed that his man would first accomplish all the things that Daniel and other prophets had declared. And, of course, Satan would attempt to write his own script and execute his own version of the final act. The Revelation of Jesus Christ had not yet been given to John. Thus no one, including Satan, knew that the man of lawlessness slain by Christ must first be confined to the Abyss and be allowed to rise again as the beast of Revelation.

If you still find it difficult to let go of a Revived Roman Empire that produces a modern-day (born) Antichrist, at least consider this; whatever form or shape this coalition takes, what ultimately makes it Roman and revived is a Revived Roman Emperor (Pages 265- 266).

Things to Ponder

As touched on in last week’s article that focused on the Messianic (first advent of Jesus Christ) significance of Daniel 9, and in preparation for this week’s article, I indicated that the Antichrist portion of Daniel 9 is not a matter of “life or death” as we speak … before the Rapture.

However, I’m convinced that the Lord wants us and certainly all left behind at the Rapture to realize that there are eternal consequences to the choice that everyone alive now and those left behind will make. And if they don’t decide it will be decided for them one way or another—either by the justified judgments of God or by the unjustified deceit and ruthlessness of Antichrist.

Is Jesus the Messiah Savior? Or is the one who is anti-Christ (Nero) to be followed? It truly will be an eternal life or death decision.

Those who know now and those who will realize after the Rapture that the Bible had disclosed the identity of the Antichrist all along won’t be so amazed when they see an ancient Roman Emperor return to this earth. Hopefully they (you, if you have not yet believed and received Jesus as Lord and Savior) will see beyond any doubt that the very Word of God (Scripture) foretold this long ago.

Rest assured, the true and living God and His Messiah will prevail.

“The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven (seven years), but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him” (Daniel 9:27, italics for emphasis).

The italicized words in this verse provide more validation that the Antichrist’s (Nero) reign of terror began long ago (first century) and will finally come to a crashing conclusion when Jesus sets foot on the earth at the end of the Tribulation.

The terms, as a climax and finally, convey a long period of time. The 3 ½ years of the Great Tribulation in which God gives permission for Satan and Antichrist to wreak havoc on the earth is far too short of a time to be expressed by the term, finally.

Rather, Daniel is referring to the time when the ruler would first be revealed (1st Century) all the way to his reappearance at the end of this age; when all of the hideous deeds of this depraved despot begun in the 1st century will resume and intensify and reach a climax at the end of his forty-two month reign of terror.

Finally, after all this time (2000 years), he will be destroyed.

After all this time (2000 years), Messiah Jesus will return and finally put an end to the beast who, “was once alive but isn’t now … yet he will soon (suddenly) come up out of the bottomless pit and go to eternal destruction” (Revelation 17:8).

Paul tells us: “Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed (so he was in the first century), but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth AND (then) destroy him by the splendor of his coming” (II Thessalonians 2:8, parenthesis mine, upper case letters for emphasis).

Once you’re dead (killed) you are destroyed, right? Therefore, there would be no reason for this verse to continue by saying that this man of lawlessness will also be destroyed. That would be totally redundant and unnecessary.

Unless, that is, the Antichrist returns (from the Abyss) and then is finally destroyed (comes to his final end in the Lake of Fire, Revelation 19) by the return of the true Messiah … Jesus!

Do you see that?

The Final Treaty of Rome … Part I

14 Saturday May 2016

Posted by garybowers in The Antichrist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Common Market, European Union, Nero, The Abyss

The Final Treaty of Rome

“Like never before, the eyes of the world are on Israel. It is absolutely amazing that so much attention is directed to this tiny nation.”

This is a quote from the closing portion of last week’s Eye of Prophecy article entitled, An Islamic United Nations. Incessant focus on Israel and the Jewish people is a remarkable fulfillment of Scripture, which began with the miraculous rebirth of Israel in 1948. Such concentration on Israel, especially Jerusalem, will continue with chain-reaction intensity right up to the point when global attention will (temporarily) shift from Jerusalem to Rome.

Who or what will cause this world-wide transferal of interest from Jerusalem to Rome and why?

In answer to the question of who: It is the Antichrist, the Roman Emperor Nero. In answer to what: It is Nero’s (what will be perceived as miraculous) return from the grave, which is actually the Abyss (Revelation 17:8). International scrutiny will be shifted to Rome; that is where Nero will reestablish his reign of power and then terror, and will orchestrate the most highly improbable treaty of all time.

It will be the Final Treaty of Rome. Israel will be one party to the agreement and the Muslim nations on the other side of this stunning covenant. With the entire world approving to one degree or another, it could also be labeled the Treaty from Rome.

We read about it in the book of Daniel: “The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings…” (Daniel 9:27).

Why do I call it the Final Treaty of Rome? Because there was another Treaty of Rome which took place in 1957. Let’s take a look at the amazing results of that momentous event.

The Treaty of Rome

Have you heard of this treaty? Do you know what it’s about?

For some reason or another, I hadn’t paid much attention to the Treaty of Rome. Truth be known, I don’t even recall reading about it until recently. (Shame on me!) Why, I don’t know, as I’ve studied a good deal of history, both Biblical and secular, both ancient and modern down through the years—particularly in the past twenty years in preparation and during the writing of two books and what is now 147 Eye of Prophecy articles. I’ll give myself the benefit of the doubt, in that I took more notice of the subsequent developments instead of the treaty itself … as, I’m sure many others have done.

Treaty_of_Rome

(Photo of the Treaty of Rome Conference, 1957)

Technically, there were two treaties signed on March 25, 1957 in Rome. Yet, both were related and are most commonly referred to in the singular … The Treaty of Rome. The treaties gave rise to the European Economic Community with, as stated in its preamble, the signatory nations, “determined to lay the foundations of an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe.”

Is that a pretty strong hint? Dare to venture a guess what the EEC led to? No, it wasn’t the United Nations, which came into existence in 1945.

Let’s continue.

Countries that sponsored this “treaty” and their representatives who signed the agreement were: France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Austria, West Germany, and Italy. It’s evident that the reason it was called a treaty related to the general goal of reducing, even eliminating, disputes between the nations of Europe; and to facilitate free circulation of goods, freedom of movement from one nation to another, and freedom from monopolies.

The EEC subsequently became known as The Common Market.

There you are! If you didn’t already, now you know the significance of the Treaty of Rome.

At least in my generation, nearly everyone has heard of The Common Market … originally consisted of ten European countries that many students of the Bible (at the time and for years later) pointed to as the ten nations or kingdoms of Daniel Chapter 7 and Revelation Chapter 17. Only to be embarrassed when the ten nations eventually expanded to the current 28 countries belonging to the European Union. Yes, the EU is also a direct outcome of the Treaty of Rome!

Although the initial design of the Common Market was to facilitate agricultural and trade agreements and cooperation between its European partners, the main objective was to ultimately establish a political union … which has been done. Which is, however, the reason that England refused to join the EEC (Common Market) until 1973. With the British objection based primarily on their apprehension that such a Union would force member states to relinquish national sovereignty to a centralized government with European (intra national) control. Which is also the main reason that England is now considering withdrawal from the European Union, a movement known as Brexit (Britain’s exit).

The most recent poll in advance of the pending vote shows the British are split 50/50 for or against what will be a monumental milestone in Europe’s history. Some experts are predicting serious global economic repercussions if England does, in fact, exit the European Union.

After England joined the Common Market in 1973, Denmark and Ireland followed suit; thus, the Common Market became a ten-nation union that has since morphed into 28 countries.

EU_Stages_of_Development

The latest country seeking membership in the EU is none other than Turkey; whose leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, just recently uttered this audacious statement that reveals his true intentions:

“What is the conquest? The conquest is Hijrah (expansion of Islam through emigration, following the example of Muhammad, the founder of Islam and his followers from Mecca to Medina). The conquest is Al-Andalu (Muslim Spain) … The conquest is Salah al-Din al-Ayubbi (Saladin). It is to hoist the flag of Islam in Jerusalem again … The conquest is to have the courage, tenacity and sagacity to defy the entire world even at the hardest times.” (Taken from a Gatestone Institute Article by Uzay Bulut, posted on May 11, 2016).

*Note: In case you missed it, Muslim leaders no longer veil their “hidden agenda” which can pretty much be reduced to two main objectives: Destruction of Israel and world domination. The primary reason they can make such belligerent boasts with virtual impunity is because any adverse reaction to practically anything said by Muslims is considered to be Islamophobia. Which, of course, causes all liberals and even a few conservatives to cower in fear that their religious-like support of diversity and political correctness might be compromised.

I stray from today’s topic, but only a little. As Nero will, in pretense, “…worship the god of fortresses—a god his ancestors never knew…” (Daniel 11:38). This god of fortresses will most certainly be Islam’s god, Allah.

The first elections to the European Parliament were held in 1979. Since then, a common currency, The Euro, has been adopted; however, England still uses the pound as its currency.

The fact that the formation of the Common Market which became the European Union took place in Rome is of no small importance when it comes to Biblical prophecy, especially relating to the significance of Rome, Roman Emperors, the Holy Roman Empire (Roman Catholic Church), and the Antichrist himself.

1000px-member_states_of_the_european_union_polar_stereographic_projection_en-svg

(Current Members of The European Union)

*Note: For potential identification of the Antichrist’s ten-nation coalition, the Gog-Magog alliance, the league of Eastern kings, and an Arab confederacy, I would encourage you to read Eye of Prophecy article, One Ring to Rule Them All. Posted 11-21-15.

As much as I loathe writing about or even mentioning his name, it’s essential to examine and expose the enemy. Thus, it’s time to do a little refresher on the Antichrist—his identity and, especially for this article, his biggest claim to fame.

Why the Antichrist Beast of Revelation is the Roman Emperor Nero

Substantial evidence has been presented in several Eye of Prophecy articles (Category of Antichrist), but mostly in my book, Out of the Abyss … can the number of the beast be solved? 666, to demonstrate that Nero is the Antichrist. The term Antichrist is only mentioned by the Apostle John in his epistle, I John. Other titles given to this man: little horn, ruler, king, man of lawlessness, and beast (of Revelation). In this article, we’ll only do a brief review to establish that the historical Nero fits with all of the names and passages of the Bible referencing the Antichrist. For example:

Daniel Chapter 9 (The Ruler): In the verse preceding the earlier quoted passage (Daniel 9:27), we read, “…a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple…” (Verse 26, italics for emphasis). No other ruler in history qualifies other than Nero, as he is the Caesar who personally ordered his Generals Vespasian and Titus and their legions to crush Israel’s rebellion against the Roman Empire beginning in 66 A.D. Nero died two years later, thus it was his “armies” as precisely predicted by Scripture (beginning with Vespasian and completed by his son, Titus) that conquered Jerusalem (“the city”) and destroyed the Temple in 70 A.D.

II Thessalonians Chapter 2 (Man of Lawlessness): Likewise, much documentation is provided to show that Nero was the man of lawlessness referred to by the Apostle Paul. Not the least of which was the unlawful usurping of the Roman Emperor Claudius’s throne by being complicit with his mother Agrippina in murdering her husband Claudius. What held back the man of lawlessness (II Thessalonians 2:6) was NOT the Holy Spirit—who allegedly will be removed from the earth at the Rapture as speculated by many scholars—because the Holy Spirit is always referred to by the personal pronouns he or him in Scripture, not the impersonal pronoun, what or it, as used in II Thessalonians. What held back Nero was Claudius himself (and to some degree the Roman Senate and rule of law), until Agrippina and Nero took the law in their own hands; thereby, accelerating Nero’s ascension to the throne of Caesar. (See Chapter 21, Man of Lawlessness in Out of the Abyss). Nero ascended to the throne just 2-3 years after Paul wrote II Thessalonians. That is far beyond mere coincidence.

Revelation Chapter 17 (Scarlet Beast & King): Documented is the fact that the seven heads of the beast in this biographical chapter on Antichrist were seven Roman Emperors beginning with the first Caesar, Augustus (not Julius). That Nero was one of the five who had “fallen” (died); thereby, matching the amazing unveiling of the mystery of the scarlet beast (and woman sitting on the beast) by the angel to John with the stunning words, “The beast you saw was once alive but isn’t now … yet he will soon come up out of the bottomless pit … And the people who belong to this world … will be amazed at the reappearance of the beast who had died” (Verse 8).

The astonishing implication of this often overlooked passage is that the Antichrist will NOT be a modern-day born man. In regard to all the other evidence presented in my book and in several Eye of Prophecy articles, believe it’s worth quoting an excerpt from Out of the Abyss, page 271) written near the end of the book to emphasize the startling disclosure of the “mystery … of the beast” (Revelation 17:7-11).

There is no question; the meaning of the verse is as irrefutable as anything can be. The beast had already died before John received this revelation. How else can this passage be understood? Is there any other way to see or read this verse? If some can’t let go of a contemporary Antichrist, then what will they do with this verse … and all the other passages that help refit the prophetic puzzle?

John didn’t see the vision in the future; he saw it in the present—that hour of that day. The beast is past tense … no longer alive when John saw the vision. The beast isn’t born and doesn’t die in the future; he’s already dead. When will the beast become future tense? Correct: When he reappears from the Abyss. At the beginning of the Tribulation, the world will be amazed at the reappearance of the beast that had died. Will the beast die during the Tribulation? No, he died even before John saw him from Patmos.

Nero’s Greatest Claim to Fame (Other than his infamous brutal torture and murder of Christians, colleagues, step-brother, wives, and even his mother).

NERN_Y~1

(Statues of Nero and His Mother, Agrippina)

Let’s take a brief look at one of Nero’s (very few) positive accomplishments during his fourteen year reign as the fifth Emperor in Rome’s history. Again, believe the best way to do this is by referring to Out of the Abyss (pages 178-180). As follows in italics:

He was not considered to be a great orator, though he fancied himself as an actor, a composer, and a musician. In Nero’s early years, Seneca did much of Nero’s talking to the public and Senate. In short, he was not a prototype of the Antichrist portrayed in many eschatological books, sermons, and television programs. But is the contemporary image of Antichrist accurate?

Contrary to modern imagery of the Antichrist, Scripture does not tell us that the man of lawlessness will necessarily be a great orator, a consummate politician, a charismatic leader, or exhibit other appealing characteristics commonly assigned to a world leader. Nor does the Bible tell us that the tribulation world will follow him because he exercises these persuasive traits and people buy into him for that reason.

What Scripture elucidates above all else, as the reason why people the world over will immediately give him complete allegiance to the point of worship, is that he reappears from the dead. The contemporary notion that yields a portrait of the Antichrist as a cunning political orator is a deduction derived almost exclusively from an achievement at the outset of the tribulation—the successful negotiation of a seven-year treaty with Israel. Many suggest that only a dynamic, magnetic leader could capture the loyalty of so many people during the tribulation. Yet history shows that megalomaniac rulers have come in all shapes, sizes, types, and levels of persuasive influence, not the least of which were the Roman Emperors.

Throughout history, there have been all kinds of treaties, orchestrated by all types of people, ratified through many different situations and settings.

I then use the example that it wasn’t Adolph Hitler’s oratory skills; rather it was the fear of Hitler and the growing German military monster that prompted Neville Chamberlain to negotiate a treaty with Hitler. It was the infamous “peace in our time” that almost immediately led to a global conflict … World War II.

Continuing with Out of the Abyss:

…For most of his reign he achieved that popularity, especially with the common Roman citizen, but not because Nero was a brilliant speaker or a charismatic leader.

Of all things, it was a treaty that Nero engineered between Rome and Parthia that helped endear him to the Roman Senate, the Roman Legions, and the Roman citizens … Suffice to say that this peace deal was a substantial victory for Nero, both politically and socially. His popularity increased dramatically … Moreover, this accomplishment was not a result of any extraordinary talents or gifts that Nero possessed.

In fact, when examining history, the single most influential factor in negotiating a treaty relates to the state-of-affairs conditions and circumstances that gave rise to an agreement between peoples or nations.

At this point in Out of the Abyss, I jump forward to Nero’s reappearance.

After the Rapture, Nero won’t have much of a problem in negotiating a treaty with Israel. Remember, there will be no Christians left immediately after the Rapture. But there will be chaos, confusion, and disorder … Nero will capitalize on this pandemonium by orchestrating a treaty, one that will allow the Jewish Temple to be built alongside the Muslim Dome of the Rock, or even in place of the Dome of the Rock. I use the word orchestrating, because one of Nero’s talents was that of arranging and synchronizing things, such as a group of people with dissident views or like a musical play, of which he wrote and performed several—in Greek.

And who in the world is going to argue with a man who returns to the earth after a two thousand year absence? With regard to the sack of Jerusalem in 70 AD, all Nero need say is that the Roman Generals went way too far. He will probably remind tribulation Jews that he died in 68 AD, two years before the Roman Legions destroyed the Temple. That he had not intended for the Jews to be exiled from Judea or for the Temple to be destroyed. After a fashion, he might even apologize to the Jews. His way of making up for the ancient Roman mistreatment of the Jews will be to offer than a new Temple.

He will remind the Jews and the Arabs that his hostility as a Roman Emperor was rightfully and justifiably directed against the Christians—those narrow minded, bigoted, self-righteous hypocrites who disappearance has done mankind a favor by cleansing the earth of religious intolerance.

If you like, you could come up with any number of lies that a resurrected Nero will fabricate and foist on Israel and the nations. But the bottom line is that untold millions will follow him for the same reason that many have followed Jesus Christ. RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD.

Then on page 182, this Biblically based clarification of the actual reason why many in the Tribulation period will listen to and follow Nero, I write:

The Antichrist is not afforded blind worship because he is a superman in terms of being an accomplished statesman, orator, or leader. The False Prophet does that for him. The superhuman qualities accorded him will literally lie in his mystical return from death.

From Where Does Nero Return To the Earth?

In other sections of Out of the Abyss and in some Eye of Prophecy articles, additional explanation is provided that Nero doesn’t actually rise from the grave in exact duplication of the miraculous resurrection of Messiah Jesus. Rather, he has been confined, then at the outset of the Tribulation will be released from the Abyss … a completely different place than hell (the grave). Supported by the sensible logic that in order for the beast to “reappear from the Abyss” (Revelation 17:8), he first must be placed there.

bottomless-pit-2-1

Let’s look at a few more paragraphs from Out of the Abyss that best explain why the entire world at the beginning of the Great Tribulation, “…marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast. They worshipped the dragon (Satan) for giving the beast such power, and they also worshipped the beast. ‘Who is as great as the beast?’ they exclaimed. ‘Who is able to fight against him?’” (Revelation 13:3-4).

This unashamed, unabashed, unequivocal loyalty to and worship of Nero is due entirely to his sudden reappearance from the dead (mortal wounds inflicted 2000 years ago).

First, however, a reminder that the Abyss or Bottomless Pit in Scripture is a special place of confinement for exceptionally wicked angels, as opposed to most fallen angels (demons) who still, along with Satan, have God-granted permission to roam the heavens and the earth.

Genesis Chapter 6 tells us about these fallen angels, as does II Peter 2. Also, here is what Jude says about them: “And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment” (Jude 6).

This gruesome group of depraved demons attempted to accomplish Satan’s plan to dilute and pervert the human race, which is one of the main reasons for the Great Flood … God’s first global judgment of the earth.

Which is also why the demons that Jesus cast out of the man in the region of Gerasenes, “…kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.” (Luke 8:31). Jesus granted that request by granting another request of the demons, to let them enter into a herd of nearby pigs!

From this passage and others we learn two things: (1) Many demons are allowed to roam the earth and parts of the heavenly places, but some have been imprisoned in the Abyss. (2) Fallen angels dread the thought of banishment to the Abyss. That’s why the demons of Gerasenes wanted no part of the Abyss; going to the extreme of begging Jesus not to send them to this inescapable prison of darkness which completely takes away the (temporary) freedom they have been allowed by God to serve Satan.

nephilim

(Artist Rendition of the Nephilim … See Genesis Chapter 6)

Getting back to the fact that the reappearance of Antichrist Nero to the earth will be directly from the Abyss (Revelation 17:8), here are some additional excerpts from Out of the Abyss (pages 232, 233):

In all of Scripture, there is only one reference to a human being coming from, therefore, having been placed into the Abyss. That man is the man of lawlessness, who is the Antichrist, who is the beast of Revelation. Such an honor!

Soon after Nero died, his body was literally removed from the grave and transported directly to the Abyss. I believe there is a twofold reason that God expelled this man of lawlessness to the Abyss:

  • To make it clear to believers that Nero would not replicate the actual resurrection of Jesus Christ. I firmly believe that God would not extend this resurrection power to Satan, anymore that he would allow Satan to be God or be like God. There are some things that God will simply not grant. For one thing God would not permit anyone, let alone Satan, to share his glory, in which God’s very essence and attributes are expressed…
  • On the flip side, to allow Satan to mimic the resurrection without actually performing this miracle. To be sure, Nero will flaunt this counterfeit “resurrection” by seizing the opportunity to demonstrate that he has arisen from the dead. The unsaved world won’t know the difference between a return from the grave and reappearance from the Abyss. Only the tribulation saints will know the difference, just as we know the difference now. The world will be amazed that a man who had been dead for some two thousand years could return with the same body and the same scars caused by the fatal wound. In fact, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if Nero said something to the effect, “Now tell me who the true God is. I died two thousand years ago and I’ve come back … That presumptuous Nazarene was dead for only three days, so he says. Even if he was dead for three days, who is the greater of the two? Whose miracle is the greatest? Where is this imposter now?”

Summary

Several “Roadmaps of Peace” in the Middle East have failed over the years, including the Oslo Accord of 1993 mediated by United States President Bill Clinton between Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin. Since then the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in the Gaza Strip have rejected generous land for peace offers from two Israeli Prime Ministers, Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert. The PA consistently refuses to come to the table with current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unless pre-negotiated demands are met, i.e. right of return of so-called Arab refugees, Israel’s withdrawal to pre-1967 territorial lines, and most audacious of all—east Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian State.

These three issues are, by far, the most difficult to resolve; however the Palestinians won’t agree to negotiate unless these demands are met. In other words, they won’t even agree to disagree, which must first be a condition before negotiations are remotely possible.

Powerful nations of the EU, especially France, and now the United States are growing tired of these (their own) failures. Moreover, they are, with a great deal of inaccuracy and inequity, putting much more of the blame on Israel than the Palestinians and other Muslim nations whose real agenda is elimination of the State of Israel altogether. Which is why the Palestinians have rejected more than generous offers from the Israelis, and why they have no incentive to resume negotiations for either peace or a Palestinian State. Why should the Arabs cooperate when the prominent nations of the world are now willing to unilaterally declare the existence of a Palestinian State, undoubtedly with the borders to be those of pre-1967 Armistice Lines … boundaries that would jeopardize Israel’s national security in the north, east, and south regions of Israel. Worse than that: to arbitrarily divide Jerusalem and declare this 3000 year-old capital of Israel as an “East Jerusalem” Palestinian capital.

Jerusalem-capital-of-Israel2

According to Scripture, it will not be the leaders of any of these nations, i.e. US, France, Britain, Germany, Russia, Italy, or the Arab Confederation that will bring peace to the Middle East. For one thing there is too much disagreement between these governments as to just what this Roadmap of Peace will encompass. Or, if and how the borders of a Palestinian state will be enforced or its capital recognized if either Israel or the Palestinians themselves reject such a “treaty.” The likelihood of any such pre-Rapture agreement actually taking place is remote. Even if some sort of treaty (defined by Webster as an agreement or arrangement made by negotiation) is reached, it will be virtually impossible to implement and/or administrate.

But the time is coming soon when one (depraved) man will successfully set aside all differences, remove all obstacles, and unify all dissenters. He will do this because Europeans, North Americans, South Americans, Australians, Muslims, and Jews alike will agree that he alone is qualified. He alone possesses the god-like capability to orchestrate, implement, and enforce such a treaty. Will this megalomaniac succeed because of statesmanship skills, or oratorical persuasion, or charismatic attributes?

No, it’s because of one astounding accomplishment: Nero’s return from the grave!

This miracle—in the eyes of those who “belong to the world” left behind after the Rapture—will be the catalyst instilling a mixture of adoration and fear, that will lead to the Final Treaty of Rome.

An ancient Roman Emperor will achieve what contemporary national leaders and global governments for decades have attempted but failed: A “Treaty of Peace” between Jews and Muslims, with many nations of the world lending their full support.

And so the world will believe the Lie (Nero himself is the Lie), just as Scripture tells us. The lying spirit of Antichrist claims that Jesus is not the Christ, and that God is not the Father. Nero will boast that he alone is God or Messiah, for no one could possibly return from the dead in the manner in which he did.

“This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth” (II Thessalonians 2:9-12).

Stay tuned for next week’s Part II article on the Final Treaty of Rome.

Things to Ponder

For a brief time, Satan will get his diabolical wish … to be worshipped as the Most High God. Likewise, Nero will achieve his warped goal … to be revered as divine, to reestablish his glory—this time on a global scale. To convince millions upon millions that he alone bears the credentials to be the world’s savior. Right out of the gates he will demonstrate his negotiation skills through a position of strength conferred to him by virtue of his miraculous return from the dead.

Thus, he will begin the Great Tribulation with a treaty to end all treaties: The Final Treaty of Rome.

Few will resist his right to receive and exercise authority that will not only rescue the world from disaster, but lead it to Utopia … the great Pax Romana peace that Nero failed to achieve the first time. But this time he will boast of success. Why can he make that boast? Why will so many believe him?

“…but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast. They worshipped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they also worshipped the beast. ‘Who is as great as the beast?’ they exclaimed. ‘Who is able to fight against him?” (Revelation 13:3-4).

Not to worry: There is One who can and will fight against the beast. One who is far greater than Satan or his man of sin. One who can and will bring real, everlasting peace to the earth. For he is the Prince of Peace.

Listen to the powerful prophetic promise of what will take place at the end of the Great Tribulation:

“During the reign of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever” (Daniel 2:44).

And who will reign over this kingdom? None other than the Son of God, Messiah Jesus.

“…The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

992b3a3a270c8d84af53ce5a09ad3de9

“One Ring To Rule Them All….”

21 Saturday Nov 2015

Posted by garybowers in The Antichrist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Global alliances, Little Horn, Nero

“One Ring to Rule Them All….”

Do you recognize the quote from which this Eye of Prophecy article draws its title? Have you read the book or watched the movie?

Does it ring a bell?

It comes from the second bestselling novel ever written, with some 150 million copies sold. But don’t be all that self-conscious if you haven’t read the book (or watched the movies). Because if you are embarrassed, think how much more so I am for never (to date) having read one of the greatest American novels of all time, Gone with the Wind. However, I have seen the movie … several times! Also, I am relieved to say that I’ve read the bestselling novel of all time, A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens (200 million copies sold).

And, of course, the bestselling non-fiction book of all time (by far); The Bible.

Okay, if you haven’t got it yet, I’ll give you a clue, with the last few lines of the poem from which the title comes. These lines were inscribed on this potent ring:

One Ring to rule them all,

One Ring to find them,

One Ring to bring them all

And in the darkness bind them.

In the land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

Yes, I see some hands waving wildly … now you’ve got it.

The novel: The Lord of the Rings, written by J.R.R. Tolkien. Actually it’s a Trilogy, as one book would be far too long. They are: The Fellowship of the Ring; The Two Towers; The Return of the King. Followed decades later by three award-winning movies of the same titles, directed by Peter Jackson.

The evil ruler Sauron forged the all-powerful ring in the fires of Mordor; he would stop at nothing to regain the lost ring and use it to return to absolute power over Middle-Earth. Among other influences, the ring could merge the real world with the shadowy underworld of wicked spiritual forces. Only the ring (bearer) could unite the forces of evil rulers and kingdoms into a cohesive colossal confederation that, left unchecked, would conquer the world.

Fortunately, there are those like the hobbits, elves, good wizards, and honorable men and women who love justice, righteousness, and peace. Those who are willing to give up comfort, tranquility, security. Those who would give their very lives to halt the relentless rampage of terror, power, and world conquest.

th

It’s the stuff legends are made of; as are other classic works of fiction that seek to depict the past, present, and future real-life conflict between good and evil, heroes and villains. That successfully mirror and depict the factual rise and fall of kings and kingdoms. Although Tolkien’s fictional masterpiece effectively represents and reflects the timeless struggle of good and evil, there is an all-too real Mordor-like Kingdom with a king wearing a signet ring that will soon appear on our 21st century global stage. With him will be ten kingdoms and their kings who will yield themselves and their nations to his miraculous Christ-like sudden appearance from a 2000-year old grave. The ten kings will figuratively and very possibly literally kiss his ring of power, the ring worn by Roman Emperors who ruled them all.

I have written much about this legendary reappearance return of Antichrist who is none other than the soon-to-be Revived Roman Emperor, Nero. Extensive Scriptural and historical documentation is provided in my non-fiction book, Out of the Abyss … can the number of the beast be solved, 666? But also in several Eye of Prophecy articles such as, Reappearance of the Beast, posted 9-21-13; The Legendary Return of Nero (4-4-15); A Beast by any Other Name is Still a Beast, I, II, III (March, 2015).

Today’s article will focus on the ten kingdoms (and whoever the ten kings of those kingdoms might be when the Rapture takes place), with the soon to follow return of Nero from the Abyss. (Revelation 17:8). Those who have read Out of the Abyss or even a few Eye of Prophecy articles are aware that I rarely engage in much, if any, speculation. Instead, the theme/subjects of these writings are based on historical and Biblical evidence (facts). If there is any conjecture (what if), it is derived from historical and contemporary events that logically, reasonably, and feasibly fit into the Biblical prophecies that give us extraordinarily strong clues, but not necessarily specific details.

In that context, I will issue a disclaimer that the identity of the ten nations (kingdoms) presented in this article most certainly is supposition, as no one knows with absolute certainly who they will be. If, however, we subscribe to the premise that I and many other students of Biblical prophecy endorse—that the return of Messiah Jesus is as imminent as it has ever been because we are living in the last of the last days—then this speculation is as Scripturally sound as can be.

In other words: If Christ were to return today or even in the next few months or years, select identification of these ten nations would be as viable as any time in history. I believe you’ll see that the choice of these kingdoms is based on Scripture, reasonable deduction, and a cogent correlation of what is taking place in today’s world.

So here we go!

Introduction of the Ten Kingdoms and Kings

Some 2,500 years ago, the Lord gave to Daniel the first and perhaps most amazing prophetic disclosure of these ten kingdoms and their kings, in the context of what is also the initial introduction to the Antichrist in Scripture. The ten kings are referred to as horns and immediately follow Daniel’s (now famous) vision of the four beasts which are the world empires: Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. Read with me the description of the last beast:

“Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast—terrifying, dreadful, and very strong … It was different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns. As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. There of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn … was boasting arrogantly” (Daniel 7:7-8).

When compared to another startling revelation given to John as one of many spectacular visions he saw some six hundred years later as recorded in the book of Revelation, Bible scholars (including me) understand that the little horn is Antichrist and the ten horns of Daniel 7 and Revelation 17 are one and the same—kings and their kingdoms aligned with Antichrist (Nero) during the Great Tribulation.

At Daniel’s request, someone standing near the throne of God (which was also part of this astounding vision) explained the meaning of Daniel’s visions. Continuing in Chapter 7, we read:

“…This fourth beast is the fourth world power (Rome) that will rule the earth … Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them. He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people (Jews) of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time (3 ½ years)” (Daniel 7:23-25).

In Out of the Abyss, you’ll find compelling evidence to explain and confirm that the “sudden” appearance of the little horn (Antichrist) and his “difference” from the other ten kings fits precisely with Nero and his abrupt reappearance from the Abyss. And the reason he is so different is because he doesn’t arrive (reappear) on earth by natural birth, as would be expected of a modern-day born Antichrist.

lithorn

There will not be a Revived Roman Empire during the Tribulation, meaning one that is a reproduced replica of the once mighty realm of the Caesars. Instead there will be a Revived Roman Emperor, whose dominion will be Roman in appearance (because of the fact that he is a once great Roman Caesar), and will be a confederation of six powerful European nations plus one non-European kingdom, plus three other dominant nations that will, through force and threat, become part of this ten-kingdom unification.

In Daniel Chapter 7 we learn that the Antichrist will subjugate three of the ten countries, with the obvious implication that seven of the ten kingdoms will willingly submit to his authority. The end result will be all ten kings yielding themselves and their kingdoms to the beast-king Antichrist, who initially captures their loyalty because of his astonishing return from the dead (actually the Abyss).

As indicated, I have covered this in great detail in Out of the Abyss and past Eye of Prophecy posts, i.e. clear evidence that all-embracing allegiance to the beast by people from every nation and language will be a direct result of his god-like reappearance from the grave (Revelation 13:3-4). This is more of a religious following, but NOT a one world religion. The political and military power wielded by Nero will be centered in the ten kingdoms, but this will NOT be a one-world government as many postulate. Please see Eye of Prophecy articles, One World Government and One World Religion, published 2-28-15 and 8-15-15, respectively.

Second Scriptural Disclosure of the Ten Kings/Kingdoms

Actually there are two more revelations of the Antichrist beast (who is a man) and his ten-nation coalition, as found in Revelation Chapters 13 & 17. They follow closely with each other and are both part of similar apocalyptic visions seen by John. The beast rising from the sea in Chapter 13 has seven heads and ten horns with each horn bearing a crown. These ten horns are the same horns called kings in a subsequent vision of the beast (Antichrist), which also has seven heads, as recorded in Revelation Chapter 17. As fully documented in past articles and Out of the Abyss, the seven heads (also called kings) were historical Roman Caesars, with the ten horns (kings) exclusively future … during the Great Tribulation.

Said the angel to John:

“The ten horns of the beast are ten kings who have not yet risen to power. They will be appointed to their kingdoms for one brief moment (meaning during the relatively short time of the Tribulation) to reign with the beast. They will all agree to give him their power and authority. Together they will go to war against the Lamb (Messiah Jesus), but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him” (Revelation 17:12-14).

Thus, when we compare and complement the ten kings/kingdoms of Daniel 7 with Revelation 13 and 17, we see that Antichrist’s empire will not be a one-world government; rather, it will politically and militarily consists of ten nations. Albeit, modern-day dominant countries … but still just ten. Yet, the leaders and people of these ten nations will be endorsed by a cross-section of people all over the earth who have already begun to worship Nero for one and only one reason: his perceived supernatural return from the dead.

Although those who take the mark of the beast will be many in number, they won’t be able to overthrow by force the governments of the countries in which they reside. Let’s determine why and why not by examining some of the world’s nations, including the pre-Rapture and post-Rapture alliances of which they consist … which is what we see developing prophetically in today’s world and will accelerate abruptly after the disappearance of hundreds of millions of (all) believers at the Rapture.

Three End-Time Major Alliances of Nations

Let’s see if we can logically and deductively identify the ten kingdoms that will comprise Antichrist Nero’s political and military machine. By process of Scriptural elimination, let’s first ascertain which of today’s nations will NOT be among these ten nations, to better and more accurately accomplish this objective.

Scripture is sufficiently clear to demonstrate that there will be three main coalitions of nations during the Great Tribulation, one of which will directly oppose the little horn and his ten kingdoms. All three will march on Israel (Middle East) at one time or another during the Tribulation. Because it will take Nero most of the first 3 ½ years of the Tribulation to fully consolidate his base of power and sphere of influence, the third of these coalitions will ignore him and make their own assault on Israel, soon after the seven-year Tribulation begins.

*Note: All of the nations mentioned in these three alliances are the more conspicuous nations in today’s world. Prominent in terms of not just population, but also economic and military significance. Other smaller, less influential countries throughout the world will either choose sides or remain neutral; thus, their economic, military, and political participation and contribution will be nominal.

Gog/Magog Alliance

Much has been written about this end-times campaign against Israel, including last week’s and several other Eye of Prophecy articles. For purpose of this week’s subject, we simply want to reference the main countries participating in this attack, as directly or indirectly identified in Ezekiel 38 & 39. All of these nations will be devastated by the Lord, himself, as they march against God’s special possession, Israel. The Antichrist and his ten-nation federation will, I’m convinced, be among those who simply watch and wait to see what happens when Russia and its allies invade Israel. (See Ezekiel 38:13).

The Main Nations: Russia, Iran, Turkey, Ethiopia, and Libya. To also include what is described in Ezekiel as other counties (secondary) that most likely will include the Ukraine, some of the “stan” nations such as Kazakhstan. Also Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. These nations, I believe, will once again be part of the Russian sphere. Possibly, to include Pakistan and Afghanistan.

ezekiel38sml

As indicated in last week’s article (and others), the Gog/Magog invasion is NOT the same as the final tribulation battles known as Armageddon.

Alliance of Eastern Kings (Nations)

In addition to the Gog/Magog nations doing their own thing, and to Biblically demonstrate that there will be no such thing as a one-world government (headed by Antichrist or anyone else) during the Tribulation, there are two passages in Scripture that clearly indicate Antichrist Nero and his ten-nation confederacy will face a formidable alliance of substantial power.

First from the book of Daniel speaking of the king of the north (Antichrist): “He will enter the glorious land of Israel, and many nations will fall…. He will conquer many countries, and even Egypt will not escape … But then news from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in great anger to destroy and obliterate many. He will stop between the glorious holy mountain and the sea (which is the valley of Megiddo) and will pitch his royal tents. But while he is there, his time will suddenly run out, and no one will help him” (Daniel 11:41-45).

Remember, the Antichrist king of the north (Nero) will be in control of the military might of the ten nations and their kings (Prime Ministers or Presidents) during this time and place described by Daniel. When we combine this passage from Daniel Chapter 11 with Revelation Chapter 16, we establish the connection between the, “news from the east and north” that will alarm Antichrist and cause him to redirect his armies toward this threat. Let’s examine the passage from Revelation:

“Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it dried up so that the kings from the east could march their armies toward the west without hindrance” (Revelation 16:12). This is the next to last tribulation judgment that will pave the way for a head-on clash between the Antichrist-led alliance and the massive armies of the kings of the east.

The Main Nations of the East: Geographically, it’s relatively easy to identify the “kings of the east” as, China, Japan, North & South Korea, Indonesia, and quite likely India. Less weighty counties in this alliance very well could be Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and even the Philippines.

Revelation 16:12-16 strongly suggests that the actual confrontation between Nero’s confederation and the eastern alliance of nations won’t last long, and will abruptly end when these two conglomerates and rulers of other nations collectively unite their forces against Christ, himself. At this point late in the Tribulation, there will be a brief semblance of a global military union that will dare to fight against Jesus Christ and the armies of heaven.

“And the demonic spirits gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name, Armageddon” (Verse 16).

But for those who are convinced that there will be a One-World Government during the entire Tribulation period, how can you have such a government unless virtually all nations, especially the most powerful countries are part and parcel of that unified governmental and military system? The answer is: you can’t. Scripture is more than sufficiently clear to show that the major nations on earth will belong to one of these three alliances; with other smaller, less significant countries supporting in some fashion one of these alliances, or attempting to remain neutral.

Third Alliance … The Ten Kingdoms Controlled by the Beast-King (Antichrist)

Before we can determine with at least some measure of assurance which ten nations will willingly (seven nations) and reluctantly (three countries) surrender their governments and military to Antichrist, we must once again establish the biographical and geographical origin of the Antichrist, himself.

As already indicated in this article, and as previously documented in my book, Out of the Abyss as well as other Eye of Prophecy articles listed earlier, there is abundant evidence in Scripture combined with events of the 1st Century to convincingly confirm that the fifth Roman Emperor, Nero, was the little horn, ruler, and king prophesied by Daniel. And the man of lawlessness alluded to by the Apostle Paul; and the beast-king of Revelation revealed to John.

In John’s second vision of the beast, the angel explained the mystery of the woman and the beast. Let’s look again at this astounding disclosure. Said the angel to John: “The beast you saw was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he will soon (abruptly, suddenly) come up out of the bottomless pit … And the people who belong to this world (those left behind after the Rapture) … will be amazed at the reappearance of the beast who had died” (Revelation 17:8, italics for emphasis).

The amazing revelations given to John, including the history and future of the Antichrist in Chapters 13 and 17, took place just a few years after Nero’s reign ended in 68 AD. The verse we just read clearly indicates that the beast had been alive and had already died BEFORE John saw the beast. Furthermore, this beast (Antichrist) would come up out of the Abyss—which would, in the clearest language possible, be a (future tense) reappearance of the beast who had died.

From where did Nero and all the Roman Emperors rule and reign? Easy answer: Rome, Italy. To what does Italy and twenty-seven other countries belong in today’s world? Another easy answer: The European Union. When the Common Market increased to ten European countries years ago, many prophecy scholars equated it with the ten nations who give their authority to Antichrist.

nero1

But then the Common Market morphed into the European Union which now has a total of twenty-eight signatory nations. That doesn’t mean, however, that all of these nations will necessarily align themselves with Nero upon his astonishing return (from the dead, as the world will see it); or that Nero would automatically choose more than ten kings and kingdoms (nations) that Daniel 7 and Revelation 17 clearly state will be the core of his (European) coalition. More (countries) is not necessarily better. There can be as much or more unity and cohesiveness concentrated in ten powerful nations than in twenty, or thirty, or however many. There would be less language barriers, less cultural differences, less number of people and governments to argue with or galvanize into a strong centralized cohesive force.

Although Nero could very well establish his sphere of influence from the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, his initial reappearance will be in/at Rome. Where else would it be? His amazing return from the underworld as a Revived Roman Emperor would lead him immediately to Rome, from where he and the mighty Roman Emperors ruled for centuries. But this will not be a revival of the ancient Roman Empire. The only thing resembling such an empire will be a Roman Emperor. Italy is an integral part of Europe and the European Union, which consists of territory much larger than even the ancient Roman Empire.

Whether by immediate surrender of their government and military to Nero or by Nero “persuading” certain nations to align with him, he will seek out only the strongest of these countries … in terms of population numbers, economic stability, and military might. In fact, the current EU does not actually have a centralized military as such.

It’s readily apparent that only a handful of current European nations possess the population, wealth, and military capacity to transcend the majority of nations within the European Union. In fact, I’m convinced that only six of these nations (that collectively dwarf the remaining twenty-two countries of the EU) will eagerly agree to give Nero, all, “their power and authority” (Revelation 17:13). The seventh kingdom that will voluntarily surrender its allegiance to Nero may surprise you, if for no other reason than it’s not part of Europe. We’ll get to that shortly!

Another reason that the six nations in particular and the EU in general will follow the Beast is because nearly 50% of Europeans who claim religious affiliation are Roman Catholics. As many Bible scholars believe (including me), the woman on the beast in Revelation 17 is the Roman Catholic Church headquartered in none other than Rome. Please see the Eye of Prophecy six-part series entitled, The Woman and the Beast, posted in October, November, 2013.

The Six Nations of Europe Aligned with Antichrist

First, in order of population rounded off to millions:

Germany: 81 million (1st)

France: 66 million (2nd)

United Kingdom: 65 million (3rd)

Italy: 61 million (4th)

Spain: 46 million (5th)

Belgium: 11 million (9th)

Total of 330 million (close to the current population of the United States). Representing 65% of the total EU population of about 508 million.

European Union Rank in Military Might:

United Kingdom: 1st

France: 2nd

Germany: 3rd

Italy: 4th

Spain: 11th

Belgium: 14th

*Note: Belgium is selected over Poland (38 million population and a higher military rank) for several reasons, but the most notable is that the EU headquarters is in Brussels.

Thus the six EU nations who very likely will be part of Antichrist Nero’s confederacy are: United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Belgium. With the remaining EU countries not a member of Nero’s “inner circle” but those who undoubtedly will serve as mercenaries in his armies and contribute financially as much as they can or will be commanded.

The Seventh Kingdom to Willingly Yield

Based on two extremely significant factors, I believe that the seventh kingdom voluntarily aligned with Nero and the other six (European) and three unwilling members will be:

An Arab Coalition Known as the Persian Gulf States: Headed by Saudi Arabia and comprised of Oman, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, and Kuwait (Seven in all!). Though they will provide some military assistance, the more obviously substantial contribution from this Arab kingdom that will unify as one entity is that of … you guessed it: Money. The combined oil wealth of these nations is staggering—just what Nero needs to fund his ten-nation Leviathan that will do battle with the kings of the east, with Israel, and inevitably Messiah, himself.

gulf-states.jpg

The two factors or reasons for including this Arab coalition as one kingdom are found in Scripture and in the contemporary phenomena of what’s happening all over Europe, but especially in the six nations selected.

  • Scripture: Referring to the Antichrist, the prophet Daniel tells us: “Instead of these, he will worship the god of fortresses—a god his ancestors never knew…. Claiming this foreign god’s help, he will attack the strongest fortresses. He will honor those who submit to him, appointing them to positions of authority and dividing the land among them as their reward” (Daniel 11:38-39).

I’ve written about this at some length in my book, Out of the Abyss. Time/space in this article does not permit; suffice to say that this god referenced in Daniel is, I firmly believe, the god of Islam, Allah. Nero will feign allegiance to Islam and the Muslim agenda to generate as much support as possible from Islamic sources … in this case primarily from the wealth of the Muslim Gulf States.

  • The Astonishing Increase of Muslims in Europe: Hardly a day goes by without media focus on the refugees pouring into Europe; but also the years of Muslim immigration to Europe, especially to the six EU nations identified as soon-to-be members of the Antichrist’s massive merger.

So, we now have seven of the ten kingdoms in place, which leaves the three countries who will be forced to join the monstrous alliance of the beast. However, once they become part of Nero’s fold, it’s logically evident that they will be a formidable addition to the ten-kingdom league, and will do so with increased enthusiasm.

Are you ready?!

The Three Remaining Nations Will Be: Australia, Canada, and The United States.

“Really … the United States?” you question. Yes, Canada and Australia, too.

Why?

First and foremost, each of these countries are fiercely democratic and independent. They will not readily join forces with what they undoubtedly will perceive as totalitarian, nor a tyrant no matter how enthusiastically he will be welcomed by a world in chaos and confusion. However, the United States, and to a lesser degree Canada and Australia, will experience a substantial loss of population when millions are taken in the glorious Rapture.

Which is the primary reason that the United States will not be able to economically or militarily do anything about the Russian-led (Gog/Magog) invasion of Israel soon after the Rapture. Nor will America, Canada, or Australia pose any obstacle to the enormous bloc of eastern nations. And certainly not to Nero’s agenda of establishing a powerful dictatorial ten-kingdom federation to include these three countries that, though considerably weakened, will still exert an impressive influence on this global scene of temporary anarchy. The natural resources and technology of these three countries would be enticement enough for Nero.

As independently self-sufficient as these three nations are and still will be (to a lesser extent), they also will not want to lose their standard of living and Western way of life … all of which will have been shaken to the very core by global upheaval caused by the sudden disappearance of hundreds of millions the world over.

Consequently, America, Canada, and Australia will inevitably yield their political, economic, and military allegiance to Nero and the other seven nations. They will succumb to what will probably be extensive economic sanctions and daunting military threats against them. Their capitulation to Nero’s invitational-style demand (please join us … or else) to enter his coalition will be reluctant at first; but then they will participate enthusiastically when they see the astounding accomplishments of Nero’s early program to pacify Europe during the first year or so of the Tribulation.

*Note: It’s also quite possible that select countries from Central America (Mexico) and South America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru) will merge with the United States and form a national coalition of “The Americas.” If so, it will still be just one of the ten nations (kingdoms) aligned with Nero.

As mighty as the six European nations aided by the Arab Gulf States will be, when you include these three weakened, but still formidable and viable nations, Nero will field an economic and military giant that even the mighty Eastern kingdoms will not take on. Not, that is, until the very last days of the seven-year Tribulation. Furthermore, the Russian confederacy of Gog/Magog will pose no threat to the Antichrist, as this alliance will be destroyed by the Lord, himself, soon after the Rapture.

*Note: There will actually be a 4th coalition, headed by the King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43); however, this alliance will be easily and quickly overwhelmed by Nero and his ten nation kingdoms. The text strongly suggest that this southern threat will be led by Egypt, with what’s left of Ethiopia and Libya (after the Gog/Magog defeat) and most likely other African nations, such as the Sudan, Nigeria, and Algeria … perhaps South Africa.

Things to Ponder

Once again, I must issue a disclaimer (acknowledgment) that the selection of these ten kingdoms is part speculation, but also part logical application of Scripture to contemporary global developments.

However, I firmly believe, for example, that identification of Nero as the Antichrist and other Biblical prophetic applications found in some Eye of Prophecy articles (such as the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11) are much more than mere theory. In fact, Revelation’s author John, and accordingly all believers, are challenged to ascertain the mysterious identity of the beast and of the woman. (Revelation 13 & 17).

Thus, the vast majority of prophetic studies—correlations, connections, clarifications, counsel, and conclusions found in the book Out of the Abyss and Eye of Prophecy articles—are based on sound application of Biblical passages and historical and contemporary events. Read them for yourself, and decide.

There are also many (most) passages of which the meaning is crystal clear and the prophetic fulfillment will most certainly come to pass.

Such as: “But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed. Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey him” (Daniel 7:26-27).

From the context of that passage and other passages relating to it, we know beyond any doubt that the Lord will conquer Antichrist and his ten-kingdom coalition, as well as all rulers and nations who would vainly oppose the everlasting Kingdom of the Most High God.

A Beast by Any Other Name … Part I

14 Saturday Mar 2015

Posted by garybowers in The Antichrist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Antichrist, Beast, Daniel and Revelation, Nero

A Beast by Any Other Name … Is Still a Beast

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” So why not use the first part of this famous line from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet as the actual title of this article? Answer: Because the beast is none other than the infamous Antichrist; and it’s too much of a spiritual and moral compromise to metaphorically equate this evil man to a rose … for that matter even to a weed!

If you were asked to designate the Antichrist by another Biblical alias or term, would you be able to pick one, or two, or four? Although the label Antichrist is known all over the world, including hundreds of millions of unbelievers, I would dare say that even many believers would be hard-pressed to come up with three or more of these Biblical names, other than the most familiar one … Antichrist.

Another question: Does it really make a difference what name we use to identify this notorious man? It all depends on how much we truly want to know what Scripture wants us to know. If we merely want to refer to him as the one who will be an (the) anti-Christ and a counterfeit Messiah during the Great Tribulation, then Antichrist will do just fine. But if we really wish to understand more than just the future of this terrible tyrant, if we are curious whether he has a past which also requires a present (tense) existence at one point in history; then we must carefully examine each of the Biblical names given to him. If, indeed, we actually desire to exercise the wisdom called for and needed (Revelation 13:18) in order to ascertain the accurate identity of this nefarious man, then we need to comprehend that different titles were given to him for that very purpose?

Those who have read my book, Out of the Abyss … can the number of the Beast be solved, 666; as well as several prior Eye of Prophecy articles on this subject, already know that the Antichrist has been identified as the Roman Emperor, Nero. Furthermore, this astonishing conclusion is not based whatsoever on the Preterist view; because the Preterists erroneously contend that the book of Revelation, including the Tribulation period (which is most of the book), took place in the first century. That argument has been soundly refuted by astute Bible scholars for a number of reasons, not the least of which is because the Tribulation has not yet taken place. There’s simply no way to symbolically equate (what will be) the literal seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments of Revelation with first century events.

nero

What the Preterists completely missed, and what I (at one time) and many other students of prophecy have misunderstood is that the beast of Revelation had already lived and died BEFORE John was given the amazing revelation of the beast (Antichrist). Moreover, John was told that the beast would reappear from the Abyss! This extraordinary emergence would stun the world as most of those left behind after the Rapture would (logically) see Nero’s return from the grave as a supernatural event.

“I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast” (Revelation 13:3).

In support of this incredible conclusion (as to his identity) I carefully examined EVERY Scripture passage that deals with this infamous man. Indeed, the main purpose for sharing this disclosure and discernment in Out of the Abyss and in some Eye of Prophecy articles is so that (before and particularly after the Rapture) many will not be amazed … as they will realize that this man’s identity had been decoded and declassified long ago. That his sensational return from the grave (actually the Abyss) had been planned by the Lord who will allow Nero’s release from the Abyss, which will delude billions into believing the lie that they want to believe in the first place.

“So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth” (II Thessalonians 2:11-12).

The purpose of this article and the next two articles is to expand this evidence, by explaining the contextual reasons for Scripture’s allusions to Antichrist with more than just one title. To realize that the Antichrist is not just a future tyrant—a perceived modern-day man born in the generation that will experience the Tribulation. Instead, to fully grasp that the diverse Biblical references to this despicable despot clearly demonstrate sequentially that he had a future, then a present, then a past, and then (will be given) another (brief) future (appearance) on this earth.

These trilogy of articles will be a crash course that we might call: Names of Antichrist 101. Once again, because the vast majority of both unbelievers and believers know this wicked ruler as Antichrist, that will be the primary appellation employed throughout these articles. Ironically, however, the designation of Antichrist is the least used term for this man found in the Bible, and is not found at all in the two most end-times (tribulation) prophetic books of Scripture: Daniel and Revelation.

First Title: Little Horn

The very first reference to Antichrist can be found in the book of Daniel: “Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast—terrifying, dreadful, and very strong … It was different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns. As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly” (Daniel 7:7-8).

If you recall the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the terrifying statue (Daniel Chapter 2), then Daniels’s vision of the four beasts, followed chronologically by the (now) historical emergence of the four (and only four) world empires depicted in these visions, then you know that the first three kingdoms are Babylon, Persia, and Greece. With the fourth most dreadful and mighty empire of all … the ancient Roman Empire.

Later in this same chapter, Daniel tells us more about this little horn. “…This horn had seemed greater than the others (meaning the other ten horns of the fourth beast), and it had human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly. As I watched, this horn was waging war against God’s holy people and was defeating them, until the Ancient One—the Most High—came and judged in favor of his holy people. Then the time arrived for the holy people to take over the kingdom” (Daniel 7:20-22).

This passage coupled with Revelation Chapter 13 shows distinctly that these things are taking place at the outset and then throughout the Great Tribulation. Daniel’s choice of a descriptive tag for this man, small horn with human eyes and a mouth that boasted arrogantly (then later just horn), conveys the following: (1) the term horn signifies authority and power, but when given human eyes and a boastful mouth, it specifically tells us that the predominate characteristics of this man is that of conceited boasting against God and God’s people, i.e. Jews and Christians Jews and Gentiles during the tribulation.

(2) This is the same expressive language used by John in Revelation 13, which was his first vision of this man. “And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his temple—that is, those who live in heaven (meaning Christians who have been raptured just before the tribulation begins). And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them…” (Revelation 13:6-7).

What I have often said before bears repeating: Nowhere in Daniel 7 or Revelation 13 (or in any other Biblical passages about this man) do we read that he is a political, military, administrative, or economic genius that possesses charismatic statesmanship or oratorical skills that enable him to persuade people the world over. Instead, he is an arrogant, boastful tyrant who blasphemes God from the very beginning. Although both religious (from non-Christian religions) and irreligious unbelievers often attack (verbally and physically) Christians, seldom do they rant, rave, and rail against Almighty God, mostly out of fear and/or some measure of respect. But here we have a man who has “miraculously” reappeared from the grave that billions of people will believe to be God.

Thus, they will have no problem endorsing his blasphemous boasts against the true and living God. In fact, most will join their self-appointed god and curse the real God despite knowing full well that he is the righteous and just God who is judging the earth. “…and they cursed the name of God, who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give him glory” (Revelation 16:9).

This first introduction to Antichrist shows us his true character from the very beginning of his reappearance … that he blows his own horn with an unholy, ungodly blast against the true and living God.

cuarta-bestia

Once again we read, “…suddenly another small horn appeared among them…” (Daniel 7:8)

Daniel employs the modifier “sudden” because that’s exactly how Antichrist will initially appear to the world … from the Abyss (Revelation 17) which is in/under the Sea from where the beast arises (Revelation 13). As opposed to the other ten kings and their kingdoms (nations) who are already well-known and established, this little horn springs up abruptly. A modern-day phrase would be, “He came out of nowhere.”

There’s a reason for EVERY WORD found in Scripture; and the adverb suddenly is no exception. In fact it’s crucial in this particular text toward full realization that the horn (later called beast in Revelation) suddenly appears, unlike a leader already entrenched in an influential political, administrative, and/or military position. The contemporary portrayal of Antichrist as a modern-day man who, after the Rapture, will rise in prominence by asserting and expanding already established credentials—whether from within the United Nations, European Union, or some other high-profile national or international position—does not track at all with a swift unexpected arrival to a world already dazed by the removal of hundreds of millions from the earth. And certainly not with the little horn’s reappearance as the beast of Revelation who had already lived, died, but would return again after the Rapture.

Second Title: King (Passage #1- Daniel 7)

At Daniel’s request, “one of those standing beside the throne” explained to Daniel the meaning of his vision including, “…This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth … Its ten horns are ten kings … Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them. He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High… (Daniel 7:23-25).

To confirm that the small horn who seemed greater than the other horns would be a powerful figure to whom the other ten kings would yield their allegiance and kingdoms, Daniel is told that this man would, in fact, be a king … a second title assigned to the Antichrist. But this king would be different from the other ten. If you do a complete study of Antichrist (as is done in Out of the Abyss) it’s clear what makes this eleventh king in Daniel 7 totally unlike the other ten. Two things stand out: One is his origin; the other is found in the very meaning of different.

(1) He is a king directly from the fourth world empire of Rome. Please remember: Because some 2000 years have elapsed, we (for that obvious reason) classify this fourth kingdom in Daniel as the ancient Roman Empire. But when Daniel recorded this vision, it was equally obvious that this fourth (along with the 2nd & 3rd kingdoms of Persia and Greece) kingdom was a future empire which (historically) would emerge some five hundred years later.

Essentially, these ten tribulation kings are extensions of the fourth beast (the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue); not a separate beast or kingdom … meaning not a so-called Revived Roman Empire; because there are four and only four world empires seen by Daniel. What makes the tribulation alliance between the Antichrist and the ten kings a weakened extension of the fourth world empire is the Antichrist himself. More specifically it is who and what the Antichrist is, and when and where the Antichrist originates that connects the tribulation coalition with the fourth world empire. It is the fact that the king (Antichrist) is a Revived Roman Emperor!

(2) Most remarkably, what makes the Antichrist (king) different from the other ten kings is best, I think, clarified by the following excerpt from Out of the Abyss:

Especially as utilized in the context (of Daniel 7), the word itself is too strong to suggest an intrinsic variation, such as being a more polished, captivating, charismatic, or powerful leader … Different denotes difference, in all that the word means and implies.

I think this is important enough to refer to Webster’s Dictionary. Different is, “partly or totally unlike in nature, form, or quality … dissimilar (could hardly be more). Not the same as … distinct, unusual, special, diverse, divergent, and disparate. Unlike in kind or character … implies marked contrast.”

That my friend is “different,” and it yields a comprehensive, composite explanation of the fundamental contrast between Antichrist and the ten kings … What specifically is that difference? I’m glad you asked!

The one thing that makes Antichrist different from the other ten kings is that he is a living miracle, and they are not.

He has arisen from the underworld, and they have not. The ten kings have a birth certificate, but the Antichrist does not. Nor will anyone, including crime scene forensic investigators be able to prove that he had died a short time before he arose, as there will be no autopsy or death certificate; nor any fingerprint records or dental records, nor any evidence of a crime scene, nor a coroner’s report, nor a coffin or a grave.

We must remember the shocking fact announced by the angelic messenger: Antichrist died before John received the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Therefore, his initial sudden appearance to a Post-Rapture world will be from the dead, which makes him dramatically different from the ten kings. There’s no way the beast can or will be born during the generation that experiences the Day of the Lord. (Out of the Abyss, pages 185-186).

Second Title: King (passage #2- Daniel 11)

For sake of time/space in this article, will simply say that Antichrist is again referred to as a king in this passage, specifically, the King of the North; but also with unmistakable reference to many of the Great Tribulation exploits of this king, some of which are similar to the initial prototype of Antichrist—which is the 2nd century BC Greek-Syrian ruler, Antiochus IV.

Second Title: King (passage #3- Revelation 17)

Revelation 13 is the first disclosure of the Beast, but without any reference to the (Antichrist) beast being a king, because the primary emphasis is that of the beast recovering from a deadly wound (rising from the grave) and the subsequent challenge for all readers of Revelation to (with wisdom and understanding) solve the meaning of the number of the beast. Which is tantamount to identifying exactly who the Beast is, when combined with more biographical and historical evidence presented in Chapter 17. Said the angel to John after John had witnessed this amazing beast upon which sat a woman (later identified as “the great city that rules over the kings of the world”): “Why are you so amazed? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns on which she sits. The beast you saw was once alive but isn’t now…” (Revelation 17:8, italics for emphasis).

whore_riding_beast2

The angel continues: “This calls for a mind with understanding: The seven heads of the beast represent the seven hills where the woman rules. (Rome) They also represent seven kings. Five kings have already fallen, the sixth now reigns, and the seventh is yet to come, but his reign will be brief. The scarlet beast that was, but is no longer, is the eighth king. He is like the other seven … The ten horns of the beast are ten kings who have not yet risen to power. They will be appointed to their kingdoms for one brief moment to reign with the beast. They will all agree to give him their power and authority” (Revelation 17:9-13).

Ek which also means one of, out of, or from is the Greek word used to tell us that this eighth king is (also) one of the seven; which, by default, means that he is one of the five who had already died because twice the angel told John that the beast once was, but is no longer (alive).

Did you catch that? Can it be any clearer that the first half of Revelation 17, through verse 11, provides a PAST TENSE biography of this beast-king? That is simply amazing and refits the prophetic puzzle with the correct piece that identifies the Antichrist.

Thus, the emphasis shifts from symbolic imagery of a beast seen by John on a Sunday on the Island of Patmos in the first century; to the angel’s explanation of this stunning vision of a beast with seven heads being seven kings; which, by the present-day (in the 1st century) context of this vision, were five former (now dead) Roman Caesars, one currently reigning, and one to come whose reign would be brief. In Out of the Abyss, I explain how all that works. And with ten horns, who the angel said were ten kings not yet appointed to their kingdoms, which discernibly refers to ten leaders and their nations during the Tribulation.

The ten kings that yield their kingdoms (nations) to the eighth king (Antichrist) will be specifically identified only after the Rapture; however, I’m convinced that these nations are in existence today. And it may surprise you that I’m equally convinced the United States of America is one of those nations, specifically one of the three that will be “subdued” by the (antichrist) king depicted by Daniel. But that’s another article for another day!

Once again, please refer to Out of the Abyss for several reasons why the seven kings of Revelation 17 are, in fact, kings and not kingdoms (as most modern scholars have classified them), not the least of which is the very Greek words used for kings and kingdoms. But also how and why the sequence of seven kings can and does fit three different historical options. The reason there are three options or possibilities depends upon when the book of Revelation was written and by whom. Yet, all three alternatives allow for the seven kings mentioned in this chapter to have reigned sequentially as clearly explained by the angel to John … five have fallen, one reigns, and the seventh’s reign will be brief.

When the book of Revelation was written and copies distributed throughout the Roman Empire, it’s inconceivable that the 1st century Christians wouldn’t have known the sequence and identity of the seven Roman Caesars (kings) mentioned by the angel to John. But when we look back 2000 years and now see that there were (historical hindsight) three pseudo-Emperors during the approximately 18 month civil war upheaval in which none of these three (Galba, Otho, and Vitellius) were really bona fide emperors, we have three options to choose from with regard to the historical chronological sequence of the seven kings. See Chapter 17 of Out of the Abyss, because space does not permit in this article; but any one of the three scenarios can thread seamlessly through the angel’s clarification of the seven kings.

Summary

In slight contrast to the more generic term ruler which we will cover next week in Daniel Chapter 9, the title-specific designation of king for the Antichrist indicates that he would be a sovereign monarch (in Roman times, an Emperor) who would also rule over other kings. In the ancient world that would have been kings of conquered nations that became part of the Roman Empire. In fact, Nero was so fond of one of these subjugated kingdoms (Greece) that he wrote and performed several dramatic plays in the Greek language. During the tribulation, it will be exactly ten kings and their nations.

Ancient world: Emperors or Kings. Modern world: Presidents or Prime Ministers. All prophetically identified as kings.

Incredibly, history unfolded Daniel’s future horn and king into a man portrayed as a beast-king by John, who subsequently lived and died … a prophesied past tense biography of the Antichrist (Nero, who died a few years before Revelation was written and whose name spelled out in Hebrew equals six hundred and sixty-six). But it doesn’t stop there. Revelation 17 also tells us that this same real-life king (Roman Caesar) symbolized first as a beast in John’s vision, would rule over the ten kings which are exclusively (in Daniel and Revelation) future tribulation kings!

Thus, the Antichrist king of Daniel 7, Daniel 11, and Revelation 17 is not and cannot be a modern man born in the generation of the Great Tribulation. Why? Because part of the angel’s unveiling of the mysterious beast in Revelation 17 is that the beast had already lived and died. Which, of course, means that he had already established a (dubious) legacy as one of the five kings who had fallen, but would amazingly return as the eighth king who was the composite scarlet beast itself.

The title for Antichrist of king is used in connection to the ten king/kingdom confederation that will serve him during the tribulation; but it also makes a phenomenal connection of this same tribulation king to an actual king that had lived and died (shortly) before John was given the spectacular visions as recorded in the book of Revelation. Which, in turn, further unseals the mysterious visions of Daniel that match those seen by John. This “miraculous” (as explained in Out of the Abyss, Nero’s revival and emergence from the Abyss is orchestrated and allowed by God) return from the grave is the one thing that will captivate the world’s attention and deceive them into believing that a Revived Roman Emperor is a god … even the true God.

NERN_Y~1

First Century Sculpture of Nero and his mother, Agrippina

Things to Ponder

Not until John the Apostle wrote his first epistle, is the alias Antichrist used in Scripture; which is the last or next-to-last title given to this despot. Yet, Daniel, Paul, and the author of Revelation all paint a vivid portrait of this man; employing various names that, if studied carefully and placed in the context of the future tense prophecies AND past tense fulfillment, help us to understand that this man was already Antichrist before he would return to wreak havoc on the earth as the beast-king during the Great Tribulation.

In next week’s article we will see that Daniel then refers to him as a ruler (a non-specific generic designation) who would arise in a specific chronological sequence after Messiah came to earth and was crucified. That this ruler’s armies destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple which happened in 70 AD. That this ruler is indisputably directly connected to the armies (Roman legions) that destroyed the Temple.

If we think of and refer only to the title of Antichrist (as the end-times tyrant of the Tribulation period), we think only in terms of a modern-day man and his rise to power; which is logical in terms of a more natural and normal rise to power of a contemporary figure. But inaccurate when we carefully examine the (now historical) PAST TENSE existence of this man, as profoundly, but plainly presented in these passages from Daniel and Revelation.

And the PRESENT TENSE description of Antichrist through the Apostle Paul’s reference to the man of lawlessness, just a few short years before Nero assumed the throne as Rome’s fifth emperor. This will also be discussed in next week’s article. Stay tuned!

The third and final article in this series will examine the 5th and 6th aliases assigned to this man … Antichrist and the Beast.

In summary, the six designations:

Little Horn

King

Ruler (or Prince)

Man of Lawlessness

Antichrist

Beast (and Scarlet Beast)

The Seal of Approval

15 Saturday Nov 2014

Posted by garybowers in The Antichrist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Nero, prophet Daniel, Revelation, The Antichrist, the apostle John

The Seal of Approval … Identity of Antichrist

It’s time to once again declassify and decode the identity of Antichrist. To once again lift the veil of secrecy and mystery that modern-day students of prophecy have imposed on this infamous figure; called a ruler and king by the prophet Daniel, the man of lawlessness by the apostle Paul, Antichrist by the apostle John, and a beast by John, the author of Revelation.

Although volumes have been written about this notorious tyrant, the prevailing premise is that the identity of the man who would dare be anti-Christ cannot be known until after the Rapture, at the outset of the seven-year Great Tribulation. As I have quoted in past Eye of Prophecy articles, some scholars have dismissed and even ridiculed the notion that the Antichrist’s identity was meant to be known before the Rapture with the statement: “If anyone thinks they know the identity of Antichrist, then they have missed the Rapture!”

But we can know … we should know! Why can I make such a bold assertion? It’s really quite simple: Because Scripture not only encourages such a discovery, it actually challenges us to figure out who the prophets and apostles are referring to. That he was not just a future tense despot to the prophet Daniel, but a present tense ruler during the Apostle Paul’s lifetime and a past tense Monarch shortly before the book of Revelation was penned.

This week’s article will revisit in summary fashion my book, Out of the Abyss … can the number of the beast be solved, 666? As well as past Eye of Prophecy articles entitled: Modern Day Antichrist; Antichrist … Is He Alive Today; Reappearance of the Beast; The Number of the Beast; The Beast and His Name … published consecutively between 9-7-13 and 10-5-13. If you’re really interested, if you truly want to dig into the Biblical and secular references to this man of sin, then I would encourage you to get a copy of the book and read the Eye of Prophecy articles. Out of the Abyss is available on-line through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Let’s begin with a remarkable well-known verse sometimes quoted in my past writings on the beast of Revelation, but one that bears repeating: “Wisdom is needed here. Let the one with understanding solve the meaning of the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666” (Revelation 13:18). In ancient Greek manuscripts the number 666 is actually written out … six hundred, sixty-six.

What does this verse say and mean to you? Are there any restrictions identified or conditions imposed on the reader, whether a Christian reading it in the first century or in this current generation, that directly state or remotely imply that the calculation (through wisdom and understanding) of the meaning of the number applies only to those alive after the Rapture? The verse unambiguously challenges the reader of that time to, “solve the meaning of the number of the beast.” And when that is unscrambled, the identity of the beast will be revealed; because, “It’s the number of a man.”

As further evidence and incentive that the identity of Antichrist was meant to be known (solved) by first century believers and all believers thereafter, an extraordinary command was given by one of the angels at the very end of the phenomenal series of visions witnessed by John, as recorded in the very last chapter of Revelation. Says John, “Then he instructed me, ‘Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near’” (Revelation 22:10).

Hold that thought, as we will return to this captivating but puzzling command. First we need to examine identical instructions found in the Old Testament, but in reverse of the one give to John in Revelation.

The Angel to Daniel: “Seal up the book…..”

Just one other place in the Bible do we find similar language of sealing prophecies … those given to Daniel. Only the directive is in reverse of what the angel told John. “But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end….” (Daniel 12:4).

Since end-times prophecy made its resurgence primarily in the 1960’s, Bible scholars have frequently and accurately explained that the instruction to Daniel (seal up the book) was necessary because fulfillment of the vast majority of Daniel’s visions wouldn’t take place until the, time of the end. Several, but not all, students of prophecy correctly place the beginning of the time of the end as the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Messiah Jesus, i.e. the New Covenant that birthed the Church. Which will culminate in the Rapture, then the beginning of the Day of the Lord—Tribulation, Second Coming of Christ at the end of the Tribulation, followed by the Millennium.

The first part of Daniel’s visions (the four beasts from the sea … a similar vision to the statue dream given to Nebuchadnezzar), actually began to unfold during his lifetime—referring to the Medes/Persian (2nd beast) conquest of Babylon (1st beast). Yet, it would be hundreds of years before the third and fourth beasts emerged as world powers … Alexander’s Greece and the Roman Empire. After Alexander’s empire was split into four parts, then before and during the rise of Rome, some (partially or fully) of Daniel’s prophecies came to pass … those found in chapters 2, 7, 8, 9, and 11. But the most important, the most prominent, and the most spectacular prophecy came to pass when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and was hailed as the Messiah. (Daniel 9:24-25). Daniel’s prophecy of this event came to pass on the very day predicted by the Word of God.

Then shortly after Messiah’s crucifixion and resurrection, the ruler of Daniel 7 & 9, the one whose armies would destroy Jerusalem and the Temple (Daniel 9:26-27), arrived on the scene of history. As carefully detailed in Out of the Abyss, this ruler was the Man of Lawlessness depicted by Paul, and would be the beast of Revelation who would reappear from the Abyss during the Great Tribulation.

For more dramatic effect in my book Out of the Abyss, and as progressively developed in the Eye of Prophecy articles on Antichrist, I intentionally delayed naming the Antichrist to build both a historical case and contemporary suspense as to his identity. But now, as a reinforcement to those who have read the book or articles and to any reader of this article who has not, I will plainly state his identity.

The Ruler of Daniel, the Man of Lawlessness, and the Beast of Revelation most often referred to as the Antichrist is the Roman Emperor, NERO.

Intrigued? Puzzled? Surprised? Amazed? Dumbfounded? So was I when I first realized that the Antichrist had already lived and died before John saw the spectacular visions of Revelation. That, however, the beast-king would reappear from the Abyss at the outset of the Tribulation.

Why Seal Daniel’s Visions

The reason that Daniel was told to “seal” his book was because nearly all of the prophecies weren’t germane to his generation, nor to many generations after Daniel. Obviously, the sealing of Daniel’s book wasn’t meant to be a literal fastening commonly used in those days, especially by kings and officials who wanted their documents to be tightly guarded for both privacy and safety until they were to be opened (unsealed) and read. For one thing, much of Daniel’s book was a journalistic record of past and present events that occurred during Daniel’s decade’s long sojourn in Babylon.

Rather, the sealing of Daniel’s visions was a metaphorically practical way of saying that it would do Daniel and those keenly interested in his prophecies no good to try to figure them out until the majority of the prophecies had been fulfilled. And did you know: Nearly all of Daniel’s prophecies were fulfilled by the end of the first century. In fact, the only ones not yet fulfilled were those pertaining to the ruler (little horn) and the ten horns/kings of the tribulation period, which are presented in remarkably similar fashion in Revelation 17. Once the majority of the prophecies came to pass, then the remaining (Tribulation) predictions would be much easier to grasp, particularly when expanded upon later by Paul and by John of Revelation.

Thus, after the Roman destruction of the Temple in 70 AD and certainly following the book of Revelation, Daniel’s prophecies were effectively unsealed.

Yes, the sealing of Daniel’s book has been an oft-quoted and elucidated passage by modern Bible scholars. But not so the similar, yet opposite instructions to John in Revelation. The command to, “not seal up the prophetic words in this book…” has seldom been mentioned or explained by Bible teachers (including me at one time). Yet, it has as much, if not more, significance than the directive for Daniel to seal his book.

The Angel to John: “Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book.”

Paraphrasing, Daniel was told to place his writings in storage. John was instructed to do just the opposite. Why would the angel even mention such a thing, i.e. advising John not to seal up the prophetic words of this book (Revelation)? There had to be a reason for such a command. First century believers, especially Jewish believers who were well-versed in the writings of the Old Testament prophets, would have immediately made the connection of the angel’s admonition to John as a striking contrast to the instructions given to Daniel.

To identify the association between Daniel’s sealing and John’s no-sealing is to fully grasp the meaning of and reason for the angel’s warning to John. And what is that meaning?

The astounding significance of and for the need not to seal (withhold, keep to himself, temporarily set aside, or postpone for a later time) ANY PART of the book of Revelation is that all of the revelations given to John were immediately appropriate to the believers of that day. In fact, we can with a great deal of assurance and authority carry this a step further and state: The revelations and understanding of the visions were applicable first and foremost to the Christians of the first century. Because if Jesus could/would imminently come for his bride (the Church) at any time, then all of the end-time Biblical prophecies would begin to unfold immediately. Therefore, ALL of the revelations given to John were applicable to all Christians of that time and should be openly read, taught, and disseminated throughout the Roman Empire.

With, however, the need to codify references to the Antichrist to protect Christians from further persecution and death; hence, the encoding of the beast’s identity through the Hebrew method of counting and numbering with their alphabet (Gematria) in Revelation 13. Also to partially obscure the identity of the beast (Nero) in Revelation 17, by what effectively was a puzzle or riddle of the seven kings … five fallen, one reigning, one soon to reign, but briefly, then an eighth king (the beast himself) who was one of the seven.

That is why the angel told John not to seal up the prophecies of Revelation; because they were to be understood by and applied to those believers alive at that time. Unlike the prophecies of Daniel which were some 90% for the mostly distant future—the centuries leading to and including the first advent of Messiah Jesus—the disclosures to John of Patmos were undeniably relevant to his readers because Jesus could rapture his Church at any moment.

That this beast had already lived and died before John was given the visions of the beast in Revelation, but that this same beast king would reappear from the Abyss. That coupled with the wording of Daniel 9:26-27, resulted in a phenomenal conclusion that the Antichrist beast would also return to the earth (in duplication of Messiah’s 2nd coming), but not until the Tribulation began very shortly after the Rapture.

Because the Rapture and subsequent return of Christ could (and in the eyes of first century believers) probably would take place in their lifetime, the Antichrist had to already have been a first century man to instigate and commence his Tribulation reign of terror that would begin very soon after the Rapture.

(Please read the above paragraph again). We need to wrap our minds around this fact and let it sink in. Rephrased: Christ could have chosen to Rapture the believers at any moment. If he had done so, then the remainder of Daniel’s and Jesus’s and Paul’s and John’s prophecies including, but not limited to the Antichrist, would have begun to unfold soon thereafter … within days or weeks. Thus, the Antichrist MUST HAVE ALREADY BEEN ON THE SCENE.

Which is exactly what the angel told John in Revelation 17.

A Stunning Disclosure … The Antichrist Will Not Be a Modern-Day Man

Said the angel to John: “Why are you so amazed?… I will tell you the mystery of this woman and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns on which she sits. The beast you saw was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he will soon come up out of the bottomless pit and go to eternal destruction. And the people who belong to this world … will be amazed at the reappearance of the beast who had died” (Revelation 17:8, italics for emphasis). The Greek word for soon means momentarily, but more so it means abruptly or suddenly.

In November, 2008 (almost to the day of today’s article), this passage absolutely stunned me; even though I had read the verse along with the rest of Revelation many times. All of John’s visions, including this one, took place in the present (time). After seeing the beast for this second time, the angel revealed the “mystery” of the beast to John. It was another extraordinary disclosure of the beast’s identity to go along with his number (six hundred, sixty-six) presented earlier in Revelation Chapter 13.

The incredible fact was/is: The Antichrist-beast had lived before John saw this vision of him. But at the time of the vision on a specific Sunday (Revelation 1) on a specific day in John’s life, the beast was no longer alive. But he would return from the Abyss (bottomless pit) and this return (reappearance) would utterly amaze the world’s inhabitants. This and other passages regarding the Antichrist was thoroughly explained in Out of the Abyss, along with historical first-century church and secular records.

All of the pieces of the prophetic puzzle fit perfectly, leading to the inescapable conclusion that the Antichrist was none other than the Roman Emperor Nero!

Returning to the (un)sealing of the Book of Revelation, the breathtaking relevance of this command to John was that ALL of the mysteries of Revelation could be understood by believers of that time, including the identity of the Antichrist. It was not necessary to wait until future generations to understand these mysteries including the number of the beast and his biographical history up to that time.

The identity of the beast could, would, and should be known by the (any) generation alive when the Rapture occurred followed by the immediate appearance (reappearance) of the beast. Consequently, would you (also) agree that the Christians of the first century could have been that very generation? If so, then they and all generations to follow had the Biblical tools to solve the clues and ascertain the identity of Antichrist BEFORE the Rapture, not afterward.

Once again: Nowhere in Revelation does John state or even imply that the identity of the beast could only be decoded or known until after the beast actually appeared on the scene. Moreover, Chapter 21 in Out of the Abyss meticulously explains II Thessalonians Chapter 2; that the “revealing” of the Man of Lawlessness took place when Nero unlawfully usurped the title of Roman Emperor and began a rebellion against God and Christianity during his lifetime. Additionally, the often overlooked verse eight of this chapter was clarified. That Jesus actually kills the Man of Lawlessness (Antichrist, beast) and then destroys him. That killing and destroying are not the same thing. That the death (killing) of Nero took place in 68 AD, but his final destruction in the Lake of Fire will not take place until the end of the Tribulation, after he returns from the Abyss. I also spend a great deal of space in the book on the Abyss, itself.

All of which leads to the crystal clear conclusion: The Antichrist cannot be a modern-day man born and raised in today’s world nor any generation to follow. The words of Revelation 17 are unmistakable: the beast had already lived and died BEFORE John saw it/him in his vision. “The beast you saw was once alive but isn’t now.”

Daniels’ prophecies could not be comprehended by his generation, which is why the angel instructed him to seal them … meaning set them aside until the actual events took place. Not so with John’s visions as recorded in Revelation. They were to be (with wisdom and understanding) grasped right then and there. The Lord through John wanted the believers of the seven churches and all Christians of that day to know, beyond any reasonable doubt, that Nero was the beast of Revelation; the revealed Man of Lawlessness presented by Paul; the ruler whose armies destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple of Daniel in Chapter 9; the little horn of Daniel Chapter 7 who would “suddenly appear” on the scene and take over the ten horns (kings), the same ten kings of Revelation 17. All this, and more is carefully documented through Scripture and history in Out of the Abyss and to a lesser extent in the prior Eye of Prophecy articles.

Which is why Jesus told John at the spectacular beginning of Revelation when John saw the risen Christ before he saw any visions at all: “Write down what you have seen—both the things that are now happening and the things that will happen” (Revelation 1:19). Revelation contained more than just things that would come; which, as already alluded, Christians in that day believed would come shortly. It included visions pertaining to things already taking place … which by default would include recent past events that dovetailed with current events of that time.

Summary

Because it has been 3 ½ years since Out of the Abyss was published and over a year since the Eye of Prophecy articles on Antichrist, I felt compelled to reintroduce and re-emphasize the remarkable disclosures that help refit the pieces of the prophetic puzzle regarding the identity of the Antichrist. Starting with the amazing FACT (according to Revelation 17) that the Antichrist beast had already been born and died before John received the revelations of this evil man. That he would reappear from the Abyss; that by default logic he couldn’t ascend from the Abyss until he had first been placed there (by Christ).

But mostly in this article to expand on these short, simple, but amazingly profound verses in the first and last chapters of Revelation.

First Chapter: Jesus told John, “… to write down what you have seen, both the things that are now happening and the things that will happen.” Why wouldn’t the Lord have just said, write down what he had seen, and leave it at that? There was a reason Jesus added the following words. Reason: Because he wanted John and all first century believers and Christians thereafter to understand explicitly that Revelation was not confined just to future events … events that could begin any hour or day after John’s visions were over. Other than the first three chapters of Revelation including the letters to the seven churches, most Christians and even Bible scholars think in terms of the remainder of Revelation applying exclusively to future events. NOT SO.

There are several past tense occurrences in Revelation, such as the five kings who had fallen, and most amazing—the beast who had already lived and died, who—as I demonstrate in past writings—was one of those five kings who had died … Nero.

Last Chapter: That’s why the angel instructed John not to withhold or postpone or delay the announcement and distribution of the book of Revelation (all part of “sealing” a book). Because, in fact, ALL of Revelation was applicable immediately to all believers and nothing in the book was hidden from meaning and none of the mysteries were left unrevealed. This all was relevant to and part of the equally valid truth that Jesus could return any day.

The fact in the first century was: THE BEAST HAD ALREADY BEEN REVEALED. Now it was just a matter of when the Rapture would take place, which would initiate and shift into high gear all of the ensuing prophecies of the beast’s reappearance and all of the Tribulation events depicted in Revelation.

Conversely, with the prophet Daniel and his visions, he was repeatedly told that the visions were for a future time … nothing whatsoever imminent about these prophecies. Such as, “…you must understand that the events you have seen in your vision relate to the time of the end” (Daniel 8:17). But with the New Testament Saints everything was imminent, beginning with the Rapture and continuing (immediately) with the return of the beast who had died and all prophesied events thereafter.

Do you see the difference between Daniel’s time and John’s time? Does this help explain the divine rationale between instructing Daniel to seal his prophecies, but for John to unseal what had been revealed to him (don’t seal the words)? And why those specific instructions were even given to Daniel and John.

Things to Ponder

The specific purpose of this article is to know beyond any doubt that we are meant to know the identity of the beast of Revelation, just as the first century (and a few centuries after that) Christians knew. It is recorded both in secular and church history that many early Christians believed that Nero would, in fact, return as the Antichrist beast of Revelation. This amazing belief was prevalent for the better part of four hundred years after the Lord’s ascension to heaven.

All I’m doing is refitting the prophetic puzzle that had correctly been assembled in the years of the early Church. I’m not reinventing the wheel. Rather I’m using the same wheel of prophecy used by the early believers in their journey through the annals of Biblical events pertaining to the last days. And these last days began with the birth of Jesus. We are currently in the last of the last days.

“Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).

Revelation’s prophet is John of Patmos. The early Christians understood John’s prophecies were meant for them. They weren’t even thinking about future generations no more than we would if we fully expected something to happen in our lifetime. They understood that Nero was the beast, but not until he had died; because Revelation wasn’t written until after Nero’s death, nor was the apostle John’s term of Antichrist used. Nor could they match up the ruler (Antichrist) of Daniel until Nero died and his armies vanquished Jerusalem and the Temple.

But they could (and did) match Nero with the Man of Lawlessness that Paul introduced to them. Once Nero died and Revelation was written, they knew for sure who Nero was. Because Paul said that Jesus would kill the man of lawlessness (II Thessalonians 2:8). Then John told them that the beast would return from the abyss. Later, they understood that Daniel’s prophecy applied to Nero, because in 70 AD the very generals personally selected/appointed by Nero to crush Israel destroyed the Temple … a campaign begun by Vespasian and completed by his son, Titus. (See Daniel 9:26-27).

The early Christians knew, and so can we.

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

  • How and When Does The World End?
  • Powerful Proof of Messiah’s Identity & Arrival in The First Century!
  • Seven Wonders of The Millennium (Part II)
  • Seven Wonders of The Millennium
  • A Divine Solution to Global Polarization & Church/State Separation
  • Israel & The United Arab Emirates / A Diplomatic Marvel
  • Seven Essentials of the Rapture (Part II)
  • Seven Essentials of The Rapture (Part I)

Recent Comments

Christina Nadaskay on Countdown to Armageddon…
Jonathan Wilcox on Israel’s Annexation of O…
Jonathan Wilcox on Israel’s Annexation of O…
Jonathan Wilcox on The Prince and the People That…
Jonathan Wilcox on Sequel to Stunning Catastrophe…
pearsonphilpot on Countdown to Armageddon…
CamZhu on Removing Christ From Christmas…

Archives

Categories

  • Current Events (99)
  • Devotional / Misc (23)
  • Prophecy in General (89)
  • The Antichrist (60)
  • The Rapture (51)

Blog Stats

  • 64,534 visits

Articles Alphabetically

  • “One Ring To Rule Them All….”
  • A Beast by Any Other Name … Part I
  • A Beast by Any Other Name … Part II
  • A Beast by Any Other Name … Part III
  • A Deal That Will Live In Infamy
  • A Divine Solution to Global Polarization & Church/State Separation
  • A Dramatic Enactment of the Rapture!
  • A Government Crisis in Israel
  • A House Divided
  • A Modern Day Esther
  • A Most Unlikely Ally of Israel!
  • A Mysterious Sign in Virgo … What Does It Mean?
  • A Palestinian State? (No, say many Arabs!)
  • A Religion of Peace? (Part I)
  • A Religion of Peace? (Part II)
  • A Revived Roman Empire … Or Not?
  • A Sleeping Giant
  • A Tale of Two (Arab) Cousins
  • A Third Jewish Temple (Part II)
  • A Third Jewish Temple?
  • A Trilogy of Terror
  • Aftermath of America’s Amazing Election
  • Age of Grace (Part I)
  • Age of Grace (Part II)
  • Age of Grace (Part III)
  • Alliances against Israel
  • Amazing Anticipation for Messiah
  • Ambassador Nikki Haley & The Truth About Israel
  • America the Beautiful Is Getting Ugly
  • An Incredible Time-Lapse Prophecy
  • An Islamic United Nations?
  • An Unprecedented Palestinian Attack in Jerusalem
  • And Justice For All
  • Antichrist / A “Back To The Future” Prophecy
  • Antichrist … Is He Alive Today?
  • Antichrist and Anzio … What Do They Have in Common?
  • Antichrist and the Vicar of Christ … Part I
  • Antichrist and the Vicar of Christ … Part II
  • Antichrist’s Dreaded Arrival / First or Second Appearance?
  • Armageddon & Messiah’s Return … An Amazing Sequence of Events
  • Beginning of the End
  • Beware of the Bear!
  • Biblical Terms Not in the Bible … Are They Biblical?
  • Blood Moons
  • Blow the Trumpets … Messiah Will Come!
  • Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (of Israel)
  • BREXIT … What’s It All About?
  • Bring Back Our Boys
  • Build The Temple! Will Messiah Come?
  • Can A Murderer Be A Martyr?
  • Christ or Antichrist … who will it be?
  • Comparing A Phenomenal Prophecy in Leviticus With One in Zechariah
  • Conspiracy Theories … A New World Order
  • Countdown to Armageddon … End of the Fourth 400-Year Era
  • COVID-19 / Just Another Plague?
  • COVID-19 / Just Another Plague? (Part II)
  • Cunning Makeover of the Great City (Revelation 17)
  • Daniel’s 70 Prophetic Weeks & The Number Seventy!
  • Day of Infamy
  • Did God Really Appear to People? When & How?
  • Diplomacy With Israel Despite Anti-Semitism / A Puzzling Paradox
  • Divine Consequences of Iran’s Arrogance (Part I)
  • Divine Consequences of Iran’s Arrogance (Part II)
  • Does Christmas Really Need Christ?
  • Does God Really Have a Son? … Part I
  • Does God Really Have a Son? … Part II
  • Does Israel Belong To The State of Israel?
  • Does The Holy Spirit Restrain (the Man of) Lawlessness?
  • Don’t Seal The Book of Revelation!
  • Double Israel’s Trouble & Double Her Blessings!
  • End of the World Events … In Chronological Order!
  • Ethnic Cleansing of Jews … The Real Palestinian Agenda
  • Exposing Antichrist’s Identity … More Compelling Evidence (Part I)
  • Exposing Antichrist’s Identity … More Compelling Evidence (Part II)
  • Extraordinary Biblical Prophecies w/Predicted Times of Fulfillment (Part I)
  • Extraordinary Biblical Prophecies w/Predicted Times of Fulfillment (Part II)
  • Festival of Tabernacles … Part I
  • First Century Existence of Christ and Antichrist & Their 21st Century Return
  • Five Life-Changing Meals in the Bible
  • For or Against Israel?
  • For Such A Time As This
  • Fountain of Youth & Fountain of Life … Is There a Difference?
  • Four Locust Kingdoms!
  • Freedom … What Does It Really Mean?
  • Fulfilled Prophecy Proves We Can Trust The Bible
  • Gateway to the World
  • Giving Thanks … What is it all about
  • Global Obsession with Jerusalem … In Biblical Proportions!
  • Globalism or Populism … Which Will Antichrist Prefer?
  • God Is Great & Yet He’s So Good!
  • God Is in Control
  • God’s New Covenant with Israel … Minus the Temple (Part I)
  • God’s New Covenant with Israel … Minus the Temple (Part II)
  • Gog, Magog and Leviathan
  • Gog/Magog’s Prophetic Clock Is Ticking, Ticking….
  • Grace and Law … A Biblical Balance
  • Great Expectations for Messiah
  • Hanukkah & Christmas / Do They Have Anything in Common?
  • Hanukkah … The Festival Born of a Prophecy!
  • Happy New Year … Jerusalem Style!
  • Has Antichrist Already Died … How, When & Why
  • How and When Does The World End?
  • How the Rapture
  • Humiliating End of the Great City (Revelation 17)
  • Hurricane Harvey & A Year of Prophetic Milestones (2017)
  • Intriguing Comparisons Between Antiochus IV & Antichrist (Nero)
  • Israel Is Again The Head, Not the Tail (The Deal of the Century)
  • Is President Trump Wavering On “The Waiver”?
  • ISIS, Nero, and Rome
  • Israel Is Here To Stay … Forever!
  • Israel’s Annexation of Occupied Territory? We Must Define The Terms
  • Israel’s Controversial Nation-State Law
  • Israel’s Government in Limbo … Unprecedented!
  • Israeli Occupation … Fact or Myth?
  • Italy’s New Government / A Thorn in the EU’s Side
  • Jerusalem … A Capital Without a Country?
  • Jerusalem … City of Peace?
  • Jerusalem / City Above All Cities
  • Jerusalem’s Mysterious Eastern Gate … Making Headlines
  • Jesus’s Stunning Statements While on the Cross… A Summary of Salvation!
  • Jewish Christian / Christian Jew … An Oxymoron?
  • Jewish Settlements in Judea/Samaria … Are They Illegal?
  • Jewish Sovereignty on Temple Mount (Part I)
  • Jewish Sovereignty on Temple Mount (Part II)
  • Jubilee and Messiah … They Go Together!
  • Judea/Samaria & Gaza Strip / Who Has Sovereignty?
  • Just How Imminent is Messiah’s Imminent Return?
  • King David’s Tomb
  • Kingdom of God
  • Las Vegas Massacre … A Broader Perspective
  • Lazarus and Lazarus & The Sign of Jonah
  • Let’s Celebrate … Forever!
  • Let’s Make a Deal
  • Look Up, Redemption Is Near … Part I
  • Look Up, Redemption Is Near … Part II
  • Major Earthquake in Israel … When & Where It Will Strike
  • Melchizedek … A Man of Mystery!
  • Merry Christmas … What’s It All About?
  • Messiah and the Jewish Festivals … An Extraordinary Connection!
  • Messiah’s Amazing Appearances Before He Was Born
  • Messiah’s Arrival … On Whose Authority?
  • Messiah’s Ascension & Coronation … Seen Long Before It Happened!
  • Messiah’s Millennial Reign … Incredible Changes on Earth
  • Messiah’s Number & Its Prophetic Value
  • Messiah’s Return & The Rapture (Same or Separate Events?)
  • Messianic Jews … Who Are They?
  • Modern Day Antichrist?
  • Moral Equivalency
  • More Palestinian Lies
  • More Than One Messiah?
  • Moses & Elijah vs. Antichrist & The False Prophet
  • Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem … A Broken Promise?
  • NERO & The Remarkable Revival of His Name
  • O Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
  • Old & New Testament Saints … Is There a Difference?
  • One Global Language … Coming Soon! (Part I)
  • One Global Language … Coming Soon! (Part II)
  • One Hundred Forty-Four Thousand Messianic Jews … Part I
  • One Hundred Forty-Four Thousand Messianic Jews … Part II
  • One Nation Under (the wrath of) God
  • One World Government?
  • One World Religion?
  • Palestine or Israel? Which Is It? / Your Answer May Be In Jeopardy!
  • Palestinian Propaganda Is Pure Poison
  • Palestinian Refugees… Are They Really Refugees?
  • Palestinian Terrorism & UN Resolutions … Neither Will Defeat Israel
  • Palestinian Terror Tunnels & Poetic Justice
  • Passover & Messiah Are Inseparable!
  • Passover … an Enduring Legacy
  • Peace Between Israel and Judah … Then World Peace!
  • Peace on Earth … Is It Really Possible?
  • Peace or a Palestinian State … Which Will It Be?
  • Powerful Proof of Messiah’s Identity & Arrival in The First Century!
  • Preach the Gospel … But Not to the Jews!
  • Prince of Peace
  • Prophecy & A Jewish Holiday
  • Prophetic Fate of Israel’s Friends and Foes
  • Prophetic Implications of the Fires in Israel (Part I)
  • Prophetic Implications of the Fires in Israel (Part II)
  • Proportional Warfare
  • Reappearance of Satan, a Roman Emperor & Two Ancient Prophets … Bodily!
  • Reappearance of the Beast (Antichrist)
  • Remember December (Kislev) … A Hidden Gem of Prophecy!
  • Removing Christ From Christmas … What Are The Consequences?
  • Replacement Theology (Part I)
  • Replacement Theology (Part II)
  • Resurrections / How Many Will There Be? One, Two, Or Could There Be Three?
  • Rome and Jerusalem … friends or foes?
  • Russia & Iran versus Israel
  • Salvation … “To The Jew First!”
  • Satan in Bodily Form … When & Why (Part I)
  • Satan in Bodily Form … When & Why (Part II)
  • Scripture Says Everyone Will Die / But What About the Rapture?
  • Separation of Church and State … For or Against? (Part I)
  • Separation of Church and State … For or Against? (Part II)
  • Sequel to Stunning Catastrophes & Shocking Statistics of the Great Tribulation
  • Seven Essentials of The Rapture (Part I)
  • Seven Essentials of the Rapture (Part II)
  • Seven Times Seven (to the 4th power)! Part I
  • Seven Times Seven (to the 4th power)! Part II
  • Seven Times Seven (to the 4th power)! Part III
  • Seven Wonders of The Millennium
  • Seven Wonders of The Millennium (Part II)
  • Shameful Saga of the Great City (Revelation 17)
  • Shocking Statistics of the Great Tribulation
  • Significant Sets of Twos in the Bible
  • Six Million Reasons … To Trust the Bible
  • Soon Comes the Antichrist … Straight From the Abyss (Part I)
  • Soon Comes the Antichrist … Straight From the Abyss (Part II)
  • Spiritual Bodies … A Contradiction of Terms? (Part I)
  • Spiritual Bodies … A Contradiction of Terms? (Part II)
  • Stand Still & Watch God Fight for Israel!
  • Stunning Catastrophes of the Tribulation / Their Timing & Purpose
  • Sudden Appearance of Antichrist … Why So Different?
  • Sukkot … The Forever Festival!
  • Superhuman Bodies for Believers / How & Why?
  • Tell a Big Lie Long Enough….
  • Terror, Terror, Terror (Part II)
  • Terror, Terror, Terror! (Part I)
  • The “Right of Return” … For Palestinians or Jews?
  • The Ark of the Covenant … Part I
  • The Ark of the Covenant … Part II
  • The Balfour Declaration … Beginning of the Omega Generation (Part I)
  • The Balfour Declaration … Beginning of the Omega Generation (Part II)
  • The Beast and His Name
  • The Birth of a Nation
  • The Child of Promise (Part I)
  • The Child of Promise (Part II)
  • The Cross and the Torn Curtain (Part I)
  • The Cross and the Torn Curtain (Part II)
  • The End of the Age … how close are we?
  • The False Prophet (Part I)
  • The False Prophet (Part II)
  • The Final Treaty of Rome … Part I
  • The Final Treaty of Rome … Part II
  • The Gog/Magog Countdown Has Begun!
  • The Heart & Soul of Israel
  • The Incomparable Power and Authority of Jesus Christ
  • The Jewish Dichotomy In & Outside Israel
  • The Legacy of Temple Mount
  • The Legendary Return of Nero
  • The Liberation of Jerusalem
  • The Magnificent Millennial Reign of Believers with Messiah
  • The Most Panoramic Prophecy in the Bible (Part I)
  • The Most Panoramic Prophecy in the Bible (Part II)
  • The Myth of Al Aqsa Mosque
  • The Number of the Beast
  • The Omega Generation
  • The Peace Treaty That Will Guarantee War
  • The Phenomenal Thousand Years/One Day Parallel
  • The Prince and the People That Destroyed the Jewish Temple / Who Were They?
  • The Prophetic Endgame of Gog/Magog
  • The Rapture / Before or After The Great Tribulation?
  • The Real Reason for Palestinian Terrorism
  • The Reign of Terror
  • The Remarkable Rebirth of a Nation
  • The Rest of the Story … Bibi’s Speech to the United Nations
  • The Right to Life?
  • The Russians Are Coming!
  • The Seal of Approval
  • The Second Exodus
  • The Seven Year Treaty
  • The Shout Heard Around the World
  • The Terrible Trio of Gog and Magog
  • The Three Greatest Trials of All Time
  • The Tremendous Transfiguration of Believers!
  • The Two Witnesses (Part I)
  • The Two Witnesses (Part II)
  • The Two Witnesses (Part III)
  • The Vatican and Islam … A Perfect Match for Antichrist
  • The Virgin Birth of Messiah … How and Why?
  • The Whole Truth
  • The Woman and the Beast
  • The Woman and the Beast (Part II)
  • The Woman and the Beast (Part III)
  • The Woman and the Beast (Part IV)
  • The Woman and the Beast (Part V)
  • The Woman and the Beast (Part VI)
  • The Wonder Of It All … Birth of the Child!
  • The World Wants a Messiah … But It Needs (The) Messiah
  • There’s No Place Like Homs
  • There’s Resurrection; And There’s Resurrection!
  • Three … A Divine Number of God!
  • Times of & Fullness of the Gentiles … What Do They Mean?
  • To Be or Not To Be … in Heaven?
  • To Be Or Not To Be … In Heaven? (A Revisit)
  • Trump, Cyrus, and the Jewish Temple
  • Two-State Solution & The Seven-Year Treaty … Impossible?
  • Two Thirds of the Jews Killed … Past or Future?
  • U.S. President Agrees with God … Jerusalem Is Israel’s Capital!
  • Under the Radar
  • UNESCO / “Theatre of the Absurd” Against Israel
  • United Nations Downsizing of Israel (Resolution 2334)
  • Value of Prophecy
  • West Bank or Judea/Samaria? What’s In A Name?
  • What Is A Saint?
  • What is Palestine & Who Is A Palestinian?
  • What is the Rapture?
  • What Is The Unpardonable Sin?
  • When the Rapture?
  • Where is Messiah … Is He Already Here?
  • Where Is The Temple? Part I
  • Where Is The Temple? Part II
  • Where is the Temple? Part III
  • Who is Messiah?
  • Who Is the Antichrist & How Will He Appear (Part I)
  • Who Is The Antichrist & How Will He Appear? (Part II)
  • Who the Rapture?
  • Whom Do You Most Want To See In Heaven?
  • Why the Rapture?
  • Why the Rapture? (A Revisit)
  • Why The World Idolizes Antichrist & How It Reacts To The Tribulation
  • Wiles of the Woman
  • Will All Children Be Taken in The Rapture?
  • Will Believers Go Through the Great Tribulation? (Part I)
  • Will Believers Go Through The Great Tribulation? (Part II)
  • Will There Still Be Unbelievers Throughout Eternity?
  • Yom Kippur / With Or Without Atonement?
  • Zechariah’s Dramatic Description of Antichrist’s Fatal Wounds

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel