“For the mystery of inequity (sin) doth already work: only he who now letteth (the Holy Spirit) will let, until he (the Holy Spirit) be taken out of the way (at the Rapture of the Believers). And then shall that Wicked (anti-christ) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming (Second Coming at Armageddon): Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all the power and signs and lying wonders. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth (Resurrection of Jesus), that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.”

2 Thessalonians 2:7-11

In the above Scripture we get one of the very best timelines of the workings of the anti-christ in the entire Bible. Of course we probably are all well  aware of Satan’s attempt to disprove the Word of God with his lies and deceit. He will attempt to form a terrible impersonation of God, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. He does this in the Last Days by mimicking the Holy Trinity of God with one falsely comprised of by Satan, the anti-christ and the false prophet. The above Scripture also tells us many other things about the anti-christ.

He will be revealed for who he is AFTER the Holy Spirit is removed at the Rapture of the True Believers.

“…until he (the Holy Spirit) be taken out of the way (Rapture). And then shall that Wicked be revealed.”

For those of us who strongly believe we are in fact living today in the Last Days based on many already fulfilled Bible prophecies and the exact words of Jesus Himself who told us, “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” – Matthew 24:34, we probably feel the anti-christ is indeed alive today although he has not yet been revealed! He won’t be until after the Rapture of the Church! If you believe in Jesus and His Death and Resurrection for our sins, take comfort in knowing you won’t be here to witness the “unveiling” of the anti-christ. However, if you don’t believe in Jesus Christ you will not only see the anti-christ revealed, you will worship him believing in his lies and deceptions!

“…because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.”

2 Thessalonians 2: 10-11

What is the “strong delusion” God sends and what is the “lie” of the anti-christ?

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin (the anti-christ) be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

Simply put, the anti-christ will enter the then rebuilt 3rd Holy Jewish Temple midway though a seven year “covenant” he will sign with Israel and the Palestinians (Daniel 9:26-27); declare he is God; and, demand to be worshipped as God. This event is famously referred to as the Abomination of Desolation. For more info on it take a read of  What is the Abomination of Desolation in Biblical Prophecy?. I would definitely call that a lie! But before that happens we are told in many verses in the Bible about this man, the anti-christ:

“And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering and to conquer.”

Revelation 6:2

Here we are told by John at the opening of the Seven-sealed scroll a leader will go forth and conquer. A crown was given to him by the ten kings (countries as shown in Revelation 17:13, “These (ten counties) have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast (anti-christ)“! Interestingly, while he has a bow the Bible does not say he had any arrows. Most scholars interpret this to mean the anti-christ will conquer the world by policy and words, not by military action. Can you see how a world leader today could come to power pledging to fix the ills of the world, especially after the world may have just gone through the Rapture, war, a global economic crash, famines and pestlence, etc.? How do we know this world leader has not yet been revealed?

“And in the latter time of their kingdoms (the vision Daniel had of Babylon, Mede-Persian, Greek, Roman and reborn Roman Empire), when the transgressors are come to the full, a king (anti-christ) of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, BUT NOT BY HIS OWN POWER (God given – capitals mine); and he shall destroy wonderfully and shall prosper, and practice and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.”

Daniel 8:23-24

Believers are awaiting a world led by Jesus Christ in righteousness and justice. Unbelievers just want a global leader who will lie to them and tell them what they want to hear even though we are told repeatedly he will tell them lies! God is giving power to the anti-christ because that is what unbelievers want! This is not just a NYC desire, a Moscow desire or a Paris desire. This is a world desire:

“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints (Christian Believers), and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, WHOSE NAMES ARE NOT WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE (unbelievers – capitals mine) of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Revelation 13:7-8

All Believers whose names are written in the Book of Life WILL NOT worship the anti-christ. All others will! Why would non-Believers worship the anti-christ? He will be VERY persuasive and intelligent, maybe even attractive, so much that he had “…a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.” – Daniel 7:20. Yet, he will be the most destructive world leader in history, far worse than Hitler, Stalin, Mao Tse Tung, etc.  Most Biblical scholars even agree he will come to power out of the Last Empire revealed by Daniel, the feet mixed with iron and clay. If you go back a moment and remember Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2:31-33), he highlighted FIVE world governments. The first, the head of gold, was told specifically by Daniel to be that of the Babylonians. The next three were the Mede-Persian, the Greeks and the Romans. Remember, the Book of Daniel was written during the Babylonian Empire and yet Daniel specifically named the next four world governments in order to which three have already been historically fulfilled. The fourth empire, the Roman Empire, was shown to be made of legs of iron. The last world government, which the anti-christ will rule, is to made up of feet of iron mixed with clay. In other words, since the Roman Empire was never militarily defeated, it is believed the final world empire will re-emerge from what was the former Roman Empire (Europe). Not long ago President Macron of France proposed a NEW European Empire with a European army made up of ten countries, not the 27 currently in it. Coincidence or prophecy?

If you read my previous post Could the iPhone be the Mark of the Beast?, you know one of the other major indicators of the anti-christ’s reign will be a global economy and “currency”, one that will demand all supporters to take the Mark of the Beast (anti-christ) without which they will not be able to “…buy or sell”. This will be an economic system imposed on the world by the anti-christ’s “partner in crime”, the false prophet. Let me remind you, anyone who does take the Mark will be punished by God with eternity in hell! If you see this happen, DO NOT take the Mark but simply put your faith in Him and  allow God to look after you!

Lastly, and perhaps most convincing to the unbeliever, is the apparent “assassination” of the anti-christ which will appear to mimic the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.”

Revelation 13:3

Again, a lie the whole world will believe in such a way the people will worship “…the dragon (Satan) which gave power unto the beast.” Revelation 13:4. But, as Believers in Christ, there is an alternative! At the Second Coming of Jesus at Armageddon, Jesus will slay all unbelievers, and cast the anti-christ and the false prophet into hell for eternity! He will bind Satan for 1,000 years and throw him into the bottomless pit. Jesus will then reign for 1,000 years on earth in peace and righteousness.

As I stated previously, if you Believe in Jesus TODAY and have asked Him to come into your heart and have asked Him for forgiveness of your sins, you will not witness the revealing of this guy, the anti-christ. If instead you come to know Jesus AFTER the Rapture, you will see the anti-christ revealed BUT it is still not too late! Of course, you will be persecuted for your newly found faith and you may be killed for believing in Him. I’d rather find Jesus today! Knowing beforehand His Promise to His Servants the Believers is so very, very comforting! The Word of God has not only revealed the characteristics of the coming anti-christ but has revealed to us what we must do to ensure we never see his unveiling. If you are comforted by this as much as I am, please share this with your friends and family. By doing this we are fulfilling His request of us and that is to “…therefore comfort one another with these words.”

May God Bless you!