The reign of the antichrist

A forceful political leader will come forth to dominate world leadership during the tribulation period. He will have much help in the person of the False Prophet, who will be the World Religious Leader. A world system of government, under one head, will envelop the political, religious and the economic areas of life.

1. The antichrist
II Thessalonians 2:3, "The son of perdition, that 'man of sin' will be revealed."
*He will oppose God (Verse 4).
*He will exalt himself above God (verse 4).
*He will sit in the temple showing himself as God (verse 4).
*He will be destroyed by the Lord Jesus at Armageddon (verse 8).
*Satan will empower him with signs and lying wonders (verse 9).
*He will deceive those that love not the truth (verse 10).
*God will allow those who love not the truth, and are deceived by the antichrist, to believe a lie and be damned (verse 11,12).
*Revelation 13 describes the antichrist as a 'beast' rising up out of the sea.
*The dragon (or Satan, Revelation 12:9) will give him his power and authority (Revelation 13:2).
*The one world system of government is to be a revival of the old Roman Empire which has been dormant but will be restored (verse 3).
"The people will worship the beast (verse 4). "He will have total power the last 3 1/2 years of Tribulation (verse 5).
*He will blaspheme God; His name and the heavenly dwellers (verse 6).
*He will make war against the believing Jews (verse 7).
'"He will cause all to receive a mark in the right hand or forehead, in order to buy or sell (verse 16,17).
*His number is 666 (verse 18).

2. The False Prophet (Religious Government)
Revelation 13 also describes the religious leader of this time of tribulation who works closely with the antichrist. He will assist the antichrist to attain world supremacy. The False Prophet is mentioned 3 times (Revelation 16:13; 19:20; 20:10).
*He will exercise great power (Revelation 13:12).
*He will cause the people to worship the antichrist and the World System (verse 12).
*He will perform miracles by the power of Satan (verse 14).
*He will be a deceiver (verse 14).
*He will have an image of the antichrist made (verse 14).
*He will give life to the image and cause the image to speak (verse 15).
*He will put to death all that will not worship the image of the beast (verse 15).

3. The antichrist System of Political Government
The ten toes of the image of Nebuchadnezzar and the ten horns of the beast of Revelation 13:1 and 17:12 and of Daniel 7:7 and 24, are a confederation of ten nations that will constitute a world power in the last days. These nations will help the antichrist come to power and sustain that power for some years. Their authority will be lessened by the antichrist after he has used them to gain world power. The strong Common Market Nations of Europe could possibly be the means of this support. The Common Market will probably develop into a very powerful economic block for the western world of nations. This economic block will give them great influence in the making of a world leader. This block will be highly dominated by the world religion. Revelation 17 introduces the great harlot, drunk with the saints and martyrs. This harlot will ride the beast until the beast kills her. This will be the end of the false world church which will give its power and wealth to the beast.