ANTICHRIST - THE BEAST FROM THE SEA

I have been so blessed by the great response from around the world to the study on Daniel (The Kingdom of the Beast - Antichrist). Thank all of you ! I pray that the study was helpful, encouraging, and insightful for you. 

As Biblical last days events are taking place in our world today, I have a great sense the our Lord is calling the Church to be the watchmen of our day (Ezek. 33). May the Lord Jesus equip and empower all of us to do the job well.

As we took a close look at the kingdom of the Antichrist, this study is about the Antichrist himself. Who is he, what is he like, what does he do? Let's see what the scriptures have to reveal about this mysterious king of the last days.

Antichrist - The Beast from the Sea

D. P. Weary, January 2009

Rev. a - November 2011

The Bible has a lot to say about the man we call the Antichrist. He will be the leader of the final worldly empire before Christ returns to establish His kingdom on earth. This study is an attempt to define the characteristics and activities of this man such that the Saints of God will not be caught unawares when he comes on the world scene as the Lord breaks the first seal of the great scroll in Revelation 6.

I personally believe that the man we call the Antichrist, the beast from the sea, is alive today. The first seal of the great scroll has been broken. Knowing the scriptures that deal with him becomes all-important. Because of deceit, many will support and follow him until it is to late. He will lead many straight into the judgments of the tribulation and into hell. Because much of the Church does not study or even know these scriptures, they will be as deceived as the rest of the world. How can we the Church war for the souls of deceived people if we are deceived? How can we pray correctly if we are deceived? How can we be the “watchmen on the wall” (Ezek 33) if we are asleep at our post or blind to the approaching enemy? We must prepare for the days ahead! We must be trained and equipped for the great task of being the Lord’s witnesses in these last days before the 7^th seal is broken and the wrath of God is poured out upon the earth. Many souls are at stake!

As you study and contemplate these scriptures with me, remember to seek not only the literal, historical meaning, but look for the story, the parable that is applicable to you and to our day. Look also for the hints that reveal truths not obvious to the casual reader and the non-believer. Finally seek revelation of the mysteries that only the Holy Spirit can reveal. Mysteries that are important to you personally, and to the true Church, the fellowship of Believers around the world!

We begin this study in the book of Daniel.

Daniel chapter 7

Dan 7:3 “And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another.

Daniel sees the four great Biblical Kingdoms of the Middle East, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and a fourth different from the others. Here the sea is a symbol or gentile or non-Jewish nations.

Dan 7:4 “The first {was} like a lion and had {the} wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it.

The first kingdom was Babylon and the man was its first king, Nebuchadnezzar.

Dan 7:5 “And behold, another beast, a second one, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and three ribs {were} in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, ‘Arise, devour much meat!’

The bear represents the Medo-Persia Empire with Persia being the higher or stronger side. The Medo-Persian Empire overcame three other significant kingdoms (ribs) during its rise to power.

Dan 7:6 “After this I kept looking, and behold, another one, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.

The leopard represents Greece.  After the death of the first king, Alexander the Great, the empire broke up into four kingdoms (the wings and heads) called the Macedonian Empire.

Dan 7:7 “After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

The forth beast kingdom is extremely strong, tramples down the remainder of the first three kingdoms. It is different from all the other beast kingdoms before it and in its final form is made up of ten horns or kings/leaders. What makes this kingdom different is that history tells that this 4^th and the last world empire begins with the Roman Empire then morphs into the Islamic Empires, then European Colonialism, and then the last form of these, the 10 king empire of the Antichrist.

Dan 7:8 “While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great {boasts.}

It is during the forth beast kingdom with 10 horns or kings that Antichrist (a man) arises, overcoming 3 of the first 10 kings in his rise to power.

Dan 7:19 “Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, {and which} devoured, crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet,

Dan 7:20 and {the meaning} of the ten horns that {were} on its head and the other {horn} which came up, and before which three {of them} fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great {boasts} and which was larger in appearance than its associates.

Antichrist comes up among and after the ten kings of the last beast kingdom come to power. Three of the first 10 kings fall or are overcome by the Antichrist in his rise to power and leadership of this kingdom.

Dan 7:21 “I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them

Antichrist wages war with the saints and overpowers them. In the book of Daniel, we find that “the saints” in the Old Testament refers to righteous Jews.

Dan 7:22 until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.

The Lord Jesus defeats this last earthly humanistic kingdom at His second coming. He defends the Jews and they take possession of this kingdom.

Dan 7:23 “Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the {other} kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it.

This fourth beast kingdom of 10 kings with the Antichrist leading them devours the “whole earth” and crushes it. Most probably “the whole earth” means the Middle East, the part of the earth occupied by Daniel’s four world kingdoms. In Daniel, Greece is said to have ruled over “the whole earth” also. What they really ruled over was the Middle East. Therefore it might be reasonable here to assume that what this fourth beast kingdom rules over is also the Middle East. It is very important to note here that the kingdoms dealt with in the Bible are kingdoms that at some time historically ruled over, occupied or controlled the Promised Land of Israel and the Jews.

Dan 7:24 ‘As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings.

First we note that the ten kings in power at the time of the end arise or come out of Daniel’s 4^th great and terrible beast kingdom. Then another, an 11^th king will arise among and after them, different from the first 10 kings. After this 11^th kings comes forth he subdues three of the first 10 kings. We will later find that this 11^th king is what the New Testament calls the “Beast from the sea (Antichrist)”.

Dan 7:25 ‘He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.

Antichrist wars against God, wears down the saints of God (Jews), tries to alter the Jewish times (seasons or festivals) and the law (the Torah). The saints of the Highest One (Jews) are given into his hand for three and one half years. The references to the times or festivals, the law and the 3½-year time period tell us that these saints are indeed Jews. The book of Revelation will tell us that this 3½ year time period is the second half of the 7 years of tribulation when the Antichrist violently turns against the Jews with great persecution.

Dan 7:26 ‘But the court will sit {for judgment,} and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever.

After these 3½ years, his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. Revelation chapters 4 and 5 describe the scene of the court in heaven.

Dan 7:27 ‘Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of {all} the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom {will be} an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.’

At this time God sets up His Kingdom to last forever. Note that He gives it to the people of the saints of the Highest One. Who are “the people” of the saints? Is this just a reference to Jews in general, or perhaps these are gentile believers in Jesus (Rom 11:7-24), those that are grafted into the Israelite nation? After all it is the true Church, the Bride of Christ who will sit beside Jesus on His throne and rule and reign with Him forever (Rev 3:21).

Daniel chapter 8

Dan 8:19 He said, “Behold, I am going to let you know what will occur at the final period of the indignation, for {it} pertains to the appointed time of the end.

This is important to note. What follows deals with the time of the end, the last days.

Dan 8:20 “The ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia.

Daniel is given a vision of a ram being overcome by a shaggy goat in chapter 8. Notice that the ram represents the kingdom of Medo-Persia but it has two kings, one of Media and the other of Persia (the two horns). These kings were probably either Darius or Cyrus of Media and Xerxes of Persia, the kings found in the book of Daniel. But, since this deals with the last days, today this old kingdom would essentially be Iran.

Dan 8:21 “The shaggy goat {represents} the kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

The kingdom represented is Greece and the king would have been Alexander the Great the first king.

Dan 8:22 “The broken {horn} and the four {horns that} arose in its place {represent} four kingdoms {which} will arise from {his} nation, although not with his power.

Unlike the ram this beast, the goat has 4 horns that arise in the place of the one large horn. These horns represent four kingdoms that arise from Alexander’s’ Greece. Today the area controlled by the old Grecian/Macedonian Empire would include most of the Middle East.

Dan 8:23 “In the latter period of their rule, When the transgressors have run {their course,} A king will arise, Insolent and skilled in intrigue.

Now we are directly dealing with the time of the end or the last days. Note that this time is the time of the latter period of the rule of the 4 horns or kings. These are the kingdoms that evolved from the kingdom of ‘Alexander the Great. The kingdoms that developed out of Alexander’s Greece were the Kingdom of Cassander (Greece), the Kingdom of Lysimachus (Asia Minor), the Kingdom of Seleucus (greater Persia) and the Kingdom of Ptolemy (Egypt). This was called the Macedonian Empire and the present day nations included in this empire were the nations of the near and mid east from Greece to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Turkey to North Africa.

The most Biblically important king of the Macedonian Empire was Antiochus IV Epiphanies who came out of the Seleucid Empire. He ruled the Seleucid Empire from 175BC to 164 BC. This ruler of what was essentially Persia did fulfill some of Daniel’s prophecies concerning the Antichrist, leader of the fourth and last great beast empire. This included an excursion into Egypt, a retreat into Israel, desecrating the Temple in Jerusalem by putting a statue of Zeus in the Holy place and offering pigs blood on the altar. However, many of Daniel’s prophecies about Antichrist have yet to be fulfilled. Antiochus IV is considered by many to be a precursor or picture of the Antichrist.

What we can deduce from this scripture is that the real Antichrist will arise during the rule of a 10 king kingdom that is made of present day nations that would be considered the area once ruled by the kings of the Macedonian Empire. The Romans overcame the Macedonian Empire in 149 B.C. and the nations or the Macedonian Empire essentially become the Roman Empire of Jesus’ day. The first “king” of the Roman Empire was Julius Caesar. He declared himself to be king or dictator of Rome forever and was the first Caesar to be worshipped as a god. He was also killed on the 15 of March 44 B.C. with a dagger (a small sword). The emperors (or kings) of Rome in John’s day would have been Agustus to Domitian and included Nero and Vespasian.

What all of this is telling us is that Daniel’s four kingdom beasts end up as the10 horned (kings) beast of Daniel 7 and that the 11^th king or the Antichrist comes out of the lands of the old Macedonian Empire, the Middle East today. These 10 kings will represent a conglomeration of present day nations that include the peoples of the old Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian, Macedonian, and Roman Empires (Dan 7:12).

Dan 8:24 “His power will be mighty, but not by his {own} power, And he will destroy to an extraordinary degree And prosper and perform {his will;} He will destroy mighty men and the holy people.

The Antichrist will be powerful, but with Satan’s power not his own. He will destroy many including mighty men (significant leaders) and the holy people (Jews).

Dan 8:25 “And through his shrewdness He will cause deceit to succeed by his influence; And he will magnify {himself} in his heart, And he will destroy many while {they are} at ease. He will even oppose the Prince of princes, But he will be broken without human agency.

He will be a shrew man of great deceit, will magnify himself (be a great narcissist), and will destroy many while they are at ease (when people will be saying peace, peace but there is no peace). He will oppose Jesus but will be broken not by man but by the Lord at his return.

Daniel chapter 9

Dan 9:26 “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end {will come} with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.

The people who destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD were the Romans. Most or these Romans had Grecian blood somewhere in their bloodline. This makes the Greco-Romans the people of the Antichrist. This at least this tells us that the Antichrist is of Greco-Roman ancestry or blood. We also note that the precursor of the Antichrist, Antiochus IV, was a Persian king but he was a descendent of one of Alexander the Great’s Greek generals (i.e., had Greco-Roman blood).

Dan 9:27 NKJV - Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate."

Here we are told that the Antichrist confirms a covenant with the many for one week (a week of years) or 7 years but that after 3 ½ years, in the middle of this 7 year covenant or peace treaty, he breaks the covenant and puts a stop to the Jewish sacrificial system.

First we note that what he does is to confirm, make stronger, or enforce, an existing covenant or treaty. Thus we look for some kind of a peace treaty that exists but is not enforced or adhered to prior to the Antichrist confirming, or actually putting it into effect.  The ending of the sacrificial system implies that the Antichrist has enabled the Jews to re-institute the sacrificial system, which also implies that he has enabled them to rebuild their Temple.

Daniel chapter 11

Dan 11:36 “Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done.

Antichrist will openly exalt himself, calling himself God, openly speaks against the One True God, he prospers until the very end, and then he will be destroyed at Jesus’ coming.

Dan 11:37 “He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the (gods of the) desire of women, nor will he show regard for any {other} god; for he will magnify himself above {them} all.

What gods of his fathers will he not regard? Who or what are these gods? Are they Babylonian gods, Persian gods, Greco-Roman gods, or Arab gods? The answer is probably yes. He will show no regard for the gods that are especially desired by women, or worshipped by women, or any other god; for he will declare himself to be God and allow worship of no other. This is going to make him very unpopular with people that worship Hindu gods, Buda, no god at all etc. It is probably part of the reason that the peoples of the north and east attack him in the end.

Dan 11:38 “But instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor {him} with gold, silver, costly stones and treasures.

Many Bible versions and scholars interpret this verse, “he will honor the god of forces”.  This verse implies that Antichrist is a man of violence, war and military force. He will spend great amounts of money on his war machine. However the phrase “the god of forces” has been applied to many deities of the Middle East (including the pre-Islamic Mesopotamian/Arabian moon god of war known as Sin and Allah – ref. http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/skm30804.htm) and in general probably just represents Satan himself. Note that this god of forces is a god has fathers did not know. Certainly the Greeks, Romans, Persians, Arabs and most of the peoples of the Middle East were peoples of war and they worshipped demonic deities. So, who were the Antichrist’s fathers that did not know this god of fortresses or war? Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Jewish fathers or patriarchs were not men of war and certainly did not worship idols or Satan in any form. Could it possibly be that this Antichrist has some Jewish blood in his bloodline?

Dan 11:39 “He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with {the help of} a foreign god; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge {him} and will cause them to rule over the many, and will parcel out land for a price.

In the Hebrew, this sentence literally begins, "He will develop strong fortresses with a strange god…" With Satan’s help, Antichrist will build a strong military force or army and he will come against many strong nations with his forces. He will greatly honor those who serve him and cause them to rule over “the many”. Note that they will rule over “the many”. This is the same phrase that is used when we were told that he makes a peace treaty or covenant of peace between Israel and “the many”. The implication is that the partners in the peace treaty are the ones who acknowledge him and honor him and he will make them rulers over these same “many”. He will also parcel out or divide land up and give it to his favorites for a price.

Dan 11:40 “At the end time the king of the South will collide with him, and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow {them} and pass through.

At the time of the end, his enemies from the South and from the North attack him. Obviously, he tries, but does not, “rule over the whole earth”. At least these nations are rebelling against his attempts to rule them. The chariots are probably tanks, the horsemen infantry troops, and the ships naval vessels. These battles will occur in several countries, most probably the countries of the Middle East.

Dan 11:41 “He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and many {countries} will fall; but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon.

In these last days battles, he invades or enters Israel and many countries will fall before him, but what today is the Arab area south and east of Jordan will escape his wrath as will the foremost, or the chiefs or best pasts, of the people of Ammon or Jordan today.

Dan 11:42 “Then he will stretch out his hand against {other} countries, and the land of Egypt will not escape.

Egypt however will be attacked and will fall. Here we find that Antichrist and his forces attack Egypt, the king of the south.

Dan 11:43 “But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians {will follow} at his heels.

Along with Egypt, Libya and the Ethiopians (northern Sudan today) will also fall under his attacks. These could be the three kings of the final10 kings that Antichrist puts down as prophesied by Daniel. These were a part of the old Macedonian/Roman Empire.

Dan 11:44 “But rumors from the East and from the North will disturb him, and he will go forth with great wrath to destroy and annihilate many.

While Antichrist’s armies are in North Africa, he will get intelligence of armies from the North (Russia) and from the Far East (China) advancing to attack him. These attacking armies from are also seen in Ezek 38 and 39 and Rev 9:13-17 and 16:12.

Dan 11:45 “He will pitch the tents of his royal pavilion between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

He pulls his armies back into Israel between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean Sea, in the Jezreel valley (the Valley of Armageddon).  Here he meets his end at the hand of the returning Jesus, Commander of the Armies of Heaven, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Daniel chapter 12

Dan 12:11 “From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, {there will be} 1,290 days.

From the time that Antichrist stands in the Holy Place and declares himself to be God (the abomination of desolation) until Christ returns to destroy him will be 1290 days, 3 ½ years plus 30 days. Thus the abomination occurs 1230 days from the start of the days of tribulation. Note that Purim occurs 30 days before Passover and that from Passover to Atonement is 1260 days. The Day of Atonement is believed by many, both Christians and Jews, to be a prophecy of the day the Messiah comes to earth to establish His Kingdom on earth (Zech 13:1). The implication is that the Antichrist desecrates the Temple on Purim then 1290 days later Christ returns to destroy Antichrist and his kingdom. Since the saints of the Highest One (Jews or Israel) are trampled down for 3 ½ years or 1260 days by the Antichrist, this tells us that Antichrist, who has been killed with a dagger (Rev 13:3 and 14), is resurrected and indwelt by Satan on Passover, exactly in the middle of Daniel’s 7 years of trouble. This also tells us that the 7 years of trouble or tribulation will begin on the day of Atonement one of these years with the confirming of a 7 year covenant or peace agreement. Most likely this peace treaty will allow and initiate the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.

Now we are going to jump to some New Testament scriptures not to add to our knowledge about this 11^th king, the Antichrist.

2Th 2:1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,

Again, all of this has to do with the last days, the days of the second coming of Jesus, called the days of the wrath of God.

2Th 2:2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

2Th 2:3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for {it will not come} unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

This day of the Lord, the Lord’s return will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and His ways and laws (apostasy), and the Antichrist is revealed.

2Th 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

This Antichrist opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and takes his seat in the Temple of God, calling himself god. He will stand in the Holy of Holies in a rebuilt Temple and declare himself to be God.

This could happen on Purim, 1230 days after he negotiates a peace treaty between Israel and “the many” (those attacking Israel in the wars of Revelation 6). This is the true and sure revealing of the Antichrist, the son of destruction.

2Th 2:5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?

2Th 2:6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed.

He is currently being restrained and we are supposed to know what it is that is restraining him.

2Th 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains {will do so} until he is taken out of the way.

The Antichrist will be restrained until “he” the restrainer, is taken out of the way. This restrainer is most probably the Holy Spirit as manifested in the True Church. The Church is described in the masculine in the New Testament (i.e. the body of Christ, the temple of the Holy Spirit, etc.) except in Revelation where the church is described as His Bride.

2Th 2:8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming;

After the restrainer, the Church is taken away, then the lawless one, the Antichrist will be revealed and then the Lord will slay him with the breath of His mouth at His coming. The true nature of the 11^th king, leader of the last days 10 king kingdom is certainly revealed when he stands in the Holy of holies and declares himself to be God. For those that know scripture, he is also revealed when the 7-year peace treaty is signed, the event that initiates the 7 years of tribulation. This would hint that the true Church is taken away before the 7 years of tribulation.  

2Th 2:9 {that is,} the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,

The Antichrist will be empowered by and do the work of Satan, with all power, signs, and false wonders.

2Th 2:10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

There will be many who did not receive the truth concerning Jesus. They will be deceived and perish. Who is going to tell then the truth before it is to late? Deception is one of Satan’s biggest weapons in the last days.

2Th 2:11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,

Many will be deluded and deceived and will believe what is false. It is the true Churches’ task to speak the truth in love, to be the watchmen of Ezek. 33 that they will not be deceived and believe what is false.

2Th 2:12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

Many will take pleasure in wickedness and will be judged.

We now turn to the book of Revelation where we get a lot of additional information about the Antichrist, the beast from the sea.

Revelation chapter 12

Rev 12:3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads {were} seven diadems.

Satan himself is described as a beast, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns. We will find that the 7 heads represent 7 kingdoms. The 10 horns represent 10 kings. Satan’s ultimate strategy for taking God’s place and establishing his kingdom on earth is embodied in the 7 worldly kingdoms and the 10 kings of the last worldly empire.

Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

The great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns is Satan. Satan and his demons are cast out of heaven and thrown down to the earth. In the context of Rev. 12:6-9, Satan and his demons are thrown to the earth 1260 days (3 ½ years) before Jesus returns to destroy his kingdom. This coincides with the apparent resurrection of Antichrist at Passover when Satan becomes incarnate in the body of the Antichrist at the mid point of the 7 years of tribulation.

Revelation chapter 13

Rev 13:1 And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns {were} ten diadems, and on his heads {were} blasphemous names.

Satan stands on the sand of the seashore. Symbolically the sea often represents gentile nations. Then another beast comes up out of this sea of gentile nations (non-Jewish nations). The phrase “the sea” can also refer to the Mediterranean Sea. The imagery here then would be of this beast coming up out of the literal Mediterranean Sea, or more likely, out of the nations surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. This beast has ten crowned horns, symbolic of kings, and seven heads (kingdoms) with blasphemous names. So we have both the Antichrist (the beast from the sea and the leader of the last worldly kingdom) and Satan described as beasts having seven heads and ten horns. In the end, they essentially become one as Satan indwells the body of the Antichrist.

Rev 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like {those} of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.

This beast (Antichrist) is described as being like the Grecian Empire, the Medo-Persia Empire and the Babylonian Empire from the book of Daniel. This gives us the picture that Antichrist has all of the evil characteristics of the former kings of Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece. This also gives us clues as to what the seven heads or kingdoms represent. The beast (Antichrist) leads Daniel’s 4^th great beast kingdom. This kingdom embodies, or has characteristics of the first three of Daniel’s world kingdoms, Babylon, Medo-Persian, and Greece. In Daniel 7:6 we are told that the Grecian Empire, the Leopard, has four heads. The kingdoms that developed out of Alexander’s Greece were the Kingdom of Cassander (Greece), the Kingdom of Lysimachus (Asia Minor), the Kingdom of Seleucus (greater Persia) and the Kingdom of Ptolemy (Egypt). This was called the Macedonian Empire and the nations today included in this empire would be the nations of the near and mid east from Greece to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Turkey to North Africa. Daniel 8:23 tells us that the beast arises in the latter part of the rule of these four kingdoms. The Macedonian Empire became the Roman Empire of John’s day in 149 B.C.

With the day of Pentecost, the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem in 70 A.D. and the dispersion of the Jews the times of the gentiles began. For the Old Testament prophets the time of the gentiles is considered “no time”, it is a gap in time lasting until the fullness of the gentiles is completed and God once again turns His attention back to the Jews and His covenants with them (Romans 11:25-27). When the times of the fullness of the gentiles are completed with the rapture of the true Church, time for the Jews begins once again. And it seems that it begins where it left off with a new form of the Roman kingdom of John’s day.

What does this “new form” look like today? In 1453AD, the Islamic Empires and the Caliphate replaced the Roman Empire. The Islamic control over the entire Middle East ended in 1910AD with European Colonialism. Today we are watching the rise once again of the Islamic Empires and the desire, and attempt to re-establish the Caliphate. In a sense, the Islamic Empire is being reborn.

The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph ('successor')" (from the Arabic خلافة or khilāfa, Turkish: Halife), refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah (community). In theory, it is an aristocratic-theocraticconstitutional republic^[1] (the Constitution being the Constitution of Medina), which means that the head of state, the Caliph, and other officials are representatives of the people and of Islam and must govern according to constitutional and religious law, or Sharia.

Considering all of this consistent with the book of Daniel and history, the seven heads representing kingdoms could be Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece/Macedonia, Rome, then the three morphed forms of the old Roman Empire, the Islamic Empire, European Colonialism, and the final 10 king beast kingdom lead by an 11^th king who is the Beast of the last days, the one we call the Antichrist. The ten horns of the Beast would represent the ten kings of this final empire.

 If we choose to separate the Macedonian Empire from the Grecian Empire, then the Macedonian Empire would replace European Colonialism as one of the seven heads or kingdoms. We could also separate the Median Empire from the Persian Empire. The seven heads or kingdoms would then be Babylon, Media, Persia, Greece, Macadonia, Rome, and the final form of Rome, the 10 king empire of the Antichrist. History tells us that this final form of the Roman Empire of Daniel’s day was the Islamic Empire.

If we consider the seven heads or kingdoms outside of Daniel’s beasts, we might conclude that the seven kingdoms would be Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, the Islamic Empires, and the final 10 king conglomerate of the final empire. There are some who would also include the old Egyptian Empire. The 7 kingdoms would then be Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and the final 10 king empire of the Antichrist. They would leave out the Islamic Empire and European Colonialism as belonging to the Church Age and not a part of Daniel’s 4 beasts. Because Egypt and Assyria are not mentioned in Daniel’s prophecy, if we try to stay true to the book of Daniel, I tend to reject the inclusion of Assyria and Egypt as a part of Daniel’s 4 beast empires and the 7 heads of Satan.

Rev 13:3 {I saw} one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed {and followed} after the beast;

One of the seven heads is slain but the fatal wound healed, i.e. he comes back to life. Here we see one of the seven heads killed and then apparently resurrected. Since the heads represent kingdoms, this could mean that one of the old kingdoms of the book of Daniel becomes a powerful kingdom once again in the last days. Logically, current world events lead us to believe that this would be the old Roman/Islamic Empire.

However in context, we are dealing here with the second beast, the beast from the sea or the Antichrist. Also this verse says, “his fatal wound was healed”, implying that it is dealing with a man. Therefore if we see these 7 heads as kings of the kingdoms from verse 13:2, then it could be that one of these kings that was slain by a fatal dagger wound (Rev 13:14 tells us that a large knife or a small sword [a dagger] makes this wound) comes back to life (i.e. out of the abyss) and becomes the Antichrist. Any one of the 7 kings of the 7 kingdoms from Nebuchadnezzar to Antichrist could fulfill this prophecy. Other studies indicate however that it is most probably the king of the 7^th kingdom, the Antichrist (the 11^th king of the last 10 kings) who lives, is killed with a dagger at the midpoint of the 7 years of tribulation and then comes back to life as Satan indwells him for the last 3 ½ years of the 7 years of tribulation.

Rev 13:4 they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?”

Satan is worshipped because he gives his authority to the beast (Antichrist), and they also worship the Antichrist. Because of his great charisma, strength and his resurrection Antichrist is worshipped as god.

Rev 13:5 There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.

Antichrist reigns in this authority and power for 42 months (1260 days or 3 ½ years). During these 3 ½ years, Satan and Antichrist are spoken of as one. The implication is that when the Antichrist comes back to life after being killed, Satan indwells his body and in essence, they become one.

Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, {that is,} those who dwell in heaven.

He blasphemes God and His tabernacle that is those who dwell in heaven. At this time those who dwell in heaven would include God, His angels, His Bride the true Church, and I believe, the 144,000 true sons of Israel who were His witness on earth during the first 3 ½ years of the 7 years of tribulation (Rev 7).

Rev 13:7 It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.

During these 3 ½ years, Antichrist wars with the saints (Jews) and overcomes them (they are given into his hands). His authority from Satan is extended over every tribe and people and tongue and nation even though some of these still oppose and rebel against him (i.e. the King of the North, the king of the South, and kings of the East).

Rev 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, {everyone} whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

Antichrist is feared and worshiped by all except those whose names have been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Rev 13:17 and {he provides} that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, {either} the name of the beast or the number of his name.

During these 3 ½ years Antichrist will attempt to control all commerce through a world wide financial system that requires one to pledge allegiance to the Antichrist and take his mark on their forehead or right hand.

Revelation chapter 17

Rev 17:5 and on her forehead a name {was} written, a mystery, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly

Mystery Babylon is the mother or source of all evil, idolatry, and abominations of the earth, and the cause of all who have died for the Lord.

Rev 17:7 And the angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

The beast behind this source of all evil is the seven headed, ten horned red dragon, Satan. Mystery Babylon would then represent all the false gods, religions, evil kings and leaders, governments, economic systems, cause of wars, etc. down through the ages that Satan has used to exert his influence and control over the people of the earth.

Rev. 17:15-18 tells us that these earthly systems of idol worship, false religions, commerce, governments, and economic systems are eventually attacked by the Antichrist and his 10 kings as he replaces them all with worship of him only and with his political and economic systems.

Rev 17:8 “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.

If this beast represents all of the kingdoms of Satan, then the beast that was would represent the kingdoms from Babylon to Rome. The beast that “is not” would be the Islamic kingdom. The beast that is about to come up out of the abyss (out of hell) would be the last 10 king kingdom of the Antichrist.

 If the beast here is the beast that comes up out of the sea, it would be the Antichrist. This beast is the Antichrist who lives, is killed, and apparently comes back to life when Satan indwells the body at the midpoint of the last 7 years. It is this beast; Note that it is Satan incarnate, that overcomes the two witnesses of the last 31/2 years of the tribulation (Rev. 11:7). But looking ahead to verse 11 we are told that this beast is an eighth king and is also one of the seven that are discussed in verses 9 and 10.

Rev 17:9 “Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits,

Here the seven heads are called seven mountains or kingdoms that have been seats of Mystery Babylon or evil throughout the ages. Since it is one of the heads that is wounded unto death, one of the historical 7 kingdoms of Daniel would have to be resurrected. The logical one would the one that is different from the first three, the 4^th great beast kingdom Rome with its three parts, the Islamic Empire, European Colonialism, and the final 10 king empire. If we choose to separate the Median and the Persian Empires and the Macedonian Empire from the Grecian Empire then the 4^th beast would be the Roman Empire and the Islamic Empire, which is the final 10 king empire of the Antichrist. This view makes the current era of European Colonialism and the rebirth of Israel a transition period where the Islamic Empire seemed to die. Now current events are telling us that it is the Islamic Empire that is being resurrected as the 10 kings empire of the Antichrist.

Rev 17:10 and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while.

Here the seven heads are also called seven kings (key or first kings of the seven kingdoms). Five kings have fallen by John’s day, one is and the last is yet to come. The five kings that have fallen could be Nebuchadnezzar (Babylon), and maybe Darius or Cyrus (Media), Xerxes (Persia), Alexander the Great (Greece), and Antiochus IV Epiphanies (Macedonia). The one that is would be the key ruler of Rome in John’s day. The one yet to come would be the 11^th king that leads the final 10 king kingdom, the Antichrist.

Rev 17:11 “The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is {one} of the seven, and he goes to destruction.

The Antichrist is also an eighth king and is also one of the seven, and he goes to destruction or perdition at Christ’s return. This says that the Antichrist is an eighth king but is also one of the original seven. Then according to Rev 17:8, one of the original seven kings who died and “is not” will come up out of the abyss to become the Antichrist and therefore an eighth king.

Note that the king of Daniel’s 4^th great beast empire who was killed by dagger wound was Julius Caesar who essentially transformed the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire (was the first king), and was the first Roman emperor to be worshipped as a god. However the emperors (or kings) of Rome in John’s day would have been Augustus to Domitian including Nero and Vespasian. Any one of these could be considered the “king” in John’s day. Indeed, from this perspective, any one of the former kings of Daniel’s 4 beasts could be the one that come up from the abyss to become the Antichrist.

More likely however, this verse is a picture of the Antichrist who lives and comes to power, is then killed with a small sword or dagger, and then apparently comes back to life as Satan indwells him after being thrown down to earth at the mid point of the 7 years of tribulation. This tells us that the 7^th head or king is the Antichrist before he is killed and the 8^th king is Satan himself incarnate in the body of Antichrist

Rev 17:12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.

Here it is made clear that the ten horns are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom but will do so in the last days but for only a very short period of time. This is important to us because we are to be looking for this empire. This empire is the final form of the 4^th great beast empire from the book of Daniel. Out of this empire, 10 kings or leaders arise. After they arise an 11^th kings arises among them.  It does not tell us from where he arises but he is apparently not one of the first 10. This 11^th king will be the Antichrist.

Rev 17:13 “These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast.

The ten kings give all of their power and authority to the beast.

Rev 17:14 “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him {are the} called and chosen and faithful.”

Jesus destroys them all when he returns as King of kings with His Bride, the chosen and faithful ones. At the Lord’s coming the body of the Antichrist is thrown into the Lake of Fire, which is the second death. Satan is imprisoned in the Abyss for 1000 years. After which he is also thrown into the Lake of Fire (Rev 19:19-20, 20:1-3).

Summarizing: Antichrist - The Beast from the sea

• First we note that the ten kings in power at the time of the end arise or come out of Daniel’s 4^th great and terrible beast kingdom. Then another, and 11^th king will arise among and after them, different from the first 10 kings. After he, the Antichrist, comes forth he subdues three of the first 10 kings.

• Antichrist wars against God, wears down the saints of God (Jews), tries to alter the Jewish times (seasons or festivals) and the law (the Torah). The saints of the Highest One, are given into his hand for three and one half years.

• The Antichrist will arise in the latter period of the rule of the area of the Middle East once ruled by the kings of the Macedonian Empire. Nations included in this empire were the nations of the near and mid east from Greece and Macedonia to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Turkey to North Africa.

• The Antichrist will be powerful, but with Satan’s power not his own. He will destroy many including mighty men and the holy people.

• He will be a man of deceit, will magnify himself, and will destroy many while they are at ease. He will oppose Jesus but will be broken not by man but by the Lord at his return.

• The Greco-Romans are the people of the Antichrist. This at least this tells us that the Antichrist is of Greco-Roman ancestry or blood.

• Here we are told that the Antichrist confirms a firm covenant with “the many” (the nations attacking Israel in the last days) for one week or 7 years but that after 3 ½ years, in the middle of this 7 year covenant or peace treaty, he breaks the covenant and puts a stop to the Jewish sacrificial system. This implies that the Antichrist has enabled the Jews to re-institute the sacrificial system, which also implies that he has enabled them to rebuild their Temple.

• Antichrist will openly exalt himself, calling himself God, openly speaks against the One True God, he will prosper until the very end, and then be destroyed at Jesus’ coming.

• He will show no regard for the gods that are desired by women, or worshipped by women, or any other god; for he will declare himself to be God and allow worship of no other. But he does worship “the god of forces”, probably a reference to Satan himself or at least he worships power expressed through military might.

• He is a man of war and military force. He will spend great amounts of money on his war machine.

• With Satan’s help, Antichrist will come against many strong nations with his forces. He will greatly honor those who serve him, cause them to rule over many peoples, and he will grant rule over lands. He will parcel out or divide land up and give it to his favorites for a price.

• At the time of the end, his enemies from the South, East and from the North attack him. Obviously, he tries, but does not, “rule over the whole earth”. At least these nations are rebelling against his attempts to rule them.

• In these last days, he invades or enters Israel and countries will fall before him, but what today are Jordan and the Arab area south and east of Jordan will escape his wrath.

• Egypt however will be attacked and will fall.

• Along with Egypt, Libya and the Ethiopians (northern Sudan today) will also fall under his attacks. These could be the three kings of the 10 that Antichrist puts down as prophesied by Daniel.

• But while Antichrist’s armies are in North Africa, he will get intelligence of armies from the North (Russia) and from the Far East (China) advancing to attack him.

• He pulls his armies back to Israel between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean Sea, in the Jezreel valley, the Valley of Armageddon, where he meets his end at the hand of the returning Jesus, Commander of the Armies of Heaven, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

• From the time that Antichrist stands in the Holy Place and declares himself to be God (the abomination of desolation) until Christ returns to destroy him will be 1290 days, 3 ½ years plus 30 days

• The day of the Lord, the Lord’s return will not come until the great rebellion against God and His ways and laws (apostasy) happens, and until the Antichrist is revealed.

• This Antichrist opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and takes his seat in the Temple of God, calling himself god. He will stand in the Holy of Holies in a rebuilt Temple and declare himself to be God.

• The Antichrist will be restrained until “he” the restrainer, is taken out of the way. This restrainer is most probably the Holy Spirit as manifested in the True Church.

• After the restrainer, the Church is taken away, then the lawless one, the Antichrist will be revealed and then the Lord will slay him with the breath of His mouth.

• The Antichrist will be empowered by and do the work of Satan, with all power, signs, and false wonders.

• Antichrist is the beast that comes up out of this sea of gentile nations (non-Jewish nations). The phrase “the sea” can also refer to the Mediterranean Sea. The imagery here then would be of this beast coming up out of the literal Mediterranean Sea, more likely out of the nations surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.

• The seven heads of the Antichrist representing kingdoms would be Babylon, Media, Persia, Greece, Macedonia, Rome, and the Islamic empire which becomes the final 10 king beast kingdom lead by the Antichrist.

• One of the seven heads is slain but the fatal wound healed, i.e. he comes back to life. Rev 13:14 tells us that a large knife or a small sword (a dagger) makes this wound. Here we see one of the seven heads (kingdoms) killed and then apparently resurrected. This could mean that one of the old kingdoms of the book of Daniel becomes a powerful kingdom once again in the last days. Logically this would be the last reigning kingdom or Islam. This would lead us to the concept of a revived Islamic Empire in the last days. However if we see these 7 heads as kings of the kingdoms from verse 13:2, then it could be that one of these kings that was slain by a fatal dagger wound comes back to life (i.e. out of the abyss) and becomes the Antichrist. Any of the kings associated with the seven kingdoms who had been slain with a dagger could fulfill the prophecies. But the beast or Antichrist himself who is apparently killed during the 7 years of tribulation and comes back to life as Satan incarnate is the most probable fulfillment.

• Antichrist reigns in Satan’s full authority and power for 42 months (1260 days or 3 ½ years). During these 3 ½ years, Satan and Antichrist are spoken of as one. The implication is that when the Antichrist comes back to life after being killed, Satan indwells his body and in essence, they become one, Satan incarnate.

• During these 3 ½ years Antichrist will attempt to control all commerce through a world wide financial system that requires one to pledge allegiance to the Antichrist and take his mark on their forehead or right hand.

• The seven heads are also called seven kings (key or first kings of the seven kingdoms). Five kings have fallen by John’s day, one is and the last is yet to come. The five kings that have fallen could be Nebuchadnezzar (Babylon), Darius or Cyrus (Media), Xerxes (Persia), Alexander the Great (Greece), and Antiochus IV Epiphanies (Macedonia). The one that is could be any one of the emperors of Rome during John’s day from Augustus to Domitian including Nero and Vespasian, or even Julius Caesar who was the first king of the Roman Empire. The one yet to come would be the 11^th king that leads the final 10 king kingdom, the Antichrist.

• There is an 8^th king is most likely Satan himself incarnate in the body of Antichrist.  Antichrist lives and comes to power, is then killed with a small sword or dagger and then apparently comes back to life as Satan indwells him after being thrown down to earth at the mid point of the 7 years of tribulation.

• Jesus destroys all of the ungodly world kingdoms when he returns as King of kings with His Bride, the chosen and faithful ones. At the Lord’s coming the Antichrist is thrown into the Lake of Fire, which is the second death. Satan (a fallen angel) is imprisoned in the Abyss for 1000 years. After which he is also thrown into the Lake of Fire (Rev 19:19-20, 20:1-3).

Additional references

• (Ezekiel 28:1-10; Daniel 7:7-8, 20-26; 8:23-25; 9:26-27; 11:36-45; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10; Revelation 13:1-10; 17:8-14)
• He (the Antichrist) will appear in the “latter times” of Israel’s history (Daniel 8:23).
• He will not appear until the Day of the Lord has begun (2 Thessalonians 2:2).
• The ‘Restrainer’ is now hindering him (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7).
• He will be preceded by an apostasy, a great rebellion against God and His law (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3).
• He arises from the sea (generally symbolic of the nations of the earth in contrast to “the land” which often symbolizes Israel; Revelation 13:1)
• He may have Jewish ancestry as indicated in Daniel 11:37-38 and Ezekiel 21:25-27.
• He may be related to the tribe of Dan as indicated in Genesis 49:1-17.
• He rises from the remnant of the old empires that have plundered Jerusalem and the Temple, since he is a ruler of the people who destroyed Jerusalem and the Sanctuary (Daniel 9:26).
• He is the head of the last form of Gentile world dominion. He is like a leopard, a bear, and a lion (Revelation 13:1; Daniel 7:7-8, 20, 24; Revelation 17:9-11) implying an amalgamated form of the old Babylonian, Persian, and Grecian empires.
• He is a political leader. The seven heads and ten horns (Revelation 13:1; 17:12) are federated under his authority.
• He rules over nations (Revelation 13:8). This influence comes through the alliance that he makes with other nations (Daniel 8:24; Revelation 17:12).
• He overcomes three rulers in his rise to power (Daniel 7:8; 24). 
• One of the heads of the Beast seems to have a deadly wound (by a small sword) but is healed (Revelation 13:3, 12, 14).
• The Beast comes into the world with the first seal (was). He dies with a dagger wound at the mid point of the last seven years, the years of wrath (is not).  After his death there will be an apparent resurrection. He will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition (Revelation 17:8). His rise comes through his peace program (Daniel 8:25).
• He is intelligent, persuasive (Daniel 7:8, 20; 8:23), subtle and crafty (Ezekiel 28:6). He rules over others by their own consent (Revelation 17:13).
• He rules with absolute authority (Daniel 11:36), and he changes laws and customs (probably Jewish ones, Daniel 7:25).
• His motivation and chief interest is in might and power (Daniel 11:38).
• He makes a seven-year covenant with Israel that he breaks after three and one-half years (Daniel 9:27).
• He introduces idolatrous worship in which he sets himself up as god (Daniel 9:27; 11:36-37; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:5).
• He is a blasphemer because of the assumption of deity (Ezekiel 28:2; Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:1, 5-6).
• He is energized by and receives his authority from Satan, and is controlled by the pride of the devil (Ezekiel 28:9-12; Revelation 13:4; Ezekiel 28:2; Daniel 8:25).
• He is the head of Satan’s lawless system (2 Thessalonians 2:3), and proves his authority by signs wrought through satanic power (2 Thessalonians 2:9-19).
• He is received as god and as ruler because of the blindness of the people (2 Thessalonians 2:11).
• He becomes the great adversary of Israel (Daniel 7:21, 25; 8:24; Revelation 13:7).
• There will come an alliance against him that will contest his authority (Ezekiel 28:7; Daniel 11:40, 42).
• He will gain control over Israel and adjacent territory (Daniel 11:42).
• He rises to power with the help of corrupt religious systems called the harlot, which he destroys when he requires all to worship him (Revelation 17:3).
• The ruler destroys these systems, the harlot, so that he alone is worshiped and may rule unhindered (Revelation 17:16-17).
• He becomes the special adversary of the Prince of Princes, Jesus, (Daniel 8:25), His program (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 17:14), and His people (Daniel 7:21, 25; 8:24; Revelation 13:7).
• He continues in power for 7 years (Daniel 9:27), but his overt satanic activity is confined to the last half (3 ½ years) of the tribulation period (Daniel 7:25; 9:27; 11:36; Revelation 13:5).
• His rule will be terminated by a direct judgment from God (Ezekiel 28:6; Daniel 7:22, 26; 8:25; 9:27; 11:45; Revelation 19:19-20). This judgment will take place in a military campaign in and around Israel (Ezekiel 28:8-9; Revelation 19:19). The final battle will take place between the sea and the Glorious Mountain (in the Jezreel Valley between the Mediterranean Sea and Jerusalem), (Dan. 11:45).
• At Christ’s return he will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20; Ezekiel 28:10).
• This judgment will take place at the second advent of Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:8; Daniel 7:22) and will constitute a manifestation of Christ’s Messianic authority (Revelation 11:15).
• The kingdom of the beast will pass to the authority of the Messiah and will become the Kingdom of the Saints (Daniel 7:27).