“Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming [in order to replace Christ Jesus as God’s promised Messiah], even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour. Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ [God’s promised Messiah]? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son [by rejecting Their words-Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26]. Whoever denies the Son [by disobeying His words] does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son [through obedience to the Son] has the Father also” (1 John 2:18, 22, 23).
The Antichrist, when he comes, will prove to the satisfaction of the nations of the world, the worldly church, and the Jewish religious leaders, that he, not Christ Jesus, is truly the promised Jewish Messiah (deliverer) foretold by the prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures. For when Antichrist comes, he comes with all power and signs (fulfilling many Messianic prophecies) and false wonders, for Satan gives him all of his power and his throne and his great authority (2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:2). The purpose of the Antichrist is to displace Christ Jesus as God’s promised Messiah in the hearts of mankind!
When the whole earth begins to worship the Antichrist, it is because they have come to believe a lie. The whole earth will have become convinced that the Antichrist is truly the promised son of David, The Messiah, the deliverer of the sons of Israel and of all the nations of the earth (Genesis 17:4,7-9; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12)!
“Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him, that you may 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. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy [rejection of God’s word, through unbelief and disobedience] comes first, and the man of lawlessness [the Antichrist, the long-awaited false Jewish Messiah] is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship [even usurping Christ Jesus as Messiah], so that he takes his seat in the temple of God [this particular temple will be a temple of stone that will soon be built upon the Temple Mount in Jerusalem], displaying himself as being God.
Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And you know what restrains him [the false Jewish Messiah] now, so that in his time he may be revealed. 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.
And then that lawless one [who is unrestrained by God’s word] 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 [Revelation 19:19-20], that is, the one [Antichrist/false Jewish Messiah] whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness [Revelation 13:1-9] for those who perish because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false [causing them to receive a different Jesus, a different spirit, and a different gospel-one that does not lead to holiness-Hebrews 12:14 KJV] in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12).
When this happens, that is, the acceptance of Antichrist (false Jewish Messiah) by the world as being the true Messiah of God, and it is soon to happen, then the various Christian Bible interpretations along with the New Testament, will be believed by the world, including the worldly church, to be the spurious works of a false religious system, the teachings of an antichrist (now believed by the world to have been Christ Jesus). This will result in a hue and cry for the destruction of all Christian Bibles and a closing of all Christian Churches throughout the world, for mankind will have become convinced that Christianity has been displeasing to God by teaching the doctrines of an antichrist (a false Messiah), and because of this, Christianity will be believed by mankind to be the cause of all of the curses and plagues that cover the earth. Mankind will do all in its power to rid itself of all of the vestiges of Christianity, as rapidly as it is able to do so; all the while thinking that they are offering service to God (John 16:2).
How could this happen? Pursuing God’s Word has been put on the bottom of everyone’s laundry list of things to do, and as a result, the worldwide apostasy of the Church has completely taken place. Christianity upon the earth today, excepting for God’s unseen remnant, is walking in total darkness and does not understand the Gospel of Grace, its purpose, or its outcome! Without understanding, there is nothing left to restrain the Antichrist and his gospel from overtaking mankind!
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh [as the promised Messiah] is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus [as being the promised Messiah] is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world [teaching that Christ Jesus was a false Messiah]” (1 John 4:1-3). Be warned!
In Israel, and around the world, there is a movement that is led by Jewish religious leaders, who are explaining how Christ Jesus was not the Messiah.
They attempt to explain away Christian interpretation of Scriptures which show that Christ Jesus did indeed fulfill the Messianic prophecies. It is all very well orchestrated to draw people to the conclusion that perhaps our Christian scriptural understandings are in error (and many of them are). Christians are even being drawn into Judaism as a result. Begin to listen to what is being taught by some of the Jewish rabbi’s in regards to their expectations for their Jewish Messiah when he is revealed to mankind, and you will quickly begin to understand the implications of what is being taught in the name of God and truth. Begin by simply searching the web for background information on the Jewish Messiah.
The Jewish teachers are using well-reasoned arguments that seem to clearly expose that the whole concept of Christianity, although created with good intentions, is not according to Scripture. They teach that Christianity is a religion based entirely on false interpretations of Scripture, and therefore, Christianity should be seen by the people of the world for what it is, simply another religious cult. Be warned! This will grow into a powerful deception, accompanied by signs and wonders and fulfilled prophecies that will deceive the whole world.
Only those who know the God of the Word, who are lead by the Holy Spirit to understand these things; who have accepted God’s cup to drink; who have truly died to any desires for the good things of this world (family, friends, property, money, safety, shelter, prestige, religious traditions, etc.), will be able to endure to the end. These are the ones who have picked up their cross, denying themselves everything, in order to know and obey the Father through His Son, Christ Jesus. The end for the elect, excepting for a very, very few, will be death at the hands of the Antichrist and his followers.
Elijah the Prophet
“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse” ( Malachi 4:5-6).
Elijah the Prophet will not come to the earth again “before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord,” as prophesied in Malachi 4:5-6, because he has already come. This prophecy was fulfilled during the days of Christ Jesus, in the person of John the Baptist.
The angel Gabriel, speaking to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, said, “For he [John the Baptist] will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine or liquor; and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, while yet in his mother’s womb. And he will turn back many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. And it is he [John the Baptist] who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous; so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord [in fulfillment of Malachi 4:5-6]”(Luke 1:15-17).
By comparing Malachi 4:5-6 with Luke 1:15-17, shown above, it is easy to see that John the Baptist, “in the spirit and power of Elijah”, has already fulfilled this prophecy. Thus, doctrine based upon the return of Elijah in the last days will always be in error!
Furthermore, our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus said of John the Baptist, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and violent men take it by force. For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you care to accept it, he himself [John the Baptist] is Elijah, who was to come” (Matthew 11:11-14). In these Scriptures, we have a second witness that John the Baptist was the Elijah of Malachi 4:5-6, who was prophesied to come to earth a second time.
Yet, in accordance with the Jewish religious teaching concerning the coming of Elijah the prophet, there will be an impersonator of Elijah the prophet who comes forth on the earth to announce the coming of the expected Jewish Messiah (deliverer), who is the Antichrist. This prophet will come with all the power of Elijah the prophet. However, just as the Antichrist is a false messiah, so the expected Elijah is a false prophet. His purpose is to make the way smooth for the false Jewish Messiah’s entry upon the world scene by preparing men’s hearts to receive the Antichrist as being the promised Messiah. He will do this in exactly the same way John the Baptist prepared the hearts of the Jewish people to receive Christ Jesus in his day.
The prophesied Jewish Elijah is described perfectly in the following verses: “And I saw another beast [false Elijah the prophet] coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb [believed by misled minds to be the prophet Elijah], and he spoke as a dragon [by preaching a different Jesus and a different gospel-2 Corinthians 11:4]. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast [Antichrist/false Jewish Messiah] in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast [Antichrist/false Jewish Messiah], whose fatal wound was healed [the Antichrist is to be resurrected from the dead]. And he [the false Elijah] performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men [just as did the true Elijah-1 kings 18:16-39, esp. 38]. And he [the false Elijah] deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast[Antichrist/false Jewish Messiah], telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast [Antichrist/false Jewish Messiah] who had the wound of the sword[he was killed according to the Word-Revelation 11:5] and has come to life [the Antichrist is resurrected from the dead, and renamed the beast that comes up out of the abyss]. And there was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast [Antichrist/false Jewish Messiah], that the image of the beast might even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead, and he provides that no one should be able to buy or to sell except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast [Antichrist/false Jewish Messiah] or the number of his name [777-read “Number And Name Of The Beast” on this web site]. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six” (Revelation 13:11-18).
Antichrist’s Background
In order for the Antichrist to cause the world, almost all of modern-day Christianity, and the world’s Jewish religious leaders to believe what is false, that is, that he, the Antichrist, is truly the foretold Jewish Messiah promised in Hebrew Scriptures and not Christ Jesus, the Antichrist must convincingly meet their various Messianic expectations. With this being accomplished, the Antichrist will have displaced Christ Jesus as Messiah!
Those Messianic expectations are found listed below, expressed in italics. We distilled this list from comments made by Rabbi Chaim Richman of the Temple Institute in Jerusalem, a man who is at the forefront of making the way smooth for the appearance of the Jewish Messiah (deliverer), just as John the Baptist did for our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. Keep in mind that this expected Jewish Messiah, when he comes, will usurp Christ Jesus, in the hearts of men, as being the Messiah sent by God.
1. “The Jewish Messiah rises out of Israel.”
Response: Christ Jesus rose out of Israel.
2. “The Messiah is a direct descendant of King David, from the Tribe of Judah. He is known as Mashiach ben David, Messiah the son of David.”
Response: Matthew 1:1 states that Christ Jesus is the son of King David and Abraham.
3. “According to Malachi 4:5-6, Elijah will return as a prophet and announce the coming of the Messiah: `Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of God.’”
Response: As we explained earlier in this article, Elijah the prophet has already come in the person of John the Baptist, fulfilling this prophecy. The Elijah that is spoken of will be a convincing impersonator, who will make smooth the entry of Antichrist upon the world stage.
4. “It is necessary for Elijah to come for the Messiah will be the king, and a king can only be anointed by a prophet.”
Response: We are reminded of the baptism of Jesus by the prophet of God, John the Baptist.
5. “The Messiah himself will also be a prophet…the greatest of them all, second only to Moses.”
Response: Christ Jesus was also a prophet, second to none.
6. “The appearance of the Messiah is in itself a sign that prophecy has been re-instated…for the term “coming of the Messiah” refers to the moment when the Messiah receives the spirit of prophecy and realizes his mission.”
Response: A true prophet of God speaks the words of God. A false prophet speaks falsely while claiming to be speaking the words of God. When the Antichrist/false Jewish Messiah comes, all mankind will be hearing new revelation from him, which will be a different interpretation of God’s Word, in essence, a rejection of both God and God’s Word, all the while using the words of God.
7. “Malachi 3:1 says, “`Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,’ says the Lord of hosts.” This indicates that the 3rd Temple will be built before the Messiah’s arrival. This is also the opinion of the sages of Israel, recorded in the Jewish Talmud: “The Holy Temple will in the future be re-established before the establishment of the kingdom of David” (Ma’aser Sheni 29).”
Response: At this point, we need to put the interpretive words of the sages of Israel in perspective. The Jewish Talmud “is the body of Jewish civil and religious law, including commentaries on the Torah, or Pentateuch law” (Encarta Encyclopedia). Keep in mind that the Talmud consists of the interpretive words of men, not the final and authoritative words of God!
On the other hand, the Old and New Testaments of the Christian Bible define themselves as not being the words of mere men, but the words of God, written by men, given them by the Holy Spirit of God (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 12:6). Further, the Bible tells mankind that the meaning of the Words of God are hidden from man’s understanding, and can only be understood by the Holy Spirit unveiling their meaning (1 Corinthians 2:11; 1 John 2:27; 5:7).
What does this mean to you? You have only One Teacher that is able to open your eyes to understand the words of God, and that Teacher is the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus (1 John 2:27; 1 Corinthians 2:11; Isaiah 55:8-9). Put aside your countless commentaries on the Scriptures, written by men, and begin to study the Word itself! It is the height of arrogance to think that you will be able to open the understanding of God’s Word by the power of your intellect and methodologies of studying Scripture. Mankind has only one teacher that can bring an accurate understanding of the ways and thoughts of God, and that teacher is the Spirit of God. Ask yourself a simple question: If a true prophet of God were to come to me and explain the meaning of God’s Scriptures, according to God’s intent for their meaning, how could I know that what he was teaching was absolute truth? You would not and could not know unless you have the mind of God (1 Corinthians 2:9-16)!
If what you understand about the Holy Scriptures has come to you solely from the mouths of men, you can be certain that their teachings have led you astray from the truth, for no lie or error of any kind is of the truth (1 John 2:21; Matthew 16:12; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8). Thus, every word of the teachings of men must be carefully and prayerfully and faithfully searched out in the Scriptures, to know whether the things which you have been taught are true or false (Acts 17:10-12). If you seek truth with a pure heart, the Spirit of God will confirm to you whether or not the teaching is from God or a deceiver (John 7:17).
8. “In the Midrash Yalkut Shimoni (Isaiah 499) it is stated: “Our rabbis taught: when the messiah (Antichrist/Messianic pretender) arrives, he will stand on the roof of the Holy Temple, and shout out to Israel: `Humble ones! The time of your redemption is at hand!‘”
Response: This is something that Christ Jesus did not do, however, this will be an important and convincing sign which the Jews will expect from their Messiah when he arrives upon the world scene.
9. “Jewish scholars believe that before the Messianic Era commences, more than half of the Jewish people will have to live in the land of Israel.”
Response: At present, there are some 13,155,000 million Jews upon the earth, according to a recent report, and 5,472,000 Jews were living in Israel at the end of 2007. With 41.6% of the world’s Jews living in Israel, you can see why many Jewish scholars believe that the Jewish Messianic Era is close at hand!
10. “Once the Jewish messiah arrives, he will accomplish the complete ingathering of the Jewish exiles to the land of Israel.”
11. “Tradition maintains that there will be great suffering right before the advent (coming) of the Jewish messiah.”
12. “The Jewish messiah, when he arrives, will have all the laws reinstituted as in former days, sacrifices will be brought, and the sabbatical and Jubilee year records will be adhered to as specified in the Torah…and he will see to it that all of Israel follow these laws (see Daniel 7:25).”
Response: Yes, the Antichrist will intend to make alterations in times and in the law through using his abilities as a false prophet to pervert God’s Word, and by returning mankind back to the temple sacrificial system for the forgiveness of their sins: “And 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” (Daniel 7:25).
13. “Jews do not accept the notion that Scripture “foretells” that God would robe Himself in flesh. Jews believe that this idea is the very embodiment of idolatry. Thus the Jews believe that when their messiah comes he will be a man just like you and I. The Jewish Messiah (Antichrist) will not be the embodiment of God in the flesh.”
Response: This should tell the reader that when the Jews receive and accept their Messiah, he will not be Christ Jesus, whom the Scriptures reveal is God in the flesh (Hebrews 1:8; Isaiah 7:14); and further, their acceptance of their Messianic pretender will be a total refutation of Christ Jesus as Messiah, and of Christianity.
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin [Mary, the mother of Jesus] will be with child and bear a son [Christ Jesus], and she will call His name Immanuel [God with us, the embodiment of God in the flesh]” (Isaiah 7:14).
An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and explained that the above Scripture in Isaiah applied specifically to Christ Jesus: “`Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which translated means `God with us’” (Matthew 1:23).
“By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ [Whom God’s Word calls God in Hebrews 1:8] has come in the flesh is from God” (1 John 4:2).
Each one of us has to decide whom to believe; the endless musings of men, or, the Word of God! (see 2 Timothy 1:8-14)
14. “The reason Jews do not accept Jesus as Messiah is a basic (simple) one: the Jews do not see that He fulfilled any of the requirements for the job. They say, `The identity of the Messiah is not up to you or me, it is up to his performance to prove.’”
Response: This is said because they do not understand the Scriptures. They interpret Scriptures according to their traditional understanding, rather than according to the intent and purposes of God. Jesus actually did fulfill the Scriptures concerning Himself, with additional fulfillment yet to come.
15. “When the Jewish Messiah arrives, it should not be necessary for his identity to be subject to debate, for the world should be so drastically changed for the better that it should be absolutely incontestable! Why should it be necessary to “prove” him at all? If the Messiah has come, why should anyone have any doubt?”
Response: When the Antichrist/ false Jewish Messiah comes, he will come with all the power, signs, and false wonders of Satan and everyone who did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved will receive a deluding influence sent from God, so that they might believe what is false (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12).
Consider this warning from Scripture: “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, `Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you to find out if you love the Lord your God with all our heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 13:1-3).
16. “The Messiah will cause the entire world to return to God and His teachings.”
Response: This is partially true! The Jewish Messiah will require the entire world to return to the Temple sacrifices for the forgiveness of their sins; it will be as if Christ Jesus had never existed.
17. “The Messiah will restore the royal dynasty to the descendants of David.”
Response: No, it is Christ Jesus who will restore the throne of David when He begins to rule upon the earth, as shown in Revelation 11:15-18.
“And the angel said to her, `Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob [Israel] forever; and His kingdom will have no end.’” (Luke 1:30-33).
18. “The Messiah will oversee the rebuilding of Jerusalem, including the Temple, in the event that it has not yet been rebuilt.”
Response: It is scripturally true that the Messiah, Christ Jesus, will oversee the building of the true Temple of God. However, this Temple will not be a temple built of stone, as today’s Jewish religious leaders suppose, but One that will be built in the hearts of men (Zechariah 6:12-13, 15; Revelation 21:22).
19. “The Messiah will reestablish the Sanhedrin.”
20. “Every prophecy about the Messiah makes it clear that he comes once and does the job. He will influence all men to serve God with a pure heart.”
Response: Keep in mind that the Antichrist’s god is Satan!
21. “Many of our traditions predict that there will be an extremely advanced technology in the Messianic Era…eventually resulting in the elimination of all disease, as the prophet Isaiah declared: “Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame man will leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb will sing” (Isaiah 35:5-6).”
Response: End of the messianic expectations expressed by Rabbi Chaim Richman of the Temple Institute.
22. “Most interesting to us will be the fulfillment concerning the birthplace of the messiah. The Jewish religious authorities know full well that their messiah must be born in Bethlehem: “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel” (Micah 5:2).”
Also, there is the instance of King Herod asking about the birthplace of the Messiah: “…gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he [King Herod] began to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born. And they said to him, `In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet, “And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a ruler, who will shepherd My people Israel”’” (Matthew 2:4-6).
If all of the chief priests and scribes of the people in the days of Jesus saw that the Messiah was born in Bethlehem, then we can be sure that all of the chief priests and scribes of the Jews on earth today see the same. Therefore, the false Jewish messiah, to be completely convincing, will also need to show proof that he had been born in Bethlehem.
Antichrist Convinces the World That He is the True Messiah of God
To begin this section it is necessary to introduce the reader to two of the Antichrist’s names and explain their meaning.
First, in Revelation 13:1, the Antichrist is named the “beast coming up out of the sea.” “Beast” refers to being a follower of Satan, as is all of mankind who continue to walk in man’s sin nature. “Sea” refers to the Antichrist coming forth from mankind, for the sea is a container of all the fish; and “fish of the sea” is a reference to man (Habakkuk 1:14-15; Isaiah 57:20; Revelation 17:15). Thus, the Antichrist comes forth from mankind!
“And he stood on the sand of the seashore. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea (1st name of the Antichrist), having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names” (Revelation 13:1).
Secondly, in Revelation 17:8 the Antichrist is being renamed the “beast about to come up out of the abyss.” The abyss is the bottomless pit, a place for the dead. Thus, we are being told by scripture that the Antichrist is about to be resurrected from the dead and renamed the “beast that comes up out of the abyss,” for indeed the Antichrist will truly be resurrected from the dead.
Now, while keeping the two names of the Antichrist in mind, we are ready to examine Revelation 17:8.
“The beast [Antichrist] that you saw was [alive] and is not [was killed], and is about to come up out of the abyss [is to be resurrected from the dead] and to go to destruction [by being thrown into the lake of fire-Revelation 19:20]. And those who dwell on the earth will wonder [for everything said about this man is true!], whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast [Antichrist], that he was [alive] and is not [was killed] and will come [is about to be resurrected from the dead]” (Revelation 17:8).
God’s Word tells us how and why the Antichrist was killed, and also explains why the entire world will worship him!
In Revelation 11:3-13 we are shown two prophets, called the Two Olive Trees. “These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands [they prophecy the testimony of Jesus, giving forth understanding of Jesus’ words-Revelation 19:10] that stand before the Lord of the earth [Christ Jesus]. And if anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies; and if anyone would desire to harm them, in this manner he must be killed” (verses 4&5). This verse tells us that anyone who desires to harm the Two Olive Trees will themselves be killed by the Two Olive Trees. This will happen to anyone who desires to harm them, including the “beast coming up out of the sea,” exactly as it is written!
Then we read in Revelation 11:7 about the “beast that comes up out of the abyss,” who actually kills the Two Olive Trees: “And when they [the Two Olive Trees] have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss [the resurrected Antichrist] will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.” We learned from verse five that in order for the “beast that comes up out of the abyss” to be able to kill the Two Olive Trees, the beast (Antichrist) first had to be killed by the Two Olive Trees in accordance with the Word. Keep in mind, that before the beast was killed by the Two Olive Trees, he was named the “beast coming up out of the sea,” which is the name of the Antichrist in Revelation 13:1. After the beast (Antichrist) is killed by the Two Olive Trees, the beast (Antichrist) is thrown into the abyss. In a short time, which we believe to be three days, the Antichrist is resurrected from the dead just as his followers and the Scriptures foretold would happen. Upon the Antichrist’s resurrection, he is renamed the “beast that comes up out of the abyss.”
Then, to the world’s astonishment and great joy, the resurrected Antichrist, the beast that comes up out of the abyss, will make war with the Two Olive Trees a second time, but this time the Antichrist overcomes them and kills them (Revelation 11:7). And the whole earth will be amazed and will worship Satan and the Antichrist (Revelation 13:4). “And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them [the bodies of the Two Olive Trees] and make merry; and they will send gifts to one another. Because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 11:10).
We are shown the Antichrist and his false prophet, the impersonator of the prophet Elijah, in the following Scriptures: “And he stood on the sand of the seashore. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea [Antichrist], having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast [Antichrist] 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 [Satan-Revelation 12:9] gave him [Antichrist] his power and his throne and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain [the sixth head-Revelation 17:9-10], and his fatal wound was healed [the Antichrist is resurrected from the dead, becoming the eighth king-Revelation 17:11]. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast [Antichrist]; and they worshiped the dragon [Satan], because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast [Antichrist] saying, `Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him [after all, the Antichrist had just killed the Two Olive Trees]?’ And there was given to him [by Satan] a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies [falsely interpreting the meaning of God’s word, in order to deceive mankind]; and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God to blaspheme His name [by falsely interpreting the Word of God in order to deceive mankind] and His tabernacle [the Sons of God], that is, those who dwell in heaven. And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them [kill them]; and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him [the Antichrist is given authority over all of the nations of the earth, becoming the eighth king spoken of in Revelation 17:11]. And 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. If anyone has an ear, let him hear” (Revelation 13:1-9).
“And then that lawless one[the Antichrist] 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; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 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. And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12).
Unless you are being taught by the Holy Spirit as you walk before God: (1) you will be deceived; (2) you will take the mark of the beast; (3) you will partake of God’s wrath; (4) you will be tormented in the Lake of Fire forever (Revelation 14:9-11; 20:14-15).
“…If anyone worships the beast [Antichrist] and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or upon his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast [Antichrist] and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:9-11).
The Antichrist/False Jewish Messiah Is Believed By The World To Be The Son Of David, The Messiah
Soon the whole earth will come to worship the Antichrist, believing that he is the promised son of David, the promised Jewish Messiah, and the deliverer of the sons of Israel and of all mankind from the problems that are besetting the earth.
When this happens, and it is soon to happen, Christianity will instantly be regarded as an antichrist religion, one that is repugnant to God. The world will believe that the curses that had befallen the world throughout history, was the result of this offensive religious abomination called Christianity.
All Christian Bibles will be destroyed; Churches will be razed and all those who do not repent and follow the Jewish Messiah (Antichrist) will be killed (Revelation 13:15)!
However, in the midst of all of this destruction and suffering, God has given us a promise repeated four times in the Book of Revelation:
“And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, `Write, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!”’ `Yes,’ says the Spirit, `that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them’” (Revelation 14:13).
“And he said to me, “Write, `Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, `These are true words of God’” (Revelation 19:9).
“Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years”(Revelation 20:6).
“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14).
“Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus [as being the true Messiah sent by God]” (Revelation 14:12).Yes, blessed is the man who overcomes the world, his own flesh, and the deceitful words of the devil, through faith in Christ Jesus, who is the Word of God!
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 3:22).
“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:10-11).
“…To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it” (Revelation 2:17).
“…He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations” (Revelation 2:26).
“He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels” (Revelation 3:5).
“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name” (Revelation 3:12).
“He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21).
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” (Jude 1:24-25).
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star” (Revelation 22:16).