CONCLUSIONS

And what have we found, exactly? One last review of the important points:

• Jesus says this age will begin to come to an end shortly following the world’s greatest catastrophe, which itself follows the revealing of the abomination of desolation.
• Jesus points us to the prophet Daniel for preliminary definitions of that abomination.
• In Daniel we are introduced to Antiochus Epiphanes who began an anti-God, anti-Jew campaign decades before Christ appeared.
• Gabriel leads us to believe that though Antiochus began his career in ancient history, his final blasphemous rise to power will be at the end of all things.
• The abomination of desolation, the sacking of Jerusalem, the persecution of believers, spoken of by Daniel the prophet is fully orchestrated by Antiochus in a three and one half year period of supernatural power.
• John confirms all by using the same visual demonstration that there will arise such an evil man, who will do the same destruction, the same persecution, the same blasphemies, in the same time frame as Daniel has already recorded. He will even rise to power from the same “Great Sea.” John and Daniel agree.
• John lets us know that the final world dictator will be one who has been raised from the dead, thus allowing for one who began in antiquity to end in the last days.
• Paul agrees with all of the above, using the man of sin as the sign that must happen before Jesus comes.
• Paul says that even now this one is being held back, so that he will be revealed at the right time in history.

The evidence is then clear and concise. There are things all along the way that we cannot quite figure out. Like, exactly how shall he appear? But then, we believe Elijah shall return and we do not allow that question to stop us from believing it. Our faith tells us that, as a detail is needed , it will be provided.

For now it seems to me important for us to take on a last-days mind-set that is more accurate than that with which we were raised. It demands more faith, more acceptance of the Word as is, less explaining away of hard things. But a solid faith has always demanded this. May the Lord keep our eyes open, ready to see and know what is happening in God’s plan.

Epilogue

There are many antichrists. The apostle John who gave us much of the antichrist literature lets us know that from the first century on there will be in this last hour those who will be anti-God, anti-Christ (I John 2:18-23). These persons can be politicians aiming for power and wealth, public figures of all sorts in the secular world. Or they can be teachers in our churches (II John 7). These heretics will promote the idea that God did not become flesh, or that Jesus did not die for us, or that there was no Jesus, and a host of other lies. You may label them as John did: antichrists.

And of course, the coming of antichrists precedes the coming of the real Christ in our lives. We are forever surrounded by moments of opportunity for Jesus to come to us. He can come in the Spirit or through His Word. He will one day come to us in death. And this Jesus can be served today in the same way as when antichrist later will be defeating saints of God. We can choose to follow or deny Him every day.

So the cautions and warnings that would apply to that last generation must apply now. When you see antichrists, look even harder for Jesus. When you see antichrists, be aware that you are being deceived. Believe nothing of what this antichrist-dominated world system presents, believe only what God has said.

But none of the above, the existence of antichrists, the daily deaths of believers, none of it nullifies the reality of the one antichrist who will come at the end. Antichrist is coming. John said it. To him the existence of previews only proved the main event would be soon. He believed he lived in the very last hour. So do we. Only God's grace and waiting on lost souls prevents him from giving the signal to the restraining angel. Is he waiting on you? On a friend of yours or family member that you care about dearly? Don’t stop praying, don’t stop trying to bring them in as his grace waits…