Beware of the Antichrist (The 666 Man)
The Beast out of the Sea
Jesus assumes Daniel's figure that desecrated the temple through the Abomination of Desolation will be understood by His future Jewish audience as the Antichrist who will set himself against the nation and their God (Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14). Implied in Jesus' selective description (primarily from Dan. 9:27; cf. 11:36-37) in the Olivet Discourse is the incompatibility of that which is holy with the Antichrist. Whether a holy city, a holy temple, or a holy (chosen) people, the Antichrist by his very nature must seek to destry them all. For this reason the Jewish people living in Jerusalem in the day of Antichrist's power are warned to flee (Matt. 24:16-21); Mark 13:14-19). Jesus' statement of the Antichrist's "Abomination of Desolation" is the signal event that marks the midpoint of the Tribulation. (Dictionary of Premillennial Theology, pg 44)
The Antichrist is a BEAST?
In the book of Revelation, the term antichrist does not appear (although John previously used it in his epistles). The reason for this may be partly explained from the symbolic character of his prophetic vision, for his expression of the Antichrist is beast a term descripture of his inhuman nature which was often revealed to John in animal form. (Dictionary of Premillennial Theology, pg 45)
What's the Connection?
Paul seems to connect the revelation of Christ (vv.1-2) with the revealing of the Antichrist (vv.3-4) in such a way as to imply that Christ's return to earth is related to the Antichrist rebellion on earth, a cause/effect relationship clearly drawn in Revelation 19:11-20. Because the Antichrist is here said to be revealed it has been suggested that his revelation is a counterfeit to that of Christ's (2 Thess. 2:9). From Paul's description of the destruction of the Antichrist at the revelation of Christ (v.8), it appears that he identified the lawless one with Daniel's little horn (Dan. 7:8,11).(Dictionary of Premillennial Theology, pg 45)
Don't Be Clueless!
Studies in the chiastic structure of Matthew 24 and Mark 13 reveal that the elements corresponding to the first and second half of the Tribulation are arranged with Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 as the pivot. Thus, the prophecy of Antichrist is the chronological determinative for the Tribulation, with Antichrist's covenant with the Jewish leaders marking its beginning (Dan. 9:27), the temple desecration its middle (Dan. 9:27; Matt. 24:15; Mark 13:14; 2 Thess. 2:4), and the Antichrist's destruction its end (Dan. 9:27; cf. 2 Thess 2:8).(Dictionary of Premillennial Theology, pg 44)
A Homosexual?
Some scholors think so! For example David Benoit's writes in chapter 10 in
"Foreshocks of Antichrist writes,
"...I believe the Antichrist will be a homosexual, as implied in Daniel 11:37: "Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above all." Why wouldn't the Antichrist be a homosexual--he will stand for everything God stands against."
So....Who is the Antichrist?
On this side of the rapture, I don't know. Read the newspapers. Watch the news. Who is making a seven year peace treaty with the nation of Israel? That's the Antichrist. He is not the messiah. He is the father of lies. Don't take his mark. Believe the gospel and be saved.
