On Wed, 5 Jan 2000, Rejo Varghese wrote:
>-->
>-->Dear Sir,
>-->I like to kown more about, what will happen when the Anti Christ
>-->appears?
>-->Rejo
There's different views of when he will appear, and how. The one view
that I think makes the most sense will be at the beginning of the Tribulation
period, the time spoken of in the Revelation.
When he first appears he will appear as a ruler that will solve the world's
problems, the foremost being related to the Middle East. It is believed
that he will some how help all the parties involved to be satisfied and
at peace. During this time the events of the Revelation will start to
unfold as written in Chapters 4 and following. At the mid-point of the
tribulation the antichrist will desecrate the temple (the physical, real,
rebuilt temple in Jerusalem) and declare himself to be god. This is when
the Jews will realize that they have been betrayed and decieved, and also
when the antichrist and satan will begin a massive persecution of the Jews,
culiminating in the battle of Armaggedon.
To understand more of the sequence of events you must first understand that
the Bible teaches that Israel will experience a time of Judgement. The prophet
Daniel spoke of this in Daniel chapter 9. (see 9:24-27)
http://www.wagoneers.com/LivingByFaith/Daniels-70weeks.html
The prophecy of the 70 weeks. Each week represents a period of 7 years.
The last week (of 7 years) is further expanded in the Revelation.
I believe that Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 contain a prophecy that will kick off
the beginning of the Tribulation period (the last 7 years). In that prophecy
Russia (Gog and Magog) will attack Israel in the last days and be slaughtered
on the mountains north of Israel. This is not the battle referred to as Armaggedon,
as the events surrounding that battle are quite different. It is possible that
Ezekiel 38 and 39 have a "double-fulfillment", or is a prophetic view that sees
two events with a gap of time between their fulfillment. An example of this
is evident in many of the prophecies concerning the Messiah. Even the passage
of Isaiah that Jesus read in the New Testament reveals this complex issue. He
stopped at a particular verse... the next verse dealt with something that will
happen when He returns! Rightly dividing the Word of Truth and knowing when
to stop is one of the significant challenges that a student of the Word faces. :)
But it's exciting!
Anyways... The sequence of events, as I believe, based upon study, is that
Russia will attack Israel, Israel (or the antichrist and his coalition, whatever
that will be) will use tactical nuclear weapons and wipe out the Russians and their
allies as they come into Israel. The passage in Ezekiel refers to burning the
weapons for SEVEN years. (Ezekiel 39:9) This is also the period of time that
the Tribulation covers, and would fulfill Daniel's 70th week of years!
By examining the Revelation you find that the first 3.5 years are pretty calm in
Israel, then the antichrist defiles the temple and the Israelis flee into the
wilderness...
This may be a simple view of a complex set of events, and doesn't account for the
fact that Ezekiel 38 and 39 refer to a time of peace and unwalled villages. So it
is quite possible that some leader, the antichrist perhaps, will negotiate a peace
treaty and things will be at peace before the Russians come in... or it may be
a relative time of peace, as it is now... hard to say until it happens really. :)
The Israelis won't know it's the false messiah, or the antichrist, until the mid point
of the tribulation period. Christians will most likely NOT be here for any of the
events mentioned, or will have been marytred already. The Olivet Discourse is spoken
to the Jews, and not to Christians (Matthew 24, Luke 31 and so on).
I believe that the church, that is all believers in Jesus Christ, will be removed
from the earth before any of these events take place. I Thessalonians 4 and 5 deal
with this issue, also known as the "Rapture". In 2 Thessalonians 1:7 there is a
reference to the "restrainer", many believe this to be the Holy Spirit. The restrainer
will be taken out of the way and then the antichrist will be revealed. Because
a believer is "sealed unto the day of redemption" by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13,14)
if the Holy Spirit is referred to and removed, then so shall we. :) The Blessed
Hope.
Either way, we will not be subject to God's Wrath, and the Revelation is a time when
God pours out his Wrath in final judgement upon the earth before His return to establish
his rule upon earth for 1,000 years.
Hope this helps.
yours in Christ,
john
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john@wagoneers.com **** http://wagoneers.com
don't leave life without Jesus, please...
Snohomish, Washington USA
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