THE REIGN OF ANTICHRIST

THE REIGN OF ANTICHRIST

Tuesday Morning Bible Study

September 8, 2020

Pastor Carolyn Sissom

For at least the past forty years, at different seasons, the LORD will give me a piece of “my puzzle,” of the spirit of Antichrist and his end-time rule.  You may have your puzzle complete with no pieces missing.  This teaching is a piece to my puzzle.  Through this teaching, I will lead you through this new piece I have added to “my puzzle.”

Fennis J. Dake (1902-1937) in his Book of Revelation notes (published 1963) comes to the conclusion that the Antichrist will not be a world-wide dictator.  After the restoration of the Prophets, the LORD has opened up more revelation than we had sixty years ago when Brother Dake wrote his masterpiece, Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible.  For many years, his commentary was widely accepted as the doctrine of the Pentecostal Church.  I salute Finnis J. Dake for the wealth of information amassed in this great Bible Commentary.  I use it often for information, but not necessarily for doctrine.

If you are a student of Dake, then you will note I am not following his conclusion that the church will be raptured out before the tribulation or before the revealing of the Antichrist.  That is because I do not know that and I can’t put that piece in my puzzle.  I realize I may lose you before you ever start reading this.  I am not of the persuasion that only Israel is represented by the Sun-Clothed Woman of Revelation 12. This is due to an open-eye vision I had in 1990 of the Sun-Clothed Woman giving birth to the man-child. In the same vision, I also saw a man in the clouds carrying a rod of iron.  I then identified the man-child as the sons-of-God being birthed.  I believe John’s vision of the Sun-clothed woman represents the “carrier of the anointing” being birthed on the earth which includes Israel -12 stars = God’ government.  Israel gave birth to Jesus, The Son of God.  Jesus Christ established his Kingdom on earth through His vessel, the Church.  The Church (God’s people) in the anointing will bring forth the Sons-of-God.  

I believe Dake’s “theory” is credible that the Antichrist will not be a worldwide dictator, I am going to teach that today.   I believe that none of us have the full revelation, like Paul, we all see in part and know in part. The best any of us can do is study the scriptures, pray, and present our best understanding.   In the past fifty years, I believe the seals are being opened.  As they are opened, revelation is being revealed.

Finnis J. Dake: “We conclude that Antichrist will not rule America or be a world-wide dictator; that his kingdom will be limited to the old Roman Empire territory. During the time he seeks to enforce the new beast worship, he will be in constant wars with other nations during the whole 7 years he is on the world stage (Dan. 7:23-24; 9:27 11: 36-45).  Multitudes of all nations will escape the mark of the beast and his worship.  Antichrist will be defeated by Christ at Armageddon before he conquers all of Asia, Europe and Africa, as well as before he conquers the Americas and all other parts of the earth.” 

By the turn of the second century B.C., Rome had already conquered Spain and Carthage.  Then it continued to further its conquests, adding Macedonia, Greece, Asia Minor, Syria, Jerusalem, Great Britain, France, Belgium Switzerland and Germany.  Its power reached to the border of India.  Rome succeeded in building the largest empire in human history. Rome fell to invading armies in A.D. 410.  

In the 21^st Century, we know the kosmos (world system) is a mixture in the whole of the earth.  In Revelation 12:9, 16:14, Lk 2:1, and other places in the New Testament there is another word used for world “Oikoumene.”  It not only means the inhabited earth, but it means the portion of the earth (land mass) inhabited by the Greeks, in distinction from the lands of the barbarians.  It also means the Roman empire and all the subjects of the empire.

 We the church clearly understand we are not of the kingdoms of this world system.  We have been chosen out of the world (Jn. 15:19).  We have been translated into the Kingdom of God.   I am persuaded that the Antichrist will rule the kosmos (world system) and the “Oikoumene” (Old Roman Empire/land mass) but he will not have rule over Christians.  

The feet and toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s vision of the metallic man were part potters’ clay, and part of iron…the iron was mixed with miry clay. (Dan. 2:4)

The population of the United States of America is a mixture of clay and iron as well as the global populace.  In the vision given to Nebuchadnezzar, the feet and toes represent the fifth kingdom to oppress Israel in the times of the Gentiles.   It is believed to be the revised Roman Empire of 10 kingdoms, ruled by 10 kings from 10 separate capitals.  These ten kingdoms are represented by the 10 toes in the metallic man and will exist in the last days.  They will be ruled by 10 kings for 3-1/2 years, then by the Antichrist the last 3-1/2 years.  The 10 kingdoms will form what is known to Bible scholars as the Revised Roman Empire dealt with in Dan. 7 and Rev. 17:8-17.

In Daniel 7: 7-8, 23-24, The “iron teeth” of the fourth beast; and the ten horns and ten kings identify the location to be inside the old Roman Empire.

In Daniel 11:40-45, Antichrist breaks his 7-year covenant with Israel and takes over Palestine and many other countries. 

Daniel 11: 40-45: At the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.  He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.  He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.  But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore, he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.

The countries north and east of the ten kingdoms under Antichrist will make war on him.  These countries, too, are not ruled by him and are not forced to take the mark.

In Rev. 16: 13-16, it is interesting that the three unclean spirits like frogs go forth seeking the cooperation of many nations to help Antichrist at Armageddon.  He doesn’t yet control these nations or these unclean spirits would not be negotiating on his behalf. Rev 16:14: For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world (Oikoumene) to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

F.J.D: “If Antichrist killed everyone who would not take the mark and every man who does take it will be sent to eternal hell, not one will be left to populate the earth.  It seems logical the Antichrist will make a law that “all” in his ten kingdoms must worship him and take his mark, but his law will not and cannot be literally enforced in such a vast territory in such a short time as 3-1/2 years.”

F.J.D.: “He will be in war with the many nations north and east of his empire.  These wars will keep him so occupied that he will not be able to pay full attention to the enforcement of his religious laws.”

F.J.D: “In Zech 14: 16-21, it is clear that many from every nation even those that are under Antichrist, will be left alive on earth.  These will not take the mark of the beast.  They are commanded to keep the Feast of Tabernacles even Egypt.    If they had already taken the mark of the beast, they would be sent to eternal hell by Christ.  Multitudes will be killed by the Antichrist, but not all.”

The remnant (Sons of God) of the woman (carrier of the anointing) in Rev. 12:17,   escape the mark of the beast and the worship of antichrist.  This is made possible by new wars in the north and east of his kingdom.

F.J.D.: “A remnant of Israel escapes the Antichrist arriving safe in the wilderness of Edom and Moab where they are protected of God for 3-1/2 years.” 

Instead of Satan taking over God’s Kingdom on earth, the Lord Jesus takes over the kosmos, the world system.

Rev 11:15: Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world (kosmos) have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

Rev. 12:9: The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world (Oikoumene) he was cast out

According to the Word of God, Satan will be able to control the kosmos and the land mass of the Oikoumene.  The power over the world system is a spiritual power of the prince of the air, Satan.  We the church whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be spared. 

Eph. 2:2 - In time past you walked according to the course of this world (kosmos) according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:

2Th 2:10: And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved

   This war with the saints spoken by John is clearly prophesied in the Book of Daniel 7:18: The saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even for ever and ever…I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them… Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom…:  He shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time…Dan 7:27: The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

1.       We will possess the Kingdom of God forever, and ever and ever.

2.      Satan will enter the Antichrist, and he will make war with the saints for 3-1/2 years.  It will be a time of intense warfare.  We will be in a battle; but judgment will be given to the saints. 

3.      The Kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the saints.

4.      Those whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life will worship him.  These are those who are perishing and have not received the truth that Jesus Christ is our only Savior.

Rev. 13:15-17: He had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: That no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

To read this, we have understood that the Antichrist will be a world-ruler killing “all” on earth who do not take his mark, name, or number.  The word “All” is used in a limited sense hundreds of times in scriptures when a whole is spoken of for a part.

 Rev 13:7-9: It was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.  If any man has an ear, let him hear.

 “All” in Rev. 13:7-8 is a figure of speech---synecdoche in which a whole is spoken for a part.

Such terms as in Revelation 13 have been used of other rulers and kingdoms who did not literally rule the whole world:

1.      Nebuchadnezzar -Daniel 2:38: Wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven has he given into your hand and has made you ruler over them all.

2.      Cyrus -Medes and Persians – Daniel 2:39:  After you shall arise another kingdom inferior to you,

3.      Alexander the Great - Greece:  and another kingdom of brass which shall bear rule over all the earth.

4.      Roman Empire – Daniel 2:40:  the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron; forasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things; as iron that breaks all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.   Daniel 7:23-24: The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

The Lord rebuke you Satan.  You have not been promised the land mass of the whole earth.  Your rule is permitted for 3-1/2 years over the Old Roman Empire and over those who have rejected Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  The Church will resist and we shall overcome.

Car