END TIMES

Antichrist: His Career

Nero The Antichrist, the evil ruler of the end times, is well-documented in the Bible. Looking at his characteristics and career with scripture references is an excellent way to get an overview of the events leading up to Christ's return to earth.

The Antichrist appears in “the latter time.” He is coming soon, but he hasn't appeared yet.	Dan 8:23 : And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
He is revealed only after the “falling away,” the rapture, takes place.	2Th 2:3 : Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
He is one of the leaders of a ten-kingdom confederacy who overthrows three of the other leaders.	Dan 7:24 : And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
If “out of the sea” represents the Gentile nations, then he is a Gentile, not a Jew.	Rev 13:1 : And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
As the “prince that shall come,” he comes from one of the nations of the old Roman Empire, from the people that destroyed the Jewish Temple in 70 AD.	Dan 9:26 : ... and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
He makes a seven-year peace treaty, or “covenant,” with Israel that starts Daniel's Seventieth Week.	Dan 9:27 : And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week ...
He appears on the world scene as a conqueror on a white horse.	Rev 6:2 : And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
He comes to power as a bringer of peace.	Dan 11:21 : And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
He is a charismatic figure and a great orator.	Dan 7:20 : And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
At some point he appears to have been killed but then is brought back to life. This event causes world-wide wonder, and his followers begin to worship him.	Rev 13:3-4 : 3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
He becomes the focus of a new religion, characterized by mass deception.	Rev 13:8 : And 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.
Three and half years after making the peace treaty with Israel, he desecrates the Jewish Temple and proclaims that he is God.	Dan 9:27 : ... and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. 2Th 2:4 : Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
His desecration of the Temple, the “Abomination of Desolation,” triggers the “Great Tribulation.”	Mat 24:15-16 : 15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Mat 24:21 : For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
He becomes the enemy of God's people, the Jews, as well as Gentiles who believe in the Jewish Messiah, Jesus.	Dan 7:21 : I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Dan 7:25 : And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High ... Dan 8:24 : And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. Rev 13:7 : And 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.
He is attacked by an alliance of nations and fights back.	Dan 11:40 : And 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. Dan 11:42 : He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
He hears that other nations are now moving against him.	Dan 11:44 : 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. Rev 16:12 : And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
In the conflict he takes over Israel and makes Jerusalem his headquarters.	Dan 11:45 : And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
He inspires all the nations of the world to gather together in the last great battle of “Armageddon.”	Rev 16:13-14 : 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Rev 16:16 : And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
He and the others gathered for battle see Christ returning. The armies of all the nations on earth unite to fight the Jewish Messiah and the armies of heaven.	Rev 19:11-14 : 11 ... and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. Rev 19:19 : And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
He is defeated and thrown into a lake of fire.	Rev 19:20 : And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

LINKS — Additional Information
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Back to — Antichrist — An introduction to the Antichrist and some guesses as to who he might be.

Next up — Antichrist: His Names — A look at the names for the Antichrist found in scripture.

Antichrist: His Mark — Considering in detail the well-known mark of the beast.