Antichrist Cont'd
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Holy Physical Temple & Sacrifices
Note that now, under the New Covenant, while a person's motive for offering physical sacrifices in the physical temple can be unholy, for "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4), no wrong motive can in any way make the physical temple or the idea itself of offering physical sacrifices unholy in themselves, for "the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good" (Romans 7:12), and the things of the physical temple are still "holy things" (1 Corinthians 9:13) and the places of the physical temple are still "holy places" (Hebrews 9:24-25; Matthew 24:15). All of the holy sacrificial laws in the Old Testament remain an integral part of the Holy Bible, even though they are no longer mandatory (Hebrews 7:18).
Note that the physical temple and the physical sacrifices need in no way deny the single sacrifice of Christ, "slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8), for before the crucifixion they served not as a denial but as "a shadow of good things to come" (Hebrews 10:1), and the physical temple and the physical sacrifices which will be in the millennium (Zechariah 14:20-21, Ezekiel 45:17, Isaiah 19:21), which will not be the Mosaic law, will also serve not as a denial but as a symbolic re-showing of Christ's sacrifice, just as communion serves today (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Note that Christ's sacrifice did not make the physical temple and physical sacrifices in themselves unholy, for otherwise Christians would have cursed and avoided the temple and sacrifices instead of being "continually in the temple, praising and blessing God" (Luke 24:53), "continuing daily with one accord in the temple" (Acts 2:46); and Peter and John would never have gone up "into the temple at the hour of prayer" (Acts 3:1); and Paul would not have "prayed in the temple" (Acts 22:17) or have been found "purified in the temple" (Acts 24:18) when he "took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them" (Acts 21:26); and John would not have seen "the temple of God, and the altar" that will stand in "the holy city" of Jerusalem during the coming tribulation, which he could measure with "a reed like unto a rod" (Revelation 11:1-2); and there would not be a temple building in heaven (Revelation 11:19; Revelation 14:15, 17; Revelation 15:5-6, 8; and Revelation 16:1, 17).
Note that in referring to the earthly temple of his time, Jesus taught that it "sanctifieth" the gold that was upon it, and the altar "sanctifieth" the gifts offered upon it, and "whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein" (Matthew 23:16-21).
This is why Jesus had great zeal for the earthly temple in his time: "And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up" (John 2:16-17).
Note that Isaiah 1:11-15 shows that even when wicked men are offering "vain oblations" in the temple, God is still indwelling the temple itself, for he still refers to it as "my courts" and says that when they come before the temple they are coming before him. And Isaiah 1:11-15 cannot mean that God considers the idea itself of people offering sacrifices unto him as being an abomination, for he subsequently chides Israel for not honoring him with sacrifices (Isaiah 43:23-24), and he foretells the day when even the Egyptians and the Assyrians will offer "sacrifice and oblation" unto him and serve him during the millennium (Isaiah 19:18-25).
Note that Hebrews 13:10 is referring to those people who continued to serve in the temple thinking that its sacrifices justified them. But Paul clearly warned such people: "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4).
Regarding Hebrews 9:8-10, note that the sacrificial duties of the Mosaic law are no longer "standing" before God insofar as they are no longer enforced by God, for the Mosaic law has been abolished (Hebrews 7:18-19, 22; 8:6-7; 10:9; 7:12; 10:18; Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 3:7-13).
Regarding John 4:21, note that Jesus was responding to the Samaritan woman's claim that Jesus thought people could only worship God in Jerusalem, and that people could not worship God in the mountain of Samaria (John 4:20). Jesus' reply in no way meant that someone could not worship God in Jerusalem, for the early church continued to worship God there even after the cross and many Christian churches continue to worship God there still today and all nations will go up to worship God there during the millennium (Zechariah 14:16-19). Rather, Jesus was trying to get the Samaritan woman to understand that the true worship of God did not depend on the physical location of the worshipper, but upon the spiritual condition of the worshipper, that is, one can worship God anywhere, but one must worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).
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God Dwelling In Physical Temple
Some say God doesn't dwell in temples made with hands. But note that Stephen said that in reference even to Solomon's temple: "But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things?" (Acts 7:47-50; Isaiah 66:1-2); and the glory of God did fill Solomon's temple (2 Chronicles 5:14) in the same manner as it fills the heavenly temple (Revelation 15:8), and Jesus said God did dwell within the earthly temple of his own time: "Whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein" (Matthew 23:21). Therefore, Acts 7:47-50 and Isaiah 66:1-2 cannot mean that God does not dwell in earthly temples made by hands, whether made up of earthly stones or earthly human bodies made by God's hands, but that he does not dwell only in earthly temples, for he fills all of heaven and earth (Jeremiah 23:24, Ephesians 4:10) and transcends them all as his "hand made all these things."
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Tribulation Temple / Abomination Of Desolation
I believe 2 Thessalonians 2:4 refers to the physical "temple of God" that will be built in Jerusalem (Revelation 11:1-2), and Matthew 24:15 refers to the physical "holy place" within the physical temple (1 Kings 8:8, 10) and to the physical "abomination of desolation" of Daniel 11:31, which refers to the physical "sanctuary" and "daily sacrifice".
Note that in the following verses believers exist at the same time as and are distinguished from the physical holy place where the abomination of desolation will be placed: "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:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains" (Matthew 24:15-16).
I believe that Revelation 11:2 refers to the same forty-two months of the tribulation as Revelation 13:5-7, and that Daniel 11:31 refers to the same abomination of desolation during the tribulation as Matthew 24:15.
I believe the temple and sacrificial system in the tribulation will be the same type of temple and sacrificial system that continued in operation for decades after the resurrection of Christ, until it was destroyed in 70 A.D.
Some say the stopping of invalid sacrifices in an invalid temple would not be an "abomination" to God. But I think the abomination is the Antichrist's claiming to be God (Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:6, 8).
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Millennial Temple
Note that the physical temple and sacrifices in the millennium will be holy before God: "In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD's house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein" (Zechariah 14:20-21); "And it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel" (Ezekiel 45:17). Note that even the Egyptians and the Assyrians will offer "sacrifice and oblation" unto the Lord and serve him during the millennium (Isaiah 19:18-25).
Note that the millennial temple, sacrifices, and holy city referred to in Ezekiel 40-48 and Zechariah 14 can't be referring to New Jerusalem because John sees no temple in New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:22) and New Jerusalem will not descend from heaven until after the millennium (Revelation 21:1-2).
Note that Isaiah 19:21 refers to the same physical sacrifices and oblations at the millennial temple in Jerusalem which Zechariah 14:20-21 and Ezekiel 45:17 refer to, Zechariah 14:20 even referring to people taking pots in which they will boil the meat of the sacrifices. Note that the millennial practices referred to in Isaiah 19:21, Zechariah 14:20-21, and Ezekiel 45:17 aren't the Mosaic law.
Do people take us and "seethe" their sacrifices in us? "All they that sacrifice shall come and take [the pots], and seethe therein" (Zechariah 14:21).
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OT Temple
Note that the physical temple and sacrifices were considered very holy before God: "When Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house" (2 Chronicles 7:1-2). Note that God filled his physical temple on earth in the same way that he fills his temple in heaven: "And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple" (Revelation 15:8).
Note that the holy physical house of God can be polluted by abominations placed within it: "The children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the LORD: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it" (Jeremiah 7:30).
Note that the physical temple is holy in itself and can therefore be defiled by unbelievers: "O god, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps" (Psalm 79:1).
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Heavenly Temple And City Only?
During the coming tribulation the outer court of the heavenly temple will not be "given unto the Gentiles" (Revelation 11:1-2) and the Gentiles will not "tread under foot" the heavenly Jerusalem for 42 months (Revelation 11:1-2), and the heavenly "sanctuary" will not be "cast down" and "trodden under foot" so that it will need to be "cleansed" (Daniel 8:11-14), and the heavenly city and sanctuary will not be "destroyed" and made "desolate" (Daniel 9:26-27) or "polluted" and made "desolate" (Daniel 11:31).
Note that even after the destruction of the physical temple of Jerusalem, Daniel could still refer to it as God�s "sanctuary" (Daniel 9:17), and even after the crucifixion and resurrection, the literal city Jerusalem could still be referred to as "the holy city" (Matthew 27:53), just as it will still be "the holy city" during the coming tribulation (Revelation 11:2). Just as Daniel refers to the literal "city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain" (Daniel 9:16, 20), so he says that the Antichrist "shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain" (Daniel 11:45).
Note that Matthew 27:53 refers to those who were resuscitated in their tombs like Lazarus was, and who came out of their tombs and went into the literal "holy city" of Jerusalem on the earth and appeared to many who were there. There is no mention of them being resurrected into immortal bodies or entering into heaven, for there will be no resurrection of believers until Christ's 2nd coming (1 Corinthians 15:23).
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"Naos"
Note that the Greek word "naos," translated as "temple" in 2 Thessalonians 2:4, can refer to the physical temple in Jerusalem (Matthew 23:16, Mark 15:38, Luke 1:9, John 2:20).
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Temple Only People?
Note that God has a temple in heaven which is not made up of people: "And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple" (Revelation 15:8).
Note that a holy physical temple where holy physical sacrifices are made is not mutually exclusive with believers at the same time also being the holy temple of God: "Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up... Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body" (John 2:16-21).
Note that the spiritual temple of the body of Christ and a temple building are not mutually exclusive even after the crucifixion of Christ, for otherwise Christians would have cursed and avoided the temple building instead of being "continually in the temple, praising and blessing God" (Luke 24:53), "continuing daily with one accord in the temple" (Acts 2:46); and Peter and John would never have gone up "into the temple at the hour of prayer" (Acts 3:1); and Paul would not have "prayed in the temple" (Acts 22:17) or have been found "purified in the temple" (Acts 24:18) when he "took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them" (Acts 21:26); and John would not have seen "the temple of God, and the altar" that will stand in "the holy city" of Jerusalem during the coming tribulation, which he could measure with "a reed like unto a rod" (Revelation 11:1-2); and there would not be a temple building in heaven (Revelation 11:19; Revelation 14:15, 17; Revelation 15:5-6, 8; and Revelation 16:1, 17).
Note that God even still has an ark in heaven (Revelation 11:19).
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New Jerusalem Only People?
Note that the Bible distinguishes between the allegorical bride of the city of New Jerusalem itself and those saved people of the bride who will enter into it: "And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it" (Revelation 21:24), "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14).
Note that just as God's rejoicing over the city of Jerusalem as a bridegroom rejoices over a bride (Isaiah 62:5) does not mean that there is no actual city of Jerusalem which can be distinguished from its inhabitants, so God's referring to the city of New Jerusalem as a bride (Revelation 21:9-10) does not mean that there is no actual city of New Jerusalem which can be distinguished from those who will inhabit it..
Note that Isaiah 62:5 doesn't refer to New Jerusalem because New Jerusalem has never been termed forsaken and desolate like the earthly Jerusalem has been (Isaiah 62:4).
Note that just as "Jerusalem which now is" can at the same time be both a real city on earth and an allegorical representation of all those individuals still under the bondage of the Mosaic covenant, so New "Jerusalem which is above" can at the same time be both a real city in heaven and an allegorical representation of all those individuals under the freedom of the New Covenant (Galatians 4:24-26).
Note that just as a building with a steeple and the Christians who meet within it can both be referred to as "the church," so that we can refer to "the church meeting on the lawn while the church interior is being painted" without uttering any contradiction, so the city of New Jerusalem and the Christians who will inhabit it can both be called "the bride," so that we can refer to all Christians being on the earth during the millennium while the city of New Jerusalem remains in heaven without uttering any contradiction.
While the actual city of New Jerusalem, which is the allegorical bride of Christ, will not descend from heaven until after the millennium (Revelation 21:1-2), the church will rule on the earth with Christ during the millennium:
"And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father... He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Revelation 2:26, 27, 29).
"We shall reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:10).
"They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years" (Revelation 20:4).
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5).
Note that just as the Mosaic covenant "is" Agar and "is" Mount Sinai and can be allegorically represented by the real city of Jerusalem which now is on earth and those of "her children" who may still be under the bondage of the Mosaic covenant, so the New Covenant can be allegorically represented by the real city of New Jerusalem which is above in heaven, which city "is" the "mother" of all those who are under the freedom of the New Covenant (Galatians 4:24-26).
Note that Paul does not say that the earthly Jerusalem itself is Agar, for many members of the church continued to live and still live in earthly Jerusalem. Paul only refers to earthly Jerusalem as Agar as an allegorical representation of all those still under the bondage of the Old Covenant, no matter what earthly city they may live in (Galatians 4:24-25).
Note that just as Daniel could refer to the literal "city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain" (Daniel 9:16, 20) and could refer to the fact that the Antichrist "shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain" (Daniel 11:45), so Matthew could refer to the literal city Jerusalem as "the holy city" (Matthew 27:53) and John could refer to it as "the holy city" during the coming tribulation (Revelation 11:2), for the city itself can be distinguished from any of its inhabitants who may still be in bondage to the law.
Note that just as we have come in a spiritual sense to Jesus the mediator and to his throne of grace (Hebrews 12:24; 4:16) without having literally come before Jesus' body of flesh and bone (Luke 24:39) which ascended into heaven (Acts 1:11) and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God in heaven (Hebrews 12:2), so we have come in a spiritual sense to New Jerusalem in heaven (Hebrews 12:22) without having literally come to that city of jewels and gold (Revelation 21:19-21) and to the throne within it (Revelation 22:1-3) which will not descend from God out of heaven until after the new heavens and the new earth are formed (Revelation 21:1-3).
Note that just as the writing of "the name of my God" on overcomers does not mean that there is no God which can be distinguished from overcomers, so the writing of "the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem" on overcomers does not mean that there is no real city of New Jerusalem which can be distinguished from overcomers (Revelation 3:12).
Note that just as the 12 apostles of the church will reign over the 12 tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30), and the 12 apostles are members of both the church and the 12 tribes; and just as Paul is a member of both the church and the tribe of Benjamin: "For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin" (Romans 11:1); so the very structure of the city of New Jerusalem allegorically expresses the inclusion of both the church and the 12 tribes of Israel in the body and bride of Christ which is made up of all believers, whether Israelite or Gentile: "Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; and had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel" (Revelation 21:9-12); "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:13).
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Sacrifices Only Spiritual?
Note that a holy physical temple where holy physical sacrifices are made is not mutually exclusive with people also making holy spiritual sacrifices, for the scriptures refer to "a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day" (Luke 2:37).
Note that the Apostle Paul could join believers in offering a spiritual sacrifice to God in the spiritual temples of their bodies while at the same time joining believers in offering physical offerings in the physical temple of Jerusalem, without him committing any abomination before God: "Ye are the temple of God" (1 Corinthians 3:16); "Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God" (Romans 12:1); "Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them" (Acts 21:26).
Note that Jesus' sacrifice cannot be the "daily sacrifice" referred to in Daniel 8:11-13, Daniel 11:31, and Daniel 12:11, for Jesus "needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself" (Hebrews 7:27).
Note that the Hebrew word for "daily" in Daniel 8:11-13, Daniel 11:31, and Daniel 12:11 is "tamiyd" (Strong's #8548), which is used consistently throughout the OT to refer to the daily temple sacrifice: "Two lambs of the first year day by day continually (tamiyd)" (Exodus 29:38); "Two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual (tamiyd) burnt offering" (Numbers 28:3); "The continual (tamiyd) burnt offering" (Numbers 29:11, 29:16, 29:19, 29:22, 29:25, 29:28, 29:31, 29:34, 29:38, 28:6, 28:10, 28:23, 28:24, 28:31); "They offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually (tamiyd)" (2 Chronicles 24:14); "The continual (tamiyd) burnt offering" (Ezra 3:5); "The continual (tamiyd) burnt offering" (Nehemiah 10:33); "Thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually (tamiyd) before me" (Psalm 50:8).
So I believe that the verses in Daniel refer to the same daily (tamiyd) temple sacrifice:
"By him the daily (tamiyd) sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down" (Daniel 8:11).
"And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily (tamiyd) sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate" (Daniel 11:31).
"And from the time that the daily (tamiyd) sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days" (Daniel 12:11-12).
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Already Desolate?
"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" (Matthew 23:38). Note that in Matthew 23:38, Jesus said "your" house, not "my Father's house" (the temple, John 2:16).
Note also that it doesn't have to be only the temple itself being made desolate, but could also be the holy mountain of Zion on which the abomination of desolation will occur: "the mountain of Zion, which is desolate" (Lamentations 5:18); "mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt. Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary" (Psalm 74:2-3); "Worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem" (Isaiah 27:13). What is "the holy mountain" of Daniel 11:45?
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Multiple Abominations Of Desolations?
How many abominations of desolations did Jesus say Daniel spoke of (Matthew 24:15; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:31; Daniel 12:11)?
I don't believe Jesus refers to more than one abomination of desolation, but only to "THE abomination of desolation" (Matthew 24:15).
I don't believe Jesus refers to two separate abominations of desolation, one physical and one spiritual, but only to "THE abomination of desolation" (Matthew 24:15) that will "stand in the holy place" (Matthew 24:15). When did it "stand in the holy place"? When was the temple of Jesus' day made no longer holy?
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The Pope?
Has the Pope denied that Jesus is the Christ (1 John 2:22), and denied the Father and the Son (1 John 2:22), and denied that Jesus came in the flesh (1 John 4:3; 2 John 1:7)? Doesn't the Pope affirm that Jesus is the Christ, and affirm the Father and the Son, and affirm that Jesus came in the flesh?
Has the Pope opposed God, and exalted himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped (2 Thessalonians 2:4)? Doesn't the Pope claim that he agrees with God on everything, and that he is under God, and worships God? Has the Pope claimed that "he is God" (2 Thessalonians 2:4)? Doesn't the Pope deny that he is God?
What are the seven symbolic heads and ten symbolic horns of the Pope (Revelation 13:1)? Was one of the seven symbolic heads of the Pope wounded to death and then healed (Revelation 13:3)? Does all the world worship Satan in his true dragon form (Revelation 13:4)? Does all the world "worship" the Pope or ask "who is able to make war with the Pope" (Revelation 13:4)? Was power given to the Pope to continue forty and two months (Revelation 13:5)? Did the Pope open his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven (Revelation 13:6)? Doesn't the Pope honor God and honor the name of God and honor the saints that dwell in heaven? Was the Pope given power over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations, and did all that dwell upon the earth worship the Pope, whose names are not written in the book of life (Revelation 13:7-8)?
What are the two horns of the False Prophet (Revelation 13:11)? Did the Pope have a False Prophet who exercised all the power of the Pope (Revelation 13:12)? Did the Pope have a False Prophet who caused the earth to worship the Pope, whose deadly wound was healed (Revelation 13:12)? Did the Pope have a False Prophet who did great wonders and made a fire come down from heaven that could be seen by men (Revelation 13:13)? Did the Pope have a False Prophet who deceived the earth by the means of the miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the Pope (Revelation 13:14)? Did the Pope have a False Prophet who said to the earth that they should make an image of the Pope (Revelation 13:14)? Did the Pope have a False Prophet who gave life to the image of the Pope, that the image of the Pope should both speak, and cause as many who would not worship the image of the Pope to be killed (Revelation 13:14-15)? Did the Pope have a False Prophet who caused everyone to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their forehead (Revelation 13:16)? Did the Pope have a False Prophet who made it so that nobody could buy or sell unless they had the mark, or the name of the Pope, or the number of the Pope's name (Revelation 13:16-17)?
Was the number of the Pope's name, which was the number of a man, 666 (Revelation 13:18)?
Is Vicarius Filii Dei a man's name? Was this title ever placed on people's hands and foreheads?
THE DEADLY WOUND
How was one of the seven symbolic heads of the Pope wounded "to death" during and after the French Revolution and then healed (Revelation 13:3)? Did the Roman Catholics of the world stop following the Pope in any way during and after the French Revolution?
Note that it doesn't say that the Antichrist will rule for 42 months until after his deadly wound is healed: "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. 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? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months" (Revelation 13:3-5). Note that nothing says that the Antichrist rules first for 42 months and then is wounded.
BLASPHEMY
Doesn't the Pope claim that he is under God/Christ? Can you specifically quote from where the Pope opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven (Revelation 13:6)? Doesn't the Pope honor God and honor the name of God and honor the saints that dwell in heaven?
I believe that "What can you make of me but God?" is hyperbole. (Compare what God says about Moses in Exodus 4:16, 7:1.) Has the Pope claimed that he is literally God? Do Catholics believe that the Pope is God? Has the Pope exalted himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped (2 Thessalonians 2:4)? Doesn't the Pope claim that he agrees with God on everything, and that he is under God, and worships God?
I don't believe Satan will be disguised during the reign of the Antichrist, but will be worshipped in his true dragon form (Revelation 13:4).
HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
Note that the Holy Roman Empire ruled only Western Europe, while the Antichrist will be worshipped by the whole earth (Revelation 13:8), and his 42-month rule will begin after his deadly wound is healed (Revelation 13:3-5). Was power given to the Pope to continue forty and two months after the French Revolution (Revelation 13:5)?
Has the Pope ever ruled the known world? Did he rule Persia and India and China, all known even in the Middle Ages? Was the Pope given power over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations, and did all that dwell upon the earth worship the Pope, whose names are not written in the book of life (Revelation 13:7-8)?
ANTICHRIST AND FALSE PROPHET AND WOMAN BABYLON?
If the Antichrist, False Prophet, and Woman Babylon are all the Pope, how does the Pope ride on the back of the Pope (Revelation 17:3), why would the 10 kings of the Pope destroy the Pope (Revelation 17:16), and how would the Pope be taken, and with him the Pope that wrought miracles before the Pope? (Revelation 19:20) Who are "these both" (Revelation 19:20)?
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Has Anyone Fulfilled The Antichrist?
Who has fulfilled Daniel 11:36-39; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 13:5-8, 18; and Revelation 19:19-20?
Has any man ever sat in the Jewish temple and proclaimed himself God (2 Thessalonians 2:4) and been worshipped by all the inhabitants of the earth (Revelation 13:8), or had a False Prophet who called fire down from heaven in the sight of men (Revelation 13:13) and made a speaking image of him that must be worshipped on the pain of death (Revelation 13:14-15), and caused a mark to be put on their hand "or" forehead that they might not buy or sell without it (Revelation 13:16-17), which mark may be the name of the man or the number of his name, which is 666 (Revelation 13:17-18). Has all of this been fulfilled?
Wouldn't to say that it has play right into the hands of the False Prophet to come, who could claim "all that is past" and that he really is the end-time Elijah (Malachi 4:5, Matthew 17:11), calling fire down from heaven in order to turn men to the worship of the true God, just as Elijah did (1 Kings 18:37-39), and could claim the mark of the Antichrist's name is no more than a fulfillment of the principle of Revelation 22:4 and 3:12? Christ warned us specifically against being deceived by such subtleties (Mark 13:22-23).
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Nero?
Some say "Nrwn Qsr" = 666, but can they cite the original source for this spelling, and show that it was the common and not an intentionally deviant spelling? Nero Caesar didn't fulfill the details of Revelation 13.
Some point out that some manuscripts have 616 instead of 666, but 616 was intentional textual tampering, rejected by the Church Fathers. Irenaeus of Lyons (b.130) said that 666 (and not 616) is the number for the Antichrist [Revelation 13:18] in "all the most approved and ancient copies [of the Apocalypse], and those men who saw John face to face bearing their testimony" (Against Heresies, Book 5, Chapter 30).
Justin Martyr (100-165) spoke of the coming of the Antichrist as an event yet in the future: "He whom Daniel foretells would have dominion for a time, and times, and an half, is even already at the door, about to speak blasphemous and daring things against the Most High" (Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter 32).
As did Irenaeus of Lyons (130-202): "But, knowing the sure number declared by Scripture, that is, six hundred sixty and six, let them await, in the first place, the division of the kingdom into ten; then, in the next place, when these kings are reigning, and beginning to set their affairs in order, and advance their kingdom, [let them learn] to acknowledge that he who shall come claiming the kingdom for himself, and shall terrify those men of whom we have been speaking, having a name containing the aforesaid number, is truly the abomination of desolation" (Irenaeus, Adversus Haereses, Book 5, Chapter 30).
As did Hippolytus: "It is proper that we take the Holy Scriptures themselves in hand, and find out from them what, and of what manner, the coming of Antichrist is; on what occasion and at what time that implores one shall be revealed; and whence and from what tribe (he shall come); and what his name is, which is indicated by the number in the Scripture; and how he shall work error among the people, gathering them from the ends of the earth; and (how) he shall stir up tribulation and persecution against the saints; and how he shall glorify himself as God; and what his end shall be" (Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist, 5).
As did Cyprian (c. 250 AD): "Nor let it disturb you, dearest brethren, if with some, in these last times, either an uncertain faith is wavering, or a fear of God without religion is vacillating, or a peaceable concord does not continue. These things have been foretold as about to happen in the end of the world; and it was predicted by the voice of the Lord, and by the testimony of the apostles, that now that the world is failing, and the Antichrist is drawing near, everything good shall fail, but evil and adverse things shall prosper" (Cyprian, Epistles 67.7). "Even Antichrist, when he shall begin to come, shall not enter into the Church because he threatens� They endeavour to imitate the coming of Antichrist, who is now approaching" (Cyprian, Epistles 54.19).
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Antichrist Same Person As False Prophet?
See FalseProphet.html
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Antichrist From Dan?
Some believe the Antichrist could be from the tribe of Dan because that tribe is not mentioned in Revelation 7 when all the other tribes are listed, and because of Moses' prophecy tying Dan with a serpent (Genesis 49:17).
Will the Antichrist know he's from Dan, and claim that the kingdom departs from Judah because he's "Shiloh"? "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be" (Genesis 49:10).
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Is Satan The Antichrist?
Satan can't be the Antichrist because it says Satan gives power to the Antichrist and will be worshipped along with the Antichrist (Revelation 13:4), and at the 2nd coming the Antichrist will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:19-20) while Satan will be sealed in the bottomless pit (Revelation 20:1-3), and won't be cast into the lake of fire until after the millennium (Revelation 20:7-10).
Some say that Satan's statement "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation" (Isaiah 14:13) means that Satan will sit in the congregation of the church. But is Isaiah 14:13 really saying Satan will sit upon the church in heaven, or rather that he planned to sit as the first among all the other angels (the "stars" of God) congregated in heaven?
Some say Satan is a man because he's referred to as a "man" in Isaiah 14:16. But Isaiah 14:16 doesn't require that Satan actually be a man, for Judges 13:9, 11 shows that sometimes an angel can be referred to as a "man".
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Number Of The Beast Cont�d
RCC = 666?
Some say "Lateinos" = 666, and the mark refers to the Catholic Church instituting Sunday worship, but what ancient source makes the claim that "Lateinos" was the name of "a man" (Revelation 13:18), or that the Catholic Church forbade "all" of the Sabbath-worshipping Jews in the Middle Ages to buy or sell without "Lateinos" or the number 666 marked on their hands or foreheads (Revelation 13:16-17).
Others say "Romiith" or "Romiti" = 666, and the mark refers to the Catholic Church instituting Sunday worship, but I have looked at the Hebrew gematrial values. I don't find either word adding up to 666 or referring to "a man" (Revelation 13:18), or any source which shows how the Catholic Church forbade "all" of the Sabbath-worshipping Jews in the Middle Ages to buy or sell without "Romiith" or "Romiti" or the number 666 marked on their hands or foreheads (Revelation 13:16-17).
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The Little Horn
I believe the little horn of Daniel 7:8 is the same as the little horn of Daniel 8:9, the Antichrist, who will come out of a land that was part of the Greek empire (Daniel 8:8-9) and ultimately gain power over the entire area of the Roman Empire (Revelation 17:12-13).
Note that the Roman Empire included not only Western Europe, but also Greece, the Middle East, and even North Africa. The 10 toes of the image in Daniel are separated into two groups of 5, so that 5 of the 10 end-time kings (Revelation 17:12) could be from Western Europe and Greece (for example, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Greece) and 5 from the Middle East and North Africa (for example, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Libya).
Note that the Antichrist must be diverse from the 10 kings and initially uproot 3 of them (Daniel 7:24). I believe he will arise out of Lebanon (Ezekiel 28:1-10) and take over a Baathist confederation of Iraq, Syria, and Egypt, which will have been put together by nuclear force of arms by his magnificent Middle Eastern predecessor (Daniel 11:13-19).
Note that the little horn of Daniel 8 attempts to fight against Christ himself (Daniel 8:25), and the only man who will do this is the Antichrist (Revelation 19:19).
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Date Of The AOD?
I've been told that some New Agers believe December 22, 2012 is the date their Master will reveal himself to the world, and that they believe both the I Ching and the Mayan Calendar give that date as the end of this age and the beginning of an entirely new age. It's also the winter solstice, the day of the year where the sun is at its lowest point in the northern sky.
This date would not be far off from the time possibly suggested by the parable of the fig tree, in which I believe Jesus was saying that the generation that began at the re-establishment of the nation of physical Israel (the rebudding of the fig tree) would not "pass" until they saw the tribulation and 2nd coming (Matthew 24:32-34). The nation of physical Israel was re-established by U.N. resolution in 1947, and I believe that generation won't "pass" (Matthew 24:24) until 70 years later, for Psalm 90:10 refers to people usually passing away after 70 years. If this means that Jesus must return by the 69th year, or by 2016, then the abomination of desolation occurring at the end of 2012 would still leave enough time for the 1,335 days of Daniel 12:11-12 to elapse between the abomination of desolation and the 2nd coming, that is, if the abomination of desolation occurs on December 22, 2012, then the 2nd coming could be 1,335 days later, on August 18, 2016. But we will have to wait and see when the abomination of desolation actually occurs, if God wills that we live that long.
Note that December 22, 2012 is both in the winter and on the Sabbath (Matthew 24:15, 20).