Daniel was told that “the ruler who will come” will place abominations on a wing of the temple. Christ referred to this incident: “You [will] see standing in the holy place the abomination that causes desolation” (Matt. 24:15). John wrote that the false prophet will set up an image to this ruler and that the world will be compelled to worship it (Rev. 13:14-15). But then his end will come (the end that is decreed is poured out on him). With his false prophet he will be cast into the lake of fire when Christ returns to the earth (Rev. 19:20; Dan. 7:11, 26).(1)
After this ruler gains worldwide political power, he will assume power in the religious realm as well and will cause the world to worship him (2 Thess. 2:4; Rev. 13:8). To receive such worship, he will terminate all organized religions. Posing as the world’s rightful king and god and as Israel’s prince of peace, he will then turn against Israel and become her destroyer and defiler.(1)
His Names: The little horn (Dan. 7:8, 24; 8:9); The prince who is to come (Dan.9:26); The king who does as he pleases (Dan. 11:36); The foolish, worthless shepherd (Zech. 11:15-17); The beast (Rev. 11:7; 13:1; 14:9; 19:20; etc.); The man of lawlessness (2 Thess. 2:3); The son of destruction (2 Thess. 2:3); That lawless one (2 Thess. 2:8); The one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan (2 Thess. 2:9); Antichrist (1 John 2:18).(2)
His Influence: The deceptive, deadly influence of the Antichrist will extend to all those who perish. Only God's elect will not be taken (Matthew 24:24). Through him (the Antichrist), Satan will deceive the whole world (Rev. 12:9). His miracles, signs, and wonders are false not in the sense that they are fakery, but that they lead to false conclusions about who he is. They will cause people to believe the lie that he is a divine being and worship him.(2)
His Power: The power of the Antichrist will not be his own but will be in accord with the activities of Satan (2 Thess. 2:9-10). His power will show actual manifestations of Satan's supernatural power.(2)
His Worship: The Antichrist desire false worship because it takes worship away from the true Messiah. After he is revealed as the man of lawlessness and the son of destruction (Antichrist) He will exalt himself above every other so-called god or at least object to their worship. He will take a seat in the rebuilt temple that is in Jerusalem and display himself as being god.(2)
His Revelation: God will not allow the Antichrist to be revealed until it is God's perfect time. The lawless one will be revealed when the Holy Spirit removes or stops his restraining work. When the Holy Spirit's restraint ceases this will allow the Antichrist to come to a short lived (3 1/2 year) reign. The Holy Spirit will still be present on earth to help believers put their faith in Christ (Rev. 7:14). Evil will not overstep its divinely ordained bounds. Even the true Messiah was not revealed until "the fullness of that time came and God sent forth His Son" (Gal. 4:4).(2)This revelation may occur at the Abomination Of Desolation.
His End: The End Of The Antichrist:
His Religious Background: No one knows for sure what his religious background will be. The Antichrist will show no interest in "the desire of woman" (Dan. 11:37) which could mean he will be a homosexual; at least he will be heterosexually celibate. Some believe this probability, along with many other features, such as his world power and influence, unequalled religious ecumenical power, claim to rule in place of Christ, and seeking of worship, seals the fact that he will be a pope.(2) Daniel Chapter 7 seems to indicate a leader rising out of a Roman empire.
He could also have a Jewish background, since Israel will be accepting of him as their Messiah. He may not know he is the Antichrist yet. Judas may not have known of his true mission to give up Christ before the time came either.
The Antichrist as a Movement:
In recent times, interpretation of the antichrist as a demonic, anti-Christian teaching or movement has been held by some as an alternative to the antichrist as a person. However, those who interpret the Book of Revelation literally and who hold to a pre millennial view generally regard the antichrist as a person under satanic influence.(3)
The man who "shall confirm a covenant with many for one week" is undoubtedly the ruler introduced to us in Daniel 9:26 as "the prince who is to come." He is the "little horn" of Daniel 7. He will head a western confederacy of nations, the revived Roman Empire in its "ten toes" phase of Daniel 7:24.(4)
Check out Daniel's Master Link Table.
Back To Daniel's 9:24-27 Master Prophecy Page.
From the Talmud:
If they will not repent and thus become dependent on the final date, (The predetermined date for Mashiach’s coming) “the Holy one, blessed be He, will set up a ruler over them, whose decrees shall be as cruel as Haman’s, thus causing Israel to repent, and thereby bringing them back to the right path,”(5) (It may be that this cruel leader is the anti-Christ).
Other links of interest include:
1). Walvoord, John F. ; Zuck, Roy B. ; Dallas Theological Seminary: The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL : Victor Books, 1983-c1985, S. 1:1365
2). Elwell, Walter A. ; Beitzel, Barry J.: Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Baker Book House, 1988, S. 119
3). John MacArthur New Testament Commentary 1&2 Thessalonians p.267-284.
4). The Discovery Series, The Daniel Papers, RBC Ministries, p.25.
5). Sanhedrin 97b: Mashiach: The Principle of Mashiach and the Messianic Era in Jewish Law and Tradition by Jacob Immanuel Schochet (New Expanded Edition) p.93
