MANY PEOPLE ASK THE question, “Cannot Satan read the Bible, which tells of his utter defeat?” Of course, he can; however, he is so self-deceived that he does not believe the Bible. Despite Calvary, Satan still believes that he is going to take the day. In fact, his greatest thrust - his greatest effort - is just ahead. He will empower the Antichrist as he has empowered no other man in human history.
This man is referred to in the Bible as the “Beast” (Rev. 13:1), the “Antichrist” (I Jn. 2:18), “Gog” (Ezek. 39:1), “that Wicked” (II Thess. 2:8), and “that Man of Sin” (II Thess. 2:3).
WHO WILL HE BE?
As to whom he is, the Bible doesn’t say.
I think it is obvious, however, that he will have to be a Jew. The Jews would in no way accept a Gentile as their proposed Messiah. They will accept this man, claiming him to be their Messiah, which means that he has to be Jewish. Considering that Jews are scattered all over the world, this means that he could come from any number of places.
The Jews are a peculiar people. Having been out of the will of God for more than 2,000 years, it has taken a deadly toll on them and their nature. In this country of America, some few Jews are conservative, but most are liberal, even extremely liberal.
A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
If I remember correctly, the year was 1987. I was asked to speak at a Jewish symposium in Washington, D.C. Influential Jews would be present from all over America. Benjamin Netanyahu was the other speaker. He was not prime minister of Israel then, with such coming a little later.
After the session was over, I had the opportunity to meet the man who is now the prime minister of Israel.
I recall almost nothing about the meeting, but I do remember that when I walked away, I sensed in my spirit that this man was going to play a great part in the future of Israel. At any rate, I had been asked previously to meet with the Jewish liaison to Congress after the meeting was ended. I spent nearly two hours with the man.
He mentioned to me that he did not understand how that President Reagan, whom most Jews did not support, had turned out to be one of the greatest friends, if not the greatest friend, that the nation of Israel ever had. Thinking that all conservatives were opposed to Israel, he asked me how this could be.
I explained to him that the Christian movement in America was mostly conservative, but yet, loved Israel very, very much. I went on to tell him how that I felt that President Reagan personally had positive feelings toward Israel, but, as well, he was, no doubt, helped along, as it regarded Israel, by the hundreds of thousands of born-again believers in this nation.
So, from that conversation, it is easy for me to see how that Israel can accept a Jew from almost anywhere, assuming that he meets with their approval.
There is some biblical indication that the Man of Sin will be a Syrian Jew (Dan. 11:40). However, we must understand that the country of origin of the “king of the north,” who will be the Antichrist, includes modern Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. Actually, Iran, Afghanistan, and even some of modern Pakistan were also included in the old Syrian division of the Grecian Empire. However, some say they are not to be included because they were not a part of the old Roman Empire territory from which the 10 horns came up (Dan. 7:7). Possibly, that is true, but not necessarily so.
Some claim that the Antichrist will be a reincarnation of Judas, while others claim that he will be a reincarnation of Alexander the Great, etc. There is nothing biblical that supports a reincarnation of anyone.
THE DEBUT OF THE MAN OF SIN
The Antichrist will make his debut, promising great peace, and will be believed by much of the world. Concerning this, the Scripture says: “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals (refers to the crucified, risen Christ, and is proven by the use of the word Lamb), and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts (living creatures) saying, Come and see. (This will follow the rapture of the church, but we aren’t told exactly how long after the rapture the great tribulation will come. ‘Come and see,’ says that it is destined and cannot be avoided.)
“And I saw, and behold a white horse (symbolic; proclaims the Antichrist presenting himself to the world as a prince of peace): and he who sat on him had a bow (mentions no arrows; he preaches peace, but is preparing for war, as symbolized by the ‘bow’); and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. (The ‘crown’ represents the fact that he will conquer many countries. At first, he does so by peace, but will quickly graduate to war)” (Rev. 6:1-2).
THE SEVEN-YEAR CONCORD WITH ISRAEL
As we have already stated, Israel, and especially Jerusalem, is the flash point of the world at this time. Surrounded by more than 100 million Muslims, who swear her destruction, she occupies a very precarious position. And then, her greatest benefactor of all, the United States, is weakening in its resolve toward her. In fact, the Obama Administration is not only not favorable toward Israel but, if the truth be known, actively opposes her.
Since the administration of Jimmy Carter, the brightest minds have tried to solve the thorny problem of Israel and the Palestinians. Most of the world thinks that the problem is that Israel will not give land to the Palestinians in order that they might form a nation. Nothing could be further from the truth!
As Arafat once said, “We will win out over Israel by the means of peace - piece by piece.” The truth is, the Muslim world demands the entirety of the nation of Israel, with Jerusalem as their capital and the country then named Palestine. As well, they want every Jew dead.
It must be remembered that every war between Israel and the surrounding Arab countries such as Egypt and Syria has always been instigated by the Muslims. Israel did not start any of these wars, and yet, they have won every war and then allowed the Palestinians to remain in Israel. If the situation was reversed, and the Muslims had their way, meaning they had won any one of these wars, they would have slaughtered every single Jew. However, the world doesn’t see that because they don’t want to see that. In fact, the world as a whole wouldn’t care if Ahmadinejad was able to secure for himself an atomic bomb and then would use it on Israel.
The only friend in the world that Israel has presently is Canada and what is left of the friendship of America.
So, the brightest minds in America, as already stated, from the time of Jimmy Carter, have tried to solve this thorny problem between Israel and the Palestinians, but with no success. President Bush bragged to the world that before he left office, there would be a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians. It did not happen!
Actually, there is no such thing as Palestinians. The name is derived from the ancient Philistines, and, to be sure, there are no Philistines remaining. The people in Israel, who refer to themselves as Palestinians, are actually Jordanians, Syrians, Egyptians, etc.
CLARK CLIFFORD
Sometime back, I had the opportunity to hear a most interesting interview with Clark Clifford, who had been an advisor to every democratic president from Harry Truman all the way to Jimmy Carter. Consequently, he had witnessed so much of modern-day history. As far as I know, this was the last interview that he gave before he died.
As the interview began, it was announced by the host that they would discuss this man’s life, and considering his experience, it promised to be a very eye-opening interview, which it was. However, despite what the opening remarks were, the entire hour was spent discussing Israel and it becoming a state in 1948.
Mr. Clifford stated how that he was the youngest advisor to President Truman. He went on to state that due to his youthfulness, he had so little place and position that his advice was little sought at that time. While he was present at all the Cabinet meetings, still, it was almost nothing but look and listen.
Mr. Clifford talked about the great struggle in the mind of President Truman as it regarded the formation of the state of Israel. There were arguments about everything. One of the president’s closest friends, George Marshall, even suggested that America purchase a small country in Central America and give that to the Jews.
It must be understood that at that particular time, with World War II having just ended, America, plus many other nations, had a guilty conscience as it regarded the Jews. Hitler had slaughtered more than 6 million of these people, and it seems that very little had been done to try to stop the slaughter.
There were others who claimed that wherever a state for these ancient people was made possible, it should be named something other than Israel.
President Truman’s closest friend was George Marshall, and Marshall was vehemently opposed to the formation of the state of Israel. So, the argument flew back and forth.
THE LETTER
In answer to the questions posed by the host, Clifford stated that he felt very strongly about Israel becoming a state, how that state must be in the same boundaries as in the Bible, and the state must be named “Israel.” He was asked why he felt that way; was he Jewish?
“No,” he answered, “I’m not Jewish.” He remarked as to how he did not understand why he felt as he did but in his thinking, but he felt he had to somehow get his views to the president. So, he wrote a letter.
He stated that he couldn’t get an audience with the president, so, assured that the letter would be delivered to the Oval Office, he put down on paper that which he felt about Israel.
A couple of weeks passed, and he forgot about the letter. Then the president’s secretary called him, stating, “Mr. Clifford, the president wants to see you. Would you be in his office in the morning at 9 a.m.?” He asked the secretary, “Do you know what the president wants?”
She answered in the negative.
The next morning, he was there as he had been called.
He stated how that he walked into the Oval Office and stood before the desk of the president. President Truman was looking down at a letter on his desk and after a few moments, Mr. Clifford recognized it as his letter.
President Truman finally looked up to his youthful advisor and asked, “Clark, why do you feel this strongly about Israel, actually stating that her boundaries must be the biblical boundaries, and that this new state must be called ‘Israel’?”
The question threw him, he went on to say. He had no time to think up an answer. Why did he feel as strongly as he did?
He finally blurted out, “Mr. President, I feel as I do because it is the right thing to do.”
He said that the president looked at him for a few moments and then finally said, “Thank you Clark; that’s all.”
He turned and walked from the room, not really knowing if the president appreciated his answer or not. At any rate, he stated that in a couple of weeks, the president announced to the world that he was going to throw the full weight and prestige of the United States of America behind the formation of a state for the Jews, that it must be in the biblical boundaries, and that it must be named “Israel.”
He went on to say that he had no idea if his letter had anything to do with the president’s decision, but he did feel that if he had any influence at all on the president, this was one of the greatest things that he accomplished in his many years of serving as advisor to a number of democratic presidents.
ISRAEL
In fact, shortly before President Truman died, he was taking his customary walk, which he did every morning. That particular morning, a reporter was with him. He was going to write an article on the president, and he was doing all he could to get some information.
He asked the president, “What do you consider to be the thing that you are most proud of that you were able to accomplish as president?”
He was speaking with the man who had given the orders to drop two atomic bombs on Japan, which ended World War II. This was the man, as well, who had instigated the Marshall Plan to save Western Europe from communism.
The president looked at him and said, “I consider the most important thing that I was able to accomplish while in office was the part I played in helping Israel to become a nation.”
The reporter was taken somewhat aback, expecting another answer.
As stated, this was not long before the president passed away. Quite possibly, spiritual things were on his mind. Irrespective, his answer was absolutely correct. He had been led by the Lord to do what he did, in other words, God used him to help fulfill Bible prophecy. Nothing could be more important than that.
THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION
At the moment the Antichrist signs the seven-year agreement between Israel and the Muslim world, the great tribulation will begin. As we’ve already stated, he will be able to do what the brightest minds in America and elsewhere in the world have not been able to do — bring together the Israelis and the Muslims. How will he do that?
As we’ve also already stated, the Man of Sin will be anointed by the powers of darkness as no other human being has ever been. In other words, Satan will invest more in this man than he has invested in any other down through the ages. This is Satan’s fell swoop, so to speak. If he doesn’t carry out his scheme now to become master of the universe, in other words, dethroning God, he will never be able to do it. This is it, the moment which he has worked toward even from the dawn of time.
To be sure, Satan is self-deceived. He is so deceived that despite what he knows about God as the Creator and being all-powerful and all-knowing, still, he actually thinks that he will be able to overcome the Lord and set his throne up in the place of God.
SATAN
The great Prophet Isaiah gives us a clue as to the thinking of the Evil One. Through the prophet, the Holy Spirit tells us: “How are you fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how are you cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations! (Isaiah’s prophecy now switches from the Antichrist to his unholy sponsor, Satan himself. ‘Lucifer’ is the name of Satan. Actually, he is an angel, originally created by God, who served the Lord in righteousness for an undetermined period of time. When he fell, he led a revolution against God, with about one-third of the angels, it seems, throwing in their lot with him [Rev. 12:4]. Therefore, all the pain, suffering, misery, heartache, death, and deception, which have ruled the nations from the very beginning, can be laid at the doorstep of this revolution headed up by Satan).”
I WILL BE LIKE GOD?
“For you have said in your heart, 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, in the sides of the north:
“I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. (In these two verses, we see the foment of Satan’s rebellion and revolution against God. It seems that Lucifer, while true to the Lord, was given dominion of the earth, which was before Adam. After his fall, he worked deceitfully to get other angelic rulers to follow him in his war against God.)
“Yet you shall be brought down to Hell, to the sides of the pit. (This would be the lot of Satan and all who seek to be like God, but in a wrong way, in effect, by making themselves god)” (Isa. 14:12-15).
The Evil One has deceived himself in the same manner that he has deceived much of the world and for all time. However, the conclusion for him, and for all who have followed him, and who do follow him, will be eternal Hell, i.e., “the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:10).
A WEEK OF YEARS
How is it that we know this agreement, which will be signed by the Antichrist, plus Israel and the Muslims, and, no doubt, others, as well, will last for seven years?
Daniel is the prophet who gave this information and did so about 2,500 years ago. The account is found in Chapter 9 of the book of Daniel.
The great prophet, it seems, had been in prayer before the Lord for a period of time. At a given point, the angel Gabriel appeared to him.
GABRIEL
I will quote verbatim from The Expositor’s Study Bible: “And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God (Daniel declared that Jerusalem has been called by God’s name and has been chosen by God. Actually, it will be the capital of His eternal kingdom on earth [Ps. 2:6; 48:2; 87:2; 102:16; 132:13; Isa. 2:2-4; Ezek., Chpt. 48; Zech., Chpt. 14]);
“Yes, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. (Once again, Gabriel is sent to Daniel’s side. The phrase, ‘About the time of the evening oblation,’ referred to 3 p.m., which was the time of the evening sacrifice; however, this does not imply that those offerings were made in Babylon, but simply that, through the nearly 70 years that had intervened since the fall of Jerusalem, the sacred hour had been kept in remembrance, and possibly as one consecrated to prayer.)
UNDERSTANDING
“And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give you skill and understanding. (‘To give you skill and understanding,’ refers to the future of Israel and last-day events.)
“At the beginning of your supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show you; for you are greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. (The study of Bible prophecy was not for Daniel a mere intellectual entertainment but moral and spiritual nourishment.)
SEVENTY WEEKS OF YEARS.
“Seventy weeks are determined upon your people (Israel) and upon your holy city (Jerusalem), to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. (‘Seventy weeks are determined upon your people,’ actually means 70 sevens, which translates into 490 years. This period of time has to do with ‘your people’ and ‘your holy city,’ referring to the Jews and Jerusalem. The second coming of Christ and their acceptance of Him will ‘finish the transgression.’
“‘To make reconciliation [atonement] for iniquity,’ refers to the fact that Israel will not only accept Christ at the second coming but will also accept what He did for us at Calvary. One can well imagine this moment, for they are the ones who crucified Christ.
“The phrase, ‘To anoint the Most Holy,’ has to do with the building of the millennial temple, even as described by Ezekiel in Chapters 40 through 48 of his book)” (Dan. 9:20-24).
This message was taken from the Jimmy Swaggart hardback book, Armageddon.
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