Prophecy Article
The Life and Times of the Antichrist - Part 2
By Ernest L. Martin, Ph.D., 1992
Edited by David Sielaff, September 2009
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It is essential that we carefully analyze the eight kings in Daniel’s “Book of Truth” (Daniel 11:1 to 12:3). This is because the apostle John in the Book of Revelation specifically mentions these same eight kings as being of paramount importance in comprehending the historical occurrences just preceding the Second Advent of Christ. We will discover that the apostle John gives a running commentary regarding those eight kings — and in particular he describes in detail the last three, which are the 6th, 7th, and 8th kings.
The long prophecy of the eight kings in Daniel’s “Book of Truth” parallels precisely with the description of eight kings given by the apostle John in Revelation chapter 17. These eight kings are given eight separate and successive reigns, seven of which lead directly to the eighth ruler which the apostle John calls the Antichrist. In other words, the eight kings mentioned in Daniel’s “Book of Truth” are the same eight kings referred to by John in Revelation chapter 17.
Now for a very significant point for us to note: in the prologue to Daniel’s “Book of Truth” the angel Gabriel tells Daniel why he read him the contents of the “Book of Truth” (Daniel 10:18–21). It was to explain why the angels Gabriel and Michael had been engaged in warfare (they were being hindered) by the angelic prince in charge of the Persian realm. They soon would have to fight with the angelic prince in charge of Javan (Greece). What is important about this? It shows that these angelic princes were fighting one another in heaven about matters happening here on earth. Thus, the “Book of Truth” is a document prepared by God for the angels to tell them what will happen at the end of the age.
The “Book of Truth” was not made specifically for humans to know. Though it describes some events on earth, most of what the “Book of Truth” states concerns territorial disputes in heaven about areas on earth. Only the angels have the proper geographical parameters to understand them. While humans are discussed in the prophecy, the main actors are the angelic powers ruling over the various kings on earth. Their “geography” in heaven may be different from ours on earth. 1
The same thing occurs in Revelation chapter 17 written by the apostle John, though in John’s case most of the events on earth are between angelic powers who use human beings as their lackeys in their territorial disputes on earth. In some contexts of both the “Book of Truth” and Revelation chapter 17 humans are meant, but in most events it is the angelic powers who are the primary actors in charge of the humans. The information to the Seven Congregations in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 shows the same thing. This fact is most important if one hopes to understand Daniel and Revelation. Let us look at Revelation chapter 17 and see how it dovetails precisely with the “Book of Truth.”
To set the theme, let us note that the Antichrist is called by the apostle John the “Beast,” and by the apostle Paul he is called the “Man of Sin” and the “Son of Perdition.” Now, note this point carefully. The 17th chapter of the Book of Revelation gives a parallel prophetic commentary on Daniel’s “Book of Truth.” The apostle John speaks of five previous kings (whose prophetic history he does not discuss — their history was given in the “Book of Truth” from Daniel 11:2–4). John, however, starts his prophetic commentary with the 6th king into whose future reign he was taken in his vision (Revelation 17:10). This is also the 6th king mentioned in the “Book of Truth” from Daniel 11:6 through 19.
John then states that there was to be a 7th king in this succession of kings who “must continue a short space” (Revelation 17:10). This description of John parallels the 7th king of the “Book of Truth” recorded in Daniel 11:20 who was described as a “raiser of taxes” and was to rule for a short space, or, as it is worded in Daniel, “within few days he shall be destroyed.” This 7th king rules a short time and is killed.
How is he killed? The apostle John in his description of the “Beast” in Revelation chapter 13 reports that his 8th king (the final king whom the “Book of Truth” calls the 8th king in succession — the third “King of the North”) had once been “wounded to death” (verse 3). He had sustained “the wound by a sword” (verse 14). Then (according to John), this man was apparently resurrected from the dead, or at least it looked like he was resurrected. It is only after his apparent resurrection that he becomes the 8th king (the “Beast” or the “Antichrist”). Note that John states that the Antichrist (that is, the 8th king) was once a part of the political system of the first seven kings and that he emerged out of them. The Beast “is of the seven, and goes into perdition” (Revelation 17:11).
This may appear like a lot of mumbo jumbo that is difficult to understand, but in fact when one parallels the teachings of Daniel’s “Book of Truth” with those of Revelation chapter 17 (and incorporating the interpretive comments of the earlier portion of Revelation chapter 13), it is quite easy to piece together what this end-time scenario is all about.
The truth is this: The 7th king in the “Book of Truth” reigns a few days and is killed (“destroyed,” Daniel 11:20). Then the 8th king arrives whom John says is “of the seven” (Revelation 17:11). This 8th king is called in the “Book of Truth” the “vile person” (Daniel 11:21) who finally sets up the Abomination of Desolation in the Temple (Daniel 9:26–27), while the apostle John said he “is out of the seven, and goes into perdition.”
The 7th king was the actual one who as “wounded to death,” with “the wound by a sword.” But then, if it is the human king who is being discussed, the wound appeared to be healed and this means he was apparently resurrected from the dead to become the 8th king (the Antichrist). We will show in a moment, however, that John is actually discussing the angelic power behind the 8th king. If this is the case, then something besides a resurrection from the dead is meant. Let us see what John means.
John describes the healing of his deadly wound of the Beast in this fashion:
John meant that this 8th and final king had been a part of the political system of the first seven kings. Indeed, since it was one of the seven heads of the Beast that came out of the sea (Revelation 13:1) who had the deadly wound, then that king has to be the last or the 7th king. But with his deadly wound healed, the 7th king now becomes the 8th king whom the apostle John identifies as the Beast.
With this proper evaluation in mind, one other description of John can now make sense. John said the Beast “was, and is not, and yet is” [Greek: “and it will be present”] (Revelation 17:8). This shows his three-fold existence. It means he was once alive [he “was”], that he suffered what appeared to be a sword wound [he “is not”], and now he is alive once again [he “is” present]. This three-fold time description is also used in another way. He is called “the beast that you saw was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit [Greek, “the abyss”]” (Revelation 17:8).
There is even a third time this three-fold time description is used, with the final point being: the Beast who ascends “out of the abyss.” This abyss must be associated with the oceans because the Beast is also described as coming “out of the sea” (Revelation 13:1–3).
In Revelation 17:11 we discover the time when this angelic power becomes the Beast or the Antichrist. There we find another use of the three-fold time style description. The Beast is called the one who “was, and is not, even he is the eighth.” So,
The abyss is always denoted in the Book of Revelation as a place for evil spirits, the underworld (Tartarus, from the Greek, tartaroo, 2 Peter 2:4), the place where evil angels are kept in chains until God wishes any of them released.
In this case, the apostle John is now emphasizing the fact that the 8th king is now an angelic spirit. He may be possessing a human being to perform his acts, but John is specifically interested in his angelic prowess, not his human. If, however, John is also referring to a human who is possessed of this angelic power, then the description he gives implies most strongly that the 7th king had been killed and appears to have been resurrected from the dead as the 8th king.
It is true that in the past humans have been resurrected from the dead before the real resurrection of the righteous occurs at Christ’s Second Advent, but in all cases where humans have been resurrected back to temporary life, the examples are all of righteous people 3 — not evil ones, as this man certainly is. But when the sword wound shown on this angelic being appears to be healed, he becomes the 8th king. This is the time when the world begins to admire him as the Christ (albeit falsely) and they will accept his rulership.
What is the exact time period when his deadly wound appears healed and he becomes the prophesied “Beast”? This is easy to determine. In Revelation 12:7–17 we find Satan the Devil and his angels expelled from heaven and they come to earth. The world will mistake their coming as the Second Advent of Christ with his angels. Then John tells us that just after this celestial display of Satan and his angels, the “Beast” will emerge out of the sea 4:
“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.”
Revelation 13:1
In Revelation 13 (the next chapter after John states Satan is expelled from heaven), John describes the arrival of the “Beast” and the “False Prophet.” This is the time when the Beast’s “deadly wound was healed” (Revelation 13:3). It happens just after Satan is expelled from heaven. The sequence is this:
All of us, however, will know this to be untrue because we know of Christ’s promise that we will meet him in the clouds of heaven when the time of the resurrection takes place (2 Thessalonians 4:15–17). Since it will be obvious that we have not been changed into immortality to meet Christ in the clouds, we can rest assured that the appearance of these familiar spirits mimicking those who recently died is pure deception on the part of Satan and his angelic cohorts.
In what area of the earth will the Beast (or, the Antichrist) first appear? This is not difficult to determine. Since the Beast is one who comes out of the sea, this means he will come from the ocean (Revelation 13:1). He will first find himself among humans somewhere on the Mediterranean coast. He may well appear as did Jonah when he came forth from the sea (Jonah 2:10). But this Beast is no mere human being. He is (1) an angelic power who, with (2) Satan and (3) the False Prophet, together represent the angelic trinity of power that will finally secure authority over the whole earth. Finally the three will be judged together by Christ (Revelation 20:10).
But the Antichrist starts out his end-time existence by first coming forth from the abyss which is also called “the sea” (Revelation 13:1). He then goes to where the “Kings of the North” had their capital city. Since this region is in the land-bridge area between Mesopotamia and Egypt, he must then come forth in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea.
To continue with the story thread in finding out what will happen next, one should go back to Daniel’s “Book of Truth” and pick up the narrative about the various Kings of the North. Since the Beast is the 8th “King of the North,” we can begin to read at Daniel 11:21 which starts out with the description of the 8th king’s reign. It calls him first “a vile person.” We must now ask whether this description (1) is that of a human being who becomes possessed by the angelic power called the Beast, or (2) is it the Beast himself now appearing like a human being? We are not told in the Daniel narrative.
We discover that he obtains the kingdom through excessive flatteries. In other words, he does not simply proclaim himself “king.” The people have to be convinced that he is the proper “king.” This is where Satan comes on the scene. When people think that Satan is none other than the returned “Christ,” they will accept anyone the “true Christ” selects as king over this northern area. Satan flatters the Beast with credentials.
Recall that when Christ comes back to earth (I mean the true Christ), He will indeed set up kings and priests over various areas of the earth (Revelation 5:10). David will then be resurrected from the dead and he is prophesied to rule over the nation of Israel (Ezekiel 34:23). The 12 apostles are to be resurrected and each is prophesied to rule over one of the 12 tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). Other redeemed Israelites will rule over various areas of Palestine (Luke 19:11–26). So it would be quite in order for “Christ” (or, in this case, Satan the Devil) to appoint this “Beast” who has just come out of the abyss as the resurrected king of this area to the north of Jerusalem. Remember, he is a “King of the North.”
Satan will assure the people who inhabit this northern region that this “king” is the one who should rule in their area. Indeed, Satan will use numerous signs, wonders and miracles with his flatteries to insist that this person (who “was, is not, and is now present”) is the best qualified to rule in this “Kingdom of the North.” Satan will even claim (falsely, it appears) that this person had been resurrected from the dead specifically for this purpose when the supposed general resurrection of the “righteous dead” took place.
So Satan sets up this prophesied 8th king. After this, Satan leaves this man in charge of this northern region. Daniel’s “Book of Truth” says this king shall become great through “a small people” (Daniel 11:23). Satan then proceeds to the central area bridging Asia and Europe (to Pergamus) and he establishes his angelic world headquarters there for the time being (Revelation 2:12–13). He will later move to Jerusalem.
Now back to the Antichrist. Once the Antichrist is made king of this region north of Jerusalem, the people will be surprised that he will not be happy to remain in that area as its king. The “Book of Truth” then says some unexpected things begin to develop. The people discover that he has greater ambitions and he means to exercise them to the fullest. He has his eyes on Jerusalem, the Temple and a greater rulership in the world. He is not content with his rule in this northern area near the Mediterranean Sea.
Just where is this territory in the north over which this angelic power will be enthroned? When we put all of the scriptures together on this matter, it is not difficult to determine. He is made king in an area that has the city of Tyre as its capital. We are told that at the end of the age there will be a nation of the Tyrians that will be one of the ten nations mentioned by Daniel and Revelation, identified as the ten toes and the ten horns which assist the Antichrist at the end-time generation (Psalm 83). Tyre not only controlled for the most part the sea coast cities of what we call southern Lebanon today, but it also dominated the trading routes going toward Damascus and the Red Sea in the interior of the country.
There are several reasons why this “Kingdom of the North” has its capital at the fortress city of Tyre on the Mediterranean coast. Let us look at the city of Tyre. This island city in early times was colonized by Phoenicians who expelled the earlier Canaanites. Many of these colonists were from Edom (descendants of the twin brother of Jacob). They were close kin to the Israelites and Jews. The earliest historian we have of the Tyrians was a person by the name of Sanchuniathon. He shows that one of the chief gods they worshipped was Ousoos (who is clearly Esau, another name for Edom). 6 Ousoos (Esau, or Edom) had always been a brother tribe to Israel, but one in which there had been much rivalry in determining who were the superior people. By taking over Tyre (and adopting the name “Phoenicians”) these early Edomites became a prestigious people.
The Edomites determined to control the land and sea routes of the world. They occupied at first the area southeast from Judah in the region of Petra and then they took control of the southern region all the way to the Red Sea. The primary meaning of the word “Edom” is “Red” (or in Greek, Erythras). The Red Sea was named after “King Erythras” or “King Red” (see the early Roman historian Pliny in his Natural History, VI.23). Erythras is the patriarch “Edom.” The first vessels used for navigation were rafts (Pliny, Natural History, VII.56) and they not only sailed the Indian Ocean with those vessels, the Edomites also journeyed by land from the Red Sea up to the area of Tyre and colonized that region. This was an attempt to secure all shipping and trading into the hands of the Edomites (or, as they finally became known as, the Phoenicians — which also has the meaning of “Red”). 7
The Roman historian Pliny tells us the ancient records showed that the Phoenicians came to the city of Tyre from the “Red Sea” (Natural History, IV.22 and VI.23). From there, these Phoenicians (from “King Red”) colonized much of the sea coast cities of the Mediterranean peripheral areas. Some of the early Romans, Carthaginians and those along the sea coast of Spain had their origin from “King Red” (that is, from Edom, the brother of Jacob). They were basically the Phoenician peoples who took over the sea coast cities of the eastern (and later, the western) Mediterranean and the Red Sea region after the Canaanites were expelled from those areas. They became world leaders in trade and commerce.
Since the Tyrians (or the Phoenicians) were the ones of the ancient world in charge of most trading and commerce, the Book of Revelation has a whole section devoted to the Antichrist reviving this control at the end-time. That section is Revelation 18:7–24. Though the city being discussed is called a type of “Babylon,” the actual city that the apostle John has in mind is that of Tyre who controlled the major commercial undertakings in the ancient world. The “Beast” (called the Antichrist) will once again want to take over this ancient trading city and re-establish her powerful commercial status, and that is precisely what the apostle John in Revelation 18:7–24 states will happen. It is not an accident that the “Beast” comes out of the sea — the ocean. In fact, when the 8th king becomes the third “King of the North,” he is taking over control of Tyre with its redeveloped commercial empire.
There is another connection with Tyre and the Beast. The word “Edom” means “Red” and it can mean “Red Man” (that is, a person who has the color of red in his skin). This does not mean “copper toned.” It means to be “ruddy.” The red blood can be seen through the person’s skin. The word also became equivalent with “Man” (all humans have “red” blood that keeps them alive).
Now note this. We are told in the Book of Revelation that this “Man” called the Antichrist has a number, and that number is 666. It is a number of “Man” (another name for “mankind,” or Edom). It could well be understood to be the number associated with “Edom.” The city of Tyre, as far as the early Jews were concerned, was a fortress city colonized by the Edomites after the expulsion of the original Canaanites. The Edomite/Tyrians then became a great commercial people and practically colonized the areas of the western Mediterranean.
In fact, when the Antichrist finally goes to the Temple in Jerusalem and proclaims himself “God,” he identifies himself with a new name that no god has ever had before. This will be in mimic of Christ Jesus, because we are told that even Christ has a name that no one has ever heard before and that no one knows but himself (Revelation 19:12). What will the Antichrist call himself? It will be a new name that answers to “the fortress God” (Daniel 11:38), or, as the great Hebrew linguist C. Ginsburg believed it meant: “the god of the fortress of the sea” (see Rotherham translation). The “Fortress of the Sea” is clearly “Tyre.” The Antichrist will call himself the “Fortress,” or perhaps, “Gad” — the God of Troops who control the fortresses (Isaiah 65:11, see Hebrew). 8
As a matter of fact, in the prophecy concerning Tyre that Isaiah the prophet wrote, three times he said Tyre was called the “Fortress” (Isaiah 23:4, 11, 14, translated “strength” or “strong holds” in the King James Version). In a word, the Antichrist calls himself with a new name, it means the “God of Tyre,” and his new name is “Fortress” which the people will accept because it signifies “strength.” If this be the case, then it is no wonder that the Beast (or the Antichrist) comes to the city of Tyre first to establish his rulership at the end of the age. He becomes the 8th “King of the North” who has his capital city at a renewed Tyre on the Mediterranean coast.
The fact that the Edomites were the principal tribe that colonized the city of Tyre (and became the original Phoenicians) was well recognized by the early Jews. The great Jewish commentator named Rashi, gave the evidence of this in his commentary on the Torah (Rashi, Genesis 25:23). Though the Canaanites were the first to settle Tyre, there was a strong relationship established early between the Canaanites and Esau (Edom). He actually married Canaanite wives (Genesis 26:34; 36:2). The fact that many Edomites moved to Tyre and established it as the great Phoenician commercial city is even reflected in a statement made by the prophet Amos (Amos 1:9). He stated that the Tyrians of his day had delivered up many Israelites to the nation of Edom located to the southeast of Judah and that they (the Tyrians) did not remember the covenant of brotherhood (that is, the brotherly covenant between Israel and Edom made in the time of Jacob with Esau). This may indicate that many of the Tyrians knew that they were part Edomites and that they had a covenant relationship with Israel through Jacob and Esau.
There is another connection that the Beast certainly has with the city of Tyre. When the Beast finally goes to Jerusalem and takes over control of the Temple, he has an image made of himself and places it in the Temple. The only image that Moses allowed in the Holy of Holies was that of the two cherubim who overshadowed the Seat of Covering (sometimes called the Mercy Seat). These two cherubs who were found in the original Tabernacle of Moses were two angelic powers who were so special that they could position themselves on either side of God himself. However, one of the cherubs dishonored itself in the time of Ezekiel and he was banished from the Temple. This cherub was the angelic power in charge of the city of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:1–19). 9
There is no doubt that this angelic power now called the Beast by the apostle John was indeed the same cherub that was once in charge of Tyre. He had been king of the “Fortress” and Ezekiel says God disqualified him from being in the Temple at Jerusalem. But now, it seems this cherub is at first coming back to Tyre where he exercised power at an earlier time. Back then, he tried to take over the Temple at Jerusalem and then proclaim himself a much higher being in power than God had meant for him. But in this end-time scene, he will once again look enviously from being the “King of Tyre” toward Jerusalem and the Temple so that he might gain rulership of the earth and finally the heavens.
The people of Tyre always took a special interest in the Temple at Jerusalem. This city of Tyre was a Mecca for peoples in the Middle East who were interested in trade and commerce. They had skilled workers and many other types of professional people associated with the city and its kingdom that kings in the rest of the world called on if they wanted to perform special projects. In the time of Solomon, when he wanted to construct the Temple, we read of one Hiram of Tyre who helped the Tyrian king (also named Hiram) to build the Temple at Jerusalem. This Hiram was part Israelite of the tribe of Naphtali (1 Kings 7:13–14). Thus, many Tyrians (Phoenicians) were influential in building the first Temple.
Tyre, and her sister city Zidon, became the central area for trading and commerce in the ancient world. They also controlled a number of cities in the interior which were a part of their commercial system — part of the “Kingdom of the North.” One of these was called Laish (Judges chapter 18) which the tribe of Dan (one of the principal tribes of Israel) settled. The tribe of Dan then became part of Phoenician civilization.
This triangle of cities (Tyre, Zidon, and Dan) was normally a part of Phoenician territory which governed the trade routes into the Mesopotamian and Red Sea areas. As for the territory of this 8th “King of the North,” we know it was associated in some way with the seacoast because the Beast is described by John as coming “out of the sea” (Revelation 13:1). It also has interior cities and fortresses as one can see when one surveys all the information in the “Book of Truth” about this “Kingdom of the North.” Since Tyre and Zidon controlled several interior cities on their trading routes, it is logical that this area in which the Antichrist arises was in this region. This would include the area of Dan at the base of Mount Hermon on the north border of Israel.
One of the reasons for believing this is because there is a prophecy in Jeremiah (that early Jewish and Christian interpreters believed was a prophecy about the Antichrist) that the great evil ruler at the end of the age would come from the region of Dan in the north of Israel. A person from the territory of Dan (who could be of Davidic descent) could well be interested in the Temple at Jerusalem because of its world influence and it could be an important structure to him in order to express his rulership over the world. Remember, it was the prince and king of Tyre as mentioned in Ezekiel who certainly had his eye on taking over Jerusalem and the Holy Temple that existed in the time of Jeremiah and Ezekiel (Ezekiel chapter 28). Recall that Dan is not only a next door neighbor of Tyre, but was itself a part of Phoenician society (Judges 18:1–7). So, what does the prophet Jeremiah say about the territory of Dan? The statement of Jeremiah reads as follows:
“We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble! The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein. For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, says YHWH.”
Jeremiah 8:15–17
As early as the 2nd century BC, Jewish literature referred to the end-time Satanic prince as arising from the region surrounding this northern area of Dan. “The Testament of Dan” has such an indication. Professor H.C. Kee who translated the text in Charlesworth’s The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha says 10,
“… Jewish and patristic speculation linked Dan and the Antichrist, possibly on the basis of the idolatry attributed to Dan in Judges 18:11–31 and the prophecies of judgment linked to Dan in Jeremiah 8:16–19.”
H.C. Kee, “The Testament of Dan,” footnote 5b
Several early commentators (both Christian and Jewish) took these indications to mean that the Antichrist would arise in the territory of Dan in northern Israel. And since the Antichrist was indeed called the “King of the North,” this convinced some interpreters that the Antichrist would come from this area associated with the northern tribe of Dan. Interestingly, in Moses’ arrangement of the tribes around the Tabernacle in the wilderness (which gave rise to the Jewish Zodiacal positioning of the 12 tribes), the tribe of Dan was given prominence in answering to the north quarter. This northern tribe of Dan was also associated with a serpent or a stinging scorpion. Jacob prophesied that Dan would become “a serpent by the way” (Genesis 49:17, a symbol of Satan the Devil). Could Jacob have had in his mind what later became known as the Antichrist theme while he was giving these prophecies about the 12 tribes? It may well be.
Besides that, the tribe of Dan was noted as being a rebellious tribe in Israel who left the area of the central tribes in the Land of Canaan and moved north to the remote border of the country. There they built a city of Dan and later, in the time of Jeroboam, set up the false worship of the calf (1 Kings 12:29). Even Jacob was able to sense that his son Dan would not develop into the righteous people that he wanted his children to become. Though Jacob knew that Dan would eventually be converted and saved, the original Hebrew indicates that Jacob knew Dan would have to wait a longer time for his salvation than the other tribes of Israel (Genesis 49:17–18, see Hebrew).
It is noteworthy that the apostle John left out the tribe of Dan among the 12 tribes of Israel when he had the 144,000 (12,000 from each tribe) sealed for protection from the Antichrist and from the wrath of Christ Jesus (Revelation 7:1–8). It is the accumulation of evidence such as the above that brought early Christian commentators (as well as Jewish) to the conclusion that the final ruler to take over control of the earth would come from the northern territory of Dan. The main city of Dan had been a Phoenician city associated with Zidon and her sister city (the great island fortress) called Tyre. They were linked together in political and commercial union.
Whatever the case, the 8th king in Daniel’s “Book of Truth” (who was also the third “King of the North” according to the apostle John in Revelation chapter 17) will be the individual who becomes the Antichrist. The territory that he first rules is that of Tyre, Zidon and into the interior to Dan and Mount Hermon. As a matter of interest, Mount Hermon, which is the highest mountain in the bridge of land between Mesopotamia and Egypt, was the very spot that many Jews believed the first angelic powers came in the time before the Flood that caused the Sons of God to produce giants by the daughters of men. It was reckoned that at the top of Mount Hermon is where the evil angels entered the earth. 11 Remarkably, it also was the same mountain top where the Transfiguration of Christ took place and where he was proclaimed by God the Father as His son with a message of salvation for the world (Matthew 17:1–9).
And though this northern area was significant to the angelic powers in earlier times, it is not the final area destined for rulership over the world. That spot is Mount Zion in Jerusalem. It is for this reason that this 8th “King of the North” will not be satisfied to rule simply the Tyrian and Danite areas of the north. He has greater plans up his sleeve. Daniel’s “Book of Truth” goes on to tell us that he will begin to move his army southward. He then comes in contact with people in the glorious land — Palestine. While there he confirms “a league” with a ruler called a “Prince of the Covenant” (Daniel 11:22–23).
The text seems to indicate that this league or covenant had been made earlier between the sixth “King of the North” and this “Prince of the Covenant.” This covenant was first made when some Israelite rulers decided to (as Daniel’s “Book of Truth” words it) “establish the vision” (11:14–16) when the 6th “King of the North” had come to Palestine. The vision that they wished to establish was no doubt the one mentioned in the previous chapter of Daniel (Daniel chapter 9 which is called the Seventy Weeks Prophecy) or the vision of Daniel chapter 8, or even back to Daniel chapter 7. The only visionary reference in Daniel that is in any way connected with the making of a covenant was that of the “Seventy Weeks Prophecy” recorded in Daniel chapter 9 (see verse 27 in particular). This was a covenant made between a “King of the North” and the people of Jerusalem that was to be seven years in length and it had to do with the establishment of a Temple with its ritualistic system at Jerusalem.
It appears that the time the Jews try to “establish the vision” when the 6th “King of the North” is in the Jerusalem area, is the time the covenant of seven years is made. But when the present “King of the North” (the 8th king) encounters the “Prince of the Covenant” (Daniel 11:22), his army gets ready to break the power of that Prince. He works deceitfully concerning the league (or the covenant) which he wants to break.
But first, the Beast (the 8th king) journeys south with his army and meets with a “King of the South” to decide about the governance over “the fattest places of the province” (Daniel 11:24) in what is called “the glorious land” (Palestine, see verse 41). Among various things that happen, the Beast becomes far more powerful and then enters the city of Jerusalem. While there, he officially breaks the covenant with Israel which had been made three and a half years before and he establishes himself in Jerusalem as its ruler. To do this, he kills two powerful priests called the Two Witnesses who, for the past three and a half years had practically controlled Jerusalem by having full command over the Temple. These Two Witnesses had ruled in the Temple since the making of the covenant to rebuild the Temple and its ritualistic system some 1260 days before (Revelation 11:3, 7).
Now, another angelic power arrives on the scene. This is the “False Prophet” (Revelation 13:11–18). At the end-time, the influence of Balaam from Mesopotamia is shown (Revelation 2:14), and since Babylon of Mesopotamia is prophesied to re-emerge in power, this angelic being most logically answers to the “King of Babylon” (Isaiah 14:5–15) who joins forces with the Antichrist who is the “King of Tyre.” 12 This is when the main counterfeit action takes place.
Satan the Devil then returns from Pergamus to join forces with the other two angelic powers. Satan unites with the “Beast” and “False Prophet” to form a triad (a unified Trinity) of power. This is when they state that the Two Witnesses were the “Beast” and the “False Prophet, of Revelation 13, while the Antichrist and False Prophet now become “Christ” and “Elijah.”
This is when the Antichrist is exalted by Satan to supreme power.
“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 [having great knowledge and wisdom] shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power [Satan now gives him the power], and he will destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.”
Daniel 8:23–24
The apostle Paul said this man’s “coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). The Antichrist then sits himself in the Temple of God calling himself “God” (2 Thessalonians 2:4). At the same time, the “False Prophet” orders the people to make an image of the Antichrist and place it in the Holy of Holies (Revelation 13:14–15). This is what the “Book of Truth” calls the Abomination of Desolation, which Christ warned his apostles about in Matthew 24:15.
Just what is the image of the Beast? The Book of Revelation mentions on eight occasions that the Antichrist will let an image of himself be set up in the Temple for the people to admire and to recognize. And strange as it may seem, even that image in the Temple is not illegal as far as the Mosaic legislation is concerned. That’s right. The making of such an image is even allowed (it is actually commanded) in the Law of Moses. Let us understand this point clearly because the Mosaic legislation will be used by the Antichrist to deceive the world into believing he is a part of Christ Jesus’ new “Kingdom of God.” The setting up of this image is restoring a part of the Temple furniture that was commanded to be in the Holy of Holies in the time of Moses. The Book of Daniel and Christ Jesus called this the “abomination of desolation,” 13 yet the erection of this image in the Temple is not illegal from Moses’ point of view. It is illegal when one considers later history and what happened in the time of Ezekiel. Let me explain.
What many people do not realize is the fact that the Mosaic law does countenance (indeed, it commands) that a single molded-together image (Exodus 37:7) of two spiritual beings be positioned in the Holy of Holies (Exodus 25:18–22). That single image shows a pair of cherubs whose symbolic wings overshadow the covering area sometimes called the Mercy Seat (symbolizing the throne of God). This Mercy Seat depicts in symbolic form the actual throne of God in heaven.
In the Scripture we are told that God sits “between the cherubim” (e.g. Psalms 80:1; 99:1). The making of this single image of two cherubim with the Mercy Seat situated between them was completely legal in the eyes of God in the time of Moses. It is this cherubimic image that the Antichrist will restore in the temple at Jerusalem. Since the Book of Revelation states that the image has an outward impression of the Antichrist himself this means that the Antichrist (the angelic power who is now reckoned as the “Beast”) is in form exactly like one of the cherubs in the Temple. Both cherubs are identical twins in appearance; one is on the right hand of the Father and the other on the left. Who do these two cherubs represent?
The Bible identifies one of the cherubs as “the King of Tyre” (the spiritual entity who ruled or still rules the realm of Tyre — the great merchandising power which exercises commercial authority in the world). And, as I have shown so far in this research study, the Antichrist is also (even at the end of the age) now the “King of the North” who had his first rule at the city of Tyre. And note this. This angelic power is called “the anointed cherub that covers [the Mercy Seat]” (Ezekiel 28:14), but he is also shown to be a fallen cherub.
“You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, till iniquity was found in you. By the multitude of your merchandise they have filled the midst of you with violence, and you have sinned: therefore I will cast you as profane out of the mountain of God [he will be thrown out of the Temple]: and I will destroy you, O covering cherub.”
Ezekiel 28:15–16
After Satan is thrown out of heaven with his angels, the evil triad takes over the earth. The “Beast” (the King of Tyre) ascends from the sea (Revelation 13:1; 17:8); the False Prophet (the King of Babylon) ascends from the earth to exercise his religious authority; and Satan blesses their two fold union by giving full political power to the Antichrist. Thus, a triad of power is created. It is an evil trinity: three in one, and one in three (much like the world falsely imagines the Godhead to be, Revelation 16:13–16). 14
At this time the Beast (called the Antichrist) will have a single image of two cherubs set up by the False Prophet in the Temple at Jerusalem to be there when he is in other areas so that people will not forget him or his ruler. He will claim the authority of Moses to erect this image in the Temple (Exodus 25:18–22) and the whole world will observe this command of Moses and accept it. He will also show the world that Ezekiel also prophesied that cherubs would be depicted on some walls in the millennial Temple (Ezekiel 41:17–26). And Ezekiel even shows that a lion depicts a part of a cherubic image (verse 19) and this could well be the reason that the Book of Revelation refers to the Antichrist also as a “Beast” — a wild beast like a lion!
The apostle John then tells us that the image (which is positioned in the Holy of Holies) will begin to speak (Revelation 13:15). People will not be surprised by this because there have been times in history when God has allowed his Shekinah glory to speak from the Holy of Holies. 15 This future voice, however, will be telling the people to accept the rulership of this person whom the people will probably think, by this time, to represent Jesus Christ himself.
This must be the case because not long after this, the Antichrist becomes bold enough to call himself “God” who sits himself in the Temple. He will show the people from the Book of Revelation that Christ has a name that no one on earth or in heaven knows, and that he is now going to reveal that new name for the people to call him (Revelation 19:12). The name the Antichrist will select will be so august and powerful that even the earlier names of God (Elohim, Yahweh, the Almighty, etc.) will be eclipsed in authority by the use of this new name. It will have to do in some way with the title “Fortress” and (as I have explained before) it will be an exalted adjunct of the name given to the city of Tyre. Some early Christian commentators have suggested it will be the Hebrew name Mauzzim (this is what we find in the margin of the King James Version).
All of this will be cleverly done by using (rather, by misusing) many references in Scripture that refer to Christ or to the proper Temple and applying them to the Antichrist and his false Temple. He will establish a Kingdom like that of Herod the Great, but more powerful! He will then enforce the Sabbath, the Holy Days, and much of the Law of Moses (that will be the “Mark of the Beast”) on the entire world.
The actions of the Antichrist could cause even the apostles themselves to accept his credentials if they did not know better (Matthew 24:24). Even the very elect would be close to receiving him. This is because the Antichrist will not set up an idol of Zeus (or some other pagan deity) in the Holy Place at Jerusalem. Why, no apostle or elect person of God (or even the Jewish or Muslim people) would accept such sacrilege. But to erect an image (molded together as one piece) of two cherubs with a human and lion motif (the beast part) would be readily allowed because such a thing is called for in the Law of Moses and even the millennial temple of Ezekiel displays such images. The only problem is, one of those cherubs (the one called the “King of Tyre”) was demoted in the time of Ezekiel and he was disqualified from being in the Temple. To put him back in the Temple would be an “Abomination,” and that is exactly what happens: the Abomination of Desolation (the disqualified cherub) is set up in the Temple.
When this happens, Daniel’s “Book of Truth” then tells us that the angelic power who controls an area on earth known as the “Kingdom of the South” (probably the Gaza strip, Philistia, and greater Egypt) becomes angry with the Antichrist. 16 With the Antichrist claiming to be God and setting up an image (no matter if it is allowed in the Law of Moses) infuriates the “King of the South.” This king is probably in charge of numerous Muslim countries that do not care for the use of any images whatever in worship, nor for a man calling himself “God.”
The “King of the South” comes like a whirlwind against the Antichrist, but to no avail. The Antichrist garners together ten kings who rule over ten Middle East countries and together they not only succeed in defeating the “King of the South,” but they carry war into Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia and those areas are conquered. Then he and the ten kings proceed to go north and east from Jerusalem and “he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many [countries in northeast Asia will also succumb to the Antichrist]” (Daniel 11:43–44). This is when the “Book of Truth” says he finally returns to Jerusalem and in the glorious holy mountain builds his palace from whence he will rule the world for over three years (Daniel 11:45).
Near the end of the Antichrist’s glorious rule in Jerusalem, the apostle John states that God will put it in the hearts of the ten kings to rebel against him (Revelation 17:16–17). We find that the Antichrist succeeds in escaping from Jerusalem and he will journey into the north and east to get the armies of Gog and Magog to form against the rebels in the areas surrounding Jerusalem. This is when the evil triad (the angelic "trinity" of evil) marshals a vast horde east of the Euphrates to cross into Palestine and they gather at the Plains of Jezreel, which the Book of Revelation refers to as “Armageddon”:
“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. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come
[1] out of the mouth of the dragon, and
[2] out of the mouth of the beast, and
[3] out of the mouth of the false prophet.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.
Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.”
Revelation 16:12–16
These combined armies then make a three column attempt to capture Jerusalem. One column of the army will go the coast route to end up in Edom near the southern part of the Dead Sea. Another column will go the Jordan Valley Route and then south to link up with the first column in Edom. And the middle column of the army (the main force) will head directly south through Samaria and attack Jerusalem full force from the north. This movement is detailed by the prophet Isaiah from Isaiah 10:28 (starting just north of Jerusalem) until they reach the Mount of Olives at a place called Nob in Isaiah 10:34. Because the principal troops leading this movement of the Antichrist’s army are modern day Assyrians, the Antichrist is then called “the Assyrian” in Isaiah. But the other forces are headed by the troops of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39) and he is called “Gog” by them. 17
The outcome of this final attempt to take over Jerusalem ends in total defeat for the Antichrist — or, as Isaiah says, the person who is a rod out of the stem of Jesse (Christ Jesus) shall defeat him. This son of David (Christ Jesus) will “slay the wicked [one]” (Isaiah 11:4). And the apostle Paul quotes the same verse in Isaiah and states:
“… then shall that Wicked [one] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and destroy with the brightness of his coming.”
2 Thessalonians 2:8
This is the last war against Jerusalem and is described in Zechariah 14:1–4. Thus, the Antichrist comes to an end (at least, the human person whom the Antichrist possesses). As far as the angelic powers called the Antichrist and the False Prophet are concerned, they will be placed in the lake that burns with fire (Revelation 19:20) and a thousand years later will be joined by Satan (Revelation 20:10). 18 After the period of the Great White Throne Judgment, that evil “Trinity” will be dealt with further. But no one, in the plan of God, will perish forever. Even the evil powers (when they repent) will finally come to understand the mercy of Christ and God the Father (Philippians 2:9–13). God’s mercy, forgiveness and love are thorough and all-embracing (Ephesians 1:10). God’s plan is to save everyone and His purpose will never be thwarted.
What will happen to those Christians at the end of the age who live through these events? Other than witnessing the persecution that happens at the start of the last prophetic seven years (Matthew 24:5–14), God has promised to lead us through this later time victoriously. Read Revelation 7:1–17, 12:14; Zephaniah 2:3; Matthew 24:15–28; and 2 Thessalonians 2:13 where Paul says the true saints will have a salvation from this time of tribulation. A further research study will show this protection of the saints (of us) in greater detail. 19
Ernest L. Martin, 1992 Edited by David Sielaff, September 2009
1 Dr. Martin’s later research came to demonstrate that point. He published that information in his May 1999 article “The Geography of Heaven” at http://www.askelm.com/doctrine/d990501.htm. DWS
2 Recall that the focus and beings in the first 7 kings in Daniel are spirit beings. Only in the 8th king of Daniel does the spirit entity of the 7th king of Daniel merge with the human 7th king of Revelation (who is wounded, dies, and is resurrected) to become the merged spirit/human 8th king of Daniel, which is also the 8th king of Revelation. See the section Who Is the Antichrist in “The Life and Times of the Antichrist, Part 1” at http://www.askelm.com/prophecy/p090801.htm. Yes, this is involved. If it was easy then there would be no need for study or considering, as Isaiah 28:9–13 tells us:
“Whom shall he [YHWH] teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine [report]? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith you may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of YHWH was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.” DWS
3 See Matthew 27:52–53; 1 Kings 17:17–23; 2 Kings 4:32–37, 13:21; Luke 7:12–15; John 11:43; Acts 9:37, 20:9; and see Hebrews 11:35. ELM
4 This is also the abyss of the prison house of the rebellious angels (Revelation 9:1–11). ELM
5 The teachings of the apostle Paul make it clear that at the precise coming of Christ in the clouds of heavens with his angels, the resurrection of the righteous dead occurs, 1 Thessalonians 4:15–17. Because of their belief in the “immortality of the soul,” some people on earth at the time will erroneously think that Christ is bringing from heaven some of the righteous saints who went earlier to heaven. Rather than as Paul actually meant “bring them up to Christ from the earth in a resurrection.” Whatever the case, it is clearly stated by the apostle Paul that the Second Advent of Christ is at the precise time when the righteous dead are resurrected from the dead. When Satan the Devil and his angels are cast out of heaven, most on earth will think it is Christ’s return with His righteous angels. ELM
6 For an interesting account of this Tyrian god named Ousoos, see Hastings Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics, vol. XI, pp. 177–181. ELM
7 See Dr. Martin’s presentation about Edom, “The Most Significant Gentile Nation in the Bible” at http://askelm.com/prophecy/p060701.htm. DWS
8 The best known of Martin’s Luther’s hymns is called “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” The lyrics are a paraphrase of Psalm 46. Perhaps this hymn and Psalm 46 will be misused by the Antichrist. DWS
9 See Dr. Martin’s article “Discovering the Mark of the Beast” (at http://www.askelm.com/prophecy/p900501.htm) for a full exposure of this cherub. To learn the name and other details about this cherub, see Dr. Martin's excellent article "Lingering Idolatry in the Temple of God" at http://askelm.com/temple/t000901.htm for a full exposure of this cherub, including his current name in Scripture. DWS
10 See footnote 5b by H.C. Kee, trans., “Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs: the Testament of Dan” in The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, vol. 1, James Charlesworth, ed. (Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Co., Inc., 1983), p. 809. DWS
11 See 2 Enoch 18:4 in Charles’ Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament which says:
“… and after them are those who are held in great darkness on the second heaven, and three of them went down on to earth from the Lord’s throne, to the place Ermon [Hermon], and broke through their vows on the shoulder of the hill Ermon and saw the daughters of men how good they are, and took.”
Enoch 6:1–2 and 5–6 has more details:
“And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: ‘Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children.’
... Then sware they all together and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. And they were in all two hundred; who descended in the days of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon, and they called it Mount Hermon, because they had sworn and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it.”
Of course, information from either of the Books of Enoch is not biblical and therefore much could be in error. The Sons of God in Genesis chapter 6 are not angels, according to Hebrews 1:3–5. Nevertheless, the geographical identification of Mount Hermon is intriguing. DWS
12 See Dr. Martin’s 1975 report “The Rebirth of Babylon” at http://www.askelm.com/prophecy/p021001.htm, and the 1925 article by F.E. Marsh “Will Babylon Be Rebuilt?” at http://www.askelm.com/prophecy/p021002.htm. DWS
13 Mentioned in Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Matthew 24:15. ELM
14 Note that the image of the beast portrayed as a cherub will have wings. If this is the case, look for a particular false teaching to gain acceptance near the time that the Antichrist enters the rebuilt Temple. That false teaching will be that Jesus was an angel come to earth and did not really come in the flesh (see 1 John 4:3 and 2 John 1:7). This implies that Jesus was not human, but a spirit, an angel. Some denominations today teach this false doctrine. This heretical teaching is refuted by Hebrews 1:4–5 (as noted in footnote 10 above):
“Being made so much better than the angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, ‘You are my Son, this day have I begotten you?’ And again, ‘I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son’?” DWS
15 Recall the time, before the Temple was destroyed, on Pentecost day in 66 AD when the 24 priests who were ministering in the outer Temple heard a voice come from the Holy of Holies saying: “We are departing from here” (Josephus, War of the Jews VI.5.36 [§300]). ELM
16 See Dr. Martin’s presentation “The Coming Splendor of Egypt” at http://www.askelm.com/prophecy/p071201.htm. DWS
17 See the representative maps of the movement of forces in Dr. Martin’s 1981 article “New Prophetic Discoveries Concerning the End Time” at http://www.askelm.com/prophecy/p050301.htm. DWS
18 Satan will be put in the bottomless pit, on display for 1,000 years. After the millennium is over “he must be loosed a little season” (Revelation 20:1–3). After that short time of release, he will be cast into the Lake of Fire with the Beast and False Prophet (Revelation 20:10). DWS
19 That later research study by Dr. Martin was originally produced in June of 2001, “How to Fully Escape the Great Tribulation” at http://www.askelm.com/prophecy/p010601.htm. DWS
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