Remember the conclusions we are drawing are not from
commentaries but are based on careful repetitive observation of the text.
1 John tells us there are many antichrists in the world now but there is
one specific antichrist coming. The Jews were expecting the Promised One,
the Messiah, but the antichrist opposes or steps in the place of Christ.
What was the Christ to be?
Mt 22:42
"What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?" They said to
Him, "The son of David."
The Christ was to be the Son of
David and He was to rule over Israel and the World.
Jn 7:31 "But many of the multitude
believed in Him; and they were saying, "When the Christ shall come, He
will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?"
The Christ would perform signs that would testify that He was from God.
Lu
24:46 Jesus "said to them, "Thus it is written, that the
Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day."
When Christ came He was to suffer on Calvary, to die
and be raised on the 3rd day.
John 12:34 "The multitude
therefore answered Him, "We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is
to remain forever; and how can You say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted
up'? Who is this Son of Man?"
When the
Christ came and rose from the dead He would remain forever.
In
Daniel 2 (click
here for Kay's lecture on Daniel 2) we see an overview of world history from the perspective
of Israel until the setting up of Messiah's kingdom. The dream describes 4
kingdoms and a Stone (Messiah) that would come and hit the statue on its feet and it
would become a "mountain"
(synonymous with "kingdom") and God would rule on the earth.
Remember also that kingdom and king are synonymous.
In
Daniel 7
(click for Kay's lectures on Daniel 7:
part 1,
part 2,
part 3,
part 4) the prophet Daniel has a vision of 4
beasts that come up out of the sea: lion, bear, leopard, and a dreadful &
terrifying beast (the 4th beast = the "DT'' beast). The DT beast has 10
horns and in the days of those 10 horns there is another horn, a LITTLE
HORN, that arises and conquers 3 of the other horns, becoming the ruler
until his kingdom is taken away and given to the saints of God.
Review of Dates
605BC Babylon (lion) conquered Israel
539BC Medes & Persians (bear) conquered Babylon & ruled over Israel
339BC
Greece (Alexander the Great, leopard) conquered Medes &
Persians and when Alexander died his kingdom split into 4, with the
northern
(Seleucid Kingdom) and southern (Egypt or Ptolemies) kingdoms being those
that exerted power/rule over Israel. Initially the Ptolemies ruled over
Israel and it was a ''good'' rule (e.g., the Greek translation of the OT,
the Septuagint, LXX, was written during this time). The Seleucids however
eventually took over rule and Antiochus Epiphanes (means ''manifest'' or
''splendid'') exerted power over Israel, setting up the ''abomination of
desolation'' by setting up a statue of Zeus in the Jewish Temple and
sacrificing a pig on the altar. His rule ended with the Maccabean revolt.
165BC The Maccabeans ruled Israel.
63BC The 4th ''DT'' kingdom (of iron) came into power conquering
the leopard with 4 heads (symbolizes the 4 kings that arose when Alexander
died). So Rome ruled when Jesus Christ was born.
So the Bible has laid out clearly that there will only be
4 major kingdoms
until the Messiah returns and sets up His kingdom. Yes there have been
many world powers but there have been no power dominating over Israel
since the Roman Empire.
WHERE THE ANTICHRIST COMES FROM & WHEN
1).
He must come out of
a political entity: This entity has to be identified somehow
with the 4th kingdom of iron and clay bc we know that during the days of
the 10 toes is when the Stone cut without hands comes and crushes the
statue in the 10 toe stage. We also know from Daniel 7 (all that
God says will come to pass...not a single word can be altered) that in the
days of the 10 kings there will arise a LITTLE HORN. (See Kay's 4
Lectures on Daniel 7:
LECTURE 9,
Lecture 10,
LECTURE 11,
LECTURE 12)
2).
This political entity must be
from the 4th kingdom (Dan 2) and the 4th beast (Dan 7).
3).
He will come out of a
confederation of 10 horns, as a LITTLE HORN, making 11 horns
until the LITTLE HORN conquers 3 horns leaving 8 horns at that time (see
Dan 7 below).
|
Da 7:7 "After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold,
a fourth beast, dreadful and
terrifying and extremely
strong; and it had large iron
teeth. It devoured and crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its
feet; (this is what happened as the Roman empire trampled
the surrounding nations) and it was different from all the beasts that
were before it, and it had ten
horns. 8 "While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another
horn, a little one,
came up among them, and three
of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold,
this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth uttering
great boasts.
Da 7:11 "Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful
words which the horn
was speaking; I kept looking until
the beast was slain, and
its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. 12 "As for the rest
of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was
granted to them for an appointed period of time.....16 "I approached one
of those who were standing by and began asking him the exact meaning of
all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these
things: 17 'These great beasts, which are
four in number, are
four kings who will arise from the earth. 18 'But the saints of
the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever,
for all ages to come.' (So he is showing us that at the end of these 4
kingdoms the saints take over and reign...this parallels the statue &
Stone of Daniel 2) 19 "Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the
fourth beast, which was
different from all the others, exceedingly
dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze,
and which devoured, crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its
feet, 20 and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head, and the
other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell, namely,
that horn which had eyes
and a mouth uttering great boasts, and which was larger in appearance than
its associates. |
To summarize: We have a
beast with 10 horns out of which arises a
Little Horn who becomes larger
|
Da 7:21 "I kept looking, and
that horn was waging war with the saints (those who will
eventually take over the kingdom...and the Little Horn overcomes them) and
overpowering them 22 until
(time phrase) the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was passed in favor
of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints
took possession of the kingdom. (So in the days of the 4th beast, the 10 toe
stage is when saints take possession) 23 "Thus he said: 'The fourth beast
will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all
the other kingdoms, and it will devour
the whole earth and
tread it down and crush it. 24 'As for the
ten horns, out of this
kingdom ten kings
will arise; and another
will arise after
them, and he will be
different from the previous ones and will
subdue three kings. |
So you know that there has to be some sort of
revival of this 4th beast, the
4th kingdom and this may be the characteristic that makes this
beast different then the others which never revived. So we know that the
ANTICHRIST can only arise after we see this 4th kingdom be revived and 10
horns come up out of it. So when you see a kingdom with 10 kings you need
to watch.
|
Da 7:24... and another
will arise after
them , and he will be
different from the previous ones and will
subdue three kings. (it
does not say that he will annihilate him...it might be that when the other
7 see what he does to the 3 that they simply capitulate to his rule and
lead.) 25 'And he
will speak out against the Most High (God) and wear down the saints of the
Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law;
and they (the saints) will be given into his hand for a
time, times, and half a time. (So when 10 horns--horns mean power--and the Little horn
arises, he will make war with the SAINTS--Jews here because Daniel is a
Jewish book-- and they will be given over for 1260 days). 26 'But the
court will sit for judgment, and
his (the Little Horn's)
dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. 27 'Then
the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under
the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest
One; (correlates with the Stone striking the
10 toe stage of the statue) His kingdom will be an
everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.'
|
1). First the Kingdom comes, then 10 Horns (kings), then the
Little Horn (Antichrist).
2). The Antichrist must be in power for 3 1/2 years.
3). Antichrist's rise to power can be seen in Rev 6:1 as the
First Seal of the Sealed Scroll is broken by the Lamb Who alone is worthy
to do so. Then one on a white horse goes forth conquering (present tense
= continuous action) and to conquer (aorist = at a point in time, but it
does not specify when)
A NEW TIME PHASE IN THE REVELATION
|
Rev 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I
heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder,
"Come." 2 And I looked, and behold, a
white horse, (white horse = symbol of a conqueror, donkey
like Jesus rode = peacemaker) and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown
(stephanos, a victor's crown, not a diadem at this point) was given
(aorist passive = so it was something bestowed on him) to him; and he went
out conquering, (present tense) and to conquer.
|
The breaking of the seals begins a
new time phase in the
Revelation. In Rev 2 & 3 Jesus is telling the churches how to stay pure.
In Rev 4 we begin this new phase: 7 Seals, 7 Trumpets, 7 Bowls culminating
in Jesus Christ's return and conquering the Beast setting up His Kingdom
in the days of the 10 toes.
So we have a kingdom or
political entity on
earth at that time. Kay assumes that this one in Rev 6:2 is an
individual (''he''
singular) and that by the time of the breaking of the first seal there is
in place a kingdom, not necessarily ruling world wide but still an entity
that would equate with the 4th Kingdom. At this time the LITTLE HORN
is ''making his move'' coming up from the 10 HORNS but HE IS NOT YET IN
POWER. At this time, he is simply making his move so that he will
later be shown to be the
antichrist. At this time the covenant is signed with the many
(Dan 9:27). So at the FIRST SEAL
we would have
Dan 9:27. In
Dan 9:24-27
during the rule of
the BEAR, the Medo-Persian Empire (445BC) a decree goes forth to restore
and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. From that time 483 years follow up to
the time of Jesus Christ entering Jerusalem on a donkey to bring peace.
After the 483 years Messiah is cut off or crucified (Roman Empire, 4th
Beast) and Jerusalem destroyed in 70AD by the same empire.
DANIEL'S PROPHECY OF 70 WEEKS
|
Dan 9:24 "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your
holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make
atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up
vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place. 25 "So you are to
know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild
Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two
weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of
distress. 26 "Then after the 62 weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have
nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come (the ANTICHRIST) will
destroy the city and the sanctuary. (ROME IN 70AD) And its end will come
with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are
determined. 27 "And he
will make a firm covenant
with the many for one week,
(7 YEARS) but in the middle of
the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering;
(which means we have a temple) and on the wing of abominations will come
one who makes desolate, (ANTICHRIST) even until a complete destruction, one
that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."
|
(Click here for Kay's
Lectures on Daniel 9:
Lecture 14,
Lecture 15,
Lecture 16; Click for additional notes on Daniel 9:24-27:Part
1 and
Part 2)
So when the first seal is
broken it could possibly correlate with the FIRM COVENANT in Dan
9:27 made for 7 years. If that covenant is broken then you have 2 periods
of 3 1/2 years and at the end of the second period the ''one who makes
desolate'' is destroyed. Why would the 1st seal correlate with the
covenant? For one thing this brings the final judgment upon the earth
when Christ our Redeemer is redeeming the earth and His people. But there
is another reason:
4). At the time of the first seal, a covenant is signed with the
many: So somewhere around this first seal we have a Temple being built,
because the sacrifices and offerings are stopped 3 1/2 years after that
covenant is made.
5). From the first seal up to the 6th Trumpet Kay believes we
have the ministry of the 2 witnesses. When the 6th Trumpet is blown, the
2nd woe is over and there is one left.
|
Rev
10:7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he
is about to sound, then the
mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the
prophets.
Rev
11:1 And there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and
someone said, "Rise and measure the
temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 "And
leave out the court which is outside the
temple, and do not measure
it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot
the holy city for 42 months. (So you know that by this time,
probably after the 6th Trumpet, you have a Temple and Jews are worshipping
there. The Gentiles trodding the HOLY CITY Kay feels points to the last 3
1/2 years).
Rev
11:3 "And I will grant authority to my
two witnesses, and they
will prophesy for 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth." 4 These are the
two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the
earth. 5 And if anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their
mouth and devours their enemies; and if anyone would desire to harm them,
in this manner he must be killed. 6 These have the power to shut up the
sky, in order that rain may not fall during the days of their prophesying;
and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, (we see
water and blood in the seals) and to smite the earth with every
plague, as often as they desire. 7 And when they have finished their
testimony, the beast that comes up
out of the abyss
will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.
|
Abyss refers to where demons are kept and where the dead
are. So in Rev 6:1 the Antichrist goes forth conquering and to conquer,
somewhere near the 3 1/2 years the Antichrist has a mortal wound and dies
but is resurrected from the dead. He is then able to put to death the 2
witnesses that have been troubling the earth. The
2 witnesses would have
freedom bc there is a peace
covenant with the Jews and a temple...so it seems at that time
that the Jews are on the ''winning team''.
|
Rev
11:8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great
city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was
crucified....11 And after the three and a half days the breath of life
from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell
upon those who were beholding them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from
heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up into heaven in the
cloud, and their enemies beheld them. 13 And
in that hour there was a
great earthquake, and
a tenth of the city fell;
and 7000 people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified
and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past; behold,
the third woe is coming quickly. 15 And the
seventh angel sounded;
and there arose loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world
has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He will reign
forever and ever." ...17 saying, "We give Thee thanks, O Lord God, the
Almighty, who art and who wast, because Thou hast taken Thy great power
and hast begun to reign. (NOTE: That when God begins to reign the reaction
is that the NATIONS are enraged.)18 "And the nations were enraged, and Thy
wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to
give their reward to Thy bond-servants the prophets and to the saints and
to those who fear Thy name, the small and the great, and to destroy those
who destroy the earth." |
SETTING FOR THE ''CONFLICT OF THE AGES''
Kay believes that the ANTICHRIST comes forth from the 10
kings, is conquering, dies, is resurrected from the dead, puts the two
witnesses to death causing the entire world to be amazed at the beast and
to give him their power. At that point the
power that raises him
from the dead and gives him his power to rule is from the DRAGON.
Thus here we see the CONFLICT OF THE AGES culminating in the
last 3 1/2 years with
the CHRIST defeating the ANTICHRIST. Since the ANTICHRIST wants to be like the
CHRIST, and he wants to rule (conquering and to conquer...to rule over
Israel...to rule over the world) and these various RULES begin in the last
3 1/2 years. He performs signs including putting to death the TWO
WITNESSES. From this point on you have the ANTICHRIST fully manifested for
who he really is.
THE BEAST WHO IS CARRYING BABYLON
Rev
17:7 And the angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? I shall tell
you the mystery of the woman and of the
beast that carries her, which has the
seven heads and the
ten horns. 8 "The
beast that you saw was
and is not, and is about to come up out of
the abyss (in other
words the beast was EXISTING at the FIRST SEAL and he is about to come out
of the abyss...at the 7th Trumpet, the middle of Daniel's 70th week) and
to go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth will wonder, whose
name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the
world, when they see the beast,
that he was and
is not and
will come. 9 "Here is
the mind which has wisdom. The
seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, 10 and
they are seven kings;
five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes,
he must remain a little while. 11 "And
the beast which
was and
is not, is himself also an eighth, and is one of the seven, and
he goes to destruction.
THE REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE
7 HEADED BEAST = the one that
''is'' was ROME but it
would come back as the REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE. The 8th is one of the
7 but when the 8th comes the 7th only remains a little while so in the
last days of the 10 horns, in the days of the Antichrist, there is a
Revived Roman Empire (''revived 4th Beast''). That Revived Beast
with 10 horns gives rise to the LITTLE HORN, who is one of the 7, and when
he comes out he is an 8th. He takes over the Roman Empire at the middle of
the 7 years and at that time he is the only power and all the others,
including the 3 that he has conquered and the rest look at him and give
him their kingdom and rule with him until the very END. But he is supreme.
'Remain a little while' = When Rome is revived it
remains only a little while. The
5 that are fallen are
(Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and the one that
''is'' as John writes
Revelation in 70AD, Rome, then Revived Rome which gives Israel the right
to rebuild their Temple and also gives rise to the Antichrist who is
one of the 7 but is
the 8th and he is the
final power. That's what we see in Rev 13 and that is what we will look at
next week when we look at ''Beauty and the Beast''.
