Sunday_Service

Good morning everyone welcome to The Church Ministries 89th Sunday service, yesterday was a hard time, I went through a horrible attack and my stomach was killing me and I could have almost went to the hospital, it was right from the devil and if it wasn’t for prayer and tears I would have never made it through the night, I thank God for saving me again. Anyway the prayer ministry is doing very well and we are still sending out prayers but now they are prayer letters, and they are being circulated and this was what I wanted to happen, they just aren’t just a few words, like we are praying for you, each one has its own merit and its own character for whatever ailment or hardship and we include a major subject into each prayer and it is more like a teaching addition then just a prayer, there are many scriptures and we put them all in mixed with the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, so I do feel like I am getting inspired with each word, this was a rough week and I will talk about it next week this week I want to cover all the names and the background of the evil one, He has been studying about us for 6,000 years so it is about time that we at the church do a bit of sharing about him and this way we know his little games and his actions. We missed our two year anniversary on the 17th, and we all have to thank the Lord for those gifts. God has been keeping this church above water, What a God we serve, and we do love Him. Satan does not want the word of God and truth to get out to the people of the world, He wants it hidden, not to be told, or have peoples ears muffled and not to be able to listen or read the Good News of Jesus Christ, and the Body, the church. We are trying to do a comparison of the Body of believers and the church, how they are one, with of course Christ as the head. We all welcome you and we ask that you all be blessed this day with the word from the trinity they all have been right at my side and I can not thank them enough.

For six thousand years Satan has had full opportunity afforded him to study fallen human nature to discover its weakest points and to learn how best to make men do his bidding. The Devil knows full well how to dazzle men by the attraction of power, and how to make them quail before its terrors. He knows how to gratify the craving for knowledge and how to satisfy the taste for refinement and culture, he can delight the ear with melodious music and the eye with entrancing beauty. If he could transport the Saviour from the wilderness to a mountain, in a moment of time, and show Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, he is no novice in the art of presenting alluring objects before his victims today. He knows how to stimulate energy and direct inquiry, and how to appease the craving for the occult. He knows how to exalt men to dizzy heights of worldly greatness and fame, and how to control that greatness when attained, so that it may be employed against God and his people.

It is true that up to now Satan’s power has been restrained, and his activities have been checked and often counteracted by the Spirit of God. The brightest fires of the Devil’s kindling can burn but dimly whilever God sheds around them the power of heavenly light. They require the full darkness of night in order to shine in the full strength of their deceiving brightness; and that time is coming. The Word of God reveals the fact that a day is not far distant when Divine restraint will be removed; the light of God will be withdrawn; and then shall “darkness cover the earth and gross darkness the people” (Isa. 60:2). Not only will that which has hindered the full development of the Mystery of Iniquity be removed, but God will “send them strong delusion that they should believe the Lie” (2 Thess. 2:13), and Satan will take advantage of this; he will then make full use of all the knowledge which he has acquired during the last six thousand years.

Satan will become alive and appear on earth in human form. The Antichrist will not only be the Man of Sin, but also “the Son of Perdition,” the Seed of the Serpent. The Antichrist will be the Devil’s masterpiece. In him shall dwell all the fullness of the Devil bodily. He will be the culmination and consummation of Satan’s workings. The world is now talking of and looking for the Superman; and the Devil is soon to supply him. The Antichrist will be no ordinary person, but one possessed of extraordinary talents. He will be endowed with superhuman powers. With the one exception of the God-man he will be the most remarkable public figure who has ever appeared upon the stage of human history.

The Antichrist

“Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is Antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22). This name introduces to us one of the most solemn and foreboding subjects in the Word of God. It brings before us one of the persons in the Trinity of Evil. At every point he is the direct opposite of Christ. The word “Antichrist” has a double significance. Its primary meaning is one who is opposed to Christ; but its secondary meaning is one who is instead of Christ. Let not this be thought strange, for it accords with the two stages in his career. At first he will pose as the true Christ, masquerading in the uniform of religion. But, later, he will throw off his disguise, stand forth in his true character, and set himself up as one who is against God and His Christ.

Not only does anti-christ denote the enemy of Christ, but it tells of one who is instead of Christ. The word signifies another Christ, a pro-Christ, another christ a pretender to the name of Christ. He will seem to be and will set himself up as the true Christ. He will be the Devil’s counterfeit. Just as the Devil is an person resembling a god not only the adversary of God, but the to take over or operate a place and privileges of God, demanding worship; so the Son of Perdition will be anti-christ not only the rival and opponent of Christ, but His rival: assuming the very position and sanction of Christ; passing himself off as the rightful claimant to all the rights and honors of the Son of God.

The Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that Man of Sin be revealed, the Son of Perdition” (2 Thess. 2:3). This double term is probably the most awful, the most important, and the most revealing title given to the Antichrist in all the Bible. It diagnoses his personality and exposes his awful character. It tells us he will be possessed of a twofold nature: he will be a man, and yet more than a man. He will be Satan’s parody of the God-Man. He will be an incarnation of the Devil. The world today is talking of and looking for the Super-man. This is exactly what the Antichrist will be. He will be the Serpent’s masterpiece.

“That Man of Sin.” What a frightful name! The sin of man will conclude in the Man of Sin. The Christ of God was sinless; the Christ of Satan will not only be sinful, but the Man of Sin. “Man of Sin” intimates that he will be the living and active embodiment of every form and character of evil. “Man of Sin” signifies that he will be sin itself personified. “Man of Sin” denotes there will be no lengths of wickedness to which he will not go, no forms of evil to which he will be a stranger, no depths of corruption that he will not bottom.

“The Son of Perdition.” And again we are forced to exclaim, what a frightful name! Not only a human degenerate, but the offspring of the Dragon. Not only the worst of human kind, but the incarnation of the Devil. Not only the most depraved of all sinners, but an emanation from the Pit itself. “Son of Perdition” denotes that he will be the conclusion and the end of satanic craft and power. All the evil, great malice, cunning, and power of the Serpent will be embodied in this terrible monster.

The Beast

“And when they shall have finished their testimony the Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them” (Rev. 11:7). This is another name which reveals the terrible nature and character of the Antichrist and which places him in sharp exact opposite from the true Christ. “The Beast” is the title by which he is most frequently designated in the Revelation: there are at least thirty references to him under this name in the last book of the Bible. The Greek word signifies a wild beast. This name “the Beast” contrasts the Antichrist from the true Christ as “the Lamb;” and it is a significant fact that by far the great majority of passages where the Lord Jesus is so designated are also found here in the Apocalypse. The “Lamb” is the Saviour of sinners; the “Beast” is the persecutor and slayer of the saints. The “Lamb” calls attention to the gentleness of Christ; the “Beast” tells of the viciousness of the Antichrist. The “Lamb” reveals Christ as the “harmless” One (Heb. 7:26); the “Beast” manifests the Antichrist as the cruel and heartless one. Under the Law lambs were ceremonially clean and used in sacrifice, but beasts were unclean and unfit for sacrifices.

It is a point of interest to note that there is one other very striking contrast between the persons in the Holy Trinity, and the persons in the trinity of evil. At our Lord’s baptism the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove, and the first mention of the Holy Spirit in Scripture represents Him as “brooding” like a dove over the waters which covered the pre-Adamic language of earth (Gen. 1:2). How remarkable are those symbols — a “Lamb” and a “Dove!” A Dove, not a hawk or an eagle. The gentle, harmless, cooing “dove.” Over against this the Devil is termed “the Dragon.” What a contrast — the Dove and the Lamb, the Dragon and the Beast!

The Bloody and Deceitful Man

“Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the Bloody and Deceitful Man” (Psa. 5:6). The Psalm from which this verse is quoted contains a prayer of the godly Jewish remainder, offered during the Tribulation period. In proof of this assertion observe that in v. 2 God is owned and addressed as “King.” In v. 7 intimation is given that the Temple has been rebuild in Jerusalem, for turning away from it when it has been defiled by “the Abomination of Desolation,” the remnant say, “But as for me I will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy: and in Thy fear will I worship toward Thy Holy Temple.” While in v. 10 we find them praying for the destruction of their enemies, which is parallel with Rev. 6:10. It is during that time the faithful remnant will exclaim, “Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the Bloody and Deceitful Man.”

The Bloody and Deceitful Man views the Antichrist in relation to the Jews. In the earlier stages of his public career he poses as their friend and benefactor. He recognizes their rights as a separate State and appears anxious to protect their independence. He makes a formal covenant with them (Dan. 9:27) and their peace and security seem assured. But a few years later he comes out in his true character. His fair speeches and professions of friendship are seen to be false. He breaks his covenant (Psa. 55:20) and turns upon the Jews in fury. Their benefactor is now their worst enemy. The protector of their interests now aims to cut them off from being a nation in the earth (Psa. 83:4). Thus is he rightfully denominated by them “the Bloody and Deceitful Man.”

The Wicked One

“The Wicked (One) in his pride doth persecute the poor: the Wicked (One), through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God” (Psa. 10:2, 4). This entire Psalm is about the Wicked One. The opening verse gives the key to it’s a divine ordering of worldly affairs and its scope. It contains the cry of the Jewish remnant during the Tribulation period, here denominated “Times of Trouble” (cf. Jer. 30:7). So desperate is the situation of the true Israel, it seems as though Jehovah must have deserted them — “Why standeth Thou afar off, O Lord? Why hidest Thou Thyself in times of trouble?”Psalm 10 (v. 1). Then follows a remarkably full description of their arch-enemy, the Wicked One. His pride (v. 2), his depravity: “He abhorreth the Lord” (v. 3 margin); his blasphemy: “All his thoughts are, There is no God” (v. 4 margin); his grievous ways, (v. 5); his consuming egotism, (v. 6); his deceitfulness, (v. 7); his treachery, (v. 8); his cruelty, (vv. 9, 10); his complacent pride, (v. 11), is each described. Then the Remnant cry, “Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up Thine hand: forget not the humble. Break Thou the arm of the Wicked and Evil One” (vv. 12 and 15). The whole Psalm should be carefully studied.

1 Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?

Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,

who are caught in the schemes he devises.

3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart;

he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.

4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him;

in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

5 His ways are always prosperous;

he is haughty and your laws are far from him;

he sneers at all his enemies.

6 He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me;

I'll always be happy and never have trouble."

7 His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats;

trouble and evil are under his tongue.

8 He lies in wait near the villages;

from ambush he murders the innocent,

watching in secret for his victims.

9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover;

he lies in wait to catch the helpless;

he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.

10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;

they fall under his strength.

11 He says to himself, "God has forgotten;

he covers his face and never sees."

12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God.

Do not forget the helpless.

13 Why does the wicked man revile God?

Why does he say to himself,

"He won't call me to account"?

14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;

you consider it to take it in hand.

The victim commits himself to you;

you are the helper of the fatherless.

15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man;

call him to account for his wickedness

that would not be found out.

16 The LORD is King for ever and ever;

the nations will perish from his land.

17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;

you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,

18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,

in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more. Psalm 10:1-18ASV

The Mighty Man

“Why boasteth thou thyself in mischief, O Mighty Man” (Psa. 52:1). This is another Psalm which is devoted to a description of this fearful character. Here again we have mention of his boastfulness (v. 1), his deceitfulness (v. 2), his depravity (v. 3), his egotism (v. 4), his riches (v. 7). His doom is also announced (v. 5). This title, the Mighty Man, refers to his immense wealth and possessions, and the power which they confer upon their possessor. It also points a striking contrast: Christ was the Lowly Man, not having where to lay His head; the Antichrist will be the Mighty Man, of whom it is said, “Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his substance” (Psa. 52:7).

“Because of the voice of the Enemy, because of the oppression of the Wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me” (Psa. 55:3). This is another title used of the Antichrist in connection with Israel, a title which recurs several times both in the Psalms and the Prophets. It points a designed contrast from that Friend that “sticketh closer than a brother.” This Enemy of Israel oppresses them sorely. His duplicity and treachery are here referred to. Concerning him Israel shall exclaim, “The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords” (Psa. 55:21). Let the student be on the lookout for passages in the Old Testament which make mention of the Enemy.

1 Why do you boast of evil, you mighty man?

Why do you boast all day long,

you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? Ps. 52:1NIV

2 Your tongue plots destruction;

it is like a sharpened razor,

you who practice deceit. Ps. 52:2NIV

3 You love evil rather than good,

falsehood rather than speaking the truth.

Selah

4 You love every harmful word,

O you deceitful tongue!

5 Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin:

He will snatch you up and tear you from your tent;

he will uproot you from the land of the living.

Selah

6 The righteous will see and fear;

they will laugh at him, saying,

7 "Here now is the man

who did not make God his stronghold

but trusted in his great wealth

and grew strong by destroying others!"

3 at the voice of the enemy,

at the stares of the wicked;

for they bring down suffering upon me

and revile me in their anger. Ps. 55:3NIV

21 His speech is smooth as butter,

yet war is in his heart;

his words are more soothing than oil,

yet they are drawn swords. Ps.55:21NIV

24 He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Prov. 18:24 ASV

The Enemy

3 Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they cast iniquity upon me, And in anger they persecute me.PS 55:3

21 His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.PS 55:21

24 He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Prov. 18:24 ASV

The Adversary

“They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land. We see not our signs: there is no more any profit: neither is there any among us that knoweth how long. O God, how long shall the Adversary reproach? Shall the Enemy blaspheme Thy name forever?” (Psa. 74:8-10). This title occurs in several important passages. In Isa. 59:19 we read, “So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the Adversary shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” Lam. 4:11, 12 is another scripture which obviously speaks of the End-time. “The Lord hath accomplished His fury; He hath poured out His fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof. The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the Adversary and the Enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.” In Amos 3:11 we read, “Therefore thus saith the Lord God; an Adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.” This is a title which intimates his satanic origin, for the Greek word for Devil means adversary.

8 They said in their heart, Let us make havoc of them altogether: They have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.

9 We see not our signs: There is no more any prophet; Neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.

10 How long, O God, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? Ps 74:8-10

19 So shall they fear the name of Jehovah from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come as a rushing stream, which the breath of Jehovah driveth. Isa. 59:19

11 Jehovah hath accomplished his wrath, he hath poured out his fierce anger; And he hath kindled a fire in Zion, which hath devoured the foundations thereof.

12 The kings of the earth believed not, neither all the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem. Lam.4:11-12

11 Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: An adversary there shall be, even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be plundered. Amos 3:11

.The Assyrian

“O Assyrian, the rod of Mine anger, and the staff in their hand in Mine indignation Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed His whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the King of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks” (Isa. 10:5, 12). We cannot here attempt an explanation of the important passage in which these verses occur — that, in subsequent chapters, we shall treat in detail of the Antichrist in the Psalms, and the Antichrist in the Prophets be sufficient it now to point out that it treats of the End-time (see vv. 12, 20), and that the leading characteristics of the Man of Sin can be clearly discerned in what is here said of the Assyrian. Almost all pre-millennial students of prophecy are agreed that the “King” of Isa. 30:33 is the Antichrist, and yet in the two verses which precede, this “King” is identified with “the Assyrian.”

5 Ho Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, the staff in whose hand is mine indignation! Isa 10:5

12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, that, when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. Isa. 10:12

20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and they that are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again lean upon him that smote them, but shall lean upon Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. Isa. 10:20

33 For a Topheth is prepared of old; yea, for the king it is made ready; he hath made it deep and large; the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of Jehovah, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it. Isa. 30:33

31 For through the voice of Jehovah shall the Assyrian be dismayed; with his rod will he smite him. Isa. 30:31

5 They shall not return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian shall be their king, because they refused to return to me. Hosea 11:5

The King of Babylon

“Thou shalt take up this proverb against the King of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!” (Isa. 14:4). We do not wish to anticipate what we shall discuss at length in our future studies, enough now to state it is our firm conviction that Scripture plainly teaches that there will be another Babylon which will eclipse the importance and glories of the one of the past, and that Babylon will be one of the headquarters of the Antichrist. He will have three: Jerusalem will be his religious headquarters, Rome his political, and Babylon his commercial.

Isa. 10,11,13,14- Zech 5,- Rev. 18

49 As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the land. Jer.51:49

1Following this I saw another Angel descend from Heaven. His authority was immense, his glory flooded earth with brightness, 2his voice thunderous: Ruined, ruined, Great Babylon, ruined! A ghost town for demons is all that's left! A garrison of carrion spirits, garrison of loathsome, carrion birds. 3All nations drank the wild wine of her whoring; kings of the earth went whoring with her; entrepreneurs made millions exploiting her. 4Just then I heard another shout out of Heaven: Get out, my people, as fast as you can, so you don't get mixed up in her sins, so you don't get caught in her doom. 5Her sins stink to high Heaven; God has remembered every evil she's done. 6Give her back what she's given, double what she's doubled in her works, double the recipe in the cup she mixed; 7Bring her flaunting and wild ways to torment and tears. Because she gloated, "I'm queen over all, and no widow, never a tear on my face," 8In one day, disasters will crush her death, heartbreak, and famine Then she'll be burned by fire, because God, the Strong God who judges her, has had enough. 9"The kings of the earth will see the smoke of her burning, and they'll cry and carry on, the kings who went night after night to her brothel. 10They'll keep their distance for fear they'll get burned, they'll cry their lament: Doom, doom, the great city doomed! City of Babylon, strong city! In one hour it's over, your judgment come! 11"The traders will cry and carry on because the bottom dropped out of business, no more market for their goods: 12gold, silver, precious gems, pearls; fabrics of fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet; perfumed wood and vessels of ivory, precious woods, bronze, iron, and marble; 13cinnamon and spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; wine and oil, flour and wheat; cattle, sheep, horses, and chariots. And slaves their terrible traffic in human lives. 14Everything you've lived for, gone! All delicate and delectable luxury, lost! Not a scrap, not a thread to be found! 15"The traders who made millions off her kept their distance for fear of getting burned, and cried and carried on all the more: 16Doom, doom, the great city doomed! Dressed in the latest fashions, adorned with the finest jewels, 17in one hour such wealth wiped out! "All the ship captains and travelers by sea, sailors and toilers of the sea, stood off at a distance 18and cried their lament when they saw the smoke from her burning: "Oh, what a city! There was never a city like her!' 19They threw dust on their heads and cried as if the world had come to an end: Doom, doom, the great city doomed! All who owned ships or did business by sea Got rich on her getting and spending. And now it's over wiped out in one hour! 20"O Heaven, celebrate! And join in, saints, apostles, and prophets! God has judged her; every wrong you suffered from her has been judged." 21A strong Angel reached for a boulder huge, like a millstone and heaved it into the sea, saying, Heaved and sunk, the great city Babylon, sunk in the sea, not a sign of her ever again. 22Silent the music of harpists and singers you'll never hear flutes and trumpets again. Artisans of every kind gone; you'll never see their likes again. The voice of a millstone grinding falls dumb; you'll never hear that sound again. 23The light from lamps, never again; never again laughter of bride and groom. Her traders robbed the whole earth blind, and by black-magic arts deceived the nations. 24The only thing left of Babylon is blood-- the blood of saints and prophets, the murdered and the martyred. Rev. 18:1-24 MESS

1But the LORD will have mercy on the descendants of Jacob. Israel will be his special people once again. He will bring them back to settle once again in their own land. And people from many different nations will come and join them there and become a part of the people of Israel. 2The nations of the world will help the LORD's people to return, and those who come to live in their land will serve them. Those who captured Israel will be captured, and Israel will rule over its enemies. 3In that wonderful day when the LORD gives his people rest from sorrow and fear, from slavery and chains, 4you will taunt the king of Babylon. You will say, "The mighty man has been destroyed. Yes, your insolence is ended. 5For the LORD has crushed your wicked power and broken your evil rule. 6You persecuted the people with unceasing blows of rage and held the nations in your angry grip. Your tyranny was unrestrained. 7But at last the land is at rest and is quiet. Finally it can sing again! 8Even the trees of the forest--the cypress trees and the cedars of Lebanon--sing out this joyous song: `Your power is broken! No one will come to cut us down now!' 9"In the place of the dead there is excitement over your arrival. World leaders and mighty kings long dead are there to see you. 10With one voice they all cry out, `Now you are as weak as we are! 11Your might and power are gone; they were buried with you. All the pleasant music in your palace has ceased. Now maggots are your sheet and worms your blanket.' 12"How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth, you who destroyed the nations of the world. 13For you said to yourself, `I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God's stars. I will preside on the mountain of the gods far away in the north. 14I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.' 15But instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths. 16Everyone there will stare at you and ask, `Can this be the one who shook the earth and the kingdoms of the world? 17Is this the one who destroyed the world and made it into a wilderness? Is this the king who demolished the world's greatest cities and had no mercy on his prisoners?' 18"The kings of the nations lie in stately glory in their tombs, 19but you will be thrown out of your grave like a worthless branch. Like a corpse trampled underfoot, you will be dumped into a mass grave with those killed in battle. You will descend to the pit. 20You will not be given a proper burial, for you have destroyed your nation and slaughtered your people. Your son will not succeed you as king. 21Kill the children of this sinner! Do not let them rise and conquer the land or rebuild the cities of the world." 22This is what the LORD Almighty says: "I, myself, have risen against him! I will destroy his children and his children's children, so they will never sit on his throne. 23I will make Babylon into a desolate land, a place of porcupines, filled with swamps and marshes. I will sweep the land with the broom of destruction. I, the LORD Almighty, have spoken!" Isa. 14:1-23 NLT

Son of the Morning

“How art thou fallen from heaven O Lucifer, son of the Morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations” (Isa. 14:12). “Lucifer” is a Latin word which signifies the “morning star.” “All the ancient versions and all the people make the word a noun denoting the bright one, or, more specifically, bright star, or according to the ancients more specifically still, the Morning Star or forerunner of daylight” (Dr. J. A. Alexander). This term “Lucifer” has been commonly regarded as one of the names of Satan, and what is here said of the Morning Star is viewed as describing his apostasy. Against this interpretation we have nothing to say, except to remark that we are satisfied it does not exhaust this remarkable scripture. A detailed exposition must be reserved for a later chapter. Sufficient now to point out that however Isa. 14 may look back to the distant past when, through pride, Satan fell from his original estate, it most evidently looks forward to a coming day and gives another picture of the Antichrist. In this same passage “Lucifer” is termed “the Man that did make the earth to tremble” (v. 16), and in his blasphemous boast “I will be like the Most High” (v. 14), we have no difficulty in identifying him with the Man of Sin of 2 Thess. 2:3, 4. The force of this particular title “Morning Star” is seen by comparing it with Rev. 22:16, where we learn that this is one of the titles of the God-man. The “Morning Star” speaks of Christ coming to usher in the great Day of rest for the earth. In blasphemous travesty of this Satan will send forth the mock messiah to usher in a false millennium.

3 let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, 4 he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God. 2Thes.2:3-4 ASV

26 And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations: 27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father: 28 and I will give him the morning star. Rev. 2:26-28 ASV

16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright, the morning star. Rev. 22:16 ASV

The Spoiler

“Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the Spoiler: for the Extortioner is at an end, the Spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. And in mercy shall the throne be established: and He shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness” (Isa. 16:4, 5). It will be observed that the verse in which the Antichrist is spoken of as the Spoiler comes immediately before the one where we read of the throne being established, a reference, of course, to the setting up of the Messianic Kingdom. These two things synchronize: the destruction of Antichrist, and the beginning of the real Messiah’s reign; hence we read here “the Spoiler ceaseth.” A further reference to the Man of Sin under this title of the Spoiler is found in Jer. 6:26: “O daughter of My people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mournings, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the Spoiler shall suddenly come upon thee.” This is another title which views the Antichrist in connection with Israel. After the return of many of the Jews to Palestine, and after their rights have been owned by the Powers, and their security and success seem assured; their enemy, filled with satanic malice, will seek their extermination. “The Spoiler” contrasts him with the Lord Jesus who is the great Restorer (see Psa. 69:4

4 Let mine outcasts dwell with thee; as for Moab, be thou a covert to him from the face of the destroyer. For the extortioner is brought to nought, destruction ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. 5 And a throne shall be established in lovingkindness; and one shall sit thereon in truth, in the tent of David, judging, and seeking justice, and swift to do righteousness. Isa. 16:4-5 ASV

26 O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; for the destroyer shall suddenly come upon us. Jer. 6:26 ASV

4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head: They that would cut me off, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: That which I took not away I have to restore. PS. 69:4 ASV

The Nail

“In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the Nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the Lord hath spoken it” (Isa. 22:25). The last ten verses of this chapter should be read carefully. They furnish a striking foreshadowment of the End-time. Shebna was holding some office over (note “government” in v. 21) Israel. Apparently he was a man that seized and held the power or the rights to the house from another by force with out authority. God announced that he should be set aside in shame, and the man of His choice — Eliakim — should take his place. These historical figures merge into prophetic characters. In v. 22 we read that God says, “And the key of the house of David will lay upon His shoulder, so He shall open, and none shall shut; and He shall shut, and none shall open.” As we know from Rev. 3:7 this refers to none other than the Lord Jesus, and of Him it is here said, “And I will fasten Him as a Nail in a sure place; and He shall be for a glorious throne to His father’s house” (v. 23). Then, in the closing verse of the chapter we read, “In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the Nail that is fastened in a sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall.” Just as Eliakim foreshadowed Christ, so Shebna pointed forward to the Antichrist; and just as in v.23 we have a prophecy announcing the establishment of Messiah’s Kingdom, so in v. 25 we have foretold the overthrow of the false messiah’s kingdom.

25 In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, shall the nail that was fastened in a sure place give way; and it shall be hewn down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off; for Jehovah hath spoken it. Isa.22:25

7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth: Rev. 3:7

15The Master, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, spoke: "Come. Go to this steward, Shebna, who is in charge of all the king's affairs, and tell him: 16What's going on here? You're an outsider here and yet you act like you own the place, make a big, fancy tomb for yourself where everyone can see it, making sure everyone will think you're important. 17GOD is about to sack you, to throw you to the dogs. He'll grab you by the hair, 18swing you round and round dizzyingly, and then let you go, sailing through the air like a ball, until you're out of sight. Where you'll land, nobody knows. And there you'll die, and all the stuff you've collected heaped on your grave. You've disgraced your master's house! 19You're fired--and good riddance! 20"On that Day I'll replace Shebna. I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah. 21I'll dress him in your robe. I'll put your belt on him. I'll give him your authority. He'll be a father-leader to Jerusalem and the government of Judah. 22I'll give him the key of the Davidic heritage. He'll have the run of the place--open any door and keep it open, lock any door and keep it locked. 23I'll pound him like a nail into a solid wall. He'll secure the Davidic tradition. 24Everything will hang on him--not only the fate of Davidic descendants but also the detailed daily operations of the house, including cups and cutlery. 25"And then the Day will come," says GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, "when that nail will come loose and fall out, break loose from that solid wall--and everything hanging on it will go with it." That's what will happen. GOD says so. Isa 22:15-25 MESS

The Branch of the Terrible Ones

“Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud; the Branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low” (Isa. 25:5). The first five verses of this chapter contemplate the Enemy’s stronghold — Babylon — and the remainder of the chapter pictures the blessedness of the millennial era. In the fifth verse the Antichrist’s overthrow is announced: “The Branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.” With this should be compared Isa. 14:19, where of Lucifer it is said, “Thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable Branch.” This points another contrast. The “Branch” is one of the Messianic names: “Behold, I will bring forth My Servant, the Branch” (Zech. 3:8); “Behold the man whose name is the Branch” (Zech. 6:12). By placing together Isa. 4:2 and Isa. 14:19 the contrast will be more evident. Of Christ it is said, “The Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious.” Antichrist is called “an abominable Branch”: Christ is “the Branch of the Lord;” Antichrist is “the Branch of the terrible ones.”

5 As the heat in a dry place wilt thou bring down the noise of strangers; as the heat by the shade of a cloud, the song of the terrible ones shall be brought low. Isa. 25:5 ASV

19 But thou art cast forth away from thy sepulchre like an abominable branch, clothed with the slain, that are thrust through with the sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a dead body trodden under foot.

8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou and thy fellows that sit before thee; for they are men that are a sign: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch. Zech. 3:8 ASV

12 and speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, saying, Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: and he shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build the temple of Jehovah; Zech. 6:12 ASV

2 In that day shall the branch of Jehovah be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. Isa 4:2 ASV

1O LORD, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them. 2You turn mighty cities into heaps of ruins. Cities with strong walls are turned to rubble. Beautiful palaces in distant lands disappear and will never be rebuilt. 3Therefore, strong nations will declare your glory; ruthless nations will revere you. 4But to the poor, O LORD, you are a refuge from the storm. To the needy in distress, you are a shelter from the rain and the heat. For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall, 5or like the relentless heat of the desert. But you silence the roar of foreign nations. You cool the land with the shade of a cloud. So the boastful songs of ruthless people are stilled. Isa. 25:1-5 NLT

The Profane and Wicked Prince of Israel

“And thou, profane wicked Prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, thus saith the Lord God; remove the diadem, and take off the crown; this shall not be the same; exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn it: and it shall be no more, until He come whose right it is; and I will give it Him” (Ezek. 21:25-27). The Profane and Wicked Prince of Israel here can be none other than the Antichrist, for we are expressly told that “his day shall be when iniquity shall have an end.” The reference is, of course, to Israel’s “iniquity,” and their iniquity shall end at the appearing of the Messiah (see Dan. 9:24) when “He shall be a priest upon His throne” (Zech. 6:13). Here in Ezekiel we see how the Son of Perdition shall mimic the Christ of God, for he, too, will be a priest-king: “Remove the diadem” refers to the insignia of his priesthood (in every other place in the O. T. where this occurs the Hebrew word here translated “diadem” it is rendered “mitre” worn only by the high priest of Israel); “take off the crown” is the symbol of his kingship.

25 And thou, O deadly wounded wicked one, the prince of Israel, whose day is come, in the time of the iniquity of the end, 26 thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Remove the mitre, and take off the crown; this shall be no more the same; exalt that which is low, and abase that which is high. 27 I will overturn, overturn, overturn it: this also shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. Ezek 21:25-27 ASV

24 Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. Dan. 9:24 ASV

13 even he shall build the temple of Jehovah; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. Zech. 6:13 ASV

The Little Horn

“I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another Little Horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this Horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things” (Dan. 7:8). For a full description of the Antichrist under this title see Dan. 7:8-11, 21-26; 8:9-12, 23-25. We must reserve our comments on these verses till a later chapter. “Little Horn” refers to the lowly political origin of the Antichrist, and describes him as he is before he attains governmental supremacy.

8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. Dan. 7:8

8As I was looking at the horns, suddenly another small horn appeared among them. Three of the first horns were wrenched out, roots and all, to make room for it. This little horn had eyes like human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly. 9I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like whitest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire, 10and a river of fire flowed from his presence. Millions of angels ministered to him, and a hundred million stood to attend him. Then the court began its session, and the books were opened. 11I continued to watch because I could hear the little horn's boastful speech. I kept watching until the fourth beast was killed and its body was destroyed by fire. Dan 7:8-11 NLT

21As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and was defeating them, 22until the Ancient One came and judged in favor of the holy people of the Most High. Then the time arrived for the holy people to take over the kingdom. 23Then he said to me, "This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling everything in its path. 24Its ten horns are ten kings that will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them. 25He will defy the Most High and wear down the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time. 26"But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed. Dan 7:21-26 NLT

9From one of the prominent horns came a small horn whose power grew very great. It extended toward the south and the east and toward the glorious land of Israel. 10His power reached to the heavens where it attacked the heavenly armies, throwing some of the heavenly beings and stars to the ground and trampling them. 11He even challenged the Commander of heaven's armies by canceling the daily sacrifices offered to him and by destroying his Temple. 12But the army of heaven was restrained from destroying him for this sin. As a result, sacrilege was committed against the Temple ceremonies, and truth was overthrown. The horn succeeded in everything it did. Dan. 8:9-12 NLT

23"At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. 24He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. 25He will be a master of deception, defeating many by catching them off guard. Without warning he will destroy them. He will even take on the Prince of princes in battle, but he will be broken, though not by human power. Dan. 8:23-25 NLT

The Angel of the Bottomless Pit

“And they had a king over them, which is the Angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon” (Rev. 9:11). “Abaddon” and “Apollyon” mean Destroyer. It is the “Spoiler” of Isa. 16:4 rendered “Destroyer” in Jer. 4:7. That his name is here given in the Hebrew and the Greek shows that he will be connected with both the Jews and the Gentiles.

Other names of the Antichrist which the student may look up are, “The Rod of God’s anger” (Isa. 10:12); “The Unclean Spirit” (Matt. 12:43); “The Lie” (2 Thess. 2:11); “A Star” (Rev. 8:10 and 9:1); and “The Vine of the Earth” (Rev. 14:18).

11 They have over them as king the angel of the abyss: his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek tongue he hath the name Apollyon. Rev. 9:11ASV

7 A lion is gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations; he is on his way, he is gone forth from his place, to make thy land desolate, that thy cities be laid waste, without inhabitant. Jer. 4:7 ASV

43 But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not. Matt.12:43 ASV

11 And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie: 2Thes. 2:11

10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the waters; Rev. 8:10

1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth: and there was given to him the key of the pit of the abyss. Rev. 9:1

18 And another angel came out from the altar, he that hath power over fire; and he called with a great voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Send forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. Rev. 14:18 ASV