Max Lucado - Anticipate the Anti-Christ
Summary:
The preacher uses Daniel 8:23–25 to describe the coming Antichrist as a fierce, deceptive leader empowered by Satan who will rise during a time of great wickedness, bring devastation through a broken peace treaty, and oppress believers during the Tribulation. Yet the heart of the message is hope: this evil figure will ultimately be destroyed by God’s power, not human hands. The best news is that believers in Christ will not face the Antichrist because the Rapture—described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17—will take the Church to meet the Lord before the Tribulation begins.
Greeting and the Hope of Eternal Life
From my home to yours, God bless you in these difficult days. At certain times, we’re trying to find strength and deepen our faith in the Word of God. We’re looking at John 3:16. It’s like a table of contents for all the great teachings of Scripture: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting or eternal life. Not just that phrase, eternal life, warms our hearts, doesn’t it?
You see, the Bible is a future-facing book, and through the Bible, God urges us not to have fear about the future but to have hope and confidence. He talks to us about the end of times, and he equips us to face the future by telling us what’s going to happen. One of the topics he reveals—Antichrist and Rapture—are two of the most interesting topics in Scripture. I want to talk about one today and another tomorrow. If you have seven minutes to hang around, please do. If you don’t, I get it, no worries. Let us know how to pray for you. Let us know your prayer needs. Post them right there on the page before you leave; we’re doing pretty well about praying for your needs.
Who is the Antichrist?
Antichrist is the name most commonly used to describe this Satan-filled individual who will oppose God in an attempt to take the place of God. Now, to be clear, some Bible students, even Bible scholars, don’t take references to him as a literal person. I happen to do so, but I’m not worried about him—not worried one bit. I’ll tell you why in just a moment. More than 100 passages of Scripture describe and are devoted to helping us understand him. They describe his origin, his character, his career, his conquest, and his ultimate failure to attempt to be the final world ruler. Clearly, God wants his people to know something about this prince of darkness. While there are many things we do not know and about which we can only speculate, we have some compelling Scriptures about the evil ruler, and maybe the most compelling, at least the one that’s most detailed, is in the Book of Daniel.
The Prophecy in Daniel 8
In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise, and he will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation, and he will succeed in everything that he does. He will destroy those who are mighty—the holy people—and he will cause deceit to prosper. He will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of Princes. Yet he will be destroyed—not by human power. That’s Daniel 8:23–25. As I said, this passage is so compelling in its description of the Antichrist. He will come when rebels have become completely wicked.
The Rise of the Antichrist
The Scripture says something is going to trigger a tsunami of evil, and during a time of immorality unlike anything the world has ever seen—a time of depravity, barbarism, and terrorism—he’s going to come. He’s going to rear his ugly head during a time of evil. It’s not going to be a very pleasant time. Scripture says he will be fierce-looking and be a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue. He’s going to have this intimidating air about him. Again, I don’t know what that means; in my imagination, I see beady eyes, a strong jaw—maybe handsome, certainly defiant. He will be the master of intrigue. What does that mean? Well, this may mean he is savvy and cunning; it may mean that he indwells the world of the occult—probably means both.
And then the Scripture says he will become very strong, but not by his own power. The Antichrist is the devil’s proxy. He’s not the devil, but he’s the devil’s proxy, and just as Satan entered Judas on the day of betrayal, so Satan will enter this person, and the devil will control him the same way the Holy Spirit seeks to control God’s children. The Antichrist will rise from obscurity as a great peacemaker. Again, that Scripture says that leader will make a firm agreement with many people for seven years.
This is a reference to the tribulation. He will inaugurate the tribulation; he’s going to inaugurate it with diplomacy. The olive branch will be his tool and his gift. He will appear to be a great negotiator. He’s going to negotiate some type of seven-year treaty with the nation of Israel, and he’s going to be celebrated as the one who brings calm to the chaos—a great peacemaker. Yet, midway through the treaty, he’s going to break it, and literally, all hell will break loose. The Scripture there says he will cause astounding devastation and succeed in whatever he does.
The Horror of the Tribulation
Now, I believe chapters 4 through 19 of the Book of Revelation are dedicated to describing what will happen during this oppressive season of the tribulation—all caused by the Antichrist. These Scriptures refer to famine, death, and cosmic disturbances. I recall reading Jay Dwight Pentecost; he said something like this in his book: no passage can be found to alleviate to any degree whatsoever the severity of this time that shall come upon the face of the earth. The tribulation shall be the darkest hour in human history. It shall be the Scripture says that the Antichrist will destroy the mighty men and the holy people.
In other words, people who find faith during the tribulation are going to be attacked. They’re going to be attacked. In addition, the Jewish remnant will feel the full force of his anti-Semitic ire. The Antichrist will cause deceit to prosper; he will grow wealthy on the back of the dishonest, and he will take advantage of the poor when they feel secure. Speaking of the people he’s going to destroy, many will take his stand against the Prince of Princes. Again, that’s right out of the Book of Daniel. But the Scripture says he will be destroyed—not by human power. The great news is that he’ll be destroyed; he’ll be destroyed in the end. The bad news is that the world has yet to see him, and the world has to see him first.
The Good News for Believers
Now, I know exactly what you’re thinking: «Max, I’m so glad I tuned in today. It’s been a long time since you brought such an encouraging, upbuilding message. I’m so inspired; I feel lifted up. I’m ready to face the future.» All this talk about the Antichrist, evil, total destruction—why, I’m ready to face my day! I know it’s a dark chapter of human history, but I’m not finished, folks. I’ve not yet told you the good news in my mind. Do I have some good news to share? All these words about the tribulation—it’s going to happen for sure, this prophecy about Satan’s henchman: he’s going to be worse than anyone can describe or imagine.
But let me be clear, and let me give you some wonderful life-changing news: if you are in Christ, you won’t have to face him. You won’t! For by the time he arrives, you’ll be long gone. You’ll be long gone. For while it is true that a bad dude is coming, it’s equally true that all believers will be leaving. I firmly believe that the next major event on God’s timeline is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17. I love this scripture: For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will be with the Lord forever.
The Promise of the Rapture and Closing
That’s in 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17. Christ is coming for the Church. Christ is coming for the Church. Christians, upon the signal of Christ, will be transported into the presence of Christ. We will be raptured-there’s that second word — raptured into the presence of Christ, protected and secure in his presence for eternity. The tribulation will come, but we will be gone. And then, after the tribulation, will be the great judgment. Now I want to talk about the rapture, but I’m out of time for today. So, if you want to hang around or come back tomorrow, I hope you will. Till then, be aware: evil is coming, but our heavenly Father delivers his children from all evil! Amen.