Though it is too rarely focused on in eschatological study, there is a clear teaching in scripture of Satan’s counterfeiting work in his final program. Through the course of this study this counterfeiting will be identified on several levels. Continue Reading
Another key truth to grasp about Antichrist, in order to understand his role in the tribulation is to note that he is in some way satanic in nature. In the context of any serious study of eschatology from a pre-millennial perspective, one understands clearly that Antichrist is given a great amount of power. He will be a master deceiver, yet will have an impressive array of supernatural abilities which will give credibility to his claim to godhood. It is at this point that the biblical student must come to terms with his nature so as to determine exactly how he is empowered to do the things he will be able to do. He is either fully demonic, demon possessed, or in some other way receiving a great amount of dark spiritual power. The question is, “exactly how?” Being fully demonic is easily ruled out, because Antichrist is noted to be a man in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, being called “the man of lawlessness.” And, being only a man is also ruled out by a truth which will be observed later in this work, whereby Antichrist will be cast into the Abyss, a place where elsewhere in the entire Bible only demons are ever sentenced to. Continue Reading
The “man of lawlessness” noted in 2 Thessalonians 2, above, bears the name “Antichrist” in First and Second John. Antichrist is one of the most key players on Earth during the Great Tribulation, playing an important role as an agent of Satan. And, although Antichrist is a being of satanic origins and purpose, he is also used of God to bring judgment to the Earth and to unfold God’s foretold plans among the nations. Continue Reading
The first observation as to when this attack will happen must be the conclusion that it has not already occurred in the past. For this battle to be prophetically accurate, several historical facts must come together perfectly, the first of which is the general description of the condition of Israel. The land is described in Ezekiel 38:8 as a “land that has recovered from war,” and “whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate.” There has been no historical period in Israel’s history which fits this description prior to 1948. While Israel has been recovered from war, and has been gathered from captivity, she has not been gathered from “many nations” nor has she been gathered after a period of time where her mountains had long been desolate. Continue Reading
Essentially, the “what” is answered next.
Why these nations will attack Israel is answered in two parts by the text. The first answer is seen in verses 10-13:
It’s clear that Israel is being attacked, but specifically, it should be noted that it is modern Israel which is being attacked, as opposed to the former Israel destroyed in the first century, as only modern Israel fits the description of the text. Continue Reading
Ezekiel prophesies an attack on Israel that must be understood to refer to modern Israel. The conditions of this attack are such that it cannot refer to a former time in history, as will be demonstrated in this section. This attack is another pre-tribulational event which has not yet happened as of the writing of this work. This prophecy is outlined in Ezekiel 38. Continue Reading
Many have found a reason to think so, but it doesn’t add up to the Bible’s depiction of that coming conflict. In fact, Russia and Georgia will work together in that coming conflict, rather than fighting against one another.
Below is a self-guided study from The Return of The King which details how Ezekiel 38 depicts this future event.
For more specific information, you may also want to view the series, which is an expanded version of this outline found in the Return of The King companion book, yet to be published.