HOW MANY ANTICHRIST`S ?

HOW MANY ANTICHRIST`S ?

DANIEL CHAPTER 11

1: Daniel speaks in the first few verses of the Persian Empire/
2: But the main burden of the chapter is about the detailed development of the Grecian empire after the death of Alexander the Great.
3: It involves the parceling up the Grecian empire into 4 parts – North, South East and West.
4: It is mostly concerned with the most dominant two quarters, North and South.
5: Dan 11:15 – the King of the North prevails and there begin a series of protracted yet unsatisfactory attempts by the North to conquer the South.
6: On one occasion, whilst the North is intending to come into the South, his forces are intercepted by “Ships from Kittim.” who halt his progress and turn him back. (Kittim is Cyprus” - and the Ships are probably “Roman.”) - see Num 24:24 – Isa 23:1
7: The King of the north returns to his own land enraged at “the Holy Covenant” and decides to “take action.”by returning with his armies to the “Beautiful” Land - (Israel)
8: He shows regard for those who forsake the covenant.
9: It is at this time forces arise and -- “desecrate the sanctuary fortress and do away with the the regular sacrifice and they (his forces) will set up the abomination of desolation.” Dan 11:31
10: My question is this. This King of the North clearly stands as a “man antichriist” and his forces desecrate the Temple set up “the abomination of desolation.” But others have done such things also,

I am asking: How Many antichrist`s?
How many abominations of desolation?
And how can we know which one is that one of whom Yeshua is speaking in Matt 24 and of whom Paul is speaking in 2 Thess 2???

We can say that whilst Yeshua in Matt 24 is speaking about the things which bring to an end the former age (in this regard) and that the abomination of desolation of which Daniel speaks is fulfilled by Rome, it is also clear that Paul in 2 Thess 2 is speaking of a different figure to the one of whom Yeshua speaks. For the one of whom Paul speaks if “yet to be revealed.”
Yet the things of which Yeshua speaks are already revealed in the destruction of the city, the sanctuary and the setting up of the abomination of desolations.
When we consider the king of the north as an antichrist figure, we find many clues by which to identify the strategies and tactics he is likely to exhibit or deploy.
(a): He uses “smooth words” to corrupt those who act wickedly against the covenant.
(b): By these “smooth words” he turn them to godlessness thus lawlessness. Therefore, he can rightly be called “The Man of Lawlessness.” which is the title or designation applied to the Antichrist man by Paul in 2 Thess 2

The history of Dan 11 is important to us for the establishing of the identity and origin of this man.
In the purpose of God this corruption to godlessness – lawlessness is designed to result in the purification of faith in the hearts of those to whom God has given understanding.

Dan 11:36-45

This King of the North is Willful of Self willed king.
It is this one who will magnify himself above all gods (including the gods of his fathers.) therefore he is clearly PAGAN – Gentile – goyim – and also the “desire of women.” meaning the desire of Hebraic women to conceive Moshiach. (remember Gabriel is speaking to Daniel 500 years before the birth of Moshiach)

vs 38 – His “god” is called a “strange” or “foreign” god whom none of his fathers have known, and he worships or honours this “strange” god with “wealth” “riches.” (wealth of the nations)

His god is therefore to be seen as a new Ba-al – and is this one whom he claims to be the embodiment of. Gabriel tells Daniel that this strange god whom the kibng of the north honours with wealth is identified as “a god of fortresses” (strongholds.)

He will take action against “the strongest fortresses” (strongholds) with the help of this strange god.
He will honour those who acknowledge him and place them as rulers over peoples and nations and he shall also parcel out land to them (assign to them territories over which they exercise authority.)

There is no doubt that this one, the King of the north of whom Gabriel speaks, is that one of whom Paul bases his predictions concerning the revelation of the man of lawlessness in 2 Thess 2

vs 40 – at the end time, the King of the South will collide with him and the king of the north will storm against him.”

There is to be a final conflict – war, hostilities between the king of the north and the king of the south. And in order to reach the South, - “he will enter countries, pass through them and overflow.”

He does this “in order to come into the “Beautiful Land” (Israel.”

Many countries will fall but Edom, Moab and the foremost sons of Ammon will be rescued out of his hand.
What is interesting about this is that these three represent the three most grievous enemies towards Israel both en-route to the promised Land and after they entered the promised Land.

Then he will stretch out his hand against Egypt (amongst other countries yet Egypt will be his goal) and he will gain control of Egypt`s “hidden wealth” - and Lybians and Ethiopians will follow on his heels – (on the wings of abomination comes one who makes desolate? Maybe???)

The king of the North will establish his Royal Tent (pavilion) between the two seas (Dead Sea and Med) and the Holy Mountain – (Mt Zion) – at a point south of Jerusalem between the two seas – the Negev perhaps or Jordan valley???)

vs 45 - “yet he will come to his end and no one will help him.”

(a); It is an appointed or decreed end
(b): None of his fiends and associates allies etc will help him..

After this, there will be a time of unprecedented Distress in the earth and immediately after that period of distress, the End of the Age.

Does Gabriel mean “the former age” or the new age of the “end times” which is ushered in by the advent of Moshiach??

Fortresses - “Forces” (Heb 4581) – Ma`oz

A fortified place – fig of a defence, fortress or force (as in power and resources)
A rock of strength or strengthening – most strong or strongest.

It is a “god” with power to give success or withhold it – and the king honours it with wealth.

Q: Is it Mammon? - whom Yeshua says the “Gentiles worship” Matt 6:24 – Luke 16: 9-13

MAMMON – The “god” of this world.
A Chald word – from Heb 5801 – Azaz (aw-zaz) – to be hardened impudent, strong of will.

Mammon – 3126 Gk – Mammanos – (of Chald origin) – confidence in wealth – or even wealth personified. Avarice deified – therefore a personal name – Mammon – or Mammonos

The king of the north will claim to be the embodiment of his strange god and take action against the strongest fortresses (strongholds) Could Gabriel be talking about the Banks of the nations???

THE HISTORY OF DANIEL 11

The four Kings who inherit the Grecian empire of Alexander the Great are 4 Generals.

1: SELEUCUS – one of the lesser generals who was given control of Syria - NORTH
2: PTOLEMY – given power over Egypt – SOUTH – (ancestor of Cleopatra who was therefore Greek not Egyptian)
3: LYSINICUS – given Asia Minor – Regions of Turkey etc – EAST
4: CASSANDER – Given the “homeland” – Macedonia – Northern Greece - WEST

The divided Kingdom continued in it`s internal conflict for about 150 years after the death of Alexander in 323 BC – until the dominant Seleucid kingdom of the NORTH was in turn conquered by ROME in or around 148-145 BC as foreseen by Daniel (See Dan 7:7)

HOW MANY ANTICHRIST`S?

1: It seems clear from the testimony of prophetic scripture that “the Man of Lawlessness” described by Paul in 2 Thess 2 is based upon Antiochus Epiphanes – (the king of the North of whom the prophet Daniel writes – in Dan 11) – Thus we can say that it seems like Paul is percieving in his spirit the “idea” of “one” who comes in the “likeness” and “image” of that Seleucid/Greek – Antiochus Epiphanes. Or another way to say it might be “one who comes in the spirit and power of Antiochus Epiphanes.”

2: Yeshua, in Matt 24, also draws the focus of the minds of His disciples to the prophecy of Daniel.
We might ask: “Of whom is He speaking – since the time of which Yeshua speaks is clearly the time of the destruction of the Sanctuary (Temple) and the Holy City (Jerusalem) – and this occurred under the Romans (Titus and Vespasian) – the Roman legions who effect this destruction are the ones of whom the prophet Daniel wrote - “the people of the Prince who is to come.” Dan 9:26

My question then is this:
Does Yeshua speak of another figure as the type of that antichrist “who is to come.”?
Does He even speak of a “man antichrist” at all in this chapter?
Or does He speak only in specific reference to the “ABOMIONATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the Holy Place --” Matt 24:15

(see Dan 11:31 – Dan 12:11 - *) -these are the only scriptures in the entire prophetic narrative in which is found direct reference to this phrase “Abomination of Desolation” {or more rightly, according to translation; “the abomination which makes desolate.” (the the sense of being the cause of subsequent desolation)

In Dan 11:31 it must be taken in association with Antiochus Epiphanes and cannot therefore be “The Roman general (and future emperor) Vespasian.” - for Gabriel plainly says (speaking of “the king of the north, after he has been “turned back to his own land” in disappointment by the ships from Kittim (Greece/Cyprus) --- “And forces from him (the king of the north) will arise, desecrate the sanctuary “fortress” [**] and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they (the forces of the king of the north) will set up the abomination of desolation.” Dan 11:31

(a): The king of the north is clearly Antiochus Epiphanes – a mammon worshiping Greek – (Tacitus the Roman calls him “The apostle of the Greeks.”

(b): The forces who set up the abomination of desolation of which the prophet Daniel is told are the forces of this Greek out of the north (the regions surrounding Syria) – the point is, they are not the Roman forces of Titus or Vespasian.

* - In Dan 12:11, the reference to the “abomination which is the case of desolation” is found alongside the phrase “abolition (or doing away with) of the “regular sacrifice” is used only as an indication of the Divine time-frame for the Providence of purpose to reach it`s appointed time – i.e the enigmatic period stated as “1290 days” - 42 Hebraic calendar months (each month of 30 days) i.e 3.5 years plus one month. Rev 11:2 + Rev 12:6 are thought to shed light on this period (together with the 45 additional days (1335 of 12:7 - for which believers are exhorted to “wait” in order to inherit a greater blessing) – but in both references we find a period of 3.5 years stated by deliberate distinguishing configurations – i.e the 42 months of Rev 11:2 during which the Gentiles are given authority to tread under foot the holy City (Jerusalem) {concurrent with the 1260 days during which “my two witnesses will prophecy clothed in sackcloth” - the Hebraic symbol/sign of repentance and mourning)– and the 1260 days of Rev 12:6 which is the period during which “the Woman clothed with the Sun” after “giving birth” (to her male child) is nourished in a Divinely prepared wilderness place.)

** - We must seriously consider whether by the phrase “desecrate the sanctuary fortress” Gabriel signifies the “stripping away of the Temple gold and it`s vessels as later described by the writer of 1st Maccabees in direct reference to the actions of Antiochus Epiphanes (in or around approx. 169 BC)

THE MAN OF LAWLESSNESS.

READ Dan 7: 7-8 - There is something different about the 4th beast – something which marks it out from the three former beasts – the Lion, the Bear and the Leopard - this beast is not described as being of the likeness of a beast – or animal. - but as something else. That's the first thing to notice. Secondly, there is more to this beast than to the three former beasts. And it has to do with the Ten Horns. Notice again – and mark it well, what Daniel is shown in this vision – Whilst he was “contemplating the horns --” what was the mean\ing of the horns - this was the single feature to which he was drawn above every other feature of this great and terrible crushing beast. What was the meaning of the horns. We read: “another horn, a little horn came up among them --- possessing eyes like the eyes of a man. and a mouth uttering great boasts.”

What is the meaning of the horns and especially this Little horn, this is now the consuming question in the mind of Daniel – He saw the beast was brought to an end – (vs 11) - “it`s body was destroyed and given to the burning fire.” - In Eph 4 the apostle Paul calls the Ekklesia the “body”of Moshiach ha – Yeh-shua being the “Head.” What might Gabriel be showing to Daniel?
(vs 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.” --- Turn to Rev 13:1-2--- Of the Beast who came out of the Sea, (nations)- we read - “he had ten horns and seven heads and on his horns were ten diadems (the symbol of a Prince but not of a King) – “and on his heads were blasphemous names.” (he is a religious beast) - “and the beats which I saw was like a leopard (his form resembling Greece) - “and his feel like those of a bear-”- (he walks like Medo/Persia) - “and his mouth like the mouth of a lion.”- (he speaks words like Babylon) – “and the Dragon – (ha Satan) gave him his power and his throne and great authority.”

The angel who speaks to John on Patmos is saying: that the 4th beast of which Gabriel speaks to Daniel, will be destroyed (Rev 13:3) and after that, he will live again, for an appointed period of time through a Beast which arises from out of the nations whose identity is revealed by his appearance – for he is an amalgamation, or confederation, or blend, of the first three beasts of Dan 7 – the beasts of the Gentile Powers into whose hands for an appointed period of time, God`s Chosen people Israel, were given over.

After these things, whilst he is yet contemplating the horns of the 4th beast – Daniel is shown an even greater even – he is shown the throne room of God in heaven and “One like a Son of Man” (the elective thus favoured self designation of Yeh-shua as Moshiach ha) - who comes up with the clouds – (Acts 1:9) - and given a Kingdom which will not pass away (an everlasting Kingdom) which can never be destroyed. - Daniel is shown, in the midst of the visions of the 4th beast, the Ascension of Yeh-shua Moshiach ha to the Right Hand of God`s power from where He would send Holy Spirit to His disciples on Yom Shavu-ot – and in this way, in the days of the rule of the 4th beast, (Dan 2:30+44) - His Kingdom might be seen, in the earth, as coming (at it`s initiating) with power. (Mark 9:1 Acts 1:6-8 + Acts 2:1-4) –

Now I know it is taught by many that the Kingdom does not come in power until the time of the second advent of Moshiach ha – and therefore the Mark 9:1 scripture is often interpreted as if Yeh-shua had used the word “generation” - in it`s application to “ethnicty” or “race” – as in Matt 22:36 or 24:34 – where He cannot mean “within the life-span of one generation: every prediction will be completed – because in truth, some of them were not – and some of them are not even yet, In such cases the Gk text reads – genea – meaning “an age” or “a generation belonging to an age” - the idea being – this age shall not pass away until all the events disclosed are realised. Along those lines –

But this is not what Yeh-shua says to the people in Mark 9:1 – the word genea is not once attributed to Him – Here He says something far more straightforward than needs to be complicated by an artificial mystery element – he says “Some of you standing here in the hearing of My words, will not taste death until you see the Kingdom coming in power.” i.e. “Some of you (the disciples for certain) will be alive on Yom Shavu-ot when I send Holy Spirit in power.”

I believe those who speak against such simplicity look for a more earthly type of Kingdom than Yeh-shua is meaning: And, tho` some, or even many of them, know and believe that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom;” (1 Cor 15:50) - and that His Kingdom is “not of this world;” (Jn.18:37) – that only on our transformed spiritual bodies shall we be gathered to Him at his Second appearance, and inhabit the Kingdom on earth: and I believe they do well to believe all of these things: - But I truly believe they will do even better if they overcome the conflicting ideas of their natural minds when seeking to hold to a spiritual truth. We look for a Spiritual Kingdom which is in Heaven, a Kingdom which was initiated in the spirit by the Spirit on Yom Shavuot as the down-pledge – and which even now, in this age, is being completed, and will yet, at the end of this age, be revealed.

In Dan 7:23-27 – Gabriel provides the answer to Daniel`s concerns because of the vision of the 4th beast and it`s horns. The Beast is a Kingdom – (we know it is Rome and so it is the Roman Empire) and the ten horns are it`s Kings (The Roman Emperors) – ten horns = ten Emperors – which in Hebraic symbolism and numerology, in which Daniel, as Chief of the Persian Magi was expert, could mean the fullness of a thing, - as the 10 commandments represent the fullness of God`s Law – or it could mean literally 10, more than 9 less than 11 – Ten. --- After the ten comes another - different from all of the ten --- (vs 25) - He will oppose God – stand in opposition to God – and wage warfare on God`s people (called saints – sanctified ones – holy ones) “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” - Jude 3 – the same kind of people, having the same kind of faith, to whom the apostles of Yeshua will address all their letters. These are the people whom this different horn shall oppose. So the question must be: “Who is this Little Horn – and how can this one be identified?” And the clues are right there in vs 25 - “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 a half time.”

Look to the clues by which this Little Horn might be identified; – he is described first as different from those before him, with the eyes like a man – a mouth speaking great boasts, He is in opposition to God (thus antichrist) and wages warfare on the saints - (thus antisemitic) and his intention is clearly, to change the times (seasons) and the law. --- Lets look to History. There`s no shortage of material from which to establish a good working knowledge of Rome and her Emperors: But we're just wasting our time arn`t we – Is there anyone of you who needs convincing that Rome has persecuted the saints more than any or all? Or that not even Hitler and Stalin combined - have shown more rabidly antisemitic hatred towards the people of Israel than have the Roman Emperors, and those who came after them – the Roman Catholic Christian Popes. No one has killed and murdered and tortured and butchered more Israelites than the Popes. And if any one yet needs convincing of these things, then surely, it is for lack of knowledge that you go into exile – and that you are even now, perishing.
We are not even speaking of the secret things of God – or His wisdom which is beyond finding out – because if you do not even know the things plainly revealed – how will you understand the Mysteries of the Kingdom?

Let's look to the clues of the Scriptures – and Let's look at what Robert Linden ha called the “conversion to faith in Christ” of the Roman Emperor, Constantine. - I've said that I believe that the Christian Churches of our time are troubled by 3 major plagues – and the greatest of these is the Plague called The False Gospel in which it believes and which it perpetuates like a virus to the world through the medium of Evangelism. And I`ll speak plainly about this False Gospel before too long.

ECUMENISM -- Tens of millions of professing Christians believe that Ecumenism is a good thing and born of the Spirit of God. But Ecumenism is evil – it is of the spirit which is antichrist – that it may deceive the many and if it were possible, even the elect – the Chosen Ones of God. - Ecumenism is not from above but from below; from the pit – from the Abyss.

Yahveh told the prophet Ezekiel; “When I say to the wicked, “You shall surely die” and and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way, that he may live, that wicked man shall surely die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.” Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself.” Ezek 3:18-19 -- S

There is nothing new under the sun: and Ecumenism is as old as the Roman Christian Empire. Indeed, Ecumenism is the the real reason behind emperor Constantine's “conversion” of convenience to the “Christ” in or around 312-313 AD –
In truth, it was a conversion of political expedience and is the real reason for the decreeing of empirical laws and edicts through the vehicle of the Council of Nicaea, some 13 years later. It was here that Constantine legiaslated the christian religion upon the gentile world of the crumbling Roman Empire.

These laws were put into judicial effect throughout the length and breadth of the Roman empire – every tribe and tongue from every nation could keep their own gods, in fact an image of every god would be incorporated into the temple of the Christian God – whom Constantine believed was the father of the Divine Sun – Constantine's conversion was really to the worship of the Sun-god – a pagan non-deity common to most if not all of the ancient civilizations, which for him meant more of the same plus the name of Christ. That's why, in 321 AD he changed the Shabbat from the 7th day to Sun-day – which he claimed to be “the venerable day of the Sun.”

That's why he changed the seasons and festivals appointed by God from Pesach to Easter – an ancient feast of the Chaldeans celebrating Astarte, who was a Babylonian Ba-al otherwise known as Beltis – the so called “queen of heaven.” And what about “Christmas,” which has nothing at all to do with celebrating the birth of Moshiach – How many people in our Western gentile world are really celebrating Christ on December 25th – Yeh-shua was not born on Dec 25th – but according to the roster of the Priestly division, (specifically, Abi-yahu of the sons of Aaron, to which Zachariah, the father of John belonged, Yeh-shua was more probably born around the time of the feast of Tabernacles – (Sept/Oct) But Dec 25th is “Lady-Day” - one of the 5 principle festivals of pagan Rome; it`s parallel is in the ancient Babylonian day for celebrating Astarte (Beltis) - the mother of the Sun-god - in whom Constantine believed, both before and after his “conversion” to “Christ.” )The son of the Egyptian deity Isis, was born around this same time - (“the time of the winter solstice”)

During the Christian “Christmas” “the Christian Jesus” may come to mind, in between the mince pies and the parties and the drinks all round. But it`s not really the Birth of this “Jesus” they celebrate, is it? Look, I`m not against people exchanging gifts, or enjoying alcohol in moderation: I`m not that way at all – I`m saying, what's the difference between the Christian Christmas and the Pagan Roman festival called Saturnalia – a time for merrymakers - drunkenness and orgy? Orgy is all about an excessive appetite, and if that doesn`t apply to Christmas. See, it`s one thing for the unbelieving to indulge in these things, and we have nothing to with judging anyone of them. Such were some of us. Myself for one. But what about professing believers, especially in the clear light of God`s word expressing God`s mind:

God fixes a day for Shabbat – the 7th day – He also fixes the times and seasons of His appointed festivals – Pesach, Shavuot and Succoth – Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. There are other festivals and special days, lesser festivals, and Rabbinic Days – but God only requires that we keep His Shabbat and the three festivals that are important to Himself. It's very clear – It's God`s word as expressing God`s Mind. God is the same yesterday today and forevermore – in person, in purpose, in attributes and in Mind. God does not bend or change for any man – either for the Jew or the Israelite or the Hebrew or the Gentile. The Psalmist declares: “He appointed the moon for the seasons.” Psa 104:19 – in the Hebraic perspective, the seasons and the festivals are one. And then God sounds this warning in His word – His prophetic and certain word. In Dan 7:24-25 – speaking in direct reference to the fourth beast (Rome) – and in particular of one of It's “ten horns” - He tells us, “out of this kingdom, ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones --- He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One and he will intend to to make alterations in times and in law and they will be given into his hand for a time, times and half a time.”

It was Constantine who changed God`s time and God`s seasons – both Shabbat and Holy Festivals. He is the one who must stand as the type or model of the Little Horn of Dan 7 – the one who stands in opposition to God and not “for” God - The one who wages warfare against God`s people with the intention of destroying them, not the one who nurtures them, with the intention of giving them life.

Heres the thing that troubles me – The vast majority of Christians who are told about these things in relation to Sunday sabbath and Easter and Christmas take absolutely no notice – they ignore it – the reject it they pay it no mind – the carry on regardless. I`m not judging hearts; I`m telling you what the Scriptures say, what Roman Christianity has done, and what the vast majority of professing Christians do to this very day. Don't you think that something, somewhere is amiss?