The prophet Daniel saw the climax of the exercising power of the Antichrist ahead of time. In chapter 7, the beast which had the ten horns, out of which he comes forth, was shown unto him. It is recorded, “I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn … and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things” (verse 8). From this last world empire, a man will come forth whose words will be accepted by all religious and political leaders.

Into this connection belongs Rev. 13: 5, where it says, “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.” These are, of course, the three and a half years of the great tribulation and persecution at the end of this age.

Daniel writes in chapter 9: 27 about this ruler that he will make a covenant with Israel for one week. This simply means the diplomatic recognition of Israel with full established diplomatic relations. Just as one week has seven days, so the week spoken of here prophetically simply means seven years. In the midst of this seven years he will “cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” This will happen right towards the end, before the commencement of the one thousand years peaceful reign of Christ on earth.

From Daniel 8: 10, we can see how much this horn exalts himself and who hides very clearly behind this power, “And it grew great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.” Something similar we also find described in Rev. 12, where the dragon, which is Satan, was thrown out and pulled a third of the stars of heaven down with him. We recognise that he is the adversary of God who wanted to be equal to Him but then fell.

The Antichrist, the “superman” of Satan, according to II Thess. 2: 4 exalts himself above everything, “that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” The believing Christians in the Bible are called the temple of God. But just as the temple then had become a den of robbers, so the fallen away Christianity is looked upon by God. In this apostate Christendom, the Antichrist sets himself. He is being worshipped as God, he claims infallibility and also is being addressed with the highest title, which only belongs to God, our heavenly Father as holy Father (Mt. 23: 9).

He speaks in a most pleasant way now, but this will change at the appointed time, after he will have deceived the whole world.

As in Dan. 7: 25 announced, “he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change the times and the laws; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” This Scripture makes very plain that it applies to the three and a half years of the great tribulation upon Israel. In this connection, we, therefore, read about the changing of the times and the laws. To this the New Testament church was never assigned. Here the Jews are meant, as Daniel’s people. The angel said to him, “Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days” (chapter 10: 14).

In Dan. 11: 32, we are told how the Antichrist will achieve and draw the people unto his side, “Such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries.” As already mentioned, the Antichrist is not a political dictator who will have the whole world opposing him, no, he will be recognised by every major political and religious system as the highest authority. Therefore, the Scripture says, “And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power (please remember, as we read before, the dragon, who is Satan, will give him his might and his throne); and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and continue, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause deceit to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many” (Dan. 8: 24–25). The President of the U.S.A. and the General Secretary of the USSR have only a limited influence and power, but this man will have global power. He appears as a religious person; at the same time he does make world politics and directs them.

The Antichrist is mentioned as having the heart of a beast during his time of direct exhibition of his power and might. Then he will speak against God, as the Scripture says, “And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven” (Rev. 13: 6). At that time, the redeemed will be in their mansions in heaven, but he will even dare to blaspheme the ones who dwell on high.

In John 14: 2–4, the Lord promised to His own, “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.” All who truly belong to Christ and wait for Him and love His appearing, will be taken away before the tribulation time (I Thess. 5: 1–9). Paul has described this great event in I. Thess. 4: 13–17.

During the period of time, when these great judgements will be upon the earth, the redeemed enjoy themselves in glory. John saw those who overcame everything at the shore of the crystal sea. He testifies, “And I saw, as it were, a sea of glass mingled with fire, and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God” (Rev. 15: 2). This multitude who overcame is made up of those who had the victory over the image of the beast, over the number of the beast and so forth. So it is very important for us to know this, because everything is at stake. We shall deal with this and speak about it.

The prophet Daniel saw the climax of the exercising power of the Antichrist ahead of time. In chapter 7, the beast which had the ten horns, out of which he comes forth, was shown unto him. It is recorded, “I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn … and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things” (verse 8). From this last world empire, a man will come forth whose words will be accepted by all religious and political leaders.

Into this connection belongs Rev. 13: 5, where it says, “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.” These are, of course, the three and a half years of the great tribulation and persecution at the end of this age.

Daniel writes in chapter 9: 27 about this ruler that he will make a covenant with Israel for one week. This simply means the diplomatic recognition of Israel with full established diplomatic relations. Just as one week has seven days, so the week spoken of here prophetically simply means seven years. In the midst of this seven years he will “cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” This will happen right towards the end, before the commencement of the one thousand years peaceful reign of Christ on earth.

From Daniel 8: 10, we can see how much this horn exalts himself and who hides very clearly behind this power, “And it grew great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.” Something similar we also find described in Rev. 12, where the dragon, which is Satan, was thrown out and pulled a third of the stars of heaven down with him. We recognise that he is the adversary of God who wanted to be equal to Him but then fell.

The Antichrist, the “superman” of Satan, according to II Thess. 2: 4 exalts himself above everything, “that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” The believing Christians in the Bible are called the temple of God. But just as the temple then had become a den of robbers, so the fallen away Christianity is looked upon by God. In this apostate Christendom, the Antichrist sets himself. He is being worshipped as God, he claims infallibility and also is being addressed with the highest title, which only belongs to God, our heavenly Father as holy Father (Mt. 23: 9).

He speaks in a most pleasant way now, but this will change at the appointed time, after he will have deceived the whole world.

As in Dan. 7: 25 announced, “he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change the times and the laws; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” This Scripture makes very plain that it applies to the three and a half years of the great tribulation upon Israel. In this connection, we, therefore, read about the changing of the times and the laws. To this the New Testament church was never assigned. Here the Jews are meant, as Daniel’s people. The angel said to him, “Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days” (chapter 10: 14).

In Dan. 11: 32, we are told how the Antichrist will achieve and draw the people unto his side, “Such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries.” As already mentioned, the Antichrist is not a political dictator who will have the whole world opposing him, no, he will be recognised by every major political and religious system as the highest authority. Therefore, the Scripture says, “And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power (please remember, as we read before, the dragon, who is Satan, will give him his might and his throne); and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and continue, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause deceit to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many” (Dan. 8: 24–25). The President of the U.S.A. and the General Secretary of the USSR have only a limited influence and power, but this man will have global power. He appears as a religious person; at the same time he does make world politics and directs them.

The Antichrist is mentioned as having the heart of a beast during his time of direct exhibition of his power and might. Then he will speak against God, as the Scripture says, “And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven” (Rev. 13: 6). At that time, the redeemed will be in their mansions in heaven, but he will even dare to blaspheme the ones who dwell on high.

In John 14: 2–4, the Lord promised to His own, “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.” All who truly belong to Christ and wait for Him and love His appearing, will be taken away before the tribulation time (I Thess. 5: 1–9). Paul has described this great event in I. Thess. 4: 13–17.

During the period of time, when these great judgements will be upon the earth, the redeemed enjoy themselves in glory. John saw those who overcame everything at the shore of the crystal sea. He testifies, “And I saw, as it were, a sea of glass mingled with fire, and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God” (Rev. 15: 2). This multitude who overcame is made up of those who had the victory over the image of the beast, over the number of the beast and so forth. So it is very important for us to know this, because everything is at stake. We shall deal with this and speak about it.