THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #189 | THE LIFE OF MOSES #170
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3875
THE LIVES OF THE PATRIARCHS #189
THE LIFE OF MOSES #170
MOSES AT MT.SINAI#69
THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES ( Part 28)
THE COUNTERFEIT CROWN OF THE ANTICHRIST
Some have confused the rider of the white horse in Rev.6:2 with Jesus, but the rider is actually the Antichrist.
For following the appearing of the rider is not a kingdom of righteousness, but a time of wickedness and sorrow.
Masquerading as the true Messiah, he wears a crown, while Jesus wears many crowns (Revelation 19:12).
In the Greek translation, the crown worn by the rider of the white horse refers to the crown of victory worn by a conqueror. The crowns Jesus wears in Revelation 19 refer to crowns of royalty.
1. The Antichrist is likened to a Conqueror bent on Conquest
When a victor triumphantly entered a newly conquered kingdom, he would invariably ride a white horse.
The Antichrist will deceitfully establish himself, and then show his true colors.
This coming world leader, the Antichrist, will come at an economically difficult time. There will be war in different parts of the world, and he—through brilliant political moves along with an incredible charisma—will be able to do what no one else has ever done: bring economic stability to the world’s monetary system and bring world peace.
By establishing this peace, he will deceive many. He will even convince the Jewish nation and the Arab nations to sign a peace treaty, paving the way for the long-awaited third temple.
His accomplishments will be so spectacular, so far-reaching and unprecedented, that many will hail him as the Messiah. But we are warned in Scripture that he is a deceiver.
2. He will manifest as the Man of Sin
The Antichrist will be history’s vilest embodiment of sin and rebellion:
“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that Day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness [sin] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction” (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
3. He will also be known as "The Lawless and Wicked One"
“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the brightness of His coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:8).
Lawless can be translated “wicked.”
The Antichrist totally opposes every law of God. Halfway into his power play he will show his true colors, rebuilding the temple and committing the abomination of desolation (Daniel 12:11; Matthew 24:15).
He will show himself to be a blood-thirsty dictator who will make Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Saddam Hussein look like lightweights in comparison.
Dictators rarely take over nations by brute force. Political or economic problems almost always pave the way for tyranny.
This has already proven true in history. Rome set the precedent, seeking out nations who were in political and economic turmoil. They came with seeming benevolence, only to turn to tyrannical suppression and demand worship of Caesar.
Adolph Hitler did the same. In 1930, Germany was in desperate financial straits. Inflation was so bad, that literally thousands of people were starving. Communists stirred up riots in the streets, and there was general chaos.
Then Adolph Hitler came on the scene—a voice of authority in the midst of chaos. He spoke of a people of destiny and promised glories to come. But it was not meant to be.
Hitler was but a pale version of the Antichrist who will work through a revived Roman empire.
He, like the Romans and Hitler, will bring political, military, and economic answers, and he will persecute Jews and Christians.
4. Satan’s unholy trinity
The Antichrist will not act alone.
There will be a false prophet working with him.
“Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:20).
Here we see Satan’s unholy trinity:
Satan, imitating God (and, for a short time, having the worship of people worldwide)
The Antichrist, masquerading as the Son
The false prophet, impersonating the Holy Spirit
5. The work of the Antichrist
The Antichrist will bring about a new religious system that will accommodate everyone.
The Antichrist will harness the world’s economic system.
Conclusion
For the duration of the Tribulation Period of 7 years, the Antichrist will deceive the nations and even the elect.
But the Messiah will come as the true Prince of Peace and usher in the Millennium.
The Antichrist will be revealed as the counterfeit Prince of Peace when the whole world sees Jesus on a white horse crowned with many crowns.
Revelation 19:11-16
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
