Unveiling the Antichrist

By Don W. Reed

This book has come about as the result of an intense and careful study of Gods Word on the subject of the antichrist. Hopefully your mind will be enlightened as you read this book and study Gods Word. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15

Christ taught His followers to clearly interpret the signs of the time in order that they could be faithful and stand strong when difficult times arise. In this easy-to-read yet thorough explanation of Gods teaching about the antichrist, important questions, like the ones listed below, will be answered.

Is the antichrist alive somewhere in the world today? Do any Bible prophecies need to be fulfilled before the antichrist appears on earth? Will the antichrist be a Gentile, a Jew, or a Muslim?

This book will help you discover how the antichrist will fit into the Bibles scenario of end-time events. Even in those crucial days Gods people can remain confident and secure in HIM and his promises.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jun 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512785722

Don W. Reed

Don W. Reed graduated from Welch College in Nashville, Tennessee in 1968. In 1969 he married his wife, Jackie Hunsinger, and they have two children, Cynthia Reed Hamilton and Nick Wilson Reed. They have been blessed with six grandchildren and one great granddaughter. They reside in Warner Robins, Georgia and are active in Second Baptist Church. Don wrote this book as the result of an intense and careful study of God’s Word on the subject of the antichrist. Hopefully your mind will be enlightened as you read this book. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Timothy 2:15.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Rising Interest in the Soon-Coming Antichrist

A s soon as the word Antichrist is mentioned, many questions come to mind. Is the Antichrist alive somewhere in our world today? If he has already been born, is he a child, a teenager, a college student, or an adult who’s standing in the wings and will soon emerge as the world leader?

Could one of today’s well-known world leaders become the Antichrist? Maybe he’s a leader in the United States or another well-known country. If he’s alive today, is he already indwelt by Satan or will that take place in the future?

Will he have some kind of supernatural birth? And what type of person will he be? Will he be half-human and half-satanic? In any scenario, he’ll be extraordinary!

Today, do any prophecies need to be fulfilled before the Antichrist emerges on the world scene? If so, which ones and what’s next on the agenda? Or is there anything else?

Doesn’t God’s Word reveal certain things about the future? Isn’t the stage being set today for the coming of the Antichrist? Sin is running rampant in this sin-cursed age. How much more wickedness will we see on this earth?

Jesus Christ told His disciples, Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors (Matthews 24:32–33).

Though these words speak of the Rapture, after that, the next thing on the agenda is the tribulation and the Antichrist.

Chapter 2

Notable Events and Personalities of the End Time

W ith every tick of the clock, the prophecies of God’s Word come closer and closer to fruition. This is no mere coincidence; it’s an irrefutable demonstration that God is in complete control of all human history. His will is going to take place, and His victory lies ahead.

There’s a basic road map of end-time prophecy. Once you become acquainted with this road map of notable events and personalities, your understanding of end-time prophecy and events will fall into place.

Notable Events

The Rapture

The Rapture is the glorious event in which the dead in Christ will be resurrected, and the living Christians will be instantly translated into their resurrected bodies, as all members of the Church will be caught up to meet Christ in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13–17; 1 Corinthians 15:51–54; John 14:1–3).

This means that one generation of Christians will never pass through death’s door. They’ll be alive on earth one moment, and the next moment they’ll be translated in their resurrected bodies, there to meet the Lord in the air. Oh, what a day that will be!

God’s Word admonishes all Christians to watch ye therefore, and pray always, that you may be counted worthy to escape all things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36).

May all Christians look forward to this grand, glorious, and gracious event!

The Tribulation Period

The Greek word for tribulation, thlipsis, means to press together or to press (as grapes), and it refers to times of affliction, distress, and oppression. This word is translated variously as tribulation, affliction, anguish, persecution, trouble, and burden.

In the Bible, it’s used as:

• those hard-pressed by the calamities of war (Matthew 24:21)

• a woman giving birth to a child (John 16:21)

• the afflictions of Christ (Colossians 1:24)

• those pressed by poverty and lack (Philippians 4:14)

• great anxiety and burden of heart (2 Corinthians 2:4)

• a period of unparalleled tribulation (Revelation 7:14)

Events of Those Days

• Scripture refers to a definite period of tribulation at the end of the age (Matthew 24:29–35).

• It will be shortened for the sake of the elect (Matthew 24:22). Otherwise, no one would survive it.

• The last three and a half years of the tribulation are called the time of Jacob’s trouble, for it’s God’s judgment on Israel for rejecting the Messiah (Jeremiah 30:7).

• It will be of such severity that no period in history—past, present, or future—will equal it (Matthew 24:21).

• The nations will be judged for their sin and rejection of Christ during the tribulation (Isaiah 26:21; Revelation 6:15–17).

• This period will be so bad that people will want to hide and even die but won’t be able to (Revelation 6:16).

The 144,000 Sealed Jewish Witnesses

God, in His wisdom, grace, and special love, will set apart 144,000 Jewish witnesses during the tribulation. They’ll be redeemed and be very evangelistic witnesses. This is the sealing of God’s servants among the Jews of the 144,000 who won’t bow their knee to the Antichrist.

The reason they’ll be sealed is threefold:

1. To guarantee that the tribe will come through the tribulation victoriously.

2. To give them both a heavenly and an earthly preservation.

3. To prepare an evangelistic team to preach to the Jews during the tribulation and the millennium.

Read about them in Revelation 7:1–8 and 14:1–5.

The Two Special Witnesses

Two special witnesses will appear for three and a half years during the tribulation to proclaim God’s love, mercy, and judgment. These two special prophets will be filled with power and prophecy. For a period of three and a half years, they’ll work miracles, and no man will be able to harm them.

They’re spoken of in Revelation 11:1–13, and when their time expires, the Antichrist will come out of the bottomless pit, make war with them, and kill them. Then their dead bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three and a half days. Then they’ll arise and stand on their feet. After that, they’ll ascend to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies will look on at the miracle.

Because of the two special witnesses and the 144,000 sealed Jewish witnesses, John could write, "After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before