“…every spirit that fails to confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world” (1 John 4:3).
There is a school of philosophy that believes that Christ was a super human being who was not tempted in the same way we are tempted and did not suffer pain like we suffer pain. Anyone opposing this philosophy might be accused of espousing the “Great Gamble Theory”. These philosophers (and theologians) believe Christ was just going through the motions of being a human while having no substantial temptations to contend with. But was this true?
“…we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession. For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin” (Hebrews 4:14-15).
The idea that Christ was not really tempted as a human exists as a false doctrine. Taking this thought one step further, there is the philosophy of Docetism in which Christ is not even considered to have been human, just a phantasm. This is a gross misrepresentation of the Savior of mankind. It is, in essence, turning the life of Christ, and his purpose for dying, into a lie. This philosophy (and theology) depicts Christ as simply putting on an act. The coming world dictator will promote this view to the point of blasphemy.
“Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22). The antichrist will not simply deny that Christ has come in the flesh. He will also deny that Jesus is the Christ. After all, he cannot project Jesus as the Christ while projecting that he (the willful dictator) is the Christ. This will be a pivotal act of blasphemy.
People who presumptuously speak blasphemy are generally very arrogant and hopeful of getting some shock value from it (similar to the shock value a rap singer tries to get by using profanity, vulgarity, cursing and racism). The end time willful dictator will use words like a weapon. “I considered the horns, and look, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth proclaiming great things” (Daniel 7:8). This horn is attached to the fourth beast of Daniel, chapter 7. In the following verse we have a clue as to the time frame.
“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit…” (Daniel 7:9). Obviously the time of the little horn is just before the end of man’s rule on this planet.
“…I gazed at the beast because of the presumptuous words which the horn spake…” (Daniel 7:11, Helen Spurrell Translation). The horn is noted for the words he speaks.
“…the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be different from the first, and he shall subdue three kings” (Daniel 7:24). He will, indeed, be different!
“And he will speak great words against the MOST HIGH, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time” (Daniel 7:25). Who is “they”? It is the three rulers, the three kings (verse 24). This person will be setting himself up as a deity. This fits the profile of the willful dictator. The enforcement of times and laws is a God prerogative, not a politician prerogative.
The trade mark of the end time dictator will be blasphemy. “…the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every GOD, and shall speak marvelous things against the GOD of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done” (Daniel 11:36). “Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any GOD: for he shall magnify himself over all” (Daniel 11:37).
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come] unless there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself over all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). He will be exalting himself as God.
“For this cause God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). Why will God send them strong delusion? It is because they had pleasure in unrighteousness and did not believe the truth.
“…there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given to him to continue forty-two months” (Revelation 13:5). Forty-two months is three and a half years. This same time frame appears in end time prophecy over and over.
“…he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven” (Revelation 13:6). He will be directing his blasphemy against God.
He will be the ultimate undisciplined adult having the ultimate temper tantrum. His trademark will be blasphemy. Undisciplined children (especially teenagers) will identify themselves with the willful dictator. He will be more popular than the most profane entertainer. Undisciplined children are especially noted for their verbal aggression (cursing, name calling, threatening, profanity). They will identify with the end-time world dictator whose blasphemy will be keyed into their willingness to be as profane as their imagination will allow them to be. These children (including teenagers) will not want to retain God in their knowledge except as an object of blasphemy. When cursing and profanity no longer produce an emotional kick the next logical step is blasphemy.
“And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven” (Revelation 13:6). The end time Antichrist will start a new trend of gross disrespect to God. Many will imitate him, especially the young, except those children whose hearts will be turned to their fathers by the end time Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6).
“[There is] a generation [that are] pure in their own eyes, and [yet] is not washed from their filthiness” (Proverbs 30:12).
Thankfully, evil of all kinds will eventually come to an abrupt end. The world dictator (the horn) will be destroyed in the burning flame (Daniel 7:11).
The Son of man will rule for eternity in a kingdom that will not be destroyed (verses 13-14).
Wily Elder, CBA
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