To be fair, this is not just a phenomenon for election seasons. Since its inception, the Church has been quick to assign that notorious designation to its own high-profile leaders. During the Protestant Reformation, for instance, both Martin Luther and Pope Leo X were labeled as the Antichrist, despite being on opposing sides of those theological battles.
So who is the Antichrist?
I’d like to begin a series of articles on the subject, each one offering a unique way to identify him based on Scripture. This week we’ll focus on the religion of the Antichrist. In coming weeks, we will examine the conquests of the Antichrist, the politics of the Antichrist, and last of all, the end of the Antichrist.
Before we begin, I should clarify that, biblically, antichrist is a general term that speaks of anyone who “denies that Jesus is the Christ” (1 John 2:18 and 2:22; 1 John 4:3; 2 John 1:7). This is antichrist with a lower-case a.
At the same time, biblical prophecy speaks of a specific end-times figure who will fulfill that title like no other. This figure is the “little horn” of Daniel’s vision (Dan. 7:8); the “King of the North” who conquers many (Dan. 11:36-45); the “man of lawlessness” of Paul’s writings (2 Thess. 2:1-12); and the “Beast” of John’s visions (Rev. 13:1-10). This is the capital-A Antichrist.
Now, let’s talk about the Antichrist’s religion.
A New Religion
Daniel prophesies about a “King of the North” whose reign of terror will take place during “the time of the end” (Daniel 11:40), around the Great Tribulation (Daniel 12:1). This King, we are told, will worship “a god whom his fathers did not know” (Daniel 11:38). He will not be Christian by religious identity. He will not be Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, or New Age. Nor will he belong to any religion that we now recognize.
People often label American politicians as the Antichrist, but 85 percent of members of the United States Congress at least claim to be Christian, and so have every U.S. President. The Antichrist, in contrast, won’t even pay lip service to Christianity. In fact, he will blaspheme our God openly (Rev. 13:5-6).
The Antichrist’s “god”
When the Antichrist comes, “He shall honor the god of fortresses” (Daniel 11:38). By the help of this “god,” he will advance militarily (Daniel 11:39), so most likely he worships some sort of “god of war.” This would agree with Revelation 13:4: “Who is like the beast, and who can make war against it?” Whenever the Antichrist comes, he will display a Satanic blending of military, political, and religious ambition.
“Satanic blending” is really the right phrase. The Antichrist will lead the world to worship Satan (Rev. 13:4). Putting together what we learn from Daniel and John, the Antichrist will worship a new god: a god of fortresses, a god of war.
This “god” is Satan.
This probably doesn’t mean that the Antichrist will come out and say, “Let’s worship the devil!” Fortunately, overt devil worship is rare, but it’s hardly new. And besides, devil worship likely wouldn’t be persuasive in our society. It’s far more likely that this Antichrist will honor Satan—his “god of war”—with a more honorable title. Perhaps he will even consider the names Satan or Devil as blasphemous slander for his so-called deity. Either way, it’s clear that the world will feel enlightened to learn of this new “god.”
The Antichrist’s Self-Exaltation
At the same time, the Antichrist will lead the world to worship…himself! This “man of lawlessness” will take “his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God” (2 Thess. 2:3-4). Suddenly, this “Christ” figure begins to sound like the Second Person of the Trinity—simultaneously worshiping and being worshiped.
The resemblance intensifies in Revelation 13:3, which describes the Antichrist using the metaphor of a beast: “And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.” Can you think of anyone else in history who died and rose again? Even the most resistant “Beast-Worshipers” will feel compelled when they witness such a resurrection. They may even claim that this is the “true Christ,” who died and rose again—maybe even offering forgiveness of sins! Worship services will sprout up around the world, giving glory to this new deity and his resurrected representative. Perhaps they will even label this form of worship “church.”
Recently, we saw intelligence agencies and the media speculating that Kim Jong-Un, North Korea’s dictator and a persecutor of Christians—and a man who also claims to be a god—may have been gravely ill. Today, Kim Jong-Un seems to have recovered. It’s not hard to imagine North Korean propaganda presenting this as a miracle that points to his divinity. Whether the future Antichrist literally dies and rises again, or whether it’s more of a resuscitation like the “recovery” of Kim Jong Un, this miracle will cause the world to marvel—and worship (Rev. 13:4).
The Antichrist’s False Prophet
If resurrection wasn’t enough to get people to “church,” the third member of this unholy Trinity—the False Prophet—will unleash his own bag of tricks. He “performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs…” (Rev. 13:13-14).
Right now, such a fireworks display is hard to imagine because we live in a secular culture. But when the False Prophet comes into power, our secular worldview will be quickly displaced by a supernatural one. People will no longer doubt that supernatural power exists. The presence of the supernatural world will be abundantly clear. They simply will have to discern which supernatural powers are worthy of worship.
Over the next few weeks, we will explore additional characteristics of the Antichrist. As we do, let us keep in mind that the best way to discern the counterfeit is to intimately know the real thing. We don’t worship a new god, but the Ancient of Days. Not a “god of war,” but a God who shed His own blood for us. Not an unholy beast who wants to mark us, but a Holy Spirit who has sealed us until the Day of Redemption.
This episode of the Tipping Point podcast continues the Word War series, which discusses the all out assault from our current world on the Word of God.
In case you missed them, parts one, two, and three are available to subscribers of Tipping Point. I pray it’s a blessing to you!
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ShandaMay 19
Brother Jimmy Evans, a restorer of brokenness/revealer of Truth wherever you goooo!!!
I subscribed late last night after watching you on your end times Table Talk with Joni ...DAYSTAR ROCKS. SHOUT OUT FOR MARCUS N JONI!!!!
Anyway, I have heard & listened to your Word War series...It has created such a stirring...a new, profound, powerful revelation of the Word of God!!! I'm living out here in Los Angeles I can't type fast enough to keep up with what God is doing...so on a personal level I've been saved 20 years....I'm literally going around saying, "It is written: Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord". I am soooo fired up!!!
Anyway, most importantly, I was emboldened to lead my friend Nicole to the Lord
while on the phone today....we prayed the prayer of salvation over the phone....I'm still rejoicing with all of heaven....when one sinner repents....RIGHT!??? like how He leaves the 99...
In other news....
Ive been attacked with feelings of failure for a while now ...the enemy keeps coming at me....
and you woke me up to speak the WORD!!!
ROMANS 8:31-37
What then shall we say to these things? "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns?? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who's shall separate us from the love of Christ???? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution , or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written:
"For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
Yet in all these things we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Him who loved us!"
Thank you for the renewal you brought forth in me to never forget my FIRST LOVE!!!
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Kari Smalley GibsonMay 18
Pastor Jimmy, I loved all 4 episodes and grateful for your boldness to speak the truth. I especially appreciated learning more about Timothy. Your timing was perfect! My dad was my hero and lived his entire life serving in ministry until his last breath on earth. I was born into the ministry, grew up in the ministry, married into the ministry and for the past 4 years working for the church. There have been times where I've asked God to give me a break, a sabbatical and there have been times I've wanted to quit through the years, but He's never failed me. He's sent many people to speak prophetic words over my life and even through all the good & hard seasons of ministry, He encourages me right where I am to never give up. Your words in this podcast encouraged me so much!! Again & again thank you!
A Major End Times Development!
How the assassination of Iran's Top General could start WWIII
Jimmy Evans
Jan 3
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In an astonishing act, the U.S. has assassinated Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force. He has been responsible for the deaths of many Americans. The Defense Department said it killed Soleimani because he “was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region.” It also accused Soleimani of approving the attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad earlier this week.
Not surprisingly, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that a “harsh retaliation is waiting” for the U.S. Iranian state TV carried a statement by Khamenei also calling Soleimani “the international face of resistance.” Experts are concerned that Iran will deploy sleeper cells in America and abroad to retaliate against the U.S. and its interests.
Israel is also preparing for the inevitable acts of aggression that Iran will continue to escalate against them. And that is the real end times significance of what is taking place. In Bible prophecy, Iran is Ancient Persia. The Iranians aren’t Arabs, they are Persians. And it is important to note that even though the religious zealots that control Iran are radical Muslims, most Iranian people are intelligent and peace seeking and love America.
Here is an important end times prophecy from the book of Ezekiel that is yet to be fulfilled that involves Iran and a coalition of nations against Israel:
Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.
“Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. 8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. 9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”
10 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: 11 You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’—12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. 13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’ ” ’ Ezekiel 38:1-13 NKJV Bold mine
Most of the nations referred to in this text are referred to by their ancient names. Their modern names are Russia, Iran, Turkey, Sudan, areas of modern Iraq and Syria and possibly Germany. Libya is still present day Libya. Interestingly, these nations are all presently aligned and they all hate Israel. Also, Iran and Russia are currently in Syria on Israel’s northern border with a strong military presence. Israel recently destroyed Iran’s killer drones in Syria as tensions between them have risen significantly.
Verse twelve in the text from Ezekiel reveals one of the reasons Russia will be willing to participate in this attack. It will be “to take plunder and booty”. And what does Israel have that Russia could want? First of all, Israel recently discovered massive deposits of natural gas in the Mediterranean Sea they are currently mining. Not only does this solve their own energy issues, but now Israel becomes a natural gas competitor with Russia for the regions energy business.
Many European and Baltic nations have depended on Russia for energy resources and the Russians have used it to manipulate and control them. But now the tables have turned and Israel is poised to become a major energy exporter. And the Russians don’t like it. Also, the Dead Sea in Israel is full of millions of tons of precious chemicals that Russia wants.
But concerning Iran, they have been looking for a reason to attack Israel for decades. As I have written previously, Iran’s formal name is “The Islamic Republic of Iran”. The Iranian Muslim leaders believe they have been called by Allah to attack Israel and to usher in the end times and the return of the Hidden Imam. They literally believe that destroying Israel is their prophetic destiny and spiritual responsibility.
This is why Israel has been so concerned by their efforts to enrich uranium to create nuclear weapons. And the Russians have helped them in that process and threatened both the U.S. and Israel if we take military action against Iran. Also, very recently the Iranians have been conducting joint military operations with the Russians and the Chinese. You just can’t make this stuff up!
In Ezekiel 38:4 God tells Gog and Magog that He is going to “turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army…”. The hooks God is referring to were animal hooks that were used to lead a stubborn animal. The hook was placed in the animals mouth so the owner could drag it by force to wherever he wanted to take it.
Likewise, all of the nations listed in the text from Ezekiel that attack Israel are against the God of the Bible and Israel as a nation. And God’s promise in Ezekiel chapter 38 is not only that He will sovereignly provoke them to attack Israel, but also that He will glorify Himself in it by destroying all of those forces that attack the Jews. Here is what He says to them:
And it will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “that My fury will show in My face. 19 For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel, 20 so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence. The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.’ 21 I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all My mountains,” says the Lord GOD. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22 And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 23 Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.” ’ Ezekiel 38:18-23 NKJV
Even though Iran and their evil friends who will think their time to destroy Israel has come, they will in fact be on a short leash and God will be the one controlling things. When the time comes for this prophecy to be fulfilled, God Himself will provoke them and lead them to Israel so He can destroy them and glorify Himself in the sight of the nations.
Let me remind you that the end times are controlled by God. That is why He gave us prophecy in the first place. The only one who can write history in advance is the one who controls it. That is why our Bible is the only book in the world with hundreds of detailed prophesies that have already been fulfilled and many more that are unfolding before our eyes every day.
I don’t set dates and I’m not exactly sure when Ezekiel chapter 38 will be fulfilled. But I can tell you for sure that current events are setting the stage for it occur. Could the assassination of Iran’s general be the hook that God will use to set things in motion? We will see. But know for sure that there is a 100% chance of it happening at some point because God said it would. Look up!
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