Participants: Charles Byrd (Host), Andrea Endries, Levi Longoria, Carl Preval
Series Code: THL
Program Code: THL000014
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00:02 Recently I went to the World Wide Web
00:04 and typed the word "Antichrist" into the google search engine. 00:07 In 0.3 seconds, it shoot, it came back 00:10 with 16,700,000 locations, 00:14 URLs that offered me information on this provocative topic. 00:19 Now, we could spend years 00:22 considering the opinions of hundreds and hundreds 00:25 of antichrist commentators or fictional writers 00:28 or for the truth we can go to the same source 00:31 that Jesus used, even recommended, 00:34 and get the truth straight from this tested 00:36 and proven prophetic source, the book of Daniel. 00:41 Stay tuned as this investigation unpacks 00:44 these impending prophesies about the antichrist that are causing 00:48 thunder everywhere including the holy land. 01:44 Man of sin, sea beast, little horn, 01:49 and the son of perdition, these are all names 01:53 associated with the antichrist and his identifying number 666. 02:00 Individually these titles leave us with a sketchy picture 02:03 and many unanswered questions. 02:06 But when we combine what Daniel taught 02:08 with the writings of the apocalyptic author 02:11 of Revelation as well as the Jewish rabbi Paul, 02:15 the questions and uncertainty evaporate 02:18 like the morning mist on a sunny day. 02:21 Watch carefully as the prophetic gift unmasks the antichrist 02:26 and exposes his plans to usurp the worship 02:29 and allegiance of God's children. 02:32 I am excited about this study, Charles, 02:34 because biblical prophesy is such an unerring guide. 02:38 God clearly knows in advance what's gonna happen. 02:43 So as we carefully study this prophesy 02:45 and compare it with history no one need be left in doubt 02:49 as to the identity of the antichrist. 02:52 So, let's dig in. 02:54 We've already encountered the prophesies in Daniel 02:57 in our very first study called talking stones. 03:00 To date the book of Daniel had a staggering 100% success rate 03:05 therefore these prophesies have proven themselves trustworthy. 03:10 So to begin unraveling this antichrist mystery 03:13 let's open our bible to Daniel 7. 03:15 In Daniel 7 the prophet received another vision 03:19 that paralleled Daniel 2. 03:21 And here the prophet enlarges on the predictions of Daniel 2 03:25 and opens to us the antichrist power. 03:28 Andrea, why don't you read that for us? 03:31 Sure. "I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, 03:36 the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. 03:40 And four great beasts came up from the sea, 03:43 diverse one from another." 03:45 In this passage we see not different metals 03:48 like we did in Daniel 2 but different beasts. 03:52 Now, by letting scripture interpret-- 03:54 scripture we learn the beasts are kingdoms. 03:57 In fact, these four beasts 03:59 are the same succession of kingdoms 04:02 we found in Daniel 2 but with much greater detail. 04:06 The lion, like the head of gold represents Babylon. 04:10 The bear, like the chests and arms of silver 04:13 symbolizes Medo-Persia. 04:15 The four winged leopard like beast represented Greece 04:19 with the swiftly conquering Alexander the great. 04:22 Now, pay special attention 04:24 because what we're going to discover 04:26 is the antichrist power is in fact in the lineage 04:29 of the forth beast power or kingdom and namely Rome. 04:34 Let's take a look at this final beast or kingdom 04:37 Daniel describes here in verse 7. 04:40 "After this I saw in the night visions, 04:42 and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, 04:46 and strong exceedingly. 04:48 And it had great iron teeth. 04:50 It devoured and brake in pieces, 04:52 and stamped the residue with the feet of it. 04:54 And it was diverse from all the beasts 04:57 that were before it and it had ten horns." 05:01 Living on the backside of this prophesy we know 05:04 that the kingdom which followed Greece was, 05:06 according to historian like Edward Gibbon, 05:09 the iron monarchy of Rome. 05:12 Notice, the iron teeth of this beast 05:14 parallels Daniel 2's image. 05:17 Interestingly enough the Roman kingdom was noted 05:20 for their usage of iron weapons and daily utensils. 05:24 In fact, it's conservatively estimated 05:26 that the Roman empire was producing 05:29 82,500 tons of iron per year 05:32 while China was producing only 5,000 tons. 05:36 After Daniel walks through the timeline 05:38 of hundreds of years and predicts the ruling kingdoms 05:41 he goes on to address the antichrist. 05:44 Carl is standing by to examine the characteristics, 05:47 the identifying marks inspiration has assigned 05:49 to the arch enemy of God so that we will not be deceived. 05:54 Thanks Andrea. 05:56 Daniel first mixed mention of the antichrist figures 05:59 starting in Daniel 7:8 when he speaks of the little horn. 06:04 "I considered the horns, and, behold, 06:06 there came up among them another little horn, 06:10 before whom there were three of the first horns 06:12 plucked up by the roots. 06:14 And, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, 06:19 and a mouth speaking great things." 06:22 Now to describe to anyone 06:24 or anything the title of little horn 06:27 or antichrist is a very serious accusation. 06:31 So we need to go over every details Daniel gives 06:34 to make sure we are making a correct identification. 06:39 Let's began at Daniel 7:8 as we search out 06:42 the identifying marks god has given us in Scripture. 06:46 First it tells us that it was a little horn 06:49 that came up among the other horns. 06:53 But what do these horns symbolize or mean? 06:57 Daniel 7:24 tells us they are the ten kings 07:00 of the divided Roman Empire. 07:03 History records that the Roman Empire 07:06 and its world dominating state lasted from 168 BC to 476 AD. 07:13 But just as portended by the ten horns 07:16 Rome lost its world dominance to the ten pagan tribes. 07:21 There were the Alamanni, the Visigoths, Franks, 07:25 Anglo-Saxons, the Burgundians, Ostrogoths, Suevi, 07:31 the Lombards, Vandals and the Heruli. 07:35 So somewhere among these ten kingdoms 07:38 arises another little horn, 07:41 but it will be a smaller nation or kingdom. 07:45 In addition, the little horn comes up among the ten horns 07:49 which gives us two more clues. 07:51 One is that the antichrist power must arise sometime after 07:55 Rome has been divided into its ten parts. 07:59 The Roman Empire had lost its supremacy by 476 AD. 08:04 Therefore the antichrist power must arise sometime after 476. 08:10 Also it must come up in the midst of the ten divisions. 08:14 Another clue we can gather from this verse 08:16 is that when the little horn comes to power it plucks up 08:20 or rather uproots three horns or kingdoms. 08:24 This characteristic is seen again in Daniel 7:24 08:28 when it says the power will subdue 08:30 or conquer three kings or kingdoms. 08:34 The next identifying mark of who this antichrist power is 08:38 comes from Daniel 7:21, 25. 08:44 Daniel 7:21 reveals that the same horn 08:46 will make war with the saints and prevail against them. 08:51 Now, look at this amazing detail. 08:55 Verse 25 says it will dominate God's people 08:57 as a persecuting power for a specific period, 09:01 a time, times, and dividing of time. 09:06 And time is prophetic language for 1 year. 09:10 So a time is 1 year, times is 2 years, 09:16 and a dividing of time is 1/2 year. 09:20 Prediction number 5 of the antichrist power 09:24 makes it clear that God's true people would be 09:26 under the proverbial thumb of the little horn 09:29 for a specified amount of time, 09:32 3 1/2 prophetic years 09:35 or 1260 prophetic days 09:38 or 1260 literal years. 09:44 So our fifth sign is the antichrist power 09:48 will now only be destructive during its onset, 09:51 its reign or existence will bring persecution 09:55 against the people of God for 1,260 years. 10:01 These five clues leave us with the fairly detailed list 10:05 of the identifying marks of this antichrist power. 10:09 This would be sufficient, but God is not finished. 10:14 Indeed there is more, Carl. 10:16 Remember we've said in this series, 10:18 when it comes to prophesy the more details you put into it 10:22 the less likely it is to come true. 10:26 Well, it's also true that the more details 10:28 you put into prophesy the easier it is 10:31 to find its fulfillment if it exists. 10:34 So God in love for His people gives even more details. 10:39 If we look at Daniel 7:24 we find 10:42 that the little horn will not be a typical empire. 10:46 "He shall be diverse from the first, 10:48 and he shall subdue three kings." 10:51 So this power will be different 10:53 or diverse from the other ten kingdoms. 10:56 This distinction will be so marked, 10:58 so unusual that it cannot be missed. 11:01 And perhaps part of that distinction 11:03 is found in Daniel 7:8. 11:05 It says this empire will have eyes and a mouth 11:09 like a man who speaks great things. 11:13 This is an important detail because now the little horn 11:17 or antichrist power is not only distinguish 11:20 by the time period in which it rose 11:23 or by being a dominant power, 11:26 its leader or representative is specifically noted. 11:30 This suggests the man leading this power, 11:32 or at least this position of leadership, 11:35 will be of great significance. 11:38 In Daniel 7:25 the Bible reveals some qualities 11:42 that distinguish this prominent man. 11:45 "He shall speak great words against the most High, 11:48 and shall wear out the saints of the most High, 11:50 and think to change times and laws." 11:54 The speaking great word against the most High 11:57 is enlarged in Revelation 13:5 as speaking blasphemies. 12:02 Now the Bible clearly defines the blasphemy 12:04 as claiming as an earthly being 12:07 the prerogatives that belong to God alone 12:10 like the right and ability to forgive sins 12:13 or even calling oneself God on earth. 12:18 Sign number eight then is this little horn, 12:21 antichrist power will be a blasphemous power 12:24 seeking to put himself in the place of God. 12:27 Notice also that this man will not only blaspheme God, 12:32 he will also think to change times and laws. 12:37 What times and laws will this antichrist power try to change? 12:42 The original wording here reveals 12:44 that this blaspheming power will think to change 12:47 the times and laws of God. 12:50 God's law is the Ten Commandments 12:53 and the only law that speaks specifically 12:55 about time is the forth commandment. 12:58 This command talks about the period of time 13:01 God set apart to rest 13:02 and fellowship with all of mankind, 13:06 a time that also establishes Him as the creator of all things. 13:12 He calls it the Sabbath and tells us 13:15 that it is the seventh day of the week. 13:17 Could there be-- would there be anyone, 13:19 any government, or church that would actually think 13:23 they could change God's immutable law? 13:26 God's prophetic word warns us there will be just such a power 13:31 and that is the ninth sign presented in Daniel's prophesy. 13:36 These clues are so remarkably detailed 13:39 that any encyclopedia set should have 13:41 this history recorded, if it exists. 13:45 Well, those are God's clues. 13:48 Its now time to head to our history books to find out 13:51 if these very detailed prophesies have 13:53 a singular counterpart in history. 13:57 With help from the prophetic book of Daniel 13:59 we're able to make out the defining characteristics 14:02 of God's enemy in these last days. 14:06 Though this drama is played out in human history, 14:09 the real enemy behind this power is Satan himself. 14:13 A little back story, when Lucifer was in heaven 14:16 he became jealous of God's power and throne. 14:19 And he began to covet the worship 14:21 that was due only to God. 14:23 We see his desire for worship clearest 14:26 with the insane act of tempting the creator himself 14:30 to bow down at his feet in worship. 14:33 "All these things will I give you, 14:35 if you will fall down and worship me," 14:39 Lucifer said to Jesus. 14:41 Satan's greatest desire 14:43 is to have a world that follows him. 14:45 So let's see if history proves God's predictions true. 14:49 Does this enemy of God actually have a movement 14:52 on this earth fulfilling all of Daniel's predictions? 14:56 Let's use, as a template, 14:58 these identifying marks foretold by God. 15:01 Let's lay them over any government, 15:03 church, or organization to see 15:05 if there is a match with this prophetic description. 15:09 What we quickly discover is there is only one fit. 15:13 And that organization boldly calls itself 15:16 the universal mother church. 15:20 That's true, Charles. 15:21 Historically there is only one government, 15:24 only one church, only organization that fulfils 15:27 all these divinely foretold identifying marks. 15:31 Check it out, Daniel tells us that antichrist 15:35 will be a little kingdom arising after the fall of Rome 15:38 and amongst the other horns or kingdoms 15:41 while uprooting three of them. 15:44 Located within the city of Rome and right at the center 15:47 of the old Roman Empire is Vatican City, 15:51 the smallest self governing independent state 15:54 in Europe and in the world. 15:56 A 0.2 square miles and with the population 15:59 of just over 800 souls, 16:01 and the Vatican is the world's smallest state 16:05 with its own post office issuing postage and police force. 16:09 History also records that in 476 AD, Odoacer, 16:14 king of the Heruli deposed Romulus Augustulus, 16:18 the last Western Roman Emperor. 16:21 So, by 476 AD the fragmentation 16:24 of the Western Roman Empire 16:25 into the ten kingdoms was complete. 16:28 During this time the Roman Catholic Church 16:31 was also becoming established. 16:33 While coming to power, the Papacy did uproot 16:36 three of the ten kingdoms, the Heruli, 16:39 the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths. 16:41 These three Arian kingdoms were a threat 16:44 to the supremacy of the bishop of Rome, 16:46 later known as the Pope. 16:49 It's of great significance that in 533 AD 16:53 Byzantine Emperor Justinian proclaimed a decree 16:57 which recognized the pope headship 16:59 over all the churches, east and west. 17:03 With the overthrow of the Ostrogoths 17:04 the remaining threat to the supremacy of the Pope 17:07 ended thus bringing into effect Justinian's decree 17:12 making the bishop of Rome supreme. 17:15 Indeed. 17:16 History faithfully records the Papacy directly fulfils 17:19 the first four identifying marks. 17:22 A small kingdom. 17:24 Coming into power after the fall of Rome. 17:28 And appearing among the ten tribes. 17:31 And finally, uprooting three of them. 17:36 Fascinating, but what about the other identifiers? 17:41 This antichrist power would be diverse 17:43 or uniquely different from the other ten kingdoms. 17:47 It would have a man at its head 17:49 and this man would speak blasphemies. 17:53 Again, we consult our history books. 17:56 Is the Papacy a uniquely different sort of kingdom? 18:00 Absolutely, unlike the other ten kingdoms 18:03 this little horn kingdom was and is indeed diverse 18:06 and uniquely different 18:08 in that it is simultaneously both a diplomatic state 18:12 and a religion or church. 18:14 The bishop of Rome is both Monarch of a sovereign nation 18:18 and also Pope of a world wide church. 18:22 Starting with Ronald Regan in 1984, 18:26 every US president has sent an ambassador to the Holy See. 18:30 The US has never assigned an ambassador 18:33 to the Southern Baptist Convention 18:35 or the Lutheran Senate. 18:37 No ambassadors are assigned 18:39 to the Sikhs or Hindus or Muslims. 18:43 The little horn is definitely unique. 18:47 Next, the claim that the pope or pontiff sits as the successor 18:53 to the Saint Peter forever establishes 18:56 the little horn power with the eyes and mouth of a man 19:00 while it is not necessarily the man himself 19:03 who is the antichrist but rather the position. 19:07 This position fulfils the word of God in 1 John 2:18 19:12 which informs us there would be many antichrist. 19:16 We've already established that the Bible defines 19:19 blasphemy as claming the ability to forgive sins 19:23 and also claiming to be God. 19:25 According to the "Catechism of Trent," 19:28 page 115, "Sins can be forgiven 19:31 only through the sacraments when duly administered." 19:35 Or said another way, this church teaches 19:39 that the only way to be forgiven of your sins 19:42 is in the confessional by a priest of a catholic church. 19:46 This concept taken to its extreme is found 19:49 on page 27 of "The Dignity and Duties of the Priest." 19:55 "And God Himself is obliged to abide 19:57 by the judgment of His priest, 20:00 and either not to pardon or to pardon, 20:03 according as the priests refuse or give absolution." 20:08 And Pope Leo XII said, 20:10 "We hold upon this earth the place of God almighty." 20:16 And Innocent III has written, 20:19 "Indeed, it is not too much to say 20:20 that in view of the sublimity of their offices 20:24 the priests are so many gods." 20:27 This antichrist power does indeed speak blasphemies. 20:32 The anti and antichrists doesn't just mean 20:36 against or in opposition, 20:39 it can also mean "in the place of." 20:42 God has warned us in this prophesy of a power 20:46 that would seek to be in the place of God. 20:49 And that has certainly come true in the Papacy. 20:55 Two more important signs that are fulfilled the Papacy. 20:59 "He will think to change times and laws 21:03 and he will war against God's people." 21:07 The text is clear, "He shall think to change times and laws." 21:13 If He thinks he can but God said through Psalmist, 21:17 "My covenant will I not break, 21:20 nor alter the thing that is gone out if my lips." 21:25 God spoke the Ten Commandments 21:27 with His own lips from Mount Sinai. 21:29 He cannot alter it and be true to Himself. 21:33 Jesus died on cavalry because God cannot change His law. 21:39 But the antichrist says, 21:41 "The Pope is of so great authority and power, 21:44 that he is able to modify, declare, 21:46 or interpret even divine laws. 21:50 The Pope can modify divine law, since his power is not of man, 21:55 but of God, and he acts as vicegerent of God on earth" 22:01 Does the Papacy really mean that? 22:03 Absolutely. 22:05 Listen to this from the "Roman Catholic confessions 22:08 for Protestant Oath," Article IV. 22:11 "We confess that whatever new thing the Pope ordains, 22:15 whether it be in Scriptures or not in Scripture, 22:19 and whatever he commands is true, divine and salvific. 22:25 And therefore ought to be held by Lay People 22:28 in greater esteem than the living God." 22:32 So it should be no surprise to us 22:34 that the Catholic Catechism 22:35 removes the third of the Ten Commandments entirely 22:39 and changes the fourth. 22:41 Reading now directly from the Convert's Catholic Catechism. 22:45 Question, which is the Sabbath day? 22:49 Answer, Saturday is the Sabbath day. 22:52 Then why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday? 22:56 We observe Sunday instead of Saturday 22:59 because the Catholic Church in the council of Laodicea, 23:03 AD 335, transferred the solemnity 23:06 from Saturday to Sunday. 23:09 The Papacy takes full responsibility 23:12 for the change of the seventh day Sabbath 23:14 to the first say of the week or Sunday. 23:17 It appears the Roman Catholic Church 23:19 with the Pope speaking great words 23:22 against the most high has most defiantly thought seriously 23:26 of changing God's time and law. 23:29 In fact, the Reverend Keenan writes, 23:32 "Had the church not such power, she could not have done that 23:36 in which all modern religionists agree with her. 23:39 She could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, 23:43 the first day of the week, 23:45 for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day. 23:48 A change for which there is no Scriptural authority." 23:52 So this little horn power has indeed fulfilled this prophesy 23:57 by thinking to change God's law. 24:00 But there has always been a group of people 24:03 who worship only the creator on the day of His choosing, 24:08 who put God first, who put His commands 24:10 above that of any church or government. 24:14 Unfortunately that commitment to say yes to god 24:16 with all their known choices has put them 24:19 in direct conflict with the antichrist. 24:23 Prophesy tells us he would war against those true 24:27 and obedient followers of God for 1,260 years. 24:32 During the dark ages the Papal See slaughtered 24:36 between 40 and 80 million people 24:39 simply because they would not bow in obedience 24:42 to the dictates of the bishop of Rome. 24:45 This persecution of God's people went on for 1,260 years, 24:51 from 538 to 1798 when Napoleons general 24:55 gave a deadly wound to the Papacy. 24:59 So the Roman Catholic Church does indeed fit 25:03 all the identifying marks God predicted in advance 25:06 regarding the antichrist power. 25:09 The historian W.E.H. Lecky writes, 25:12 "That the Church of Rome has shed 25:13 more innocent blood than any other institution 25:16 that has ever existed among mankind, 25:19 will be questioned by no Protestant 25:21 who has a competent knowledge of history." 25:25 While most of the world was drinking 25:27 from fountain of man made doctrine and dogma, 25:30 God's true believers were showing their principle love 25:33 by obeying the doctrine of Jesus. 25:38 "If you love me," Jesus said, "keep my commandments. 25:43 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love." 25:49 Love is obedience. 25:52 In the Book of Revelation chapter 13:18 25:55 our savior gave us one more identifying mark 25:58 of this antichrist power by telling us 26:00 he has a number, 666. 26:05 The man is not some mystical figure living in the shadows. 26:09 He is clearly identified in scripture and history. 26:13 God invites us to know, "Here is wisdom. 26:17 Let him that have understanding, 26:19 count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. 26:23 And his number is Six hundred threescore and six." 26:29 In the Roman language certain letters have numeric value. 26:33 What many people may not know 26:35 is that the antichrist power has taken on an official title 26:39 and placed it upon the special 26:42 Triple Crown worn by the pontiff. 26:45 That title is "Vicarius Filii Dei." 26:49 It is Latin for vicar 26:52 or representative of the son of God. 26:55 The Roman numerals of this official 26:57 self anointed title equal 666. 27:03 God doesn't want anyone to die, to suffer eternal loss. 27:07 In love he has given us a powerful prophetic warning. 27:11 He is clearly identified who the beast, 27:14 the little horn, the antichrist is. 27:16 And now He's asking each of us to make a choice, 27:21 "And I heard another voice from heaven, 27:23 saying, 'Come out of her, my people, 27:26 that ye be not partakers of her sins, 27:29 and that ye receive not of her plagues.'" 27:33 Jesus loves you, loves you enough to warn you 27:38 of the antichrist and his doctrines. 27:41 Won't you answer the call of the one 27:42 who gave His all for you? |
Revised 2014-12-17