What's Next? Revelation Series With Skip Heitzigنموونە

The Most Interesting Man in the World

Path
Unlike the fictional beer commercials, the most interesting man in the world has yet to come. Dynamic, persuasive, and a breath of fresh air, this leader's diplomatic skills will be off the charts. On one hand, he will be everything the world has been waiting for; on the other hand, he will be its biggest nightmare.

Points
Wickedness (v. 1)

• In his vision, John saw the Antichrist as an insidious man--a beast.
• Though starting as a man of peace (see Revelation 6:2), the Antichrist will reveal his true colors halfway through the tribulation.
• In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul called the Antichrist "the man of sin" (v. 3), "the lawless one" (vv. 8-9), and "the son of perdition" (v. 3).

World Dominance (vv. 1-2)

• The Antichrist will pull together one world-governing empire (see Daniel 7).
• He will rise from the sea, or the nations (see Isaiah 17; Revelation 17).
• He will promote globalism: a global network of political alliances with a single law and economy.

Wonder (v. 3)

• The Antichrist will be fully possessed by Satan. People will wonder at his ability and be mesmerized by his talent.
• Many will see him as a political savior, the bringer of peace in the Middle East and the world.

Worship (vv. 4, 8)

• People's fascination with the Antichrist will turn to adoration.
• In 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Paul said the Antichrist will "oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God" (NIV).
• The prefix anti means against, but it also means instead of.
• The Antichrist will be a counterfeit Christ, part of an illegitimate and unholy trinity: Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet.

Words (vv. 5-6)

• The Antichrist will sway people with his words.
• Daniel 7:8 describes him as "a mouth speaking pompous words."

War (vv. 7-10)

• Once the Antichrist succeeds in dominating the world, he will seek to eradicate the Jewish people and new believers (tribulation saints: those saved after the rapture).
• Daniel 7:25 states that he "shall persecute the saints of the Most High."

Practice

Connect Up: The first three and a half years of the Antichrist's reign will be peaceful, but the last three and a half years will bring about an abomination during which two-thirds of the Jewish people will die (see Zechariah 13:8-9). Why will God allow such desecration on the earth?

Connect In: Read Matthew 24. How can the church protect itself from deception?

Connect Out:

• Antichrist is called the man of sin; Jesus is the Sinless Man.
• Antichrist is the idol shepherd; Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
• Antichrist is pictured as a beast; Jesus is the Lamb.
• Antichrist's false death will be meant to deceive; Jesus' death was meant to save.

Pray for friends and family who are not yet Christians.