Israel Covenant with Antichrist Two Witnesses
How do we know the covenant the Antichrist signs will provide Israel with a time of peace? These are some of places in Scripture that the Antichrist’s covenant is referenced that begins the Tribulation. Remember Psalms 83.
The word “Antichrist” has 2 meanings. Its primary meaning is one who is opposed to Christ; but its secondary meaning is one who is instead of Christ.
1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Messiah? The person who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.
John used Antichrist 4 times in 1 and 2 John; but did not use the name in the Book of Revelation.
- “Man of Sin” {Antichrist} signifies that he will be, sin itself, with satanic crafts and powers.
- There will be no lengths of wickedness to which he will not go, no forms of evil to which he will be a stranger, no depths of corruption.
- The “Lamb” is the Savior of sinners; the “Man of Sin” is the persecutor and slayer of the Saints.
Antichrist Signs peace Treaty with Israel {Judah}, for overall Peace,
1 Thessalonians 5:3 When people say, “There is peace and security,” destruction will strike them as suddenly as labor pains come to a pregnant woman, and they will not be able to escape.
In Daniel, we have the prediction of the destruction of the Temple / Sanctuary and are told that it is destroyed by the people of the “prince that shall come.”
Daniel 9:26 “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
Sacrifices, Jews can start with an Altar:
Daniel then refers to this same prince that shall come, (who rises is out of the Revived Roman empire) and we read that he confirms the covenant:
Daniel 9:27 Then he shall confirm a covenant {make a binding, agreement} with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”
We know this is a peace treaty. A week is seven years and we see that in the middle of the seven years the treaty is broken. Isaiah referred to a covenant with death and an agreement with hell and broken.
Isaiah 28:14-19 “Therefore hear the message from the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people that are in Jerusalem. (15) Because you said: ‘We have entered into a covenant with death, and we have an agreement with Sheol, {grave} so when the overwhelming scourge makes its choice, it cannot reach us, since we have made lies our refuge and have concealed ourselves inside falsehood‘ {broke covenant}
(16) therefore this is what the LORD God says: “Look! I am laying a foundation stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation: Whoever believes firmly will not act hastily. (17) And I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and floods will overflow your hiding place.
(18) “Then your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge sweeps by, you will be trampled by it. (19) As often as it sweeps through, it will carry you away, for it will sweep by morning after morning in the day; but understanding this message will bring sheer terror at night,
The Antichrist agrees with the treaty and has a deceitful heart.
Psalms 55:20-21 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has broken his covenant. (21) The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, But war was in his heart; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.
Isaiah 33:7-8 Behold, their brave men cry in the streets, The ambassadors of peace weep bitterly. (8) The highways are desolate, the traveler has ceased, He has broken the covenant, he has despised the cities, He has no regard for man.
- This agreement or covenant gives peace for 7 years, broken after 3.5 years, allows to build a Temple / Sanctuary in peace on the temple mount.
- We can assume or speculate that the Antichrist will embrace the Jewish people, and their desire for peace in their land and by offering them their land and his protection.
- Currently, there is no Third Temple on the Temple Mount.
- Only the Muslim Dome of the Rock stands in the original Temple’s location, so a Temple / Sanctuary must one day again stand.
- Once in the Third Temple, the Antichrist sets up an abomination, ends the sacrifices and offerings after 3.5 years, and then he declares himself to be God and the only one the world’s inhabitants are allowed to worship.
- The Antichrist guarantees peace for Israel and allows them to rebuild their Temple without any Islamic reprisal.
The Peace Betrayed
- Daniel, along with Revelation 13, also reveals to the reader that in the middle of the Tribulation the Antichrist declares himself to be God.
- His False Prophet sets up a “living” image of the Antichrist that must be worshiped.
At this point, the Jewish people totally reject their would-be savior. In response to their rejections, the Antichrist becomes obsessed with annihilating all the Jewish people during the second and last half of the Tribulation. Satan. Protected by 2 witnesses.
Sacrifices, the Jews are doing, are stopped by the Antichrist (Beast) after
3.5 years of 7 years period, of the tribulation is a time of peace. The Antichrist {Beast} then starts their 3.5 years reign on the earth.
Abomination of Desolation, Man of Sin Revealed,
Economic Babylon Religion, Falling away,
It says Sanctuary {Dan 9:26}, does not mean there has to be a Temple. It can be a tabernacle with a Sanctuary or Holy Place and not a Temple.
The Abomination of Desolation: Altars to idols were set up in Jerusalem and on December 16, 167 B.C. the Jews were ordered to offer unclean sacrifices and to eat swine’s flesh or be penalized by death.
Rome made Torah reading punishable by death, slaughtered a pig on the Altar and erected an idol to Zeus in the Holy of Holies”
Jesus said this will happen again.
Matthew 24:15-16 “Therefore when you see the ‘‘Abomination of Desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), (16) “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. {hid for 3.5 years}
Daniel 11:31 Armed forces will arise from his midst, and they’ll desecrate the fortified Sanctuary, abolish the daily sacrifice, and establish the destructive desecration.
Daniel 12:11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.
Mark 13:14 “So when you see the ‘Abomination of Desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. {this is when individuals from Jerusalem flee to Petra}
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, for it will not come unless the rebellion takes place first and the man of sin, who is destined for destruction, is revealed. (4) He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god and object of worship. As a result, he seats himself in the sanctuary of God and himself declares that he is God.
2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the power of Satan. He will use every kind of power, including miraculous signs, lying wonders, (10) and every type of evil to deceive those who are dying, those who refused to love the truth that would save them.
Antichrist Breaks Peace Treaty, Beast start ruling the Earth
Summary Dan 9:27: in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice. If the sacrifice are to stop, then they must start earlier
Sacrifices, the Jews are doing, are stopped by the Antichrist (Beast) after
3.5 years of 7 years period, of the tribulation is a time of peace. The Antichrist then starts their 3.5 years reign.
Revelation 13:5 The beast was allowed to speak arrogant and blasphemous things, and it was given authority for 42 months.
Fall of Jerusalem, half of city taken into slavery,
Zechariah 14:1-2 “Look! A day is coming for the LORD, when your plunder will be divided among you. (2) I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem, to lay siege against it. The city will be captured, the houses will be ransacked, the women raped, and half of the city will go into exile, but the remaining people will not be cut off from the city.
2 Witness killed, made alive for 3 and half days before ascending to heaven
Remember, the 2 Witnesses will control everything for 3.5 years, before their death and resurrection back to life.
Also, the Antichrist is in Jerusalem with his army for the full 3.5 years and at the final battle against Jesus, will be destroyed.
Revelation 11:3-4 I will give my two witnesses who wear sackcloth the authority to prophesy for 1,260 days.” (4) These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands standing in the presence of the Lord of the earth.
Requires 2 witnesses before the law: Matthew 18:16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
Revelation 11:5-6 And if anyone should want to hurt them, fire comes out of their mouths and burns up their enemies. If anyone wants to hurt them, he must be killed in this manner. (6) These witnesses have authority to close the heavens in order to keep rain from falling while they are prophesying. They also have authority to turn bodies of water into blood and to strike the earth with any plague, as often as they desire.
Revelation 11:7-8 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the bottomless pit will wage war against them, conquer them, and kill them. (8) Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. {Jerusalem}
The Antichrist now in power and notice the beast was able to overcome and kill them.
Revelation 11:9-10 For three and a half days some members of the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will look at their dead bodies and will not allow them to be placed in a tomb. (10) Those living on earth will gloat over them, celebrate, and send gifts to each other, because these two prophets had tormented those living on earth.
{Only celebration on the earth by Antichrist in the Book of Revelation!}
Revelation 11:11-12 But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. Those who watched them were terrified. (12) Then the witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven calling to them, “Come up here!” So they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. {A CNN exclusive?}
Revelation 11:13 At that moment a powerful earthquake struck. One-tenth of the city collapsed, 7,000 people were killed by the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Daniel 7:25 He’ll {Antichrist – Satan} speak out against the Most High and wear down the Saints of the Highest One. He’ll attempt to alter times and laws, and they’ll be given into his control for a time, times, and half a time.
{times – Sabbath, to Sunday, Feast Days to Easter / Christmas}.
- The two witnesses testifying in Jerusalem have wrecked havoc on the world by the words of their mouths.
- By banding together, the nations suppose that they can battle against the LORD and his people.
- And so they gather together at the place that is “in Hebrew called Armageddon.”
- The description of the two witnesses as olive trees and lampstands has an Old Testament background (Zechariah 4:2-14).
- The two witnesses in this passage were Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor.
- Their connection to the lampstands was that they were empowered by the Holy Spirit, symbolized by the olive oil.)
Zechariah 4:14 He said, “These are the two anointed ones, who continually stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.”
Two witness Powers: Possible, brought back to life?
- Call down fire from heaven: Like Elijah – 1 King 18:37
- Shut heaven, no rain: Like Elijah – 1 King 17:1
- Turn water into blood: Like Moses – Ex 7:19, 20
- Smite earth with Plagues: Like Moses – Ex 8-12
Transfiguration: Matthew 17:3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Staff Meeting? (Mt 17) connected with Second Coming (Lk 9:31)
Luke 9:30-31 Suddenly, two men were talking with him {Jesus}. They were Moses and Elijah. (31) They had a glorified appearance; and were discussing Jesus’ departure that he would shortly bring about in Jerusalem.
Moses and Elijah had their previous ministries interrupted.
Numbers 20:12 But the LORD rebuked Moses and Aaron, telling Moses: “Because you both didn’t believe me, because you didn’t consecrate me as holy in the presence of the Israelis, you won’t be the ones to bring this congregation into the land that I’m about to give them.
2 Kings 2:11 As they continued on, talking as they went, suddenly chariots blazing with fire and pulled by fiery horses appeared, separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a windstorm to heaven!
Is this a hint for us during Satan wrath?
Isaiah 26:20-21 Come, my people, enter your rooms and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by. (21) For see, the LORD is coming from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their sins; the earth will reveal the blood that has been shed on it and will no longer conceal its slain.”
Jesus collected His Saints for the Bema Seat Reward at His 2nd Coming
Matthew 24:31 He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to another.”
Jesus takes His Saints, His Bride, to the Wedding and Wedding Supper
at Jesus 2nd Coming
Revelation 19:6 Then I heard what sounded like the voice of a large crowd, like the sound of raging waters, and like the sound of powerful thunderclaps, saying, “Hallelujah! The Lord our God, the Almighty, is reigning.
Revelation 19:7-8 Let us rejoice, be glad, and give him glory, because the marriage of the lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready. (8) She has been given the privilege of wearing fine linen, dazzling and pure.” (The fine linen represents the righteous deeds of the saints.)
Revelation 19:9-10 Then the angel told me, “Write this: ‘How blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the lamb!’” He also told me, “These are the true words of God.” (10) I bowed down at his feet to worship him, but he told me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who rely on what Jesus is saying. Worship God, because what Jesus is saying is the spirit of prophecy!”
The ancient city of Megiddo existed on the north side of the plain of Jezreel and was always a great military stronghold.
This is the same valley that Joel prophesied that God would gather the nations for judgment in the last days. Joel 3:2,12
Joel 3:2 I will gather all nations, bringing them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. I will set out my case against them there, on behalf of my people, my heritage Israel, whom they scattered among the nations, apportioning my land among themselves.
Joel 3:12 “Let the nations be awakened and come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; because I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.
One by one the nations will enter the battle.
Antichrist and Europe army will be at Jerusalem before Russia {Magog} comes into play, then China and India, Pakistan, and North Korea have all developed nuclear weapons. Will cause the death of fully one-third of mankind.
The Antichrist will appear to the world as some kind of savior, but in reality he will be an evil False-Christ, Psalms 83 battle. It is Satan that really wants to destroy the Jews in the place of safety. Held back until 2 witness die.
Armageddon; because of the sheer magnitude of the troops and equipment that will have to be mobilized. It will take time.
Next time, We will cover Armageddon.