THE ANTICHRIST's DOMAIN
by Jacques More
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There is a common view that places the Antichrist as a ruler of all the
earth as we know it. His having influence upon all peoples everywhere alive.
That is to say, when he appears. This is understandable in view of scriptures
which at first glance seem to give us this idea:
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. . . all the world marvelled and
followed the beast.
Revelation 13:3 | |
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. . . And authority was given him over every tribe,
tongue and nation. And all who dwell on the earth will worship him . . .
Revelation 13:7-8 | |
Revelation and Daniel are the books which speak the most about this. Here is
a mention of the 'kingdom rule' of the Antichrist displayed also as a beast.
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. . . The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on
earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall
devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces.
Daniel 7:23 | |
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As we see, 'all the world', 'the earth', 'the whole earth'
are all phrases which give the idea of total rule.
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This is an appreciation out of context however.
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When we read of other rulers mentioned in similar terms we can see this
apparent anomaly. Daniel wrote about king Nebuchadnezzar:
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You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God
of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; and wherever the
children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven,
He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all .
. .
Daniel 2:37-38 | |
King Nebuchadnezzar did not rule all 'the children of
men'. It was limited as I shall mention. But, the extent of his rule can
also appear seen as great by the standard of the next kingdoms prophesied since
they are said to be 'inferior':
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But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to
yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the
earth.
Daniel 2:39 | |
That 3rd kingdom is said to 'rule over all the earth'.
And, as we saw above, the 4th 'kingdom' in which the Antichrist will eventually
reign, is said to 'devour the whole earth'.
Does this mean the whole earth?
The belief that the Antichrist will rule the earth as we understand the
earth now is based only on the present view that when we read 'the earth' this
means the celestial ball we have as our home. The 'blue' third planet which
revolves around the sun. But, the earth in the Bible books of prophecy which
mention it in relation to the Antichrist's rule only meant 'the known world of
the day'. A large portion of the earth's inhabited surface, yes, but not all of
it. This can be seen by how same phrases were used in relation to other
historical rulers. Scripture explains scripture. Out of context and with modern
eyes it is easy to miss this.
Nebuchadnezzar and the 3rd kingdom after him of Alexander the Great as
history shows involved the then known and inhabited world. They did not include
the 'new world', the Americas. Nor did it encompass Australia nor the far East:
China, Japan, etc. And yet as we saw, the term 'rule over
all the earth' is used to describe Alexander's reign.
What else limits the idea of the whole earth as we now know it?
In relation to the Antichrist it is prophesied that,
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. . . the king shall do according to his own will: he
shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against
the God of gods . . . He shall enter the Glorious Land . . . But news from the
east and the north shall trouble him . . .
Daniel 11:36, 41, 44 | |
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What is this news?
It is the news of nations rising up against him and making their way to his
location to make war. The amount of those coming from the East will be so many
that the river Euphrates will be stopped in order to make way for them:
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. . . the great river Euphrates, and its water was
dried up, so that the way of the kings from the East might be prepared.
Revelation 16:12 | |
Wouldn't you be troubled if you knew how many were coming?
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. . . at the great river Euphrates . . . the number
of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million . . .
Revelation 9:14, 16 | |
Now if there are nations able to rise up against the Antichrist and, as we
saw the extent of his rule relates to the 'earth' of the day, as it was written
- the known world then - it makes sense. We are informed the actual direct rule
which he shall have will be as per the 4th kingdom in Daniel's vision. That of
the Roman empire. A better prophetic term for this then is the 'Roman Earth'.
The actual immediate area or country from which he will arise is also shown us.
Basically, it is in the area of what is now Iraq. The area of old Assyria and
where the old city Babylon is found. It is significant in spiritual terms that
this is the first place recorded relating to mass rebellion against God at the
tower of Babel in Genesis 11. And it is the place from which will arise the
final pinnacle of rebellion - the Antichrist. See the recommended reading below.
His direct rule thereby will encompass all the 'kingdoms' within the
geographical boundaries of the 'Roman Earth'. His influence however will go
beyond that for it will be given him by Satan. We are told,
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. . . And the dragon gave him his power, his throne,
and great authority.
Revelation 13:2 | |
The dragon is shown us as Satan in Rev. 12:9 and the beast - the Antichrist
shows up throughout prophecy as the great blasphemer:
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. . . he was given a mouth speaking great things and
blasphemies . . .
Revelation 13:5 | |
And since it is the Devil's power and authority that he yields it will
consist of lies, intrigue, deceit and manipulation. Daniel's words are further
illumination,
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Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper
under his hand . . . and shall intend to change times and law . . .
Daniel 8:25, 7:25 | |
Further, the issue of currency appears to go beyond the area of his
immediate geographical rule:
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. . . he causes all, both small and great, rich and
poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their
foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the
name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Revelation 13:16-17 | |
It is not clear-cut that this will affect all on the globe or mainly all in
the 'Roman Earth', but it appears fairly universal. Perhaps not unlike the way
different countries in Europe now have the Euro as a currency, but are still
different countries with different taxes. So, the political reign may differ
even if the means of exchange is the same. Thus, we have good pointers to the
Antichrist's domain in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa directly (out of
10 'kingdoms' in the 'Roman Earth') and, areas of influence over the remainder
of the globe indirectly.
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For further reading I recommend my article
Not for a few Centuries.
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Ref. S.054 |
Unless otherwise stated Bible quotes are from the New King
James Version. |
© copyright Thomas Nelson Inc. 1979,1980,1982. |
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© copyright Jacques More 2002. All Rights Reserved. |
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