I have had a few interesting conversations with people from different walks of life about the antichrist. I really like to hear what people perceive and believe about the end times. Since I am a lover of eschatology, I am always ready for a good discussion, always praying for an opportunity to share the gospel of Christ!
Is the antichrist a man or a computer? This is actually a great question. Let’s look at the scriptures to see what God says.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 “Now, we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called God or object of worship so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.”
The scripture here refers to the antichrist as a man, a lawless one at that, and the son of destruction. He will destroy many lives during his reign. He also exalts himself above all so- called gods and our God, and takes a seat in the third Jewish temple to be worshipped.
Sounds like a human to me. Let’s look further!
The book of Daniel in chapter 8 also speaks of this man, the antichrist. In Daniel’s vision, given to him by God of the latter days, it says starting in verse 23:
“In the latter period of their rule, when the transgressors have run their course, a king will arise, insolent and skilled in intrigue. His power will be mighty, but not by his own power, and he will destroy to an extraordinary degree and prosper and perform his will. He will destroy mighty men and the holy people. Through his shrewdness he will cause deceit to succeed by influence. He will magnify himself in his heart. He will destroy many while they are at ease. He will even oppose the Prince of Princes, but he will be broken without human agency” (Daniel 8:23-25).
Let’s recap these human attributes:
1) He is living in the end times.
2) He will be a king or leader of a country; scripture hints he will rise to power suddenly.
3) Insolent: this means rude, disrespectful, contemptuous.
4) Skilled in intrigue, he will wow people (and have many likes on Facebook). But he will have a dark, sinister side that will be fleshed out. He is a liar.
5) He will be mighty with the power of Satan and all those who align themselves with him.
6) He will destroy and kill all who oppose him – the tribulation saints and Jews who refuse to take his mark on their hand and forehead.
7) He will magnify himself in his heart. History repeats itself. Satan did this and look what happened.
8) He will destroy many while they are at ease. He confirms a peace covenant with Israel and then breaks it. He does it for his own purpose and plan. He does not know peace, only destruction.
9) He comes against the Prince of Princes, the Lord Jesus Christ. He loses, of course! Please read Revelation for this overwhelming victory of the Lamb!
10) Broken without human agency. This means he did not die by the hands of another person. This could mean sickness or an accident. In this case, he is slain by Jesus. Read the details in Revelation!
Daniel was exhausted and sick for days after this vision!
This does not sound like a robot or a computer image. This is a flesh and blood human being, a man, a very bad man possessed by Satan and allowed by God, during a specific point in time, to do these things. The Bible speaks of this; Jesus speaks of this to his disciples in the gospels in Matthew 24.
The phrase “abomination of desolation” is giving the reader of this passage a clue to who this person is! He emphasizes for the reader to have understanding. He wants the reader to read the book of Daniel so you know the context of what he is saying. The antichrist is the abomination of desolation. They are one and the same.
This person is a real person; and when he is seen in the holy place, the third temple, the Jewish remnant must flee from his presence—a don’t look back, grab the babies, we are out of here now, pray there is no snow on the mountains of Israel as you flee to them, kind-of-flee!
I see in the above scripture of 2 Thessalonians that we may have a glimpse of this man before the rapture. I have definitely seen the apostasy spoken of, characteristic of the last days, here and now. I know we are close.
But I know my Jesus, and I can’t wait to hear the trumpet to come on up! My husband and children, grandchildren with me!!
Sally Law