The Authority and Destruction of the Coming World Ruler

Read Revelation 19:17-21

Where does the Antichrist get authority to rule?  The answer is very telling.

·        He does as HE wills (Dan. 11:36).

·        He does as SATAN wills (Dan. 8:24; Rev. 13:2,4; 2 Thess. 2:9).

·        He does as GOD wills (Dan. 7:21-22a; 11:36).

In other words, like today, people do as they please.  But in fact, if they do not know Christ, they are subject to the control of the evil one, the Devil.  But in the very end, God is always in control.  All authority, even that of Satan himself, is from God.  God alone is Sovereign.  Thus, when we read of the destruction of the Antichrist, we are comforted.  We know that God’s arm is never too short to accomplish His will, and that is what will happen!

·        The certainty of his destruction is the patience of the saints (Rev. 13:9-10).  They are helped to endure by the truth that those who live by the sword will also die by the sword.

·        The destruction of the antichrist is said to be without hand (NKJV without human means, Dan. 8:25).  This will happen when he rises up against the Prince of princes, the returning Lord Jesus Christ.

·        In his destruction there will be none to help him (Dan. 11:45).  It will be the point in which Satan himself will be defeated (Rev. 16:13-14) as well as his two henchmen.

·        His destruction will be accomplished with seemingly little effort by the Lord Jesus at His second coming (2 Thess. 2:8).  It will be with the breath of His mouth and the splendor of His coming.  How amazing is our God!

·        His destruction will be at Armageddon (Rev. 16:12-16) and will result in both the antichrist and the false prophet being cast into hell, the lake of fire, forever (Rev. 19:17-21).

These studies of the coming wicked ruler have been an attempt to understand the Scriptures.  The Bible speaks of this; we should not be ignorant.  But this study should also not lead to fear and dread of what is to come.  What we have seen is what we always see: our God reigns and He reigns through His Son to whom He has promised to make His enemies a footstool for His feet (Psalm 110:1)!  The Lord will return and He will reign from Zion (Psalm 2:6-9).  As Christ Himself told His disciples, Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matt. 10:28).  

There is a world ruler to come, one of great wisdom, righteousness and who brings true peace.  The day will come when it will be said: The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and forever (Rev. 11:15).