The Rise of the Antichrist to Global Power in Eschatology
Eschatological texts in the Bible, particularly Daniel and Revelation, describe the rise of a figure known as the Antichrist who will achieve global power. This figure is often understood as the ultimate embodiment of opposition to God and Christ [4, 6].
The Antichrist is depicted as emerging from a configuration of ten kingdoms, represented as "ten horns" in Daniel 7:24 and Revelation 13:1 and 17:12. This figure, initially "little," will rise after these ten kingdoms and eventually become greater than them, even destroying three of them [3]. This suggests a political and territorial ascent to power. The "fourth kingdom" mentioned in Daniel is understood to be the context from which these ten kingdoms and the Antichrist arise [3].
The Antichrist's coming is characterized by "the working of Satan," who grants him power, authority, and a prominent position [5]. Revelation 13:2 states that "The dragon gave him (the beast) his power . . . seat . . . great authority" [5]. This figure will exercise authority "before him" (Satan), acting as a minister and upholder of Satan's will [2]. The Antichrist's power is not merely political but also involves deceptive signs and "lying wonders," or "prodigies of falsehood," which are performed through Satan's energy [5].
The Antichrist is described as having "the highest worldly wisdom and civilization" and will unite the "whole civilized world under his dominion" [6]. This global reach is further emphasized by the beast's authority over "all creation" [1]. The Antichrist will also exhibit "atheism, antitheism, and autotheism in its fullest development" [6]. The "beast" in Revelation, which "is not" but then "starts up to life again," represents Antichrist's manifestation in intense opposition to God, particularly after a period of "outward Christianization of the state" [7]. This figure is seen as a distinct head, yet "of the seven," indicating a connection to previous forms of worldly power [7].
The ultimate destruction of this world power, and the Antichrist, is by a final judgment from God [6].
Sources
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 24:51: 24:51 Cp. 2 Kgs 2:11. Jesus’ ascension was his exaltation to a position of authority over all creation (see Acts 2:32-36; 5:31; Eph 1:19-23; Phil 2:9-11; Heb 1:13).”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 13:12: power--Greek, "authority." before him--"in his presence"; as ministering to, and upholding him. "The non-existence of the beast embraces the whole Germanic Christian period. The healing of the wound and return of the beast is represented [in regard to its final Antichristian manifestation though including also, meanwhile, its healing and return under Popery, which is baptized heathenism] in that principle which, since 1789, has manifested itself in beast-like outbreaks" [AUBERLEN]. which dwell therein--the earthly-minded. The Church becomes th”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 7:24: ten horns--answering to the ten "toes" (Dan 2:41). out of this kingdom--It is out of the fourth kingdom that ten others arise, whatever exterior territory any of them possess (Rev 13:1; Rev 17:12). rise after them--yet contemporaneous with them; the ten are contemporaries. Antichrist rises after their rise, at first "little" (Dan 7:8); but after destroying three of the ten, he becomes greater than them all (Dan 7:20-21). The three being gone, he is the eighth (compare Rev 17:11); a distinct head, and yet "of the seven." As the previous world kingdo”
- 2 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Thessalonians 2:4: th2 2:4Dan 11:36-37 is here referred to. The words used there as to Antiochus Epiphanes, Paul implies, shall even be more applicable to the man of sin, who is the New Testament actual Antichrist, as Antiochus was the Old Testament typical Antichrist. The previous world kingdoms had each one extraordinary person as its representative head and embodiment (thus Babylon had Nebuchadnezzar, Dan 2:38, end; Medo-Persia had Cyrus; Greece had Alexander, and Antiochus Epiphanes, the forerunner of Antichrist); so the fourth and last world kingdom, under w”
- 2 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Thessalonians 2:9: whose coming--The same Greek as was used for the Lord's coming (Th2 2:8) or personal "presence." is--in its essential character. after--according to the working ("energy") of Satan, as opposed to the energy or working of the Holy Spirit in the Church (see on Eph 1:19). As Christ is related to God, so is Antichrist to Satan, his visible embodiment and manifestation: Satan works through him. Rev 13:2, "The dragon gave him (the beast) his power . . . seat . . . great authority." lying wonders--literally, "wonders" or "prodigies of falsehood.”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 7:25: Three attributes of Antichrist are specified: (1) The highest worldly wisdom and civilization. (2) The uniting of the whole civilized world under his dominion. (3) Atheism, antitheism, and autotheism in its fullest development (Jo1 2:22). Therefore, not only is power taken from the fourth beast, as in the case of the other three, but God destroys it and the world power in general by a final judgment. The present external Christianity is to give place to an almost universal apostasy. think--literally, "carry within him as it were the burden of the tho”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 17:11: beast that . . . is not--his beastly character being kept down by outward Christianization of the state until he starts up to life again as "the eighth" king, his "wound being healed" (Rev 13:3), Antichrist manifested in fullest and most intense opposition to God. The "he" is emphatic in the Greek. He, peculiarly and pre-eminently: answering to "the little horn" with eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things, before whom three of the ten horns were plucked up by the roots, and to whom the whole ten "give their power and streng”