Artwork Used By Permission © Pat Marvenko Smith

1 [AS] I stood on the sandy beach, I saw a beast coming up out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads. On his horns he had ten royal crowns (diadems) and blasphemous titles (names) on his heads. 2 And the beast that I saw resembled a leopard, but his feet were like those of a bear and his mouth was like that of a lion. And to him the dragon gave his [own] might and power and his [own] throne and great dominion. 3 And one of his heads seemed to have a deadly wound. But his death stroke was healed; and the whole earth went after the beast in amazement and admiration. 4 They fell down and paid homage to the dragon, because he had bestowed on the beast all his dominion and authority; they also praised and worshiped the beast, exclaiming, Who is a match for the beast, and, Who can make war against him? 5 And the beast was given the power of speech, uttering boastful and blasphemous words, and he was given freedom to exert his authority and to exercise his will during forty-two months (three and a half years). 6 And he opened his mouth to speak slanders against God, blaspheming His name and His abode, [even vilifying] those who live in heaven. 7 He was further permitted to wage war on God's holy people (the saints) and to overcome them. And power was given him to extend his authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation, 8 And all the inhabitants of the earth will fall down in adoration and pay him homage, everyone whose name has not been recorded in the Book of Life of the Lamb that was slain [in sacrifice] from the foundation of the world. 9If anyone is able to hear, let him listen: 10 Whoever leads into captivity will himself go into captivity; if anyone slays with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Herein is [the call for] the patience and the faith and fidelity of the saints (God's people). Revelation 13:1-10 Amplified Bible

After hearing the last trumpet and seeing a vision of the catching away of the Bride of Christ and those that are left behind (the women of Revelation chapter twelve), the next vision that John sees is the antichrist himself rising from the midst of the ten countries (the beast having seven heads and ten horns).

1 [AS] I stood on the sandy beach, I saw a beast coming up out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads. On his horns he had ten royal crowns (diadems) and blasphemous titles (names) on his heads. 2 And the beast that I saw resembled a leopard, but his feet were like those of a bear and his mouth was like that of a lion. And to him the dragon gave his [own] might and power and his [own] throne and great dominion. 3 And one of his heads seemed to have a deadly wound. But his death stroke was healed; and the whole earth went after the beast in amazement and admiration. 4 They fell down and paid homage to the dragon, because he had bestowed on the beast all his dominion and authority; they also praised and worshiped the beast, exclaiming, Who is a match for the beast, and, Who can make war against him? 5 And the beast was given the power of speech, uttering boastful and blasphemous words, and he was given freedom to exert his authority and to exercise his will during forty-two months (three and a half years). 6 And he opened his mouth to speak slanders against God, blaspheming His name and His abode, [even vilifying] those who live in heaven. 7 He was further permitted to wage war on God's holy people (the saints) and to overcome them. And power was given him to extend his authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation, 8 And all the inhabitants of the earth will fall down in adoration and pay him homage, everyone whose name has not been recorded in the Book of Life of the Lamb that was slain [in sacrifice] from the foundation of the world. 9 If anyone is able to hear, let him listen: 10 Whoever leads into captivity will himself go into captivity; if anyone slays with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Herein is [the call for] the patience and the faith and fidelity of the saints (God's people).

The Reign of the Antichrist

When the antichrist arises from the midst of the ten countries, his reign (his authority) marks the second half of Daniel's 70th week or the second 3 1/2 year period of the seven year tribulation. (As we mentioned the first 3 1/2 years was marked by the ministry of the Lord's Two Witnesses.)

Artwork Used By Permission © Pat Marvenko Smith

5 And the beast was given the power of speech, uttering boastful and blasphemous words, and he was given freedom to exert his authority and to exercise his will during forty-two months (three and a half years). 6 And he opened his mouth to speak slanders against God, blaspheming His name and His abode, [even vilifying] those who live in heaven. 7 He was further permitted to wage war on God's holy people (the saints) and to overcome them. And power was given him to extend his authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation,

What most people find rather confusing is the antichrist's arrival on the world stage and the actual catching away (or rapture) of the Bride, his arrival on the scene and the catching away of the Bride are "near" simultaneous events. Jesus said, "But when you see the abomination of desolation mentioned by Daniel the prophet standing where it ought not to be--and let the one who reads take notice and consider and understand and heed this--then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house nor go inside to take anything out of his house; and let him who is in the field not turn back again to get his mantle (cloak)."

14 But when you see the abomination of desolation mentioned by Daniel the prophet standing where it ought not to be--[and] let the one who reads take notice and consider and understand and heed [this]--then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house nor go inside to take anything out of his house; 16 And let him who is in the field not turn back again to get his mantle (cloak). 17 And alas for those who are pregnant and for those who have nursing babies in those days! 18 Pray that it may not occur in winter, 19 For at that time there will be such affliction (oppression and tribulation) as has not been from the beginning of the creation which God created until this particular time-and positively never will be [again].

So why did Jesus say these things? Why did Jesus say, "Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house nor go inside to take anything out?" And why did Jesus say, "And let him who is in the field not turn back again to get his mantle (cloak)?" He said these things out of a state of urgency because when the antichrist is standing where he ought not to be (on the wing of the Temple ruins), then the rapture or catching away of the Bride (as we saw in John's previous vision) is about to take place, just as the Scripture says, "for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first [unless the predicted great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition), Who opposes and exalts himself so proudly and insolently against and over all that is called God or that is worshiped, [even to his actually] taking his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God."

1 BUT RELATIVE to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and our gathering together to [meet] Him, we beg you, brethren, 2 Not to allow your minds to be quickly unsettled or disturbed or kept excited or alarmed, whether it be by some [pretended] revelation of [the] Spirit or by word or by letter [alleged to be] from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has [already] arrived and is here. 3 Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first [unless the predicted great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition), 4 Who opposes and exalts himself so proudly and insolently against and over all that is called God or that is worshiped, [even to his actually] taking his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God. 5 Do you not recollect that when I was still with you, I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining him [from being revealed at this time]; it is so that he may be manifested (revealed) in his own [appointed] time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness (that hidden principle of rebellion against constituted authority) is already at work in the world, [but it is] restrained only until he who restrains is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one (the antichrist) will be revealed and the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of His mouth and bring him to an end by His appearing at His coming. 9 The coming [of the lawless one, the antichrist] is through the activity and working of Satan and will be attended by great power and with all sorts of [pretended] miracles and signs and delusive marvels--[all of them] lying wonders-- 10 And by unlimited seduction to evil and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing (going to perdition) because they did not welcome the Truth but refused to love it that they might be saved. 11 Therefore God sends upon them a misleading influence, a working of error and a strong delusion to make them believe what is false, 12 In order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe in [who refused to adhere to, trust in, and rely on] the Truth, but [instead] took pleasure in unrighteousness.

So to put it all into perspective, the antichrist himself arises from the midst of the ten countries that came to the forefront on the world stage as a result of the Abyss being opened and as a result of the war called Abaddon taking place in the region of the Euphrates River and the Mediterranean Sea [Jesus said, "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies then know that her desolation is near." (Luke 21:20)], and he is seen standing on a wing of the Temple (where he ought not to be) and simultaneously to him being seen, the Holy Spirit is retracted as Christ makes Himself more glorious in His consecrated people and the Bride vanishes along with the Groom into the bridal chamber (the "cheder yichud" or "eremos"). Simultaneous to the catching away of the Bride, Michael wages war on Satan (Revelation 12:7-9) and he is thrown out of heaven (not heaven in the sense of the abode of God, but rather "a heaven", the realm beyond the physical senses where spirit beings reside). As Satan is thrown out of that spiritual dimension where spirit beings reside he is forced to take on a human form or incarnate himself in that of a man.

During this 3 1/2 year period, Jerusalem is being trodden down; hence, the antichrist himself appearing upon the wing of the Temple ruins.

1 A REED [as a measuring rod] was then given to me, [shaped] like a staff, and I was told: Rise up and measure the sanctuary of God and the altar [of incense], and [number] those who worship there. 2 But leave out of your measuring the court outside the sanctuary of God; omit that, for it is given over to the Gentiles (the nations), and they will trample the holy city underfoot for 42 months (three and one-half years).

As well, he is permitted to wage war on God's holy people [the Believer's that were left beind from the catching away of the Bride, these are those that we saw in Revelation chapter seven, the great multitude dressed in white and carrying palm branches in their hands (Revelation 7:9-17)] and overcome them.

7 He was further permitted to wage war on God's holy people (the saints) and to overcome them. And power was given him to extend his authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation,

And all the inhabitants of the earth will fall down in adoration and pay homage to him (the antichrist), everyone whose name has not been recorded in the Book of Life.

7 He was further permitted to wage war on God's holy people (the saints) and to overcome them. And power was given him to extend his authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation, 8 And all the inhabitants of the earth will fall down in adoration and pay him homage, everyone whose name has not been recorded in the Book of Life of the Lamb that was slain [in sacrifice] from the foundation of the world.

Now in John's vision of the antichrist, he describes him as coming up out of the midst of the beast with ten horns and seven heads, and this beast he describes as resembling a leopard, with the feet of a bear and a mouth of a lion, which brings us to the Book of Daniel.

1 [AS] I stood on the sandy beach, I saw a beast coming up out of the sea with ten horns and seven heads. On his horns he had ten royal crowns (diadems) and blasphemous titles (names) on his heads. 2 And the beast that I saw resembled a leopard, but his feet were like those of a bear and his mouth was like that of a lion. And to him the dragon gave his [own] might and power and his [own] throne and great dominion. 3 And one of his heads seemed to have a deadly wound. But his death stroke was healed; and the whole earth went after the beast in amazement and admiration. 4 They fell down and paid homage to the dragon, because he had bestowed on the beast all his dominion and authority; they also praised and worshiped the beast, exclaiming, Who is a match for the beast, and, Who can make war against him? 5 And the beast was given the power of speech, uttering boastful and blasphemous words, and he was given freedom to exert his authority and to exercise his will during forty-two months (three and a half years). 6 And he opened his mouth to speak slanders against God, blaspheming His name and His abode, [even vilifying] those who live in heaven. 7 He was further permitted to wage war on God's holy people (the saints) and to overcome them. And power was given him to extend his authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation, 8 And all the inhabitants of the earth will fall down in adoration and pay him homage, everyone whose name has not been recorded in the Book of Life of the Lamb that was slain [in sacrifice] from the foundation of the world. 9 If anyone is able to hear, let him listen: 10 Whoever leads into captivity will himself go into captivity; if anyone slays with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Herein is [the call for] the patience and the faith and fidelity of the saints (God's people).

However, before we venture off into the Book of Daniel, let's continue along in the Book of Revelation to get a good solid overview of events.