THERE IS MUCH CONSIDERATION CONCERNING which political figure might be the prime candidate to be Antichrist.  It is easy to fall into this mode of thinking considering that our present age is ripe for his rise to power.  In modern times, Hitler, Clinton, Prince Charles, and even our present President have all been identified as chief candidates.  However were there clues to indicate that there was no way they could be?  These clues help determine who Antichrist might be?  My goal this month is to look at four overlooked clues that might help us keep focus as we watch and pray for the coming of our Lord through the signs he’s given to us.

OUR FIRST CLUE is found in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, specifically verse four:

“Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

This Scripture is clear that Antichrist will place himself in the position of God, claiming to be God.  He will announce himself as the long awaited Messiah of the Jews and the Christ of Christians and will take his seat in the temple.  Jesus warned of this deception in this way:

“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” (Matthew 24:5)

“if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  Behold, I have told you before.  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together arise.”
(Matthew 24:23-28)

Though many have proclaimed themselves as Christ, none have sat in the temple at Jerusalem claiming to be God on earth.  We can be assured that until this happens it is safe to say that no man can be looked upon as that man of sin.

OUR SECOND CLUE to the identity of Antichrist is found in 2 Thessalonians 2:9:

“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders”

Though many have been identified as candidates to be antichrist, none could have been because they did not perform miracles.  The apostle Paul’s use of the words, “lying wonders” indicate these miracles are performed through deception and possibly through the use of technology and science--they are not real, God performing miracles.

OUR THIRD CLUE to the identity of Antichrist is found in Revelation 12:13:

“And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.”

"And the dragon was wroth with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God [Israel], and have the testimony of  Jesus Christ [Christians]."

The time is coming when the Devil will no longer be “the prince of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), but will be physically upon the earth to persecute Israel and all God’s people.  Wouldn’t that mean that he would not have a day of birth and a family tree behind him?  He will look like a man, but will not be a man.  The above verse seems to indicate that he will not be in possession of a body of a man, but will have a body of his own.  Though we may not recognize the Devil as the Devil on earth, since he will look like a man, we will know it is him when a great, global holocaust of Jews and Christians take place.  There has never yet been a world-wide holocaust directed by one man.

Not only will the Devil be physically upon the earth, so will all the demons and unclean spirits:

”And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” (Revelation 18:2)

I explain this concept of the earth being Babylon in my book, Hard Times Coming; but briefly, in the book of Revelation the context of Babylon reveals that Babylon can be none other than the earth.

OUR FOURTH CLUE  into the identity of Antichrist is found in Revelation 13:16-17:

“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

These verses refer to a world economy that is in crises and no doubt on the verge of collapse, if not collapsed, when Antichrist enters the world stage.  He arrives on the scene to revamp the world’s economic system.  He establishes a global, cashless, economic system which he implements through restructuring the world into ten regions.  He causes businesses to prosper throughout the world (Daniel 8:25).  Two major religions will also be at his side to cause people to accept this system: Islam and Catholicism.

Presently everyone talks of the need for a move toward a global economy, but no one man has yet stepped up to the plate to lead the world to embrace it.  When the system is in place, Antichrist will rise up and our choice will be to either accept his cashless, global economic system or die.

IN SUMMARY
Our four overlooked clues indicate that the  man called Antichrist will be known when he sits in the temple of God letting the world know that he is God and Christ.  He will deceive the world into believing this by doing miracles, proving that he must be God.  It appears that the Devil himself will be on the earth as Antichrist, in his own body, meaning that this man will not have a genealogy to trace back to flesh and blood family.  While upon the earth a world-wide persecution and killing of God’s people will take place.  And fourth, he will implement a global, cashless economic system causing all the world’s businesses to prosper.

It does not appear that we will know Antichrist until that hour he is placed in power.  Our goal now is to go into all the world to compel others to prepare for the soon coming appearance of Christ.  There is a heaven and a hell that all people will find themselves in for all of eternity.  All people will be alive somewhere one thousand years from now.  There is none—saint or sinner—who would not warn someone of danger ahead.  Neither should there be anyone with the knowledge of heaven and hell who does not warn others of the hell that awaits them if they do not repent toward God.  There is a work to be done…let us put our hands to the  plow and bring in the harvest.