Negative Trends, People and Events in the End-Times
I. THE GREAT TRIBULATION
A. The Terrible Day starts with the Great Tribulation which will be the most difficult time in history for Israel, the
Church, and all nations (Matthew 24:21; Jeremiah 30:7; Ezekiel 5:9; Revelation 7:14).
1 At that time...there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was...7 He (angel)...swore...that it shall be for
a time, times, and half a time (3½ years); when the power of the holy people (Israel) has been completely
shattered… (Daniel 12:1, 7)
21 Then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this
time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 Unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved (physically
preserved); for the elect’s sakes those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22)
B. The Great Tribulation is a 3½ year period at the end of the age when the Antichrist rules over a worldwide system
including government, finances and religion.
C. Pressure in the Great Tribulation will come from four sources. There is the fullness of God’s wrath
(Revelation 15:7). The fullness of Satan’s rage persecuting the saints (Revelation 12:12). The fullness of man’s sin
as seen in evil acts against one another (Revelation 9:21). Convulsions in nature (groan of creation) as seen in
earthquakes, upheavals in the sea, atmosphere, agriculture, sky, etc.).
II. NEGATIVE PEOPLE AND EVENTS IN THE END-TIMES
A. The Antichrist (Revelation 13:1-10) is the final world leader who wages war against God and persecutes His people.
He will have a vast political, military, and economic alliance with a ten-nation confederation. In other words, he will have the
greatest political coalition, the largest army, the largest religious network and the most money of any man in history.
24 His power shall be mighty…he shall destroy the mighty, and the holy people. (Daniel 8:24)
1. The four components of the Antichrist's empire are political authority (worldwide authority to make laws to
kill resistors (Revelation 13:1-2, 15; 17:16), military force (Rev. 13:4, 7), economic control (commerce, monopolies,
oppression Revelation 13:2, 15-17) and religious control (worship movement empowered by demonic powers,
miracles, Revelation 13:4, 8-14).
2. His credibility is strengthened by demonically empowered speaking that is confirmed with great miracles. He
will be helped greatly by the loyal service of the False Prophet and the miraculous speaking image that supports
his empire.
3. In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul used three titles for the Antichrist calling him the Man of sin (v. 3), the Son of
Perdition (v. 3) and the Lawless one (v. 8). He will be the most cruel man in history. It will be impossible to negotiate
with him for mercy. He will reason like a wild beast (he is called the beast 36 times in Revelation).
B. The False Prophet (Revelation 13:11-18) is the Antichrist’s primary associate and is the leader of the End-Time
worldwide religious network with a talking image in Jerusalem that will be devoted to causing people from all the nations
on earth to worship Satan and the Antichrist (Revelation 13:4, 8).
1. His four most effective strategies to serve the Antichrist include giving demonically empowered speeches that
are confirmed by great miracles (Revelation 13:12-14), using the image of the Beast (Revelation 13:14-16) and
using the mark of the Beast system which will be enforced by the death penalty and strict economic controls
(Revelation 13:11-18; 19:20).
2. He will function as the counterfeit spirit of Elijah (Malachi 4:5).
C. The image of the Beast will be a statue of the Antichrist that is demonically empowered so that it will talk, breathe,
and make laws (Revelation 13:14-16). The main idol will be set up in the Jerusalem Temple and will be connected to a
global network of idols. It will serve the Antichrist’s worldwide worship movement (as prophetically pictured in Daniel 3).
The image will be a significant prophetic sign in the End-Times. John emphasized this image ten times (Revelation
13:14, 15 [three times]; 14:9, 11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4).
D. The mark of the Beast will be a public mark on people’s right hand or forehead so that it will regularly and publicly
identify the people who worship the Antichrist (Revelation 13:16-17). It will be necessary to have this mark to have access
to the global economic system.
1. Those who refuse this mark will not be allowed to buy or sell the necessities of life. They will be viewed as criminals
of the state who are guilty of the death penalty.
2. The mark is an outward symbol of an inward commitment to be a loyal worshipper of Satan and the Antichrist. As a
wedding ring is a symbol of one’s marriage covenant, so this mark is the outward proof of one’s covenant to worship Satan
and the Antichrist. In other words, people will not accidentally take this mark, nor will it be given to them against their will.
The significance of the mark is found in making a heart commitment to worship. Just as no one can accidentally commit
their life to Jesus and receive salvation, so the mark will only be taken by those who willingly understand what they are doing.
3. The foundational technology for the mark of the Beast currently exists in the form of implanted microchips.
Microchip technology itself is not evil, but it gives us insight into how the mark could operate. The mark will be far
advanced beyond today’s technology.
E. The Antichrist’s head wound and apparent healing will be the great catalytic event that thrusts him into worldwide
prominence (Revelation 13:3, 12, 14). He will seemingly be killed and healed before all causing them to be overwhelmed
with awe so as to worship him. The Antichrist’s death and apparent healing is an imitation of Jesus' resurrection.
F. The Abomination of Desolation will occur when the Antichrist declares himself to be God by setting up his image or
idol (which is the abomination) in the Jerusalem Temple (Daniel 8:13; 9:26, 27; 11:31; 12:11; Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14;
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 13:12-18). He will demand that everyone in the world worship him or be put to death.
15 When you see the 'Abomination of Desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy
place"…16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:15-16)
1. The image of the Beast and its implications will be the greatest abomination in history. It will lead to a 2-fold
desolation. First, the Lord will bring destruction or desolation to those who worship the Antichrist. Second, the
Antichrist will bring destruction or desolation to those who refuse to worship him.
2. The Abomination of Desolation will lead to a worldwide worship movement of Satan and the Antichrist. It is the
key event that signals the start of the Great Tribulation. This act of abomination will occur in the middle of the last 7
years before Jesus returns.
3. After the Antichrist’s head wound is healed, the Abomination of Desolation will be the key piece of legislation
that begins his aggressive plan to rule the whole earth as God. This act of abomination will occur in the middle of
the last 7 years before Jesus returns.
G. The desecration of the Jerusalem Temple (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 11:1-2)
H. The restraining force being taken out of the way refers to the combination of forces which are currently holding
back the Antichrist from being revealed. What is holding back the Antichrist? A “what” (neuter participle) and a “He”
(masculine participle) work together. The restrainer is the power of the state or civil authority (neuter) that hinders the
powers of chaos (Romans 13:1-7) under the authority of God’s activity (masculine) expressing God’s decrees in His
timing. God’s decrees determine the boundaries of nations (Acts 17:26; Daniel 2:21; 4:17, 24-25).
6 Now you know what is restraining, that he (Antichrist) may be revealed in his own time. 7…only He who now
restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7)
1 For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore
whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God…3 For rulers are not a terror (resistance) to good
works, but to evil…4 For he is God's minister to you…an avenger to execute wrath on (to resist) him who
practices evil. (Romans 13:1-4)
1. The common teaching in the early centuries, was to see the restrainer as the Roman Empire (which is neuter)
with the emperor (being masculine). They spoke of the system of law in the Roman Empire, which might be spoken
of in the abstract (neuter) or personified in the Emperor (masculine).
2. This truth emphasizes that the timing of the key End-Time events are under the sovereignty of God.
I. The Antichrist’s 10-nation confederation will be a political, military and economic alliance that will provide him with the
greatest power base of any man or empire in history. The emergence of the Antichrist’s world government with a 10-nation
confederation support system (Daniel 2:40-44; 7:7; Revelation 17:12) will have part of its base in the European Union
(revived Roman Empire).
J. The emergence of the Great Harlot Babylon (Revelation 17-18) is a worldwide demonic economic and religious
network based in the city of Babylon that will seduce many to do evil while killing the saints who resist it
(Revelation 13, 17-18).
1. The city of Babylon on the Euphrates River in Iraq (50 miles south of Baghdad) will be rebuilt as a global
economic and religious center (Isaiah 13-14; Jeremiah 50-51; Revelation 17-18). Jeremiah’s prophecy that God’s
judgment would completely and permanently destroy this city with fire has not yet been fulfilled (Jeremiah 50-51).
2. Babylon will occupy a major role (geographically, nationally, spiritually). There will be a unique synergism in
successfully combining religion and commerce. The religious and economic powers of the entire world will be unified
for the first time in history.
3. All the major world religions will be unified in apostate Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, New
Age, cults, etc. It will eventually become an official worldwide organization with political authority to kill people.
4. The city of Babylon will surpass in influence and power all other cities with religious centers i.e., Mecca
(Islam), Jerusalem (Judaism), Rome (Catholicism). It will surpass in wealth all the financial centers on earth i.e.,
NYC, Tokyo, London, Frankfurt, etc.
5. God will judge the Harlot Babylon in two stages (Revelation 14:8). The first phase relates to the one-world
religious system of toleration with alliances between all religions (Revelation 17). The second phase will destroy
as one of the Antichrist’s headquarters (Revelation 18).
K. The martyrdom of Christians comes as the Antichrist makes war with them (Daniel 7:21, 25; 8:24; 11:33-35; 12:7, 10;
Revelation 6:9-11; 9:21; 11:7; 13:7, 15; 16:5-7; 17:6; 18:24; 19:2).
L. Professing believers will fall away from the faith (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1; Matthew 24:12). Many will join
the Great Harlot's religion and economic networks. False teachers will deceive Church members into renouncing the faith
(Matthew 24:9-13; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-8; 4:3-5; Jude 18-19; 2 Peter 3:3-5). Paul noted this as a key event that
must occur before the Second Coming.
3 Let no one deceive you…for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of
sin (Antichrist) is revealed... (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving
spirits and doctrines of demons… (1 Timothy 4:1)
M. The Armageddon Campaign and the Battle of Jerusalem is a military conflict led by the Antichrist and his
international armies against Israel (Revelation 16:16; 19:11-21; Joel 3:2-15; Zephaniah 3:8). They will lay siege to
Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:1-10; 14:1-2). The Armageddon Campaign continues for 3½ years and concludes at the end
of the Tribulation. This conflict will be spread out over 200 miles throughout Israel (Revelation 14:20) extending from the
plains of Esdraelon (in the north), down through Jerusalem (in the south) and the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2, 13),
and southward to Edom (Isaiah 34:1-17; 63:1-6).
N. Jesus will destroy the Antichrist by breathing on him to release the power of the Spirit that immobilizes (grips and
paralyzes) him so that he might be captured and thrown alive in the Lake of Fire. Paul and Daniel used the same verbs
(consume and destroy) to describe his end.
8 Then the lawless one (Antichrist) will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His
mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. (2 Thessalonians 2:8)
26 They take away his (Antichrist’s) dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. (Daniel 7:26)
1. The Antichrist is not slain but thrown alive into the Lake of Fire. His armies are slain.
19 I saw the Beast (Antichrist), the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war
against Him (Jesus)…20 Then the Beast was captured, and with him the False Prophet …these two were
cast alive into the lake of fire... 21 The rest were killed with the sword…all the birds were filled with their
flesh. (Revelation 19:19-21)
2. The aspect of the Beast that is slain is his corporate kingdom i.e., the armies of the Beast.
11 I watched till the Beast (Antichrist) was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.
(Daniel 7:11)
O. Persecution of the Jewish people occurs so that a believing Jewish remnant cannot invite Jesus to rule Israel as her
Messiah. John uses a prophetic picture of Israel as a woman being attacked by Satan (pictured as a dragon). Satan will
seek to destroy Israel, but God will supernaturally protect her from total annihilation (Revelation 12:13-17; Zechariah
13:8-9).
13 When the dragon (Satan) saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman (remnant of
Israel)… 15 The serpent spewed water…like a flood after the woman (remnant of Israel), that he might cause
her to be carried away by the flood (persecution)... (Revelation 12:13-15)
1. The death of 2/3 of the Jewish race (the other 1/3 will be saved). Nearly 2/3 of Europe’s 9 million Jews and 1/3
of the world’s 16 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust.
8 In the land…2/3...shall be cut off and die...1/3 shall be left (saved) in it (Zechariah 13:8).
2. Half of Jerusalem will be taken into captivity. About 600,000 Jews currently live in Jerusalem, thus, as many as
300,000 Jewish people may be deported in this coming crisis. The city shall temporarily be taken creating the context in
which Jesus delivers Israel.
2 I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken…half of the city shall go into
captivity… (Zechariah 14:2)