======================================================================== THE RISE OF THE ANTICHRIST by Keith Malcomson ======================================================================== Summary: This sermon delves into the deep analysis of the Book of Revelation, focusing on the four horsemen of the apocalypse. It highlights the timely warnings about the rise of the Antichrist, the significance of the white horse, the economic crisis, and the unity of world governments. The speaker emphasizes the need for the church to awaken, be vigilant, and prepare for the imminent return of Jesus Christ amidst a backdrop of increasing immorality, economic turmoil, and political deception. Duration: 1:18:25 Topics: "Awakening the Church", "Signs of the End Times" Scripture References: Revelation 6:1, Daniel 7:8, 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 1 Timothy 3:16, 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This sermon delves into the deep analysis of the Book of Revelation, focusing on the four horsemen of the apocalypse. It highlights the timely warnings about the rise of the Antichrist, the significance of the white horse, the economic crisis, and the unity of world governments. The speaker emphasizes the need for the church to awaken, be vigilant, and prepare for the imminent return of Jesus Christ amidst a backdrop of increasing immorality, economic turmoil, and political deception. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Praise God. I want you to turn with me to Revelation chapter 6. One last message here tonight as we finish this very, very important series on the four horsemen of the apocalypse. You know, it's so timely because there's so many false ideas about the white horse, and that's one of the great reasons I wanted to teach on this. We're not going further on the seals. We're not going further in Revelation. At some other point, I'm going to come back and teach a full series on the whole book of Revelation. You need to pray that I teach that at the right time. I know many will think, keep going, Brother Keith, but I just feel I wanted to come in and do these four seals and then stop because I believe we need to be so careful what we believe in this hour. With an economic crisis, with all of this control and manipulation coming in, with this unity of world governments, many are saying, is this not the seals already? You know, even Candace has said to me over the past several weeks, she would turn to me in the kitchen and say, are you sure those horses haven't already rode forth? Because we're literally going through a dress rehearsal. That's what we're looking at. I believe God in his grace has allowed all this to happen. That we're coming to the point that without jabs, you won't even be able to buy and sell. God is allowing us graciously to see that this book is absolutely true. That everything is going to happen. And it's a warning. If ever the church needs to wake up, it's right at this time. Because you know what? Once these events literally start with that white horse, it's going to move so fast. Our world won't even believe what's happening in around it. And so tonight, I want to finish with this seventh and final message. And I call this the rise of Antichrist. Reading from Revelation chapter six, verse one. I only want to read one verse here. As we go to this message, Revelation chapter six, verse one. And I, that is John, saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, come and see. What an opening, having the Lamb of God open one of the seals, the first seal, the seal that releases the white horse with the crown and the bow. It is the Lamb opening up the seals. And as we dealt with last week, it is the Lamb of God beginning to open those seals that marks the redemption of the earth. Last week's message is so, so vital as we go into this last one. And that's why I positioned last week like I did. So you get a full view that this marks Jesus Christ opening the seals to say, I'm going to redeem back all of creation. It is the end. And as we finish here, my message, the rise of Antichrist, please pray with me. Father, I pray, Oh God, put such an urgency in the body of Christ, in the heart of every Christian who listens. I pray for stirring of the church, the body of Christ, that the wise virgins are going to hear that cry. Behold, he cometh, behold, Jesus Christ is returning. This is the hour. This is the time. This is the season. Father, I pray that you'd awaken your church again from her sleep and her slumber. Surely the church is like those sleeping virgins and father, I pray stir her, awaken her for this very last prophetic time of world history and Lord God make ready a bride that's going to be caught away, snatched away to meet you in the air. We love you, Lord Jesus. And we know that you are sovereign, that you are our saviour, that you're absolutely in control and Lord God, we trust you with our life and our heart tonight in Jesus mighty name. Amen. Forgive me for finishing on a sobering point. I gave you the good news last week and then I just want to finish with the rise of Antichrist. You see these four seals that we've taught in this short series, these four seals, I believe showed the rise of Antichrist. We have taught this in Daniel very thoroughly before, but I believe here tonight, I just want you to see all that we have covered, all that the white horse, the red horse, the black horse and the pale horse mean and represent in these four horses, there is going to come the rise of Antichrist. These are the four stepping stones that are going to lead to world government being handed over and given into the hands of one unique man that the Bible has prophesied for thousands of years. He is an utterly unique man and it's going to happen right at the end of time. You see these four horses are going to set the whole course of things. As we've dealt with before, we saw how Hitler rose to power. You could read in your history books how Mussolini or Napoleon or any of these great world leaders rose to power. I have studied all these men very carefully and I have noted the world events in society, in the economy, in politics that prepared the way for the rise of a tyrant. And again, I want to tell you, we are at the very eve of this world being given over to the rise of Antichrist, but these are the stepping stones. When that white horse rides out, Antichrist is only a part of the political system that creates a world government. He is one king. He is a insignificant political leader in the world, but it's that white horse that initiates his political career that's going to lead to him becoming a world tyrant. With the white horse, he's noted as the leader, the little king, as the political mastermind who confirms a seven-year covenant with Israel. That begins the last seven years and that's going to initiate, at least publicly, the political career and rise of Antichrist. And yet he is only one king or one political leader under 10 kings who make up the world government of that hour. It's going to be the beginning of the last world government, sometimes in Revelation called the seventh head of the beast. But this little horn is going to become the eighth and the last head of that beast. The seventh becomes the eighth. We move from 10 world leaders to one world leader. And the Bible speaks about this very carefully. We see that the Antichrist is introduced in an environment of peace. He is a peacemaker. He is a man of peace. He comes speaking peace. He makes peace with God's people, Israel, and brings peace to the city of Jerusalem. Many are going to be in awe of this political mastermind. He is going to come speaking against war and violence. And yet he's only one small political leader. I believe the 10 great global leaders are going to think that he's just a little pawn in their hands. They don't know who they're dealing with. He is going to be a mastermind placed for a certain time and he's going to usurp all of their power. It is while these 10 leaders rule for about a period of three and a half years that he is going to begin to ascend to such a point where he is going to overthrow the entire political system. And so he starts as a peacemaker. Then as the second horse, the red horse rides out and civil disobedience and national horizons all over the world take place. I believe he's going to be supporting a world government that puts down and slaughters all opposition to this world government. Then the third horse, the black horse of hyperinflation and of famine, in a time when it's hard to feed yourself or your family, this little horn, this little political leader is going to begin to rise amidst economic crisis. And what is going to seal this is the fourth and final horse, the pale horse of death and hell. When God's four great judgments go out across the earth and a quarter of the world's population is going to die at that time, 2 billion people in less than one year are going to die. This is the environment in which this man is going to rise to power. The one that all through church history we've known as the Antichrist. There is a spirit of Antichrist, which the Bible speaks about. There are also many Antichrists, but the Bible does speak about one man called Antichrist, and yet he has many different names throughout the Bible. In Daniel chapter 11, verse 34 to 35, it says, even to the time of the end, because it is yet for a time appointed. Notice that Daniel is speaking about just before he speaks about this last great world leader who rises up on the world scene, he actually says it's going to happen at the time of the end. He also says that it is for a time appointed. In other words, there is a set time in which this is going to happen. He goes on to begin talking about this great world leader that will arise at the time. It is a set time. It's not an Antichrist's hands, but it's the Lamb of God. Remember Revelation chapter 6, verse 1. It is Jesus, the Lamb of God who breaks the seal and allows the first white horse to ride out. Do you realize the Lamb of God is holding everything back? He is very merciful. He is very gracious, and he does know the hour that it is. Saints of God, here tonight, I want to give you three, in fact, four key points, but three of these points are going to reveal the climate in which Antichrist reveals. I believe there is a climax coming, and Daniel talks about it as the time of the end, or an appointed time, or a set time in which this great world leader is going to come. He's going to arise as the king of the north, out of a region that I believe will be a joint, a revived old and a Syrian empire. It's going to be the union of Syria and Iraq together, and this little king is going to rise up on the world scene in a very, very remarkable way. But I've got three things initially to point out, and then one final point. My first point here is the fullness of moral iniquity. Let me say that again. Listen very carefully, because I'm talking about a specific time when the Bible prophesies or predicts that the Antichrist is going to rise. There is a short period of three and a half years in which he rises to power, and then gains power. It's going to be amidst bloodshed, economic crisis. It is going to be in a terrible time of death and famine that he is going to rise. A short period of three and a half years. It is a certain time in biblical history and in world history that it's going to happen. And this is my first point, the fullness of moral iniquity. It is going to be at the very time of the fullness of moral iniquity. Let me explain myself here. And I'm tying many scriptures, Daniel, 2 Thessalonians 2, Matthew 24. I want to tie them all together with Revelation chapter 6, and show you how other scriptures fit into these four seals that we've already taught on here. So this first point, the fullness of moral iniquity, the time of these four seals being unsealed and the horses released, is the time of the fullness of moral iniquity. And I'm going to explain this very thoroughly. Daniel 8, chapter 8, verse 28. And it says, in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance and understanding, dark sentences shall stand up. So notice here in Daniel chapter 8, it talks about in the latter time of their kingdom. He's talking about a certain kingdom. He's talking about the end of its history and the world power. And he specifies what it's going to be like in that hour when a king of fierce countenance is going to arise. What is that time going to be like? It says, when the transgressors are come to the full. So we see that Antichrist will stand up, the little horn, the man of sin, this world leader is going to rise to power. When? When the transgressors are come to full. This is a clear prophecy showing that the hour that we're living in, the days ahead of us is going to be a time when transgressors, sinners, wicked men are going to come to the full. What does it mean to the full? To maturity, to fullness, to completeness. In other words, wicked men, transgressors, breakers of God's word, they are going to come to an absolute fullness at their very peak at the time this king arises. Why do you think that Jesus Christ would open up the seals? Do you think he does it without grace and love and mercy? Do you know why he breaks that seal? Is because there is a climate in our world when transgressors are fast coming to fullness. And do you know what it is? It is judgment on a generation that is fast spiraling out of control and is reaching its absolute deepest point of transgression. No wonder that the father says to the son, open the seal. No wonder that the lamb of God opens up the seal. He is a lamb of love and mercy and of grace. He wants to save the worst of sinners. But you know what? A time comes for judgment. When is the time for judgment and then for wrath? When the transgressors are come to the full. Notice again, it says in Matthew 23, Jesus speaking, Matthew 23 verse 32. And he says there, fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. He is speaking to the hypocrites, to the religious leaders. And he goes on to say, ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? What strong words that Jesus speaks to these Pharisees, these scribes, these religious leaders. He calls them serpents, a generation of vipers. And he says, you will not escape the damnation of hell. These are strong words that Jesus is speaking about the religious system of that day and generation. And you know what he said to them? You see, he prophesied elsewhere that Jerusalem was going to be destroyed, that it was actually very close, the judgment of Jerusalem. And he said, oh, you mothers, oh, that you had heard me. I wanted to gather you as a mother hen gathers her chicks around her. I wanted to protect you. I wanted to deliver you. You, Jerusalem, did not realize your day of visitation. Me preaching here as the Messiah, doing miracles in your midst, and you didn't realize God was visiting you. And you know what he was saying? Very shortly, not a stone of the temple is going to be left here. It's all going to be wiped out. Judgment is coming. It's at the door. And notice the time he said to this religious system, he says, fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. In other words, this generation is going to fill up the cup of judgment. You see, there's a time when Jesus says, it's time to judge the earth. Do you realize we're on the eve of this world coming under great judgments? Do you realize Christ, who is merciful and gracious, is going to say enough is enough. We have reached a place of great iniquity. In fact, Jesus in Matthew 23, 28, he says, even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. So look at them, these religious leaders in Jerusalem. They look good on the outside. They spoke about righteousness, but they were full. Their hearts were full of hypocrisy and iniquity. And the Lord said, it's full. You've filled up the cup and it's time for judgment. There's nothing else left for you, but hell. That's all that's left for you. What a terrible thing when God decides that enough is enough in any generation. Again, in 1 Thessalonians 2 and 16, it says about those in Paul's day, who were forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they might be saved to fill up their sin all way for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. Paul, again, is talking about religious people who were trying to hinder Paul preach to the pagans, the Gentiles, and these religious Jews were hindering them. You know what he says about them? He says, you have filled up your sins always by these acts, by these attitudes, by these words, you are filling up your sins. And do you know what? The wrath of God is going to come upon you. And so we see all through scripture that God is very patient. Men, individuals, cities, nations, generations, they fill up the cup of iniquity. God is very, very patient. And so we see the days in which antichrist is going to live are days in which the cup is almost full, that iniquity is going to abound. Again, Jesus in Matthew 24 and 12. And he says, and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. What is iniquity? Jesus prophesied one of the last signs, one of the signs that we're drawing right into the end of time is that iniquity shall abound. The word iniquity, anomia, it means lawlessness or contempt, hatred for law. It means to violate the law, break the law, whether it's God's law or man's law. It's taken the law of God out of legislation, out of society, out of life. It means to go beyond God's law. There is going to be an hour unparalleled in world history. Jesus prophesied it right at the very end, where iniquity shall abound. You see, we've always had iniquity. Iniquity has always been there in every generation. And yet Jesus says it's going to abound at the very end. It's going to be a sign that you're going to see all through society, that iniquity, lawlessness, casting out law, whether man's law or God's law, it's going to be cast out. It's going to be hated. And we know in 1 John chapter 3 and 4, it says sin is the transgression of the law, to transgress the law, to go beyond it, to reject it, to neglect it. What a terrible place this is. Lawlessness is going to abound. The word abound means to multiply, not just addition, not just increasing. It is going to multiply, not just growing, it's exploding. It's going to bust the riverbanks. We've always had lawlessness. We've always had sin, always had transgression, but there's going to come an hour in the world where iniquity is going to burst the banks. There's going to be a removal of laws that you can't even imagine. There's going to be a changing of law. There's going to be a breaking of law and of legislation. There's going to be no more restriction on lawlessness. That's what Jesus is actually prophesying. No more restriction, no more limit, no more barriers, nothing else left to hinder iniquity. There's going to be a climate of utter iniquity, of lawlessness that engulfs society. It'll be in politics. It'll be in the economy. It'll be in law and legislation. It's going to enter our schools. It's going to enter every sphere. It's even going to invade the church where there is a spirit of lawlessness. Do you begin to see why God is actually going to begin these last seven years? Do you realise why God is going to come and judge the earth? It's not because he lacks love. You see, I believe in this message as we close. You're going to understand why God finally and reluctantly has to judge the world. It's because the cup is full. Men have thrown off righteousness. They've rejected the law of God and there's nothing left. God would actually be unrighteous if he doesn't judge this generation. He'd have to repent to Noah's old world before the flood. He'd have to go to Sodom and Gomorrah and apologise if he does not judge this generation. Look what's happening in around us in this hour. I can't even believe what we've seen in the past 10 years. All of the things that have begun, all the things that have begun to affect our world, homosexuality, transsexualism, all of the stupidness that have come in. What a terrible thing that we began to see in this generation. All of the things that are sweeping society. You know what it is? It's transgression coming to its fullness. What sort of effect is this going to have on our world? It says, and Jesus prophesied this, and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Who's he talking about here? He's talking about real Christians, born again Christians. There's going to come a climate in the last generation before Jesus comes of iniquity exploding in every area of society. What effect is that going to have? It's going to have the effect of actually the love of many in the church growing very cold. The word love there is not the word philio for friendship or the normal human love. It doesn't mean that. The word love there is agape love. It's the love of God. It's a love that has its source in God. It's Calvary love. It's supernatural love. It is sovereign love. That's what this love is. It's talking about the love that's in the heart of Christians. And do you know what? That love in the heart of Christians is going to grow cold. It's going to move from agape love to philio love. Do you remember what we dealt with on Sunday? And Peter, Jesus coming to him, asking him three times, Peter, do you love me? And the first time he says, do you agape me? And Peter says, I philio you. Jesus asks again, do you agape me? Yes, I philio you. The third time Jesus says, do you philio me? And Peter says, master, you know that I philio you. Do you realize what happened to Peter in his love growing cold, warming his hands by the fires of sinners, by denying Christ with oaths? Do you realize that we are in an hour right now where the love of many is like Peter's and there's many who are going back to their fishing nets. What an hour that we live in that Jesus said, there's going to come a climate of iniquity, abounding iniquity. And do you know what? The love of many is going to move from agape love to philio love, from God's supernatural, passionate love for Jesus Christ. And it's going to become a natural human love. Now I'm talking about Christians in the church. And I believe these are the wise virgins who sleep like the foolish virgins and they need awakened in this hour. It's a midnight hour. It's the hour of coldness. It's the hour where you stand warm in your hands by the fire of this world. Can I exhort you tonight, you in the workplace, in your family, in society, are your hearts burning with fire or are they cold? What a dangerous hour. Do you see how this is the climate that antichrist arises out of? Do you realize that this is the climate, the hour in which Jesus breaks the first seal? It's in such a time because time for judgment has come. Let me give you an example from the Old Testament, Genesis chapter 15 and verse 16. And it's speaking about God speaking to Abraham, prophesying about Israel, their future history. Listen to what it says in verse 16. But in the fourth generation, they, that is Israel, shall come forth again. God had just prophesied that Israel will be in Egypt 400 years. He said that in verse 13, 400 years, your people, Abraham, are going to be in captivity in Egypt. But there is going to come an end to that. And this is what he's saying. In the fourth generation, they shall come hither again into the land of the promise for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. So look what God is saying to Abraham about this, this land of Canaan that you Abraham are in, this land of promise, this land that I have covenanted unto Israel. Do you realize the time is not right yet? There is going to be a time. Israel is going to stay in Egypt 400 years. And as they abide there 400 years, all the time in Canaan, the Amorites are going to be filling up the cup of iniquity for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. In other words, there in the land of Canaan, as the Amorites, that wicked people in the land of Canaan, as they grew more and more perverse, immoral, wicked, debased, utterly vile, as that society spirals down out of all control. Do you know what God is saying to Abraham? You're going to see certain things come to pass all at the same time as the cup of iniquity of the Amorites reaches fullness. God is going to send Moses down into Egypt to bring the people up. You know why it's going to be time. Everything's going to be coordinated to a certain time. And you know what, when that cup gets full, Israel is going to come marching into the promised land and defeat the Amorites. You know why the cup is full. If you want to know why Israel entered the land, destroyed the Amorites, cast out seven different peoples, including the Canaanites, you know why the cup was full. God did not judge the Amorites or Canaanites until their cup of iniquity was full. In other words, they become so wicked and deprived, the Lord was going to cast them out of the land. In Leviticus 18.25, it says, the land is defiled. Therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it and the land itself vomited out her inhabitants. Also in verse 28, that the land spew you not out also when you defile it as it spewed out the nations that were before you. Have you ever heard such a thing that the land nations are going to spew out people when God judges them? I believe our world is coming to a point where it's ready to spew out the nations. I believe the cup of judgment is about to be full. It's not going to be delayed any longer. It is fast coming in. Many years ago, someone wrote very profound words. They said, the mills of God grind slowly, but surely. It's a very old statement to say, things seem to take a long time. Judgment seems to take a long time. It seems like God isn't acting or dealing with sin. It seems like everything goes on and wicked men become worse and worse and worse. Things become worse in society. Where is God? Why doesn't God judge? Why doesn't he stop things? The mills of God grind slowly. Oh, very slowly. So slowly you can't see them, but they'll grind surely. Everything's going to be ground to powder. The mill of God is going to be fulfilled. In other words, there seems to be a delay in judgment, but it's going to come. Do you remember in the days of Pharaoh, when Moses went down and said, let my people go. God actually warned Pharaoh that he was going to judge, warned Pharaoh, commanded Pharaoh what to do. If you don't let my people go, I'll send judgment and wrath. You know what the Bible says? It says that Pharaoh hardened his heart. He became hardened. He actually stiffened his heart against the words of God, the warnings of judgment. You know, when you see a sinner who hears about the coming judgment about hell and they harden their heart, they're in serious trouble because someone who suddenly hardens their heart will suddenly be destroyed. You cannot harden your heart against God, harden your head against him, shut your ears to him, turn away from his warnings and think it's going to be okay. There's going to be a sudden destruction. When that individual least expects it, God will suddenly take them away. To harden your heart against God is a very terrible thing. You need to soften your heart. And so we see that Pharaoh done that. Here comes an hour of divine judgment. God is going to set his people free. And you know what Pharaoh done? He first laughed and rejected. Every time a judgment come, his heart softened and he said, okay, leave. But then his heart would harden again. And he'd say, don't let the people leave. He was warned about God's wrath and judgment, but he treated it very, very lightly. How dangerous, how utterly dangerous between Exodus chapter four and 14, at least 14 references to Pharaoh hardening his heart. But do you know what's shocking? At the first, it's him hardening his heart. Then he would soften again. But finally it is God who hardens his heart. Now he can never turn back. God has hardened his heart. You know what God is doing? God is going to use them as an instrument of his wrath and of his own judgment. You see, when you read the book of Romans, Romans chapter one, chapter two, chapter three, chapter nine, these are remarkable chapters about God's judgment. In Romans chapter two and five, it says, but after thy hardness and impotent heart treasurist up onto thy self wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to their deeds. Do you realize when God shows your mercy and you harden your heart, he allows you to live. He stops you from getting killed. And yet you're still living in your sin. When our cities do that, they reject the gospel. They turn away from God. They mock the gospel of Jesus Christ. Do you realize cities are storing up the wrath and judgment of God? What an hour that we are living in. In Romans chapter nine and verse 22, it says, what if God willing to show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much long suffering, the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction. In other words, Pharaoh, and in Romans nine, he talks about Pharaoh and God's judgment and Pharaoh. And he says, you know, I left Pharaoh there to harden himself. In fact, at a certain point, God takes over and hardens Pharaoh's heart. He is a world leader. He is a politician and God hardens his heart. You know why? Because God is going to destroy Egypt. God is going to destroy Pharaoh. God is going to bring an hour of unparalleled wrath and judgment upon the world. And you know what? He will harden men's hearts. They love sin. I'll give them over to their sin. What does Romans chapter one says? It says men refused truth. They rejected truth. They once held truth. Now they suppress truth. So what's God going to do? He'll give them over to a reprobate mind, a mind, a reprobate mind, a mind in which there's no hope. And men will go after men, women after women. You know what he's saying? I'm giving society over the end of every civilization, all through history in our world, whether it was Rome or any other society right before it was totally destroyed, it was marked by rampant homosexuality. That's what the historians tell us. Every single time a society was wiped out like Sodom and Gomorrah and crashed when pagans invaded their society, it was because homosexuality, softness, absolutely flooded the society. Something has changed in our world. We are actually at that stage now. We are at an hour where God is coming to judge. He said, I've shown you mercy and grace. I've held back my wrath. Do you realize what we see in these seven seals? The wars, the famines, the troubles, the death toll, the world government that wants to destroy mankind, the antichrist reign on the earth. Do you realize God was holding it back? He's a merciful God. He doesn't want anyone to perish. An entire generation is going to perish in a terrible hour. And you know what? The Lord has been holding it back, but it's fast coming to a point where he's not going to hold back anymore. That's my first point. The fullness of moral iniquity. Do not be a part of this moral iniquity where you threw off all restraint, where you say, I don't believe in the constraints of the Bible. Do you realize this Bible is filled with prophecies to show you if you believe in Bible prophecy, then you better believe the commands of God. You better be holy. You better repent. You better be born again. My second point, the fullness of financial iniquity. So first we have the fullness of moral iniquity. Second, we have the fullness of financial iniquity. I believe the Bible shows that in this hour we're living in, the economic financial system in our world is going to come to a point of fullness, a fullness of iniquity where God has to judge the whole economic system. Now as a backdrop of this, we're dealing with revelation where the seals get open of judgments. 21 judgments are described to us, beginning with the first seal, Revelation chapter 6 verse 1. That is the beginning and it carries all the way through to chapter 22 of Bible prophecy. But listen to what it talks about, this financial economic system at the end of time. What does it look like? We see in Revelation chapter 17, mystery Babylon, a religion based on the city of Rome that's put statues and idols in all of the world. It's sitting on the seven hills of the city of Rome and in Revelation 17, we see it at the end of its history. Do you know what happens at that time? We're told the 10 kings, the first seal gets open, those 10 kings that come to power, one of the first things they destroy is mystery Babylon. That religious system that has been in our world for millennia is going to be destroyed by the 10 kings before the rise of the little horn, before the rise of Antichrist. They destroy one of the biggest religions in our world. They destroy its base in Vatican City. That's what happens in Revelation 17. And so in Revelation 17, we see the beginning of the reign of the 10 kings. What do they do? They destroy mystery Babylon. What else do they do? They give their power to the beast system or the Antichrist. The chapter after it is Revelation 18. It speaks about the physical city of Babylon. It's going to be the world capital of Antichrist. And we see its judgment at the end of the tribulation. And so the last three and a half years, we see, or sorry, this seven year period, we see it begins with the 10 world leaders destroying the Roman Catholic church. And it's going to end by God sending fire from heaven to destroy the economic capital of our entire world. Mystery Babylon is symbolic. But the city of Babylon in Revelation 18 is a literal, physical city. It is a rebuilt city of Babylon. Now notice this, the kings of the earth are glad when mystery Babylon, the religion gets destroyed. But when the physical city of Babylon gets destroyed, the kings and the merchants weep over the fall of this literal Babylon. So their attitudes are different. Farewell, mystery Babylon, but they weep over the literal city of Babylon. Their reaction is very different. And do you know why? It's because the physical city made the merchants of the world very, very rich. This city, this last world city called Babylon is going to be the economic capital of the entire world. In fact, in chapter 18, it says this city is revealed in verse seven as living deliciously. That word deliciously means in luxury. In this, we see the secret of our quick rise to prominence. It is her riches, her wealth, her luxury. She is going to become an economic capital of the world. That after the opening of these initial seals, you're going to see Babylon become the headquarters of the little horn. And we know the little horn rises up and takes power of the four of the 10 kings. And he makes Babylon his economic capital. We are actually told there in revelation 18, that in verse three and verse 15, the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And it also goes on to say that all that had ships in the sea were made rich through her. That is verse 19. Also the kings of the earth live deliciously with her. Verse nine, everything they desired that was good, sumptuous, magnificent was found within her. Do you see all the tradesmen, all the great businessmen of the world, all the great kings are going to suddenly become rich because of this city. After the four horsemen of the apocalypse, this is going to happen because this is going to be the capital. This is going to suddenly the antichrist at the end of these four seals, as he comes to power, this is going to justify his rise to power. Can you imagine the world population that are going to see a man revealed? It's a day of terrible immorality. It is an hour of great inequity where God says, I'm going to give you the antichrist. I'm going to give you judgments. I'm going to allow certain things to happen to allow the antichrist to be revealed and to gain power. But look how deceptive after the 10 great world leaders fail our world in the four horses, they are revealed as failing. And with that last horse of bloodshed, the sword with famine, with an economic crisis, you're going to have the little horn make his rise to power. And you know what? I believe in that hour, people are going to embrace him. You can now see why that happens. And he's suddenly for one moment in time, going to make the world rich. He's going to raise up political leaders, everything that um, those 10 world leaders failed to do, it blew up in their face. He's going to step in and say, I can do it. I'll do it for you. Listen, before we move, move to the third and last point here tonight, what will lead to ancient Babylon being restored and her quick rise to glory, influence, riches, and to become the central of the economy of the world. It won't be London anymore. It won't be wall street in America. I believe that the center of economics is going to move from wall street to Babylon with the fall of the 10 on the rise of the one, the economy is going to move away from the Western world. I believe the 10 great world leaders, it's going to be dominated by the West, by these rich men that we see in the world scene. They think that they are going to hoodwink us all. Do you realize God's going to hand them all over into the hands of antichrist? Those 10 world leaders are going to get tricked and fooled. But listen, I can show you from scripture, how the economy is going to change. We are going to reach a point of the fullness of economy where the mark of the beast is going to be connected to the economy. If you go into the old Testament, the prophet Zechariah was told, listen, listen, Zechariah chapter five, verse five, lift up now thine eyes and see what is this that goeth forth? So the prophet is being given a vision of the last days. And so when he sees the vision, he said, what is this? Then he is told, this is an ephah that goeth forth. He's seeing a vision flam through the sky is a massive epheth. What is an epheth? The term epheth originated in Egypt and it was used in the little country of Judah or Israel for the instrument that measured corn. It is actually the symbol of world commerce. It speaks of the world economy of nations. And notice what happens in this vision. This is how it appears or its resemblance is to throughout all of the earth. Verse six in that chapter says to all of the world's population, they are going to look at the epheth flying through the air. And when they look at it, the resemblance of it is rather innocent outwardly. This word resemblance also can mean fountain or source of supply. That's what the word literally means. And so the epheth has been looked at. All the world is looking to it as the source of their supply on the earth in a very tragic hour. Initially there does not seem to be anything suspect or sinister in the sight as they watch this symbol of the world economy just to feed themselves literally passing through the world, through the air. It seems innocent. This is a small insignificant prophecy in Zechariah that very few take note of. And yet I think it is very interesting and applicable to this hour. To outward observation, there does not appear to be anything sinister behind this flying epheth. The economies of the nations are, however, being used to bring about something very sinister. What else does he say in verse seven? He says, hidden inside this epheth, if you look inside it, under a talent of lead, which is on the roof, is a woman. And that woman is a Babylonian woman. And she's going back to her original homeland. I believe this is the same spirit that energised the religious system in Revelation chapter 17. And I believe she is in this hidden within the economic system, the spirit of Babylon is within her. And so hidden within it is something, you can't see it, it is sealed with a talent of lead. At a time when everyone is looking to the economy for security, this woman is secretly using this for her own ends. She is inside it, but she cannot be seen. The world are looking at the symbol of the economy, but she is hidden in it. No one knows that this woman is inside it. When the angel lifts off the lead and shows Zechariah what is inside it, he also said, this is wickedness. Then we read that wickedness is separate from the woman. So you have wickedness and you have the woman. The angel then casts the wickedness inside the epheth with the woman and seals it over. Hold on to what I'm about to show you here. This is a remarkable thing. So inside this basket, this measurement of the world economy, you have now this woman, she is a spirit with also wickedness hidden inside. And they're two different things. And we see it flying, moving through the sky. So the woman and wickedness are sealed up and hidden behind the economic situation of a certain hour, ready to be revealed, ready to be exposed. This is the working of the mystery of iniquity. I believe within this epheth, this wickedness is the mystery of iniquity that we're going to touch on in the third point. And the mystery of iniquity is hidden in the basket until that wicked be revealed, which was so long held down that we're going to read about in 2 Thessalonians 2. The word revealed means to take the lid off. And the world economy is going to have wickedness and Babylonian religion within it. But it's all going to be revealed in a certain time. It's going to be in an hour when the economy begins to move. Now listen what else Zechariah has told here. Two women and the wind was in their wings, were carrying this epheth through the air, moving it from one place to another place. The symbol of world economy is being moved. These two women have wings like the wings of a stalk. They lifted up the epheth between the earth and the heaven. Verse 9. And we are told in Jeremiah 8 verse 7 that the stork in the heaven knows her appointed times. So when we see these two very strange women lifting this basket and carrying it somewhere and with stalk wings, they're a very strange creature indeed. Who are these two women? What do they represent having stork wings? It's an appointed times. The stork always knows the right time. Now I studied this and I looked at the stork. What is so unusual about the stork that it's involved in this? And when I looked at it, it's amazing. It is normal and traditional all through the centuries, the millennia for storks to leave the Western world and Europe in the month of August. It was considered and still is one of the most spectacular migration flights in the entire world. Over a quarter a million storks fly from Europe in clouds over the city of Istanbul and Turkey during the course of a two week period, a very short brief time. Their main nesting place is in the Middle East in the country of Iraq. And the stork is well known for returning to the very same nest that it previously used in the previous year. And so when we start to see a picture, a prophetic picture of the world economy and the world's last days moving, but notice the last part of it. Sakura asked the angel, where this ephod, which was being carried by the two women with stork wings is going. So he says, where's it going? Where's it flying to? The angel replies, and listen this very carefully to build a house in the land of Shinar and it shall be established and set there upon its own base. And if you know your Bible, you know that Shinar is modern day Iraq, and it was the ancient home of Babylon where Babylon was first built, where the first world religion was, where the first world government was, where the Tower of Babel was. All of this, this is the original homeland of world of government, the world economy, and world society. It was here that all world languages began. Shinar is modern Iraq, and that's where the world economy, I believe is going to return to in the last days, but hidden within this move of the world economy is wickedness and a woman that is remarkable. The economy is going to go back to our original homeland. Babylon will become the economic center of the world. Babylon, the city of Babylon is suddenly going to be rebuilt. It's going to become the headquarters of Antichrist for a period of three and a half years. World power is not going to reside in the west, in New York, on Wall Street, or even in London. It's going to move to Iraq, to the city of Babylon, and they're going to rebuild the city of Babylon as the headquarters. Everything is going to move back to the east again. We are watching the climax of utter immorality in our world, of the wickedness of the economy is reaching its peak where God is going to destroy it all. Third and lastly, let me finish here. My third point, the fullness of political iniquity, or I could call this the mystery of iniquity. When these three things reach fullness, morality reaches a terrible part, a terrible place of fullness of iniquity, where God says, I'm going to judge because of the immorality, of the lawlessness. I'm going to judge the economic system. Third of all, I'm going to judge the political system. This is the environment and the hour in which a world tyrant rises to power. Notice as we finish here, the fullness of political iniquity. There's always been iniquity, corruption, immorality in politics, but it's going to reach its fullness. It's always been there in the economy, but it's going to reach a final fullness. Now with this political fullness, we see the mystery of iniquity being revealed or the man of sin being revealed. In Daniel chapter seven verse and in chapter seven, we read about the 10 kings on this fourth and last beast, the 10 last world leaders. And we're told that this beast is going to be revived. Its sixth head was killed 2000 years ago, almost. The Roman empire died, but it's going to get revived. The seventh head that was wounded to death is going to get healed again. A new political system of 10 world leaders, 10 kings are going to arise. It's going to be the reviving of a new Roman empire. It's going to happen on the seven hills of Rome. It's going to be restored as a world government as well. And when you see it first appear, there's going to be a woman riding on its back, a Babylonian woman who's situated in the city of Rome, the Roman Catholic church. When you first see it appear, but notice these 10 great world leaders. It says in Daniel chapter seven verse eight, I considered the horns. He's looking at the 10 horns and it says, behold, there came up among them another little horn. So Daniel prophesies when you see the Roman empire revived, a joint political system with 10 kings. When you see that in place, then another little horn, notice he's called a little horn. You see the 10 kings are regional leaders, global leaders, governing the entire world. They think they've got global power for the first time. And here comes a little horn, insignificant. He's going to be a politician in the nation of Iraq or Syria or a new revived Syria. He's going to be the king of the north and he's going to begin his rise amidst all of this desolation of the four horses. He's going to begin his rise to power in the country of Iraq. He's going to rebuild the city of Babylon. He is going to be involved in the world economy. He is going to start raising up military power. He's going to start rising to power within the last world government. At first, he's going to seem insignificant, but it goes on in Daniel chapter seven to say that before him, there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were even eyes like the eyes of man. He is going to subdue three of these kings, three of these great world leaders when he begins his rise to power. And it's going to happen in the four horsemen, maybe in the last horseman, when bloodshed and famine and death is worldwide. He is going to uproot three of the 10 great world leaders. He is going to move everything from the West to the East. He is going to hijack this global government, all of its technology, all of its economic system, all of its structure, all of its power base. He is literally going to hijack it. He is going to rip out of position three of these great world leaders. And we never hear about the seven others. Again, they're simply going to submit to his power and another shall arise after them. And he shall be diverse from the first and he shall subdue the first three kings. And so we see that this little horn is going to arise. We also read about him in the new Testament in a most significant way. In second Thessalonians chapter two and verse three. Listen again just before we close. Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition who opposes and exalted himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped so that he is God sitteth in the temple of God showing himself that he is God. Now Paul the apostle in second Thessalonians 2. Paul writes concerning the last world leader who Daniel calls the little horn who arises amidst these 10 great world leaders. We know the 10 great world leaders come into power with the first horse. By the end of the first by the end of the four horses it is this little horn who gains power and so the four horses show us how he gains this power. In second Thessalonians chapter two and in verse three Paul calls him the son of perdition. Only one other man in the entire bible is called the son of perdition and that man was Judas one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. Jesus said of him speaking about Judas none of them is lost but the son of perdition that the scripture might be fulfilled. Jesus called Judas the son of perdition. We are actually told that the devil put into the heart of Judas to betray Jesus. Remember Judas had seen Jesus do miracles teach the truth live out his life. At first Judas thought that he would make money out of this but Judas could see real miracles the real power of God. He heard the real preaching of truth but yet the devil had to come to Judas and enter him before he could do this terrible deed of betraying the Lord Jesus Christ. And so the devil entered into Judas after he took the bread from Jesus. Jesus said what you're going to do do quickly and that we're told that Judas went out into the night. Judas was the son of perdition. What does the son of perdition mean? If the antichrist is going to be called the son of perdition what does it mean? The word perdition means destruction or of hell. When satan literally entered Judas he become demon possessed utterly under the control of satan. Judas become an apostle a chosen one one who knew Christ who actually become utterly demon possessed. What a terrible state and he becomes so wicked that he accomplished this act of betrayal kissing Jesus on the cheek. Once satan left him he went out and hung himself. What a terrible and a tragic thing. And so also what's going to happen with the antichrist or this little horn. I believe when he starts his political career he will not be handed over to this dark spirit. At some point a devil is going to enter into this man. You remember at this midway point of the seven it says that the devil is cast down onto the earth and he'll come down with wrath knowing that his days are few upon the earth. There's a terrible hour coming where the devil is going to choose this man and have this man that he is going to literally inhabit. And so when the little horn is called the son of perdition the antichrist it means that a demon spirit is going to get let loose from the pit. In fact the book book of revelation says there is a spirit in the pit of hell a special prison within hell presently and that demon spirit is held there. It's not the devil but it is a demonic spirit that is held there kept prisoner and as soon as that spirit is let loose we're going to see all of this happen. This spirit that's going to revive the roman empire is going to fill this little horn this last political leader and Paul confirms this when he's speaking about the son of perdition who he also calls the man of sin a man embodying sin. He's going to be a wicked man a sinful man a man vile lawless immoral and Daniel even calls him a vile man and he says that this vile man is going to be revealed. The son of perdition is going to be revealed. There's an hour at the end of time that this wickedness is going to be revealed. The word revealed means to disclose or take the cover off. In verse 7 of 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 we are told about the mystery of iniquity. This revealing of the antichrist is called the mystery of iniquity. What does the mystery of iniquity mean and that's why I called this third point the fullness of political iniquity or the mystery of iniquity. In other words when politics world politics is going to get to an absolute ultimate place of judgment it's called the mystery of iniquity. The little horn one politician is going to take over all of world power. It's called the mystery of iniquity. Let me explain what the mystery of iniquity means. If you understand the mystery of godliness what is the mystery of godliness? We're told in 1 Timothy 3 16 the mystery of godliness is God was manifest in the flesh. That is the mystery of godliness. That God worked out his plan until God himself was revealed through a man in flesh and blood. What is the mystery of iniquity that Paul tells us about here? It is the devil's plan being outworked until it reaches its ultimate place when the devil reveals himself through a singular man. All of the devil's working through the ages is going to be embodied in one single man. It's called the mystery of iniquity. In fact Paul actually says in verse 7 he says the mystery of iniquity does already work. In Paul's day 2,000 years ago that mystery that plan of iniquity to embody hell itself in a man. The devil demonic power in a physical human man in a political position on the world stage. Do you realize it's a plan that's being worked out all through world history? The devil has frequently chosen men because he doesn't know his time. He keeps trying to do it. It fails. He tried to do it with Hitler and it failed. The devil frequently chooses a man who he is going to reveal himself through and affect world affairs. All of the men we can see this happening all through world history that the devil chose political men in order to use them to bring about his purpose. He chose Nero in the first century. He chose Genghis Khan, Tamburlain, Ivan the Terrible, Napoleon Bonaparte, Neo-Tung of China, Joseph Stalin of Russia, Adolf Hitler of Germany and many many other tyrants. Mussolini in Italy was another one. All of these men were the devil's chosen man all part of the mystery of iniquity where the devil was trying to incarnate himself in world politics and since we're getting very close to that time the politicians, the rich men of the earth don't realize they're creating something and Antichrist is going to steal it from them. A human man is going to become incarnate with demonic power. The Antichrist is the devil incarnate in human flesh. It is a demon possessed politician with ultimate political, economic and social power and they're building the stage for him now. He goes further and saying and now you know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. There's a time for this to be revealed but it's being withheld at the present time. The mystery of iniquity, the revealing of Antichrist is being held back. This is an act of God's mercy and he will not let it come to pass until it's the right time. When is the right time? When the Lamb of God opens the first seal. When all hindrance is removed. This statement taken out of the way. When that which is hindering is taken out of the way. Do you know in the Greek it's a very interesting term and I believe many misinterpret this term but you can check it. Taken out of the way. A simple look at the Greek you will find that this term taken out of the way means that the Antichrist is going to be birthed forth in the midst of. That's what it literally means for Antichrist to be birthed forth. The Greek word genitai occurs over 600 times in our New Testament and every time it's used it doesn't mean to be taken out of but every time it means to be fulfilled, to become, come to pass, to arose or fashion. When speaking about Jesus in John 1 it speaks about the word of God was made genitai or flesh. So I know lots of people teach that this term to be taken out of means something removed from the earth but it's actually the term here speaking about something is going to be birthed forth in human flesh and that's quite a difference in interpretation but you can check it for yourself. And so we see in the last hour during these four horses we see iniquity come to fullness. The wickedness of men. The immorality of men where God says I have to judge them. You see the iniquity of the economic system it becomes so vile God says he's going to judge it. The political system becomes such God is going to judge it. And let me finish with this fourth and final very brief point here before I close. Saints of God I gave you the good stuff last week. The redemption of the earth but I've got to finish on this because I want you to see the seriousness of what is happening right now in our politically, economically, socially, medically. We are seeing a system forged that's going to lead to the creation of a world government of 10 leaders that the devil is going to steal. Let me finish my fourth and last point. The great delusion. A preacher recently asked me do you think what we're seeing at the minute is the great delusion of 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 where God sends a great delusion and hands a generation over to its destruction. Do you think that's the time we're in? I said no. And I said I don't even believe what we're seeing at the minute is the devil fully seducing. I believe this is man's wicked heart. We're seeing an entire generation deceived in this hour blindly marching to this step of propaganda. It is very fearful. That is man's heart deceiving him. But I believe it's going to become spiritual and Satan's going to move in on it. But that's totally different than the great delusion. 2 Thessalonians is in the context of this political system coming to bear through the four horsemen where one man is going to gain power and he's going to be revealed through the economic political system in the city of Babylon in ancient Iraq. That's where it's all going to come forth. But listen this very last important thing 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and 9. Even him who's coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. Do you see how supernatural this is going to be? God is coming to judge the earth and an entire generation. We have reached the end. The cup is full. It is all over. Saints of God it is the last hour and we've got a short window of opportunity before all of this to reach souls for the Lord Jesus Christ. It says then in verse 10. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. Who is going to get handed over? What is this great delusion? I believe the great delusion spoken of here in 2 Thessalonians 2 is the Antichrist. What causes God to hand an entire generation over to a great delusion? He doesn't just leave them in their sin. Unless men believe the truth, love the truth, hold fast to the truth, get saved the entire generation is going to be handed over to a great delusion. For this cause shall God send strong delusion that they should believe a lie and accept this false deceiver, miracle worker that they all might be damned who believe not the truth but have pleasure in unrighteousness. Friends as I close I cannot tell you the importance of loving the truth, believing the truth, of putting your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, being born again, being forgiven, being placed in the Lord Jesus Christ because we have reached an hour where God says if you do not love my truth, receive a love for the truth and believe in my son I am going to hand you over. Maybe some of you listening this you think oh I see the world government, I see the deception but I don't need to believe what the Bible says about being born again. I can have my eyes open and I'm very aware. Can I tell you you're going to be deceived and given over to the Sancti Christ system. If you don't come the only way of salvation, see Catholicism will be gone, Islam will be gone, every religion will be gone and all those who do not worship Jesus Christ will be given over to a great delusion to believe a lie. ======================================================================== Video: https://sermonindex2.b-cdn.net/f_mKPUY2iGI.mp4 Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/keith-malcomson/the-rise-of-the-antichrist/ ========================================================================