Introduction: How the Battle Began
Sometime in ages past there was a battle against Satan and God (Isaiah 14:12-14) . Satan was originally a good angel but was slowly filled with pride and wanted to be worshipped. Satan wanted to be like God. Satan, and one third of all the angels were kicked out of heaven. From that point on Satan as been on a mission to stop God and to destroy the lives of God’s people. This is the story that we are living in right now.
Daniel 7:15-27
15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’
19 “Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet, 20 and about the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things, and that seemed greater than its companions. 21 As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.
23 “Thus he said: ‘As for the fourth beast,
there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth,
which shall be different from all the kingdoms,
and it shall devour the whole earth,
and trample it down, and break it to pieces.
24 As for the ten horns,
out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise,
and another shall arise after them;
he shall be different from the former ones,
and shall put down three kings.
25 He shall speak words against the Most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,
and shall think to change the times and the law;
and they shall be given into his hand
for a time, times, and half a time.
26 But the court shall sit in judgment,
and his dominion shall be taken away,
to be consumed and destroyed to the end.
27 And the kingdom and the dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High;
his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’28 “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”
What is the chronology of the end times?
Rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 3:10)
The Antichrist signs a covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27)
7 year tribulation begins (Revelation 6-16)
The antichrist is wounded half way through the 7 year tribulation (Revelation 13:3)
The Second Coming of Jesus (Revelation 19:11-21)
Armageddon battle and the Antichrist is thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:11-21)
1000 year millennium (Revelation 20)
Great White Thrown Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15)
The new heaven and earth (Revelation 21-22)
What are the names of the Antichrist?
The little horn (Daniel 7), Man of Lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:3), the Antichrist (1 John 2:18, Beast coming out of the sea (Revelation 13:1)
What will the Antichrist do?
What is the definition of the Antichrist? The Antichrist is one who is both against Christ and in the place of Christ.
He will be a world leader (Daniel 7:23). he will be a powerful politician, set up a peace treaty with Israel and the world, initially, will love him.
He will try to destroy Christianity and the nation of Israel (Daniel 7:25, Revelation 13:7).
He will work so that everyone will worship him (Revelation 13:8).
He will require people to be marked on the right hand or the forehead or else you will not be able to buy food (Revelation 13:16)
People who are saved during the tribulation will be hunted down (Revelation 6:9)
How will the Antichrist be destroyed?
Jesus will destroy the Antichrist and all evil (Revelation 19:19). 2 Thessalonians 2:8 tells us that Jesus will stop the Antichrist with the breath of his mouth!
Conclusion: How the battle ends and how we need to live in the middle of this story
We need to radically adjust our everyday life so that it aligns with the great story of God. In 1 Thessalonians 5 we learn how we are to live in light of the fact that the great and awful day of the Lord is coming, “So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” If you knew a massive hurricane was going to hit your city tomorrow you would act accordingly. You would not go living like normal.
What story are are living in right now?
American dream?
Worldly achievements?
Merely surviving?
We are living in the middle of the greatest story ever told. Satan is attempting to take out as many people as possible. Jesus has given us the urgent mission of reaching the lost and making disciples.
What story are you living in?
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