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04-Back from the Dead

Probably the most dramatic evidence that will identify the man who is the antichrist or beast, will be his apparent resurrection from the dead.

Revelation 13:3-5,

3)”And I saw one of his heads as though it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed, and all the world wondered after the beast. 4)And they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him? 5)And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.”

This man must be wounded and seemingly die for one reason. Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, the devil has been the god of this world. Because he is the master of deception, he must closely counterfeit God’s word and ways. If it were otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to keep people fooled. He wants to be called and considered God. Through this man, the devil will receive that worship. Who are the people that have been deceived? We know those who doubt the deity of Jesus Christ are in this camp. But it is also the professing Christians with unchanged hearts and desires, who think they are following God, but are really under Satan’s control?

Satan is organizing the people of the world who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. His principles are force, lust, self-centeredness, pleasure and pride. His system and people are outwardly religious, but inwardly totally corrupt. The people of the world, and most in the church, don’t know that to worship and exalt self is to worship the devil. We are all born worshipping self and must be saved from that.

Since Satan must imitate God’s ways to deceive, there must be a death and resurrection of his own man or christ. So this political beast will apparently die and be brought to life, very likely on the third day. This spectacular, sinister event will take place at the midpoint of the 70th Week. For we know that he stands in the temple in Jerusalem and declares himself to be the Christ (God) forty-two months before Jesus returns to destroy him. Ironically, that is the length of time that Jesus ministered while on the earth.

The world will be dazzled and deceived by the apparent resurrection of this man. You can imagine how impressed the human mind will be, especially when mighty miracles are performed. In fact, religious miracles will be the trademark of the beast and his false prophet. Most of the world’s people will follow him to their doom and destruction. But this will also be the time of great revival, when many will begin to examine their hearts. The Holy Spirit, working through the 144,000 Jews, will open the eyes of many to the truth of this beast, who now calls himself God.

My friends, the time is coming when every human being will have to decide between Satan’s christ or Jesus Christ who is soon to come.