MONDAY, MARCH 27
Revelation 13:1-9
Revelation 13:18

"… him that hath understanding count the
… it is the number of a man..."

THE MAN, ANTICHRIST

The phrase "the sand of the sea" is used in the New Testament to allude to an innumerable number of people. This means that the Antichrist is one of the human inhabitants on this earth. He is a man, one who is born of a woman. However, he will be different from all other men, so different that people will be saying, "Who is like unto the beast?" (Rev 13:4). In his qualities for kingship, he exhibits the ability to suffer a death stroke that will be healed miraculously, producing wonder in the multitudes on earth and thus eliciting their worship. This is of course a counterfeit miracle. Faith-healing wonders today attune men to believe in his deceitful act. He will seduce everyone to believe that he is resurrected.

He is described as having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns. The idea of seven heads and ten horns speaks symbolically of his reign and rulership. It is also used to describe the dragon in Revelation 12:3. This gives us the idea of a man who has political power reigning over a kingdom or even an empire.

He speaks blasphemous words and utters evil speaking or railing against God. The Antichrist here is described as one who is hostile to God. He presents himself as "the god" undermining the nature and attributes of the living and true God. This suggests that he will identify himself with names that speak evil of God. "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev 13:8). The only antidote to keep you away from worshipping the Antichrist is to believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour.

THOUGHT: Is my name written in the Book of Life?
PRAYER: "Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them" (Ps 139:16).