After Daniel’s vision in Daniel, Chapter 8, an angel explained to him the meaning of the vision. The angel said that a great leader from Greece would overthrow the Medes and Persians and that his kingdom would then be divided among four of his generals. The angel said that the antichrist would come out of one of these four regions of the Greek Empire. The angel even gave a few details regarding the antichrist.

Dan 8:25
25 "Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means. (NKJ)

It strikes me that the antichrist will destroy many “in their prosperity”. For thousands of years, rulers have tried to maintain their grip over their subjects by stealing from them and oppressing them. I am reminded of the cruelty of a ruler like Saddam Hussein who kept his people in poverty and murdered those who did not pay homage to him. When the antichrist comes, he will be much more clever. He will first reward the masses with great prosperity, realizing that once people have experienced wealth, they will do anything to keep what they have. By this means, he can appear to be benevolent while exercising complete control over his subjects. However, his subjects will be destroyed in their prosperity.

My son, James, used to work for a charity group that does home repairs for needy people. One day, James told me about a man whose house was in desperate need of repair. James told the man that his group would be willing to make the needed repairs free of charge, and James was shocked when the man said, “The Lord has always been very good to me, and you might want to help someone who really needs it.”

This man knew the truth of I Timothy 6:6.

1 Tim 6:6
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. (KJV)

Such a person would not be a very easy target for the antichrist. He obviously had a moral compass which could not be swayed by a desire for the material things of this life. The Apostle Paul warned the believers at Philippi that many religious leaders actually have a greater desire for material success than they do for teaching the truth of God’s Word.

Phil 3:18-19
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame-- who set their mind on earthly things. (NKJ)

Paul then warned Timothy about the pitfalls associated with greed.

1 Tim 6:8-10
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (NKJ)

Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com

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