It is impossible “Ancient Aliens” influenced the Bible

ancient aliens

Are God and His angels Extraterrestrials? Ancient Alien Theory claims they are astronauts from another planet that primitive humans mistook for gods. Once a theory believed only by “tin foil hatters”, it is rapidly growing in acceptance since the US military released videos confirming UFOs exist[1]:

Some have found Ancient Alien Theory so compelling they lost their Christian faith. Barry Downing was a Presbyterian Minister. He lost his faith when he was convinced Jesus was an ET. Minister Downing was not a stupid man, he has a PhD in religion and science from the University of Edinburgh, physics from Harwick College and a degree from Princeton. He was pastor of the Northminister NY Presbyterian Church, a well-established protestant denomination.

The pastor was blinded by a confirmation bias so strong he couldn’t see the fallacy of his position, the clear and incontrovertible fact ONLY God knows the future (Is. 46:9-10) and THAT puts Him infinitely above the angels. [2]

It is counterintuitive “Ancient Aliens” had any influence over the Bible because its teachings contradict premise of their existence:

1. Monotheism;
2. Creation by divine Fiat;
3. Personal relationship with God;
4. The Law of Moses prefiguring the Sacrifice of Christ for the sins of the world;
5. Exclusivity of Earth as sole inhabited planet;
6. Uniqueness of Humans made in the image and likeness of God;
7. Neither Angels or Demons are portrayed as Extraterrestrial life forms.
8. Extraterrestrials not mentioned in End of the World prophecies.
9. Extraterrestrials not found in the “New Heavens and New Earth” God will create that lasts for eternity.
10. The impossibility of Aliens correctly predicting the circumstances of Jesus Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection centuries in advance.

This last is particularly true as it is reported Aliens have crashed their space ships dozens of times throughout history. Apparently, seeing even a few seconds into the future is beyond their ability.

This contrasts with the God of the Bible:

21 “Present your case,” says the LORD. “Bring forth your strong reasons,” says the King of Jacob.
22 “Let them bring forth and show us what will happen; Let them show the former things, what they were, That we may consider them, And know the latter end of them; Or declare to us things to come.
23 Show the things that are to come hereafter, That we may know that you are gods; Yes, do good or do evil, That we may be dismayed and see it together.
24 Indeed you are nothing, And your work is nothing; He who chooses you is an abomination. (Isa. 41.21-24 NKJ

END NOTES
[1]
Some allege UFO reports are government disinformation to hide secret weapons programs. However, its impossible as no earthly government could replicate the global UFO phenomena that has been recorded throughout history. However, the idea ancient aliens are visiting the earth is Satanic disinformation and clearly has fooled everyone, including the US Government:

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Rev. 12:9 NKJ)

[2]
Messiah to be born in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2; Mt. 2:5-6); Worshiped by wise men and presented gifts (Ps. 72:10; Is. 60:3, 6, 9; Mt. 2:11); Infants slaughtered at birthplace (Jer. 31:15; Mt. 2:17-18); Rejected by His own (Is. 53:3; Ps. 69:8; Jn. 1:11; 7:5); Triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Zech. 9:9; Mt. 21:4-5); Betrayed by Friend for thirty pieces of silver (Ps. 41:9; 55:12, 14; Zech. 11:12; Mt. 26:14-16, 21-25) used by buy a potters field (Zech. 11:12-13; Jer. 18:1-4; 19:1-4; Mt. 27:9-10); Crucified between two thieves (Is. 53:12; Mt. 27:38); Given vinegar to drink (Ps. 69:21; Mt. 27:34; Jn. 19:34, 37; 20:25-27); Garments parted and gambled for (Ps. 22:18; Lk. 23:34; Jn. 19:23-24); Buried with the Rich (Is. 53:9; Mt. 27:57-60); To be raised from the dead quickly after death (Ps. 16:10; Mt. 28:2-8). Christ fulfilled hundreds of OT prophecies and allusions, even the most ardent sceptics admit dozens of them are incontrovertibly about Christ.

Contrast God’s impeccable knowledge of the future with the angels who read scripture to know the future (1 Pet. 1:12; Dan. 10:21). I would cite the crashes of alien ships as proof the future is unknown to them except I believe that is strategy to seed the earth with “alien tech”.

In Scripture Angels are revealed to be physical beings who enter our realm of existence through a “portal” from a region of time and space in the alternate parallel dimension called “heaven”. Both the angels of God and the angels of the Devil use technology including spaceships and these war against each other everywhere, including our limited realm of existence. Angels built heavenly “New Jerusalem” which will become visible when the “MEROS” or “partial realm” of our existence is done away by the coming of the “TELEIOS” or “complete realm” of the New Heavens and New Earth (1 Cor. 13:10; Rev. 21:2). For more on this see the following blogs:

Angels are physical beings
The Heavenly Angels God’s Army in Daniel 8:9-14
Star Wars in Daniel
Is the Wing of Abominations in Daniel 9:27 a UFO?
In Him The Meta-Universe Holds Together: The TELEIOS MEROS Multiverse
As in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man
Nephilim Fallen Angels and the Sons of God
The Origin of Satan and Demons
The Coming False Christ and His Followers Revealed
The Free Speech forum where you can share your ideas




Origin of Satan and Demons

Angels are cast out

Satan is the head of the demons and led their rebellion against God; he now leads them in propagating evil in the world.

According to Scripture, Satan was a particularly powerful and high-ranking angel who led one third of the angelic host to rebel against God (Eph 2:2; Rev 12:1–12). Satan is a Hebrew word that means “adversary” (שָׂטָן). Scripture also refers to Satan as “the devil” (Matt 4:1, 5; Lk 4:2, 3; Eph 6:11), “the serpent” (Gen 3:1; 2 Cor 11:3; Rev 20:2), “the great dragon” (Rev 12:9; cf Rev 20:2), “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2), “the god of this age” (2 Cor 4:4), “the evil one” (Matt 13:19, 38; Jn 17:15; Eph 6:16), “the prince of demons” (Matt 9:34; 12:24; Mk 3:22; Lk 11:15), “the accuser” (Rev 12:10), and “the tempter” (Matt 4:3; 1 Thess 3:5). Like the other angels and demons, Satan is an invisible being who is highly intelligent and very powerful.

Satan was responsible for tempting Eve in the garden and leading humanity’s first parents into sin. Though Genesis never explicitly identifies the serpent as Satan, later Scripture identifies the “ancient serpent” as “Satan” (Rev 12:9; 20:2). Since his initial rebellion, Satan has continued to work against God’s righteous and saving purposes in the world. He actively opposes the propagation of the gospel by blinding unbelievers to its truth (2 Cor 4:4), persecuting the church (2 Cor 12:7; 1 Thess 2:17–18; Rev 2:10), and promoting false doctrine (Jn 8:44; cf 1 Tim 4:1). Satan actively seeks to incite Christians to fall into sin and is constantly attempting to ensnare them in unrighteousness (2 Cor 11:3). Satan is also an accuser, calling the faith of Christians into question before God and accusing them of sin (Job 1:9–11; Rev 12:10).

As a created being, Satan, though powerful, is not equal with God. Instead, like the other demons, he is wholly subject to God’s sovereign will (Job 1:6–12; 2:1–10).-Emadi, S. (2018). Satan. In M. Ward, J. Parks, B. Ellis, & T. Hains (Eds.), Lexham Survey of Theology. Lexham Press.

Any Bible dictionary will provide the above, what follows is the rest of the story they do not report.

Satan is more powerful than the Archangel Michael (Dan. 10:13; Jude 1:9), he is called the “anointed cherub” making him “Arch-cherub” among the Cherubim which is the highest order of created beings above seraphim and angels. While the other cherubim carried the throne of God, Satan was its “covering roof” a “canopy over the Throne” (Ez. 28:14).

“Perfect” in his ways until iniquity was found in him, he became prideful about his own beauty (Ez. 28:15, 17; 1 Tim. 3:6) and his wisdom was corrupted (Ez. 28:17), desiring to be worshiped (Isa. 14:13-15; Lk. 4:6-8). Rather than glorify God for his perfections, he became vain in his reasoning.

Satan looked deep within himself and saw iniquity, he had selfish motives for serving God. Likely “Confirmation Bias” convinced him the same was true for everyone. Therefore, God made a terrible mistake believing sentient life would share life with Him in mutual “true love”. As God made a mistake, His own criteria disqualified from being God (Is. 41:21-24). Satan then “trafficked (Ez. 28:5) his argument angel to angel, eventually convincing a third of likeminded angels to join his rebellion (Rev. 12:4).

Satan thought Job would prove to the heavenly court: “God’s pronouncement Job is blameless and upright is an error, God made a mistaking believing Job does not have selfish motives causing his devotion to God:

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.
7 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
10 “Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
11 “But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. (Job 1:6-12 NKJ)

Satan lost his case, God was right about Job. But Satan’s main argument, “there is a selfish motive for every act of devotion to God” still seemed incontrovertible to a third of heavens angels (Rev. 12:3-4) No doubt “confirmation bias” contributed to their error, they projected their own selfish motives onto others.

What incontrovertible proof “unselfish love” exists would convince the heavenly court? The incarnation of Christ.

Jesus proved unselfish love exists when He made Himself of no reputation leaving all the privileges and prerogatives of Godhood because He loved the Father more than life itself and loved man with true unselfish love.

4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil. 2:4-11 NKJ)

The Father proved unselfish love exists, when He gave His only begotten Son the “apple of His eye” so all who believe in Him shall not perish.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, (Jn. 3:16 NKJ)

Therefore, both the Father and Son incontrovertibly establish unselfish love exists:

It is written:

By the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established. (Deut. 19:15 NKJ)

The incarnation of Christ so irrefutably proved Satan wrong demons cannot say “Jesus Christ came in the flesh”, they choke on the words as the terror of the LORD overwhelms all rational thought.

2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. (1 Jn. 4:2-3 NKJ)

That is the origin of Satan and his fallen angels. They “bet the farm” God would disqualify Himself from being God once Satan proved He made a great mistake creating intelligent free willed life to dwell with, in mutual “true love”:

13 For you have said in your heart:`I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.
16 “Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying:`Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms,
17 Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’
18 “All the kings of the nations, All of them, sleep in glory, Everyone in his own house;
19 But you are cast out of your grave Like an abominable branch, Like the garment of those who are slain, Thrust through with a sword, Who go down to the stones of the pit, Like a corpse trodden underfoot.
20 You will not be joined with them in burial, Because you have destroyed your land And slain your people. The brood of evildoers shall never be named. (Isa. 14:13-20 NKJ)




The Riddle of Armageddon

armadeddon meaning

Riddle of Armageddon Meaning Solved: Solution Hiding in Plain Sight.

Ἅρ Μαγεδών. No convincing interpretation has as yet been given of this phrase, which should probably be translated “the mountains of Megiddo.” The city Megiddo was notable as the scene where Barak and Deborah overthrew the forces of Sisera by “the waters of Megiddo” (Judg. 5:19–21).-Charles, R. H. (1920). A critical and exegetical commentary on the Revelation of St John (Vol. 2, p. 50). Edinburgh: T&T Clark International.

The “mountain (02022 הַר har) of Megiddo” doesn’t exist, it is figurative for the heavens above Megiddo, similar to the heavenly “mount (02022 הַר har) of the congregation” (Is. 14:13) where the angels of God reside. God’s angels in the skies above Megiddo (Isa. 24:21; Rev. 6:13; Dan. 10:13, 20; Rev. 12:7) will fight from the heavens against the Beast and his forces at Megiddo on earth, just as God’s angels once fought for Israel against Sisera:

“The kings came and fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo; They took no plunder in silver.
The stars fought from heaven, From their courses they fought against Sisera. (Jdg. 5:19-20 NAU)

Figurative use

The LORD descended upon Mount (02022 הַר har) Sinai but spoke “from heaven” (Exod. 20:22); “the mountain (02022 הַר har) burned with fire to the midst of heaven” (Deut. 4:11 NKJ); “The LORD shone forth from Mount (02022 הַר har) Paran, and He came with ten thousands of saints” (Deut. 33:2); “the showers of the mountains (02022 הַר har)” Job. 24:8; “The Holy One from Mount (02022 הַר har) Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens” (Hab. 3:3 NKJ).

3 I have commanded My sanctified ones; I have also called My mighty ones for My anger– Those who rejoice in My exaltation.”
4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, Like that of many people! A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together! The LORD of hosts musters The army for battle.
5 They come from a far country, From the end of heaven– The LORD and His weapons of indignation, To destroy the whole land.
6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.
7 Therefore all hands will be limp, Every man’s heart will melt,
8 And they will be afraid. Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; They will be in pain as a woman in childbirth; They will be amazed at one another; Their faces will be like flames.
9 Behold, the day of the LORD comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it.
10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not give their light; The sun will be darkened in its going forth, And the moon will not cause its light to shine.
11 “I will punish the world for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
12 I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, A man more than the golden wedge of Ophir.
13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, And the earth will move out of her place, In the wrath of the LORD of hosts And in the day of His fierce anger. (Isa. 13:3-13 NKJ)

20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, And shall totter like a hut; Its transgression shall be heavy upon it, And it will fall, and not rise again.
21 It shall come to pass in that day That the LORD will punish on high the host of exalted ones, And on the earth the kings of the earth.
22 They will be gathered together, As prisoners are gathered in the pit, And will be shut up in the prison; After many days they will be punished.
23 Then the moon will be disgraced And the sun ashamed; For the LORD of hosts will reign On Mount Zion and in Jerusalem And before His elders, gloriously. (Isa. 24:20-23 NKJ)

12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.
13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.
14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,
16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
17 “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Rev. 6:12-17 NKJ)

This fits the context. The inspired BIG LIE “strong delusion” causing world-wide rebellion against all called God or worshiped (2 Thess. 2:3-12) is “ancient alien theory”, symbolized by “flying-frogs” in Revelation 16:13. The “Kings of the Sunrising” entered our realm via the figurative “great river Euphrates”, “dried up” symbolizing God’s removing His restraint of spiritism, the “second woe” (Rev. 9:12). This demonic cavalry slew the third of the earth that once professed Christianity but who joined the Beast and took his Mark. These Nephilim Kings are the “mighty” (2478 ἰσχυρός ischuros) slain at Armageddon (Isa. 24:21; Rev. 19:18 [“Men” isn’t in the text, its supplied by translators.]).

12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east (395 ἀνατολή anatole) might be prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. (Rev. 16:12-16) KJV

Rev. 19:11-20:3 confirms this is cosmic war is fought outside the city of Jerusalem (Rev. 19:18-20; Zech. 14:1-7, 12-17). The Beast’s army fills the entire region, from the glorious Mountain (Dan. 11:45; Joel 3:9-17) to the Mediterranean Sea.

Megiddo’s Location
• Megiddo is located in northern Israel, in the Jezreel Valley, approximately 25 km (15 miles) southeast of the Mediterranean Sea.
• It lies along a major trade route, the ancient Via Maris (Way of the Sea), which connected Egypt to Mesopotamia. This strategic location made it the site of many historic battles.
The “Glorious Mountain” (Daniel 11:45)
• The phrase “glorious mountain” is traditionally interpreted to refer to Mount Zion (Jerusalem), which holds religious and prophetic significance in the Bible as God’s dwelling place.
• Mount Zion is about 80 km (50 miles) south of Megiddo, making Megiddo a midpoint between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean Sea.
The Mediterranean Sea (Daniel 11:45)
• The Mediterranean Sea is referred to as “the great sea” in biblical texts (e.g., Numbers 34:6).
• Megiddo is situated east of the Mediterranean Sea, in proximity to the Carmel mountain range, which runs parallel to the sea.

 

Adonikam is the Name of the Beast having 666 meaning
Three Unclean Spirits Like Frogs: The Big Lie God is an ET
Words are closed up and sealed
The Sign of Jesus’ Coming will be an Opening in the Heavens
What did the apostle John reveal when he said: “It is the last hour”?Where Is The Judgment Of Fallen Angels?
The Coming False Christ and His Followers Revealed




Star Wars in Daniel

Star Wars in Daniel

It grew so big it reached the army (06635 צָבָא tsaba’) of heaven, and it brought about the fall of some of the army (06635 צָבָא tsaba’) and some of the stars (03556 כּוֹכָב kowkab) to the ground, where it trampled them. (Dan. 8:10 NET)

And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it. (Dan. 8:27 NKJ)

Why was Daniel “astonished” by this vision? Recall God specially gifted Daniel to understand enigma and vision (Dan. 2:47; 4:8-9; 5:11-12). So why couldn’t he understand this vision, why didn’t his fellow experts in scripture interpretation “understand it”.

How likely is it modern Commentators, who see nothing astonishing in this context, see same thing Daniel is seeing described by his words? Why aren’t they also “astonished” and made “sick for days”?

The most likely explanation for their different reaction is, they are seeing different events described by the words. Looked at from another angle. modern commentators claim the “little Horn” is Antiochus and the “army of God” or “stars” may be Israel’s saints, priests or chief rulers. How could any of that “astonish” Daniel and his fellow experts in Scripture prophecy? They were living in exile caused by King Nebuchadnezzar when he defeated the “saints” and “army” and then destroyed God’s Temple in Jerusalem. How could seeing that duplicated in a vision “astonish” Daniel?

Therefore, the normally sound rule for interpreting ancient documents according to the understanding of the author may not be sound for this prophecy of what will happen in the future, Daniel confesses he is astonished by the vision and neither he nor his friends understood it.

So how can we interpret Daniel’s prophecy? Scripture says “the wise shall understand” in the “time of the end”, wise being “critical thinkers” “the wise” and “prudent” able to infer from events in the end time what astonished Daniel. So the predicted events would unseal the words:

8 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?”
9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
10 “Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. (Dan. 12:8-10 NKJ)

Therefore, we must look at End Time events to infer what might have astonished Daniel and made him sick for days. Confirming this, Gabriel said the vision occurs in the End Time, not the time of Antiochus Epiphanes.

So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end.” (Dan. 8:17 NKJ)

We who live in the End Times know what the coming “strong delusion” (2 Thess. 2:9-12) , “Ancient Alien Theory” that promotes Atheism. The spectacular rise of UFO spectacles is causing a massive falling away from belief in God.

Given that context, what could the “army of heaven” and “Stars” be?

All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?” (Dan. 4:35 NKJ)

Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. (Dan. 10:20 NKJ)

They fought from the heavens; The stars from their courses fought against Sisera. (Jdg. 5:20 NKJ)

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, (Rev. 12:7 NKJ)

And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. (Rev. 19:14 NKJ)

Daniel saw a version of “Star Wars”, God’s angels fighting Satan’s angels in service to the Antichrist, in the end time.

Today, words describing such battles are “unsealed”, easily understood.

Gabriel distinguishes between “the mighty” (= the stars) and “the holy people” (=the army of heaven):

24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty (06099 עָצוּם `atsuwm), and also the holy people. (Dan. 8:24 NKJ)

In Joel 2:11 “mighty” refers to angels:

ADONAI shouts orders to his forces- his army is immense, mighty (06099 עָצוּם `atsuwm), and it does what he says. For great is the Day of ADONAI, fearsome, terrifying! Who can endure it? (Joel 2:11 CJB)

Joel stopped talking about locusts or humans, he telescopes to the End Time when he speaks of “the day of the LORD great and terrible.” Therefore, the “mighty army” are angels who in the End Time slay the armies of the Beast, the Assyrian Antichrist whose name is Adonikam (Mic. 5:5-6; Isa. 10:24, 32; 14:25-27; 30:31-33; Zeph. 2:13-15; Zech. 12:2-3; 14:1-4; Rev. 19:17-21).

A “Star Wars” event WOULD astonish and confuse Daniel and all his contemporaries. Especially when the “sanctuary” is the Body of Christ the Temple of God and “the Daily” is their taking up Christ’s cross daily and counting 2,300 days from the start of the End Time Week, the vindicated[1] Church the Temple of God celebrates in heaven (Rev. 15:1-4).

The army (“host”) of heaven denotes both redeemed humanity (Ps. 110:3; Exod. 7:4; Rev. 19:14) and angelic soldiers (1 Kings 22:19). Even some of “the stars” (angels Job 38:7; Ps. 148:2) were brought down, meaning they crashed to the earth (Judg. 5:20; Dan. 10:13, 20; Rev. 12:7-9) and both are dishonored.

Its power reached to the heavens, where it attacked the heavenly army, throwing some of the heavenly beings and some of the stars to the ground and trampling them. (Dan. 8:10 NLT)

The Interpretation
The Assyrian Antichrist (Mic. 5:5-6; Isa. 10:24, 32; 14:25-27; 30:31-33; Zeph. 2:13-15; Zech. 12:2-3; 14:1-4; Rev. 19:17-21) rises from the remnants of the Seleucid dynasty, ancient Grecian Syria. Hence the end time revived Byzantine Roman Empire has a leopard body (Dan. 2:40-44; 7:7-9, 17-27; Rev. 13:2). I infer from the parallels with Antiochus Epiphanes he will rise up in modern Turkey near Antioch his ancient capital.

END NOTES
[1]
The usual translation of Dan. 8:14 “sanctuary will be cleansed” is chosen over a more literal and likely meaning, “will be vindicated” because translators refuse to allow Daniel is prophecy actually foretelling events. The vindication of the church’s faith is pictured in Revelation 15:1-8. It appears suddenly disconnected to the surrounding events. Chronologically, it 2,300 days after the beginning of the end time week, after everyone is raptured or gathered by Christ angels. Their faith in God now vindicated and celebrated in heaven.

Commentators reject the literal reading because:

will be purified. The Hebrew verb, weniṣdaq (the only occurrence of the niphal of ṣdq in the MT!) should mean “will be justified.” But this can hardly be said of the sanctuary. The underlying Aramaic was surely yidkê, “will be cleansed, purified,” which was corrupted into, or misread by the translator as yizkê, “will be victorious, justified.”- Hartman, L. F., &; Di Lella, A. A. (2008). The Book Of Daniel: A New Translation With Notes And Commentary On Chapters 1-9 (Vol. 23, p. 227). New Haven; London: Yale University Press.

It is NOT unhistorical the “Temple of God” prophetically in the End Time is the Church (1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19. 2 Cor. 6:16. 2 Thess. 2:4. Eph. 2:21), then the literal meaning of the Church being vindicated for her faith in God could be what the text is literally referring to. Of course, reference to the Church, the vision of the Church would likely add to the reasons why these visions were “sealed” to Daniel, he couldn’t understand them. End time events would unseal the words (Dan. 12:8-9).

 

Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Wing of Abominations in Daniel 9:27
Nephilim Fallen Angels and the Sons of God
The Powerful Delusion: The Coming Tsunami of Spiritism
Three Unclean Spirits Like Frogs: The Big Lie God is an ET
The Antichrist: His Names Titles and Descriptions
What did the apostle John reveal when he said: “It is the last hour”?
Where Is The Judgment Of Fallen Angels?
Do Ancient Aliens Appear in the Bible?
The Coming False Christ and His Followers Revealed




Will there be a second chance for salvation after death?

Google “Will there be a second chance for salvation after death?” and dozens of respected sites will appear emphatically proclaiming “No”.

What about those who do not believe? Wouldn’t they repent and believe if they were given a second chance? The answer is no, they would not because their hearts are not changed simply because they die. Their hearts and minds “are at enmity” against God and won’t accept Him even when they see Him face to face. This is evidenced clearly in the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31. If ever someone should have repented when given a second chance to see clearly the truth, it was the rich man. But although he was in torment in hell, he only asked that Abraham send Lazarus back to earth to warn his brothers so they didn’t have to suffer the same fate. There was no repentance in his heart, only regret for where he found himself. Abraham’s answer says it all: “And he said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded, even though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:31). Here we see that the witness of the Scriptures is sufficient for salvation for those who believe it, and no other revelation will bring about salvation to those who do not. No second, third, or fourth chances would be enough to turn the heart of stone into a heart of flesh. -Got Questions
https://www.gotquestions.org/second-chance-salvation.html

GotQuestions is clearly wrong, this prophetic parable spoken against the Scribes and Pharisees who refused to hear Moses and the prophets that Jesus is the Christ, and would continue to do so even after they received the ultimate sign from God of the risen Lazarus, contains more than enough indications the Rich Man was experiencing his “second chance” in Luke 16:19-31.

The Rich man is not said to be irredeemably wicked. Nor does he act like a Reprobate. When his cries for aid are refused he doesn’t begin cursing both Abraham and Lazarus.

Throughout this context he reverently refers to “Father Abraham”, pleading “have mercy” (1653 ἐλεέω eleeo) not a whit differently than did blind Bartimaeus who called out to Jesus for the same thing: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mk. 10:47 NKJ). The aorist tense indicates both had specific acts of mercy they wanted, relief from thirst or blindness. Nothing in their cries for pity implies unrepentant hearts or hostility against God’s justice and truth. “Repentance” is on the Rich Man’s mind, he proves that when he begs Lazarus warn his brothers so “they will repent” (Lk. 16:30).

Gotquestions claims the torments of hades are unpersuasive, but Abraham doesn’t say that. He says the living who refuse to “hear Moses and the Prophets” won’t be persuaded by someone rising from the dead.

This context is more than a parable. Its clearly a prophetic warning to the Scribes and Pharisees who mocked Christ refusing to hear Moses and the Prophets like everyone else (Lk. 16:13-16), never believing any of the incredible signs Jesus did right before their eyes. Even the sign of Lazarus risen from the dead failed to convince them, instead they “plotted to put Lazarus to death also” (John 12:10). In this prophetic parable Christ contradicts their tradition Abraham will prevent their descent into hell:

“In the Hereafter Abraham will sit at the entrance of Gehinnom and will not allow any circumcised Israelite to descend into it.”- Genesis Rabbah XLVIII. 8

Therefore, the claim this parable proves there is no second chance is false. Moreover, it “twists scripture” because Hades will be emptied out and destroyed on Judgment Day (Rev. 20:11-15), destroying the “impassible barrier” separating the Rich Man from Abraham (Lk. 16:26).

This parable has many indications the Rich Man was getting his “second chance”.

1.) We would expect an irredeemably wicked man would curse both Abraham and Lazarus for refusing to help him. Instead, he shows great reverence for “Father Abraham” and selfless concern for his family (Luke 16:27).
2.) Abraham affectionately calls the Rich Man “son” (Luke 16:25). That would be impossible if the Rich Man were an irredeemable enemy of God: “Do I not hate them, O LORD, who hate you? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?” (Psalm 139:21).
3.) Abraham and others with him wanted to comfort the Rich Man, but an “great gulf” prevented them (Luke 16:26). It is impossible they would rebelliously desire to subvert God’s just punishment, therefore that is not what the Rich Man is experiencing.
4.) Although translators have the Rich Man crying “I am tormented (3600 ὀδυνάω odunao) in this flame”, the reverse of the “comfort” (3870 παρακαλέω parakaleo) Lazarus was experiencing, ὀδυνάω can denote “anxiety (Lk. 2:48) and “sorrow” (Ac. 20:38). These could be part of the Rich Man’s torment.
5.) Christ did not use the common word for “fire” (4442 πῦρ pur) that appears when speaking of God’s judgment (Lk. 3:9, 17; 17:29). He chose “flame” (5395 φλόξ phlox)” which is the “visible aspect of a fire that springs upward and is usually orange”(Logos Bible Sense Lexicon). It is this “flame” that often accompanies revelation of God (LXX: Ex. 3:2; Judges 13:20; Isa. 66:15; Acts 7:30; 2 Th. 1:8). When Christ is revealed His eyes are “like a flame of fire” (Rev. 1:14; 2 Th. 1:7-8).
6.) In Hades was “where he was being tormented(931 βάσανος basanos)…this place of torment” (Lk. 16:23, 28 NRS). The word denotes “a touchstone, which is a black siliceous stone used to test the purity of gold or silver by the colour of the streak produced on it by rubbing it with either metal 2) the rack or instrument of torture by which one is forced to divulge the truth.-Strong’s Concordance. The symbolism suggests a refining process (Zech. 13:9; Ps. 51:7; 66:10; Isa. 1:25; 6:7; 48:10; Ezek. 24:13; Dan. 11:35), a purging of sin that reveals the truth of the individual, the “gold” within:

But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire And like launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness. (Mal. 3:2-3 NKJ)

7.) The symbolism of water, extreme thirst (Lk. 16:24) may allude to this text:

As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit (0953 בּוֹר bowr) wherein is no water. (Zec. 9:11 KJV)

The idea of redemption from Hades is not foreign to the Old Testament:

And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. (Jon. 2:2 KJV)

I called on Your name, O LORD, From the lowest pit (0953 בּוֹר bowr). (Lam. 3:55 NKJ)

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit (0953 בּוֹר bowr), out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.(Ps. 40:1-3 KJV)

Scriptures explicitly or implicitly refer to redemption from Sheol Hades.

‘See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand. (Deut. 32:39 NAU)

“The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. (1 Sam. 2:6 NAU)

10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. (Ps. 16:10-11 NAU) [Although applied to Christ, verse 11 shows it also applies to David.]

O LORD, You have brought up my soul from Sheol; You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit. (Ps. 30:3 NAU)

But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For He will receive me. Selah. (Ps. 49:15 NAU)

1 For the choir director. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD. (Ps. 40:1-3 NAU)

19 For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?
20 You who have shown me many troubles and distresses Will revive me again, And will bring me up again from the depths of the earth. (Ps. 71:19-20 NAU)

For Your lovingkindness toward me is great, And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. (Ps. 86:13 NAU)

Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from death? O Death, where are your thorns? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion will be hidden from My sight. (Hos. 13:14 NAU)

As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you, I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. (Zech. 9:11 NAU)

Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matt. 12:32 NKJ)

25 “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
26 “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
27 “and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
28 “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
29 “and come forth– those who have done good, to the resurrection of life
, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (Jn. 5:25-29 NKJ)

25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
26 And so all Israel will be saved
, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”
28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.
29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
30 For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience,
31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. (Rom. 11:25-32 NKJ)

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,
(1 Pet. 3:18-19 NKJ)

For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. (1 Pet. 4:6 NKJ)

deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1 Cor. 5:5 NKJ)

8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”
9 (Now this, “He ascended “– what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) (Eph. 4:8-10 NKJ)

27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. (Heb. 9:27-28 NKJ)

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-15 NKJ)

 

Scripture that liken deliverance in life, to deliverance in the afterlife. The association is so strong its reasonable to say they believed it happens in the afterlife also:

 

5 “For the waves of death encompassed me; The torrents of destruction overwhelmed me;
6 The cords of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.
7 “In my distress I called upon the LORD, Yes, I cried to my God; And from His temple He heard my voice, And my cry for help came into His ears. (2 Sam. 22:5-7 NAU)

For You have delivered my soul from death, Indeed my feet from stumbling, So that I may walk before God In the light of the living. (Ps. 56:13 NAU)

18 You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives; You have received gifts among men, Even among the rebellious also, that the LORD God may dwell there.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation. Selah.
20 God is to us a God of deliverances; And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death. (Ps. 68:18-20 NAU)

13 But as for me, my prayer is to Thee, O LORD, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Thy lovingkindness, Answer me with Thy saving truth.
14 Deliver me from the mire, and do not let me sink; May I be delivered from my foes, and from the deep waters.
15 May the flood of water not overflow me, And may the deep not swallow me up, And may the pit not shut its mouth on me.
16 Answer me, O LORD, for Thy lovingkindness is good; According to the greatness of Thy compassion, turn to me,
17 And do not hide Thy face from Thy servant, For I am in distress; answer me quickly.
18 Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it; Ransom me because of my enemies! (Ps. 69:13-18 NAS)

18 This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the LORD.
19 For He looked down from His holy height; From heaven the LORD gazed upon the earth,
20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To set free those who were doomed to death,
21 That men may tell of the name of the LORD in Zion And His praise in Jerusalem,
22 When the peoples are gathered together, And the kingdoms, to serve the LORD. (Ps. 102:18-22 NAU)

1 I love the LORD, because He hears My voice and my supplications.
2 Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death encompassed me And the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow.
4 Then I called upon the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I beseech You, save my life!”
5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate.
6 The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.
7 Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
8 For You have rescued my soul from death, My eyes from tears, My feet from stumbling.
9 I shall walk before the LORD In the land of the living (Ps. 116:1-9 NAU)

and he said, “I called out of my distress to the LORD, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice. (Jon. 2:2 1 NAU)

Go here for more:

Does the Bible teach there is a Second Chance to be saved by Jesus?

The “second chance” was well known in the ancient church.

Clement of Alexandria (150–215) Christian teacher at Alexandria who spent his twilight years with his friend Alexander when he became bishop of Jerusalem, had this to say about souls in Hades:

So I think it is demonstrated that God (being good) and the Lord (being powerful) both save with a righteousness and equality that extends to all who turn to God, whether here or elsewhere. For it is not here alone that the active power of God is present. Rather, it is everywhere and is always at work.… For it is not right that those persons [who died before Christ] should be condemned without trial, and that those alone who lived after His coming should have the advantage of the divine righteousness. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, EE Eastern), 2.491. Dead, Intermediate State of The. (1998). In D. W. Bercot (Ed.), A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs: A Reference Guide to More than 700 Topics Discussed by the Early Church Fathers (p. 192). Hendrickson Publishers.

God’s Plan for the Lost
Elect Rise From Hell On Judgment Day?
Preaching to the Dead (Postmortem Evangelism)
Does the Lake of Fire Symbolize Eternal Torment for all cast into it?
Jesus Preached to the Dead
What did the apostle John reveal when he said: “It is the last hour”?
Where Is The Judgment Of Fallen Angels?
The Origin of Satan and Demons
The Coming False Christ and His Followers Revealed
How can we survive the coming Apocalypse?




Why then are they baptized for the dead? (1 Cor. 15:29 NKJ)

Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? (1 Cor. 15:29 NKJ)

The practice of vicarious baptism only existed among the Montanists in the early centuries. Mormons practice it today. The passage has generated over 400 different interpretations. I thought I’d make it 401.

 

Paul was a student of Gamaliel, a rabbi of the school of Hillel. The Rabbis often arranged their dialectic in a structure of three, to bring completeness and emphasis.

Rabbi Aqiba said…“Whoever eats unhealthy food transgresses thrice: he despises himself, as well as the food, and pronounces a benediction upon unwholesome things.”- Tosephtha, Aboth of R. Nathan, The Babylonian Talmud, (M. L. Rodkinson, trans.; Vol. 9a, p. 93). (1918).

“Wherefore is this repeated thrice? Infer from this, it is a merit that they be, first, equal in color; secondly, in stature; thirdly, in price.-The Babylonian Talmud.

 

An example of Paul arranging his sermon by Three is in 1 Corinthians 13:8-13
Love never fails (1 Cor. 13:8-13)
1. Prophecies will fail
2. Tongues will fail
3. Knowledge will fail
Statement: We know in part and prophesy in part
1. When I was a child
2. I spoke as a child
3. I understood as a child
Statement: When I became a man I put away childish things

1. Now we see in a mirror dimly
2. Then face to face
3. Now I know in part
Statement: Then I shall know just as I am known
Conclusion:
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor. 13:13 NKJ)

The arrangement in threes in 1 Corinthians 15

“If there is no resurrection” (1 Cor. 15:13-15)
1)Christ not risen;
2) Our preaching empty;
3) Their (the resurrection deniers) faith empty
Statement: We then are false witnesses

“If the Dead don’t rise” (1 Cor. 15:16-19)
1)Christ not risen;
2) your faith futile;
3) You are still in your sins
Statement: Then all who have fallen asleep have perished, and we of all men most pitiful.

“But now Christ is risen from the dead” (1 Cor. 15:20-24)
1)He is the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep;
2) By man came death
3) By man came the resurrection of the dead
Statement: “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive”

“But each in his own order”: (1 Cor. 15:23-26)
1)Christ the first fruits;
2) those dead raised at Christ’s coming;
3) The rest of the dead in the End.
Statement: Christ will reign until he puts all enemies under his feet, last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Momentarily Paul departs from the argument to derail any foolish idea Christ’s reign would subject God forever to the risen humanity of Christ (1 Cor. 13:27-28).

The return:

Otherwise (1893 ἐπεί epei), what will they do (4160 ποιέω poieo) who are baptized for the dead (3498 νεκρός nekros) , if the dead (3498 νεκρός nekros) do not rise at all (3654 ὅλως holos)? Why (5101 τίς tis) then (2532 καί kai) are they baptized for the dead (3498 νεκρός nekros)?

That translation loses the flow of the argument, “otherwise” should have been translated “since” and then its clearly referring back to verse 26, Death the last enemy destroyed.

“Since” (1893 ἐπεί epei) [the dead rise], “what is produced (4160 ποιέω poieo, achieved, accomplished) by those baptized for the dead?” “If wholly dead (3654 ὅλως holos) are not raised up, what also(τί καὶ) [explains] being baptized for the dead?

“Dead” (3498 νεκρός nekros) is repeated thrice each time revealing the folly of the resurrection deniers, their illogic. Without a “good” to obtain, why are they being baptized if the dead don’t rise?

Paul then turns the illogic on himself:

Τί καὶ ἡμεῖς κινδυνεύομεν πᾶσαν ὥραν (1 Cor. 15:30 BYZ)

“What also [is our reason for] standing in danger every hour” [if the dead don’t rise?] (1 Cor. 15:30-32)
1)“Why die daily”
2) “Why fight beasts”
3) ”What advantage exist for me if the dead don’t rise”
Statement: “If the dead do not rise, Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die!”

Therefore, vicarious baptism was not being practiced by anyone in Corinth. That explains the universal rejection of the “novelty” when the Montanists misinterpreted this verse.




The Coming False Christ And His Followers

Antichrist

23 “Then if anyone says to you, `Look, here is the Christ!’ or `There!’ do not believe it.
24 “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
25 “See, I have told you beforehand.
26 “Therefore if they say to you, `Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or `Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.
27 “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matt. 24:23-27 NKJ) See also Mark 13:22; Matt. 24:4-5-3; Mark 13:5-6; Luke 21:8

Christians disagree whether the False Christ and Antichrist[1] can be the same person. The final false Christ comes “in My name, saying, `I am He” (Mk. 13:6) but the Antichrist denies Christ’s Name denying both Father and Son (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7).

However, if there are two phases of the Antichrist, first coming as the “Man of Sin” False Christ who after 3 ½ years morphs into the Antichrist “Son of Destruction” denying both Father and Son, there is no conflict.

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thess. 2:3-4 NKJ)

Paul’s words imply these two phases. The “falling away of the Church” would be irrelevant to a destroyer of Christianity, but necessary to a false Christ wanting the Church to believe “I am he”. A progression is implied, the apostate Church accepts the Lawless One as Christ who leads it into further apostasy, and then he and his followers cast off all pretense of Christianity denying both Father and Son. That happens in the “last hour” John saw so well:

18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. (1 Jn. 2:18-24 NKJ)

This clarifies how many on Judgment Day plead they once intimately knew Christ having done wonders in His name, but He denies their claim testifying His Spirit NEVER knew them, fully documented by their practicing “lawlessness” (Mt. 7:15-20):

21 “Not everyone who says to Me,` Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 “Many will say to Me in that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23 “And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matt. 7:21-23 NKJ)

This fits Daniel’s prediction the “prince who is to come” (Dan. 9:26) is friendly to religion, but then is its enemy 3 ½ years later:

Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.” (Dan. 9:27 NKJ)

The symbolism of Revelation 13:1-5 also implies the Beast has two stages. At first he speaks with a “lion’s mouth” in parody to Christ, but then after 3 ½ years the Beast is given a new mouth, one that speaks blasphemies against God:

1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.
4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. (Rev. 13:1-7 NKJ)

Moreover, this is consistent with Antiochus IV Epiphanes[2] being a type of Antichrist. During the approximate seven years he dealt with Israel, he first sought to corrupt it with lawlessness peaceably Hellenizing Judaism and Jews (Dan. 11:28). About three years later he returns to Jerusalem with an army slaughtering Jews and seeking to destroy Judaism entirely (Dan. 11:30-31).

Now the contrast Paul made is clear: Antichrists deceived by the energia of Satan “mystery of lawlessness” (2 Th. 2:7) who loved not God’s truth the Bible, versus Christians inspired by the “mystery of Godliness” (1 Tim. 3:16) sanctified by the Holy Spirit to believe God’s truth and remain faithful to apostolic tradition:

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working (1753 ἐνέργεια energeia) of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,
14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. (2 Thess. 2:9-15 NKJ)

The lying wonders false Christ and his followers do corrupt the church to accept lawlessness, paralleling Antiochus IV Hellenizing Judea to accept homosexuality, transgenderism and prostitution for the first half of the end time week:

22 “Many will say to Me in that day,`Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23 “And then I will declare to them,`I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matt. 7:22-23 NKJ)

After 3 ½ years False Christ discards Christianity all together, seating himself in the Church the Temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:21) as God, denying the Father and the Son. His former charismaniac followers remain loyal accepting the mark of the beast, leaving the church for good:

18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. (1 Jn. 2:18-19 NKJ)

These Antichrists rise from the TARES sown among the WHEAT, they always were children of the devil disguised as children of God:

24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;
25 “but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.
26 “But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.
27 “So the servants of the owner came and said to him, `Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’
28 “He said to them, `An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, `Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’
29 “But he said, `No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.
30 `Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”‘”

34 All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them,
35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”
37 He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.
38 “The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.
39 “The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.
40 “Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.
41 “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,
42 “and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matt. 13:24-30, 34-43 NKJ)

Always False prophesying, filled with greed and lust they are not afraid to speak evil of Satan and demons, so they disrespect God’s authority who gave them permission to separate wheat from the chaff (2 Pet. 2:10-12):

4 For certain men [3] have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
5 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.
6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;
7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.
9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.
11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
12 These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;
13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,
15 “to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. (Jude 1:4-16 NKJ)

9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,
11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.
12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,
13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you,
14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children
.
15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption
; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.
20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.
21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” (2 Pet. 2:9-22 NKJ)

Energized by Satan like the magicians Jannes and Jambres, they deny the power of God to live righteously:

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;
9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was. (2 Tim. 3:1-9 NKJ)

ENDNOTE
[1]

ANTICHRIST
antichristos (ἀντίχριστος, 500) can mean either “against Christ” or “instead of Christ,” or perhaps, combining the two, “one who, assuming the guise of Christ, opposes Christ”-Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., White, W., Jr. (1996). In Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 2, p. 30). T. Nelson.

[2]

In the book of Daniel the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 BC) appears as a forerunner to the End Time Antichrist. That divine linkage implies Antiochus casts light on the rise of Antichrist. The Antichrist is from ancient Nineveh (Nah. 1:11) the ruins of which are in the outskirts of modern Mosul, Northern Iraq. Ancient Antioch, once the capital of the Seleucid Kingdom in modern Turkey, is the likely place for the rise of the miracle working Jewish Christian (2 Th. 2:2 cp. Jn. 17:12 “son of perdition”; Dan. 11:37-38 cf. “God of his fathers” Jewish idiom). John’s Asymmetric Janus Parallelism (Rev. 13:18), pivoting on the number 666 “Adonikam” is “of 666” (Ezra 2:13); is from a “count 667-1” Neh. 7:18) where father and son are both named Adonikam the name of the Beast.

Confirming Adonikam will be an Assyrian (Mic. 5:5-6; Isa. 14:25-27) rising from obscurity to become “Chancellor” of Grecian Empire (Rev. 13:2 from the remnants of East and West Roman Empire, both legs have five toes Dan. 2:41-42; 7:7; 8:9; cf. Ten Horns). He is the King of the North in Daniel 11:40. The Jewish historian Josephus reports an immense multitude of Israelites such as the Tribe of Dan still lived in the country of Babylon (Ant. 11:133) in his day. That is consistent with Antichrist being of the “tribe of Dan” (Gen. 49:17).

There are two phases to his revelation. The miracle working Adonikam rises in the apostate Church to become the “man of sin” false Christ Paul prophesied would come. His signs and wonders are “lying” as they sanction falsehood contrary to God’s Word the Bible (2 Th. 2:3, 9-11). False prophets in and outside of the church hail his arrival as “The Christ” (Mk. 13:6; Lk. 21:8; Mt. 24:5). At mid-week the ‘man who condones sin’ declares he actually is a hybrid human-Elohim, the “seed of Satan” (Gen. 3:15) “Son of Destruction” (2 Th. 2:3 cf. Rev. 9:11) claiming to be the next stage of evolution above all called Elohim. Thus he seeks to change times and law (Dan. 7:25 “divine right”) upon which human society is built. He opposes all Elohim exalting himself above them all, claiming to be alone God. He backs up his claims by working great signs and wonders Satan enabled him to do (2 Th. 2:4, 9-10; Rev. 13:4); not by his own power (Dan. 8:24; 11:38-39).

The two phases of Antichrist are implied by the changes in the Beast’s mouth. As False Christ he has a “mouth like a lion”, as “Son of Destruction” he is “given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies” (Revelation 13:2, 5-6 cf. Dan. 7:8, 11, 20, 25; 8:11-12; 11:36). The first half of the end time seven-year week he is friendly to the world’s religions, but at mid-week abrogates his agreement and ends all sacrifice and offering (other than to himself) world-wide (Dan. 9:27). That is when his supporters destroy the religious harlot Babylon the Great, her services no longer required (Rev. 17:16). When the political power she afforded the church is gone (Dan. 12:7), the great tribulation of the true Church begins (Dan. 7:21, 25; Rev. 13:7; 14:8-12).

When Michael casts Satan and his angels out of heaven, signifying intensity and certainty it is thrice repeated they were cast to the earth (Rev. 12:7-12). This cannot be symbolic language. The rise of UFO cults claiming contact with “Alien Designers” of life on earth who twist scripture, coupled with UFO spectacle in the skies that even the US Government does not deny, reveals immense Satanic effort to condition humanity accept the coming “aliens.” It is most unlikely Satan would expend all that energy and time on UFO deception if they played no role when he “deceives the whole world” (Rev. 12:9). Satan has great wrath against God and knows he has little time left (Rev. 12:12) to hurt God the only way he can, destroy as many humans as possible so God mourn their absence for all eternity.

The four demon riders of the apocalypse reveal Satan’s strategy. First False Christ preaching cooperation with the “aliens” conquers the earth. Mass media and UFO spectacle has conditioned mankind to accept the “aliens” as friendly (Rev. 16:13-14), as saviors of the human race. When they insist a New World Order be created through which they aid mankind the world will willingly oblige, the Grecian Roman Empire will rise from the sea of spiritism (Rev. 13:1-2). But rather than peace and security destruction comes upon the earth as Satan sends out three more riders who overwhelm the earth’s ability to cope with global calamities of civil unrest, wars, famines and pestilence. Fearing an extinction level event, the world’s governments will submit to the New World Order despite their concerns. The Anglo-American beast headed by the False Prophet will deceive the world into constructing the AI Network to manage the earth’s scarce resources, making everyone slaves to the Beast (Rev. 13:11-17). In real time, with quantum computing resources filtering unimportant events, the Beast will “see” and “hear” like God everywhere a device is connected.

[3]

Various clues identify these “certain men”. They are traveling prophets (“dreamers” Jude 1:8; Jer. 23:25; 27:9), ungodly Christians judging by their forerunner Israelites God “afterward destroyed” (Jude 1:5) and “angels who did not keep their proper domain” giving themselves over to lust (Jude 1:6-7; Gen. 6:2). Their lawlessness is how they denied God is Master (1203 δεσπότης despotes) and Christ Lord. Like miracle working TARES today, they rail against Satan even though much more powerful Michael the Archangel shows respect. Immorality and love for money characterized them, even as it does today.

The Two Phases of Antichrist: Man of Sin and Son of Destruction
The Little Horn in Daniel with the Big Mouth
Adonikam is the Name of the Beast having 666 meaning
Antichrist will sit in the Temple of God: Third Temple or the Church?
The Antichrist: His Names Titles and Descriptions
What did the apostle John reveal when he said: “It is the last hour”?




Nephilim Fallen Angels and the Sons of God

nephilim

The Nephilim: Satan’s Fallen Angels

1 Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,
2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.
3 Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”
4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. (Gen. 6:1-4 NAS)

About sixteen hundred years after God cast Adam and Eve out of Eden (Gen. 3:24), the earth’s population (conservatively estimated) numbered in the billions. Most of the evidence of their civilization was buried by the flood of Noah’s day or now under water. A few megalithic sites survive manifesting the presence of their technologically advanced society. If today’s scientists had life spans of hundreds of years (Gen. 5:4-32) as did Antediluvians because they were shielded from cosmic radiation by a thick water canopy (Gen. 1:6-8; Job 38:9), and had over 1,600 years of global peace to advance science, it is impossible to estimate how advanced beyond today’s technology earth would be.

We can infer from Scripture and experience man rebelled against God’s forbidding access to the tree of life (Gen. 3:22-23). They sought a “work around” via genetic manipulation. The evidence for that is found in the fossil record, the terrifying monsters (Gen. 6:11-13) buried by the flood bear little resemblance to the peaceful herbivores God created on the fifth and sixth days (Gen. 1:30).

In the Days of Noah two competing factions of Angels warred, the “Sons of Elohim” (01121 בֵּן ben 0430 אֱלֹהִים ‘elohiym) “the Watchers” (Dan. 4:17) watching from their heavenly realm labored to return man to God’s good graces, while Satan’s “Fallen Ones” (05303 נְפִלִים Nephilim) walked on the earth inspiring global rebellion against God (Gen 6:1-4).

Scripture testifies God alone has immortality (1 Tim. 6:16), therefore it is impossible genetic manipulation create the “elixir of the tree of life”. So rebellious men hatched a plan to obtain immortality for their children, by their daughters seducing the Watchers who men concluded were immortal as they were unaffected by the Fall. Man conspired with Satan and his Nephilim Fallen Ones, to tempt the Watchers with porn 24/7, their beautiful daughters sexually tempting “the Watchers” to leave their heavenly abode and take human wives (Gen. 6:1-4; Jude 1:6-7; 2 Pet. 2:4).

Genesis 6:5 implies man was the “mastermind” of this conspiracy, God blames them for the fall of His sons. Genesis 6:4 begins with the Nephilim, because they were instrumental in the fall of their contemporaries the “sons of Elohim”.

The Watchers left their rightful abode and took as many human wives as they desired (Gen. 6:2; Jude 1:6-7; 2 Pet. 2:4-5). Their hybrid children were believed to be immortal, perhaps the celebrated “Titans” “men of renown” of old in pagan mythology (Gen. 6:4). Likely they built the amazing pre-flood megalithic structures found above and below the sea:

November 2016: Megaliths, Gods & Giants - PERU & BOLIVIA - Hidden Inca ...

But Satan deceived man because God alone has immortality (1 Tim. 6:15-16) as he very well knew. It is revealed in the book of Revelation Satan had cast his angels down to earth in his “war against the woman’s seed” (Rev. 12:4; Gen. 3:15). By corrupting the image of God in man with the “image of angels” Satan would prevent the “seed of the woman” (Christ the Messiah) from being born in truly human flesh. The ransom sacrifice of Christ would be impossible in flesh corrupted with strange DNA (Compare Ex. 12:5; Lev. 23:12; 1 Pet. 1:19).

1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.
3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.
4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. (Rev. 12:1-4 NKJ)

[The Mystery Solved: How Angels are cast out of Heaven twice (Rev. 12:4 and Rev. 12:7-9)]

The Nephilim will return in the end time, again promising man immortality, peace and safety (1 Thess. 5:3) from the global crisis’ overwhelming the earth (Rev. 6:1-8). A tsunami of satanic energy will fuel the strong delusion of Ancient Alien Theory (Rev. 16:13-14, 16), that “this time” rebellion against YHWH God will succeed.

END NOTES

Nephilim

Contrary to most internet exposition, the Nephilim were contemporaries of the “sons of God”, not their hybrid children:

The Nephilim were on the earth in those days (and also after this) when the sons of God were having sexual relations with the daughters of humankind, who gave birth to their children. They were the mighty heroes of old, the famous men.( Genesis 6:4 NET)

The meaning of Nephilim is debated.

To an unprejudiced mind, the words, as they stand, represent the Nephilim, who were on the earth in those days, as existing before the sons of God began to marry the daughters of men, and clearly distinguish them from the fruits of these marriages.-Keil, C. F., & Delitzsch, F. (1996). Commentary on the Old Testament (Vol. 1, p. 87). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.

The hannep̱ilîm were in the land “in those days” and “also afterward [וְגַם אַחֲרֵי־כֵן אֲשֶׁר, weg̱am ʾaharê-ḵēn ʾašer]—when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them.” The sense of the phrase weg̱am ʾaharê-ḵēn ʾašer is that the hannep̱ilîm were not the offspring of the union of the sons of God with the daughters of man. Thus the hannep̱ilîm were in the land “while” (בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם [bayyāmîm hāhēm lit., “in those days”]) and “also after” (weg̱am ʾaharê-ḵēn) the time of the union of the sons of God and the daughters of men.-Sailhamer, J. H. (1990). Genesis. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers (Vol. 2, pp. 78–79). Zondervan Publishing House.

Gen. 6:4 The identity of the “Nephilim” and their relationship, if any, to the marriages (v. 2) is perplexing. The word occurs but once more, in Num 13:33, where it refers to an indigenous population inhabiting Canaan. For 6:1–4 the primary question is whether the Nephilim are the offspring of the marriages or merely their contemporaries. The term “Nephilim” (nĕpilîm) is of little help solving the issue since its etymology is uncertain. “Nephilim” is a transliteration of the Hebrew, not a translation, which indicates a group or class. It is commonly related to nāpal, meaning “to fall”; thus the Nephilim are considered “the Fallen Ones.” -Mathews, K. A. (1996). Genesis 1-11:26 (Vol. 1A, pp. 335–336). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Targum Pseudo Jonathan gives these “fallen Ones” names:

Schamchazai and Uzziel, who fell from heaven, were on the earth in those days; and also, after the sons of the Great had gone in with the daughters of men, they bare to them: and these are they who are called men who are of the world, men of names. (Gen. 6:4 PJE)

Context gives the most likely interpretation, not Apocrypha.

The Nephilim are fallen angels, contemporaries of the “sons of God” who also fell from heaven to take wives. Their children were considered “men of renown”. Perhaps they are the builders of pre-flood megalithic stone sites.

This is consistent with the book of Revelation which gives a telescoped prophecy showing Satan casting his fallen angels to the earth to prevent the birth of the woman’s seed (Gen. 3:15 the Christ). This was long before the Archangel Michael and his angels cast them and the Dragon out of heaven (Rev. 12:7-9):

3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.
4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. (Rev. 12:3-4 NKJ)

The KJV followed Greek Septuagint precedent and translated Nephilim as “Giants” in Genesis 6:4. Certainly the cowardly spies disputing Caleb also had that understanding . They wanted to exaggerate the size of the enemy claiming “the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim”.

Scripture says Arba is the father of Anak (Num. 13:33. Josh. 15:11) and was a “man” (0120 אָדָם ‘adam), not a Nephilim (Josh. 14:15). While it is correct the Anakim were larger in size than normal men (Num. 13:33. Deut. 2:10, 20-21; 9:2), Caleb defeating three of these sons of Anak (Josh. 15:14) contradicts these were Nephilim. The brief mention hints Caleb defeated them easily, contradicting the exaggeration of the spies. Genesis 7:21-23 emphasizes everyone outside the Ark died, therefore it follows the Nephilim and “sons of God” were refused re-entry into heaven. The angels died physically in the flood once stripped of their “celestial bodies” (1 Cor. 15:40). While the “sons of God” went to Tartarus (2 Pet. 2:4) the “spirits of demons” (Rev. 16:14) were imprisoned in the Abyss. They remain there until the end time when they will be released for a time to work evil (Rev. 9:1-11; Rev. 16:14).

Whether the Nephilim were literal or figurative giants can’t be established. Their children are called “mighty men of old” perhaps alluding to the children of the Titans in Greek mythology.

They were the mighty heroes of old, the famous men” probably refers to the ancient “Titans” found in Hurrian, Phoenician and Greek myth. (See Speiser, E. A. (2008). Genesis: Introduction, Translation, and Notes (Vol. 1, p. 46). New Haven; London: Yale University Press.)

Only Noah is said to be “perfect in his generations” (Gen. 6:9) leaving seven others in the Ark (1 Pet. 3:20) as possible sources of angelic DNA causing a race of giants to appear after the Flood. Evidently it was God’s plan they eventually die out. David may have slew the last of them (1 Chron. 20:8):

20 (That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims;
21 A people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; but the LORD destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead (Deut. 2:20-21 KJV)

The portrayal of the Rephaim as giants and, ultimately, lineal descendants of the Nephilim, offspring of the divine sons of God (Gen 6:1–4) via the Anakim (Num 13:32–33), is unique to the biblical material.-Heiser, M. S. (2016). Rephaim. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Angels (Sons of God; Nephilim) are physical beings

In 1215 A.D. the Catholic Fourth Lateran Council reversed early Church belief declaring angels are incorporeal despite overwhelming scriptural evidence “There are also celestial bodies (4983 σῶμα soma) and terrestrial bodies (4983 σῶμα soma)” (1 Cor. 15:40 NKJ):

Σῶμα is not used elsewhere in Scripture to refer to inorganic entities. Also, the context here calls for a contrast between bodies for inhabitants of the earth and bodies for inhabitants of Heaven, the angels [EGT]. The correct contrast to ‘heavenly bodies’, if these referred to stars, would be ‘the earth’, not ‘earthly bodies’. Here the contrast is between the bodies of heavenly beings and the bodies of earthly beings [TNTC].”-Trail, R. (2008). An Exegetical Summary of 1 Corinthians 10–16 (2nd ed., p. 322). Dallas, TX: SIL International

.

It is surprising Protestants continue to propagate Catholic error till this day:

The clear pronouncement of Holy Scripture that the angels are spirits (pneumata; Matt. 8:16; 12:45. Luke 7:21; 8:2; 11:26. Acts 19:12; 23:8. Eph. 6:12. Heb. 1:14), who do not marry (Matt. 22:30), are immortal (Luke 20:35–36) and invisible (Col. 1:16), may be “legion” in a restricted space (Luke 8:30), and like spirits, have no flesh and bones (Luke 24:39).-Bavinck, H., Bolt, J., Vriend, J. (2004). Reformed Dogmatics: God and Creation (Vol. 2, p. 456). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

The argument is a massive hasty generalization fallacy that lumps into one basket Angels still corporeal in heaven (Rev. 12:7-9) and the “spirits of demons” (Rev. 16:14) who wander the earth desperately seeking corporeality possessing insects (2Kings 1:2), animals and men (Lk. 8:27-32; Compare “nakedness” 2 Cor. 5:2-4).

Whenever Scripture depicts angels eating and drinking (Gen. 18:8) cognitive dissonance hides the revelation, the text is veiled by a theory angels materialize physical forms when entering our realm. That theory is a massive violation of Occam’s razor, not a hint of its truth can be found in scripture. Rather than a change in corporeality, there is an “opening”, some kind of vortex or portal one must step through to traverse the realms:

12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it…

17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”(Gen. 28:12, 17 NKJ)

11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Ki. 2:11 NKJ)

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. (Matt. 3:16 NKJ)

And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” (Jn. 1:51-2:1 NKJ)

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” (Rev. 4:1 NKJ)

11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. (Rev. 19:11 NKJ)

Although the angel of the LORD was cloaked with invisibility when He stepped into our realm to sit under a tree, nothing suggests a change in corporeality:

11 Now the Angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites.
12 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!” (Jdg. 6:11-12 NKJ)

Angels war among themselves (Jdg. 5:20; Dan. 10:13, 20; Rev. 12:7), use weapons to kill (2 Chron. 32:21), (Num. 22:23) and fly in ships (Ezek. 1:4) and travel in craft rolling on powered wheels (Ezek. 1:15-21). Spirits don’t do these things, physical beings do.

Our LORD sits in heaven in resurrected humanity (Heb. 8:1), how then can any Christian doubt one can be physical in heaven? Christ “stood in their midst” (John 20:19-20, 26-27) without passing through doors or walls like a spirit. To prove corporeality Christ commands they touch His body, declares He has flesh and bones and then even eats a fish (Luke 24:36-43). If Christ “materialized a physical form” He deceived them, it was not truly His hands nor the print of the nails (John 20:25-27). As Christ never deceives anyone, its possible to be physical in the TELEIOS “heavenly realm”.

Nothing about New Jerusalem coming down from heaven suggests it is not an actual physical city. No doubt Angels built it (Rev. 21:10-27). If it were impossible Paul be in heaven physically, he would have known he was “out of his body” while in third heaven (1 Cor. 12:2, 4).

Jesus said angels in heaven don’t marry (Mat. 22:30), He did not say disobedient angels on earth can’t marry.

The hapax legomen λειτουργικὰ πνεύματα “ministering spirits” in Hebrews 1:14 does not contradict angels are physical because angelic nature is not being discussed—their subordination to the Son is the topic.

“Ministering spirits” is figurative, referring back to Heb. 1:7

And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.” (Heb. 1:7 NKJ)

If angels were spirits God would not have to “make His angels spirits.”

This is figurative meaning:

Who makes his angels fast as the wind,
And His ministers as terrible as consuming fire to all who oppose God.

Hebrews 1:7 is being used in synecdoche in Hebrews 1:14 , the part referring the whole conveying Angels are “fast as the wind, terrible as a consuming fire when protecting God’s people ministering to the heirs of salvation.”

Paul referred to himself as a “Pharisee the son of a Pharisee” and declares he believes the same eschatology (Acts. 23:6-7). They distinguish a “spirit” as different than an “angel”:

6 But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”
7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.
8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection– and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.
9 Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees’ party arose and protested, saying, “We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.” (Acts 23:6-9 NKJ)

“Spirits of Demons” implies these formerly were physical demons now “out of the body”:

For they are spirits of demons [πνεύματα δαιμονων], performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (Rev. 16:14 NKJ)

Satanic disinformation has multiple races of Extraterrestrials, in different UFO craft visiting the earth. All is designed to deceive, prevent the elegant conclusion all are the fallen angels of Satan manifesting different forms to deceive. Short is their time, and they know it. Whether they appear as “Nordics” or “Reptilian” is immaterial, they all are Satan’s angels trying their best to deceive YOU.

 

The following video is entertainment only, not referencing scripture at all. But its review of many ancient pre-flood sites is interesting:

 

Ancient Aliens or Angels? Even the Elect might be deceived
Star Wars in Daniel
Angels are cast out of Heaven Twice?
As in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man
What did the apostle John reveal when he said: “It is the last hour”?
Where Is The Judgment Of Fallen Angels?
Do Ancient Aliens Appear in the Bible?
The Origin of Satan and Demons
The Coming False Christ and His Followers Revealed




The Antichrist His Names Titles and Ancestry

666 beast

The Antichrist will appear in the guise of Christ, to oppose Christ. Paul called him the “Son of Destruction” which implies a Jewish-Christian miracle worker evangelist. His name is Adonikam and he will rise from obscurity near the ancient city of Antioch, modern Turkey. He is from ancient Nineveh, the outskirts of Mosul Iraq.

The Antichrist has two phases. For 3.5 years he is the “Man of Sin” “false Christ” speaking through a mouth “like a lion” (2Th. 2:3. Rev. 13:2), then he opposes the historic definitions of God speaking blasphemies (Rev. 13:5) pompously exalting himself above them all as the “Son of Destruction” (2Th. 2:3-4) “Seed of Satan” (Gen. 3:15) “Antichrist”, denying the Father and the Son (1Jo. 2:18, 22; 2Jo. 1:7).

An outline of the Antichrist follows, purple text divides each main section.

The name of the Antichrist is Adonikam (Rev. 13:18; Ezra 2:13)

Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Rev. 13:18 NKJ)

the sons of Adonikam, 666 (Ezr. 2:13 NAS)
the sons of Adonikam, 667 (Neh. 7:18 NAS)

John gives three clues how 666 points to one name.
1) “Calculate the number” (666+1=667 Adonikam).
2) “Number OF a man” (666 sons are “OF” the man Adonikam)
3) “His number is 666” (Only the man named Adonikam has 666 sons):

John wasn’t like modern critics, he would consider the difference in number intentional. Experts in Hebrew Scripture will immediately recognize John’s riddle is a asymmetric Janus Parallelism (Gen. 6:3; 49:26; Cant. 2:12; Ezek. 20:37; Dan. 11:35; Nah. 1:8)

Adonikam had 666 sons, or perhaps counting from his father also named Adonikam, 667 sons.

From the “Janus” 666 we look back and “count” (5585 ψηφίζω psephizo) “as with pebbles” 666+1=667 to “Adonikam” as the Beast’s name.

From the “Janus” 666 we look forward, Adonikam had 666 sons, they are “of” him. Again the name Adonikam appears.

The only “man’s name” in Scripture linked with 666 is “Adonikam”.

“Therefore, “His [Adonikam] number is 666.”

Hebrew Scholar Cyrus Gordon discovered ancient Hebrews used parallelism to communicate meaning, today called Janus Parallelism. Examples can be found in Gen. 6:3; 49:26; Cant. 2:12; Ezek. 20:37; Dan. 11:35; Nah. 1:8; Mat. 16:18.

Janus Parallelism. This type of parallelism hinges on the use of a single word with two different meanings, one of which forms a parallel with what precedes and the other with what follows. Thus, by virtue of a double entendre, the parallelism faces in both directions. Berlin, A. (1992). Parallelism. In D. N. Freedman (Ed.), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary (Vol. 5, p. 157). New York: Doubleday.

The Antichrist is the Seed of Satan who wars against the Seed of the Woman “Christ” (Gen. 3:15)

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise (07779 שׁוּף shuwph) thy head, and thou shalt bruise (07779 שׁוּף shuwph) his heel. (Gen. 3:15 KJV)

Observe the shift, the hatred is between the Serpent’s seed (the Antichrist) and the Woman’s seed (the Christ):

Her seed will crush (07779 שׁוּף shuwph) “thy head”;
And “THOU” (not just “thy seed”) will crush (07779 שׁוּף shuwph) His heel.

Its two against One. The Serpent and Antichrist seed combined crush Christ’s heel, but Christ crushes their collective “head”, a fatal wound to both.

Man of Sin (2 Thess. 2:3)

. Ἄνθρωπος τῆς ἁμαρτίας answers to the Hebrew אִישׁ אָוֶן, Isaiah 55:7; Prov. 6:12.-Olshausen, H., Ebrard, J. H. A., & Wiesinger, A. (1857–1859). Biblical Commentary on the New Testament by Dr. Hermann Olshausen. (A. C. Kendrick & D. Fosdick Jr., Trans.) (Vol. 5, p. 315). New York: Sheldon, Blakeman, & Co.

“A man of iniquity”, “sin”:

12 A worthless person, a man of iniquity, Is he that walketh with a perverse mouth;
13 That winketh with his eyes, that speaketh with his feet, That maketh signs with his fingers;
14 In whose heart is perverseness, Who deviseth evil continually, Who soweth discord.
15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; On a sudden shall he be broken, and that without remedy. (Prov. 6:12-15 ASV)

As he feigns to be Christ, he is “the teacher of unrighteousness”, a man condoning every sin and apostasy in the church, the “signs and wonders” he does are “lying” because they are cited to authenticate falsehood as truth (2 Thess. 2:9-12).

Son of Destruction (2 Thess. 2:3)

…The son of perdition (684 ἀπώλεια apoleia), who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thess. 2:3-4 NKJ)

“Son of perdition” is an interpretation, when literally translated “the son of destruction (684 ἀπώλεια apoleia)”.

Judas was also a “son of destruction” (John 17:12), Satan possessed Judas and he betrayed Christ (Lk. 22:3-4):

Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” (Jn. 13:27 NKJ)

“Son of” is Jewish idiom for “descendent of” and in context the “son of Destruction” who opposes and exalts himself above Yahweh God is very much a “descendent of Satan,” just like him.

Confirming the connection, in the book of Revelation Satan is called “Destruction”:

And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon. (Rev. 9:11 NKJ)

011 אֲבַדּוֹן ‘abaddown {ab-ad-done’}
Meaning: 1) place of destruction, destruction, ruin, Abaddon

Satan is “Ruler” (758 ἄρχων archon) of the demons” (Mt. 12:24). “Ruler” and “King” (935 βασιλεύς basileus) are synonyms. As there can be only one “ruler” or “king” over the demons, Satan must be the “angel of the abyss” (ἄγγελον τῆς ἀβύσσου) whose name is “Abaddon”.

“Abaddon” in Hebrew can be translated “Destruction” in both English (JPS Tanakh: Job 26:6; 28:22; 31:12; Ps. 88:11; Prov. 15:11; 27:20) and Greek Septuagint (ἀπώλεια apoleia: Ps. 88:12; Prov. 15:11; 27:20).

Therefore, when Paul calls the Antichrist the “Son of Destruction” he is not talking about his destiny, he is referring to his activity that is just like his father the Devil, he opposes and exalts himself above God proving he is “the Son of Satan”, his “seed” (Gen. 3:15).

NOTES:

07779 שׁוּף shuwph {shoof}
Meaning: 1) to bruise, crush, gape upon, desire?, seize?, strike out? 1a) (Qal) to fall upon, bruise

“To begin with the earliest evidence [about A.D. 210], in Hippolytus…we read: “In the form of man appeared the Saviour, and he also [the Antichrist] shall come in the form of man.” From this quite another representation might be inferred. Farther on, where we are told of the birth of the Antichrist in the tribe of Dan, it is added (chap. xiv.): “ ‘Dan shall be a serpent.’ … But who is the serpent except the deceiver from the beginning, he who in Genesis is called the beguiler of Eve and the crusher of Adam?” In what follows the Antichrist would seem to be called “the devil’s son.” Although the identification is not complete, still for Hippolytus the Antichrist is in any case Satan incarnate. “ -Bousset, W. (1896). The Antichrist Legend: A Chapter in Christian and Jewish Folklore (p. 140). London: Hutchinson and Co.

Contradicting Hippolytus the Antichrist appears with Satan in Revelation 13:4; 16:13 therefore he cannot be Satan incarnate.

However, Hippolytus was on the right track, in view of Genesis 6:2, 4 its possible Satan impregnate a woman, and the hybrid “Elohim-human” would recall the “mighty men of old, the men of renown” (Gen. 6:4) possibly giving rise to be belief in “Titans” in Greek Mythology.

The Antichrist is from the Tribe of Dan (Gen. 49:16-18)

16 Dan shall judge (01777 דִּין diyn) his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.
18 I have waited (06960 קָוָה qavah) for thy salvation, O LORD. (Gen. 49:16-18 KJV)

End Time events clarify (1 Pet. 1:12; Dan. 12:9) Jacob’s warning about Dan.

From Dan the Antichrist will come. He will strive (01777 דִּין diyn Gen. 6:3; 15:14) against his people feigning tribal loyalty, “as one of the tribes of Israel”. With the Serpent this demon viper strikes Christ’s heel (Gen. 3:15) hoping to throw Him off His horse (Rev. 19:11; Dan. 8:11). The vision so troubled Jacob he cries out: “I look for your salvation, O Yahweh”.

NOTES:

01777 דִּין diyn {deen} or )Gen. 6:3דּוּן duwn {doon}
Meaning: 1) to judge, contend, plead 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to act as judge, minister judgment 1a2) to plead a cause 1a3) to execute judgment, requite, vindicate 1a4) to govern 1a5) to contend, strive 1b) (Niphal) to be at strife, quarrel

06960 קָוָה qavah {kaw-vaw’}
Meaning: 1) to wait, look for, hope, expect 1a) (Qal) waiting (participle) 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to wait or look eagerly for 1b2) to lie in wait for 1b3) to wait for, linger for 2) to collect, bind together 2a) (Niphal) to be collected

“The usual word for “snake” (nāḥāš) is matched by the rare term “viper,” occurring only here (šĕpîpōn, “horned snake”?). The imagery of a small, obscure snake that strikes (“bites,” nōšēk) an unsuspecting passerby illustrates the stealth of this lethal opponent (e.g., Jer 8:17; Amos 9:3). The tactic of surprise attack brought down the more prosperous but trusting city Laish (Judg 18:7, 10, 27). A reflex of the garden imagery (Gen. 3:15) is apparent, where snapping at the “heel” injures the victim (cf. Gad, Gen. 49:19). Moreover, “heel” (ʿāqēb) in vv. Gen. 49:17, 19 recalls the play on Jacob’s name (Gen. 25:26; 27:36). The picture of Dan is not as victim but victimizer, like the serpent in the garden or Jacob the deceiver.”-Mathews, K. A. (2005). Genesis 11:27–50:26 (Vol. 1B, p. 900). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Additional indications Antichrist is from Tribe of Dan

And of Dan he said: “Dan is a lion’s whelp; He shall leap (02187 זָנַק zanaq) from Bashan (01316 בָּשָׁן Bashan).” (Deut. 33:22 NKJ)

“The church father Hippolytus understood this metaphorical reference as a typological expression of Satanic opposition to Jesus. He found further support for his view in the messianic description of Judah that is also in this chapter (Gen 49:10). In addition, he observed that only the tribes of Judah and Dan are referred to as a “lion’s whelp” in the OT (Gen 49:9; Deut 33:22). He viewed this as a deliberate juxtaposition of Judah and Dan—in his view, one produces the Christ, while the other produces the antichrist.

Finally, Jewish writers during the Second Temple period (fifth century BC–AD 70) also viewed Dan with suspicion for some of the same reasons. For them, the association of Dan with the northern region of Bashan was consistent with the OT “foe from the north” motif. Israel was habitually attacked from the north because of its geographical location along established travel routes. There are multiple passages that describe the threat of invasion from the north (Isa 49:12; Jer 1:13–14; 16:15; 46:6; Ezek 38:6, 15; 39:2). The north (tsaphon in Hebrew) is also laden with religious-mythological significance. In Ugaritic mythology, ts-p-n is the name of the cosmic holy mountain of Baal, the place of the Ugaritic divine council or pantheon.”-Heiser, M. S. (2012, 2016). Dan and the Antichrist Tradition. In Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

16 The snorting of His horses was heard from Dan. The whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of His strong ones; For they have come and devoured the land and all that is in it, The city and those who dwell in it.”
17 “For behold, I will send serpents among you, Vipers which cannot be charmed, And they shall bite you,” says the LORD.
18 I would comfort myself in sorrow; My heart is faint in me. (Jer. 8:16-18 NKJ)

If “serpents…vipers” (Jer. 8:17) refers to “all the power of the enemy” (Lk. 10:19), then Jeremiah’s cry of sorrow for his people (Jer. 8:18) is similar to Jacob’s state of mind when he prays: “I look for your salvation, O Yahweh” (Gen. 49:18).

The Antichrist comes out of the ancient city of Nineveh the ruins of which are in the outskirts of modern Mosul, Northern Iraq. (Nah. 1:1)

There is one come out of thee [Nah. 1:1 Nineveh], that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked (01100 בְּלִיַּעַל beliya`al) counsellor (03289 יָעַץ ya`ats). (Nah. 1:11 KJV)

The “wicked counsellor”, advising wicked things of Belial, is the antithesis of the “Wonderful Counselor”, advising wonderful things of God:

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, (06382 פֶּלֶא pele’) Counselor (03289 יָעַץ ya`ats), Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa. 9:6 NKJ)

The Tribe of Dan was last seen in Assyria:

Antiquities of the Jews 11:133

and came to Babylon, as very desirous of going down to Jerusalem; but then the entire body of the people of Israel remained in that country; therefore there are but two tribes in Asia and Europe subject to the Romans, while the ten tribes are beyond Euphrates till now, and are an immense multitude, and not to be estimated by numbers. (Ant. 11:133 JOE)

 

NOTES:

01100 בְּלִיַּעַל beliya`al {bel-e-yah’-al}
Meaning: 1) worthlessness 1a) worthless, good for nothing, unprofitable, base fellow 1b) wicked 1c) ruin, destruction (construct).

06382 פֶּלֶא pele’ {peh’-leh}
Meaning: 1) wonder, marvel 1a) wonder (extraordinary, hard to understand thing) 1b) wonder (of God’s acts of judgment and redemption)

03289 יָעַץ ya`ats {yaw-ats’}
Meaning: 1) to advise, consult, give counsel, counsel, purpose, devise, plan 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to advise, counsel, give counsel, consult 1a2) counsellor (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to consult together, exchange counsel, deliberate, counsel together 1c) (Hithpael) to conspire.

The Tribe of Dan was known to be in the region of ancient Assyria:

“…But then the entire body of the people of Israel remained in that country; therefore there are but two tribes in Asia [Palestine] and Europe subject to the Romans, while the ten tribes are beyond Euphrates till now, and are an immense multitude, and not to be estimated by numbers.” (Antiquities of the Jews 11:133)

“In the land of Assyria”―these are the ten tribes.”-Neusner, J. (2008). The Jerusalem Talmud: A Translation and Commentary. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers.

The Lawless One, “that Wicked”:

And then shall that Wicked (459 ἄνομος anomos) be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (2 Thess. 2:8 KJV)

459 ἄνομος anomos
Meaning: 1) destitute of (the Mosaic) law 1a) of the Gentiles 2) departing from the law, a violator of the law, lawless, wicked

“Counselor of Belial” בְּלִיַּעַל (Nah. 1:11, 15 MT), hence “Lawless Wicked” (LXX) ἀνομία (2 Sam. 22:5; Ps. 17:5); ἀνόμημα (Deut. 15:9); παράνομος (Dt. 13:14; Judges 19:22; 2 Sam. 16:7; 20:1; 1 Ki. 20:10, 13; 2 Chron. 13:7; Ps. 41:8; 100:3; Prov. 6:12); παρανομέω (Job 34:18).

Belial is another name for Satan:

And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (2 Cor. 6:15 KJV)

Son of Perdition: A Jewish Christian Miracle Working Evangelist (2 Thess. 2:3; Dan. 11:37)

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
(2 Thess. 2:3-4 NKJ)

Christ calls Judas “the son of perdition” (Jn. 17:12). He was a Jewish Christian miracle working evangelist (Luke 9:1). Paul’s allusion is thematic coherence, the “man of sin” leads a global apostasy from all called God or worshiped, by betraying Christ and working signs and wonders (2 Thess. 2:9).

12 “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. (Jn. 17:12 NKJ)

Confirming he is a Jewish Christian, the Antichrist will “regard neither the God of his fathers” (2 Ki. 21:22; 2 Chr. 21:10; 28:25; 30:19; 33:12) or…
The “desire of women”. That is a prophetic reference to God the Son Jesus Christ (Mark 14:3; Luke 7:38; John 12:3), not homosexuality. The “desire of women” is in the “god category” as it is sandwiched between “God of his fathers….nor any god”.

36 “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.
37 “He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. (Dan. 11:36-37 NKJ)

King of the North (Dan. 11:40-12:1)

40 “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through.
41 “He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon.
42 “He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
43 “He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels.
44 “But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many.
45 “And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.

12:1 “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. (Dan. 11:40-12:1 NKJ)

King of Babylon (Isa. 14:4)

3 It shall come to pass in the day the LORD gives you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear and the hard bondage in which you were made to serve,
4 that you will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say: “How the oppressor has ceased, The golden city ceased!
5 The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, The scepter of the rulers;
6 He who struck the people in wrath with a continual stroke, He who ruled the nations in anger, Is persecuted and no one hinders.
7 The whole earth is at rest and quiet; They break forth into singing. (Isa. 14:3-7 NKJ)

Lucifer “son of the morning” (Isa. 14:12)

12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:`I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.
16 “Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying:`Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms,
17 Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’ (Isa. 14:12-16 NKJ)

Many believe Satan is called “Lucifer”, but the Antichrist can also have the name because he “exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped” (2 Thess. 2:4).

However, Isaiah 14:16 calls “Lucifer” a man, the “King of Babylon” (Isa. 14:4). He wants to be “like the Most High” parallels what the Antichrist will do (Dan. 7:8, 11; 8:9-11, 24-25; 11:36-37).

The Title “Son of the morning” is like Christ’s title “the Bright and Morning Star” (Rev. 22:16).

The Assyrian (Isa. 14:25)

25 That I will break the Assyrian in My land, And on My mountains tread him underfoot. Then his yoke shall be removed from them, And his burden removed from their shoulders.
26 This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth, And this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.
27 For the LORD of hosts has purposed, And who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, And who will turn it back?” (Isa. 14:25-27 NKJ)

5 And this One shall be peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land, And when he treads in our palaces, Then we will raise against him Seven shepherds and eight princely men.
6 They shall waste with the sword the land of Assyria, And the land of Nimrod at its entrances; Thus He shall deliver us from the Assyrian, When he comes into our land And when he treads within our borders. (Mic. 5:5-6 NKJ)

NOTES:

Isaiah 14:25 was not fulfilled in Sennacherib (Isa. 37:36-37), he died in the temple of his god Nisroch in Nineveh, not on the mountains of Israel. Also, it is purposed “against the whole earth,” not Assyria only.

Micah’s prophecy is about Christ from Bethlehem Ephrathah, the Ruler in Israel whose goings are from old, everlasting. The time is during His millennial kingdom, “And this One shall be peace” (Mic. 5:2-5).

Then it flashes back in time (like a Quentin Tarantino film) to the time of the Antichrist’s occupation of Jerusalem. The reference to “seven shepherds and eight princely men” is a plural of majesty reference to Christ, when “He shall deliver us from the Assyrian.” “He is our peace” (Mic. 5:5). His people raise Christ up in Faith, trust in His Name.

“The Desolator” (Dan. 8:13; 9:27; 12:11)

“Desolator, Destroyer, Devastator” is an alternate Translation for “desolation” (08074 שָׁמֵם shamem)”

desolating = destroyer, devastator Dn 8:13; 9:27; šiqqûš šômêm Dn 12:11 evidently word-play on baʿal šāmêm.-Holladay, W. L., & Köhler, L. (2000). A concise Hebrew and Aramaic lexicon of the Old Testament (p. 376). Leiden: Brill.

Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, “How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation (08074 שָׁמֵם shamem) [Desolator, Destroyer; Devastator], the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot?” (Dan. 8:13 NKJ)

Twice:

He will make a strong covenant with leaders for one week [of years]. For half of the week he will put a stop to the sacrifice and the grain offering. On the wing of detestable things the desolator (08074 שָׁמֵם shamem) [Desolator, Destroyer; Devastator] will come and continue until the already decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator (08074 שָׁמֵם shamem) [Desolator, Destroyer; Devastator] .” (Dan. 9:27 CJB)

“And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation (08074 שָׁמֵם shamem) [Desolator, Destroyer; Devastator] is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. (Dan. 12:11 NKJ)

In Daniel 9:27 the “Desolator” flies a “wing (singular) of abominations (08251 שִׁקּוּץ shiqquwts)” (plural) in a pretension to deity. “Abominations” is plural because the “flying wing” is infested with demons (1 Cor. 10:19-20).

The plural šiqqûṣîm, ‘abominations’, refers to unspecified deities other than the LORD and their respective cult statues in Deut 29:16; Jer 7:30; 16:18; 32:34; Ezek 5:11; 7:20; 11:21; 20:7, 8, 30; 37:23.-Gruber, M. I. (1999). Abomination. In K. van der Toorn, B. Becking, & P. W. van der Horst (Eds.), Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible (2nd extensively rev. ed., p. 3). Leiden; Boston; Köln; Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge: Brill; Eerdmans.

A “wing” infested with demons energizes the “flying wing”, hence a “wing of abominations”. In Luke 8:30 a “legion of demons” controls a single man.

Compare the flying wing that rains destruction upon earth below to:

He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. (Rev. 13:13 NKJ)

NOTES

“on the wings of abomination he comes desolating.” עַל כָּנָף can, without ingenuity, be rendered in no other way than on wings. שִׁקּוּצִים signifies not acts of abomination, but objects of abomination… But from such passages as Deut. 32:11, Ex. 19:4, and Ps. 18:11, we perceive the sense in which wings are attributed to the שִׁקּוּצִים, the idolatrous objects. In the first of these passages (Deut. 32:11), wings, the wings of an eagle, are attributed to God, because He is the power which raises up Israel, and lifting it up, and carrying it throughout its history, guides it over the earth. In P. 18 wings are attributed to the wind, because the wind is contemplated as the power which carries out the will of God throughout the kingdom of nature. “Thus in this passage wings are attributed to the שִׁקּוּצִים, idol-objects, and to idolatry with its abominations, because that shall be the power which lifts upwards the destroyer and desolater, carries him, and moves with him over the earth to lay waste” (Klief[othm T.]) -Keil, C. F., & Delitzsch, F. (2002). Commentary on the Old Testament [1866 first edition]. (Da 9:27). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.

The Abomination of Desolation

“Therefore when you see the`abomination of desolation (βδέλυγμα τῆς ἐρημώσεως),’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place ” (whoever reads, let him understand), (Matt. 24:15 NKJ)

“So when you see the`abomination of desolation (βδέλυγμα τῆς ἐρημώσεως),’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not ” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Mk. 13:14 NKJ)

Our Lord didn’t want the reader confuse the “abomination of desolation” (βδέλυγμα τῆς ἐρημώσεως) in Daniel 12:11 that appears only in the End Time with the “abomination of desolation” (βδέλυγμα ἐρημώσεως) Antiochus set up in Daniel 11:31.

The spelling is different in both the Greek and Hebrew texts:

BGT Daniel 11:31 βδέλυγμα ἐρημώσεως

BGT Daniel 12:11 βδέλυγμα τῆς ἐρημώσεως

BHT Daniel 11:31 haššiqqûc müšômëm
BHT Daniel 12:11 šiqqûc šömëm

This difference between a “Demon and his image” may explain why in Matthew 24:14 the Desolator is “standing in the holy place”, but in Mark 13:14 it is the “appalling image of the Desolator” that is “set up where it ought not be” (RSV).

Any image of the Desolator would be an “abomination of desolation”, whether he personally is standing up as God in the Temple of God the Church, or his image [a living AI enhanced internet interfaced with the Beast the world was deceived into creating (Rev. 13:14)] is set up everywhere to worship.

The “Prince to come” (Dan. 9:26-27)

26 “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.” (Dan. 9:26-27 NKJ)

The Global Government that rises in the End-Time “week” is composed of remnants of the Byzantine Roman Empire, its “leopard” body remnants of the Grecian (Assyrian/Seleucid) Empire (Rev. 13:1-2; Dan. 2:40-44; 7:6-9; 8:17-27).

Therefore, the “prince to come” is a Roman Emperor, his people destroyed the Temple and desolated the Jewish nation in the 1st and 2nd centuries, the “times of the Gentiles” continuing until the end (Lk. 21:24).

Its important to note Messiah was cut off AFTER the 69th week (Dan. 9:26), hence the 70th week. The New Covenant fulfills all the conditions set in Daniel 9:24. Those who object claiming “transgressions weren’t finished” by Christ’s sacrifice, fail to explain how their objection doesn’t also invalidate their interpretation. Transgressions literally continue well past what they say is the 70th week, even to the end of Christ’s 1000 year millennial kingdom (Rev. 20:7-9). The New Covenant in Christ’s blood did indeed finish transgression, make an end of sins, make reconciliation for iniquity and anoint the Most Holy the Church, the Temple of God after He tore the curtain on the way out of the literal temple in Jerusalem rending the rocks (Mt. 27:51; Compare 1 Ki. 19:11-12)

The prophecy telescopes in Daniel 9:26b to the end time week revealed in Daniel 9:27 and the book of Revelation. It is not part of Daniel’s Seventy weeks.

Little horn (Dan. 7:8; 8:9)

8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. (Dan. 7:8-11 KJV)

8 Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
9 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. (Dan. 8:8-11 KJV)

At first read the little horn in Daniel chapters 7 and 8 seem to refer to different people: The “little horn” in Daniel 7:7 rises from the Revived Roman Empire; The “little horn” in Daniel 8:9 rises from the eastern division of the Grecian Empire (Antioch in modern Turkey).

But that read contradicts the symbolism. The final version of the Roman Empire in the End Time Week of Seven Years is “like a leopard”, which in Daniel symbolizes the Grecian Empire (Dan. 7:6).

Also, there are two phases to the “Antichrist” (2 Thess. 2:3-4). First phase is the “man of sin” false Christ” speaking with a “Mouth like a lion” (Rev. 13:2). Second phase, after 42 months he morphs into the “Son of Destruction” “Seed of Satan” (Gen. 3:15) “Big Mouth” speaking blasphemies against God and rules another 42 months (Rev. 13:5):

1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.
2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.
4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. (Rev. 13:1-5 NKJ)

The two phases of Antichrist explains Daniel speaking about the same “little horn” from two very different perspectives. The first phase “Man of Sin” gives lip service to God, in the guise of Christ he opposes Christ condoning all kinds of sin. The second Phase he is a wild Beast “Son of Destruction” blaspheming “all that is called God or that is worshiped” (2 Thess. 2:4; Dan. 9:27). Hence, the “Assyrian Antichrist” “King of the North” seen in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and Malachi.

NOTES

Antiochus never accomplished the Star Wars described, that happens only in the end time. Because of bias, translators render the 2,300-day prophecy unknowable.

If Daniel were speaking of Antiochus and the literal temple the vision of its cleansing wouldn’t have astonished him so badly he was sick for days (Dan. 8:27).

The words were sealed until the end time gave “sanctuary” another meaning (Dan. 12:8-9), the true sanctuary of God in the End Time is “the Church” (1 Cor. 3:16, 17). It is not “cleansing” (06663 צָדַק tsadaq) that is in view, its “vindication”.

At 2,300 days the church will be in heaven praising God, their faith in Christ vindicated by events (Rev. 15:1-4):

And he said unto me, Until two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings: then shall the sanctuary be vindicated (06663 צָדַק tsadaq). (Dan. 8:14 DBY)

1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.
2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!
4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.” (Rev. 15:1-4 NKJ)

NOTES:

06663 צָדַק tsadaq {tsaw-dak’}
Meaning: 1) to be just, be righteous 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to have a just cause, be in the right 1a2) to be justified 1a3) to be just (of God) 1a4) to be just, be righteous (in conduct and character) 1b) (Niphal) to be put or made right, be justified 1c) (Piel) justify, make to appear righteous, make someone righteous 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to do or bring justice (in administering law) 1d2) to declare righteous, justify 1d3) to justify, vindicate the cause of, save 1d4) to make righteous, turn to righteousness 1e) (Hithpael) to justify oneself.

“Eyes like the eyes of a man.” (Dan. 7:8, 20)

“I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words. (Dan. 7:8 NKJ)

Commentarions can’t agree what the horn’s “Eyes of a man” symbolize: “Intelligence” (MacArthur, J. F., Jr., 2002); “reason” (Murphy, J. G., 1884); “faculty of keen observation and insight, and so indirectly the possession of intellectual shrewdness” (Driver, S. R., 1900); “cunning and intellectual culture” (Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D., 1871); “bland and benignant appearance” (Calvin, J., & Myers, T., 2010); “insight, circumspection, prudence” (Keil, C. F., & Delitzsch, F., 1866); “unsatiable” (Muffet, P., 1868).

Given the syntactic and thematic coherence the End Time Antichrist has with king Sennacherib of Assyria, its inexplicable they go against the context and miss the allusion completely:

20 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel:`Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard.’
21 “This is the word which the LORD has spoken concerning him:`The virgin, the daughter of Zion, Has despised you, laughed you to scorn; The daughter of Jerusalem Has shaken her head behind your back!
22 `Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice, And lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel.
23 By your messengers you have reproached the Lord, And said: “By the multitude of my chariots I have come up to the height of the mountains, To the limits of Lebanon; I will cut down its tall cedars And its choice cypress trees; I will enter the extremity of its borders, To its fruitful forest.
24 I have dug and drunk strange water, And with the soles of my feet I have dried up All the brooks of defense.”
25 `Did you not hear long ago How I made it, From ancient times that I formed it? Now I have brought it to pass, That you should be For crushing fortified cities into heaps of ruins.
26 Therefore their inhabitants had little power; They were dismayed and confounded; They were as the grass of the field And the green herb, As the grass on the housetops And grain blighted before it is grown.
27 `But I know your dwelling place, Your going out and your coming in, And your rage against Me.
28 Because your rage against Me and your tumult Have come up to My ears, Therefore I will put My hook in your nose And My bridle in your lips, And I will turn you back By the way which you came. (2 Ki. 19:20-28 NKJ = Is. 37:21-29)

The Assyrian isn’t shrewd at all, he is blind to the truth just like all unreasoning men with blasphemous mouths.

They curse Creator God even though He ‘knows precisely where they live and go’ (2 Ki. 19:27).

The Assyrian boasts of environmental damage. The gods of his enemies couldn’t stop it. Blindly he assumes the same would be true for the “Holy One of Israel”. (2 Ki. 19:23-25), even though he heard how God powerfully drowned Pharoah and his armies in the Red Sea. Unwise and imprudent, blind like unreasoning men, he does not recognize the Holy One of Israel, the One who humbled those gods by his hand (2 Ki. 19:26).

Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, Or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood! (Isa. 10:15 NKJ)

This thematic coherence transcends the End Time Antichrist. Just as God sent Sennacherib to destroy His enemies, so God sends the Strong Delusion to destroy apostate mankind. God’s restraint of spiritism ends, and the falsehood of “Ancient Alien theory and Scientific Atheism” inspired by demons (2 Thess. 2:7-12; Rev. 16:13-14) deceives them all:

because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thess. 2:10-12 NKJ)

Though Satan and Nephilim lock hands with man, they will not defeat Yahweh the God of heaven:

Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. (Prov. 11:21 KJV)

God first disabuses them of their folly by a terrifying act of infinite power:

14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,
16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
17 “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Rev. 6:14-17 NKJ)

In that day the LORD with His severe sword, great and strong, Will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan that twisted serpent; And He will slay the reptile that is in the sea. (Isa. 27:1 NKJ)

Mouth speaking great things (2 Thess. 2:3)

I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. (Dan. 7:8 KJV)

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. (Rev. 13:5 KJV)

There are two phases to the Antichrist Beast’s appearance in the End Time “week” of seven years. For 3.5 years he is the “mouth of a lion” (Rev. 13:2) “False Christ” (Mat. 24:5) “Man of Sin” (2 Thess. 2:3) the “prince to come” (Dan. 9:26) rising from the Remnants of the Roman Empire (Dan. 7:7-8; 2:41-44). Having “eyes of a man” he resonates with mankind’s desire for a global savior (Rev. 6:2) who approves of their practice of sin.

Under the heading “The Antichrist” you will find the content the “lion’s mouth” False Christ will preach when he first appears working miracles, preaching health and wealth while forgiving all lust and sin. Then is when he first begins denying the Eternal Sonship of Christ and concrete reality of His Incarnation in human flesh (1 John 2:16-29; 4:2-3; 2 John 1:7-11).

The Antichrist Beast’s second phase is after the first 3.5 years. Then he morphs into the Assyrian “mouth speaking great things” “Son of Destruction” (2 Thess. 2:3-4) “Seed of Satan (Gen. 3:15) “Lawless One” (2 Thess. 2:8-10) revealed in Daniel 8:9-11; 9:27; 11:31-45; 12:1-11; Mat. 24:15-24; Mk. 13:14-23; 1 John 2:18-23; Rev. 13:5-8.

From these texts we deduce some of the “great things” the Assyrian “mouth” will speak. Only that content appears here in this section.

ὁ ἀντικείμενος καὶ ὑπεραιρόμενος ἐπὶ πάντα λεγόμενον θεὸν ἢ σέβασμα (2 Thess. 2:4 BYZ)

who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thess. 2:4 NKJ)

Commentarions disagree how this is to be translated, one cannot oppose and exalt himself simultaneously. But it “follows from the single insertion of the article … the two statements, ἀντικεῖσθαι and ὑπεραίρεσθαι, must contain something related to each other, which is summed up in a common general idea.”-Lünemann, G. (1884). Critical and Exegetical Handbook to the Epistles Of St. Paul to The Thessalonians. (P. J. Gloag, Trans.) (p. 210). Edinburgh: T&T Clark.

What “general idea” is common to all that is called God? The definition of God, what He is. By opposing the definition of God, the Son of Destruction can exalt himself above all called God so that he sits as God in the Temple the Church showing [by powerful miracles] he is God.

Just as the words in Daniel’s prophecy are unsealed by end time events (Dan. 12:8-9), so also this “new definition of God” is being preached worldwide by UFO cults. It springs naturally from “Ancient Alien Theory” where all men called God or worshiped resulted from the visit of “Extraterrestrial beings” who are called Elohim in the Bible.

The Seed of Satan (Gen. 3:15) will claim to be better than the “god-men Titans” of Greek mythology (Gen. 6:4). As the greatest hybrid “human-Elohim” ever designed by “the Designers” he is above all called Elohim, even Yahweh God Himself.

This is confirmed in the book of Revelation. The open mouth of the Beast makes a career of insulting God and His angels, specifically insulting the Name of God and His Dwelling the Church (Rev. 11:1-2. Compare 4633 σκηνή skene in Rev. 21:3), casting the truth of Savior God dwelling among His people (the Church or Sanctuary of God) to the ground (Dan. 8:10-13):

Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle (4633 σκηνή skene), and those who dwell in heaven. (Rev. 13:6 NKJ)

10 And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them.
11 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down.
12 Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered. (Dan. 8:10-12 NKJ)

For the first 3.5 years Adonikam is the “false Christ” (Rev. 13:2), then he morphs into the Assyrian potty mouth Beast in Rev. 13:5 and rules another 42 months. The hybrid human-Elohim Seed of Satan (Gen. 3;15) “Son of Destruction” now exalts himself above all called Elohim, claiming he alone is worthy to be called God, unlike those who are only “Elohim”. Then he sits in the Temple of God the Church working miracles by Satan’s energy intending to “show he is God” (2 Thess. 2:3-4, 7-12).

In “Scientific Atheism” or “Ancient Alien theory” believed by many UFO cults, God, Jesus, the angels are all extraterrestrial beings called “the Elohim”. Yahweh is an ET, a leader of some extraterrestrials. This message is being propagated by UFO contactees communing with demons, they inspire the “new definition of God” and love for the things of this world (1 Tim. 4:1; 1 John 4:1-5). The TARES in the church will be completely deceived (Mt. 13:24-30; 2 Thess. 2:7-12; Jude 1:8-21; 1 John 2:18-29; 4:1-6; Rev. 13:8), but the good seed sown by Christ will not (Mt. 13:24-30; 2 Thess. 2:13-15; 2 Pt. 2:1-22; 3:3-4; 1 Tim. 4:1; 1 John 2:18-21, 24-29; 3:1-14; 4:1-6; Rev. 14:12-16; 15:1-4).

This new definition of God changes the predicate of human governance, what is God. The Assyrian pompous mouth is attempting to change the “times and laws” upon which human governance rests. In one decisive action our inalienable rights vanish with our God, and the tyranny of the Beast takes its place.

He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. (Dan. 7:25 NKJ)

“Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, (Dan. 11:36 NKJ)

NOTES

By saying “everyone called God,” etc., the Antichrist’s lawlessness is described as being worse than that of the worst pagans. Pharaohs and Roman emperors were deified and claimed divine honors, but never for one moment did they do this “against” any of their pagan gods, temples, altars, etc. Antiochus desecrated the Jewish Temple, but he did it by erecting an altar to Zeus. About thirteen years before the writing of this epistle Caligula, the Roman emperor, did the same by trying to have his own statue erected in the Jewish Temple, but even he was in no way opposing and exalting himself against the Roman gods and objects of worship; quite the contrary. The very nature of polytheism permitted the addition of new gods and of deified human rulers. But the Antichrist shall be worse, much worse, than these deified rulers.”-Lenski, R. C. H. (1937). The interpretation of St. Paul’s Epistles to the Colossians, to the Thessalonians, to Timothy, to Titus and to Philemon (pp. 408–410). Columbus, OH: Lutheran Book Concern.

Counselor of Belial [Satan] (Nah. 1:11)

The Wicked One (Nah. 1:15)

The Lawless One (2 Thess. 2:8)

The Deceiver (2 John 1:7)

The Beast (Rev. 13:4)

“False Christ” (Mat. 24:5, 24; Mk. 13:22; Rev. 6:2)

“King of fierce countenance” (Dan. 8:23);

Master of deceit (Dan. 8:23, 25)

TO BE CONTINUED:

What did the apostle John reveal when he said: “It is the last hour”?

Antichrists in the early Church?
Where Is The Judgment Of Fallen Angels?
Do Ancient Aliens Appear in the Bible?




The Daily Sacrifice shall be taken away—Daniel 12:11

The End-Time clock begins at the start of the seven year “week”, not in the middle as some suggest. That is clear from the 1290 and 1335 days, these are different points on the same time line that must include the 1260 days when the Beast rises up breaking covenants scattering the power of the holy people (Dan. 12:7; 9:27).

Some object confusing the “sacrifice (02077 זֶבַח zebach) and the oblation (04503 מִנְחָה minchah) in Daniel 9:27 with the “daily (08548 תָּמִיד tamiyd)” in Daniel 12:11. The “Daily sacrifice” ended with the apostasy of the Church at the beginning of the week, when it received the false Christ.

The “Man of Sin” appears to a “fallen away church” as a false Christ condoner of sin, at midway he morphs into the Beast Son of Destruction Antichrist (Dan. 7:25; 9:27; 12:7) ending all “sacrifice and oblation” worldwide (2 Th. 2:3-4; Rev. 11:7; 13:5).

Is it hermeneutically sound we interpret “the daily [sacrifice]” as figurative of Christians taking up the cross daily and serving Christ?

Yes, that is 100% consistent with the NT applying Temple language to the church (1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:19-21). Peter identifies the church as a spiritual house “a holy priesthood, to offer up “spiritual sacrifices” (πνευματικὰς θυσίας) acceptable to God” (1 Pet. 2:5). In Hebrews we are admonished to “offer (399 ἀναφέρω anaphero) sacrifice (2378 θυσία thusia)” and that word is used in the Greek Septuagint to offer (399 ἀναφέρω anaphero) the whole burnt offering that in Hebrew is the “daily” (08548 תָּמִיד tamiyd) 1 Ch. 16:40; 23:31; 2 Ch. 2:3; 24:14.

Our sacrifice of praise is to be offered “continually” (1275 διαπαντός) to God. In Hebrews 13:1-17 the ethical exhortations being an expansion of the acceptable duties priests offer God daily (Heb. 12:28 λατρεύωμεν εὐαρέστως τῷ θεῷ).

Christ is our perpetual sacrifice for sin (Heb. 10:11-18), it follows “that the daily sacrifice “shall be taken away” (05493 סוּר cuwr; 868 ἀφίστημι) is taken away by the church’s apostasy when it receives the false Christ man of sin, which occurs at the commencement of the seven years.

Not taking up the cross daily for Christ, doing service to the false Christ, is the apostasy that removes the daily sacrifice of praise and offerings to God and that marks the beginning of the end time week as does the arrival of Moses and Elijah to prophesy in Jerusalem (Rev. 11:3-7)

Some object its unhistorical NT usage define OT meaning, but that is not pertinent to prophecy whose words are sealed (Dan. 12:9) until the generation it was written for had arrived (1 Pt. 1:12). Confirming this, the angel said the righteous and wise would understand in the end time (Dan. 12:10). However, righteous and wise Daniel (Dan. 1:17; 4:9-10, 18; 5:10-12, 14-16) could not understand because he was not in the end time when the unsealed meaning of the words would be known.

This radically affects classic pre/mid/post tribulation discussion, and how long the Great Tribulation will be (45 days), for more on this:

Predestination unto Salvation: Was Divine Election Conditional or Unconditional?
The Powerful Delusion: The Coming Tsunami of Spiritism

The Third Temple: Does scripture anticipate a future Jewish Temple?
The Desolator is the Abomination of Desolation
The Two Phases of Antichrist: Man of Sin & Son of Perdition