As to exactly "who" it is I can only speculate.
Many think it was Nero as he set himself up as a "god" and Nero is the Caesar mentioned when John wrote the Revelation.
Revelation 17:10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
The "one is" is Nero these 7 kings are the Caesars of Rome. This verse is one of the proofs that Rev was written during the reign of Nero and BEFORE the fall of Jerusalem. The Caesar who followed Nero was in power a very short while ( short space) Some speculate that the anti-christ was actually Herod ( not the one who lived when Christ was put to death but another one that re-arranged the worship at the temple etc.
I am not sure exactly "who" the anti-christ was but I am sure he cannot come after 70 AD. John in his letters wrote that the anti-christ was to appear soon. The term anti-christ is only found in the epistles of John and I believe that the epistles were written after the book of Revelation. Also the fact that there were only seven churches in Asia when it was written ties it to the time of Nero as there were 7 churches then but many more shortly thereafter.
The "time" is during the great apostasy, which was to befall the church just prior to the 3 1/2 year war and destruction of the temple. The book of Revelation was written about that event not something in our future. This is something very few people realize. The book itself set that stage in the very first verses:
REV 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Very first verse says MUST shortly come to pass. Shortly is not 2000 years or more.
Rev1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
"the TIME was "at hand" ( within reach )
In fact the entire book was to be fulfilled within 7 years of being written by John.
Jesus also said that those things would occur within a 40 year period:
Matthew 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
all these things can never mean some of these things.
Unfortunately the KJV bible was translated to English by men who believed that the second coming and the anti-christ were all to be seen in the future and far beyond " that generation" and so they translated many things very poorly.
The apostles asked when will be the end of the age not the end of the world:
Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
You cannot blame people for getting the wrong idea with translations like this.
These versions are now fixed:
Darby
Matthew 24:3 And as he was sitting upon the mount of Olives the disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be, and what is the sign of thy coming and the completion of the age?
New King James
Matthew 24:3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"
The "harvest" is not at the end of the world but at the "end of the age" The end of what age? You may ask - the end of the Jewish age - the age of the old covenant that was passing away with the coming of Jesus to institute the New Covenant. The temple and the nation Israel was left to stand for only 40 more years. Jesus told them that their house was left "desolate" so that the abomination that maketh desolate was in fact Roman Armies. Jesus was crucified in 30 AD and he came again in 70 AD People who wait for the second coming will wait in vain as He already came.
Look carefully at what John said and forget what you have been taught:
1 John 2:18 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.
"last hour" is not 2000 year away.
The "time of the end" does not mean "end of time" it was call the last times - then last days - and finally "last hour as the time drew very very close. |
