THE AMERICAN - ASSYRIAN
ANTICHRIST
By
FeastsOfTheLord.Net
ANTICHRIST LINEAGE
NOAH
begot SHEM (Founded City of Ashur in the land called Assyria)
NOAH
begot HAM (Cursed by Noah and fell upon his son CANAAN) .
HAM begot CUSH, PUT
and CANAAN.
CUSH begot NIMROD (Built Nineveh in Assyria; Offshoot of
Babylon).
CANAAN (means “Merchant”) begot SIDON (as in
Tyre and Sidon) and the race of the Canaanites.
“From
you, oh Ninevah, has come forth one who plots evil against the Lord and counsels wickedness”, Nahum 1:11.
The Assyrian people live in the Ninevah plains. The Ninevah plains are near the modern city of
Mosul in northern Iraq.
THE TEN ISLAMIC KINGS: The 10 Islamic kingdoms
may include Syria, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Sudan, Libya, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The
Assyrians may be the eleventh horn of the beast of Daniel 7 to rise among the ten kings already in power.
THE LITTLE HORN / ANTICHRIST: Daniel 8:8-14 The “Little
Horn” (Antiochus Sotor; son of Seleucus, one of the 4 Greek generals under Alexander the Great, 221 B.C.) establishes
the Seleucid Empire (lineage of the antichrist, epitomized by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, ruler of the Assyrian Empire).
ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES (the prototype of the antichrist), a Greco-Roman ruler, ruled the empire
of Assyria (aka land of Nimrod) and performed the abomination of desolation on the temple altar in 165 B.C.
DANIEL 8:8-14 describes
the Little Horn as the antichrist in the last days / end of the age. Verse 13 then asks the question:
“How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving
of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?” Verse 14 answers by saying:
“And He said to me ‘2300 days (2300 prophetic years), then the sanctuary shall be cleansed’
“. Question: Is the cleansing of the temple that of a physical or spiritual nature?
2300 Days, Interpretation #1:
281 B.C. Antiochus 1 Soter (meaning Savior), the “little horn”
of Dan. 8:8, took the throne and started the Seleucid Empire in 281 B.C. + 2300 Days / Years = 2018 A.D (the start of the 70th 50-year Jubilee from when the
Hebrews entered the Promised Land).
Incidentally,
2018 A.D will also be 70 years from the time Israel became a
nation again as prophesied by Ezekiel (Ezek. 37) and Daniel (Dan.9:24-27) and 50 years from the time Jerusalem was recaptured
by Israel, to culminate in the year of Jubilee in 2018 A.D.
So if the prophecy of Dan. 8 is pointing
to the heritage of the antichrist, it is indicating that he will be a Roman of Greek heritage. On
the other hand, he will also be a ruler stemming from the lineage of the Seleucid Empire in the land of Assyria.
Antiochus IV Epiphanes ruled Assyria as a Greek who Hellenized all he ruled in commercial apostasy.
Revelation 18 records how commercial exploitations are consumed by fiery judgment at the close
of this age. Zech. 14:21 states “in that day (i.e. the Millennial reign) there shall no longer
be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord of Hosts”. Commercialism abides within the “curse
of Canaan” with religious overtones of apostasy when religion is mixed with commercialism.
This is precisely why there is a distinguishing between the “religious Babylon” of
Rev. 17 and “commercial Babylon” mentioned in Rev. 18.
Assyria is referred to as “the land of Nimrod” (Micah 5:6). The prophet Micah refers
to this final conqueror as “the Assyrian”. The “remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst
of many peoples and thus He (Messiah) shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he (the Assyrian) comes into our land when
he treads within our borders”. Therefore Nimrod’s connection with the antichrist is altogether
possible. In both Daniel 8 and 11 the Assyrian Antiochus merges almost imperceptibly into the final antichrist.
Daniel 10:13 refers to “the prince of Persia”
who is juxtaposed with the “prince of Greece” in Daniel 10:20. Persia is in point of fact
Assyria; and with the USA now in Assyria (northern Iraq). The US might find
that a bit disconcerting as a final world empire, with its lineage from the Greco-Roman heritage, now ruling
the land of Nimrod / Assyria.
In Isaiah 10:5,12,24 the antichrist
is called “the Assyrian”. In the time of Israel, Assyria included Babylonia. In
other places, the antichrist is termed “the king of the North” (Jer. 1:14, Ezek.26:7) referring to a term meaning
Assyria in Scripture. This term is to be distinguished from “the uttermost parts of the North”,
as in Ezek. 38:6,15 and 39:2.
So the antichrist
will be the king / RULER of Assyria / Persia, which of old was the dominion of Seleucus (the little horn), who gained
the eastern part of the empire from Alexander. Many eschatological writers make a cardinal error regarding
the Assyrian antichrist. They see a literal ethnic Assyria, which dissolves into a fundamental misunderstanding
of the identity of the little horn; who is actually Greek in heritage, but ruler of the Assyrian empire.
Daniel 8:7-14 emphasizes the little horn / antichrist, who will even exalt himself; and by him the daily sacrifices
will be taken away and the place of his sanctuary will be cast down because of his transgression. This
refers to the sacrifices of praise and commitment to God, not blood sacrifices. The Messiah has satisfied the requirement
for blood sacrifices. See DANIEL 9:27 Hebrew Transliteration and English Equivalents - GRAMMER DIAGRAM CHART and Ezekiel’s Temple
After 2300 days / years
the sanctuary shall be cleansed:
The lineage
of the antichrist is initiated with the institution of the Seleucid Empire in 281 B.C. Note: 281 B.C.
plus 2300 years = 2018 A.D.,
at which time the sanctuary of God will be cleansed and the Millennial Kingdom will start. This is the
end of 2300 years, culminated by the 7-year tribulation period and the beginning of the 70th 50-year Jubilee
aka Millennial Kingdom.
The little horn speaks
pompous words until, by the intervention of the Ancient of Days, the Son of Man comes in the clouds of heaven … “then
to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom” (Dan. 7:14).
2300 Days, Interpretation #2:
Antiochus IV Epiphanes (8th in Seleucid Empire lineage) of the little horn in Dan. 8:8 is the one who performed the “Abomination of Desolation”
on the temple alter, and persecuted the Jews 2300 days from 171 B.C. to Dec. 25th 165 B.C.;
at which time Judas Maccabeus restored (aka rededication) the temple to worship 75 days after the Feast of Tabernacles –
now celebrated as Hanukkah or the Feast of Dedication.
2300
Days, Interpretation #3:
The 4th empire in Daniel’s vision catapults us into the 70th week of Daniel 9:24-27:
2300
days Cleansing the Sanctuary +10 day Armageddon +7
months (210) Removing Bodies
0 ===================== 3.5 years ==================== 7 Years
/
1260 days
/
(1260 days) \ 2520 days
0 ====== Cleansing the Sanctuary =========== 2300
+10 +210 = 2520 days
2300 days Cleansing the
Sanctuary +10 day Armageddon
+7 months (210) Removing Bodies
Dan.
9:14 6.4 (2300 days) years +
7 Months Ezek. 39:12
10/ 2011 ================ 4/ 2015 ==========
2/ 2018 - 3/ 2018 - 10/ 2018
7-Year “Tribulation Period” ( 2300 +10 +210 )
The final manifestation of the Gentile world power is pitted in battle against the
people, the saints of the Most High for “a time, times and a half a time” (Dan. 7:25; 12:7 and Rev.13:2).
The 4th beast of Daniel 9, is a logical progression of the Roman Empire.
The 4th beast is the 4th kingdom on earth, which dominates the king/kingdom principle and calls
attention to the ultimate beast-nation; it will be headed by the antichrist-beast. The 4th
beast is representative of the power of all the kingdoms of this world. As noted in Daniel 9:2,34-35
the 4th beast will fill the whole earth and, as Rev.13:1-2 states, “all the world marveled and followed
the beast”.
The 4th beast is a composite
expression of latter-day world power. It is tri-partite
in nature of an apostate religion (Rev. 17), commercial exploitation (Rev.18) and political power (Rev.19).
All characteristics of Ham, Cush, Canaan and Nimrod will be found therein.
So who is the “Assyrian”? This is merely a title representative
of the antichrist’s leadership in the Assyrian region (the land of Nimrod) which currently includes Iran and Iraq.
The Assyrian referred to by Isaiah 14 and Micah 5:7 is in fact the antichrist. The Assyrian
is a false messiah attempting to betray and destroy Israel, but the true Messiah will save Israel.
In the end, the Assyrian will be destroyed by the mouth of the Messiah at the end of the “Day of the Lord”.
Daniel 12:6b asks: “How long shall it be ‘til the end of
these wonders?” He is given the answer: “for a time, times, and half a time (3 ½ years)
and all these things shall be finished.” “From the time of the daily sacrifice shall be taken
away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up there shall be 1,290 days. Blessed is he who waits
and comes to 1,335 days.”
It is interesting to note that the
abomination of the Dome of the Rock mosque on the temple mount site which was built in 683 A.D. plus the 1335 days referred
to by Daniel (12:12) culminate in the year 2018 A.D.
The Assyrian antichrist is mentioned 13 times in Scripture, such as Micah 5:5-6, Ezek. 31:3, Is.
23:13; 30:31; 31:8; 52:4 and Zech.10:11. In summation, the antichrist is the Assyrian but
he is likewise known as: the king of Babylon, king of Tyre, the willful king, the little horn, the beast,
the prince who is to come, and the antichrist. He is the prince of the people who shall destroy the
city and the sanctuary (naos; spiritual temple). The Assyrian of the last
days bears the mark of Nimrod, a mighty hunter, bold against the Lord.
And it is at this time that “this one” will return (the Messiah of Israel – for
“the Deliverer shall come forth out of Zion and He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob”, Rom.11:26) …
“thus He shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and when he treads within our borders”
Micah 5:6b.
APOSTASY: There is a great apostasy among Protestants, who are desperately in need of a practical holiness.
This is the indispensible condition for meeting the Lord in peace when He comes.
Paul, in II Thess. Chapter 2 also refers to the antichrist as “the son of perdition”
or “man of sin” who “sits as god in the temple (Gk. naos) showing himself
that he is god” (II Thess. 2:4). Note: The temple buildings are
referred to in Hebrew as hieron, whereas the spiritual temple
is referred to as naos in Greek.
Note: The antichrist is not sitting in a physical temple (hieron);
but rather he is sitting in the temple (naos) of the spiritual hearts and minds of men spreading his apostasy.
It is important to note here that blood sacrifices have been satisfied by the blood of Christ who
was slain “once for all” (Heb. 10:10) and it is the sacrifices of praise and commitment to God that the
antichrist seeks to “cause to cease”, as noted in Dan. 9:24-27.
See: DANIEL 9:27 Hebrew Transliteration and English Equivalents - GRAMMER DIAGRAM CHART and Ezekiel’s Temple website page
John’s
Heavenly Temple of Rev. 21 and 22
And Ezekiel 41 through 48
John, in Rev. 21, goes on to describe the new heavens and the new earth with the “New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride for
her husband”. John describes a voice out of heaven saying “Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He shall dwell
with them and they shall be His people and God Himself shall dwell
with them and shall be their God and there shall be no more death.” (Rev. 21:1-3)
John then describes in Rev. 21:10 how he is carried away and shown a great city, the Holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven
from God, having the glory of God. “And [it] had a great
wall and 12 gates and at the gates 12 angels the names written thereon
are the names of the 12 tribes
of Israel … and the wall of the city had 12 foundations (12 apostles of the land). And he that talked with me
had a golden rod to measure the city …”. Upon the description of the completion of the measurements of the city, John
immediately states “and I saw no temple therein, the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the light of it;
and the city had no need of the sun ... for the glory of God enlightened it, and the Lamb is the light thereof …”
(Rev. 21:22-23).
Just as with Ezekiel’s vision,
John is given a similar vision of the “water of life proceeding
out of the throne of God (Rev. 22:1) from a heavenly Jerusalem“.
(Rev. 21:10)
“In the midst of the street of
it on either side of the river was there the tree of life … and there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it.“
(Rev. 22:1)
SUMMARY:
Ezekiel states that
the “East Gate” will be closed until His (Jesus’) Return. This East
Gate is clearly part of Herod’s reconstructed Temple Mount as it exists today.
Ezekiel’s vision of a new temple is therefore a description of both a physical and a spiritual temple.
The physical temple must be Herod’s temple, as he describes the East Gate being opened (during Jesus’ triumphal
entry), and closed until His Return.
********************
Ezekiel then goes on to describe events after the Year of Jubilee, aka Millennial Kingdom. Then
he describes a heavenly vision of “a river of water flowing out from the door of the house of the Lord eastward giving
life”. (Ezek. 47:1)
John is given the similar vision of
the water of life proceeding out of the throne of God (Rev. 22:1) from a heavenly Jerusalem. (Rev. 21:10)
The apostle John’s vision of a New heavenly Jerusalem is the same as Ezekiel’s vision of a heavenly Jerusalem
with the river of living water flowing out from the throne of God.
“In the midst of the street of it on either side of the
river was there the tree of life … and there shall be no more
curse: but the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it.” (Rev. 22:1)
********************
Ezekiel 48 goes on to describe how the 12 tribes repopulate the lands and how “the sanctuary
of the house shall be in the midst thereof”.
These 12 tribes could only be the ‘faithful’
144,000 Jewish remnant who had received the mark of protection from the Lord on their forehead to go through the 7-year
‘Tribulation Period’.
“And I saw no temple therein:
for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” Rev. 21:22
Hermeneutically, the apostle John’s heavenly vision of a New Jerusalem and Ezekiel’s
vision of the heavenly sanctuary are one and the same.
********************
“The LORD
is in His holy temple,
the LORD'S throne is in heaven …” Psalm 11:4
“Even He shall build the temple of the LORD; and He shall
bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne: and the counsel of peace
shall be between them both.” Zech. 6:13
“And
I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” Rev. 21:22
RETURN TO: FeastsOfTheLord.Net
