Who is the False Prophet?
By John W. Milor
Posted @ http://www.AliensAndTheAntichrist.com
Shortly following the rapture of the church, (a future event when God will take all the Christians away to heaven prior to the great tribulation), while people are still confused, frightened, and otherwise freaked out, Earth will be ripe for a massive satanic invasion, because the church, which has been holding back the emergence of the Antichrist, will be removed (2 Thessalonians 2:6–8). What will happen next?
Satan has diligently been trying to take over the governments of the world ever since Adam. The pharaoh of Egypt (Exodus), the king of Assyria—Antiochus Epiphanies (Isaiah 10:5), the king of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:11–19), the king of the Grecian Empire—Alexander the Great (Daniel 8:5–26), and Roman rulers such as Herod, his son with the same name, and Nero (Matthew 2; Luke 1:5, 23:6–15; Acts 25:11; 1 Timothy 2:2), were all heavily influenced by the power of Satan. Other national leaders from more recent times, such as Adolph Hitler, Saddam Hussein, and the like are all prime examples of Satan attempting to take over the world. All of these rulers were satanically empowered; most of them were bent on the destruction of the Jews in particular. Most of them had aspirations for world domination, and in most cases, they demanded worship as deities.
They were all types of antichrists, but they weren’t the Antichrist. After the rapture of the church, Satan will finally be able to make his big move, empowering a new national leader with more cunning than ever before. Even non-Christians sometimes wonder with trepidation about this figure—the future Antichrist. I suppose it’s easy for some people to mistake Jesus’s mercy for nonthreatening pacifism, despite the fact that the danger He poses to dissidents is far greater than anything the Antichrist will ever dish out. Regardless of this fact, however, the term “Antichrist” strikes fear into the hearts of many.
Before the Antichrist rises to power, however, he will be preceded by someone known as the false prophet, who will announce his arrival, much the same way John the Baptist announced the arrival of Jesus. Exactly who is this false prophet, briefly mentioned in Revelation 16:13? The more I read the news these days, the more I am becoming convinced that this false prophet is currently walking in the global spotlight, and I think I know who he is! Scripture states that the identity of the Antichrist won’t be revealed until after the rapture of the church (2 Thessalonians 2:7―8), but there’s no mention of not being able to know who the false prophet is, especially when he’s making it so obvious.
2 Thessalonians 2:7―8 (bracketed comments added)
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he [the Church] who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way [in the rapture]. And then shall that Wicked [the Antichrist] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
In order to show my thinking about this coming false prophet, I first need to elaborate a little more on the Antichrist and his future kingdom. For starters, the Antichrist can only come from one specific place, and the Bible points out exactly where that place is; there is no need for a guessing game. Daniel’s visions actually aren’t that hard to understand; all it takes is a little common sense to see that they talk about ten kingdoms in a specific geographical region (within the vicinity of the Mediterranean Sea). Saying the ten kingdoms of Daniel’s visions are ten governmental types, or an economic treaty between ten countries, or any other manner of creative interpretation, goes further and further away from what scripture actually says.
Concerning the prophecies in the book of Daniel, as well as similar prophecies covering the same events given by the apostle John while exiled on the Isle of Patmos, a new revision of the ancient Roman Empire will be formed in the last days. This empire will be the seventh world-dominating empire mentioned in scripture. The first world-dominating empire was Egypt, the second Assyria, and then Babylon, Medo-Persia, the Grecian Empire, and the Roman Empire (see chapter 5 of my book, Aliens and the Antichrist, for more detailed information). The Internet is full of this same information as well. Almost all students of the Bible agree about the identity of the kingdoms of the world leading up to the revised Roman Empire.
The revised Roman Empire will encompass a very large tract of land that once housed fifty-four provinces.1 There are now (as of the year 2007) over twenty complete countries within the original territory of the ancient Roman Empire, and about twenty more countries if one counts areas where only portions of countries are included.2 All of these countries surround the Mediterranean Sea and span three continents, which includes most of Europe, a western portion of Asia, and a northern portion of Africa. Now what would have to take place that would shuffle national boundaries around to such a degree that nearly forty countries become ten? An easy answer would be war—and a very large one at that. Keep in mind that this has to happen before the Antichrist will rise to power.
Once the ten kingdoms are in place, the Antichrist is identified by both the prophet Daniel and the apostle John as being one of the kings of one of these nations. Daniel in particular was given three visions that speak of which area the Antichrist will rise to power from, and each vision narrows down his location with more precision.
First, the Antichrist is mentioned as being one of the kings of the ten kingdoms of the revised Roman Empire (ten toes of beast in Daniel 2; ten horns of beast in Daniel 7:23–24; ten horns of beast in Revelation 12:3; 13:1–4; 17:8–17). In Daniel’s second vision, the Antichrist is said to arise out of the area that was once part of the ancient Grecian Empire (Daniel 8:8–9, 8:21–23). This region overlaps the eastern portion of the ancient Roman Empire; it is symbolized by the metals of the image in Daniel 2, the four beasts of Daniel 7, and the he-goat of Daniel 8:5–26. In Daniel’s third vision, it was shown that the Grecian Empire would be divided into four parts following the death of Alexander the Great (Daniel 8:8–9, 8:21–23, 11:4), and then Daniel saw which of these four parts the Antichrist would arise from. The quadrant he will come from will be the Syrian quadrant. This can be determined from the fact that he will be in the nation directly north of Egypt (the Antichrist is mentioned as being the king to the north of Egypt—Daniel 11:36–46), which completely rules out a number of countries different theorists have speculated through the years, such as the Vatican, Germany, England, and the United States. This area today is the location of modern Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran.
Daniel 7:23–24* (bold emphasis added)
Thus he said the fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
*The Antichrist is depicted as arising out of one of the ten kings of the revised Roman Empire.
Daniel 8:21–23* (bold emphasis and bracketed comments added)
The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king (Alexander the Great). Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power. And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences [the Antichrist], shall stand up. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
*Clearly the Antichrist is mentioned as coming from one of the four quadrants of the ancient Grecian Empire.
Daniel 11:36–46* (bold emphasis and bracketed comments added)
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. And at the time of the end shall the king of the south [Egypt, shown below] push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. But tidings out of the east [China] and out of the north [the former Soviet Union] shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
*A nation north of Egypt yet south of another great world empire (which must be the former Soviet Union) would place the Antichrist in the Syrian quadrant of the ancient Grecian Empire, which will also be one of the eastern ten nations of the revised Roman Empire.
Aside from the facts listed above, the Antichrist is also called the Assyrian in scripture (Isaiah 10:20–27, 30:18–33, 31:4–32:20; Micah 5:3–15), which further identifies him with the nation of Syria.
Isaiah 10:20–27 (bold emphasis and bracketed comments added)
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he [the Antichrist] shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction. And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt. And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
Micah 5:3–6 (bold emphasis and bracketed comments added)
Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travails hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian [the Antichrist] shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treads within our borders.
From the facts mentioned above, the Antichrist will arise from the land known as ancient Assyria; this fact can clearly be determined by the title of the Antichrist (the Assyrian) and his geographical region—north of Egypt, south of another major world power, the former Soviet Union, and west of yet another major world power, China. Modern-day Syria encompasses the majority of its quadrant, which was established under the ancient Grecian Empire, but Lebanon is also a candidate for being the nation where the Antichrist will initially rise to power because it too is north of Egypt, and it was once within the borders of ancient Assyria. Notably it’s also a very small nation. Another name for the Antichrist is “little horn” (Daniel 7:8, 7:24, 8:9, 8:23), which denotes the possibility that a small nation is being spoken of, in comparison to the other nations around it. Lebanon is among the smallest nations to the north of Egypt.
Now that all this information is laid out, I will return to my original question—who is the false prophet?
Simply reading all these scriptures about the Antichrist, a number of facts emerge.
The Middle East crisis is currently brewing, like always, but things are worse now than they have ever been. The capability of nuclear power among these unstable nations is at hand. Pakistan poses a grave threat. North Korea is also involved in the mix. Nuclear installations have apparently been recently discovered in Syria.4 The moment one of these insane dictators gets their hands on nuclear power, the wars spoken of in scripture will be initiated. Forty nations will become ten.
And in the middle of all this madness, who is currently in the spotlight? Who is publicly announcing that he is a prophet declaring the coming of the Islamic messiah?5 Who is doing his very best to instigate a religious war against Israel and the U.S. to herald the arrival of this future Islamic messiah? Would it not be the false prophet spoken of in scripture?
I’m beginning to think that Perz Ahmedinejad, the president of Iran, is the false prophet spoken of in scripture. His religiously fanatical beliefs, his enemies and allies, his geographical location, and his mission in life―the fact that he believes he is a divine prophet predicting the arrival of a terrorist messiah, all point to this conclusion.
If I’m right, war is right around the corner, but I’m not even worried about it, even though I’m in the military. If I die in the war zone, I have peace about that, because at least I’m on the right side. Muslims that shout “Jihad” are right about one thing; terrorism is a holy war. But the terrorists are on the WRONG SIDE! And that would mean that I am on the right side.
And if I don’t die in the war zone, guess what? The rapture of the church will come in my lifetime, and I will never see death. That’s worth being excited about!
1. Dr. Neil Goldberg, “Rome Project,” The Dalton School, http://intranet.dalton.org/groups/Rome/ (accessed January 19, 2006).
2. Franco Cavazzi, Illustrated History of the Roman Empire, http://www.roman-empire.net (accessed January 15, 2006).
3. Editors of The Jerusalem Post, “Let Jewish state move to Europe or Alaska,” http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1191257230393 (accessed October 10, 2007).
4. Editors of Y Net News, “Report: Israel spots nuclear installations in Syria,” http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,3448829,00.html (accessed October 10, 2007).
5. Ali Eteraz, “Iran Prez Ahmedinejad Declared a Prophet?," Personal Blog of writer, essayist, and activist, http://eteraz.wordpress.com/2006/09/21/iran-prez-ahmedinejad-declared-a-prophet (accessed October 10, 2007); Editors of www.NationalTerrorAlert.com, “October 12 - Final Response Forthcoming From Iran’s Ahmadinejad?” The National Terror Alert Center, http://www.nationalterroralert.com/updates/2007/10/11/october-12-final-response-forthcoming-from-irans-ahmadinejad/ (accessed October 11, 2007)