Antichrist - Reflections of the Desolator by Doug Krieger

INTRODUCTION –

For nearly three years in which our Web Site has been in operation (April, 2005-January, 2008), we have carried numerous articles on the ever-elusive, but increasingly conspicuous personage of the Antichrist. Our Pretribulational brethren derisively declare that as a result of this seemingly endless fascination with the Creature from the Abyss, the first horseman of the Apocalypse, that we most certainly entertain the less than noble posture of awaiting the coming of Antichrist, not Jesus Christ, at his Second Coming.

Indeed, we who embrace the TESTIMONY OF JESUS, as the spirit of prophecy, appear unwavering in our drive toward tribulational purification—as if we were awash in unbridled negativity and, ipso facto, destined to a miserable Christian existence on this planet by exposing the likes of the Great Apostasy and running the risk of “sowing discord among the brethren” just for the sake of being discordant. Alas! The infamous charge: Your focus is on Antichrist, not Jesus Christ and His Coming!

Meanwhile, all the warnings of Jesus, Who forthrightly foretold that in the latter days MANY false christs would abound, and that the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, should be an absolute warning to us of the “end of days” – especially, that even the very ELECT face the perils of abject deception. In spite of all this, we’re led to believe none of this deserves our consideration?

Furthermore, it can be argued that as the secular impress upon the world grows all the more prevailing, even so, the unrestrained efforts to conform Christians, at least in America, into her “national consciousness” – into the “American Thesis or Creed” – now demands a patriotic nationalism to include “evangelical relativism” whereby, for the sake of brotherly unity and supposed witness to the world, we now must put aside the barbs of prophetic interpolations and disputes (which are many, trust me), and adhere only to the “most essential doctrines of the faith once delivered.”

Not only is Bible prophecy relegated to the lunatic fringe of seminary offerings (i.e., eschatology is not taught in depth, nor in fact), it is denigrated from the pulpits as the “devil’s distraction” when juxtaposed to the alleged preaching of the gospel and the social imperatives embedded therein. In sum, and as Rick Warren would have us believe from the lips of Jesus: The details of My return are none of your business! Taken in or out of context, this indifference to prophecy simply does not square with what the prophetic Scriptures say about themselves, nor really, what Jesus Himself said about His Second Coming.

Naturally, coupled with this quest for “evangelical conformity” and subsequent diminishing of the prophetic studies of the Scripture, is the rude awakening of Preterism in which virtually all Old and New Testament prophecy was fulfilled in 70 A.D. at the destruction of the Second Temple.

Hence, with this “one-two theological encumbrance” – the exposure of the immediacy of the Antichrist (“there come a falling away first . . . and the Man of Sin be revealed . . .” I Thess. 2) and of the Great Apostasy preceding his unveiling, are deemed divisive and unnecessary, given the extremity of world hunger, poverty and tumult—i.e., We’ve got enough trouble, let alone delve into more of it!

Nevertheless, we at the Tribulation Network are emboldened to declare the “whole counsel of God” and all the more as we see the day approaching, expose and warn, console and encourage, both saint and sinner in these Last Days to prepare for the coming of the Lord with all manner of prophetic understanding and concern – knowing this:

“But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the Book until the time of the end. [Then] many shall run to and fro and search anxiously [through the Book], and knowledge [of God's purposes as revealed by His prophets] shall be increased and become great” (Daniel 12:4 – Amplified Bible)

May the Lord bless and astound you in this study of your adversary – who “like a roaring lion seeks whomever he may devour” – who “resist steadfast in the faith – and knowing this: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:11).

(Note: Many of the chapter contents have kept their original “addresses” (e.g., Chapter or Part); hopefully, this will NOT confuse the reader – ALL these chapters can be found in our archives or Topical Index. If more chapters are discovered (currently we have 28) which enhance the study of this topic, we will include them later in this e-book. The chapters contained in ANTICHRIST AND THE GOG-MAGOG WAR have been kept exclusively within the confines of the e-book under the Tribulation Networks’ OUR BOOKS section on our Front Page—we highly recommend additional studies on this subject in this text as well.)

Chapter 1 -	THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION - Part XVII – The Prophetic Sequence A Study of the Antichrist-Beast, False Prophet-Second Beast, and the Image of the Beast (A Theological Discourse)
Chapter 2	THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION - Part XVIII – The Prophetic Sequence A Study of the Antichrist-Beast, False Prophet-Second Beast, and the Image of the Beast (A Theological Discourse)
Chapter 3	A Study of the Antichrist-Beast, False Prophet-Second Beast, and the Image of the Beast (A Theological Discourse) Part XIX – The Prophetic Sequence A Study of the Antichrist-Beast, False Prophet-Second Beast, and the Image of the Beast (A Theological Discourse)
Chapter 4-	Antichrist is Not a Jew, the Pope, Islam or a New Age Joke – Part I – Leading Evangelicals, past and present, are unwaveringly convinced that a Jew will be the Antichrist! Not only are they eschatologically unsound, but their deviant interpretations have led to centuries of Anti-Semitism and distain for the hated Jew.
Chapter 5 -	Antichrist is Not a Jew, the Pope, Islam nor a Joke - Part II – Response to the Antichrist is Not a Jew was overwhelming – hence, this sequel – today the hated Jew is concentrated in Zionism – an altogether concentration of hatred!
Chapter 6-	Antichrist is Not the Pope . . . A System, Nor Totality of Babylon the Great! – Part III – This notion that the Papacy is the “System of Anti-Christ” is the foundational eschatology of the Reformation. The Papacy may be a lot of disgusting things— things in which the “spirit of Antichrist inhabits” – but, it, in and of itself is NOT the Antichrist!
Chapter 7 -	Islam is Not the Antichrist – Part IV - The War on Terror would have us believe, along with numerous patriotic preachers and some European malcontents, that Islam is the breeding ground for the future Antichrist –ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Chapter 8 -	Antichrist is Not a New Age Joke – Part V – The New Age Movement may be the harbinger of ecumenism and one-world religion – it may utterly declare that “many false christs are gone out into the world” – yet, in and of itself, it is NOT the Antichrist.
Chapter 9 –	In Search of the Antichrist Dene McGriff encapsulates into one article the multifaceted aspects of this nefarious creature from the Abyss.
Chapter 10 -	The Antichrist is Coming This unilateral exchange between Doug K. and Mike M. of the Church of Christ was meant to draw attention to the fact that the Churches of Christ (an anti-denominational denomination) adheres to the traditional teachings of the Reformers; to wit: The Antichrist is the Papacy.
Chapter 11 -	Who is Able to Make War with Him (Rev. 13:4) One of the salient characteristics of the Antichrist-Beast is his propensity to wage unmitigated war against his enemies – this characterizes that capacity.
Chapter 12 -	Resistance is Futile I saw a Beast Rising up out of the Sea – This chapter continues the rampant escalation of militarism—a major aspect of the Rise of Antichrist.
Chapter 13 -	Your Covenant with Death – Your Agreement With Hell – The U.S.-Israel Strategic Alliance – Part I – The next four chapters of “Reflections on the Antichrist” highlights the U.S.-Israel Strategic Alliance – for it is only the Antichrist in the Prophetic Scriptures who will commence a “defense pact” or “treaty of security” with Israel’s majority population.
Chapter 14 -	He Will Confirm a Covenant with the Many – The U.S.-Israel Strategic Alliance - Part II
Chapter 15 -	He Will Also Invade the Beautiful Land – The U.S.-Israel Strategic Alliance – Part III
Chapter 16 -	The Prince of the Covenant – The U.S.-Israel Strategic Alliance – Part IV
Chapter 17 –	The Prince Who is to Come – But Who is He? - Part VIII – The Prophetic Sequence In this chapter we will continue to explore the identity of the Antichrist as embedded in his title: The Prince Who is to Come found in Daniel 9.
Chapter 18 -	He Will Confirm the Covenant – But Who is He? - Part VII – The Prophetic Sequence Once again his identity rests in his ability to intervene into Israel’s political and religious landscape – this he will do as he “Confirms the Covenant” and is ultimately entitled: The Prince of the Covenant
Chapter 19 -	Hitler and the Christian Religion – or THE THEOCRATIC STATE Perhaps the grand archetype of the Antichrist was embodied in Herr Hitler – the rise of the “Theocratic State” bears uncanny resemblance to the forces of totalitarianism enshrouded in the American thesis—especially when rampant and unbridled nationalism carries the day in response to the War on Terror.
Chapter 20-	DaVinci Code – DECIPHERING THE ANTICHRIST – Dan Brown’s Hidden Agenda We now witness the “Theater of the Absurd” – a good read for all conspiratorialists, for within this farce there’s actually a more sinister plot to conceal Antichrist’s true identity.
Chapter 21 -	*Javier Solana – The Evident* Spokesman for the World** Here’s where I sound “malicious” – but not so; just disgusted that so many evangelicals are mesmerized by the Eurocentric Antichrist who doesn’t exist in life nor in the Bible – and certainly not in the person of Javier Solana, as some well-meaning, but wholly deceived brethren would have us believe or at least consider.
Chapter 22 -	By Peace He Shall Destroy Many – Part X – The Prophetic Sequence Antichrist comes riding upon a white horse with bow, no arrow, signaling his allegedly “peaceful intentions.” However, by his very peace he shall, according to the prophets, destroy many!
Chapter 23 -	Early Church Fathers – Our Prophetic Legacy – Part XI – The Prophetic Sequence The Antichrist was taught by the Fathers –Try as our critics may – the Early Church Fathers affirm the personality – the personification of the Antichrist, not a system or simply a “spirit gone out into the world.” Furthermore, their clarity on the extension of the 70th Week of Daniel is irrefutable.
Chapter 24 -	THE KING OF TYRE – Part XXI – The Prophetic Sequence This chapter reveals a most self-absorbed figure whose conspicuous consumption sought to ascend above the hosts of heaven in ultimate idolatry – his replacements of the Almighty are an outright sham!
Chapter 25 –	ISRAEL’S TEMPLE SACRIFICE AND THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION The Jewish Feast Days are aligned with the 70th Week of Daniel and the Ministry of Jesus Christ is brought into clear distinction from that of His antitype: The Antichrist. This is one amazing article—and the longest in the series on this desecrating subject; however, the final culmination of all types and shadows meet their blessed goal on the 1,335th Day of Daniel’s prophecy.
Chapter 26 –	FATHER OF MODERN PALESTINE . . . AND ALSO THE PRINCE OF THE COVENANT? The nations gathered in Annapolis, Maryland at the US Naval Academy – the host was designated as the “the only man that could make it happen” – American Evangelicals and Israelis acclaimed him as their man to bring “peace and justice” to the Middle East via a “two-state solution” and become the “Father of Modern Palestine” – his name: George Walker Bush, President of the United States of America. Even so, the Bible speaks of the “Prince of the Covenant” – how close are we? Is this the “Treaty of Hell and Death?”
Chapter 27 –	JESUS CHRIST DOES THE WORK OF ANTICHRIST? – A Perfectly timed heresy says Who? This chapter concentrates upon the erroneous notion that Daniel 9:27 and the “he” mentioned therein refers to the person and work of Jesus Christ, and NOT to the person and work of Antichrist. This egregious error is taken “out of context” by at least three schools of thought; hence, by neglecting the pervasive exposure of the Desolator found in Daniel 8, 11, and chapter 12, these expositors have fallen into the Tempter’s abyss and extolled heresy instead of bringing glory and honor to Messiah—both at His First Coming, and most assuredly at His Second!
Chapter 28	ISRAEL’S PROPHETIC WITNESS – “To Finish the Transgression . . . and to Anoint the Most Holy” The Desolator has had a field day since Origen and Augustine camouflaged his identity nigh 1,700+ years ago. The American Church, however, building upon the hyper-allegorical reading of the prophetic text, was bound—due to its propensity of free thought—to outdistance the world in coming up with every cockeyed date for the Second Coming of Christ known to man—substantiated by all the prophetic texts in Daniel, which clearly relate to National Israel, as the Church’s exclusive purview (viz., the 2,300 days of Daniel 8:14 and the “cleansing” or “restoration” of the temple in 1844 A.D.). Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Mormons, Harold Camping, Larry Wilson and a host of present discretionary and indiscriminant foes of National Israel (e.g., Alan Morrison and Hank Hanegraaff) have taken on the serpentine task of concealing Antichrist’s identity, while at the same time, unwittingly or purposefully denigrating the Person and Work of Jesus Christ, while insulting our intelligence in the process. In particular, their highfaluting, self-righteous rhetoric of “peace, justice and equity” is what grates the heart and soul of us who refuse to “read into” the Scriptures anything but what it really says—and to affirm the overall intent of God’s eternal purposes for the heavens and the earth at the close of this age for both National Israel and the Church.