Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Prophecy Watch: Consolidation of Power in the End Times

Prophecy Watch: Consolidation of Power in the End Times

Last updated on: January 11, 2006 at 2:57 pm by Jim Erwin

Prophecy Watch: Consolidation of Power in the End Times 2006-01-11T14:57:00-05:00 Jim Erwin

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Prophecy Watch: Consolidation of Power in the End Times

“Then Jesus replied to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many.” (Matthew 24:4–5, HCSB)

Jesus warned us as Christians that we should not be deceived. We are to be on watch in the world affairs because what goes on in the world will show indicators of what will happen in the end. One curious phenomenon that is going on today is the consolidation of power. You see this everywhere. The simplest example is in the merging of companies. But in recent times, we have seen the merger of currencies. Just 20 years ago, there were separate currencies all over Europe. With the invention of the euro, 25 countries with each its own currency went to just one.

Economically, we see fewer currencies and fewer markets. Politically, we see that coalitions of governments are coming together. Individual political entities are consolidating into groups of power. Some examples include: European Union, African Union, Arab League, ASEAN. What these unions show is that people can accomplish more together than separately. Power will be consolidated into smaller groups of people. Spiritually, we have seen the same thing. In the past, each village or town had their own god. Along with these gods, there were other gods for a variety of purposes. Rain gods, crop gods, love gods, moon gods, sun gods, and many other gods that were called upon for different purposes.

God as revealed in the Bible changed all this. He revealed Himself to a nation – Israel – and showed the world that He is the only God. Of course, people still consulted their own gods, but God persisted in reaching people. As time passed, God sent His Son – Jesus Christ – to show the world that He is real. Slowly but surely, the nations have come to know that there is one and only one God. There are still people who believe in other gods. Here lies the deception that Jesus warns against. Jesus told His followers that there is only one God. Yet He warns that in the future, someone will come and say that there is another god. He will claim to be god. Will He claim to be Jesus Christ? While some people have claimed to be Jesus Christ, the indication is that Jesus refers to a time when someone will claim to be the salvation for the world. This person will come in place of Jesus – an Antichrist. He will demand the loyalty and worship of everyone on earth. So, in the end the battle for consolidation of spiritual power will come to two people: Jesus and this Antichrist.

There can only be one.

Therefore, this Antichrist will try to show that he is the one God through amazing tricks (tricks that Jesus said would be used in order to deceive the elect). This means that Antichrist will claim to be God. But the point is that there will only be two choices. A person can choose to follow Jesus Christ or Antichrist. Where will this Antichrist get his following. Some have said that through his amazing work, he will draw a following. Others have said that he will be a powerful world leader. It is entirely possible that Antichrist will use a religion as the way to reach the world. Considering that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are linked through Abraham, and that all three make up over 70 percent of the world’s adherents, it is quite possible that this Antichrist will lead one of these religions. Some have said that the Antichrist will be a Muslim. It is possible, but only to the extent that everyone is deceived to believe that he is God.

Antichrist will try to consolidate his power in the first half of the “Tribulation Period”. He will show the world that he can be trusted to bring peace. Therefore, he could actually advertise his religion as peace. Perhaps this religion would already be established. Through his popularity, people will want to join his religion. (This is nothing new. There were emperor cults in the Greco-Roman times. These emperor cults were popular religions where people worshipped the leader of the country)

Antichrist will receive popularity through his peace program in the first half of the “Tribulation Period”. Then he will come to the temple in Jerusalem and claim to make everyone worship him.

This reveals another possible evidence for the likelihood that Antichrist will use Islam as his preferred religion. Since the founding of the state of Israel, the Temple Mount has been controlled by Muslims. They will not like the Temple Mount being given to the Jews.

After Antichrist claims the Temple in Jerusalem as his headquarters, he will demand worship from EVERYONE, not just people in his religion. The revealing fact about this demand is that the people will follow him willingly (Revelation 13:3-4).

At this time, everyone will be expected to follow Antichrist. He will demand worship from Christians. If Antichrist uses another religion, then it is possible to see Christians giving up Christianity to join him. We see this happening all the time. When a Christian marries a non-Christian, especially someone from Judaism or Islam, the Christian will leave Christ. So it will be in the time of the Antichrist.

There can only be one.

Antichrist will even demand proof of worship of himself from people who say they will follow him. While Jesus asks for voluntary worship and discipleship, Antichrist will expect his followers to “show proof of membership.” There has been much speculation on how this will be done. But there is no doubt that it can be done. How can someone mark everyone who adheres to a world religion? Hitler did it with the Jews during World War II. He marked everyone who was a Jew with a number, tattooed on their skin. In fact, the tattoo was marked on their arm. This mark was a mark of death. Anyone who kept this mark was killed. This lesson in history is a haunting reminder how important our faith in Jesus Christ is. The opposite will occur in the reign of the Antichrist. If you identify with him, then you receive a mark. When you receive a mark, you can show your proof of membership, and you receive priveleges.

As the whole world consolidates power to just one leader, technology will be streamlined to help the people. Security will be maintained (probably in a quasi-martial state of law.) People will be free to do whatever they want, except to worship God. People who identify with Jesus Christ, will be searched for and killed. Yet, this time of terrorism and persecution will not last.

Jesus hints that the second half of the “Tribulation Period”, which He calls the “Great Tribulation” will be shortened. He encourages His believers by saying that the terrorism and persecution of the Antichrist will not last. It will not be three and a half years. It will be shorter. He gives this word of encouragement to remind His believers that:

There will only be One.

Previous Post

January 11, 2006

Responsible Love and Money

Next Post

January 18, 2006 Why Does God Use Weak People

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 1 Chronicles 1 Corinthians 1 John 1 Kings 1 Peter 1 Samuel 1 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Chronicles 2 Corinthians 2 John 2 Kings 2 Peter 2 Samuel 2 Thessalonians 2 Timothy 3 John Acts Advent Amos Book Review Colossians Comics Culture Watch Daniel Deuteronomy Ecclesiastes Ephesians Esther Exodus Ezekiel Ezra Galatians Genesis Guest Post Habakkuk Haggai Hebrews Hosea Humor Inspiritational Isaiah James Jeremiah Job Joel John Jonah Joshua Jude Judges Lamentations Lectionary Lent Leviticus Link Love Luke Malachi Mark Matthew Micah Movie Review Nahum Nehemiah Numbers Philippians Political Watch Prophecy Watch Proverbs Psalm Revelation Reviews Romans Ruth Science Watch Sermon Series Sermons Simple Thoughts Song of Solomon Titus Top Ten Uncategorized Video Review Zechariah Zephaniah

Select a Month May 2026 October 2025 September 2025 June 2025 February 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 April 2024 March 2024 January 2024 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 June 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 January 2022 June 2021 January 2021 October 2020 July 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2009 June 2008 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 October 2006 September 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 September 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I am a book of sermons and laws, Moses' final words before entering the Promised Land. What book am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Deuteronomy Moses' testimony The second law The law