Revealing the Antichrist - ruler of the final world kingdom

Introduction to end times revelation

Trade, politics, religion, and military might have defined world empires for thousands of years, in a repeating pattern that began at Babylon. 

Even today, those who follow the Babylonian pattern most closely, amass a financial surplus, and therefore power to expand their empires and reputations.

The Bible foretold and recorded a succession of four specific Babylonian-styled empires, that have long since come and gone. Undisputed historical record concerning these kingdoms, their sequence, and their rulers, affirms that the related biblical prophecies were accurate and true.  This leaves us in no doubt that the Bible is God’s word, and that what remains to be fulfilled, will certainly come to pass, as written. 

In this study, we’ll look at prophecy and its fulfilment, regarding the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek and Roman empires. However, the purpose here, is not just to demonstrate the reliability of biblical prophecy, but to serve as a confident backdrop to noting what God has written, regarding the final world empire, its ruler, and its necessary apocalyptic destruction.  

God’s foreknowledge is perfect, so please set aside any preconceived ideas on eschatology, regardless of how popular; simply allow the Bible to say what it says, to whom it says it.  This study presents what God has revealed, in his own written word, regarding the end of days.

Purpose of prophecy in the Bible

Fulfilled biblical prophecy demonstrates that only God has the foreknowledge, wisdom, and power, to declare from ancient times, things that are not yet done, and to ensure they come to pass.  

• Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV  Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,  (10)  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

This is a key purpose for prophecy in the Bible, serving as evidence for the uniqueness of God, and the reliability of his written word.  Seeing God’s word fulfilled, strengthens faith in the one who cannot lie, and in his promise of salvation in this age of grace, for all who trust in Christ, having heard and believed that he died for our sins, was buried, and raised again for our justification.

Concurrence of historical evidence with biblical prophecy

Already-fulfilled prophetic detail, especially concerning world empires, provides particularly powerful and compelling evidence that the Bible is the truth, and can be relied upon.  Events on this scale did not occur in a remote, hidden corner, but were of such significance and impact, that they are extensively documented. The historical record has continued to grow, over the centuries, as archaeologists uncover more and more contemporaneous artifacts and written evidence. 

To benefit from this vast record, we don’t need to study every fragment of information, uncovered, analysed, and published by professional historians and archaeologists. By simply comparing the historically established big-picture, high-level facts, such as the foretold sequence of world empires, and even the names of empire rulers, we can easily see that God’s word is both true, and unique in foreknowledge. 

In this study, we’ll look at four prophesied world empires that have long since come and gone, demonstrating the truth and reliability of biblical prophecy.  Against that backdrop of evidence, we’ll present equally true and reliable prophetic scriptures, on a most important topic: the coming final kingdom of this world, its pride-filled ruler, and its apocalyptic destruction, affecting all who remain the earth.  

Cyrus the Great, in history and scripture

As a brief aside, on a matter of very precise prophetic detail, consider the much-admired historical ruler, Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Achaemenid Empire.  History records that he lived from 600 – 530 BC; and in 538 BC, the year after he conquered Babylonia, he issued a decree that enabled previous Babylonian captives, including from Israel, to return to their homelands.  

The book of Ezra, in the Bible, contains details of the written decree that Cyrus made, regarding the rebuilding of the temple, the house of God, at Jerusalem.  It also concurs with the historical record of when the decree was made: in the first year when Cyrus captured Babylon, and added the title “king of Babylon” to his name, in October 539 BCE.

• Ezra 6:2-5 KJV  And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:  (3)  In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;  (4)  With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:  (5)  And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.

The prior prophetic account of this rebuilding and restoration of the temple, was given to Isaiah, who wrote the book of Isaiah in the Bible, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

• Isaiah 1:1 KJV  The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Uzziah’s reign began in 783 BC, and Hezekiah’s ended in 687 BC.  By simple mathematics (783 – 538 = 245 years;  687 – 538 – 149 years), that means the book of Isaiah was written in a period 149 to 245 years prior to the historically and biblically attested decree of Cyrus, which he made in the first year of his reign, in 538 BC, to authorize the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.

All biblical prophecy is amazing. Only God has foreknowledge, and the ability to ensure his counsel will stand.

• Isaiah 46:9-11 KJV  Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,  (10)  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:  (11)  Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

That ravenous bird was none other than Cyrus the great, of whom history has recorded:  

• Now his ensign was a golden eagle with outspread wings mounted upon a long shaft. And this continues even unto this day as the ensign of the Persian king. (1)

To the prophet Isaiah, God clearly identified Cyrus by name, and purpose, some 149 – 245 years before he came to power; even before Israel was taken captive to Babylon, or before the Persian empire was even established! This is what God moved Isaiah to write:

• Isaiah 44:28 KJV  That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

This prophecy demonstrates the accuracy of God’s foreknowledge, as he named Cyrus explicitly, before he was even born.  The role which Cyrus played in restoring Israel to their land and having the temple rebuilt, was accurately foretold long before king Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, destroyed Solomon’s temple and took the children of Israel as captives to Babylon!   

In terms of fulfilment, 149 – 245 years later, we read that the spirit of Cyrus the Great was stirred up by God, to do God’s pleasure regarding Jacob, his servant; and Israel whom he has chosen.

• 2 Chronicles 36:22-23 KJV  Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,  (23)  Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up. God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.